21 Curiosities & Strange Things About Mexico and Mexicans

Mexico is a country full of curiosities, unexpected traditions, and cultural oddities that can surprise even the most seasoned travelers. As someone who has explored its bustling cities, remote villages, and hidden corners, I’ve uncovered Cancun's traditions, and some of the most strange things about Mexico and Mexicans—from unique superstitions to fascinating history.

For starters, did you know that Mexicans celebrate Christmas on January 6th with the tradition of "Rosca de Reyes," where finding a tiny baby Jesus figurine in your bread means you must host a tamale party? Or that there's a place called Isla de las Muñecas (Island of the Dolls), covered in creepy, decaying dolls said to be haunted? Mexico is also home to the world’s smallest volcano, Cuexcomate, standing at just 43 feet tall!

But the curiosities of Mexico aren’t just about legends and oddities. The country has one of the largest pyramid structures in the world, Cholula, which is even bigger than Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza. And here’s something unexpected: Mexicans often say “mande” instead of “qué” when asking someone to repeat themselves—it’s a sign of politeness!

From mysterious Aztec ruins to everyday quirks, Mexico is a land of surprises. Let’s dive into some of the most intriguing, bizarre, and wonderful things about this vibrant country and its people.

Top Curiosities of Mexico: Strange facts that you wouldn't expect

Did you know who Kukulcan was? That Mexico isn't called that? And that the second longest coral reef in the world is located here? Here are a few interesting facts about Mexico.

1. It's not called Mexico

We'll start off strong: Mexico is not called Mexico. Officially it is called the United Mexican States , although it is clear that we all know it as Mexico.

2. Meaning of the Mexican flag

The Mexican flag has three colors: red, which represents the blood of those who fought in the wars of Independence; white, which refers to purity; and green, a symbol of hope. The central vertical stripe (white) shows an eagle resting on a cactus, eating a snake, which refers to an ancient legend .

3. The Feathered Serpent God

Not only can we find it on the flag, the symbol of the snake is quite recurrent in Mayan culture. Kukulcan , the God of the feathered serpent, is the protagonist of one of the most famous Mayan pyramids: the one at Chichén Itzá . Every year at the equinoxes, the direction of the sun's rays and the position of the pyramid cause a very peculiar phenomenon to occur, in which it seems that a snake is descending down the northwest staircase. It is a magical moment that we hope we can see sometime in our lives. More info here .

4. Sweet Heaven

One of the most well-known and beloved Mexican songs is Cielito Lindo , which has almost become a national anthem, especially when Mexicans get together abroad. It's really beautiful, really.

Remember to get the Revolut card ( with a €10 promo ) to avoid commissions when paying and withdrawing money abroad

5. Chocolate was born here

Do you like chocolate ? Who doesn't? 😉 Well, we have to thank Mexico for sharing this exquisite delicacy with the rest of humanity. In fact, many other foods originate in Mexico, such as corn or chili .

6. Everything stings (or not)

And speaking of chili… Mexicans are not afraid of spicy food , in fact, they love it. We will always remember when in a restaurant in India, a country known for its mega spicy food, we met a Mexican who complained about how weak and bland his dish was (we, obviously, were about to die from the spiciness). Of course, if you don’t like spicy food at all, you won’t have any problems, since it is usually served in separate sauces, so everyone chooses whether to add it and how much to add. Here we tell you about the typical dishes of Mexico .

7. Day of the Dead

The Disney movie “Coco” popularized one of the most heartfelt celebrations in the entire country all over the world: the Day of the Dead . Without a doubt, it is one of the most curious celebrations that we were lucky enough to experience on our travels. We visited Mérida and we tell you about our experience here .

day of the dead mexico

8. Mexican beers

The most famous Mexican beer in the world is Corona (and now with the Corona Virus I can’t even tell you :-p), which in Spain until 2016 was known as Coronita due to problems with the trademark registration, but there are many other brands, such as Modelo, Sol, Tecate, Pacífico… Something that seemed curious to us is that there they refer to beer as “ chelas ”: we love the term. And speaking of curious drinks, we can’t skip the michelada , a very peculiar “chela” since it is served with salt, spice and lemon juice.

9. A fart… that doesn’t smell XD

Another word that we found funny is “ pedo ” and not for what you might think… in Mexico it is like a wildcard for hundreds of situations. In this post they explain it well.

And how can we forget the concept of “ ahorita ”? If a Mexican friend tells you that he will arrive right now, he could arrive in five minutes or in five hours XD It is one of the most used Mexican phrases.

10. It has the second longest coral reef in the world

You probably know that the world's largest coral reef is in Australia. But did you know that the second largest is in Mexico ? It's located in the Riviera Maya , just off the coast of Mahahual and Xcalak , two of the best destinations for snorkelling and diving in Mexico.

what to do in Mahahual Mexico

11. Frida, a woman full of curiosities

One of the best-known Mexican figures outside the country is Frida Kahlo , a painter who had a super interesting (and complicated) life, which we tell you about here .

Take out IATI travel insurance with a 5% discount here . Whatever your destination, save yourself trouble and don't take any chances.

12. A record border

Although the border between Mexico and the United States is one of the most famous in the world (unfortunately for political reasons), it is only the tenth longest in terms of length. It measures 3,169 km and passes through the following states: Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California in the United States; and Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Chihuahua, Sonora and Baja California in Mexico.

13. May 5th

The 5th of May celebration is often confused with Independence Day (September 16). But in reality, the 5th of May commemorates the Battle of Puebla when the Mexicans managed to defeat the French invaders for the first time (in 1862), considered until then to be one of the best and most prepared armies in the world ( more info ). Here we tell you more about the history of Mexico .

14. It has an amazing ecosystem, one of the most beautiful curiosities of Mexico

Good news for nature lovers: Mexico not only has cities with a magnificent historical and cultural legacy, but it is also home to more than 200,000 species of animals and plants . Thanks to its complex topography, it is one of the countries with the greatest biodiversity in the world, and it seems that around 10% of the species of terrestrial animals and plants on the planet reside here! Jaguars, whales and monarch butterflies are just 3 examples.

15. Mayan civilization, intangible treasure

The Mayans were one of the most impressive civilizations in history and are surrounded by mysteries, legends and curiosities. One of the facts that shocked us the most is that, according to the canons of beauty of that time, sharp teeth and squint were the most. Here we tell you 20 curiosities about the Mayan civilization .

ball game typical of the Mayan civilization

16. The Holy Death

One of the strangest curiosities of Mexico is the existence of a religion that worships the figure of Santa Muerte . Santa Muerte? Yes, she is represented by a skeleton dressed in a long, dark tunic and is referred to as an intrinsic element of life, which makes all human beings equal. More info here .

17. Wrestling, something peculiar to Mexico

Mexican wrestling is one of the most popular sports in Mexico (although football takes the cake, of course). It was in the second half of the 20th century when it became super fashionable, thanks to characters such as El Santo, Black Shadow, Rayo de Jalisco or Blue Demon, among others. Beyond the techniques and rules of the game, what draws the most attention is the mask that the wrestlers usually wear...

18. A hidden beach

On the Marietas Islands , off the coast of Nayarit in Mexico, there is a very peculiar beach : it is hidden ! You can only access it through a sea tunnel or by climbing some rocks. More info here.

19. Cenotes, the doors to the underworld

The Yucatan Peninsula is full of cenotes , amazing natural pools where you can take a dip and where the Mayans carried out their rituals and sacrifices in ancient times. In fact, there are cases like the cenote at Chichen Itza where lots of very valuable objects from that time have been recovered.

Suytun Cenote Yucatan

20. The origin of burritos

The burrito is one of the most famous (and delicious, yum) Mexican dishes. But do you know where the name comes from? There are several theories, but one of the most established is that the man who invented them sold them from a donkey cart.

21. Doll Island

The Island of the Dolls (La Isla de las Muñecas), located in the canals of Xochimilco, Mexico City, is a haunting tourist destination steeped in legend and tragedy.

The island is covered with hundreds of dolls, many of which are decapitated or dismembered, hanging from trees. The story behind this eerie place revolves around Don Julián Santana Barrera, the island's former caretaker. According to local legend, Barrera found a drowned girl in the canals and, unable to save her, became consumed by guilt and fear. He began collecting dolls, believing they were possessed by the spirits of dead girls, and hung them around the island to appease the girl's spirit and ward off evil.

After Barrera's death in 2001, the island was opened to the public, attracting visitors drawn to its dark history and paranormal claims. Many report strange occurrences, such as dolls moving or whispering. The island has become a popular site for dark tourism, with visitors often leaving offerings in hopes of blessings or miracles. Despite its macabre atmosphere, the island remains a fascinating and unsettling destination, reflecting themes of grief, obsession, and superstition.

More interesting facts about Mexico

Cuexcomate , located in Puebla, is, according to many, the smallest volcano in the world : it measures less than 15 meters! Although in reality it is an inactive geyser.
The Chicxulub crater in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula is the place where, according to some theories, the meteorite that wiped out the dinosaurs fell .
After a trip to Mexico, Salvador Dalí said that he would not go back there under any circumstances, as he could not stand being in a country more surreal than his own paintings XD
Did you know that color television was invented in Mexico? Indelible ink and the contraceptive pill are also Mexican inventions .