Mexican Literature. The literature of Mexico is internationally renowned, with inspirational authors such as Carlos Fuentes, Juan Rulfo and Octavio Paz

The literature of Mexico is internationally renowned and prolific, with inspirational Mexican authors such as Carlos Fuentes, Juan Rulfo and Octavio Paz, the country's strong literary tradition is still very much celebrated today.

Prior to colonization, Mexican books were in scarce supply. The indigenous population had their own system of writing, but its uses were limited to specific purposes. Instead they tended to rely heavily on the use of oral narration for transmitting and relying mythology and stories.

However, things quickly changed with the arrival of colonizers. European settlers began to write eye witness accounts analyzing the new land that they had discovered. Some of the first books about Mexico were written by conquerors or chroniclers like Álvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca and Bernal Díaz del Castillo. As the Spanish continued to exert their authority on all realms of culture, Mexican writers were greatly affected by their influence, and as such soon the literature produced developed distinct characteristics. A hybrid of Spanish and Mexican literature developed, known as 'mestizaje', which saw the blending of common language used in the colonial Mexico with European subject matters. Some of the most prolific Mexican authors of the time included Bernardo de Balbuena, Juan Ruiz de Alarcón, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz and Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora

The Mexican Revolution was a fundamental subject matter and inspiration in the development of modern Mexican novels such as Como Agua Para Chocolate and Los de Abajo.  Mexican writers of the last century are perhaps the most celebrated throughout the history of Mexican literature, with household names such as Carlos Fuentes, Juan Rulfo's unique representation of the Mexican Revolution in Pedro Paramo, and El laberinto de la soledad by Octavio Paz. Mexico really has earned its place in the international literary forefront.

Wherever your literary interests lie, this section will provide you with more detail about the fascinating range of Mexican literature on offer.

Reference

Mexico Entry Requirements for Tourists and Short Term Visitors

Minors traveling to Mexico alone, or unaccompanied by at least one parent or their legal guardian

Visitors Permit – Visitante

Passport holders from countries on Mexico’s Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. do not need to apply for a formal visa to visit Mexico. They may, instead, use a visitor’s permit, known as a FMM (Forma Migratoria Multiple).

If the country that issued your passport does not appear on the ‘no visa required list’, you should check with your nearest local  for details of visa requirements before you travel to Mexico.

Mexico Visitor’s Permit (FMM)

For a Mexico Visitor’s Permit (FMM) will need to be filled out in place of a visa. This is a simple form: pick one up from the check-in counter at the airport and fill it out on the airplane before you land or you can acquire one at all land border crossings. If the airline you are traveling with does not have any forms at the check-in desk or on-board the plane, don’t worry, you can get one when you land in Mexico and fill it out before you line up to have your documents checked and stamped by the officials at the airport.

Mexico charges a fee to all tourists and business visitors arriving in the country. The fee is approximately US$22, and the money collected is handed to the Tourism Ministry to promote Mexican tourism.

Airlines normally collect the permit fee on behalf of the Mexican government and include the cost within the total airfare (under ‘taxes and surcharges’), so in the majority of cases, there will be no need for you to pay the fee separately.

If you do not arrive in Mexico by airplane, then you will need to pay Mexico’s Visitor’s Permit fee separately if you travel beyond the 22 miles/35 km ‘free zone’ after crossing a land border into Mexico or arriving by sea on a private vessel. If you do this, you will have to complete the Visitor’s permit at the immigration check-point and pay the fee separately.

Lost your FMM Permit? If you lose your FMM, you will need to visit one of the immigration offices situated in towns and cities across the country, or at the airport, and apply for a replacement before you can leave.  This will involve some form-filling and filing, and a trip to a local bank to pay your permit replacement fee (about US$30) before you return to the immigration office to receive your FMM replacement.

Kept your FMM Permit? We sometimes get emails from readers who have arrived home and realized that they still have their FMM tourist permits.  The best thing to do, if this happens to you, is to contact your nearest , who will advise what to do—and may ask you to send back it to them.

Over-Stayed on your FMM? If you overstay the time you were granted on a FMM permit (usually 180 days), you will need to visit an immigration office (or the immigration center at the airport) and pay a fine before you can leave the country.  The amount of the fine depends on how long you have over-stayed; it is calculated on a per-day basis and, at time of writing, will not be more than MX$6,000 pesos.  As with lost permits, you should arrange to secure your exit visa before your planned flight departure date, as otherwise you might miss your flight.

Important! KEEP YOUR VISITOR’S PERMIT SAFE!

If you do not have your FMM (Visitor’s Permit) with you when you leave, you will need to undergo some Mexican Immigration red-tape and apply to get a replacement at one the country’s immigration offices or at the airport. The fee to replace thee permit is about US$30,  A lost permit, especially if you only notice at the airport when you are ready to leave, will delay your exit and may cause you to miss your scheduled flight.

Passports Now Required for Air Travel to USA

As of January 23 2007, all passengers—including US citizens—traveling to or through the USA by air will need to hold a valid passport. US Citizens are no longer able to use their birth certificate or driver’s licence to enter the US by air from Mexico.
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U.S. Passport Cards

U.S. passport cards are less expensive than passport books and can be used by U.S. citizens who cross the border between the United States and Mexico by land or sea. These look like a driver’s licence, and are more robust and less bulky than a passport book. You can learn more about Passport Cards on . of the US State Department web site.

US Passport Cards Not Valid for Air Travel: If you are a holder of a U.S. Passport Card, please note that this is NOT valid for air travel to Mexico. Passport Cards can only be used to cross the border between the United States and Mexico by land or sea ports. A passport is required for air travel to and from the the United States (see previous heading).