Mexico can seem at once familiar and very foreign. Its proximity to the United States and the prevalence of Mexican culture in Texas, California, Arizona, New Mexico and Florida can lead to the assumption that there is little to learn about the neighbor south of the border. However, Mexico has far more to offer than the taqueria food and mariachi music with which many Americans are already familiar. Whether you’re jetting down for some Spring break sunshine or are planning a major tour of several areas, Mexico has some surprises waiting for you.

Mexico’s original peoples were the Olmecs, the Toltecs, the Mayas and the Aztecs, who created elaborate civilizations before the arrival of the Spanish. Hernando Cortes led the conquest that made Mexico a Spanish colony, beginning in the early 1500s and continuing for three centuries. The cry for freedom, known as the “Grito de Dolores,” led by Father Miguel Hidalgo on September 16, 1810, eventually established the Mexican republic.

Mexico has an incredible biodiversity, due to its geographical features. Its array of flora and fauna earn it the distinction of being among the most mega-diverse countries in the world. About 35 different ecosystems coexist in Mexico. Two mountain ranges--the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Sierra Madre Occidental--cross the country. From east to west extends the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt. While there are no snowstorms in Mexico, there are regions with an elevation of a thousand meters. At the lowest levels of elevation, the weather gets humid and hot.

Mexico is the most populated Spanish-speaking country in the world. Its land mass is equal to that of Texas tripled. Its gross domestic product in 2007 was $1,353 trillion, making its economy larger than the economies of many European countries. Nearly one fourth of Mexico’s GDP is generated from exports to the United States, which means that the Mexican economy is quite dependent upon that of its neighbor to the north.

Mexico has had a reputation as an undeveloped nation. While it suffers from lack of infrastructure and an excess of corruption, Mexico also has thriving economies. Cities such as Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey have concentrations of wealthy Mexicans as well as foreigners, and are humming with commerce. Queretaro and San Miguel de Allende, in the colonial central highlands, are booming, the former with local industry and the latter with waves of expatriates settling there. Coastal areas such as Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo are thriving on the tourist trade.

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