Mexico is a fusion of contrasting areas. The entire country boasts vibrant cities and stunning, varied landscapes. It has forged its own distinctive character with mariachi music, fiesta and siesta, mouth-watering chilli dishes and fiery tequila.

Mexico is home to an impressive diversity of attractions, ranging from glitzy beach resorts and fantastic diving, to desert landscapes, snow-capped volcanoes and ancient Mayan ruins. The stark contrast of unspoilt wilderness areas and exciting, cosmopolitan cities is sure to take your breath away. The blend of modern and traditional is the key to Mexico's magic.

The capital, Mexico City, is a vibrant centre featuring Aztec, colonial and modern architecture, built among lush parks, gardens and canals. Here, you’ll find some of the nation’s best museums, thick with Aztec and Mayan artefacts. Popocatepetl, Mexico's most famous non-dormant volcano, hovers over the city at 2,400m above sea level.

The suburbs to the south, Coyoacan and San Angel, offer quaint cobbled streets, colonial houses and a festive atmosphere during Saturday’s Bazar Sabado. Daytrips to the ancient sites at Xochimilco, Teotihuacan and Tlatelolco are also rewarding. Not too far away is Mexico’s second-largest city, Guadalajara. Here, you’ll find the old Mexico, where mariachis, tequila and sombreros were born.

A must-see for the partying and beach lovers, Acapulco is located on the Pacific coast. This glittering stretch of colourful beaches, high-rise hotels, discos, and shopping malls is especially popular with Americans.

Another famous Mexican city, Cancun, rests on the Caribbean coast and is best known for its tropical beaches. Things can get busy here, but when you yearn for a little quiet, the island of Cozumel is a short boat ride away.

There is plenty of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets across Mexico. The larger cities and tourist areas offer well-recognised hotel chains such as Holiday Inn, Sheraton and Hilton. Mexico’s peak season is from the end of March to the beginning of April and from the beginning of July to the middle of August. You should book your accommodation early if you are visiting during these times.

Mexico has a rich culture and nowhere else will you find such a diversity of traditional musical styles and traditional dances. The best time to experience the multitude of music is at a fiesta. Letting off steam at a fiesta is of vital importance to Mexicans as are family, friends and social gatherings. There is always time to meet friends for a cup of coffee or a special occasion.

Mexico contains a myriad of different terrains. These range from tropical lowland jungle to dry inland desert regions. Most of the land lies at an altitude of over 1,000m and the country’s climate varies according to altitude, with variations from wet tropical to dry desert.

The deserts of northern Mexico generally have hot, dry weather although temperatures can drop to below freezing in the colder months. The coast experiences hot, humid weather with a more temperate, dry climate as you move inland.

Rainfall varies greatly between regions with only the far south receiving massive amounts of rain during the year with the rest of Mexico remaining much dryer.

Summer lasts from May to September and is a very hot, humid and sometimes uncomfortable time of year. Rain showers are frequent during this period, offering a welcome respite from the heat. The south experiences the hottest weather while the low-lying coastal areas tend to receive more rainfall.

Winter is from November to February, and during this time temperatures can drop dramatically, especially in the north where inland temperatures approach freezing.

Mexico’s earliest known civilisation was the Olmecs, an advanced Mayan culture in terms of religion, architecture and mathematical systems. They were later followed by the Toltecs, ancestors of the Aztecs who were also known for their intellectual pursuits. These civilisations flourished until 1492 - when Columbus arrived. Hernan Cortes arrived from Cuba in 1519 and settled in Veracruz with his explorers. The Aztecs fought with these Spanish invaders for two years before being defeated in 1521. Their population had decreased dramatically by 1605.

Napoleon occupied most of Spain by 1808 and direct Spanish control suddenly ceased. The 10-year war that followed resulted in Mexico’s independence from Spain. Their first president, Guadalupe Victoria, was inaugurated in 1824. US congress voted to annex Texas in 1845, leading to the Mexican-American War in which US troops captured Mexico City. Under the Treaty of Guadalupe, Mexico surrendered Texas, California, Utah, Colorado and Arizona to the USA.

Benito Juarez was elected president in 1861 and launched into a two-year operation to repay debts to Britain, France and Spain. Napoleon III was sent to enforce payment and colonised Mexico. The next 30 years were dominated by civil wars with European governments.

Dictator Porfirio Díaz came into power in 1876 and discontent prevailed. In 1910, several coups led to the Mexican Revolution, which lasted 10 years and had a high death toll. The Institutional Revolutionary Party came into power in 1934 and managed to rule unchallenged until the 1970s.

The oil boom of the late 1970s increased Mexico's oil revenues and financed industrial and agricultural investments. Lopez Portilla was elected president in 1976 and led the country to the brink of bankruptcy. Mexico entered a dark period with the collapse of oil and a massive earthquake in 1985 causing damage worth billions of US dollars.

President Carlos Salinas de Gortari was elected in 1988 and transformed Mexico by renegotiating the national debt, bringing inflation under control. In 1994, Ernesto Zedillo was elected and a major currency crisis early in his term brought on deep economic recession.

Vicente Fox Quesada won the elections in 2000 and did an overhaul of the political system, ending the 71-year rule of the PRI party.