Why Mexico?
Many folks from the U.S. and Canada have a concept of Mexico that goes something like this:
A desolate desert in the north, and nice beaches further south. In either case, it's hot.
Which is not entirely untrue, but, of course, it isn't even nearly the entire truth.
Mexico has an incredibly diverse and varied geography and climate. The deserts and beaches only begin to tell the story. For starters, Mexico is a very mountainous country; most of the major cities and towns in Central Mexico (the bajio region) are at elevations greater than Denver. Some examples:
Guanajuato (city): 6,700 ft (2,042m)
San Miguel de Allende: 6,200 ft (1,890m)
Santiago de Querétaro: 5,970 ft (1,820m)
Mexico City: 7,350 ft (2240m)
Morelia: 6,300 ft (1,920m)
Guadalajara: 5,138 ft (1,566m)
These places don't have the same kind of weather as Denver, because they are much further south and thus closer to the equator. But they generally enjoy mild and pleasant weather year-round.
It even snows in Mexico! In addition to the snowy peaks of the high volcanic mountains of Pico de Orizaba, Iztaccihuatl and Popocatépetl, several states in Mexico regularly get snow in the winter months.
Mexico has rain forests, jungle, desert, mountains, pine forests, beaches - one can find in Mexico pretty much any climate one is comfortable with. Prefer year-round hot beach-y weather? Head to Puerto Vallarta or Huatulco. Rather it be not too hot but not too cold? Try Mexico City or really anywhere in the bajio. Rarely want to see it get above 75 Fahrenheit? Head on down to San Cristóbal de las Casas.
Mexico is, of course, also very accessible. One can drive there from pretty much anywhere in North America, and international flights to various cities in Mexico are abundant and relatively short in duration.
The geographical diversity in Mexico is one of the many reasons that so many people immigrate there - it really has so much to offer in terms of geography and climate that - unless you're objective is living in one place with snowy winters and hot summers - you can readily find a climate that appeals to you, and a beautiful surrounding in which to enjoy that climate.
But climate and geography are a subset of characteristics that attract us to a place. In part 2 of Why Mexico?, we will look at the social characteristics that make Mexico a destination you should either pursue or avoid.
