General Data:
Official Name: Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Surface: 1'972,547 km2
Geographical situation: Located between 14º and 32º of north latitude
Official language: Spanish and some native languages
Population: 97'361,711 inhabitants (2000)
Money: Peso Symbol: $0.00 cents
Measure system: Metric system
Weight unit: Gram
Predominant religion: Catholic (there is freedom of cult)

FLIGHT DURATION:
A direct flight from London to Mexico City is 14 hours long. Mexico is 5,252 mi away from London. There are three international airports on the peninsula: Tijuana, La Paz and Los Cabos. British airways provides direct fligths to Mexico from London. They schedule three to four flights a week.

AIRPORT INFORMATION:
Mexico City international airport is 8 miles from the historic centre. If you are taking a taxi registered by the airport (never take a taxi out of the official ranks) allow roughly 30 minutes, at a cost of about MXN100 (£5). In Mexico City, hotel shuttles pick up their clients from the airport, but there aren't any buses into town. At provincial airports, it is possible to take collective taxis, but not in Mexico City.

SECURITY:
On arrival at Mexico City Airport, only take the taxis registered by the airport. There are security problems and incidents of plundering in some of the large seaside resorts, so do not tempt fate by going out weighed down by jewellery and cameras.
Be suspicious of otherse, drug pushers can sometimes be police informers and, when you're out in the country, it is not a good idea to pull over on the side of the road if somebody waves you down. Also, avoid driving at night time.
There is no major danger as far as swimming is concerned, if you want to swim in isolated areas find out beforehand if there are any sharks in the area and be careful with the very strong waves of the Pacific Ocean. Finally, if you are going to hitch-hike, avoid being dropped off in the middle of the desert, other cars won't necessarily come!

ALL OF THE EDITORIAL TEAM'S ADVICE:
The best time to visit Baja California is between November and the end of May. Between mid-December and the beginning of January, the prices are very high because it is the American winter holiday.
The Pacific coast may seem more authentic, but be careful because it is more dangerous (strong currents). Our favourite beach is Playa del Amor, where the Pacific ocean meets the sea of Cortez (the locals say that two people go there and three come back!) Swimmers will prefer Las Palmas on the Pacific side and surf boarders will love San Pedrito.

TELEPHONE:
To call Mexico from the UK, dial: 00 52 + city code (Mexico city: 5, Acapulco: 7, Cancun: 98, Huatulco: 958, Merida, 99, Playa del Carmen: 987, Puerto Escondido: 951, Puerto Vallarta: 322, Veracruz: 29, Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa: 755) + no. you're trying to reach.
To call the UK from Mexico, dial: 00 44 + no. you're trying to reach.
The price of calls generally being surcharged by 50%, it is better to buy a chip phone card (MXN30, 50 or 100) useable in the many Telmex telephone boxes.