Interesting Facts About Mexico
Interesting Facts about Mexico
As Mexico is the 13th largest country in the world, it is very diverse.
Mexico is so much more than beaches and tacos.
Here I am going to share a list of interesting facts about Mexico with you.
Table of Contents
2. So many types of habitats
I know that when many people think Mexico they think about the beach.
Yes, it’s definitely true that Mexico does have a lot of very beautiful beaches. Mexico is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, for that reason Mexico is such a great beach destination!
There are also jungles, deserts, mountains, tropical rainforests, different types of forests, mangroves, grasslands, swamps, lakes, rivers, shrublands, semi-desert habitats and more.
Also, there are busy cities, small towns, and villages in mountains and jungles.
3. Wildlife
Because Mexico has so many different habitats, there are many different types of animals that you can see. Obviously, it depends where you’re visiting as to which animals you may see.
Some animals that you may see or hear on land are:
- jaguars
- cougars
- ocelots
- spider monkeys
- snakes
- lizards
- iguanas
- wolves
- flying squirrels
- armadillos
- rattle and other types of snakes
- opposums
- prairie dogs
- cacomistle (similar to a monkey)
- coati-(related to a raccoon)
- quetzal (tropical bird)
- macaw (tropical bird)
Some interesting animals that may be found in or around the water are:
- dolphins
- whales
- sea turtles
- jelly fish
- crocodiles
- sting rays
- manta rays
- manatees
This is not a complete list, but gives an idea of some of the wildlife that you could possibly see. Some are obviously, less probable to see.
4. UNESCO Sites
There are 35 UNESCO sites in Mexico that are all very diverse.
Mexico is so rich in culture and history and the variety of UNESCO sites reflects this.
On the lists are the The Teotihuacan Pyramids, Mayan ruins, historical towns, archaelogical sites, caves, biosphere reserves, and more!
In my opinion, it’s definitely worth a road trip to check out these UNESCO sites!
There is so much cultural and architectural history in Mexico!
5. Dia De Los Muertos
Dia de Los Muertos translates in English to Day of the Dead.
This is not a Mexican Halloween, it is very different.
This is a day where friends and family honour their loved ones that have died.
The have something called ‘ofrendas’ which translates to offerings. It looks like an alter or monument display.
There often will have marigolds and things that their loved one enjoyed.
Everyone goes to the cemetery and clean the tomb stones and put fresh flowers. Outside of the cemetery there is music and food.
6. Indigenous Cultures
Mexico has 68 different Indigenous Nations.
Each Indigenous Nation has their own language and traditions. This is where some of the tradition foods and ways of cooking come from.
There are so many beautiful dances, regalia, customs, foods, songs and more within the Indigenous cultures in Mexico!
Some of the nations are Mayan, Otomi, Nahautl, and Mixteca.
7. 3 Kings Day
3 Kings Day is called Dia de los Reyes in Spanish.
It falls on January 6th each year.
This is mainly a children’s holiday.
Children will put out an empty shoe at night.
In the morning they find small gifts like toys beside their shoe.
Everyone also a Rosca on this day too!
8. Roscas
Rosca is a type of sweet bread with coloured sugars and jellies on top.
They come in all different sizes and are usually in an oval shape like a big squished donut.
Everyone takes a turn to cut a slice wherever they choose.
Inside of the rosca are hidden baby Jesus figurines. Whoever cuts the slices with the baby Jesus then has a responsibility for a special dinner in February.
If someones get a baby Jesus then they have to cook tamales for the Dia de la Calendaria which happens on February 2nd.
There is always more than 1 baby Jesus in each rosca.
9. Celebrations
Mexican culture is a culture that is rich in celebration and festivities.
From the colourful flags and decoration and the special songs and traditions that surround each special day.
There is even a special birthday song that is sung to people on their birthdays in the morning.
A warning, if it’s your birthday and you’re presented with a birthday cake. Be prepared to get your face put into the cake, or at the very least- some of the icing on your face. It’s tradition.
Easter is not just a day event, it is a whole week call “semana santa”. It becomes quite a celebration and the beaches are packed during this week every year!
In Mexico, there is Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Children’s Day, Teacher’s Day, and more!
There is Carnival in Mexico in Mazatlan and Veracruz. This is similar to the Carnival that is in Brazil.
In Mexico, Christmas is celebrated on December 24th well into the night.
10. Mexico Cuisine
The cuisine in Mexico is also very diverse!
In fast, UNESO has a list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Mexico made the cut!
The traditional foods of Mexico are officially designated by UNESCO as a traditional treasure. This is because of the cultural and ancestral tradition that comes with making many traditional dishes.
Corn is a very traditional food that is planted, harvested and grinded to become the ‘masa’ for tortillas and other Mexican foods.
Beans are another very traditional food. There are so many different types of beans in Mexico that are grown. Refried beans is a traditional way of preparing beans.
You can find beans with most dishes in Mexico, whether they are on a torta, on the side of a main, or inside a tortilla.
11. Traditional Mexican Foods
The list of traditional Mexican foods is very diverse. In fact, sometimes the same dish will sometimes have a different name in a different parts of Mexico!
There are so many different forms of ‘tortillas’ that are made out of the masa dough.
Some of the foods that are made out of the corn dough are:
- tortillas
- tlayudas
- sopes
- gorditas
- tamales
- huaraches
- totopos
- chilaquiles
- atole
to name a few.
There are other traditional foods such as cactus leaves, grasshoppers, and so many interesting types of tacos. You can learn about some types of vegetarian cuisine in Mexico in Everything you need to know about being a vegetarian in Mexico.
To learn a little bit more about some examples of traditional Indigenous foods read Restaurant in a Cave – Mexico.
12. Types of Salsas
Salsa is a very traditional condiment in Mexico.
Think of it as their ‘salt and pepper’, meaning it’s on every table always.
An important word to know is ‘piquante’ which means spicy.
There are different types of salsas with all different spice levels and different types of chilis.
There are so many combination of ingredients used to create salsas.
Here is a list of some of the types of salsas that you can get with different types of dishes.
- red salsa
- green salsa
- macha salsa
- chili de arbol
- salsa macha
- chili de arbol
- Guajillo
- Salsa morita
- salsa de guacamole
- salsa borracha
There are others too!
13. Cinco de Mayo
I know that Cinco De Mayo is a big party and celebration in United States and Canada, but not in Mexico.
In Mexico, it is not the independence day. Actually, Mexican Independence Day is on September 16th.
Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexico’s victory that happened in Puebla, Mexico.
It celebrates the victory of the Mexican troops over the French forces.
Would you believe that Cinco De Mayo is not even a federal holiday in Mexico!
14. Popocatépetl & Iztaccíhuatl
These are the names of 2 volcanoes that are in the State of Mexico.
They can be seen along the skyline from the mountains of the State of Mexico.
These are pictures that I took while flying over the volcanoes in an airplane.
Actually this was when Popocatepetl was active too!
There is a beautiful mythical story about these 2 volcanoes.
The story goes that Iztaccíhuatl is the name of a princess. This princess fell in love with Popocatepetl.
Iztaccíhuatl means “sleeping woman” in Nahuatl, which is an Indigenous language of Mexico It’s called that because they say that the volcano looks like a woman sleeping.
Popocatelpetl is a ‘watchful gentlemen’ who watches over her as she sleeps.
15. Pyramids
Mexico has quite a few pyramids. It’s so fascinating that there were build by hand!
Some are part of larger ruins in different parts of Mexico.
I recently visited the pyramids at Teotihuacan, which is a Pueblo Magico.
Although they are not the biggest pyramid, that name goes to the Great Pyramid of Cholula.
These pyramids are interesting because one is called the sun pyramid, while the other is called the moon pyramid. Many people visit them on the first day of spring.
You can check them out in this video.
There are 2 located in the State of Mexico Guide to Visiting the Teotihuacan Pyramids.
16. Music
Mexican music is very diverse. It’s much more than salsa and mariachi music.
Of course, I love mariachis and salsa, and they are definitely a part of Mexican culture.
In fact, I have written a Complete Guide to Enjoy Mariachis in Puerto Vallarta and specifically about an Awesome Mariachi Restaurant in Puerto Vallarta.
If you are not too familiar with mariachi music, but you like it, I have just the thing for you. I have a guide to help you to have Mariachi Songs To Request the next time you’re at a restaurant or event with mariachis.
Besides those 2 there are many different types of Mexican traditional music.
- banda
- nortena
- cumbia
- ranchera
- danzon
- corridos
- bolero
to name a few!
Some common instruments used in Mexico are: guitar, guitarron (big mariachi guitar), bass, tuba, accordian, drums, maracas, marimbas (like a wooden xylophone), guiro (hollowed-out gourd), trumpet, violin and more.
17. Types of tortillas
Did you know that there are different types of tortillas?
Sometimes they are made from corn or flour.
Other times they are also add different ingredients for coloured tortillas.
There can be blue corn tortillas which gives you a dark blue tortilla.
As well, green tortillas which are made with some cactus leaves.
Sometimes there are redish tortillas too which can have a variety of different ingredients such as squash blossoms to make the red colour.
18. 3rd Largest Monolith in the world
The 3rd Largest Monolith in the world is located in Bernal, Queretaro, Mexico.
It is a different than a mountain, it is a monolith called La Peña de Bernal. It’s basically a huge tall standing rock.
It is actually located in a Pueblo Magico.
If you would like to know more about the town of Bernal, check out the guide to Visiting Bernal, Mexico.
19. Longest Suspension Bridge in the world
Mexico is home to many different records, besides being the 3rd Largest Monolith in the world,
Mexico is also home to the Longest Suspension Bridge in the World!
This bridge is 470 meters long and 150 meters above the ground and water!
It’s located in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco.
You can choose to walk across the suspension bridge or go across in the RZR vehicle shown above.
I chose the vehicle, check it out in my YouTube video below!
Would you cross this bridge???
20. Cenotes
Cenotes are natural fresh-water holes. They may be sink holes or natural pits in the earth.
Even though they are close to the ocean, they are filled with fresh water, not salt water.
They are often very deep, and the deeper you dive the colder the water gets.
They are mostly located in the south of Mexico in the states of Quintana Roo and Yucatan.
Some cenotes have turned into a tourist outing. For example, there may be a restaurant or bar, and lounge chairs around the cenote.
There is a cover to enter the area with the cenote.
What is so very interesting is that cenotes, is that they are only located in the lower part of Mexico, no where else in the world!!
21. Pueblo Magicos
Pueblo Magicos are a tourist government initiative that started in 2001. Pueblo Magico translates to Magical towns.
Pueblo Magicos have to pass government standards to be deemed a Magical Town.
Magical towns are special towns that cater to tourists. They may have beautiful architecture, history, or special tourists attractions or more!
To learn more about Pueblo Magicos check out Guide to Pueblos Magicos in Mexico.
22. Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan is a Magical Town that is an ancient town in the state of Mexico.
This ancient village had 2 large pyramids and many other structures and buildings.
If you’re interested in checking them out be sure to check out the guide to Visiting the Teotihuacan Pyramids.
There are a lot of very interesting place surrounding the ruins.
There are some very interesting restaurants such as a the Restaurant in a Cave – Mexico and tourist shops and booths.
There is also a tour to go hot air ballooning near the pyramids!! Incredible!
23. Mexico's Breeds of Dogs
Of course the chihuahua is a Mexican dog that is common. I think that most people are familiar with those cute little chihuahuas!
There is another type of dog and it’s actually a hairless dog!
It’s called “The Xōlōitzcuintli, or for short people will say “Xolo,”. In English people often call this dog a Mexican hairless dog.
Although there is a version of this breed of dog that does have hair.
Also, it’s knows as an Aztec dog.
This breed of dog is known to be one of the oldest breeds of dogs!
Hotels in Mexico
There is such a huge variety of hotels in Mexico.
There are hotels that charge by the hour, not the night. There are hotels that are like castles and luxury haciendas.
There are motels, hostels and more!
I would suggest checking hotel reviews with booking.com and researching the area that the hotel is in. I use google maps street view to see what the neighourhood and the outside of the hotel looks like.
Check out 15 Tips to Sleep Better at your Hotel for tips on picking a hotel that suits your style and needs.
Tours in Mexico
You can research and book your tours for your next Mexico trip here with Viator.
Renting a car for your trip to Mexico?
If you’re looking to rent a car in Mexico, I would consider booking in advance. It can be quite an adventure booking your car at the airport when you arrive.
Trust me, I have experienced it at the airport! All these people calling out to you to pick their company, hidden prices and more!
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