Traveling to Mexico soon? Here are all the tips for traveling to Mexico that will be vital to know in order to make the most of your trip and have a great, hassle-free time.
Mexico is a massive country full of more different landscapes than most people know about. You may think of beaches and margaritas, but there’s so much more to Mexico than that. It’s got a beautiful culture, delicious cuisine, wonderful sights, and some cultural intricacies that are important to know about before you go.
I have been visiting Mexico since I was young (as I am from California) and have lived there and traveled through quite a lot of it as well. During this time, I have gotten to know some of the most important things to know before traveling to Mexico that ensures a good, safe experience (sometimes the hard way). Take notes on the top tips for Mexico below!
All the photos in this post are my own 🙂
Mexico Travel Tips
Before getting to the main tips, I have a lot more content about Mexico. If you are traveling to any of the areas below (mostly Qintana Roo) these articles can provide some valuable tips for your trip!
- Best Areas to Stay in Tulum + Neighborhoods
- Taking the Ferry from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel
- Unique Places to Stay in Cozumel
- Unique Things to do in Playa del Carmen
Safety Tips for Traveling to Mexico: Know Your Destination Safety + Use Common Sense, But Mexico is Safer Than Many Think
To travel to Mexico safely, it is important to be vigilant and aware of safety tips for Mexico as a whole and also specific to your destination, as safety can differ a lot in different states.
My main tip is to always be vigilant in Mexico and use your common sense. Sure, Mexico is safer than a lot of people think, but that doesn’t mean that the unexpected can’t happen (I can personally attest to that). Don’t take any chances in Mexico and always err on the side of caution. When in doubt, don’t do it.
Destination Safety in Mexico
Make sure to look up your specific destination in Mexico and any travel tips for it, as each one can be different and some parts of Mexico are more corrupt than others and some are super safe without many problems at all.
One place I can definitely comment on the safety of is Quintana Roo/Tulum. I lived in Tulum for 6 months and experienced more corruption there than anywhere in my life out of 75 countries, but not everyone had the same experience. As I mentioned before, erring on the side of caution is essential here. Read more about safety in Tulum here.
Visit a Pueblo Magico
Mexico has an award system for towns of particularly significant cultural, historical, architectural, or simply mystical character, and this award is called being named a ‘Pueblo Magico.” There are over 120 pueblos magicos, which directly translates to magic towns.
Each Pueblo Magico is called one for a different reason, but they all truly are magical! Try to visit at least one Pueblo Magico during your trip to immerse yourself in some authentic Mexican charm. Here is a list of Pueblos Magicos.
Know Basic Spanish Phrases
One of the most obvious Mexico travel tips is to know some basic Spanish before you go, or keep learning as you travel! Many people speak English in Mexico, but many people don’t speak a single word… even in some turisty areas.
Knowing basic Spanish here will get you a long way and make things so much easier. So before your trip, learn a little Spanish and at least learn how to ask for a beer and the bathroom!
Mexico is NOT Always HOT: Know Your Destination Weather + Time Of Year
People tend to think of Mexico as synonymous with beaches, bikinis, sunshine, and heat. But as I keep mentioning, Mexico is HUGE and has a MASSIVE variety of climates, elevations, and temperatures.
Mexico has some incredible mountainous regions, and Mexico City is actually at quite a high elevation so tends to be cooler. This should be obvious, but check the weather before you go as it might not be as scorching as you expect.
Money Tips for Traveling to Mexico: Pay with Pesos (Not Dollars) and Always Have Cash On You/Small Change
One of the best tips for traveling to Mexico is to pay with pesos instead of dollars, and to always have cash on you. There are a few reasons for this.
The currency is obviously pesos in Mexico, but in many touristy places will accept or even encourage payment in dollars. This is only because they assume you are stupid (or are not doing the math) and are giving you a terrible exchange rate. Paying in the local currency of pesos can save you money.
Secondly, it’s important to try and keep the smallest change possible on you at all times. This is because many taxi drivers, market vendors, etc will not have change and will end up overcharging you if you don’t have smaller notes. So keep in mind to break bills when you can and use bank ATM’s when you see them.
ATM Tips for Traveling to Mexico: Use Bank ATMs + Don’t Go on Paydays
Continuing from money tips for traveling to Mexico, there are some important things to know before using Mexican ATM’s.
First of all, make sure to only use BANK ATM’s. Don’t use any tiny street ATM’s if you can help it as these almost always charge too much to use. Try and use an ATM attached to an actual bank if you can as these will have much fairer exchange rates and fees.
Next, to avoid lines, keep in mind that pay day in most of Mexico is the end of the month (last/first day of the month) and the 15th. ATM’s might have long lines on these days which could hold you back if you were not prepared for it.
Travel Beyond JUST The Beach Resorts in Mexico
I know it’s tempting to remain at all-inclusive resort the whole time in Mexico, and those definitely have their time and place. I mean, who doesn’t love unlimited food, drinks, and entertainment? But one of my biggest Mexico travel tips is to make sure to travel beyond just the beach resorts, as this country has so much more to offer!
Head outside the beach resort to try some street food, wander through a local market, try a culinary tour in the Riviera Nayarit, visit the downtown areas or pop into a local bar playing mariachi. These things are what the authentic Mexico travel experience is about.
Grab a Mexican SIM Card (Telcel is Best) Or Make Sure to Have Int’l Data
To have the best experience traveling in Mexico, it’s important to have cell phone data at all times! This is of course to post pics and stories of the great time you are having, but also for safety reasons.
There are a few ways to make sure to have data in Mexico. The most obvious is to grab a local sim card when you arrive (they have phone stores at the airports and in all towns) to connect to the local networks. Most people prefer Telcel. Secondly, you can ensure that your phone company provides international data or pay for a special package that includes Mexico for the duration of your trip.
Tipping is Customary: 10-15%
You must respect local customs when in Mexico, and one of those customs is tipping. Yes, it’s true, tipping is customary in Mexico but just not as much as the USA. It is standard to tip at least 10% on top of any bill at a restaurant or bar in most of Mexico.
Have Travel Insurance
Despite being mostly safe, it’s very important in Mexico to protect yourself against the possibility of anything bad happening. One of the most important tips for traveling to Mexico is having travel insurance. Travel insurance saved our butts during some ordeals in Tulum, and it’s always better to have peace of mind.
We use Heymondo travel insurance and have used them for years. They insure for a lot of outdoor activities and even have adventure sports add-ons and equipment coverage. You can read more about Heymondo in our review here.
Dont Drink Tap Water
Tap water in Mexico is generally not safe to drink, so to be safe don’t drink it anywhere. Get used to not drinking from the tap or shower during your trip here. Brushing your teeth with the tap water is usually okay but I never do it just in case.
But Greens and Ice are Okay
You may be happy to learn that most ice in Mexico is made from purified water, and that most greens are washed with good water too. It’s actually quite outdated Mexico advice to refrain from ice in drinks or veggies as they may be washed with tap water.
Locals and visitors alike do not want to get sick from the tap water, so all restaurants will have safe ice and greens, and many street vendors will also. If you are worried, just ask, or check the share of the ice to see if it may have come from a supermarket bag of purified ice.
Many Mexican Museums are Closed on Mondays
It’s important to factor into your plans/itinerary that many museums are closed on Mondays all over Mexico and especially in Mexico City. This is the day that museums and many attractions and even parks close for maintenance and other things like simply time off for workers. Museums will be open most weekends.
Haggle Only at Markets (Mexico isn’t known for haggling)
Many say that Mexico isn’t known for haggling, but I would partially disagree. I have haggled my absolute life away at more Mexican markets and street vendor areas than I can count, and this is completely normal to do as most of these will start by trying to overcharge you.
Haggling isn not normal per se in most aspects of Mexican life such as street food and shops, but at markets when buying souvenirs and trinkets, it’s fair game.
Dont Flaunt Expensive Items
One of the biggest safety tips for Mexico to be extra vigilant is to make sure not to flaunt any of your expensive jewelry, cameras, clothing, or other items while walking on the street.
This is not to say that you will be robbed or mugged if you do, but if you don;t flauny anything, it greatly reduces the chances of anything bad happening to you. So to err on the side of caution, just don’t do it.
I know this is hard for cameras when you are trying to take photos of your trip, but my main tip for carrying a camera is to also wear a scarf you can put over the camera or a big bagon the same shoulder.
Toilet Tips for Traveling to Mexico: Womens Bathrooms have M/D and Men have H/C.
One of the most hilarious Mexico travel tips is to know what letter will be on the toilet before you go, to avoid any uncomfortable or awkward situations!
Womens bathrooms have ‘M’ or ‘D’ on the door which means mujeres or damas. Men’s toilets have ‘H’ or ‘C’ which means hombres or caballeros. You can see how easy it would be to confuse this if you are coming from an English speaking country… and how many Men would walk through the ‘M’ door not thinking that it means Mujer.
Don’t Flush Toilet Paper + Keep change on you for Toilets
In most of Mexico it is not customary to flush toilet paper down the toilet, which can be hard to remember if coming from any country where you do. There will aways be a big trash can to place used toilet paper so they don;t clog up toilet systems that were not built to withstand toilet paper like they are in the US. To avoid more awkward bathroom situations, make sure to throw your toilet paper in the bin.
Another Toilet tip for Mexico is to keep change on you because many bus station or public toilets will cost money. As I said above, try and always have small change on you if at all possible.
Use a VPN to Protect Your Info
VPN‘s are a good idea to use while traveling in any country, Mexico included. To keep your info safe no matter if you are working from a cafe in Sayulita or an airbnb in Puerto Escondido, you wont have to worry.
Don’t Lose the Paper Slip from Customs (FMM) Ad You Will Need it to Leave Mexico!
When you enter Mexico, they give you a slip of paper. This slip is called the FMM, and while it would be super easy to toss it in the bin once you arrive safely, DO NOT DO THIS! Mexico is one of the only countries where you must exit with the same form you entered on. Losing this form can create problems, so keep it with your passport or somewhere else safe.
At the end of 2022 it was announced that there are new plans to eliminate this form with changes to the entry procedures, which would be awesome. But depending on when you enter Mexico, if they give you a paper, just don’t lose it.
Use Public Transport: ADO Busses for Longer Distances + Local Collectivos
You can save tons of money in Mexico by taking busses and public transport.
ADO is a long-distance bus line that runs routes between main points of interest in Mexico. Most main cities and towns have a bus station, and ADO busses cover literally the entire country. You can book some online or head to the bus station to ask about your routes, from hopping to the next town in a state to crossing the entire country.
For more local transport, you might want to look into learning how to use collectivos. Collectivos are white minubusses that serve as public transport ALL OVER Mexico. They are very informal and nearly always packed, but they only cost a couple of pesos. They run in routes with a number like normal busses (although they may detour from time to time).
Once you arrive at your destination in Mexico, ask someone or try and figure out the different collectivos running in the area and see if you can jump on to get where you are going. This would be an important situation to know some spanish, but it could save you won’t on taxis especially in places like Tulum.
Mexico is Bigger Than you Think: Consider Domestic Flights for Longer Distances
If you can’t get there on a collective or ADO bus (or if the ride is 12+ hours) Mexico does have some reputable airlines. As I have said many times, this country is SO much bigger than many imagine; in fact, it’s the 14th largest country in the world.
It may seem natural to plan a trip to some of Mexicos hotspots such as Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, Cancun, and Oaxaca, in one trip, but the reality is that all of these places are 12+ hours apart. Check Skyscanner for domestic flights to save lots of driving (and potential roadblock) time.
Beware of Rental Scams: Rent Cars with a Reputable Company
Sadly car rental scams do happen all over Mexico and a lot in the Yucatan area. Most of the scams involve being obligated to pay for extra ‘insurance’ that doubles, triples, or quadruples the quoted cost. They have also gotten creative in Tulum where they will tow your car from the beach area (in conjunction with the rental company) and charge you LOTS to get it back.
Read some tips and rental scam details here to ensure that nothing like this happens to you!
Travel to Different Regions + Try Different Regional Cuisines
For the third time, Mexico is SO MUCH MORE than Cancun, Cabo, and Puerto Vallarta. Those resort-y places are nice, of course, but consider visiting some of Mexico’s incredible mountains, grottos, jungles, ancient historic sites, and even deserts. The country covers a lot of ground, and within it are lots of landscapes to see and foods to try.
Did you know that there are seven regions of Mexican cuisine? That’s right, it’s not all tacos and quesadillas but different regions have different gastronomic delights for you to try.
Try Street Food, But Visit Places with Long Lines, Wearing Gloves, or Taxis Nearby
My next Mexico travel tip is to try street food, and the very next tip after that is to choose your street food wisely.
Street food is an integral part of Mexican culture and how locals eat all over the country. But one of the things to know before going to Mexico is how to choose street food wisely. Generally the best Mexican street food spots are:
- The ones that are the most crowded: these are trusted locally by many people, therefore, generally trustworthy for you too.
- Street food stalls where workers are wearing gloves, hair nets, etc: if you spot gloves or other food safety items like aprons or hair nets, you know that the place takes cleanliness seriously. Green flag.
- There are taxis nearby: This is an interesting but true thing you will notice. Taxi drivers need to eat too, and if there is a concentration of taxis around a certain street food stall, it’s another great way to know it’s trusted by locals.
Use Uber if Possible OR Agree on Taxi Fare Before you Leave
Some places in Mexico have uber, and others do not. When looking to get around, first try and take uber or any other taxi app if it is available (and this is true all over the world). Uber/taxi apps sets a fair price for you BEFORE you ride so you have no hidden costs or stresses.
Taxi drivers around Mexico will definitely try to overcharge you if they can. The best way to combat this is to agree on a fair fare before you sit down. Look up online what a normal fare would be, or you can always compare the fare to what the uber app suggests if it is available.
Get Used to Waiting + Have Patience; Mexico Has its Own Time
Mexico is not one of those countries like Japan or Germany that are meticulously on time. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. If you have ever heard of the term ‘island time,’ Mexico is something like that. Things happen when they happen, and that’s all you need to know.
This is a country that requires a lot of patience to travel through. Food won’t always be fast, busses won’t always be on time, and sometimes tours will take a little longer than expected. But if you know this before your trip, it can;t stress you out. It’s Mexico time.
Always Chat with Locals
The best way to have a more authentic experience when traveling in Mexico or anywhere in the world is to connect with locals. And in Mexico, locals are generally very friendly and open and happy to have a chat, especially if you practice your spanish.
Chatting with locals can truly give you a different perspective on your destination that you cannot get in a big resort or cruise ship. It’s always more fulfilling to understand more about how life really is in your destination through a local’s point of view and making new friendships.
You May Need Mosquito Repellant + Cream
Mexico has a very varied landscape, but a LOT of it is prone to mosquitos. If you will be near any jungles or many beaches, these little buzzing bloodsuckers might become your worst enemy. Make sure to have mosquito repellant just in case, and to have it on you at all times especially at sunrise and sunset.
There are many natural mosquito repellants that use lemongrass oil, or you can opt for a high deet product like OFF to be extra sure the mozzies will be warded off. But for any times you forgot repellant, you will NOT regret having a bite relief stick. These have saves me from an itchy death a few times.
Prepare for Sun with Sunscreen, Hats, and Sunglasses
I know I said Mexico isn’t always hot, but oftentimes, it is. If you are traveling to one of Mexico’s warmer destiantions or beaches, make sure to plan ahead and pack for it as the sun can be scorching.
Don’t leave home without sun protection in every form possible. Bring a high spf sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, cover-ups, and anything else to protect your body from the sun… when you aren’t sunbathing, that is!
Mexicans Dress More Conservatively
Something that is important to note is that, in general, Mexican people dress more conservatively. Keep this in mind when walking through cities/towns and local villages that may not be used to scantily clad tourists rampaging through their town.
If you are planning to be in any local areas (and even touristy areas to be more respectful of the culture), bring something to cover up a bit more.
Pretty Much Everywhere Has Good Wifi
Mexico is a fabulous digital nomad destination in that pretty much all main hubs have fantastic wifi. So one of the things to know before going to Mexico is that you most likely will not have to worry about finding good wifi, because it will be available in most hotels, cafes, apartments, and restaurants.
Know Which Plugs/Adaptors to Use
Depending on where you are coming from, you may not need an adaptor in Mexico. Mexico has the same plugs as the USA – type A and B – which means two parallel prongs with or without a third grounding prong.
Make sure to grab a travel adaptor – one of my biggest travel essentials – beforehand if coming from Europe, Australia, or other destinations.
Many Places Stop Selling Alcohol after a Certain Time
If you are heading to Mexico and plan to do a bit of partying, something that you will definitely want to know before traveling to Mexico is that in many states alcohol sales stop after a certain hour. Alcohol can be sold in many states 24 hours a day, but sales stop between 12 and 6am in states like Quintana Roo.
That’s it for my Tips for Traveling to Mexico! Let me know how your trip went in the comments, if any of these tips helped you, and if I should include any more!
More Mexico:
- Unique Places to Stay in Tulum
- Best Beachfront Airbnbs in Tulum
- Tulum Treehouse Rentals
- Boutique Hotels Playa del Carmen
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.