11 Things to Know Before Traveling to Mexico

For most travelers, Mexico lets you in with open arms—no visa is required for stays under 180 days if you’re from the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and most of Europe. What you do need is a passport that’s valid for at least six months from your date of entry. On arrival, just hand over your passport, get your stamp (usually six months is given), and say “gracias” (thank you) to the immigration officer. If you’re crossing the border by land, the 180-day stay isn’t guaranteed.

Thinking of renting a car to explore the cenotes of the Yucatán or the backroads of Baja? Know that Mexican law requires you to have liability coverage—daños a terceros—which protects against damage to other people and property. Some rental companies automatically include it, others don’t.

Mexico runs on pesos, not dollars—though in tourist-heavy areas, you’ll find places willing to take your crisp green bills at terrible exchange rates. Get your pesos from ATMs inside banks, not the random ones on the street because card skimmers are a thing, unfortunately.

Daily life in Mexico can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it. Street food is a steal, a good sit-down meal won’t set you back much more than US$20 per person, and public transport costs less than the loose change in your pocket. It’s 12 pesos for a one-way ride on the bus that patrols  Cancun’s Hotel Zone, for instance. If you want to live it up in Mexico City’s Polanco district or sip cocktails in  Tulum, be ready to burn through your budget faster.

Credit cards are accepted in major cities and tourist areas, but if you plan on venturing anywhere beyond the resort bubble, markets, street vendors, and also some restaurants deal in cold, hard cash (efectivo).

The intercity buses in Mexico are top-notch. Companies like  ADO (Autobuses de Oriente) will get you across the country in plush seats with movies and snacks, all for a fraction of the cost of a flight. Be warned that Mexican long-distance buses love air-conditioning. If you don’t want to arrive at your destination frozen, bring a sweater.

Taxis are a roll of the dice. They might be unregulated, meaning you could end up paying the “tourist price” unless you negotiate beforehand. Whenever possible (not all cities have it), take Uber as it’s often cheaper, safer, and eliminates the need to haggle. Things get complicated in Cancun, however. There have been cases of harassment and even attacks on rideshare drivers and their passengers. If you’re using Uber in Cancun, be discreet and don’t get picked up in front of bus stations or  the airport.

For flying domestically, know your budget airlines. Volaris and  VivaAerobus fly all over Mexico and even to the U.S., the Caribbean, and parts of Latin America. Volaris offers an annual all-you-can-fly pass (v.pass) that lets you take one flight per month for a flat fee, which is a game-changer if you plan to hop around the country.

Mexican food is deep, complex, unapologetic, wildly regional, and in-your-face tasty. And then there’s the street food. If it’s fried, grilled, or steaming in a bubbling cauldron on the sidewalk, it’s probably delicious. Just follow one golden rule: eat where the locals go. A long line of Mexicans waiting means that’s where you want to be.

If you’re strictly vegan, gluten-free, or have serious food restrictions, Mexican street food won’t bend over backward for you. That seemingly vegetarian quesadilla is cooked on the same grill as chorizo. Lard and meat juices find their way into a lot of things. Also, spicy means spicy. Approach salsas with caution and taste before you douse.

Mexico’s tap water is not your friend. If you don’t want to spend half your trip becoming intimately familiar with a bathroom, don’t drink it, and don’t even brush your teeth with it if possible. That being said, don’t freak out about ice. Most restaurants, bars, and coffee shops use filtered or commercially purified ice, so your margarita is safe.

If you do get sick, pharmacies are everywhere and many have doctors on-site offering walk-in consultations that aren’t exorbitant. If you are outside a highly touristed area, communication may be tricky with health professionals if you aren’t fluent in Spanish.

At 2,225 meters (7,300 feet), altitude sickness is real in Mexico City. Take it easy on day one. Hydrate, eat well, and limit your alcohol.

Mexico is a year-round destination with many different climates, so check the weather in your chosen destination(s) before you go. December through April is the high season on the coasts. The weather is dry, the skies are blue, and the beaches are packed with sun-starved tourists escaping winter back home. But high season comes at a price—flights are expensive, hotels book up fast, and in places like Tulum, you’ll be fighting for space between influencers and EDM festival-goers.

In March and April spring breakers invade Cancún, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta, and then comes Semana Santa (Holy Week), Mexico’s biggest vacation period. May to June is the first low season (the second is September through November) meaning fewer crowds and better prices. Riviera Maya and Cancun are super hot in the summer with the kind of heat that makes your shirt stick to your back before breakfast. Avoid the region in July and August if you dislike humidity.

Mexico’s landscapes range from blazing deserts to freezing mountaintops, so pack smart. You’ll need reef-safe sunscreen, bug spray (mosquitoes in jungle areas are relentless), comfortable shoes (cobblestone streets will eat cheap flip-flops alive), layers (places like San Miguel de Allende and Mexico City get cold at night), and a lightweight, waterproof jacket if you’re visiting between June and November (aka hurricane season). You’ll want to dress up nicely if you plan to hit high-end restaurants or bars. Even at Cancun’s all-inclusive resorts, there are top temples of culinary delight that will demand fancier attire.

Despite what fear-mongering news outlets might purport, Mexico is not a lawless warzone. Yes, some places are better avoided, but most tourist destinations are safe. You’re more likely to get extorted by an overpriced taxi than run into cartel trouble (use Uber over taxis where available). Women travelers should expect catcalling, but violent crimes against female tourists are rare. The LGBTQ+ scene is thriving in places like  Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, Guadalajara, and  Playa del Carmen, but rural areas are more conservative.

Common sense rules apply in Mexico. Stick to well-lit areas, don’t wander into unfamiliar neighborhoods alone at night. Avoid ATMs after dark, don’t flash wads of cash, and keep an eye on your drinks. If you didn’t see it poured or opened, don’t consume it. Dial 911 for emergencies and if you don’t speak Spanish, have Google Translate ready.

Total fluency is not required but don’t expect everyone to cater to you in English. Mexicans are patient, friendly, and will appreciate the effort if you at least try to speak Spanish. Social niceties are big in Mexico. When people walk into a shop, restaurant, or even a waiting room, they acknowledge one another. A simple “hola” (hello) will garner some smiles from passers-by.

If you walk into a restroom, see an “M” on the door, and waltz right in, you may find a group of very confused women. The “M” stands for “mujeres” (women), not “men.” The men’s room is labeled Caballeros (gentlemen) or H (hombres).

For eating out, you might want to know how to say “una cerveza, por favor” (one beer, please), “¿cuánto cuesta?” (how much does it cost?), “la cuenta, por favor” (the check, please), and ¿dónde está el baño?” (where is the bathroom?).

When traveling around the Yucatán Peninsula, you’ll notice that many place names have the letter “X” (like the  Xcaret theme parks and  hotels). Note that this “X” is pronounced like a soft “shh.”

Mexico’s three major carriers—Telcel, AT&T México, and Movistar—all offer prepaid data plans, but Telcel is king when it comes to coverage. Pick up a SIM card (called a chip in Mexico) at OXXO (a widely prevalent convenience chain in Mexico), Walmart, Soriana, or any phone shop. Make sure your phone is unlocked otherwise that SIM card is just a futile souvenir.

Mexico City has over 31,000 free hotspots, and many public squares (like those in San Miguel de Allende or Playa del Carmen) offer free wi-fi. Airport wi-fi is hit-or-miss and often time-limited. If you need a strong connection, don’t rely on it.

Mexicans use WhatsApp for everything from booking nail appointments and tours to getting restaurant reservations. Download it before you land to stay in the loop.

It’s worth knowing that Mexico has some limits on how many electronics you can bring in. It’s one laptop per person so if you bring a second one, you might get taxed according to Mexico’s Tax Administration Service (SAT).

Most crime that affects tourists in Mexico isn’t violent, it’s petty theft, pickpocketing, and scams. One popular scam is the bait-and-switch between 500 peso and 50 peso notes. If paying by card, check the final amount on the screen before handing over your card.

Get every tour inclusion in writing. If they promise extras, make sure it’s in your receipt or booking confirmation. It would be tremendously disappointing to be promised a luxury bus ride, breakfast, and three cenote stops on the way to Chichén Itzá only to get a minivan, stale crackers, and one cenote.

If you look like an easy target, someone will take advantage. Unfortunately, that someone might be a police officer. Foreign men more so than women are often targeted by police officers for unofficial “fines” for crimes never committed. Being very visibly intoxicated is a way to get on their radar. Cops might find excuses to search you (and thus gauge how much you have to offer) by telling you things like you match the description of someone on the run. To avoid getting fleeced by anyone, never take too much cash out with you and keep the bling bling at home.