Mexico Travel Guide

Mexico blends ancient civilizations with colonial architecture, Caribbean beaches, and complex modern realities. Navigate dense cities, archaeological wonders, and diverse regional cultures across 32 states.

Updated · On BootsnAll since 1999 · History

Overview and Things to Consider

Mexico's regions barely resemble each other: the Caribbean coast with its Mayan culture, the central highlands with colonial towns and pre-Columbian sites, Pacific beaches built for resorts, and a north with its own character. Spanish is the main language. English is common in tourist areas and cities and much less reliable elsewhere. Indigenous traditions and colonial history sit right alongside modern Mexico. Most Western nationalities (US, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand) enter visa-free as tourists for up to 180 days. Immigration officials can ask for proof of onward travel or funds, and they can give you fewer days; the full stay isn't automatic. Some nationalities need visas, so check with a consulate. Bring a valid passport, typically with 6 months of validity. Border procedures got stricter on documentation after the pandemic.

Getting There and Around

The main airports are Mexico City, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos and Monterrey. Mexico City is the hub, with connections almost everywhere. Domestic flights are cheap (often $30-60) on budget carriers Volaris and Viva, or on Aeromexico. The buses are where Mexico beats most countries. First- and second-class lines connect every major city cheaply and efficiently, and the main routes use comfortable coaches with bathrooms and movies. Driving makes sense in some regions: a rental car ($25-50 daily) works well around the beach areas and colonial towns. City public transport is extensive and cheap. For long distances, a domestic flight often costs less than a multi-day bus trip.

What's Changed Since 2016

Prices rose sharply, and the beach resort areas (Cancun, Los Cabos, Playa del Carmen) now cost as much as the Caribbean. There's much more accommodation and dining. Currency swings make costs harder to predict. As the country weighs development against social problems, some regions became riskier for travelers. Digital payments are standard in cities, but you still need cash outside them. Mayan ruins and cenotes face overtourism. Colonial towns have been restored at a faster pace and look better for it. Southern Mexico has more Indigenous cultural tourism than before. Crime persists in some northern regions and parts of the south, so plan carefully. Cartel violence hits specific regions but rarely reaches tourist areas directly.

Ideas to Consider for Your Visit

Mexico City is the place for food, museums and culture. The Yucatan Peninsula has Caribbean beaches, Mayan sites and cenotes. Oaxaca is about Indigenous traditions and regional cooking. Chiapas has jungle, waterfalls and the Palenque ruins. The colonial towns (San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Merida) are strong on history and art. The Pacific coast (Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan) is beach culture, and northern cities like Monterrey have their own regional character. Most travelers pair colonial towns with some beach time instead of staying in one area. Two weeks gives you 2-3 regions properly; three weeks gets you coast to coast. Focus on a few regions, not all 32 states.

Realities to Be Aware Of

Mexico is cheaper than Canada or the USA, though prices have risen a lot. Outside the resorts, budget travelers can get by on $40-60 a day for food and lodging. Mid-range runs $80-150 a day, comfortable travel $150-250+. Beach resorts charge Caribbean prices, and Mexico City costs more than rural towns. Outside the big cities, drink bottled or purified water. Food hygiene is generally good in tourist areas and riskier in remote places. Safety depends heavily on where you are. The main tourist areas (Mexico City, Cancun, Yucatan Peninsula, San Miguel de Allende, Oaxaca City) are fairly safe with standard precautions. Some northern regions and specific areas have cartel activity; stay away from them. Petty theft happens in big cities, so keep valuables out of sight. Armed robberies hit buses at night on certain routes, so use reputable lines and avoid night travel on routes you don't know. Read up on a region before you go. Women travelers report safety that varies with location and behavior.

If Mexico Is Part of a Longer Trip

Mexico pairs easily with the USA on a North America trip. Mexico City is a major hub for Central America, and Cancun and the southern beaches connect to the Caribbean. Northern cities (Monterrey, Guadalajara) link to the USA. Many travelers continue into Guatemala or Belize; the borders are fairly open. Time: 2 weeks covers one region well (Yucatan or the Mexico City area). 3 weeks gets you 2-3 regions, and 4+ weeks a colonial circuit plus beach time. Mexico usually ends up as part of a longer Central America trip rather than a trip on its own. Mexico plus Guatemala (4-6 weeks) is a popular route; the border crossing is straightforward, and southern Mexico connects well to the rest of Central America.

Yearly Things to Consider

Spring (March-May): Dry season, comfortable temperatures, prices rising. Summer (June-August): Hot and humid everywhere, with short, intense afternoon downpours. Hurricane season (June-October) peaks on the Caribbean coast. Prices drop after June. Fall (September-November): Hurricane risk, especially in the Yucatan. Independence Day falls in mid-September. October-November brings better weather and smaller crowds. Winter (December-February): Peak season, with ideal weather everywhere and the highest prices. Holiday crowds run December 24 - January 2, and it's whale watching season on the Pacific coast.

Ideas for Itineraries

10-Day Yucatan Peninsula Essential

Cancun (1 day): fly in, but skip staying here if you can. Playa del Carmen (2 days): beach town, cenote day trips, nightlife on Fifth Avenue. Tulum (2 days): ruins on the beach, cenotes, a Caribbean pace. Merida (2 days): colonial city, Yucatecan culture, a Chichen Itza day trip. Ik Kil cenote (1 day) with Chichen Itza. Back to Cancun (1 day). Most legs work by bus.

2-Week Mexico City and Colonial Triangle

Mexico City (4 days): Templo Mayor, the Frida Kahlo House, museums, and neighborhoods like Coyoacan and Roma. Bus to Guanajuato (3 days): a colorful colonial city with museums and roads that run underground. San Miguel de Allende (3 days): an art town with colonial architecture and an expat scene. Querétaro (1 day): one more colonial city. Return to Mexico City (1 day). Travel by bus the whole way.

2-Week Oaxaca and Southern Adventure

Oaxaca City (4 days): colonial center, Indigenous culture, textile markets, regional food, and Day of the Dead in November. Puerto Escondido (2 days): Pacific beach town with a surf scene. Huatulco (2 days): resort coast of beaches and bays. San Cristobal de las Casas (3 days): mountain town with Indigenous communities and colonial architecture, plus jungle options in Chiapas. Fly back to Mexico City. Mostly buses, with some flights.

3-Week Comprehensive Mexico Journey

Mexico City (4 days): culture and food. The colonial towns of Guanajuato and San Miguel (3 days). Oaxaca (4 days): Indigenous culture and food. Puerto Escondido or Huatulco (2 days): Pacific beaches. Yucatan Peninsula: Merida, cenotes, Chichen Itza (4 days). Cancun/Playa del Carmen (2 days) to recover. Fly the long legs (Mexico City to Oaxaca, Oaxaca to Yucatan). The trip covers ruins, colonial towns, beaches and Indigenous Mexico.

From the BootsnAll archive

49 stories and articles about Mexico, 2000 to 2019

Show all 49

Cities in Mexico

Cabo San Lucas

Cancun

Cozumel

Guadalajara

Isla Mujeres

Los Cabos

Mexico City

Monterrey

Mérida

Playa del Carmen

Puerto Vallarta

Tulum

Yucatan

FAQ

Most Western nationalities (USA, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand) enter visa-free for up to 180 days. Immigration officials issue tourist cards upon entry - your actual permitted stay may be less than 180 days. Keep your documentation to exit legally. Some nationalities require visas (check consulates). Your passport must be valid for your whole stay; 6 months validity is recommended.

November-April is peak season, warm and dry everywhere. June-October is hot and humid with afternoon rain, and hurricane season (June-October) hits the Caribbean coast. January-February are the winter months in the north. December 24 - January 2 is peak holiday travel, and May brings spring break crowds. September-October has fewer tourists and good weather, if you dodge the hurricanes.

Mexico is cheaper than Canada and the USA. Budget travelers: $40-60 a day (hostels, street food, simple hotels). Mid-range: $80-150 a day (decent hotels, restaurants). Comfortable: $150-250+ a day. Cancun and the beach resorts cost far more, and Mexico City costs more than rural areas. Colonial towns are excellent value. Food is cheap outside tourist areas, and beer and other alcohol are cheap compared to North America.

The main tourist areas (Mexico City, Cancun, Yucatan Peninsula, San Miguel de Allende, Oaxaca City) are fairly safe with normal precautions. Petty theft happens in the big cities, so keep valuables out of sight. Some northern states and other regions have cartel activity; avoid them, and check current travel advisories. Skip night buses on routes you don't know, and read up on a region before you go. In established destinations, the risk for tourists is manageable.

Tap water is usually safe in major cities but varies by region; bottled or purified water is safer and cheap. Street food is good and usually safe at busy stalls with high turnover. Restaurants in tourist areas keep good hygiene. If you're unsure about the water source, skip ice and salads. Mild stomach trouble is common, so pack medication, but food poisoning is rare if you take reasonable precautions.

Spanish is the main language, and English varies. Hotel and tour staff speak English, as do plenty of people in major tourist areas; colonial towns and smaller cities have less. Younger Mexicans (under 30) often speak some. Basic Spanish phrases make a big difference, and people appreciate the effort. An offline translation app helps fill the gaps.

First-class buses are comfortable, reliable and cheap for covering distance. For long hauls, domestic flights ($30-60) are cheaper and faster. A rental car works for regional loops in the Yucatan or along the Pacific coast. City public transit is efficient. Avoid night driving on roads you don't know. Overnight buses between big cities save a night's lodging, if you can sleep on one.

The Yucatan Peninsula is the easiest start: beaches, Mayan ruins, cenotes and good infrastructure. Mexico City plus the colonial towns is the culture and history route, and doing both takes 10-14 days. Oaxaca suits travelers who want Indigenous culture and food. Chiapas, in the south, has nature and a less packaged feel but takes more planning. Roughly: archaeology means Yucatan, culture means Oaxaca, colonial history means central Mexico, nature means the south.

Update history (33)▸

  1. · Rewrite

    Edited for readability and the BootsnAll voice: generic phrasing cut in 19 passages, no facts changed

  2. · Fact-check

    Fact-checked against current sources: 2 corrections

    • Same error as the body: 6 months of passport validity is recommended, not required. The passport only has to be valid for the length of the stay. (source)
    • United is a US airline and does not sell domestic flights within Mexico; the Mexican domestic carriers are Aeromexico, Volaris, Viva and smaller ones such as TAR, Aerus and the new Mexicana. (source)

  3. · Rewrite

    Updated for modern frameworks, with content updates and changes

  4. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  5. · Contributors

    14 member blog posts from 1 blogger

    • 2017: 14 posts from 1 traveler on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)

  6. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  7. · Contributors

    5 member blog posts from 1 blogger

    • 2016: 5 posts from 1 traveler on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)

  8. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  9. · Contributors

    2 message-board posts from 2 travelers and 2 member blog posts from 1 blogger

    • 2015: 2 posts from 1 traveler on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
    • 2015: 2 posts from 2 travelers in the Mexico Travel forum

  10. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  11. · Contributors

    14 message-board posts from 11 travelers and 13 member blog posts from 1 blogger

    • 2014: 13 posts from 1 traveler on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
    • 2014: 14 posts from 11 travelers in the Mexico Travel forum

  12. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  13. · Contributors

    22 message-board posts from 13 travelers and 8 member blog posts from 3 bloggers

    • 2013: 8 posts from 3 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
    • 2013: 22 posts from 13 travelers in the Mexico Travel forum

  14. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  15. · Contributors

    24 message-board posts from 13 travelers and 8 member blog posts from 2 bloggers

    • 2012: 8 posts from 2 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
    • 2012: 24 posts from 13 travelers in the Mexico Travel forum

  16. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  17. · Contributors

    1 article, by Chase Buckner, plus 121 message-board posts from 48 travelers and 22 member blog posts from 4 bloggers

    • May 2011: Why Mexico Should be the Next Country You Visit - Chase Buckner (article) (source)
    • 2011: 22 posts from 4 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
    • 2011: 121 posts from 48 travelers in the Mexico Travel forum

  18. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  19. · Contributors

    2 articles, by Sherry Jackson and Jennifer Choban, plus 187 message-board posts from 62 travelers and 37 member blog posts from 8 bloggers

    • April 2010: Nine Amazing Eco-Adventure Activities in Mexico - Sherry Jackson (article) (source)
    • May 2010: I Came, I Saw, I Conjugated - Learning Spanish in Mexico - Jennifer Choban (article) (source)
    • 2010: 37 posts from 8 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
    • 2010: 187 posts from 62 travelers in the Mexico Travel forum

  20. · Contributors

    3 articles, by Jane Cassie, Tyrel Nelson and Smruti Damania, plus 160 message-board posts from 45 travelers and 40 member blog posts from 9 bloggers

    • June 2009: Escaping the Snow in Scenic Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA - Jane Cassie (article) (source)
    • July 2009: The Power of Ten - Habitat for Humanity in Puerto Angel, Mexico - Tyrel Nelson (article) (source)
    • November 2009: Sacred Connections: Chaco Cultural National Historical Park, New Mexico - Smruti Damania (article) (source)
    • 2009: 40 posts from 9 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
    • 2009: 160 posts from 45 travelers in the Mexico Travel forum

  21. · Archive

    Travel guide on BootsnAll, at a new address

    Archived copy of /North-America-Mexico

  22. · Contributors

    2 articles, by Roger Wade and Delara Adams, plus 74 message-board posts from 31 travelers and 93 member blog posts from 19 bloggers

    • February 2008: BootsnAll’s Five Fantastic 2008 Spring Break Destinations - USA, Mexico, Central America, Jamaica - Roger Wade (article) (source)
    • August 2008: 6 - Yoga and Escape to La Paz - Baja California, Mexico - Diario … - Delara Adams (article) (source)
    • 2008: 93 posts from 19 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
    • 2008: 74 posts from 31 travelers in the Mexico Travel forum

  23. · Contributors

    2 articles, by Alvin Starkman and Jenna Robbins, plus 263 member blog posts from 32 bloggers

    • May 2007: Sí Señor, Will That Be Testicles Or Head? - Oaxaca, Mexico, North America - Alvin Starkman (article) (source)
    • June 2007: Great White Sharks Face Off with a Monster - Isla Guadalupe, Mexico - Jenna Robbins (article) (source)
    • 2007: 263 posts from 32 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)

  24. · Archive

    Travel guide on BootsnAll

    Archived copy of /north-america/mexico

  25. · Contributors

    1 article, by Anna Gurney, plus 11 message-board posts from 10 travelers and 228 member blog posts from 22 bloggers

    • June 2006: A Little Taste of How the Upper Ex-pats Live in Mexico… - Acapulco, Mexico - Anna Gurney (article) (source)
    • 2006: 228 posts from 22 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
    • 2006: 11 posts from 10 travelers in the Mexico Travel forum

  26. · Contributors

    1 article, by Marilyn Moss, plus 69 member blog posts from 13 bloggers

    • July 2005: Two Kilometers Past The Point Of No Return - Mexico - Marilyn Moss (article) (source)
    • 2005: 69 posts from 13 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)

  27. · Contributors

    4 Insider dispatches, by Wylie Jordan

    • June 2004: Acapulco, Mexico - June 2004 - Wylie Jordan (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • July 2004: A Walking Tour of Old Acapulco - Acapulco, Mexico - Wylie Jordan (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • September 2004: A Shopping Tour of Acapulco - Acapulco, Mexico - Wylie Jordan (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • October 2004: Puerto Vallarta Travel Guide - Summer 2004 (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)

  28. · Contributors

    2 articles, by Dan DeCoursey and Daniel wallace

    • June 2003: A Taco Stand Survival Kit - Guadalajara, Mexico - Dan DeCoursey (article) (source)
    • August 2003: A Year and a Day #16: Riddles of San Christobal - Mexico - Daniel wallace (article) (source)

  29. · Contributors

    5 Insider dispatches, 2 articles, by Wylie Jordan, Emma Beyn, Tan Wee-Cheng and Tan Wee Cheng

    • January 2002: Taxco, Mexico - Wylie Jordan (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • July 2002: Isla Mujeres: A Kinder, Gentler Cancun - Mexico - Emma Beyn (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • July 2002: Seashells, Lobster, Golf Carts and You - Isla Holbox, Mexico - Emma Beyn (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • July 2002: Take Me to the Other Side: Cozumel's Real Wild Side - Mexico - Emma Beyn (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • July 2002: Where Flamingoes Go To Heaven: Celestún's Eager Estuary - Celestún, Mexico - Emma Beyn (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • August 2002: Worldwide with Wee-Cheng #24: Yucatan, Mexico: Land of the Mayas - Tan Wee-Cheng (article) (source)
    • August 2002: Worldwide with Wee-Cheng #25: Chiapas & Oaxaca, Mexico: Mayan Gods, Fried Grasshoppers & Beheaded Saints - Tan Wee Cheng (article) (source)

  30. · Contributors

    4 Insider dispatches, 2 articles, by JR, Capp OConnell and Craig D. Guillot

    • January 2001: Puerto Vallarta Travel Guide - The High Dry (supposedly) Season, January 2001 - JR (Insider dispatch) (source)
    • February 2001: Mazatlan Side Channel - Rosario - Capp OConnell (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • February 2001: Mazatlan, Mexico - February 2001 - Capp OConnell (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • March 2001: Capp’s Classic Travel Quotes - Mazatlan, Mexico - Capp OConnell (article) (source)
    • March 2001: Mazatlan, Mexico - March 2001 - Capp OConnell (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • August 2001: The Usual Suspect - Mexico - Craig D. Guillot (article) (source)

  31. · Contributors

    13 Insider dispatches, 2 articles, by Wylie Jordan, Richard Wright, Allan Taylor and 2 others

    • January 2000: Acapulco, Mexico - January 2000 - Wylie Jordan (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • January 2000: Merida, Yucatan Mexico - January 2000 - Richard Wright (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • February 2000: Merida, Yucatan Mexico - February 2000 - Richard Wright (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • May 2000: Acapulco, Mexico - May 2000 - Wylie Jordan (Insider dispatch) (source)
    • May 2000: Guanajuato, Mexico - Allan Taylor (article) (source)
    • June 2000: Guanajuato, Mexico - Allan Taylor (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • July 2000: Veracruz, Mexico - July 2000 - Michael Strah (Insider dispatch) (source)
    • August 2000: San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico - Patti Redd (Insider dispatch) (source)
    • August 2000: Veracruz, Mexico - August 2000 - Michael Strah (Insider dispatch) (source)
    • September 2000: Acapulco, Mexico - September 2000 - Wylie Jordan (Insider dispatch) (source)
    • September 2000: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - High Season 1999 (article) (source)
    • September 2000: Uruápan, Mexico - Allan Taylor (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • October 2000: Oaxaca Interlude, Mexico - Allan Taylor (Insider dispatch) (source)
    • November 2000: Mexico City, Mexico - Allan Taylor (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • December 2000: Acapulco et al., Mexico - Allan Taylor (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)

  32. · Contributors

    9 Insider dispatches, by Michael Strah, Debi Vanden Brink, Ian Lyons and 3 others

    • April 1999: Veracruz, Mexico - April 1999 - Michael Strah (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • May 1999: Veracruz, Mexico - May 1999 - Michael Strah (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • May 1999: Zijuantanejo, Mexico - May 1999 - Debi Vanden Brink (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • June 1999: Ensenada, Mexico - June 1999 - Ian Lyons (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • August 1999: Puerto Vallarta Travel Guide - Summer 1999 - JR (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • September 1999: Puerto Vallarta Travel Guide - The High Season Cometh 1999 - JR (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • October 1999: Veracruz, Mexico - October 1999 - Michael Strah (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • November 1999: Merida, Yucatan Mexico - November 1999 - Richard Wright (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • December 1999: Acapulco, Mexico - December 1999 - Wylie Jordan (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)

  33. · Contributors

    Chris Heidrich, BootsnAll co-founder, has contributed to this guide since 1999, including dispatches from BootsnAll and AirTreks travelers