The People's Guide To Mexico
As I recall, reading for my first trip was limited to a paperback Spanish/English dictionary and a very battered secondhand copy of Mexico on $5 A Day. In fact, it wasn’t until I’d actually experienced Mexico that a serious curiosity to know more about the country and its people infected me. Excellent books such as Incidents of Travel in Yucatán and Chiapas really came alive for me after I’d been over the ground and personally acquainted myself with the Maya.

The books and periodicals included here represent just a portion of the growing number of excellent publications on Mexico and Central America. We don't claim that this list is complete or even objective -- in fact, it tends to represent favorite titles from our personal libraries, including many older, out-of-print books that are well worth searching for.

I also have a definite soft spot for self-published books, "desktop" newsletters and small press publications that rarely get mentioned by most reviewers. I’ve even included a few books that I haven’t yet read; they either sounded especially noteworthy or a trusted traveler gave me an enthusiastic, “Carl-you’ve-got-to-read-this!” recommendation.

Books will always be my favorite source for background reading on Mexico and inspiring armchair adventures. There's little doubt in my mind, however, that the internet is now the world’s best resource for up-to-the-minute travel reports and firsthand communication with people living in Mexico and Central America.

When I’m planning a trip to Mexico, I can view current satellite weather photographs, query people who actually live in Mexico about hotels and restaurants, book discount air tickets, gather background on everything from local history to bird watching, read Mexican newspapers in Spanish and English, and last but not least, discuss my plans in minute detail with travelers who have just returned from Mexico. This is such a far cry from the days when the only information that leaked out of Mexico were reports of killer earthquakes or Cancun beauty pageants, that I’m still in a daze.

In order to include as many entries as possible, I've kept these reviews quite brief. Don't be surprised if you can't connect with one of the websites described here. Cyberspace is vast and websites tend to come and go according to their creator's whims. Others move, leaving you stranded with no forwarding address. If this happens, let us know at <carl-lorena@peoplesguide.com>. We are constantly updating and expanding our extensive list of recommended sites, with links to the best web pages on Latin America.

The following book reviews and websites follow the order of the chapters in The People's Guide to Mexico, with a few additional sections at the end in Armchair Travel.

A special "¡Gracias!" for suggesting and reviewing some of the books and websites discussed here to David Eidell, Dr. Linda Nyquist, Ron Mader, Kay Rafool, Stan Gotlieb and "Mexico" Mike Nelson. Their names are in parenthesis after their recommendations.

For More Information

Books

Websites

Other

Guidebooks General Inform

ation

Driving & Travel Clubs
Best of Mexico Weather
Mexico City Best of Mexico Cybercafes
Copper Canyon & Northern Mexico Mexico City
CyberTravel: Discussion Groups & Travel Newsgroups
Copper Canyon
& Northern Mexico
Baja
Baja
Mexico's Pacific Coast
Magazines
Mexico's Pacific Coast
Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
Central Highlands
Maps & Sources
The Central Highlands
Oaxaca
Oaxaca
Chiapas
Newsletters
Chiapas
Yucatan Peninsula
 
Yucatan Peninsula
The Maya
Newspapers
Ruta Maya
Guatemala
Guatemala
Belize
Travel Clubs
Belize
Honduras
Honduras
Live & Retire in Mexico
Web Radio
Live & Retire
Getting Around
Working In Mexico
Driving
Videos
Getting Around
RV & Camping
Driving
Adventures & Eco-Tourism
Movies
RV & Camping
Natural Mexico
Eco-Travel & Adventures
Food
Television
Natural Mexico
Healthy Living in Mexico
Food
Shopping
Healthy Living
Speaking Spanish
Shopping
¡Viva Mexico!
Spanish
History
Packing Up & Travel Supplies
For the Armchair Traveler
Mexico: A to Z
Novels
Money
Volunteer & Social
Action Groups
Back to the USA
Book Stores & Sources
Mexican Culture
Contemporary Culture
& Entertainment
History

Other

Websites

Books

The Best of Mexico
Copper Canyon
Live & Retire in Mexico

Staying Healthy
Safety
Speaking Spanish
Women in Mexico
The People's Guide to Mexico
Parrot Fever

Order
T
he People's Guide to Mexico
13th edition
Discover why generations of travelers say they wouldn't cross the border without it! Read the award-winning book: The People's Guide to Mexico

http://www.peoplesguide.com

©1972-2011 by Carl Franz & Lorena Havens