Mexico sits as the southernmost point of North America, sharing borders with the United States to the north and Belize and Guatemala to the south, as well as having coastal borders on the Gulf of California, the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The country is a very popular one with visitors from all walks of life, and the country offers a vibrant and exciting experience for anyone who lives it. From the beauty of the natural scenery – jungles, volcanoes and sandy beaches – to the wonders of the ancient Mayan culture left for all to see, Mexico has everything to keep the interest of any traveller.

The history of Mexico stretches back to the Native Indians, with empires rich in culture, religion and intellectual pursuits holding strong from 1200BC to AD1521. Initially the Olmecs, followed by the Zapotecs, then the Mayans, the Toltecs and finally the Aztecs – each lived around Mexico, erecting temples and pyramids that still stand today, with vast cities where hundreds of thousands of people lived. When Hernan Cortes arrived in 1519, the wheels of destruction were set in motion, and the civilisations fell swiftly. It is widely believed that Cortes was welcomed to the nation by the Aztecs as he had arrived in the same year that the god Quetzalcoatl had promised to return from the east – as folklore said, at least. This lead to King Moctezuma II being held hostage by the Spaniards and two years of intense fighting – by the time 1521 rolled around, the great empire was no more. Local culture, language and customs were suppressed by the new leaders, and the oppression coupled with introduced European diseases meant that by 1605 the population of 25 million natives had dwindled to around one million. Spanish rule over New Spain (as it was known) saw those of ‘pure’ Spanish blood enjoying a much higher standard of life than those with native or African slave genealogy. This continued for hundreds of years until the rumblings of discontent became too much for the people to bear – in 1810 the call for revolution came about, and fighting continued on and off until 1821, when Spain formally recognised Mexico’s independence. Stability was not present following independence, however, and by 1845 the presidency of the new nation had changed hands more than 30 times – the US Congress voted to annex certain areas of Mexico, which lead to Texas, California, Utah, Colorado and most of New Mexico and Arizona being ceded to the Americans at the end of the Mexican-American War. National debts reached huge amounts, with most monies being owed to Britain, France and Spain, and in 1862 France decided to go in and take what they saw as theirs – this was another catalyst for war and revolution, and the following decades were marred by violent struggles for freedom. This came to an end by 1876, when Porfirio Diaz took control – his dictatorship may have suppressed many freedoms that the natives craved, but it also industrialised Mexico and gave the country a stability it had not yet experienced since gaining independence – Diaz ruled with an iron fist, and attempts to usurp him were met with ruthless action from his loyal military. Whilst stability was introduced, the lack of basic freedoms once again sowed the seeds of discontent between the Mexican people, and in 1910 revolution broke out, lasting nearly ten years and seeing allegiances change almost as much as those in charge. In 1917 a new constitution was drawn up, and by 1920 the fighting had ended – at the cost of around two million lives. The rest of the 20^th century saw one ruling party – the Party of Institutionalised Revolution (PRI) – in control, and the government saw to many reforms and land re-distribution for the people, ushering in another period of relative calm. From the 1960s the PRI focused Mexico’s economy on oil, but the massive downturn in the value of petroleum in the 1980s saw one of Mexico’s worst ever recessions, as well as an earthquake in 1985 that killed around 10,000 and left thousands more homeless. The presidency of Carlos Salinas de Gortari saw the economy claw its way back to strength, leading to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was ratified by Mexico, the US and Canada in 1994. The fears held by indigenous Mexicans that the NAFTA would see them marginalised more than they already were lead to an uprising in the south of the country when the agreement was signed, and the city of San Cristobal de la Casas was taken over. Whilst it wasn’t long until the rebels were driven from the town, this action made people sit up and take notice, and the Mexican government is still in talks with the Zapatista movement to this day, with social and economic justices at the top of the list. 1994 also saw the massive devaluation of the Mexican Peso, which threw the country into economic crisis – mass emigration to the US followed, and it took until 2000 for the economy to stabilise and begin to get back on track. 2000 also saw the first elections where the PRI were not victorious, and the National Action Party (PAN) took charge of government that year. Whilst the PAN haven’t been able to strengthen the Mexican economy as much as they had hoped, the country is finally in something of a stable position – the economy is getting stronger with each passing year, and social inequalities are being tackled; slowly, at least.

Mexico is a wonderful country for anyone to visit, and proves popular with investors thanks to the diverse and interesting range of locales on offer. With a strengthening economy, the country is sure to see property prices rising faster than they have been in recent years. It is still possible for a potential off plan investor to grab themselves something of a bargain in the country, and the relatively low cost of living, coupled with the laid back lifestyle and friendly people are just a few reasons why Mexico should be one anyone’s list.

The standards of healthcare in Mexico are generally very good in major towns and cities, but standards elsewhere can be much lower. Health insurance is highly recommended.Mobile phone coverage stretches across the majority of the country, though signal strength cannot be guaranteed in more rural regions. Landlines are widely available and lines are of a decent standard. Internet cafes are widespread, especially in tourist areas.