WHERE TO GET MARRIED IN MEXICO, TOP LOCATIONS TO GET MARRIED OR TO ELOPE IN MEXICO.
ELOPEMENTS AND INTIMATE WEDDINGS
IN MEXICO
The most beautiful places to get married in Mexico
TOP TEN LOCATIONS
Prologue: México has a bit of everything, from 5-star hotels at a fraction cost of those in Europe or the USA and a staggering array of natural beauties. With an excellent price-quality ratio, diverse beach options, colonial towns, archeological jewels, and breathtaking landscapes, Mexican venues can certainly quench the thirst for authentic and magical wedding experiences. Well, connected flights with USA and Europe at competitive prices, a strong touristic infrastructure, and top-quality professional wedding services make this country the perfect wedding destination.
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The cost of getting married in Mexico can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including the location, the time of year, the type of venue, and the type of wedding you are planning. In general, it is possible to have a relatively inexpensive wedding in Mexico, especially if you are willing to compromise on certain aspects of the event. However, it is also possible to have a very luxurious and expensive wedding in Mexico, depending on your budget and preferences.
Some of the main factors that will influence the cost of your wedding in Mexico include:
Location: Some locations in Mexico, such as Cancun and Cabo San Lucas, tend to be more expensive than others. The cost of getting married in these locations may be higher due to the popularity of the destination, the cost of living, and other factors.
Time of year: The cost of getting married in Mexico can also vary depending on the time of year you choose to get married. For example, getting married during the peak tourist season (generally December through April) may be more expensive than getting married during the off-season.
Type of venue: The cost of your wedding in Mexico will also be influenced by the type of venue you choose. For example, getting married at a luxury resort or a private beach club may be more expensive than getting married at a smaller, more intimate venue.
Type of wedding: The cost of your wedding in Mexico will also be influenced by the type of wedding you are planning. For example, a larger, more elaborate wedding with many guests and a long list of additional services (such as a DJ, live music, catering, etc.) will generally be more expensive than a smaller, more intimate wedding with fewer guests and fewer additional services.
In general, it is a good idea to start planning your wedding in Mexico as early as possible in order to get the best deals on venues and other services. You should also be prepared to negotiate with vendors and to shop around to find the best prices for the services you need. -
Yes, it is possible for a US citizen to legally get married in Mexico. In order to get married in Mexico, US citizens will need to meet the requirements set by the Mexican government, which may vary depending on the state or municipality where the wedding will take place.
In general, the requirements for getting married in Mexico include:
Proof of identity: You will need to provide proof of your identity, such as a passport or government-issued ID.
Proof of civil status: You will need to provide proof that you are single, divorced, or widowed, as appropriate.
Tourist card: If you are traveling to Mexico as a tourist, you will need to obtain a tourist card (also known as a FM-T form), which can be obtained at the airport or at a border crossing.
Legal documentation: Depending on the state or municipality where you plan to get married, you may need to provide additional legal documentation, such as a birth certificate, a divorce decree, or a death certificate.
It is a good idea to consult with the Mexican consulate or embassy in the US to get a list of the specific requirements for getting married in Mexico, as well as to make sure you have all of the necessary documents with you when you travel to Mexico. You should also consider hiring a wedding planner or using the services of a hotel or resort to help you navigate the process of getting married in Mexico.
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In Mexico, you must be physically present in the country for at least three working days before you can get married. This requirement is in place to allow for the mandatory publication of your marriage banns, which is a legal requirement in Mexico. The banns, which are a public announcement of your intention to marry, must be posted in the office of the civil registry where you plan to marry for at least three working days before the wedding can take place. This allows any objections to the marriage to be raised before it takes place. After the three-day waiting period has passed and the banns have been published, you can get married on any day that is convenient for you and your spouse.
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Yes, non-Mexican citizens can get married in Mexico. However, there are a few legal requirements that you must meet in order to get married in Mexico as a non-citizen.
First, you must obtain a tourist visa, which will allow you to enter Mexico and stay in the country for a specific period of time. You can apply for a tourist visa at a Mexican embassy or consulate in your home country.
Second, you will need to provide certain documents to the civil registry office where you plan to get married. These documents may include your passport, birth certificate, and any divorce or death certificates if applicable. You may also need to provide proof of your tourist visa and a certificate of legal capacity to marry, which is a document issued by your embassy or consulate that confirms that you are legally allowed to marry in your home country.
It's important to note that the specific documents required for a non-citizen to get married in Mexico can vary depending on your country of origin and the state in which you plan to marry. It's a good idea to consult with the civil registry office where you plan to get married, as well as your embassy or consulate, to make sure you have all the necessary documents.
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Getting married in Mexico is generally not a difficult process, as long as you meet the necessary legal requirements and follow the proper procedures. However, it's important to keep in mind that the specific requirements for getting married in Mexico can vary depending on your country of origin and the state in which you plan to marry.
In general, you will need to provide certain documents to the civil registry office where you plan to get married, such as your passport, birth certificate, and any divorce or death certificates if applicable. You may also need to provide a certificate of legal capacity to marry, which is a document issued by your embassy or consulate that confirms that you are legally allowed to marry in your home country.
In addition to these documents, you will need to follow certain procedures, such as the publication of your marriage banns, which is a legal requirement in Mexico. The banns are a public announcement of your intention to marry and must be posted in the office of the civil registry where you plan to marry for at least three working days before the wedding can take place.
As long as you have all the necessary documents and follow the proper procedures, getting married in Mexico should not be difficult. However, it's always a good idea to consult with the civil registry office where you plan to get married, as well as your embassy or consulate, to make sure you have all the information you need to get married in Mexico smoothly and without any issues.
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The cost of getting married in Mexico can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the location of the wedding, the type of wedding ceremony you choose, and any additional services or amenities you may want to include.
In general, you can expect to pay fees to the civil registry office where you plan to get married, as well as any fees for obtaining the necessary documents, such as a certificate of legal capacity to marry. You may also need to pay for a translator if you do not speak Spanish, as all legal documents in Mexico must be in Spanish.
In addition to these costs, you may need to pay for a wedding venue, wedding attire, catering, flowers, and other wedding-related expenses. These costs can vary widely depending on your specific needs and preferences.
It's a good idea to budget for all of these costs when planning your wedding in Mexico and to be aware that the cost of getting married in Mexico can vary significantly depending on your specific circumstances.
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The best month to get married in Mexico can depend on your personal preferences and the specific location in Mexico where you plan to get married.
Mexico is a large country with a diverse climate, and the weather can vary significantly depending on the region. For example, the Yucatan Peninsula, which includes popular wedding destinations such as Cancun and the Riviera Maya, has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round. In contrast, the Baja California region, which includes popular wedding destinations such as Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, has a desert climate with hot summers and mild winters.
If you're planning a beach wedding in Mexico, you may want to consider getting married during the dry season, which typically runs from November to May in many parts of the country. This can be a great time to get married, as the weather is generally warm and sunny, and there is less risk of rain or other inclement weather disrupting your wedding plans.
If you're planning a wedding in the interior of Mexico, you may want to consider getting married during the cooler months of the year, such as November to April. This can be a great time to get married, as the weather is generally pleasant and there is less risk of extreme heat or humidity.
Overall, the best month to get married in Mexico will depend on your personal preferences and the specific location of your wedding. It's a good idea to consider the weather and other factors, such as the availability of venues and vendors when deciding on the best month to get married in Mexico.
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Mexico is a popular destination for couples looking to get married, and it can be a great place to have a wedding for a variety of reasons.
Mexico has a diverse range of locations to choose from, including beach resorts, historical cities, and scenic rural areas. This means you can find a wedding location that suits your style and preferences, whether you're looking for a romantic beach wedding or a more traditional wedding in a historic city.
Mexico also has a rich culture and a long tradition of hospitality, which can make it a great place to host a wedding. Many hotels, resorts, and other wedding venues in Mexico offer a range of wedding packages and services to help you plan your wedding, and there are many local vendors who can provide everything from flowers and decorations to catering and entertainment.
In addition, Mexico is a relatively affordable destination for a wedding, with a wide range of accommodations, venues, and services available at a variety of price points. This can make it a great choice for couples who want to have a beautiful and memorable wedding without breaking the bank.
Overall, Mexico can be a great place to get married, with a diverse range of locations, a rich culture, and a tradition of hospitality. However, it's important to keep in mind that every couple's needs and preferences are different, and you should carefully consider all the factors that are important to you when deciding whether Mexico is the right place to get married.
1. San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
This small pink quarry gemstone with its emblematic neo-gothic parish brings together the charm of a Mexican small town with the cosmopolitan luxury of a great city. With its high-end restaurants, art galleries and concept and decor stores, San Miguel’s list of venues is not short. Gardens and terraces like the one of Trinitate and dreamlike B&Bs or luxurious options like the Rosewood turn this city into the whole package. Its amazingly beautiful city center may be covered on foot without the need for transport and has been voted the Best City in the world for the second year in a row by Travel + Leisure. This town can also entertain special touches that few places in Mexico can, like living an authentic Callejoneada to walk and sing through the cobblestone streets of the city, followed by the folkloric Mojigangas, and an adorable burrito Tequilero .
2. Querétaro, Peña de Bernal, Puerta del Lobo
Querétaro is a beautiful colonial city conveniently located 2 hours away from Mexico City and equipped with a marvelous tourist and wedding infrastructure. The state is of great historic and political importance as a home for movements that defined the country’s independence. Its baroque city center declared a Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO is a beautiful option for wedding ceremonies, having places like the Casa de la Marquesa an iconic beautiful house built in 17656 turned into a luxurious hotel boutique, Hotel Mesón de Santa Rosa, and the Museo de Arte de Queretaro as well as many other tourist attractions to spoil your guests. Nearby and a few kilometers away from the city you can also enjoy unique experiences like the wine and cheese route, visit natural beauties at the Sierra Gorda's natural reserve or fly over the area in a hot air balloon at daybreak. Queretaro is also home to one of Mexico’s most enigmatic “pueblos mágicos”: Bernal with its world's biggest monolith full of magnetism to inspire and energize yourself or enjoy a romantic escapade at its precious boutique hotels and ranchos.
3. Careyes, Jalisco
If your idea of romance is escaping to one of the world’s most exclusive, private, and secluded paradises in the world, Careyes is the option for you. This natural enclave in the middle of the Pacific coast was founded by a group of “jet-setting tastemakers” fans of design and art. With luxurious options like Cuixmala for a completely private stay and the Careyes prívate resort, this paradise earth is hidden amongst beautiful jungle lands has its own private landing strip, and is 2 hours away from the Puerto Vallarta International airport. A true dream where you can have your personal private beach and enjoy extraordinary dining, a cultural center, polo fields, and a charming almost private town square. You will not be disappointed by the places like Playa Rosa conveniently located meters away from the colorful Casitas spectacular accommodations.
4. Pátzcuaro, Michoacán
For a truly original love celebration, Michoacán definitely guarantees mysticism, authenticity, and folklore. Pátzcuaro lake, located at the heart of the bountiful state of Morelia, is famous for its colorful islands, home of the butterfly fishermen, colorful casitas, and amazingly beautiful handicrafts. The Day of the Death is probably the most amazing time to plan your wedding when you can have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of visiting the island cemetery to view the magnificent flower altars devotedly created by the inhabitants. For a dream wedding be sure to look for Hacienda Ucazanastacua, a treasure located right across the Island of Patzcuaro, with amazing food menus and an eclectic Mexican charm… just imagine your ceremony in a lake landscape where you have the chance to arrive in a private helicopter ride.
5. Tulum or HolBox. Cancun and Sun
Trendy Tulum or authentic HolBox…Riviera Maya has so much to offer and has become one of the hottest beach destinations in the world. Filled with Mayan ruins, paradise beaches, turquoise waters, and high-end accommodations like Mayakoba, and Be Tulum just to mention some. A place where you can take ecotourism to another level like in its marvelous Xcaret natural Park to feast your guests with cenote diving, prehispanic spas, and spiritual Chaman weddings makes this place to be amongst the most coveted wedding destinations in the world.
6. Merida, Yucatán
Merida is one of the top-ranked cities in Mexico to live in, being the vibrant capital city of the Yucatan state, it has a rich cultural Mayan heritage very much alive in its food, way of living, and traditions. Enjoying an unprecedented economic boom from 1800 until 1920’s thanks to henequen fiber production, extravagant and sumptuous haciendas like Sac Chic flourished surrounded by the exuberant jungle, making it home to the most spectacular wedding venues. Hospitality services have developed and excelled in this part of Mexico and Yucatecan cuisine is without a doubt the Crown Jewel making this place a true gastronomic paradise.
7. La Paz , Todos Santos, Baja California Sur
The striking clash of a practically desolate desert and the spectacular blue from the pacific ocean, the almost spiritual experience of sea wildlife watching, and the breathtaking sunsets you will experience here will steal a little piece of your heart. La Paz with its International airport from which one departs to the famous Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo is a city less famous than its sisters yet serves as a perfect base to visit the nearby treasures of this area. Treasures like Isla Espíritu Santo which you can visit by yacht to swim with sea wolves and delight in its amazing natural beauty. Nearby La Paz you might also take a car ride to the “pueblo mágico” of Todos Santos to enjoy whale watching and walk around its picturesque almost empty streets, art galleries, and exquisitely curated boutiques and restaurants. La Paz is also home to the wonderful Costa Baja resort with its own private marina, golf course and a marvelous white sanded beach to live a beautiful private ceremony.
8. Oaxaca, Oaxaca
There are few places that carry the authentic hallmark of Mexico and Oaxaca is without a doubt one, if not the most representative of them. This architectural jewel is the birthplace of great Mexican artists, art museums, indigenous festivities, and the most elaborate handicrafts. To feast the senses Oaxaca has a rich gastronomy where you can delight in its mezcalerías, and chocolate boutiques and leave having tasted the 7 varieties of a Mole in existence. You will be able to visit the most authentic Mexican mercados and spoil your guest at fabulous venues like the Etnobotánico botanical garden and the 5-star Quinta Real Oaxaca. More inspiration:: https://greenweddingshoes.com/vibrant-oaxaca-destination-wedding-the-bridewore-a-chartreuse-wedding-dress/
9. Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California Norte
Valle de Guadalupe is an extraordinary place not to be missed, the wine country of Mexico has a beautiful Mediterranean climate with amazing landscapes, vineyards, great restaurants, and spectacular wine houses. Wine tasting, delicious dining, and luxurious hotels like Encuentro Guadalupe will be some of Valle de Guadalupe’s attractions that will capture your senses and make it one of the best choices for a romantic getaway or wedding celebration.
10. Sayulita , Nayarit
Sayulita a beautiful beach off the coast of Nayarit, is easily accessible by car and 30 miles from the Puerto Vallarta International airport. Known for its perfect surfing waves, and nature-friendly and relaxed environment, fishing, and beautiful beaches make it a perfect wedding destination for a relaxed intimate ceremony. Lovely villas, Casas, and boutique hotels to house your guests are just a start. A boat rides away from the Marietas Island hidden beach, and the marvelous San Pancho is definitely worth a day trip or even longer for the food and tranquility of its beautiful beaches.
A BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT EACH OF THE BIG CITIES IN MEXICO
Mexico City
Mexico City, or the City of Mexico (Spanish: Ciudad de México, American Spanish: [sjuˈða(ð) ðe ˈmexiko] abbreviated as CDMX, Nahuatl languages: Āltepētl Mēxihco), is one of the 32 states which make up the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico and the capital of Mexico and the most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and financial centres in the world. It is located in the Valley of Mexico (Valle de México), a large valley in the high plateaus in the center of Mexico, at an altitude of 2,240 meters (7,350 ft). The city has 16 alcaldías, formerly known as boroughs.
The 2009 population for the city proper was approximately 8.84 million people,with a land area of 1,485 square kilometers (573 sq mi). According to the most recent definition agreed upon by the federal and state governments, the population of Greater Mexico City is 21.3 million, which makes it the second-largest metropolitan area of the Western Hemisphere, the eleventh-largest agglomeration (2017), and the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world.
Greater Mexico City has a GDP of $411 billion in 2011, making Greater Mexico City one of the most productive urban areas in the world. The city was responsible for generating 15.8% of Mexico's GDP, and the metropolitan area accounted for about 22% of the total national GDP. If it were an independent country, in 2013, Mexico City would be the fifth-largest economy in Latin America, five times as large as Costa Rica and about the same size as Peru.
Mexico's capital is both the oldest capital city in the Americas and one of two founded by Indigenous people, the other being Quito, Ecuador. The city was originally built on an island of Lake Texcoco by the Aztecs in 1325 as Tenochtitlan, which was almost completely destroyed in the 1521 siege of Tenochtitlan and subsequently redesigned and rebuilt in accordance with the Spanish urban standards. In 1524, the municipality of Mexico City was established, known as México Tenochtitlán, and as of 1585, it was officially known as Ciudad de México (Mexico City). Mexico City was the political, administrative, and financial center of a major part of the Spanish colonial empire. After independence from Spain was achieved, the federal district was created in 1824.
After years of demanding greater political autonomy, residents were finally given the right to elect both a Head of Government and the representatives of the unicameral Legislative Assembly by-election in 1997. Ever since the left-wing Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) has controlled both of them. The city has several progressive policies, such as abortion on demand, a limited form of euthanasia, no-fault divorce, and same-sex marriage.
On 29 January 2016, it ceased to be the Federal District (Spanish: Distrito Federal or D.F.) and is now officially known as Ciudad de México (or CDMX), with a greater degree of autonomy. A clause in the Constitution of Mexico, however, prevents it from becoming a state within the Mexican federation, as it is the seat of power in the country unless the capital of the country were to be relocated elsewhere.
Ecatepec
Ecatepec (Spanish: [ekateˈpek] ), once officially Ecatepec de Morelos, is a city and municipality in the State of Mexico. Both are usually known simply as "Ecatepec". The city is practically co-extensive with the municipality, with the city's 2005 population of 1,687,549 being 99.9% of the total municipal population of 1,688,258. The provisional population at the 2010 Census was 1,658,806. It is Mexico's second most populous municipality.
The name "Ecatepec" is derived from Nahuatl, and means "windy hill" or "hill devoted to Ehecatl." It was also an alternative name or invocation to Quetzalcoatl. "Morelos" is the last name of José María Morelos, a hero of the Mexican War of Independence.
The Mexico City metro subway system was extended into Ecatepec.
"San Cristóbal" (Saint Christopher) is the city's patron saint. His feast day is celebrated on July 25 each year.
Points of interest include the newest Catholic Cathedral in Mexico, Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, several colonial-era churches, and the colonel edifice Casa de Los Virreyes.
Guadalajara (/ˌɡwɑːdələˈhɑːrə/,[5] Spanish: [ɡwaðalaˈxaɾa] ) is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is in the central region of Jalisco in the Western-Pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,460,148 inhabitants, it is Mexico's second most populous municipality. The Guadalajara metropolitan area has a reported population of 5,002,466 inhabitants, making it the second most populous metropolitan area in Mexico, behind Mexico City. The municipality is the second most densely populated in Mexico, the first being Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl in the State of Mexico. It is a strong business and economic center in the Bajío region.
Guadalajara is the tenth-largest Latin American city in population, urban area, and gross domestic product. The city's economy is based on services and industry, especially information technology, with many international firms having regional offices and manufacturing facilities in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, and several domestic IT companies headquartered in the city. Other, more traditional industries, such as shoes, textiles, and food processing are also important contributing factors.
Guadalajara is a major Mexican cultural center, as it is considered by most to be the home of the famous mariachi genre of music, and plays host to a number of large-scale cultural events such as the Guadalajara International Film Festival, the Guadalajara International Book Fair, and other globally renowned cultural events which draw international crowds. It is home to C.D. Guadalajara, one of the most popular football clubs in Mexico. This city was named the American Capital of Culture for 2005, and hosted the 2011 Pan American Games.
Puebla
Puebla (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈpweβla]) known in Spanish as Puebla de Zaragoza, formally Heroica Puebla de Zaragoza and in colonial times as Puebla de Los Ángeles, is the seat of Puebla Municipality, the capital and largest city of the state of Puebla, and the second largest in colonial Mexico and the richest Catholic diocese. A colonial-era planned city, it is located in (southern) Central Mexico on the main route between the capital, Mexico City, and Mexico's main Atlantic port, Veracruz—about 100 km east southeast of Mexico City and about 220 km west of Veracruz.
The city was founded in 1531 in an area called Cuetlaxcoapan, which means "where serpents change their skin", in between two of the main indigenous settlements at the time, Tlaxcala and Cholula. This valley was not populated in the 16th century, as in the pre-Hispanic period this area was primarily used for the "flower wars" between a number of populations. Due to its history and architectural styles ranging from Renaissance to Mexican Baroque, the city was named a World Heritage Site in 1987. The city is also famous for mole poblano, chiles en nogada and Talavera pottery. However, most of its economy is based on industry.
Being both the fourth largest city in Mexico and the fourth largest Metropolitan area in Mexico, it has a current population of 3,250,000 people, and the city serves as one of the main hubs for eastern Central Mexico. Many students come from all over the country to study at its many renowned and prestigious universities, such as BUAP, UDLAP, Ibero, UPAEP, and Tecnológico de Monterrey, among others. The city also excels because of its industry, with the world's largest Volkswagen factory outside Germany located in the Municipality of Cuautlancingo and the Audi plant in San José Chiapa being the most technologically advanced plant in the western hemisphere. As a result, many suppliers of Volkswagen and Audi assembly plants have opened factories in the metropolitan area of Puebla.
Ciudad Juarez
Ciudad Juárez (/ˈhwɑːrɛz/ HWAH-rez; Juarez City. Spanish pronunciation: [sjuˈðað ˈxwaɾes]) is the most populous city in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. The city is commonly referred to by locals as simply Juárez and was known as Paso del Norte (Pass of the North) until 1888. Juárez is the seat of the municipality of Juárez with an estimated population of 1.5 million people. It lies on the Rio Grande (Río Bravo del Norte) river, south of El Paso, Texas, United States. Together with the surrounding areas, the cities form El Paso–Juárez, the second largest binational metropolitan area on the Mexico–U.S. border (after San Diego–Tijuana), with a combined population of over 2.7 million people.
There are four international points of entry connecting Ciudad Juárez and El Paso, including the Bridge of the Americas, Ysleta International Bridge, Paso del Norte Bridge, and Stanton Street Bridge. These combined allowed 22,958,472 crossings in 2008, making Ciudad Juárez a major point of entry and transportation into the U.S. for all of central northern Mexico. The city has a growing industrial center which is made up of a large part of more than 300 maquiladoras (assembly plants) located in and around the city. According to a 2007 New York Times article, Ciudad Juárez "is now absorbing more new industrial real estate space than any other North American city". In 2008, fDi Magazine designated Ciudad Juárez "The City of the Future". Since the launch of the Mexican Drug War in 2006, however, the amount of violence has increased dramatically. Homicide rates were at a high in 2010, however, rates returned to previous levels in 2013.
Tijuana
Tijuana (US: /tiːˈ(h)wɑːnə/ tee-(H)WAH-nə, Spanish: [tiˈxwana]) is the largest city of both Baja California State and the Baja Peninsula. It is part of the San Diego–Tijuana transborder urban agglomeration and the larger Southern California megalopolis. As the 6th-largest city in Mexico and the center of the 6th-largest metro area in Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence in education and politics – across Mexico, in transportation, culture, and art – across all three Californias (the U.S. state of California, Baja California and Baja California Sur), and in manufacturing and as a migration hub – across the North American continent. Currently one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in Mexico, Tijuana maintains global city status. As of 2015, the city of Tijuana had a population of 1,641,570.
Tijuana is located on the Gold Coast of Baja California and is the municipal seat and the cultural and commercial center of Tijuana Municipality (Mexican states are divided into municipalities, rather than counties as in the U.S.). Tijuana covers 70% of the territory of the municipality and contains 80% of its population. A dominant manufacturing center of the North American continent, the city maintains the facilities of many multinational conglomerate companies. In the early 21st century, Tijuana became the medical-device manufacturing capital of North America. Tijuana is also a growing cultural center and has been recognized as an important new cultural mecca. The city is the most visited border city in the world; sharing a border of about 24 km (15 mi) with its sister city San Diego. More than fifty million people cross the border between these two cities every year. This metropolitan crossing makes the San Ysidro Port of Entry the fourth busiest land-border crossing in the world. It is estimated that the two border crossing stations between the cities proper of San Diego and Tijuana account for 300,000 daily border crossings alone.[citation needed]
Tijuana is the 45th largest city in the Americas and is the westernmost city in Mexico. According to the 2015 census, the Tijuana metropolitan area was the fifth-largest in Mexico, with a population of 1,840,710, but rankings vary, the city (locality) itself was 6th largest, and the municipality (administrative) 3rd the largest nationally. The international metropolitan region was estimated at about 5,158,459 in 2016, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in the former Californias region, the 19th largest metropolitan area in the Americas, and the largest bi-national conurbation that is shared between US and Mexico. Tijuana is becoming more suburbanized like San Diego.
Tijuana traces its modern history to the arrival of Spanish explorers in the 16th century who were mapping the coast of the Californias. As the American occupation of the Mexican capital ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Tijuana's new international position on the border gave rise to a new economic and political structure. The city was founded on July 11, 1889, as urban development began. Often known by its supposed initials, T.J., and nicknamed Gateway to Mexico, the city has historically served as a tourist center dating back to the 1880s.
Leon
León (Spanish pronunciation: [leˈon]) is the most populous city and municipality in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. In the 2015 Intercensal Survey INEGI reported 1,578,626 people living in the municipality of León, making it the fourth most populous municipality in Mexico. The metropolitan area of León recorded a population of 1,630,094 in the 2010 Census, making it the seventh most populous metropolitan area in Mexico. León is part of the macroregion of Bajío within the Central Mexican Plateau.
León has a strong leather industry, offering shoes, boots, belts, jackets, and other leather accessories to both national and international markets. The leather industry earned its inhabitants the nickname "Green belly" (panzaverdes in Spanish), because of the green tainting in the workers' bodies resulting from treating leather. Its first-class services and hotel industry make it one of the most important centers in Mexico with numerous opportunities for entertainment, gastronomy, leisure activities, arts, and recreation. It is also considered one of the most environmentally friendly cities in Mexico and has a high number of cyclists, in part because of integrating a network of bike lanes into the SIT system. In March 2012 it received an award as "City Water Champion", mainly due to great progress in the areas of sanitation, wastewater reuse, and energy cogeneration from biogas.
Monterrey
Monterrey (/ˌmɒntəˈreɪ/; Spanish pronunciation: [monteˈrei] (listen)) is the capital and largest city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León, Mexico. The city is anchored to the Monterrey metropolitan area, the second most productive in Mexico with a GDP (PPP) of US$123 billion, and the third largest with an estimated population of 4,689,601 people as of 2015. Monterrey has also considered the city with the best quality of life in the country[citation needed], and serves as a commercial center of northern Mexico, and is the base of many significant international corporations. Its purchasing power parity-adjusted GDP per capita is considerably higher than the rest of Mexico's at around US$35,500, compared to the country's US$18,800. It is considered a Beta World City, cosmopolitan and competitive. Rich in history and culture, it is one of the most developed cities in Mexico.
As an important industrial and business center, the city is also home to many Mexican companies, including Grupo Avante, Lanix Electronics, Ocresa, CEMEX, Vitro, OXXO, FEMSA, DINA S.A., Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Brewery, and Grupo ALFA. Monterrey is also home to international companies such as Cognizant, Siemens, Accenture, MSCI, Ternium, Sony, Toshiba, Carrier, Whirlpool, Samsung, Toyota, Babcock & Wilcox, Daewoo, British American Tobacco, Nokia, Dell, Boeing, HTC, General Electric, Johnson Controls, Gamesa, LG, SAS Institute, Grundfos, Danfoss, Qualfon and Teleperformance, among others.
Monterrey is in northeastern Mexico, at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental. The uninterrupted settlement of Monterrey was founded by Diego de Montemayor in 1596. In the years after the Mexican War of Independence, Monterrey became an important business center. With the establishment of Fundidora Monterrey, the city has experienced great industrial growth.
Zapopan
Zapopan (Spanish pronunciation: [saˈpopan]) is a city and municipality located in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Part of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, the population of Zapopan city proper makes it the second largest city in the state, very close behind the population of Guadalajara proper. It is best known as being the home of the Virgin of Zapopan, an image of the Virgin Mary which was made in the 16th century. This image has been credited with a number of miracles and has been recognized by popes and even visited by Pope John Paul II. The municipality is also the home of the Centro Cultural Universitario, which contains one of the most important concert venues in Latin America and is the home of the new stadium for the C.D. Guadalajara.
The name Zapopan means "among the sapote trees". It derives from the Nahuatl word tzapotl "sapote" with the addition of the locative suffix -pan. It also has the nickname “Villa Exmaicera” (ex-corn village), as it used to be a major producer of corn. Its seal was designed by José Trinidad Laris in 1941 for the 400th anniversary of the city's founding.
Ciudad Nzahualcoyotl
Nezahualcóyotl (Spanish pronunciation: [sjuˈðað nesawalˈkoʝotɬ]), or more commonly Neza, is a city and municipality of State of Mexico adjacent to the northeast corner of Mexico City: it is thus part of the Mexico City Metropolitan Area. It was named after Nezahualcoyotl, the Acolhua poet and king of nearby Texcoco, and was built on the drained bed of Lake Texcoco. The name Nezahualcóyotl comes from Nahuatl, meaning "fasting coyote."
Until the 20th century, the land on which Ciudad Neza sits was under Lake Texcoco and uninhabited. Successful draining of the lake in the early 20th century created new land, which the government eventually sold into private hands. However, public services such as adequate potable water, electricity, and sewerage were lacking until after the area was made an independent municipality in 1963. Today Ciudad Neza is a sprawling city of over one million entirely with modern buildings.
As of 2006, Nezahualcóyotl included part of the world's largest mega-slum, along with Chalco and Izta. Most of its population is poor and has migrated from other parts of Mexico.[3] It also has a very high crime rate, in part due to "cholos" or gangs formed since the 1990s based on gang models in the United States, especially Los Angeles.[7] Since the 2000s, a significant number of natives of this city have immigrated to the United States, mostly settling in New York. This has led to a new Mexican subculture in the area.
The city and municipality is named after the Aztec King Nezahualcóyotl. The entity has an Aztec glyph as well as a coat of arms. The glyph depicts the head of a coyote, tongue outside the mouth with a collar or necklace as a symbol of royalty. It was one of the ways of depicting the Aztec king. The current coat of arms, which includes the glyph, was authorized by the municipality in the 1990s. The municipality comprises its own intrastate region, Region IX (Mexico State).
Culiacan
Culiacán (Spanish pronunciation: [kuljaˈkan] (listen)) is a city in northwestern Mexico. It is the largest city in and the capital of the state of Sinaloa. It is also the seat of Culiacán Municipality. It had an urban population of 785,800 in 2015 while 905,660 lived in the entire municipality. While the municipality has a total area of 4,758 km2 (1,837 sq mi), the city itself is considerably smaller, measuring only 65 km2 (25 sq mi).
The city is located in a valley at the confluence of the Tamazula and Humaya Rivers, where the two meet to form the Culiacán River, 55 m above sea level. It is in the center of the state, at about the same distance to the two other urban centers of the state: Los Mochis to the north and Mazatlán to the south.
Chihuahua
The city of Chihuahua (Spanish pronunciation: [tʃiˈwawa]) is the state capital of the Mexican state of Chihuahua. As of 2017, the city of Chihuahua had a population of 878,062 inhabitants. while the metropolitan area had a population of 1,036,806 inhabitants.
Among cities in Mexico, the city of Chihuahua is highly ranked in human and social development. According to the UNCP report on human development, the Chihuahua municipality's HDI is 0.840 as of 2015 – this is equal to or higher than some Western European countries. The literacy rate in the city is among the highest in the country at 99%. Another report about competitiveness from the CIDE organization ranks Chihuahua as the second most competitive city in the country just behind Monterrey and ahead of Mexico City. This report also ranks Chihuahua as the most Socially Competitive city in the country.
The predominant activity is industry, including domestic heavy, and light industries, consumer goods production, and to a smaller extent maquiladoras. The city is served by General Roberto Fierro Villalobos International Airport.
Naucalpan
Naucalpan, officially Naucalpan de Juárez, is a city and municipality located just northwest of Mexico City in the adjoining State of Mexico.
The name Naucalpan comes from Nahuatl and means "place of the four neighborhoods" or "four houses." Juárez was added to the official name in 1874 in honor of Benito Juárez. The history of the area begins with the Tlatilica who settled on the edges of the Hondo River between 1700 and 600 B.C.E., but it was the Aztecs who gave it its current name when they dominated it from the 15th century until the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. Naucalpan claims to be the area where Hernán Cortés rested on the "Noche Triste" as they fled Tenochtitlan in 1520, but this is disputed. It is the home of the Virgin of Los Remedios, a small image of the Virgin Mary which is strongly associated with the Conquest and is said to have been left here.
Today, the city of Naucalpan is actually larger than the municipality itself, with part of it extending into neighboring Huixquilucan Municipality. It is a major center of industry in Mexico. It is, however, best known as the location of Ciudad Satélite, a development from the 1960s and the site of the Toreo de Cuatro Caminos bullring, which was demolished in the 2010s to build the Toreo Parque Central mixed-use development. The only unurbanized areas of the municipality are the Los Remedios National Park and a number of ejidos, but the lack of housing has put serious pressure on these areas.
Merida Yucatan
Mérida (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmeɾiða] (listen)) is the capital and largest city in Yucatan state in Mexico, as well as the largest city of the Yucatán Peninsula. The city is located in the northwest part of the state, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The city is also the municipal seat of the Municipality of Mérida, which includes the city and the areas around it.
According to the 2015 census, the population of Mérida was 892,363, ranking 14th among the most populous Mexican cities. The Greater Mérida metropolitan area includes the municipalities of Mérida, Umán, and Kanasín and had a population of 1,035,238 in the 2010 census. The municipality's area is 858.41 km2 (331.43 sq mi). Among the four cities that share the same name around the world, it is the largest -the other three being in Spain, Venezuela, and the Philippines.
The city, like much of the state, has heavy Mayan, Spanish, French, British, Lebanese and to a lesser extent Dutch influences. Mérida has the highest percentage of indigenous population within any large city in Mexico. The Maya are approximately 60% of the population.
San Luis Potosi
San Luis Potosí, commonly called SLP or simply San Luis, is the capital and the most populous city of the Mexican state of San Luis Potosí. The city lies at an elevation of 1,864 meters (6,115 feet). It has an estimated population of 824,229 in the city proper and a population of approximately 1,221,526 in its metropolitan area, formed with the neighbor city of Soledad de Graciano Sánchez and other surrounding municipalities, which makes the metropolitan area of Greater San Luis Potosí the eleventh largest in Mexico.
The city is in the west-central part of the state of San Luis Potosí, at 22.16°N, 100.98°W. The municipality has an area of 1,443.14 square kilometers (557.20 square miles). It is part of the macroregion of Bajío.
The city is named after Louis IX of France (also known in Mexico as San Luis Rey de Francia, Saint Louis, King of France), who is the city's patron saint. Potosí was added in reference to the fabulously rich mines of Potosí, Bolivia, discovered some forty years before the city was founded, as the exploitation of silver and gold mines in Cerro de San Pedro, near San Luis, was the main reason for the founding of the city in 1592.
Now, the city is one of the main industrial centers in central Mexico with a prolific manufacturing industry. A number of foreign industries have chosen to invest in San Luis Potosí in the last decade thanks to its strategic location for trade, as the city is located halfway between Mexico City and the United States border, as well as in the middle of the triangle formed by the three largest cities in Mexico: Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.
Besides its industry-based economy, recently the city has been promoted as a tourist destination in central Mexico by state and federal programs. San Luis Potosí's historic center displays a great mixture of different artistic styles in many buildings and is a major example of colonial architecture in Mexico. In 2010, the historic center was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site within Camino Real de Tierra Adentro.
