The View from Torre Latinoamericana // Mexico City, Mexico

For a city with such a huge population, Mexico City has surprisingly few skyscrapers. The geology of the old lakebed upon which much of the downtown area is built doesn’t help. Nor does being near an active earthquake zone.

The most prominent skyscraper anywhere near the downtown area is the Torre Latinoamericana. It doesn’t look like all that much from street level, but at the time it was an innovation for being a skyscraper built in an active seismic zone. That was put to the test in the 1985 Mexico City earthquake that caused extensive damage throughout the city. The Torre Latinoamericana made it through unscathed.

When it opened for business in 1956, it was the tallest building in the city. It was built to house the insurance company that gave the building its name: La Latinoamericana, Seguros, S.A.

For the 50th anniversary, in 2006, the building was given a new observation deck (or Mirador) to provide visitors with spectacular views out over Mexico City. Those areas take up the 37th to 44th floors.

Photos from Torre Latinoamericana

Field Notes

The observation decks are open during the day and into the late evening. Entry is with a wristband–so long as you don’t take your wristband off you can use it for multiple entries on a single day, so you can go during the day and return during the evening.
The very top deck, on the 44th floor, is open air and exposed to the elements. In inclement weather, there are also indoor observation decks on the floors below.

Travel Advice for Mexico

You can find the latest U.S. Department of State travel advisories and information for Mexico (such as entry visa requirements and vaccination requirements) here.

The British and Australian governments offer their own country-specific travel information. You can find the British Government's travel advice for Mexico here and the Australian Government's here.

Health & Vaccinations

The CDC makes country-specific recommendations for vaccinations and health for travelers. You can find their latest information for Mexico here.

Guidebooks for Mexico

If you're looking for a guidebook to make the most of your visit, these are some of the most popular ones currently for Mexico. Some are available in both paper and e-book formats.