Mexico's Ancient & Colonial Heritage 2017

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Mexico’s Ancient & Colonial Heritage 2017

EXTEND YOUR TRIP

Mexico City, Mexico

Tulum, Mexico

Your Travel Handbook CONTENTS

Passport, Visas & Travel Documents ...... 3 Climate ...... 21

Your Passport ...... 3 No Visas Required ...... 3 About Your Destinations ...... 24 Trusted Traveler Programs ...... 3 ...... 24 Emergency Photocopies of Key Documents . . . . 4 Your Program Director ...... 24 Overseas Taxes & Fees ...... 4 Merida in Brief ...... 25 Tourist Card Fee for Mexico ...... 4 Oaxaca in Brief Palenque in Brief ...... 27 Shopping ...... 28 Health ...... 5 U .S . Customs Regulations & Shipping Charges ...... 28 Keep Your Abilities In Mind ...... 5 Health Check ...... 6 No Vaccines Required ...... 6 Demographics & Background ...... 30 Staying Healthy on Your Trip ...... 7

Resources ...... 34 Money Matters ...... 9 Suggested Readings ...... 34 Top Three Tips ...... 9 Suggested Movies ...... 35 Local Currency ...... 9 Useful Websites ...... 36 How to Exchange Money ...... 9 ATMs ...... 10 Credit & Debit Cards ...... 10 Tipping Guidelines ...... 10

Preparing for Your Trip ...... 12

Land Only Travelers ...... 12 Air Inclusive Travelers ...... 12 Optional Tours ...... 13 Communications ...... 13

Packing ...... 15

Your Luggage ...... 16 Clothing Suggestions ...... 16 What to Bring ...... 17 Electricity ...... 19

2 MEX2017 07/13/2017 PASSPORT, VISAS & TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

Your Passport • Must be in good condition

• Must be valid for at least 6 months after your scheduled return to the U.S.

• Must have the required number of blank pages (details below)

• The blank pages must be labeled “Visas” at the top. Pages labeled “Amendments and Endorsements” are not acceptable

Need to Renew Your Passport? Contact the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 1-877-487-2778, or visit their website at www.travel.state.gov for information on obtaining a new passport or renewing your existing passport. You may also contact our recommended visa service company, PVS International, at 1-800-556-9990 for help with your passport.

Recommended Blank Pages Please confirm that your passport has enough blank pages for this vacation.

• Main trip only: 2 blank “Visa” pages.

• Optional pre- and/or post-trip extensions: No additional pages needed.

No Visas Required Travelers with a U.S. passport do not need any visas for this vacation, including the optional trip extensions.

Traveling Without a U.S. Passport? If you are not a U.S. citizen, or if your passport is from any country other than the U.S., it is your responsibility to check with your local consulate, embassy, or a visa services company about visa requirements. We recommend the services of PVS International, a national visa service located in Washington D.C.; they can be reached at 1-800-556-9990 or www. pvsinternational.org.

Trusted Traveler Programs Some travelers have found that Trusted Traveler programs can expedite long waits at customs when re entering the U.S. There are currently three programs available: Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI. These three programs also include TSA Pre-Check, which allows you to use a dedicated security line at participating airports, or you can apply solely for TSA Pre-Check.

07/13/2017 MEX2017 3 TIP: Keep in mind that not all airports and airlines participate in these programs. You may want to consider checking with your airport prior to applying to find out if these programs would benefit you.

To apply for a Trusted Traveler program or TSA Pre-Check, typically you will be asked to pay an application fee (varies by program) and schedule a background check and/or an interview. If you are approved, you will be issued a Known Traveler Number (KTN). Your KTN is valid for a set number of years, based on the conditions of the program. Please see the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for more details on each of these programs: www.cbp.gov/ travel/trusted-traveler-programs. You can also find more information about TSA Pre-Check at www.tsa.gov/precheck.

If you are enrolled in TSA Pre-Check (or a Trusted Traveler program that includes it), you must provide your KTN to the airlines.

Emergency Photocopies of Key Documents We recommend you carry color photocopies of key documents including the photo page of your passport plus any applicable visas, air itinerary, credit cards (front and back), and an alternative form of ID. Add emergency phone numbers like your credit card company and the number for your travel protection plan. Store copies separate from the originals.

If you plan to email this information to yourself, please keep in mind that email is not always secure; consider using password protection or encryption. Also email is not always available worldwide. As an alternative, you could load these documents onto a flash drive instead, which can do double-duty as a place to backup photos during your trip.

Overseas Taxes & Fees This tour may have taxes and fees that cannot be included in your airline ticket price because you are required to pay them in person onsite. All taxes are subject to change without notice and can be paid in cash (either U.S. or local currency). If applicable, you will receive a list of these fees with your Final Documents.

Tourist Card Fee for Mexico All U.S. travelers who arrive by air in Mexico are required to pay approximately $20 per person for a tourist card (basically, a tourism tax). If Grand Circle Travel is arranging your international air, this fee will be included in your air ticket price, and you do not need to pay the fee when you arrive in Mexico.

If you are arranging your own international flights, please check with the airline in question to confirm if your tourist card fee is included. If it is not included, you will pay the fee when you land in Mexico.

The amount and the enforcement of this fee is entirely at the discretion of the local government; it is subject to change at any moment without prior notice.

4 MEX2017 07/13/2017 HEALTH

Keep Your Abilities In Mind Please review the information below prior to departing on this trip. We reserve the right for our Program Directors to modify participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home if their limitations are impacting the group’s experience.

PACING • 3 locations in 11 days

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • Walk 2 miles unassisted and participate in 1-3 hours of physical activities daily, including stairs

• Not accessible for travelers using wheelchairs or scooters

• Travelers using walkers, crutches, or other mobility aids must travel with a companion who can assist them

• We reserve the right for Program Directors to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their limitations impact the group’s experience

TERRAIN & TRANSPORTATION • Uneven walking surfaces, including unpaved paths, hills, steep and uneven stairs without handrails, and cobblestone streets in the cities

• Travel by 45-seat motorcoach

CLIMATE • Daytime temperatures range from 75-105°F during touring season

• March-May are the warmest months

• Anticipate high humidity

Warning: Stairs Much of this trip entails visiting ruins, which often have old stairs that are steep, uneven, and without handrails. In order to get the most out of your trip, you should be capable of climbing and descending several flights of these “historic condition” stairs without assistance.

07/13/2017 MEX2017 5 Health Check Feeling healthy and confident of your mobility is essential to fully enjoy your trip. If you have ongoing medical conditions or concerns about your health, we highly recommend that you schedule a checkup with your personal physician at least six weeks in advance of your departure date.

• Discuss with your doctor any aspects of your itinerary that may affect your health and be guided by his or her advice. (You can use the “Keep Your Abilities in Mind” on the previous page as a guideline to discuss with him or her.)

• You may want to have a dental exam before your trip. A loose filling or developing cavity would be difficult to remedy while you are traveling.

• If you have a condition that requires special equipment or treatment, you must bring and be responsible for all necessary items related to your condition.

No Vaccines Required At the time of writing there were no required vaccines for this trip. The CDC recommends that all travelers be up to date on their routine vaccinations and on basic travel vaccines like Hepatitis A and Typhoid, but these are suggestions only. However, this could change in future so we encourage you to check with the CDC yourself before meeting with your doctor.

Anti-Malaria Medication: Ask Your Doctor At time of writing, the CDC said that the overall risk of malaria was very low in Mexico, but that there had been cases in some of the places we’ll visit (Oaxaca and Chiapas states). Ask your doctor if they recommend anti-malarial medication for you—they may advise against it because of the side effects. Keep in mind that you can also fight malaria by preventing insect bites, so you may be better off bringing insect repellent rather than medication.

Traveling with Medications • Pack medications in your carry-on bag to avoid loss and to have them handy.

• Keep medicines in their original, labeled containers for a quicker security screen at the airport and a better experience if you get stopped by customs while overseas.

• Bring copies of your prescriptions, written using the generic drug name rather than a brand name to be prepared for any unforeseen loss of your medications.

We recommend checking this site for medication restrictions by country: http://travel.state. gov/content/passports/english/go/customs.html. (Follow the links to “Local Laws & Special Circumstances” for each country; if you don’t see any medications specifically mentioned, then you can presume major U.S. brands should be OK).

6 MEX2017 07/13/2017 Limits on Over-the-Counter Medications According to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, over-the-counter medicines with pseudoephedrine (such as Actifed, Sudafed, and Vicks inhalers) or codeine are prohibited in Mexico. For more information, see the embassy website at https://mx.usembassy.gov/ and search for “bringing medication”.

Staying Healthy on Your Trip

Jet Lag Tips • Start your trip well-rested.

• Begin a gradual transition to your new time zone before you leave or switch to your destination time zone when you get on the plane.

• Attempt to sleep and eat according to the new schedule.

• Avoid heavy eating and drinking caffeine or alcoholic beverages right before–and during– your flight.

• Drink plenty of water and/or fruit juice while flying

• Stretch your legs, neck, and back periodically while seated on the plane.

• After arrival, avoid the temptation to nap.

• Don’t push yourself to see a lot on your first day.

• Try to stay awake your first day until after dinner.

Allergies If you have any serious allergies or dietary restrictions, we advise you to notify us at least 30 days prior to your departure. Please call our Traveler Support team at 1-800-321-2835, and we will communicate them to our regional office. Every effort will be made to accommodate you.

Water • Tap water is not safe to drink in Mexico, although some hotels will offer filtered water on their property.

• Unless you are told differently by your Program Director—who will know about each specific hotel— please avoid tap water, drinks with ice, or salad (it may have been washed in tap water).

• We recommend that you use bottled water instead, which is widely available for purchase.

• When buying bottled water, inspect each bottle before you buy it to make sure the cap is sealed properly.

07/13/2017 MEX2017 7 • To fight dehydration, carry a bottle in your daypack at all times.

Food • We’ve carefully chosen the restaurants for your group meals, and fresh fruits and salads at our group meals are generally as safe as in restaurants in the U.S. Your Program Director can suggest restaurants for the meals you take on your own.

• When dining out independently, watch what you eat and drink.

• Avoid uncooked food, any food sold by street vendors, and non-pasteurized milk and milk products.

• Fruit that you peel yourself is usually safe.

High Altitude: Mexico City Extension Only On average, Mexico City is at 7,382 feet above sea level—which is just below the point where most people start to feel elevation sickness (8,000 feet). However:

• If you have never traveled to high elevations before, or

• If you know that high elevations affect you, or

• If you’ve had heart /breathing trouble before,

Then you should ask your doctor if they recommend medication for altitude sickness. We do not go to high elevations on the main trip or Tulum extension.

Air Pollution: Mexico City Extension Only Mexico City has a reputation for air pollution that is only somewhat deserved. In the 1990s, the pollution was bad, but subsequent measures by city government have greatly improved the situation. That said, travelers on the Mexico City extension should be prepared for a few hazy days (especially in the winter). And any traveler with sensitivity to pollution or soot should take precautions (i.e. bring an extra inhaler—but NOT one with pseudoephedrine—pack a face mask, etc.)

8 MEX2017 07/13/2017 MONEY MATTERS

Top Three Tips • Carry a mix of different types of payments, such as local currency, an ATM card, and a credit card

• Traveler’s checks are not recommended. They can be difficult to exchange and the commission fee for cashing them is quite high. It’s more practical to view them as a last resort in the event of a special situation.

• You will not be able to pay with U.S. dollars on this trip; you will need local currency instead.

Local Currency For current exchange rates, please refer to an online converter tool like www.xe.com/ currencyconverter, your bank, or the financial section of your newspaper.

Mexico The basic unit of currency is the Mexican peso, which is divided into 100 cents or centavos. Banknote and coin denominations are as follows:

• Banknotes: 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 pesos

• Coins: 5, 10, 20, 50 centavo and 1, 2, 5, 10 pesos. There is also a 20 peso coin, but it is rarely used.

The sign for Mexican pesos is the same as for U.S. dollars ($); prices are usually in pesos. Some resorts or businesses in more “touristy” towns will take U.S. dollars, but the exchange rate won’t be in your favor.

How to Exchange Money If you want to exchange money before your trip, you can usually do so through your bank or at an exchange office. Your departure airport in the U.S., a travel agent, or an AAA office are also possible outlets. Or you can wait and change money on the trip instead—but it might be helpful to arrive with some local currency in case you run into a bank holiday or an “out of order” ATM.

On your trip, the easiest way is to withdraw funds from a local ATM. The ATM will give you local money and your bank at home will convert that into U.S. dollars.

You can also exchange cash at some hotels, large post offices, and money exchange offices. To exchange cash, you’ll usually need your passport and bills in good condition (not worn, torn, or dirty). New bills (post 2004) are best. Never exchange money on the street. All exchange methods involve fees, which may be built into the conversion rate; ask beforehand.

07/13/2017 MEX2017 9 ATMs When using the ATM, keep in mind that it may only accept cards from local banks, and may not allow cash advances on credit cards; you might need to try more than one ATM or more than one card.

Many banks charge a fee of $1-$5 each time you use an out-of-network ATM. Others may charge you a percentage of the amount you withdraw. We recommend that you check with your bank before you depart.

Lastly, don’t forget to memorize the actual digits of your card’s PIN number (many keypads do not include letters on their keys—they only display numbers.)

Mexico: ATMs are common in Mexico and widely available.

Credit & Debit Cards Even if you don’t plan on using a credit card during your trip, we still suggest that you bring one or two as a backup, especially if you are planning a large purchase (artwork, jewelry). We also suggest that you bring more than one brand of card (i.e. Visa, MasterCard, American Express) if possible, because not every shop will take every card. For example, although the Discover card is accepted in some countries outside the U.S., it is not widely adopted, so other brands will work at a much larger range of stores, restaurants, etc.

Mexico: Major American credit cards are accepted in Mexico, but you may be charged an additional 2-6% for using a credit card. Cards are not widely accepted in restaurants, which may be cash only.

Notify Card Providers Many credit card companies and banks have fraud alert departments that will freeze your card if they see suspicious charges—such as charges or withdrawals from another country. To avoid an accidental security block, it is a good idea to notify your credit card company and/or bank you will be using your cards abroad. You can do this by calling their customer service number a week or two before your departure. Some banks or credit card companies will also let you do this online.

You should also double-check what phone number you could call if you have a problem with a card while you are abroad. Don’t assume you can use the 1-800 number printed on the back of your card—most 1 800 numbers don’t work outside of the U.S.!

Tipping Guidelines Of course, whether you tip, and how much, is always at your own discretion. But for those of you who have asked for tipping suggestions, we offer these guidelines. To make it easy for you to budget, we have quoted the amounts in U.S. dollars; tips can be converted and paid in local currency or in U.S. dollars.

10 MEX2017 07/13/2017 • Grand Circle Program Director: It is customary to express a personal “thank you” to your GCT Program Director at the end of your trip. As a guideline, many travelers give $4-$6 per traveler for each day their Program Director is with them. Please note that tips for your Program Director can only be in the form of cash. If you are taking any of the optional extensions, your Program Director during the extension(s) may not be the same as the one on your main trip.

• Hotel Housekeeping: Many travelers will leave the equivalent of $1-$2 per day, per room for the hotel housekeeping staff.

• Included in Your Trip Price: Gratuities are included for local guides and motorcoach drivers on your main trip, extensions, and all optional tours.

Time at Leisure

When you are exploring on your own, it’s useful to know when to tip and how much, because local customs often differ from the U.S. Here are a few helpful guidelines for the most common services a traveler might use:

• Taxis: Tipping is not expected unless the driver provided some sort of extra service.

• Restaurants, cafes, and bars: Waiters expect a 10%-15% cash tip unless a service fee is included on the bill.

07/13/2017 MEX2017 11 PREPARING FOR YOUR TRIP

Land Only Travelers If you plan on booking your own international flights or arranging with our air department to arrive/depart on an earlier/later date than standard for your program, airport transfers will NOT be included in your program price, unless otherwise noted. For eligible flights, transfers may be purchased separately, as an optional add-on, and are subject to availability. To be eligible, your flight(s) must meet the following requirements:

• You must fly into or fly home from the same airport as OAT travelers who purchased included airfare.

• Your flight(s) must arrive/depart on the same day that the group arrives or departs.

To learn more, or purchase airport transfers, please call our Traveler Support team at 1-800-321-2835.

Air Inclusive Travelers If you have purchased international air with Grand Circle Travel, there are some points that may be helpful for you to know.

• U.S. Departure: If you are among a group of ten or more Grand Circle travelers who depart the U.S. from your international gateway city, it is our goal to have a Grand Circle Representative assist you at the U.S. airport with the check-in of your flight. Unless there are extenuating circumstances beyond our control, the Representative will be at the check-in counter three hours before your departure time. If you are flying domestically before your international flight, the representative will be stationed at the check-in counter for your departing international flight, not at the domestic arrival gate.

• Overseas Arrival: Once you arrive overseas, you’ll need to collect your luggage and clear customs. A Grand Circle Representative will meet you outside of customs and assist you with your transfer to the hotel or ship. Important note on porters: Airport porters are NOT allowed in the baggage claim area. On arrival, you must take your luggage off the baggage carousel and load it onto a cart, which you will then move through customs. When you exit customs, you’ll handle your cart until reaching your transfer vehicle. Your driver will load your luggage into the transfer vehicle.

• Flight Delays: Grand Circle Travel is not responsible for flight delays or cancellations. In the unfortunate circumstance that your flight is delayed or changed, please try to reach the regional Grand Circle office (their number will be in your Final Documents) in order to make new arrangements for your transfer. Due to airline regulations our staff is not notified of flight rerouting, and our local representative won’t necessarily be aware of your new arrival time. In these cases you will need to arrange your transfer by taxi to your hotel.

12 MEX2017 07/13/2017 • U.S. Return: If you are among a group of ten or more Grand Circle travelers who return to the same U.S. gateway city, a Grand Circle Representative will meet you as you exit Customs and help you find taxis, buses, hotel accommodations, or connecting flights. Again, it is our goal to have our Grand Circle Representative waiting to assist your group. In rare instances, unforeseen circumstances may prevent this service.

• Flying with a Travel Companion: If you’re traveling with a companion from a different household, and both of you are beginning and ending your trip at the same airport on the same dates, let us know you’d like to travel together and we’ll make every effort to arrange this (please note, however, that this is not always possible). If you request any changes to your flights, please be sure that both you and your companion tell us that you still want to fly together.

Optional Tours Optional tours are additional add-on tours that allow you to personalize your vacation by tailoring it to your tastes and needs. And if you decide not to join an optional tour? Then you’ll have free time to relax or explore on your own—it’s about options, not obligations.

What You Need to Know • All optional tours are subject to change and availability.

• Optional tours that are reserved with your Program Director can be paid for using credit/debit cards only. We accept MasterCard and Visa credit cards; we can also take MasterCard or Visa debit cards as long as the card allows you to sign for purchases. (You won’t be able to enter a PIN.)

• To ensure that you are charged in U.S. dollars, your payment will be processed by our U.S. headquarters in Boston. This process can take up to three months, so we ask that you only use a card that will still be valid three months after your trip is over. The charge may appear on your credit card statement as being from Boston, MA or may be labeled as “OPT Boston”.

• Your Program Director will give you details on the optional tours while you’re on the trip. But if you’d like to look over descriptions of them earlier, you can do so at any time by referring to your Day-to-Day Itinerary (available online by signing into My Account at www.gct.com/myaccount).

Communications

Cell Phones If you want to use your cell phone on the trip, check with your phone provider to see if your phone and service will work outside of the U.S. It may turn out to be cheaper to rent an international phone or buy a SIM card onsite. If you want to use a local SIM, just make certain your phone can accept one.

07/13/2017 MEX2017 13 Calling Apps Another option is to use a smartphone app like Skype or FaceTime. These services are usually less expensive than making a traditional call, but you’ll need a Wi-Fi connection and the calls may count towards your phone plan’s data allowance. Many smartphones—and some tablets or laptops—come with one of these apps pre-installed or you can download them for free from the appropriate apps store.

Calling Cards and 1-800 Numbers When calling the U.S. from a foreign country, a prepaid calling card can be useful because it circumvents unexpected charges from the hotel. Calling cards purchased locally are typically the best (less expensive, more likely to work with the local phones, etc.).

One reminder: Do not call U.S. 1-800 numbers outside the continental United States. This can result in costly long distance fees, since 1-800 numbers do not work outside the country.

How to Call Overseas When calling overseas from the U.S., dial 011 for international exchange, then the country code (indicated by a plus sign: +), and then the number. Note that foreign phone numbers may not have the same number of digits as U.S. numbers; even within a country the number of digits can vary depending on the city and if the phone is a land line or cell phone.

Mexico: +52

14 MEX2017 07/13/2017 PACKING

Luggage Limits

MAIN TRIP LIMITS

Pieces per person One checked bag and one carry-on bag per person .

Weight restrictions Varies by airline . The current standard is 50 lbs for checked bags and 17 lbs for carry-on bags .

Size Restrictions Varies by airline . Measured in linear inches (length+width+depth) . Generally, 62 linear inches is the checked bag limit; carry-on limit is 45 linear inches .

Luggage Type A sturdy, fabric-sided suitcase with built-in wheels and lockable zippers is recommended .

TRIP EXTENSION(S) LIMITS

Same as the main trip .

REMARKS/SUGGESTIONS

One suitcase and one carry-on bag per person: Due to the space limitations on bus transfers, you’ll be restricted to one suitcase and one carry-on bag per person . This is to ensure that we have room for everyone’s luggage . We ask that you abide by this limit to avoid inconveniencing your fellow travelers and prevent additional airlines luggage fees (which are your responsibility) . Most airlines now charge to check more than one suitcase per person for flights to Europe and other international flights .

Luggage rules: Luggage rules and limits are set by governmental and airline policy . Enforcement of the rules may include spot checks or may be inconsistent . However one thing is the same across the board: If you are found to have oversized or overweight luggage, you will be subject to additional fees, to be assessed by—and paid to—the airline in question .

Don’t Forget: • These luggage limits may change. If the airline(s) notify us of any changes, we will include an update in your Final Documents booklet.

• It’s a good idea to reconfirm baggage restrictions and fees directly with the airline a week or so prior to departure. For your convenience, we maintain a list of the toll-free numbers for the most common airlines on our website in the FAQ section.

07/13/2017 MEX2017 15 • Baggage fees are not included in your trip price; they are payable directly to the airlines.

Your Luggage

Checked Luggage Consider a duffel bag or soft-sided suitcase. Look for one with heavy nylon fabric, wrap- around handles, built-in wheels, and a heavy duty lockable zipper. Due to space limitations on our motorcoaches, you are allowed one piece of checked luggage per person. Porterage at airports and hotels is provided for one bag per person. All bags should have luggage tags.

Carry-on Bag You are allowed one carry-on bag per person. We suggest a tote or small backpack that can be used as both a carry-on bag for your flight and to carry your daily necessities—water bottle, camera, etc—during your daily activities.

Locks For flights that originate in the U.S., you can either use a TSA-approved lock or leave your luggage unlocked. Outside of the U.S. we strongly recommend locking your luggage as a theft-prevention measure.

Clothing Suggestions

Functional Tips • Travel light: A good rule of thumb is to gather together everything you want to bring; then take half of that. Eliminate all but the essentials and start packing a few days before you leave. That way, you’ll have time to think—not fret—about what you might be forgetting. To have a varied travel wardrobe, yet keep your luggage light, we recommend you select a color scheme and pack color-coordinated clothing items that can be mixed to create different outfits.

• Consider clothing designed for travel, sports, or camping: Sporting goods/outdoor stores (L.L. Bean, REI, EMS, etc.) can be a good source of lightweight, specialized, and fashionable clothing and gear that is readily adaptable to your itinerary.

• Pack casual clothes: Men do not need jackets or ties and women do not need fancy dresses. At most, you may want one or two “smart casual” outfits for diner out at a nice restaurant, but it’s completely up to you.

• Good walking shoes are essential: Negotiating the cobblestone pathways and rather uneven sidewalks can be a challenge—even for the most surefooted traveler. For your comfort and safety, you’ll need supportive walking shoes that offer good traction. Light hiking boots might be useful on some days.

16 MEX2017 07/13/2017 • Rain gear: You’ll want good, light rain gear all year round. We suggest you bring a folding umbrella and waterproof jacket, preferably with a hood, as well as dry footwear.

What to Bring We have included suggestions from Program Directors and former travelers to help you pack. These lists are only jumping-off points—they offer recommendations based on experience, but not requirements. You may also want to consult the “Climate” chapter of this handbook.

What not to pack: Do not pack aerosol cans, as they tend to leak during air travel. Leave behind any credit cards that are not essential for your trip, valuable jewelry, and anything that you would hate to lose.

Your accommodations will supply soap, body wash, and shampoo/conditioner. If you prefer a certain brand you may want to bring your own, but otherwise you can rely on what they provide.

Recommend Clothing ❑❑Shirts: A mixture of short and long-sleeved shirts to layer ❑❑Trousers, jeans, or skirts ❑❑Comfortable walking shoes and/or water resistant shoes ❑❑Light rain jacket/windbreaker with hood ❑❑Sleepwear ❑❑Socks and undergarments ❑❑A jacket or sweater, depending on the time of year

Essential Items ❑❑Daily essentials: toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, hairbrush or comb, shaving items, deodorant, sunscreen, etc.

❑❑Spare eyeglasses/contact lenses and your prescription ❑❑Sunglasses with a neck strap ❑❑Wide-brim sun hat or visor ❑❑Compact umbrella ❑❑Photocopies of passport, air ticket, credit cards

07/13/2017 MEX2017 17 ❑❑Travel money bag or money belt ❑❑Camera, spare batteries, and memory cards

Medicines ❑❑Your own prescription medicines ❑❑Vitamins ❑❑Cold remedies (but NOT with pseudoephedrine) ❑❑Pain relievers: Ibuprofen/naproxen/aspirin ❑❑Laxatives: Senokot/Ex-Lax ❑❑Stomach upset: Pepto-Bismol/Mylanta ❑❑Anti-diarrheal: Imodium ❑❑Band-Aids, Moleskin foot pads ❑❑Optional: Antibiotics for gastrointestinal illness ❑❑Optional: Altitude sickness medication (for the Mexico City extension only)

Reminder: According to the U.S. embassy in Mexico pseudoephedrine and codeine are prohibited, so please check that your over-the-counter medications don’t have these ingredients.

Optional Gear ❑❑Travel alarm ❑❑Compact binoculars ❑❑Hanging toiletry bag with pockets ❑❑Washcloth ❑❑Travel-size tissues ❑❑Basic sewing kit ❑❑Hand-wash laundry soap, and maybe clothespins/travel clothesline/stopper ❑❑Electrical transformer and plug adapter

18 MEX2017 07/13/2017 ❑❑Reading materials ❑❑Travel journal/note pad ❑❑Swimsuit, if your hotel has a pool or whirlpool ❑❑Addresses for postcards ❑❑Photos, small gift for Home-Hosted visit ❑❑Phrase book ❑❑Pocket-size calculator for exchange rates ❑❑Travel hair dryer: Many hotels will provide hair dryers, but not all. If a hair dryer is essential to you consider a travel-size version.

Electricity When traveling overseas, the voltage is usually different and the plugs might not be the same shape.

Voltage Mexico operates on the same electricity as the U.S.—110-voltage current. Your small electric appliances (shaver, camera battery charger, etc.) will operate as they do at home, although items that heat up (like hair dryers or curlers) may overheat because the electricity in Mexico cycles at a slower rate.

Plugs The shape of plugs will vary from country to country, and sometimes even within a country depending on when that building was built.

07/13/2017 MEX2017 19 Different plug shapes are named by letters of the alphabet. Mexico uses Types and B, which is the same as a standard U.S. plug. Because electric plugs in this region are American-style, you will not need an adapter.

Mexico: A or B (same as U.S.)

Type A Type B

Availability Electricity supply cannot be guaranteed during overnight stays. Power outages are more common in Mexico than they are in the U.S. Travelers who are dependent on an electrical supply (as those with sleep apnea) should consider a different Grand Circle vacation.

20 MEX2017 07/13/2017 CLIMATE

Oaxaca, Mexico: Oaxaca is considered a subtropical climate, meaning it has distinct dry and wet seasons like the tropics, but also has season temperature fluctuations. The dry season runs from November-March; the wet season—when thunderstorms are common—is from May-September; April and October are shoulder seasons. The warmest time of year is actually April and May, when highs in the 90s are common. The rest of the year daytime temperatures are usually in the high 70s-80s, but nighttime lows vary from 32° F (in January) to 60° F (May and June).

Palenque, Mexico: This region is even more tropical that Oaxaca, with year-round highs in the 80s and 90s (or higher) and high humidity, which makes it feel hotter. Low temperatures rarely go below 50° F. Rainfall is common all year, but especially heavy June-October.

Merida, Mexico: This city lies close to the Tropic of Cancer, which means high heat and high humidity. Even when the temperature is “only” 80° F, the humidity can make it feel like 100° F. Locals have learned to work around the climate by starting their day early, taking midday break (siesta), and then going back —to work, to chores, etc.—in the late afternoon and early evening. Low temperatures are usually in the 60s. Rainfall is usually light, but more common in the summer and fall.

Mexico City, Mexico: The city has a subtropical highland climate, with warm summers and mild winters. Summertime highs are usually in the 80s, although a heat wave may bring highs up into the 90s. In the winter, temperatures usually stay around the 60s in the day and the 40s at night. Snow is so rare that it only happens once every 20 years or so. October-May is the dry season, while June-September is considered the “rainy season”. During these months it rains on average once a day, though the rain rarely lasts longer than a few hours. Mexico City does struggle with air pollution and the city is often smoggy, with poor visibility. This air pollution is worse in the winter.

Tulum, Mexico: Tulum is situated on a peninsula that sticks out into the Caribbean Sea, and as a result, has a Caribbean-style climate with warm days and lots of sun, although there is a rainy season from roughly August-September that can see high winds as well as rain.

Climate Charts & Online Forecast The following charts reflect the average climate as opposed to exact weather conditions. This means they serve only as general indicators of what can reasonably be expected. An extreme heat wave or cold snap could fall outside these ranges. As your departure approaches, we encourage you to go online to www.gct.com/myaccount for your 10-day forecast.

07/13/2017 MEX2017 21 Average Daily High/Low Temperatures (°F), Humidity & Monthly Rainfall

MONTH OAXACA, MEXICO PALENQUE, MEXICO

Temp. High-Low % Relative Average # of Days Temp. High-Low % Relative Average # of Days Humidity (am-pm) with Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) with Rainfall JAN 80 to 49 -- 1 83 to 64 -- 9 FEB 84 to 54 -- 1 85 to 64 -- 7 MAR 87 to 55 -- 2 90 to 67 -- 6 APR 89 to 58 -- 4 93 to 71 -- 5 MAY 88 to 60 -- 8 95 to 72 -- 7 JUN 84 to 60 -- 13 93 to 72 -- 15 JUL 83 to 59 -- 11 92 to 71 -- 15 AUG 83 to 59 -- 12 92 to 71 -- 17 SEP 82 to 59 -- 12 91 to 72 -- 19 OCT 82 to 58 -- 5 87 to 70 -- 16 NOV 81 to 53 -- 1 85 to 68 -- 12 DEC 80 to 51 -- 1 82 to 65 -- 9

MONTH MERIDA, MEXICO MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

Temp. High-Low % Relative Average # of Days Temp. High-Low % Relative Average # of Days Humidity (am-pm) with Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) with Rainfall JAN 87 to 63 93 to 52 4 70 to 45 77 to 33 1 FEB 89 to 63 92 to 47 3 72 to 46 74 to 31 1 MAR 93 to 66 91 to 41 2 76 to 50 69 to 28 2 APR 96 to 68 89 to 40 2 78 to 53 71 to 28 4 MAY 97 to 71 91 to 43 5 79 to 55 76 to 31 8 JUN 96 to 71 94 to 55 11 76 to 57 82 to 42 14 JUL 95 to 71 95 to 59 13 74 to 56 85 to 45 17 AUG 95 to 70 96 to 59 13 74 to 56 85 to 43 14 SEP 94 to 71 97 to 65 14 73 to 55 85 to 46 11 OCT 91 to 69 95 to 61 10 73 to 52 84 to 40 6 NOV 89 to 67 95 to 57 5 72 to 48 81 to 36 1 DEC 87 to 64 94 to 55 4 70 to 45 81 to 34 1

22 MEX2017 07/13/2017 MONTH TULUM, MEXICO

Temp. High-Low % Relative Average # of Days Humidity (am-pm) with Rainfall JAN 85 to 64 -- 7 FEB 86 to 68 -- 5 MAR 88 to 70 -- 3 APR 88 to 71 -- 3 MAY 90 to 72 -- 6 JUN 90 to 72 -- 10 JUL 90 to 71 -- 8 AUG 90 to 71 -- 9 SEP 89 to 70 -- 13 OCT 88 to 69 -- 12 NOV 87 to 67 -- 9 DEC 85 to 65 -- 7

07/13/2017 MEX2017 23 ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS

Your Program Director During your Grand Circle Travel vacation, your group of up to 42 travelers will have reliable assistance available at all times from an onsite Grand Circle Travel Program Director. Your experienced Program Director can give you an inside perspective on your destinations and may be supported along the way by local tour guides, who guide you expertly through particular sites and cities.

Many of our Program Directors are graduates of professional education programs for travel guides. In addition, they receive specialized training directly from Grand Circle Travel, training that is based on what we’ve learned from thousands of past travelers about how to make the trip most enjoyable. Your Program Director offers both a deep knowledge of the region and a commitment to make this a very pleasant, informative, and rewarding travel experience for you.

Your Program Director will provide sightseeing tips, handle all travel details, reserve optional tours you choose to take, oversee your exclusive Discovery Series events, and provide any other assistance you may need.

Merida in Brief

City Layout & Details Merida’s downtown is mostly on a grid plan, but with a few streets that veer off diagonally. Streets are usually numbered not named (for example Calle 61 or Calle 8). Odd numbers run east-west while even numbers run north-south. Numbers begin at the north and east sides of town. The main thoroughfare is Calle 60, which runs past the cathedral, shops, restaurants, theaters, and the main square (Plaza Grande).

In addition to close proximity to the main street, Plaza Grande also houses the Palacio Municipal (municipal buildings), Museo Casa Montejo (a notable historical building), and the Museo Fernando García Ponce-Macay (a museum of modern and contemporary art).

Just to the north of the historical town center is the fashionable Paseo de Montejo neighborhood, which spreads out from the boulevard by the same name. (The street isn’t numbered because it was inserted between Calle 58 and Calle 56 later on.) Here you’ll find more restaurants and shops, plus the stately mansions from the turn of the century.

Local Transportation Taxis are relatively inexpensive—usually less than $5 to go across town—but not needed within the walkable downtown area.

24 MEX2017 07/13/2017 There are also city buses, but they can be a bit confusing for the visitor, especially if you don’t speak Spanish. However, they can be useful if you want to travel between downtown and the Paseo de Montejo neighborhood. Look for the Itzimna bus, which you can catch on Calle 59 (the stop is between Calles 56 and 58), and will drop you off on the Paseo de Montejo boulevard itself.

Cuisine In Merida, a tropical climate and a rich Mayan history add up to a unique style of food, with some very special ingredients:

• Chaya maya: A type of green, similar to spinach, which is used in many regional dishes.

• Pibil: A cooking style that uses spice rub and a low-and-slow cooking method to create tender and flavorful meat.

• Seville oranges: Brought over by the Spanish, the juice from the oranges is often used in place of vinegar to give a dish some tang or acidity.

• Habanero peppers: Brings the heat.

• Achiote: A slightly bitter red seed that is crushed into a powder and used as the base for spice mixtures.

Oaxaca in Brief

Pronunciation The city’s name is usually pronounced as “wah-HA-ka”.

City Layout & Details The historical city center is laid out in a grid pattern, with Alcala/Bustamante as the main north-south axis and Avenue de Independencia as the main east-west axis. Near where the two intersect is the Plaza de la Constitucion—known locally as the Zocalo—a large square with a delicate art nouveau pavilion flanked by churches. This is the unofficial center point of the historical district. Kitty-corner from the Zocalo is a second square, the Alameda, which has the city’s cathedral (Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncio). A few blocks north is the Plaza de Santo Domingo, which can be reached by one of two pedestrian streets: Alcala or Cinco de Mayo. One block south of the Zocalo are two large markets, the Mercado Benito Juarez (handicrafts, flowers, tools, etc.) and the Mercado 20 de Noviembre (food).

TIP: When a street crosses Avenue de Independencia, its name usually changes. To better clarify addresses, many local will include the nearest street corner or cross street (i.e. 123 Main Street, by the corner of Main and Garden).

07/13/2017 MEX2017 25 Post Office The main post office in Oaxaca is on the Plaza Alameda, near the cathedral. It is open 8 am - 6 pm Monday through Friday, 9 am – 1 pm Saturday, and closed on Sunday.

Local Transportation The historic center of Oaxaca is best explored on foot. But should you wish to travel a longer distance, you’ll have a couple options: local buses or taxis. Because taxis are relatively inexpensive compared to the U.S., most travelers prefer them to the local bus. However, the average city taxi is not metered—you negotiate a flat price with the driver instead—so make sure you agree on a price before you depart. Taxis may impose additional fees for baggage or for trips between 10 pm and 5 am. City taxis are usually yellow or all white.

To get outside the city, you could try a colectivo which is a shared taxi for up to 6 travelers that works somewhat like a bus—you find one going your direction, flag it down, and pay your fare to the driver, who lets you off at the closest stop to your destination. Colectivos are maroon and white.

Cuisine The cuisine of Oaxaca mixes pre-Colombian ingredients with Spanish and Italian influences to create a surprise and rich food culture. Some of the most interesting—and unexpected—local dishes are:

• Moles - Mole (mole-lay) is a complex sauce that can include anywhere from 15 to 30 ingredients. Although Oaxaca is known as the “land of 7 moles”, the most famous is black mole, which usually gets its color from the use of chocolate as a savory spice and not a sweet.

• Barbacoa – Mexican BBQ, usually goat or lamb, served in a corn tortilla

• Champurrado – Hot chocolate with spices like vanilla, cinnamon, and anise

• Chapulines – Roasted grasshoppers; eaten as a snack

• Garnachas – Bite-size corn tortillas, deep fried, and topped with whatever’s at hand

• Tasajo – Meat that has been air-dried, smoked, or sun-dried—far better than jerky.

• Mezcal – An alcoholic drink made from the maguey plant (a type of agave). Related to tequila, but smokier-tasting.

• Oaxacan string cheese – Similar to mozzarella but rolled into long ribbons

• Tamales – Packages of meat, veggies, and a starch (usually rice or corn dough) cooked in banana leaf or corn husk.

• Tlayudas – The so-called “Oaxacan pizza” has a dried tortilla base, with heaps of toppings such as refried beans, tomatoes, avocadoes, and meat.

26 MEX2017 07/13/2017 Palenque in Brief

City Layout & Details Palenque’s layout is a loose grid pattern of avenues that run east to west, with crooked cross streets running north to south. The main thoroughfare is Bentito Juarez—the only curved avenue—which is also known as Central Pte.

Most of the shops, restaurants, and cafes are clustered in the streets just to the north of Bentito Juarez/Central Pte., especially between 3a Street and Central Nte. Street. In this four- or five-block radius you’ll find several restaurants serving Chiapas-style Mexican food, homey cafes, a couple of pharmacies, ATMs, and other services.

For handicrafts, head to the southeastern end of town, where you’ll find the Plaza de Artesanias just off of 10a. Avenida Sur Pte. Here a mosaic-covered walkway meanders past open-air stalls filled with baskets, textiles, ceramics, and day of the dead handicrafts.

Local Transportation Walking is the way to go in Palenque town, but should you need transport, your next best option is to take a taxi. A ride in the city center could be as little as$3; a taxi from the town to the ruins should be less than $10.

Cuisine Palenque is located in the Mexican state of Chiapas, which is known for its fiery home cooking. The heat comes from the use of the local simojoval chilies. But fortunately, they are usually served on the side as a condiment, rather than in the dish. Other local ingredients of note are:

• Chayote: a type of gourd or squash

• Jicama: yam bean

• Chipilin: a plant with leaves can be used as an herb or a food wrapper

• Hojo santa: a type of herb; the name means “sacred leaf”

• Corn: It’s in almost everything in Chiapas, even drinks like pozol (cornmeal and water) or tascalate (toasted corn and cacao seeds).

The street food tradition is especially strong here. Some of it may sound exotic—beef tongue tacos, fried ants, and strange vegetables—but generally these street snacks are tasty and hardy. Another classic snack is elote, or grilled corn on the cob (corn again!) with your choice of toppings, such as chili powder, salt, butter, mayo, grated cheese, or lime juice. There’s a similar dish where the vendor takes the corn off the cob for you and serves it in a bowl with toppings; this is called esquite.

07/13/2017 MEX2017 27 Last, but not least, is the tamale. While you’ll find this dish of steamed corn dough wrapped in a banana leaf or corn husk throughout Mexico, the ones in Chiapas are especially varied. You’ll find sweet ones with fruit, honey, or sweet potatoes as well as savory ones with pork, fish, and even iguana.

Shopping There may be scheduled visits to local shops during your vacation. There is no requirement to make a purchase during these stops, and any purchase made is a direct transaction with the shop in question, subject to the vendor’s terms of purchase. Grand Circle is not responsible for purchases you make on your trip or for the shipment of your purchases.

Returns If you discover an issue with an item, you should contact the vendor directly. If the shop is outside the country, you should expect that any resolution will take longer than it would in the U.S. We recommend that you keep a copy of all your receipts, invoices, or contracts, along with the shop’s contact information. Keep in mind, local practice may vary from the standards you are used to, so don’t assume that you have a certain number of days after the purchase to speak up or that you are guaranteed a refund.

Crafts & Souvenirs

Mexico You’ll find many bargains in Mexico: hand-loomed wool rugs and blankets; original ceramics and pottery; tin, copper, and papier-mâché sculpture; leather goods—including huarache sandals; iron wood carvings, jewelry made from silver, onyx, abalone, amethyst, and semi- precious stones; liqueurs; lacquerware; serapes (capes) and rebozos (shawls) of translucent silk; and guayabera shirts, Panama hats, and resort wear.

U.S. Customs Regulations & Shipping Charges For all things related to U.S. Customs, the ultimate authority is the U.S. Bureau of Customs & Border Protection. Their website, www.cbp.gov has the answers to the most frequently asked questions. Or you can call them at 1-877-227-5511.

The top three points to know are:

• At time of writing, your personal duty-free allowance is $800 for items brought with you. Items totaling more than $800 are subject to duty fees.

• Items shipped home are always subject to duty when received in the U.S. Even when the shop has offered to include shipping and duties in the price, this typically means shipping to the nearest customs facility and payment of the export duties—not door-to- door shipping or payment of the import duties. All additional duties or shipping charges

28 MEX2017 07/13/2017 would be your responsibility. Unless an item is small enough to send by parcel service (like FedEx), chances are you will need to arrange shipping or pick-up once the item is in the U.S. and will need to pay customs duties.

• It is illegal to import products made from endangered animal species. U.S. Customs & Border Protection will seize these items, as well as most furs, coral, tortoise shell, reptile skins, feathers, plants, and items made from animal skins.

07/13/2017 MEX2017 29 DEMOGRAPHICS & BACKGROUND

Mexico

Facts & Figures • Area: 758,449 square miles

• Capital: Mexico City

• Government type: Federal republic

• Location: Mexico is located in North America, directly to the south of the Continental United States.

• Geography: Broadly speaking, the country can be broken up into five zones: deserts to the north, rain forests to the south and east, coastal beaches along the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and mountains in the center. A large part of the country is mountainous, and there are two notable chains—the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Sierra Madre Occidental—plus smaller ranges in the Central Plateau. The country also has two notable peninsulas: the Yucatan, which juts out into the Gulf of Mexico, and the Baja, which separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California.

• Languages: Spanish is the official language. Indigenous languages such as Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional languages are also spoken.

• Population: 121,736,809

• Religions: Roman Catholic 82.7%, Pentecostal 1.6%, Jehovah’s Witnesses 1.4%, other Evangelical Churches 5%, other 1.9%, none 4.7%, unspecified 2.7%

• Time Zone: Mexico has four time zones that generally correspond with the four time zones in the Continental U.S. However, Mexico’s daylight saving time starts and ends on different dates than in the U.S., so there will be brief periods when the time zones aren’t identical in the two countries.

National Holidays: Mexico

In addition to the holidays listed below, 01/01 New Year’s Day Mexico celebrates a number of national 05/01 Labor Day/May Day holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter. To find out if you will be 09/16 Independence Day traveling during these holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/holidays. 12/12 Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe

12/25 Christmas Day

30 MEX2017 07/13/2017 Historical Overview of Mexico: Evidence suggests that the human habitation of Mexico began more than 20,000 years ago though the first solid evidence comes from two kill sites in the northern Basin of Mexico. Hunter-gatherer people are thought to have discovered and inhabited its territory more than 28,000 years ago.

Between 1800 and 300 BC, complex cultures began to form. Some matured into advanced Pre- Columbian Mesoamerican civilizations such as the Olmec, Teotihuacan, Maya, Zapotec, Mixtec, Huaxtec, Purepecha, Toltec and Mexica (a.k.a. “Aztecs”), which flourished for nearly 4,000 years before first contact with Europeans. These indigenous civilizations are credited with many inventions in: building pyramid-temples, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, writing, highly-accurate calendars, fine arts, intensive agriculture, engineering, an abacus calculation, a complex theology, and the wheel.

In 1519, the native civilizations of Mexico were invaded by Spain with about 600 soldiers and Old World diseases, and two years later in 1521, the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan (Mexico City) was conquered. Thousands of Aztecs died of disease. The most important of the early Conquistadores was Hernán Cortés, who entered the country in 1519 from a native coastal town which he renamed “Puerto de la Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz” (today’s Veracruz).

Contrary to popular belief, Spain did not conquer all of Mexico when Cortes conquered Tenochtitlan in 1521. It would take another two centuries after the Siege of Tenochtitlan before the conquest of Mexico would be complete, as sporadic and ineffective rebellions, attacks, and wars continued against the Spanish by other native peoples. Disease ran rampant throughout Mexico, dropping the population from about eight million to two million by 1600.

During the colonial period, which lasted from 1521 to 1810, Mexico was known as “Nueva España” or “New Spain,” whose territories included today’s Mexico, the Spanish Caribbean islands, Central America as far south as Costa Rica, an area comprising today’s southwestern United States, and the Philippine Islands.

After Napoleon invaded Spain and put his brother on the Spanish throne, Mexican Conservatives and rich land-owners who supported Spain’s Bourbon royal family objected to the comparatively more liberal Napoleonic policies. Thus an unlikely alliance was formed in Mexico: Liberales, or Liberals, who favored a democratic Mexico, and Conservadores, or Conservatives, who favored Mexico ruled by a Bourbon monarch who would restore the old status quo. These two elements agreed only that Mexico must achieve independence and determine her own destiny.

Taking advantage of the fact that Spain was severely handicapped under the occupation of Napoleon’s army, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest of Spanish descent and progressive ideas, declared Mexico’s independence from Spain in the small town of Dolores on September 16, 1810. This act started the long war that eventually led to the official recognition of independence from Spain in 1821.

07/13/2017 MEX2017 31 Many presidents, emperors, dictators, etc., came and went, which brought a long period of instability that lasted most of the 19th century. A dominant figure of the second quarter of that century was the dictator Antonio López de Santa Anna, who was president seven different times, many of them unsuccessful.

During this period, many of the mostly unsettled territories in the north were lost to the United States. Again, off and on, Santa Anna as president tried to rule during the disastrous Mexican-American War (1846-48).

In 1855 Ignacio Comonfort, leader of the self-described Moderates, was elected president. The Moderados tried to find a middle ground between the nation’s Liberals and Conservatives. During Comonfort’s presidency a new Constitution was drafted. The Constitution of 1857 retained most of the Roman Catholic Church’s Colonial era privileges and revenues, but unlike the earlier constitution did not mandate that the Catholic Church be the nation’s exclusive religion. Such reforms were unacceptable to the leadership of the clergy and the Conservatives; Comonfort and members of his administration were excommunicated and a revolt was declared.

This led to the War of Reform, from December 1857 to January 1861. This civil war became increasingly bloody and polarized the nation’s politics. For some time the Liberals and Conservatives had their own governments, the Conservatives in Mexico City and the Liberals headquartered in Veracruz. The war ended with Liberal victory.

In the 1860s, the country again suffered a military occupation, this time by France, seeking to establish the Habsburg Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria as Emperor of Mexico, with support from the Roman Catholic clergy and conservative elements of the upper class as well as some indigenous communities. The Second Mexican Empire was then overthrown by President Benito Juárez, with diplomatic and logistical support from the United States and the military expertise of General Porfirio Díaz. General Ignacio Zaragoza defeated the largely unsupported French Army in Mexico at the city of Puebla on May 5, 1862, celebrated as Cinco de Mayo ever since. However, after his death, the city was lost in early 1863, following a renewed French attack which penetrated as far as Mexico City, forcing Juárez to organize a new itinerant government.

After the victory, there was resentment by Conservatives against President Juárez (who they thought concentrated too much power and wanted to be re-elected) and General Porfirio Díaz rebelled against the government with the proclamation of the Plan de Tuxtepec in 1876.

Díaz became the new president. During a period of more than thirty years (1876–1911) while he was the strong man in Mexico, the country’s infrastructure improved greatly thanks to investments from other countries. Only a small group of investors (domestic and foreign) were getting rich, but the vast majority of the people remained in abject poverty. Democracy was completely suppressed, and dissent was dealt with in repressive, often brutal ways.

32 MEX2017 07/13/2017 During the next four decades, Mexico experienced impressive economic growth (from a very low base), and historians call this period “El Milagro Mexicano,” the Mexican Miracle. This was in spite of falling foreign confidence in investment during the worldwide great depression. The assumption of mineral rights and subsequent nationalization of the oil industry into PEMEX during the presidency of Lázaro Cárdenas del Río was a popular move.

On January 1, 1994, Mexico became a full member of the North American Free Trade Agreement, joining the United States and Canada in a large and prosperous economic bloc. On March 23, 2005, the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America was signed by the elected leaders of those countries.

07/13/2017 MEX2017 33 RESOURCES