11 Fun Facts about Mexico

Home to one of the world’s most celebrated cuisines, a rich culture known for traditions such as Día de Muertos, and some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the world… There’s simply so much to discover this country south of the American border. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering how much you actually know about Mexico, you’ve come to the right place. Today at Civitatis, we’re revealing 11 fun facts about Mexico that perhaps you didn’t know until now!

Do you know about the unusual legend of the flag? Or that Mexicans can boast about having the largest pyramid in the world? If you want to learn more facts about Mexico, keep reading!

1. Mexico is Home to the Second-Largest Coral Reef in the World

Along the Caribbean coast is the Mesoamerican Reef System, a barrier reef that stretches 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) between Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. As a matter of fact, it’s the second-largest reef in the world after the Australian Great Barrier Reef!

If you’re in the Riviera Maya and you want to explore the reef for yourself, you can opt for an excursion to Isla Mujeres by catamaran. If you take your diving goggles, you’ll be left amazed by the underwater wealth and the turtles that will accompany you beneath the waves.

More of a risk taker? Why not experience the rich biodiversity of the Caribbean while you go for a swim with some Mexican whale sharks? These species visit these waters between May and September and can reach up to 12 metres (39 feet) in length!

2. There are 68 Recognised Languages in Mexico

Believe it or not, even though over 99% of the population speak Spanish, the Constitution of Mexico does not declare an official language. In fact, there are 68 recognised languages, of which 63 are indigenous.

3. Mexico City has the 2nd Most Museums in the World

A fact about Mexico that might surprise you is that with 170 museums, Mexico City almost has the most museums in the world coming second only to London’s 200. This makes Mexico City one of the best cities to visit if you’re a big fan of museums.

One of our favourites is the National Museum of Anthropology, which contains the world’s largest collection of ancient Mexican art. A trip to Mexico City would not be complete without a visit to the National Museum of Anthropology. However, if you’re a fan of Frida Kahlo, we also recommend visiting the Frida Kahlo Museum. It showcases a collection of personal objects, works of art and photographs that offer us a complete view of her life.

4. Mexico has 35 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

This fact will probably come as no surprise, given that Mexico is full of rich culture and history. Of the 35 World Heritage Sites, 27 are cultural sites, 6 are natural sites and 2 are mixed sites. The historic centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco were Mexico’s first World Heritage Sites, declared as such in 1987. If you want to see Xochimilco for yourself, why not visit it on our tour of Coyoacán & Xochimilco?

5. The Day of The Dead’s La Catrina Was Created as a Satire

Another interesting fact about Mexico is the history of the celebrations for The Day of The Dead. Celebrated over two days in November, it’s a very important holiday in Mexico. However, did you know the origins of the iconic La Catrina image? It was actually originally designed by Jose Guadalupe Posada as a satire referencing the high-society European obsessions of Porfirio Diaz. If you happen to visit Mexico City during the festival, don’t miss out on this Day of The Dead night tour.

6. Mexico has the Largest University in Latin America

Did you know that the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), is not only the largest in Mexico but in the whole of Latin America? Founded in 1551, the University has several campuses across Mexico City. As well as holding this title, the university is also considered to be one of the best in the world due to its extensive research and reputation in the world of third-level education.

7. There’s a Park with Ruins from the Mesoamerican Pre-Classical Period

There are a plethora of cool facts about Mexico City. One of them is that right in the middle of the city stands Chapultepec, a park with ruins dating back to the Mesoamerican pre-classical period. Spanning over 678 hectares of land, this park is packed with ruins from thousands of years ago!

In its enclosure, you can find the National Museum of Anthropology, the National Auditorium and even a neoclassical castle. Some of the battles of the US-Mexican War also took place here.

Legends abound… What about the door to the underworld of Nahuatl legends or the pool where Moctezuma took healing baths? If you want to learn more about this and other hidden peculiarities throughout the park, don’t miss out on a free tour through the Chapultepec forest.

8. The Flag is Full of Symbolism

The Mexican flag has three vertical stripes that have had different meanings throughout history. Some say that green represents hope, white represents unity and red represents the blood shed by national heroes.

What is clear is the symbolism of the legend of the eagle and the cactus of the Mexica Empire, which tells how Tenochtitlan, present-day Mexico City, was founded. The fable relates the path that the citizens of Aztlán had to walk until they found the eagle (the reincarnation of the god Huitzilopochtli) devouring a snake perched on a cactus.

To learn even more facts about this unique civilization, you can take a guided tour of the Museo del Templo Mayor de Tenochtitlan.

9. Volcanoes and Mythology…

In the state of Puebla is Izta-Popo Zoquiapan National Park, a sacred place according to native stories. The main stars of this place are the Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl volcanoes, both exceeding 5000 metres (16,404 feet) in altitude!

Do you want to know one of Mexico’s best-kept secrets? According to the mythology of the Tlaxcala people, the volcanoes are the representation of the princess Iztaccíhuatl and the warrior Popocatépetl, who will remain together until the end of time. These mountains were considered authentic deities and servants of the rain god Tlaloc. Proof of this came in the archaeological sites found in the caves where rites were performed.

There’s still a group that continues to carry out some of the Nahuatl traditions. If you ever want to see these deities up close, check out this excursion to the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl Volcanoes. The scenery from above is truly breathtaking!

10. Mexico Brought Chocolate to Europe

Another fact about Mexico that many people don’t know is that it brought chocolate to Europe. Did you know that ancient Mexican civilizations, such as the Olmecs, Aztecs, and Maya people, have been cultivating cacao trees more than 3,000 years?

After the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, chocolate was imported to Europe. If you’d like to learn more about Mexico’s chocolate tradition, we recommend attending a chocolate workshop in Mexico City.

11. Mexico is Home to One of The World’s Largest Pyramids

Perhaps one of the facts about Mexico that is most surprising is that it is home to one of the world’s largest pyramids. The Great Pyramid at Cholula is the largest pyramid by volume known to exist in the world today.

Although Cholula’s Great Pyramid may not be the largest in height, it’s so massive that when the Spanish conquered the city, they thought it was a hill! If you’d like to see it for yourself, you can do so on this day trip from Mexico City.

It goes without saying that a list of fun facts about Mexico could be endless. However, we hope that this list of facts has been interesting, informative, and perhaps has inspired you to visit Mexico. If that is the case, don’t forget to check out the multitude of activities offered by Civitatis all across Mexico!