How to Get Around Mexico

Distance decides, and the country is bigger than it looks

Mexico is nearly 2,000 kilometres from the Yucatán to Mexico City and as far again to the northern border, and passenger rail effectively does not serve it. Domestic flights are the fastest way to cover the real distances — Aeroméxico, Volaris and VivaAerobus connect Mexico City with every major region cheaply and frequently — and the long-distance bus network does everything else.

Buses, and why the class matters

First-class buses on toll roads are comfortable, extensive and far better than the rail alternative. They are also the safer choice for a reason worth knowing: the advisory records a risk of bus hijacking, and says first-class services using toll roads have a lower rate of incidents than second and third-class buses on the free (libre) roads. Most first-class companies check passengers on boarding. Theft on buses is common, so keep your belongings with you rather than overhead or below.

Taxis: take the regulated ones

Unlicensed taxi drivers have robbed and assaulted passengers, including in Mexico City. Use the regulated sitio taxis from authorised ranks, or ask your hotel to order one; at airports use only the authorised pre-paid airport taxi services. Ride-hailing is not the automatic answer it is elsewhere: in Cancún, licensed taxi drivers protesting about Uber have blocked roads near the hotel zone and pulled tourists out of Uber cars, and travellers have missed flights because of it. Follow your hotel's advice locally rather than a general rule.

Driving, and the Mexico City plate rule

A car earns its keep in the colonial highlands and for the Yucatán's archaeological sites. Two things to know first. Driving standards differ sharply from northern Europe or the United States — potholes, unsignalled lane changes, vehicles running red lights, and many drivers without insurance. And Mexico City restricts cars by number plate to reduce pollution under the Hoy no Circula programme: vehicles without State of Mexico or Mexico City plates cannot enter the city Monday to Friday from 5am to 11am and Saturday from 5am to 10pm, with further restrictions when pollution is high, generally February to June. Enforcement is strict, with heavy fines and temporary confiscation of the vehicle. Ask the hire company whether the rules apply to your car.

In the capital

Mexico City's Metro is extensive and cheap and beats the traffic, which is the argument for it. Be alert on public transport, at airports and in bus stations.

Where the advisory says not to go

The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of Mexico, and the exceptions are drawn precisely rather than by state: the Copper Canyon rail route and the towns on it are excepted from the Chihuahua and Sinaloa warnings, Mazatlán and Los Mochis are excepted, Morelia and Pátzcuaro are excepted from Michoacán, and Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa are excepted from Guerrero if reached by air. One exception matters more than most for a standard itinerary: the FCDO advises against all but essential travel on Federal Highway 199 between Rancho Nuevo, just outside San Cristóbal de las Casas, and the Chancalá junction outside Palenque — which is the direct road between two of the most visited places in Chiapas. Check the current advice before booking that leg.

Verified against UK Government (GOV.UK; FCDO travel advice abroad), September 2026.

Fly between regions, bus within them

There is no rail network to fall back on, which changes the arithmetic from most countries. Aeroméxico, Volaris and VivaAerobus fly cheaply and often from Mexico City to every region, and that is how the Yucatán, the Pacific coast and the north get joined to each other. Within a region, first-class buses are comfortable, frequent and better than driving.

First class on the toll road, not second class on the free road

This is the one transport decision with a safety dimension. The advisory records a risk of bus hijacking and states plainly that first-class buses using toll roads have a lower rate of incidents than second and third-class buses on the free libre roads, and that most first-class companies perform security checks when passengers board. Theft on buses is common in any class, so keep bags with you.

Taxis, and the Cancún exception

Unlicensed taxi drivers have robbed and assaulted passengers, including in Mexico City, so use regulated sitio taxis from authorised ranks or have your hotel call one, and at airports use only the authorised pre-paid services. Ride-hailing is not the safe default it is elsewhere: licensed drivers protesting about Uber have blocked roads near Cancún's hotel zone and pulled tourists out of Uber cars, and travellers have missed flights as a result. Take the local advice on the day.

Hoy no Circula: the rule that strands hire cars

Mexico City bans cars from entering on certain days by number plate to reduce pollution, and enforcement is strict — heavy fines and temporary confiscation. Vehicles without State of Mexico or Mexico City plates cannot enter Monday to Friday from 5am to 11am, or Saturday from 5am to 10pm, with further restrictions when pollution is high, generally February to June. If you are collecting a hire car anywhere else and driving to the capital, ask the company whether the rules apply to your vehicle before you set off.

Check the advisory against your route, not against the states

The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of Mexico, and the exceptions are drawn by road and rail line rather than by state, which makes the detail worth reading. The Copper Canyon rail route and the towns on it are excepted from both the Chihuahua and Sinaloa warnings; Mazatlán, Los Mochis, Morelia, Pátzcuaro, Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa are all excepted from warnings covering their states. The one that bites a common itinerary is Federal Highway 199 between Rancho Nuevo, outside San Cristóbal de las Casas, and the Chancalá junction outside Palenque — the direct road between two of Chiapas's main destinations. Check the current position before booking it.

Departure tax

You may need to pay a departure tax leaving Mexico by air or land. Most airlines include it in the ticket price, but some airports and border crossings only take cash. Check with the airline rather than finding out at the gate.

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Sources & verification Covers the sourced claims on this page.

Checked against UK Government (GOV.UK; FCDO travel advice abroad) — Unlicensed taxi drivers have robbed and assaulted passengers, including in Mexico City; the advice is to use the better regulated sitio taxis from authorised taxi ranks or have a hotel order a taxi, and to use only authorised pre-paid airport taxi services at airports, Licensed taxi drivers protesting about Uber have blocked roads near Cancun's hotels and pulled tourists from Uber taxis, and tourists have missed flights due to the roadblocks, which can happen without notice, There is a risk of bus hijacking in Mexico; first-class buses using toll roads have a lower rate of incidents than second and third-class buses travelling on the free (libre) roads, and most first-class bus companies perform security checks when passengers board, Mexico City bans vehicles without State of Mexico or Mexico City registration plates from entering the city Monday to Friday from 5am to 11am and Saturday from 5am to 10pm under the Hoy no Circula programme, with further restrictions when air pollution is high, generally February to June, and offenders face heavy fines and temporary confiscation of the vehicle, Driving standards in Mexico differ sharply, with potholes, unpredictable conditions, vehicles changing lane without indicating and going through red lights, and many drivers without car insurance, The FCDO advises against all but essential travel on Federal Highway 199 between Rancho Nuevo, just outside San Cristobal de las Casas, and the Chancala junction just outside Palenque, The Copper Canyon rail route and the towns immediately on it are excepted from the FCDO advice against travel to the states of Chihuahua and Sinaloa, as are the cities of Chihuahua, Los Mochis and Mazatlan, Morelia and the town of Patzcuaro are excepted from the FCDO advice against travel to Michoacan, and Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa accessed by air are excepted from the advice against travel to Guerrero, A departure tax may be payable when leaving Mexico by air or land, and some airports or border crossings only accept cash (September 2026).