Monterrey

Introduction

Cathedral Spire

© soupatrvlr

Monterrey is the capital of the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon and is the thrid largest city in the country. The city itself has somewhere between 1 and 1,5 million inhabitants, but the total metropolitan area has about 4 million people living there! It's located at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental and it's sometimes also called the 'oven of Mexico' because of the steaming temperatures during summer. It never gets cold for that matter, even during winter.

Monterrey is also considered as the city with the best quality of life in the country and serves as a commercial center of northern Mexico and is the base of many significant international corporations, its purchasing power parity-adjusted GDP per capita is considerably higher than the rest of the country's. It is considered a Beta World City, cosmopolitan and competitive. Rich in history and culture, it is one of the most developed cities in Mexico and is often regarded as its most "Americanized".

Neighbourhoods

• Barrio Antiguo comprises what is preserved from the historical quarter of the city of Monterrey. Currently located next to the Government Palace and the Macroplaza, it originally covered a larger space from the Santa Catarina River to 5 de Mayo Street, south to north, and from Mina Street to Roble Street (nowadays Avenida Benito Juárez), east to west. Most of the buildings now preserved are from the Spanish Colonial period and from the last years of the 19th century. Since 2006, due to the insecurity that was rampant in the city of Monterrey, nightlife in the Barrio Antiguo almost ended, but since recent times due to the relative decline in violence many of the bars have managed to survive. From the year 2013 the government changed the way in which the Old Quarter was considered. A restoration project was started since then, which seeks to build a space for cultural recreation and preservation of the historic heritage, through the closure of some of its streets now pedestrianized (so far is the case of Calle Morelos) and re-activation Social or family business.
• Independencia. This neighborhood has a different history than other already established settlements in the city. In the second half of the 19th century, and first years of the 20th century, the city of Monterrey experienced the boom of the industrialization along with a fast-growing and thriving economy. However, there was a huge demand of cheap labor workers. Thus, the government promoted the immigration of people from other states and the neighborhood Independencia was established with the name of 'Barrio San Luisito' in the late years of the 19th century with poor immigrants mostly mestizo peasants and a few people of indigenous ancestry from the states of San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas. Later the neighborhood was settled by people from other Mexican states who tried to get into the bracero program to work in the United States, but some were rejected by the program in the US, therefore the Mexican government offered them to settle in a promising city like Monterrey, then having one of the most impressive rates of economic growth in the country. Those new arrivals from San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas and other states from Central and Southern Mexico faced some ethnic and class segregation by the people of Monterrey at first, but eventually were accepted as part of the rest of the society. Despite Monterrey's economic wealth, today it is still one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city.
• Valle Altois an exclusive neighborhood in the metropolitan city of Monterrey. The neighborhood of Valle Alto has population of 75,000, within a city of 4.1 million. The entire neighborhood has the highest GDP per capita of all metropolitan areas in Mexico, and in Latin America, and it has been ranked as the most secure in the region. Valle Alto is the most exclusive community within the city of Monterrey. It's one of the highest income communities in Mexico with at least 3,500 households. Valle Alto has strict design restrictions. Many streets and avenues within the sector outside of the downtown area are lined with landscaping; on side streets the landscaping of individual properties provides ambient decor. Very few homes are visible from the road. It also hosts various different important private schools such as: Instituto San Roberto Campus Valle Alto, Prepa UdeM Campus Valle Alto and Prepa Tec Campus Valle Alto.

Sights and Activities

• The Cerro de la Silla, (Saddle Mountain), is a mountain and natural monument located within the metropolitan area of the city of Monterrey. Named for its distinctive saddle-shaped profile when viewed from the west, it is a well-known symbol of the city of Monterrey, despite being located in the adjacent municipality of Guadalupe. It covers an area of 60.5 square kilometres. The mountain has four peaks: Pico Antena, Pico Norte, Pico Sur and Pico la Virgen; Pico Norte (North Peak) is the highest at 1820 m while Pico la Virgen (Virgin's Peak) is the lowest at 1750 m. Set aside as a natural monument by the Mexican government in 1991, the mountain, or hill, as mountains are often referred to in Mexico, is a popular recreational area and is often climbed by hikers who take a 5.3 km trail to reach the top. The ascent is considered to be fairly difficult, taking approximately 3 hours to complete. A panoramic view of the city of Monterrey can be seen from the top. In the second half of the 20th century, an aerial tramway (Teleférico en Monterrey) was built on the north side of the mountain to give a fastest access to the iconic mountain for the population. The day of its inauguration on June 2, 1961 was also the day of its closure, as a tragic accident took the lives of five people, including the engineer Jesús Fernández, its designer.
• Faro del Comercio, (Lighthouse of Commerce), is a monument designed by the accomplished Mexican architect Luis Barragán and constructed in 1984 by architect Raúl Ferrera. It is a recognizable sight in Monterrey among many other modern manmade landmarks, such as Neptune's Fountain (Fuente de la Vida), the Monterrey City Hall, the Papal Bridge (El Puente del Papa), and the Bridge of Unity (Puente de la Unidad) in San Pedro, connecting that municipality to Monterrey. These sites are intended on one hand to complement the city's few remaining traditional landmarks, such as, the Bishopric Palace (Palacio del Obispado) and Museum, the City's Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana de Nuestra Señora de Monterrey), the Central Post Office (old Monterrey City Hall), and the State of Nuevo León Government building, on the north end of the Macroplaza. On the other hand, they are also intended to project an image of a city that prides itself as being the most progressive large industrial city of Mexico.
• Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Monterrey, (Museum of Modern Art), abbreviated as MARCO, is a major contemporary art museum, located in the heart of Monterrey. MARCO organizes major exhibitions with regional and international contemporary artists. The museum is in the Centro district of Monterrey, adjacent to the Macroplaza and to the Barrio Antiguo district. MARCO was designed by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta, in a Minimalist Post-modern architectural style. The museum building opened in 1991. The artworks are in spaces with balanced arrangements of natural and artificial light. The museum occupies a 16,000 square meter structure, with 5,000 square meters for exhibitions in 11 gallery halls. There is an outdoor sculpture garden courtyard, the Central Patio courtyard with a water mirror fountain, and an auditorium, gift shop and restaurant. A large outdoor bronze sculpture is a landmark at the museum's entrance plaza on the street. It is an abstracted dove, titled "La Paloma" (the dove), by sculptor Juan Soriano. The modern sculpture rises 5.5 meters above the plaza and street corner of Zuazua and Jardón streets.
• Fundidora Park is a public park located east of Monterrey in the old land of Fundidora de Acero de Monterrey. This urban sustainable park is located inside the former Monterrey Foundry Property with an area of 142 hectares. The Monterrey Foundry (Monterrey Steel Foundry Company) operated from 1900 until its bankruptcy in 1986. Two years later, after being legally declared financially insolvent, the Fideicomiso Fundidora (Fundidora Escrow) was installed to administer the park. The park has several industrial buildings from the Old Foundry making it a top famous Archeological Industrial Site in Mexico. Fundidora Park contains extensive walking tracks, one artificial lake, playgrounds for children and a 3.4 km permanent road course which is popular with joggers, bicyclists and inline skaters. Fundidora Park also includes a CINTERMEX which is a convention center, a hotel, the Mabe Fundidora Ice Rink, Sesame Street Park, the Monterrey Arena, an auditorium, Centro de las Artes CONARTE (Council for the Culture and Arts of Nuevo León) museum, Cineteca Nuevo León and other smaller buildings with cultural venues.
• Mirador del Obispado, (Bishop’s Lookout), is located at the top of the Cerro del Obispado (Bishop’s Hill) in the northern city of Monterrey, Mexico. It features the biggest bandera monumental (monumental flag) in Mexico. The hill and the lookout receive their name from the building constructed in the middle of the hill by the end of the 18th century, the Palacio del Obispado (Bishop’s Palace). At an altitude of 775 meters above the sea level the lookout consists of a 40 meters of diameter round-shaped esplanade with the flag pole at its center. There are benches, a small parking lot (mainly for handicapped people) and 3 French gardens. The installations are also equipped with restrooms and water troughs. It was conceived as a family walking stroll so the main road is very wide and well illuminated. Cars are allowed to pass but the main parking lot is at the entrance of the Park.
• Bandera Monumental. The country's biggest monumental flag is located at the top of the Cerro del Obispado, in the same place the public scenic lookout is, and it was inaugurated on February 24, 2005 to celebrate the Mexican Flag Day. This flag is currently the second largest in the country. With a pole of 120 tons and 100.6 meters of height and the flag measuring 50 by 28.6 meters and weighing 230 kilograms (this is double the size of most other monumental flags) this place is a very attractive landmark for tourists as well as for locals. Some important days are celebrated with special ceremonies such as the Flag Day, the Independence Day (September 16) and the Army Day; this special ceremonies sometimes include lighting shows, fireworks and artistic performances like regional dances, musicals and concerts.
• Basilica of Guadalupe, or Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, has a fifty five gold crowns inside. is a Roman Catholic church located in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. Standing in the neighborhood of Colonia Independencia, just outside the city's downtown area, the temple is one of the larger Church edifices in northern Mexico. It is dedicated to Virgin Mary in her guise as Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of America, who appeared to St Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill outside Mexico City in 1531. It is smaller than its counterpart, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, which without a doubt enjoys a more national and international fame. Year after year, the church becomes the destination for thousands of faithfuls devoted to the Virgin, especially on the days prior to her feast day, December 12. On that date, beginning at the stroke of midnight leading into the 12th, mariachis play and sing traditional songs, or the mañanitas, paying tribute to the Virgin.
• Santa Lucia Riverwalk (Spanish: Paseo Santa Lucía) is an artificial river located in Monterrey. Construction of the river began in 1996, but for economic reasons was stopped for nine years. In 2005, construction continued and was finished in 2007. It was inaugurated by the Mexican President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, Nuevo León's governor Natividad González Parás, and Monterrey's mayor Adalberto Madero in celebration of the 197th anniversary of the Mexican War of Independence. It is one of the most important attractions in the city. It was also part of the 2007 Universal Forum of Cultures' attractions.
• Macroplaza, or La Gran Plaza, is a town square or plaza located in the heart of the city. The Macroplaza was built in the early 1980s during the governorship of Alfonso Martínez Domínguez. The construction of the Macroplaza required the demolition of several old buildings and houses including a famous movie theater. The Macroplaza is the seventh-largest plaza in the world. It has an extension of 400,000 square metres consisting of various monuments, smaller plazas and gardens. One of the most iconic monuments of the city is the Faro del Comercio (Lighthouse of Commerce, see above), a 70-meter-tall modern lighthouse located in the same plaza, equipped with a green laser, that projects its light around the city at night.
• Auditorio Citibanamex is an indoor amphitheatre, located in Fundidora Park, in Monterrey, Nuevo León. It was the primary venue for concerts until the Arena Monterrey opened in 2003. The amphitheatre opened in 1994 with a sponsorship by The Coca-Cola Company. When the venue was used less frequently, Mexican financial group Grupo Financiero Banamex, became its new sponsor. The venue closed for nearly two years to set forth renovations, which included updating the overall structure of the venue, converting it to an indoor amphitheatre. Additional upgrades included showrooms, a lounge along with other recreational areas. The venue reopened in September 2010 with a three-month-long celebration, featuring concerts by: Vicente Fernández, Alejandra Guzmán, Chayanne, Marco Antonio Solís and Miguel Bosé. The amphitheatre is used for mid-sized concerts, attracting numerous international performers every year.
• Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame (Salón de la Fama del Beisbol Profesional de México), commonly called the Salón de la Fama (Hall of Fame) is a baseball hall of fame and museum located in Monterrey. It is dedicated to recognizing people who have contributed greatly to baseball in Mexico. It had its first five inductees in 1939, 167 individuals, called "inmortales," have been inducted into the Hall (as of 2006).
• Museo del Acero, (The Museum of Steel), is one of the largest museums ever created in Mexico. It is located on the site of the very large Fundidora steel plant that was decommissioned in the mid 1980s. For 80 years, the Fundidora plant was an important part of the economic and social fabric of this city of 3.7 million people, and its conversion to a major educational facility has been very well received. The new museum, built in and around a decommissioned blast furnace, has emerged as a new focal point for the region.The newly restored 70 meter-high blast furnace, Horno No. 3, the city’s most recognizable icon dominating the Monterrey skyline, makes the museum unique. The Oficina de Arquitectura partnered with Grimshaw Architects and exhibit designers AldrichPears Associates to create a museum, while preserving its historical character. New galleries include: Gallery of History, Gallery of Steel, The Blast Furnace Show and the Cast Hall. The Museo del Acero opened in the Fundidora Park in the fall of 2007.
• Puente de la Unidad is a cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge that crosses the Santa Catarina River and connects the cities of Monterrey and San Pedro Garza García. It is part of a circuit called "Circuito La Unidad", which would consist of the interconnection of a series of avenues. The bridge was finished in 2003 and has been controversial even before its completion because the river it crosses is dry almost all year long. Although a huge part of the cost of this bridge was done by the business class of Monterrey, they were aware that the Santa Catarina River is affected by overflowing water from saturated rain caused by hurricanes. The San Pedro neighborhood is very well connected to the Colinas San Jerónimo and Cumbres vicinity using this bridge. Last 2010, Hurricane Alex burst millions of metric tons of water. The water carried garbage on its path, damaging almost every structure of the previously dry river. This method of construction respects the natural pathway of the dry river at demanding intervals.
• Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of Monterrey Is the main Catholic church and home of the Archdiocese of Monterrey. The building has a central nave in the shape of a Latin cross flanked by niches chapels. The ship has arched vaults topped with an octagonal dome. The interior is sober and eclectic. It has a mix of architectural styles, neoclassical and baroque, the latter especially on its façade. The chapel of the tabernacle features an embossed silver front. In the choir there is a Merklin organ from 1893 (currently damaged and not in use). It was built between 1705 and 1791 and declared a Cathedral in 1777, when Pope Pius VI created the Diocese of Linares. It has a mixture of architectural styles, neoclassical and baroque; the latter especially in its facade.

Events and Festivals

Day of the Dead

Although the Day of the Dead is also celebrated in many Latin American countries except Mexico (and also in parts of Europe, Asia and Africa), the Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de los Muertos) is most intensily celebrated in Mexciowhere where it is equal to a National Holiday. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration takes place on November 1st and 2nd, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2). Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. Although it is about the Dead, it is also a celebration where eating and partying both are common as well.

Other Events and Festivals

Grito de la Independencia - September 15th is Mexican Independence Day! A massive celebration involving plenty of singing, dancing and fireworks takes place in the Zócalo. Everyone here awaits an appearance from Mexico's president who rings a bell from a central balcony of the Palacio Nacional overlooking the Zócalo. The president then shouts out the Grito de Dolores, or the Cry of Dolores which was Father Hidalgo's famous call to arms against Spanish rule in 1810.

• Dia de la Candelaria. Candlemas is held February 2nd and commemorates Jesus being introduced into the temple 40 days after his birth. This nationwide celebration sees many different ways of celebrating and many towns hold processions, bullfights and dances. Of course, plenty of delicious, traditional foods are served during Dia de la Candelaria as well.
• Carnaval is held in late February or early March throughout all of Mexico. This big party is meant to celebrate the 40 day penance of Lent. Carnaval always takes place during the week or so prior to Ash Wednesday, 46 days before Easter Sunday. Mexicans celebrate this holiday with fireworks, food, dancing, parades, dancing and drinking.
• Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is a huge celebration which starts on Palm Sunday. This is a very popular time for Mexicans to take a short break; as a result, it seems most of the country is on the move, with buses and hotels often booked out. As for the celebration of Semana Santa, expect colorful processions and many masses at churches everywhere.
• Día de Nuestra Seňora de Guadalupe, or Day of our Lady of Guadalupe, is held December 12th. There is a week-long build up to this religious celebration in honour of the Virgin who appeared to the indigenous Juan Diego in the year 1531. Since then, the Lady of Guadalupe has been Mexico's religious patron and her veneration is very significant. It is traditional for young boys to be dressed as a Juan Diego and for young girls to be dressed in indigenous garb and brought to a special mass, held at many churches throughout the country.
• New Year's Eve. Mexicans celebrate New Year's Eve or locally known as Año Nuevo, by downing a grape with each of the twelve chimes of the bell during the midnight countdown, while making a wish with each one. Mexican families decorate homes and parties, during New Year's, with colors such as red, to encourage an overall improvement of lifestyle and love, yellow to encourage blessings of improved employment conditions, green to improve financial circumstances and white to improved health. Mexican sweet bread is baked with a coin or charm hidden in the dough. When the bread is served, the recipient whose slice contains the coin or charm is believed to be blessed with good luck in the new year. One can expect a lot of firecrackers, fireworks and sparklers being fired. At midnight there is a lot of noise and everyone shouts: "Feliz año nuevo!" People embrace, make noise, set off firecrackers, and sing Auld Lang Syne.
• Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration held on May 5. The date is observed to commemorate the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza. The victory of the smaller Mexican force against a larger French force was a boost to morale for the Mexicans. A year after the battle, a larger French force defeated Zaragoza at the Second Battle of Puebla, and Mexico City soon fell to the invaders.

Weather

Monterrey has a semi-arid climate. It is one of the warmest major cities in Mexico. Summers are generally hot, spring and fall temperate, and winters mild, with temperatures rarely below freezing.[39] The average high in August is 35 °C and the average low is 23 °C. The average January high is 21 °C and the average low in January is 8 °C (46 °F). Rainfall is scarce in winter, but more frequent during May through September.

Monterrey frequently experiences extreme weather changes; for example, it sometimes reaches 30 °C in January and February, the coldest months. The most extreme weather changes in summer occur with rainfall, which can reduce temperatures significantly, and the temporary absence of the northern winds in winter, which can lead to abnormally high temperatures. Seasons are not well defined; the warm season may start in February and may last until September. In April and May 2011 temperatures reached 45 °C or higher, causing fires and extreme heat. Snow is a very rare event, although an accumulation of 51 cm in 8 hours occurred in January 1967. The most recent snowfall was in December 2004, on Christmas Eve. Sleet and ice events occurred in January 2007, December 2009, January and February 2010 and February 2011, caused by temperatures around -5 °C.

From June 30 to July 2, 2010, Monterrey was hit by the worst natural disaster in the city's history when Hurricane Alex delivered more than 584 mm of rain in 72 hours, with areas reaching up to 1 meter of rain during that same period, destroying homes, avenues, highways and infrastructure, and leaving up to 200,000 families without water for a week or more. The amount of water that fell was equivalent to the average precipitation for a year. This was about 3–4 times as much rain as Hurricane Gilbert produced in the city on September 15, 1988. The death toll of Hurricane Alex was estimated to be around 20.

Getting There

By Plane

General Mariano Escobedo International Airport (MTY) near Monterrey offers a range of flights. Aero Mexico flies to many Mexican cities, including Mexico City, Mérida, Veracruz, Puerto Vallarta, Mexicali, Mazatlan, Chihuahua, Cancun, Tijuana and Guadalajara. Quite a few other airlines offers similar services.
International flights exist to/from Houston, Las Vegas, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago and Detroit.

By Car

Monterrey is about 200 km south of the U.S./Mexico border. The most common border crossings, both in South Texas, used to get to Monterrey are Laredo/Nuevo Laredo and McAllen-Hidalgo/Reynosa. The travel time from either Reynosa or Nuevo Laredo is about two hours. Many regios (As residents of Monterrey are nicknamed) drive to San Antonio and all points north through Puente Colombia (Colombia Solidarity Bridge) outside of Nuevo Laredo. This might sometimes be attributed to safety concerns following press coverage of Nuevo Laredo's international drug trade violence, but most often, knowledgeable travelers prefer the Colombia checkpoint because crossing is faster and easier, especially at peak crossing times. From points in the United States, take Interstate 35 south. The highway ends at International Bridge 2 in Laredo. The Aduana office for handling vehicle import paperwork is on the river road in between Bridge 1 and Bridge 2. Mexican auto insurance can also be purchased there. From Nuevo Laredo, take Mexico Highway 85 south and it brings you right into Monterrey. Guia Roji maps to Mexico are indispensable for drivers in Mexico. You can buy them online ahead of time, or they are sold in every Sanborns store in Mexico. You will need a map to drive in Monterrey because the city is large and complex.

By Bus

Monterrey's Central de Autobuses is the hub of bus transportation in the city and is the largest bus station in northern Mexico. The station has bays for more than 100 buses to simultaneously load or unload. It is served by more than a dozen first-class bus lines and dozens more second-class bus lines. Trans-border buses go between Monterrey and cities throughout the United States while long distance buses go from Monterrey to other major Mexican bus hubs and to every notable city in northern Mexico. There are buses to many Mexican destinations, like Mexico City, Chihuahua and many regional services. There are also international buses to places in Texas, United States.

Getting Around

By Car

Renting a car is a possibility, though it can be expensive and navigating the streets can be a bit tricky. As with any major metro area, parking is always an issue, though parking is generally easier in Monterrey than in other cities of similar size. Many downtown hotels offer free parking and free valet parking for their guests. A large public lot under the Macroplaza usually has spaces available.

Subway

The Monterrey Metro, generally referred to as just Metrorrey, is a fully grade-separated light rail system consisting of two lines. Line 1 is elevated, meanwhile line 2 is half elevated and half underground. It is the newest of Mexico's light rail systems, with operation beginning in 1991. As of 2014, the system operated 40 high-floor electric trains, along a total system of 31 stations with a length of 32 kilometers. As of June 2018, Line 3 is under construction.

• Line 1, which opened on April 25, 1991, has 19 stations, runs through the center of the city from the north-west to the eastern part of the Monterrey Metropolitan Area. Built as an 18.5 km long line,[4] it runs parallel to the former 1887 Topo Chico tramline and is grade-separated as it runs on an elevated structure. A complete ride along this line takes about 27 minutes. Line 1 is linked to Line 2 at Cuauhtémoc station, located downtown.
• Line 2 has 13 stations and is also fully grade-separated, partially on an aerial structure and partially subterranean. The first six-station segment, which opened on November 30, 1994, was 4.5 km long and runs underground. Construction on an expansion of Line 2 began on August 8, 2005. This last segment runs on an aerial structure in the center of Avenida Universidad. The 12.5-kilometer line runs from Sendero to the Macroplaza with a station at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León.

The following are the travel fares as of 2018: Single Trip, MXN4.50, 2 Trips, MXN8.00

Bus

Also, Intra-city buses ply nearly every main street in the city and are cheap; expect to pay a few pesos for any route. Major points along the way of each route - markets, plazas, malls, hospitals and so on - will be displayed in the front window of the bus. Most people wait for their bus at designated stops but it is often possible to flag down a bus anywhere.

Eat

The most traditional dish from Monterrey is cabrito, kid goat cooked on embers based on the Jewish cuisine of the founders of the city. Other local dishes and customs that perhaps date back to the Crypto-Judaism of these founders are the "semita" (bread without leavening), the capirotada dessert (a mix of cooked bread, cheese, raisins, peanuts, and crystallized sugarcane juice), and the relative absence of pork dishes. Another famous local dish is machacado con huevo.

Carne asada on weekends remains a tradition among many Monterrey families. It is usually served with grilled onions, baked potatoes and sausages or chopped as tacos. Locally brewed beer and cola are an almost mandatory part of the weekly ritual. "Glorias" and "obleas," made from goat milk, are both traditional Nuevo León desserts.

Sleep

Upscale

Learn

• Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon
• University of Monterrey

Keep Connected

Internet

Internet cafe's are widely available and you generally can find one in the direct vicinity. Sometimes photocopy stores or photo processing stores will double as an internet cafe with a couple of computers. Look for signs reading "Acceso a Internet" or "Cibernautica" or "Cibercafe". Charges range from approx. US$1 an hour to US$3 an hour, depending on the location.

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

Phone cards can be purchased anywhere and are needed for the majority of public phones. To call any number outside your region you have to dial 01 then followed by the area code. If calling a cellphone from a normal phone start with with 044. If calling cellphone to cellphone just dial the 10-digit number. To make an international call dial 00 followed by the country code then the local number. To call to Mexico, also dial 00 (most of the times) followed by the national code 52.

Post

The Mexican postal service is operated by Correos de México. The post service in Mexico is pretty good although not very cheap. It is reliable regarding the sending of postcards, but it takes at least a week to send it to other countries (US/Canada), more so if you send it to Europe or Australia. For packages it is better to use international services like FedEx or UPS. If you are sending a package internationally with the Mexican postal service, take the package OPEN to the post office, they may want to inspect it. Seal it up at the post office. Post offices typically open from 8:00am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday, and 9:00am to 1:00pm Saturday. You will find post offices (Oficina de Correos) is almost any town or city in Mexico. To buy stamps it is best to go to the post office, although you can also get them at stamp machines, located outside the post offices, at bus stations, airports and some commercial establishments.