Country code: 52. Long-distance calls are very expensive.

Roaming agreements exist with a few international mobile phone companies. Handsets can be hired. Coverage is variable.

Internet is available in all regions, particularly the main tourist areas.

Airmail to Europe takes about six days. Surface mail is slow, taking weeks if not months. Within the capital, there is an immediate delivery (entrega inmediata) service, which usually takes two or three days.

Post office hours: Typically Mon-Fri 0900-1700. Some larger branches open on Saturday morning for a reduced range of services. In Mexico City, the Correo Mayor (main post office) is behind the Palacio de Bellas Artes and opens Mon-Sat 0800-2100 and Sun 0800-1900.

In the 2006 ‘Press Freedom Index', issued by Reporters without Borders, Mexico was close to the bottom of the league, the worst country (excepting Cuba) in the Americas. Mexican reporters who get too close to drug-cartel or political corruption stories have a habit of ending up dead or disappeared.

• The major daily newspapers published in Spanish are Esto, Excélsior, EL Financiero, El Heraldo de México, La Jornada, La Prensa and El Universal.
• The English-language papers available are Mexico City Times, New York Times, The News and USA Today.

• Televisa operates four networks throughout Mexico.
• TV Azteca operates two networks and local stations.

• Grupo ACIR has stations in Mexico City and across the country.
• MVS Radio operates in the capital and elsewhere.
• Grupo Radio Centro operates a large network of stations.