What is Mexico known for? Mexico is known for its food, beaches, ancient civilizations, Day of the Dead, music, and vibrant local culture. But for Spanish learners, Mexico is also one of the best places in the world to practice real Spanish in everyday situations. From ordering tacos at a market to talking with locals at cultural events, learning Spanish in Mexico helps you experience the country beyond tourism.
At our Spanish Immersion in Mexico City we find important to teach our students to appreciate Mexican Culture, so we take them to Museums, activities like “lucha libre” and even cooking classes, since is a great part of the culture.
1. Beaches
Mexico is home to a large number of beaches and is one of the main tourist destinations. On the coasts, Mexico is first and foremost a destination where you can soak up the sun as much as possible.
There are many beaches in Mexico, and 17 out of the 32 states have beaches, especially in the region of Cancun, Oaxaca, and the Yucatan Peninsula, both beaches with turquoise blue water to dark water with great waves for surfing.
2. Food
The food is undoubtedly one of the most striking things in Mexico because it is so diverse as it is a mixture of ingredients from different places, for example, one of the most typical dishes of Mexico is the Mole and it has different variants and ways of cooking which vary according to the location.
The basic ingredients of Mexican cuisine are corn, chili, beans, avocado, tomato, and tequila, many dishes are accompanied by rice, which was imported by the Spanish during their colonization, and it is also common that many of the Mexican dishes are spicy although currently in some places the spiciness is significantly reduced for the palate of tourists.
Food is also one of the best ways to practice Spanish in real life. In our Spanish immersion program in Mexico City, students visit local markets and restaurants to practice ordering food, asking questions, and learning cultural vocabulary.
3. Archeological sites
If you are studying Spanish in Mexico City, visiting places like Teotihuacán can help you connect language, history, and culture in a more memorable way.
UNESCO has declared all the vestiges of pre-hispanic cultures as world heritage such as Palenque, Chiapas, Teotihuacán, State of Mexico, Monte Albán, Oaxaca or Chichén Itzá in Yucatán; since they are a very important part of the development and history of Mexico. The Mexican culture has been an inspiration for artists from around the world, who have seen their work influenced by this cultural part of Mexico.
4. Day of the Dead
Declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2008, without a doubt this festivity is well known around the world, inspiring one of the last Disney-Pixar movies like Coco.
During late October and early November, homes are decorated with skulls, Cempasúchil flowers and, of course, altars where photos of the deceased are placed next to one of their favorite dishes.
5. Wrestling
Activities like lucha libre are part of the cultural experiences students can enjoy while learning Spanish in Mexico City.
It arrived in Mexico in the middle of the 19th century, gradually gaining popularity, seeing the birth of the first Mexican wrestlers and traditions that are used today by the different wrestling companies in the world.
The Arena Mexico City is the home of wrestling in Mexico that has hosted most wrestling shows since its creation thanks to Mr. Salvador Lutteroth, known as the father of wrestling.
In 2018 Mexico declared wrestling as an intangible cultural heritage.
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Want to experience Mexican culture while improving your Spanish?
At Speak Like a Mexican, our Spanish immersion program in Mexico City combines private Spanish lessons with real cultural experiences, such as markets, museums, food, neighborhoods, and local traditions.
Explore our Spanish immersion in Mexico City program and start learning Spanish through real life.
