Do you need some travel information about Mexico to plan your next trip? That’s great! It’s always a good idea to be prepared and to know as much as you can about the places you will be visiting on your next vacation.

You may already have a vague idea about it based on what you have seen or heard from friends or the media. Maybe it’s the first time you will be visiting and you want to be sure you’re making the right decision. No problem. We’re here to help. I’ll try to be as brief and concise as possible while providing you with some essential information you need to know. Let’s get started.

 

Geographical Location

Mexican flag in green, white and red with an eagle devouring a snake in the center.

First of all, I would like to clarify that Mexico is a part of North America, not South America like many foreigners believe. Having said that, it borders the United States to the north and Guatemala and Belize in Central America to the south.

Mexico is surrounded by 2 oceans: the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea are located within the Atlantic Ocean.

 

Climate

Beach with a starfish in the front and the sea in the background.

Due to its proximity to the equator and the Tropic of Cancer, Mexico enjoys a temperate/tropical climate and has one of the most diverse weather systems in the world.

Because of the above, many parts of Mexico like the Yucatan Peninsula and other cities along the coast have consistent temperatures all year long. They have a yearly median temperature of 24°C-28°C (75°F-82°F). This makes them ideal destinations for visitors trying to escape from the cold in their home countries.

The north is generally drier than the south and has more extreme temperatures. Cities like Monterrey and Hermosillo can reach temperatures of 40°C or higher (104°F) during the summer. Winters are also usually colder in the north.

 

Biodiversity

Close up of a sea turtle.

I will not bore you with graphs, statistics, or loads of information, but I thought it was important to mention this point nonetheless. Mexico is 1 of 17 megadiverse countries. This means it’s home to thousands of reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and many different types of plants. It’s also one of the most diverse countries in the world regarding ecosystems.

Just to give you an idea of the whole thing, Mexico is home to 10-12% of the entire world’s biodiversity. That’s amazing, isn’t it?

Mexico has many natural protected areas which include: biosphere reserves, natural parks, natural monuments, areas of protected flora and fauna, areas for natural reserve protection, and diverse sanctuaries like the Monarch butterfly sanctuaries in Michoacan.

If you are a nature lover, then Mexico is an excellent option for your next visit.

 

Administrative Divisions

Mexico’s capital is Mexico City, which is also its most populated city.

Mexico is divided into 32 states. The states are divided into municipalities (municipios).

After Mexico City, the second and third largest cities are Guadalajara and Monterrey, respectively.

 

Natural Disasters

Due to its location, Mexico can see earthquakes, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions.

Mexico City is located in a seismic zone. The last major earthquake occurred in September 2017. The city has a seismic alarm that alerts people so they can evacuate or keep themselves safe wherever they are.

There are also several active volcanoes in central/south Mexico. Major volcanoes include Popocatepetl and Volcan de Fuego in Colima. They’re monitored 24/7 by Mexican authorities.

Last but not least, there are hurricanes, which are the most common natural disaster. Hurricane season runs from early June through late November, although it’s most active during August and September.

 

Top Destinations

Mexico’s most visited destinations are beaches. These include Cancun, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, among others.

Aside from leisure, many people also travel to Mexico for business. Destinations include Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, given their size and importance.

You can check a few more details about this list here.

 

Currency

Mexico’s currency is the Mexican Nuevo Peso (MXN), simply known as the peso.

Many local establishments, especially along the U.S. border and in touristy areas like Cancun and Los Cabos, accept American dollars. However, conversion rates are usually not the best, so you might be better off exchanging them for local currency. There are several casas de cambio throughout Mexico where you can do that.

As of November 27, 2019, 1 USD=19.55 MXN. Remember this can vary over time. Make sure to check conversion rates beforehand.

 

Languages

Green sign with white letters that read Se habla espanol.

Wait? Did you say languages? Don’t all Mexicans speak Spanish?

Let me explain. Mexico does not have an official language per se, although Spanish is its de facto language. That means that most people speak Spanish and use it in official and private settings.

Even though the majority of Mexicans speak Spanish, there are still 8 million people who speak indigenous languages like Nahuatl, Maya, Mixtec, and Zapotec.

Don’t worry though. Most people speaking indigenous languages speak Spanish as well.

Many Mexicans speak English, so you might not have major problems trying to communicate. However, I think you should make an effort to speak the language, at least at a basic level.

 

Transportation

Woman facing screens with flight schedules at the airport.

Most major destinations have an airport on-site or nearby.

Buses are another option. You can travel virtually to any place within Mexico by bus.

There are no passenger trains in Mexico except for El Chepe which connects Chihuahua City and Los Mochis.

Within cities, public transportation is the most used means of transportation. There are buses and taxis in every city, and some cities like Mexico City and Monterrey have subways as well.

Many of you are familiar with Uber and may use it when on vacation. Well, I have good news for you. Uber operates in Mexico. Uber has a presence in over 40 cities, including of course major destinations like Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.

Now, let me give you a word of advice regarding Uber. There have been some conflicts between taxi unions and Uber. Taxi unions argue that competition conditions between them are unfair and have been trying to boycott Uber since its beginnings. If you need to get an Uber at an airport, the Uber driver will probably try to contact you to see where he can pick you up and avoid any problems with taxis in the area. But don’t worry, Uber is safe to use. I’ve done it a million times.

 

Cuisine

Bunch of red chili peppers.

Mexican cuisine is one of the most well-known cuisines in the world.

Keep in mind that we Mexicans love spicy hot food. If you can’t handle that, make sure to check if your food has chile in it. If you go to a restaurant, you could probably ask them to not use any chile.

Every Mexican restaurant or food stand on the street will have hot sauce or salsas to accompany your food. Just be warned: if you ask if it’s hot and they say it’s not, then it is. If they say it’s a little hot, it means it’s very hot. Since we’re used to eating hot food, we can be a little subjective about it. Foreigners may believe we’re trying to fool them, but we’re not! So please don’t hate us if you eat something and it was extremely hot for you.

I will talk about Mexican cuisine in more detail in a future post.

 

Travel Requirements

Map, pencil, notebook, camera, tourism brochures and a bag.

Tourists from the U.S., Canada, and several European countries don’t need a visa to enter Mexico. All you need is your unexpired passport. If you are unsure about the visa requirement, you might want to verify this before traveling.

You might not be able to travel if your passport expires less than 6 months before flying out. You can check this directly with a Mexican consulate in your city or online.

You will also need to have a return flight, specify a Mexican address (this can be your hotel or whoever’s you’re visiting), and complete an immigration form.

If you’re staying at a Mexican’s home, you need to have an invitation letter from your host. Make sure you have this if needed.

Mexico does not require immunizations of any kind. However, you may want to look for immunization requirements if you’re visiting or passing by another country before entering Mexican territory.

Travel insurance is not mandatory in Mexico. However, it’s always advised to have it. We never know what may happen and it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

 

Peak Season

Generally speaking, peak season in Mexico is from mid-July to mid-August, Semana Santa (the week before Easter), and mid-December through the end of the month.

However, you also have to consider the long weekend holidays. These include the Day of the Constitution, the Birth of Benito Juarez in March, the Mexican Independence in September, and the Mexican Revolution in November.

Also, the peak season might differ within cities and towns. Religious feasts and cultural festivals play an important role here.

 

Travel Advisories

The U.S. government, as well as other foreign governments, constantly issue travel advisories for their citizens regarding insecurity and other events in Mexico. Like I have said other times, I won’t lie to you and say that nothing bad happens. But you know the media loves to exaggerate the dimensions of things.

I’m not advising you to blatantly ignore your government’s recommendations. Just take precautions like you would wherever you travel.

You can check out YouTube and you will find many foreigners who have visited and even lived in Mexico and changed their minds about it. They had fears like yours and hesitated to visit, but they decided to give it a try.

You might also know a friend or a relative who has experienced something similar. You can say I’m a little biased here, but you have to find out for yourself. Don’t be afraid to give it a try.

If you ever find yourself in an emergency, you can dial 911.

 

Conclusion

It’s always important to have as much information as you can when you travel to any destination. That’s why I came up with this list of travel information about Mexico.

Traveling to Mexico can be a rewarding experience if you prepare accordingly. You may be hesitant about it and that’s fine. We don’t blame you. It may be overwhelming and scary when you’ve never been, but once you visit you will fall in love with it.

I hope you found this post useful. If you have any questions or comments, I would love to read them below. Thank you for reading. See you soon!

Book your trip now!

Book your flight

The first thing you have to do is find cheap flights. But where do you find those? There are many search engines, but the one I highly recommend is Skyscanner. Here you can compare fares from all over the world and pick the one that suits you best.

Book your accommodation

The next thing you have to do is secure your lodging. Whether you prefer a hostel, a guesthouse, a B&B, or a hotel, you can find them all on Booking. You can find lodging of all kinds ranging from cheap to expensive and somewhere in between. Many people have scored good deals using it.

Another popular option is Hostelworld. This website focuses on hostels as opposed to hotels.

Book a tour

In some places, you might want to hire a tour. Not all places are equally accessible to visit by oneself. It helps enormously when you visit with a local guide who can show you around and answer any questions you might have…all in your native language. My to-go place is Viator as they offer tours of all kinds and have a presence all over the world.

Rent a car

Public transportation is usually cheaper than renting a car, but it’s sometimes more complicated and time-consuming. That’s a reality. In some cases, it’s more convenient to rent a car. My recommendation is Rentalcars.com. Here you can compare rates and choose the one that fits you best.

Book your bus tickets

You can save money by booking bus tickets online. My favorite site to do this is Busbud.

Get travel insurance

Never travel without a travel insurance policy, especially during these days! Travel insurance can save your life. My recommendations are World Nomads and Insured Nomads. Both companies cover COVID-19 related incidents, which is crucial these days.

More resources

Just click on the “Plan your trip” tab at the top of this page, and you will find more resources like getting Mexican insurance for your foreign car, buying travel accessories, and learning Spanish. And, of course, don’t forget to check back often to read about more tips on Mexico travel.

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6 Replies to “Travel Information About Mexico – What You Need to Know”

  1. Great post once again. As I was reading, I wondered what one could do in Mexico as a visitor if you don’t speak Spanish. Then, I got to the point where you have covered the language aspect in detail. I honestly didn’t know that there where other languages in the country that people speak besides Spanish. Speaking of Spanish, wish I could speak the language. But, I’m glad that knowing English only won’t be any issue visiting the country. 🙂

    1. Hi, Yama,

      Yes, many people think we only speak Spanish. The truth is thanks to our proximity to the U.S, many people speak English. However, I think it’s still important to learn some Spanish. The same applies for any other country you visit.
      Thanks for commenting.

  2. Wow. You have really put together some good information about visiting Mexico. I have always wanted to visit but have not had the chance to travel as much as I would like. I have a business associate who spends a great deal of time in Mexico. He has a medical condition and the climate is very good for him.

    I guess my biggest concern would be not knowing places to avoid to steer clear of crime. Is their a list of Mexico areas that should be avoided by a tourist? If I am going to vacation there I would want to know.

    1. Hi, Scott,

      Many people move to Mexico in order to enjoy the climate. Many others move over there as well after retiring.
      Regarding your concern, you would be safe visiting the Yucatan Peninsula (this includes Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Cozumel, Merida, Campeche, among others), Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Mexico City or Guadalajara.
      You can check out my article where I talk about the subject more in depth.
      Hope you visit someday. Let me know if I can be of further assistance. Thanks for commenting.

  3. My wife and I have been interested in visiting Mexico for some time now. I have to be honest, we are apprehensive due to the news we here. Bad things happen every day no matter where you live, but we live in a border state and we hear some pretty bad news at times. I know people from the US visit Mexico all the time.

    Puerto Penasco is a very popular destination for a lot of people and we hope to go someday. I just need to get over my fear of driving through Mexico. There is such a variety of culture and climates, I would love to visit somewhere more tropical, like Cancun.

    Thanks for sharing your experiences. I am going to do some more research and hope to visit someday soon.

    1. Hi, Steve,

      I don’t blame you. I know many people who share your fears.
      The truth is everything is rarely as good or bad as they say. That’s something I’ve learned and tried to keep in mind.
      I go to Mexico frequently and eventually you let go of your fears. There are many people who are scared of visiting, but once they do, they fall in love with the country.
      Do you know any friends or relatives who have visited? You could ask them for some recommendations and their opinions about it.
      Hope you visit someday. Mexico has lots of beautiful places. If you want to hit the beach, I highly recommend it.
      Thanks for dropping by.

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