Practical Information for visiting Mexico

Mexico uses the peso (MXN), written with the same $ sign as the US dollar — check which is meant. Cards are accepted in cities, hotels and larger restaurants; markets, street food, small towns and most transport are cash.

Use ATMs attached to banks rather than standalone machines, and decline the machine’s offer to convert to your home currency, which always costs more.

Tipping is expected here, unlike much of Europe: ten to fifteen per cent in restaurants, small change for petrol attendants and baggers, and it forms a real part of people’s income.

Coverage for mobile networks is good in cities and along main routes, patchier in mountains and remote areas. Mexico is outside European roaming arrangements, so a local SIM or eSIM is usually worth buying; they are inexpensive and sold widely.

Wi-fi is standard in accommodation and cafes. Long-distance buses are the backbone of intercity travel, are comfortable and frequent, and often make more sense than flying.

Mexico's safety varies enormously by region and is often misunderstood abroad -- the country's major tourist zones (Mexico City's historic center and Roma/Condesa, the Yucatán's ruins and beach resorts, the Colonial Highlands) see millions of safe visits every year, while certain border states and specific regions tied to organized crime activity carry real, well-documented risk that's largely separate from the tourist circuit.

• Check current government travel advisories by state before finalizing an itinerary -- risk in Mexico varies dramatically state by state, and a blanket "is Mexico safe" question misses that a destination like Mérida can be dramatically safer than a specific stretch of a border state hundreds of miles away.
• Petty theft and scams are the most common issues tourists actually encounter -- pickpocketing on crowded transit, unlicensed taxis, whose drivers have robbed and assaulted passengers including in Mexico City -- use the regulated sitio taxis from authorised ranks, have your hotel order one, and at airports use only the authorised pre-paid services. Ride-hailing is not the automatic answer it is elsewhere: in Cancún, licensed drivers protesting about Uber have blocked roads by the hotel zone and pulled tourists out of Uber cars, and travellers have missed flights as a result, and distraction thefts in busy markets and beach areas.
• Tap water isn't safe to drink in most of the country -- stick to bottled or purified water, including for brushing teeth, and be cautious with ice and raw produce washed in tap water at informal food stalls.
• Driving at night on intercity highways is generally discouraged outside major toll roads (cuotas), which are well-maintained and patrolled -- free roads (libres) are more prone to potholes and poor lighting. The same split applies to buses, and it is the reason to pay for first class: 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 roads.
• Natural hazards: hurricane season (June-November) affects both coasts, and Mexico sits on an active seismic zone -- Mexico City in particular has a real earthquake risk, with building codes and public earthquake-alert sirens a normal part of daily life there.
• Emergency number: 911 works nationwide and connects to police, fire, or medical services.

Water and food

Only drink boiled or bottled water, and avoid ice in drinks — that is the advisory's wording, and it is stricter than the common advice that reputable restaurants are fine. Bottled and purified water is universal and cheap. There have also been reported cases of Cyclospora, a food and water bug, in travellers returning from Mexico.

Altitude

Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of Mexico and it is the underestimated one. Mexico City sits above 2,200 metres and higher towns exceed 2,800, which affects some visitors for the first few days. Take the first day gently and do not arrive and climb a pyramid.

Vaccines and mosquitoes

No vaccinations are required for most visitors, though hepatitis A and typhoid are commonly recommended, and yellow fever proof is needed only if arriving from an affected country. Check current recommendations before travelling. Dengue and Zika both occur; cover up and use repellent in tropical areas.

Alcohol: a real and specific risk

There have been deaths and cases of serious illness in Mexico caused by alcoholic drinks containing methanol. Even small amounts of methanol can kill, and it cannot be identified by taste or smell. Tainted alcohol has also caused illness and blackouts. Separately, do not leave food or drinks unattended in bars and restaurants — travellers have been robbed or assaulted after being drugged.

Insurance and paying for care

Comprehensive insurance covering local treatment and medical evacuation matters here. Not all hospitals will deal directly with insurance companies, so expect to pay for treatment yourself up front and claim it back. Outside state capitals and larger urban areas, medical and emergency services may be limited — including ambulances, equipment and expertise.

Ceremonies marketed as spiritual cleansing

Hallucinogenic ceremonies using Yagé, Ayahuasca or Bufo are marketed to tourists. The preparations contain strong hallucinogens, consumption is not regulated, and the advisory records assaults and robberies of intoxicated travellers, reports of sexual assault during ceremonies, and serious illness, mental breakdown and death. The jungle retreats are often far from medical facilities and some have no plan for reaching one.

Vapes are illegal — the rule most visitors break unknowingly

It is illegal to bring e-cigarettes, vaping devices and solutions into Mexico, or to buy and sell them. Customs officials will confiscate them and can fine or detain you. Smoking or vaping in a public place carries a fine of up to 3,000 pesos. This applies to a device most travellers carry without thinking about it.

Carry the passport and the entry stamp

The authorities can ask to see your passport and your entry stamp to prove when you arrived, and they do not accept copies or photographs. A digital record of your entry documents can be obtained from the Portal de Servicios INM. Without the correct documents, immigration officers may detain you while they check your status and can deport you.

Archaeological sites

Removing archaeological artefacts is a serious criminal offence, and that includes fragments picked up off the ground at a site. Climbing on the structures is prohibited at most major sites.

Drugs

Penalties for drug offences are severe and convictions carry sentences of up to 25 years. Consular help is limited.

Photography and markets

Bargaining is normal in craft markets and not in shops. Photographing people, particularly in Indigenous communities, requires asking first, and in some communities photography is prohibited outright — signs are posted and should be believed.

Politics

It is illegal for foreign nationals to take part in political activity in Mexico. If you join a demonstration the authorities may detain and deport you, so move away from protests rather than watching them.

Numbers

911 is the national emergency number and reaches police, fire and ambulance. English-speaking operators are available in tourist areas but not guaranteed elsewhere. 078 is the tourist assistance line, staffed in English and useful for lost documents and advice rather than emergencies. In Mexico City, LOCATEL on 5658 1111 answers questions about procedures, local laws and social services, with English-speaking staff.

Earthquakes

There is a risk of earthquakes in most parts of Mexico, with tremors regularly in Oaxaca and Guerrero. Mexico City has a public alert system that sounds before the shaking arrives; if you hear it, follow the crowd to the marked safe area rather than running outside. The 911 CDMX app can warn about 60 seconds before movement starts, but it is only accessible from local phone numbers, so it is not a substitute for knowing your building's assembly point. Every 19 September at 11 a.m. a national drill is broadcast over public loudspeakers across the capital — if you are there on that date, it is a drill.

Hurricanes

Hurricane season normally runs from June to November and affects both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, bringing floods, landslides and transport disruption, with flooding and high winds continuing after the storm has passed. Follow the advice of local authorities and your tour operator, including evacuation orders.

Volcanoes

Popocatépetl and Colima are active and closed to the public, with danger zones that change with the level of activity; there is currently a 12-kilometre exclusion zone around Popocatépetl. Ash fall from Popocatépetl has previously cancelled flights at Mexico City's Benito Juárez airport, so check your flight status if it is active.

Water, wildlife and balconies

Sea conditions can be unpredictable and some beaches are unpatrolled; follow coastguard guidance on whether it is safe to swim. Crocodiles live in lagoons and coastal areas including Cancún and the Pacific resorts, have attacked and seriously injured tourists, and the warning signs around lagoons mean what they say. In some hotels the balcony railings are low enough to be a falling risk.