Activities
The locals' general lack of interest in outdoor activities doesn't stop growing numbers of intrepid gringos from trekking off into what Mexicans probably consider absurdly rough country. Trails around the Copper Canyon and Baja California are among the most popular and developed. Sport fishing is especially popular off the Pacific coast and in the Gulf of California. Snorkeling and diving is wonderful in Mexico, particularly at Caribbean coast resorts like Isla Mujeres, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Punta Allen and Banco Chinchorro. On the Pacific coast, try Puerto Vallarta, Zihuatanejo, Acapulco and Huatulco. Inland, there are many balnearios , bathing places with swimming pools, often centered on hot springs in picturesque surroundings. Surfing is popular on the Pacific coast. Some of the best surf spots are between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, Bahía de Matanchén, Ensenada, Mazatlán, Manzanillo and the 'Mexican Pipeline' at Puerto Escondido. Los Barriles is Baja California's windsurfing capital, and further south Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo can be good too. Veracruz state is the epicenter of the country's white-water rafting industry. A number of Mexico City-based organizations conduct hiking and mountain-climbing trips on Mexico's volcanoes, including Iztaccíhuatl, Pico de Orizaba, Nevado de Toluca and La Malinche.

Arts
Mexico's earliest surviving examples of art are the rock paintings of the Sierra de San Francisco and the giant heads of the Olmec civilization. The Maya were also fine craftsmen and like the Toltecs and Aztecs they used their art to decorate their temples with friezes, statues, carvings and wall paintings. Although much pre-conquest decorative art was broken up or, in the case of gold work, melted down, a rich heritage remains. Unfortunately almost all the books and writings of the Maya and Aztecs were lost or deliberately destroyed.

Little survives of Mexico's Pre-Columbian past. There are some examples of Mayan writing, the Codices, and a few fragments of Aztec poetry.

After the Mexican Revolution politically committed artists such as Diego Rivera , won international fame, in particular for their monumental frescoes. Frida Kahlo, once married to Rivera is Mexico's most famous woman artist. In addition to the country's international standing in painting and architecture, Mexico is also well represented in all the other arts. In 1990 Octavio Paz, the famous Mexican author, won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Mexican folk dance and music is important to Mexican culture. Traditional Indian folk dances have been incorporated into Christian festivities.

Mexican folk music is based mainly on the guitar. Mariachi bands in which the guitars are backed up by trumpets and violins are popular strolling players. Carlos Chavez is a famous contemporary Mexican composer and musician whose works are often based on Indian legends.

Sport
Football is Mexico's most popular sport. In 1986 Mexico was the venue for football's World Cup. Wrestling is the second most popular sport and its contestants, often masked like cartoon heroes are major national figures.

Jai Alai is also a popular Mexican sport, a form of Basque pelota. Bullfighting takes place in all Mexican cities and betting at cockfights is a village pastime. Rodeos are also popular.

Holidays
Public Holidays and fiestas are important to the Mexican way of life, especially Semana Santa, Holy Week. Christmas is also a major celebration. The Day of the Dead or All Saints Day is celebrated. On this day, Mexicans remember their dead and celebrate the continuance of life. Families take picnics to cemeteries to be near their dead relatives. Independence Day is celebrated with fireworks, music and dancing after the more solemn observations in the day.