Mexico is a land of contrasts. As one of the 10 most populous countries in the world, it encompasses everything from overwhelming population centers to rural Mayan villages. The snow-capped mountains and pine forests east of Mexico City are a far cry from the blistering hot and flat vacation meccas of Cancun and Playa del Carmen on the Yucatan peninsula. From traditional gauchos plying their trade to modern universities and student life, the variety is truly the spice of life in Mexico.

Sonora borders Arizona to the north and the Gulf of California to the west. The beauty of the American Southwest continues right through the state of Sonora all the way to the Gulf of California, making the coastline a spectacular sight. The capital of Sonora is Hermosillo, a city of about 1 million people. Hermosillo lies 3.5 hours south of the Arizona border, and is home to not only the state government, but also the state’s largest employer, Ford Motor Company. Hermosillo is nicknamed Sun City for its constant sunshine and high temperatures during the summer months.

The northern half of Mexico has an arid, desert-like climate that slowly changes to sub-tropical. Days are hot, and nights cool off significantly. Southern Mexico is quite warm and humid year-round. Days are very hot, and nights stay quite warm as well.

The people of Mexico speak Spanish. Vacation destinations within Mexico tend to have a significant amount of English-speakers due to tourism.

Mexico is generally considered a safe place to visit. Some of the larger cities have their share of crime, and a few of the border towns (most notably Ciudad Juarez) have experience some drug related crime in recent years. Hermosillo, the capital of the state of Sonora, has a lower crime rate than the Unites States national average.

Today, Mexico is doing as well as any time in the past century. Its economy is growing, and democratic elections are held every four years. Poverty is declining, though urban blight and shantytowns that develop as the country becomes more urban are continued concerns. Mexico is gaining momentum as we head into the next century.

Mexican currency is in the form of the peso. As of May, 2009, the peso was valued at 13 for every United States dollar. US dollars are widely accepted in Mexico.

Mexican food is some of the most unique and wonderful in all the world. It is legendary, and most anywhere one travels across the globe, you can find restaurants serving Mexican food! The meals that Mexico is renowned for begins with tortillas and tostados, which can be made of corn or flour. Tortillas are the foundation for making nearly any food. Fill the tortilla with chicken, pork, beef, or any other meat. Then add some vegetables and spicy Mexican salsa or hot sauce, you have a typical Mexian meal. Locals will modify, add, or subtract any of these ingredients to make a hearty (and sometimes spicy) lunch or dinner! Mexico also has wonderful desserts and is well-known for its pan dulce (candy bread) and helado (ice cream). Try some!

Mexico is blessed with more opportunities for activity than almost any country on earth.
Hang out at a pristine white-sand beach on the Yucatan Peninsula, surf at a Pacific Coast beach, dive, snorkel, or drop a line in some of the world’s best fishing waters off the Pacific Coast. Visit the Copper Canyon (North America’s deepest), spend time at some of the best-preserved archaeological sights in the world, or get lost in the humanity of one of the world’s great cities, Mexico City. Whatever your interest, Mexico has it!

Documented history in Mexico begins as early as 1000 B.C. with the Aztec, Olmec, and Mayan people inhabiting the area. Ancient kings, rulers, gods, and legends stem from this land steeped in history. Archaelogical remains of these civilizations are all over Mexico, most notably in the central, south, and east. Beginning in the 1500’s, the Spanish conquest of Mexico began when Cortes landed in modern-day Veracruz. He and his crew began a long and violent struggle between the Europeans and the Aztecs. As Spain began to take over Mexico, or “New Spain,” Mexico began the most prized possession in the New World for the Spaniards, and was allowed no autonomy. Mexico gained independence from Spain 1821 at the Battle of Cordoba, and was led by a Catholic Priest named Father Hidalgo Costilla. This began a very difficult process in learning self-government over a wide area a large population.

90% of all Mexicans are Roman Catholic. 7% are Protestant Christians and the remaining 3% generally are comprised of indigenous beliefs dating back to Mayan and Aztec times.

Here are some links to more information about Mexico's Sonora region.
(These links will open in a new window when clicked.)

http://www.history.com/states.do?action=state&state=Sonora&parentId=MEXICO
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonora
http://www.destination360.com/north-america/mexico/sonora-state