If you are planning to visit Mexico then you are probably wondering where to even begin! Mexico is such a huge and diverse country, which is why I put together this Mexico Travel Guide to help you get started.
I loved my time in Mexico so much, I moved here! Well not permanently, but I keep a room in a house here and when I’m not traveling, Mexico is the place I call home.
Writing a travel guide to Mexico is no easy task. Mostly because it’s so diverse. Where I live in Playa del Carmen, is a world away from San Christobal de Las Casas, which is another world away from Mexico City (CDMX). But I’m going to do my best to give you an overview of this incredible country which has well and truly stolen my heart.
In this guide to Mexico, I will go over all of the basics that you need to know to help you plan a trip to Mexico. I’ve included lots of links to further reading and places where you can get more in-depth information as well as some great travel tips for Mexico.
If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that you need to be prepared for anything!
The Insurance companies I personally recommend are Hey Mondo and Safety Wing
Hey Mondo is great if you are looking for a great value flexible policy. They offer single trip cover, annual multi trip cover, and long term travel cover.
Safety Wing is great value with monthly cover starting at $39. It’s super easy to use and it just renews each month. I currently use them as they offer me free cover for my son as part of my policy.
Read my full travel insurance post here where I go into detail about the companies.
Quick Tip: Book accommodation, tours and transport ahead of time online to save money and stress.
Best Mexico Tours: Click here to check out the top Mexico tours
Best Mexico Accommodation: Click here to check out the best accommodation in Mexico
Best Mexico Transport: Click here to book a bus, ferry, or train in Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and to the east by the Gulf of Mexico.
The capital of Mexico, the country, is the Federal District (Distrito Federal, D.F.) otherwise known as Mexico City, or even just Mexico.
The currency in Mexico is the Mexican Peso (MXN)
The dialing code of Mexico is +52
The water may not be safe to drink from the tap in Mexico, however, you will find filtered water everywhere so no need to buy bottled water.
Accommodation in Mexico is generally to a good standard. Although that really depends on where in Mexico you are. In the Riviera Maya where everything is set to cater to a North American clientele, you can expect very high standards (and prices to match) but budget accommodation is also plentiful and very reasonable.
Most hostels in Mexico have a communal kitchen, wifi is pretty standard unless you are visiting somewhere remote, like Holbox, Punta Allen, or Bacalar. So just check if it’s a deal-breaker for you.
You will find almost all accommodations in Mexico on Hostel World and/or Booking.com, making booking very simple.
In the more tourist-friendly areas you will almost always be able to pay by card, or with cash in either local currency or USD (must be clean and with no rips at all). If you are concerned do check before booking. Some smaller places may not accept cards.
For a bed in a dorm expect to pay around $100 MX per night($6 USD) if you want a private room in a dorm then you are looking at around $200 MX ($11 USD). Or if you prefer to stay in a hotel expect to pay around $300 ($15 USD) or more.
If you prefer to stay in an Airbnb then a room in a house will cost around $100 MX ($10 USD) and for a whole house or apartment expect to pay $200 ($20 USD).
As a note, you can expect to pay a lot more than this in many places in the Riviera Maya, especially if you want to go during peak season.
OMG food in Mexico is on another level. Seriously. Tacos are life. And don’t even get me started on breakfast in Mexico, Mole, or Chilaquiles, or Chile Rellenos, or Tamales… of I’m going to stop now because there are just so many Mexican dishes you must try while visiting Mexico. My point is, you will not go hungry in Mexico! If you stick to eating good Mexican food, you can also save a lot of money, just stay away from the gringo restaurants and eat on the street as much as you can.
P.S. If you want to find the best food in Mexico then I strongly advise you spend some time eating your way around Oaxaca, you won’t regret it… although your waistband may!
There are so many cool things to do in Mexico, where does one even begin? Let’s start with some history. If you are in the Yucatan Peninsular then you can’t miss Chichen Itza at night, or during the day. There are a lot of Mayan Ruins around and other than there I would recommend Tulum Ruins, Coba Ruins, and Ek Balam. Then there is also swimming in Cenotes, and of course scuba diving in Mexico. If you want to experience Plant Medicine here in Mexico that’s also possible Magic Mushrooms are in San Jose del Pacifico and it’s possible to also do Ayahuasca in Mexico.
But Mexico has many different coastal places to visit, Baja California has incredible diving, surfing, and it’s also one of the best wine destinations in Mexico. Veracruz has some of the most delicious food. If you want to shop till you drop buying handmade artisanal goods, then get yourself to San Cristobal de las Casas.
But if you want to party, shop, eat, and soak up culture then Mexico City has it all, and there are also lots of interesting places to visit outside of the city.
Visiting most Mayan or Aztec Ruins will cost under $5 USD, with the exception of Chichen Itza which will set you back around $20 USD! For a 2 tank scuba dive, you are looking at around $100 UDS plus equipment rental.
For a Mexican cooking class expect to pay upwards of $50 USA, a food tour is around $60 USD, and if you don’t mind where you sit, a seat at a Lucha Libre fight can cost as little as $5 USD
I would budget for at least $10 USD a day for activities. Somedays you will spend less of course, and some days more.
Backpackers Budget – $800 MX
Accommodation: $300 MX
Food: $200 MX
Activities: $400 MX
Mid Budget – $1800 MX
Accommodation: $600 MX
Food: $500 MX
Activities: $500 MX
Luxury Budget – $3600MX
Accommodation: $1000 MX
Food: $1400 MX
Activities: $800 MX
Recommended Mexican Tour Companies
These are companies I 100% recommend booking activities within Mexico.
Where Sidewalks End – One of my favorite Mexican based. companies offering boutique travel experiences you won’t find anywhere else.
Turismo Channel – If you are traveling to Playa del Carmen then I recommend booking through my friend Vanessa at Turismo Channel. You can check out their tours by clicking here and us code claire10off for 10% off group toursYou can also send her a WhatsApp message quoting the code to receive the discount.
Ok, so here’s the thing. Mexico was never on my list of places to travel solo to. I wasn’t dumb, I’d seen the news and knew there was nothing in Mexico apart from cartels and kidnappings. True story.
But while I was living in Guatemala my mind started to change. Firstly everyone told me not to go to Guatemala because it was too dangerous. But I was there, and I was safe, so maybe people had it wrong… When I was doing a work exchange in a hostel there I’d ask everyone where their favorite place way. It went one of two ways, they would tell me Colombia, or Mexico.
Anyway, by the time I was getting ready to leave Guatemala, I’d decided to go via Mexico back to the USA so I could make a quick trip to Tulum to see what all of the fuss was about. I had quite the journey from Tikal to Tulum which ended up with me wandering the back streets of Tulum at midnight unable to find my hostel, you can read about that misdemeanor and 14 others here.
Anyway, all of that is just to say. Don’t believe everything people tell you. I live in Playa del Carmen and I ride my bike home alone at 2 am. The thing with Mexico is that unless you are planning on buying drugs, or hooking up with a fully-fledged member of a cartel and have ambitions to become the next cartel wife you are very unlikely to be harmed in any way. Of course, crime happens everywhere, but I find Mexico no more unsafe than New York or London.
Be very careful with cash machines, I only use the machines in the banks, or in the supermarkets.
In general, don’t trust the police, and know if they stop you and start being difficult you can get them to go away for as little as $20 pesos! Although if they see you have more, they will want more.
Although there are some lovely, honest taxi drivers. I’ve met many of them. Often the ones that will target you as a tourist (especially in the Riviera Maya) are notoriously morally bankrupt… Seriously in Playa, they won’t even let me in their car as they know right away I live here because I’m Speaking Spanish and asking to go to a residential address. Your first hurdle will be getting from the airport. The taxi drivers will tell you anything they can think of to get you in their car. The bus isn’t running etc. All lies.
In the Riviera Maya, avoid taxis at night. If you can, call a taxi, or make sure you are with people, and NEVER sit in the front if you are alone. The taxis run on a fixed fee system. If you don’t know the prices, this can make life difficult. So always check the price before you get in. Or if you know the fee, don’t ask, just hand over the money at the end. If you are the price at the end, they can tell you anything they like and you have no choice but to pay.
One thing I know for sure is that you should never travel to Mexico without some kind of insurance. There is no free healthcare for foreign visitors there so if anything should happen to you you will end up with a very large bill without insurance. There are 2 travel insurance companies I recommend SafetyWing and Heymondo.
SafetyWing is insurance specifically for Digital Nomads which renews every month. Whereas World Nomads is more for Backpackers. You can read the full review I wrote about long term travel insurance here, and use the widget below to check the price of World Nomads.
If however you are like me and now resident in this beautiful country neither of those options will work for you, instead you will need to get Mexico expat insurance.
If you want to save money then one sure-fire way to do so is to take some Spanish classes. It’s amazing how things magically become cheaper when you speak to the person selling those things in their language. From getting the right fare from the taxi driver to haggling at the market, think of the money spent on learning Spanish as an investment. I take online classes with Toucan Experiences to keep progressing with my Spanish.
Not all hotels and hostels in Mexico will have communal kitchens. So if you want to save money by cooking for yourself then I would strongly suggest checking before booking.
This is how I was able to stay in Guatemala for almost a year rent-free! There are so many amazing opportunities in Mexico on Worldpackers. It’s not expensive to join and if you join through my link and use the discount code in this blog post you get some money off… you’re welcome!
It’s pretty obvious really, but I’m going to say it anyway. Eat at the local places, or from the street food carts and you will save a lot of money.
The supermarkets can be expensive in Mexico so always shop at the market first, then if you can’t find what you are looking for head to the supermarket or tienda.
Although the water isn’t safe to drink directly from the tap, almost all businesses including hostels have big water bottles that are perfectly safe to drink from and they will almost always provide it for free.
Some hostels may ask for a small fee if you want to fill up large water bottles. So be sure to bring a good water bottle with you.
Wondering what to pack for Mexico? I got you. Just click on the link below and take a read of my packing guide for Mexico. I also made a handy printable packing checklist!
The Ultimate Packing List For Mexico
Or you can just skip ahead and download my free packing list using the form below.
Quick Tip: View my full Mexico packing guide here including a downloadable checklist. And check out my Mexico Essentials shopping list here.
It’s important to do some research before booking your accommodation in Mexico. Especially if you a solo female traveler as you do need to be careful in many areas at night. All of the places I recommend below are in the best areas and I have either personally stayed there, or I know someone that has and it comes highly recommended.
I wrote a lot of Accommodation guides which I’ve also linked below. These guides go into detail about all of the areas I recommend staying in and why so you can make an informed choice when booking.
The Best Area to stay in Mexico City
Casa Las Tortugas Petit Beach Hotel & Spa
Penthouse with a open-air tub (blow the budget)
Cute apartment a few blocks from the Zócalo
Independent Studio in Colonial House Downtown Oaxacca
Fiesta Americana Cancun Villas
Budget Airbnb Studio on 5th Avenue
Stunning Studio Close To The Beach In Playa del Carmen
The Best Boutique Hotels in Tulum
The Best Hostels in Tulum Mexico
You will be pleased to know that traveling around Mexico is pretty easy. You have two main options, bus or plane. Flying internally in Mexico is pretty cheap, so if you are covering a lot of ground then flying is often the best option.
That said there are often some journeys I will choose the bus over a flight. Personally, I won’t do super long bus journeys in Mexico as the buses can sometimes be robbed, this isn’t very common thankfully. but it is something I’m cautious of. So I prefer to search for cheap flights instead. If you are planning some long bus journeys then take a read of this guide to surviving long bus journeys!
In general, the ‘public transport options available to you in Mexico are as follows:
Collectivo Bus – This is the local bus used by Mexican people to travel short distances. For example, I will often take a colectivo to the supermarket, and I can also catch one from Playa del Carmen to Cancun or Tulum. They are great for short distances and are very affordable. Prices are fixed and you normally pay when leaving.
ADO Bus – There are other bus companies, but ADO is the main one, and most of the other busses depart from the ADO bus stations. The buses are well-maintained, clean, and comfortable. The AC is often to the max and they like to play very loud films so you have to listen to them whether you want to or not. But they are safe and reliable and don’t cost a lot. If you can book a few days in advance you will often save money. But don’t even bother trying to do it online, the website has a mind of its own. Better to just drop into the bus station a few days in advance and buy your ticket.
Flying – Traveling within a state I would always do by bus, but if you want to travel long distances that take you across state lines, then I’ll almost always fly. Personally, I try and always fly with Volares, as they are the most reliable. But there are several other budget Mexican airlines you can use. Just keep a close eye on the baggage costs as this can inflate the cheap prices. Booking in advance will always make sure you get the best price.
Taxi – Taxis are generally safe and reliable. Be careful taking taxis at night, and always arrange the price before you get in unless they are using a meter.
Uber – This is much more common than taking a taxi outside of The Riviera Maya. if you are in Mexico City you will likely Uber everywhere as it’s so cheap. There is no Uber in the Riviera Maya and in many of the smaller pueblos.
Quick Tip: Book authentic tours in Mexico city with Where Sidewalks End
The company was created by Ian a fellow travel blogger who lives in Oaxaca. You can see all of their Mexico experiences here.
One of the most unique tours they offer is the Fearless in Mexico City Experience where you will enjoy the hot air balloon and culinary experiences with unusual foods.
🧳 Any recommendations on what I should pack for Mexico?
Yes! I have created a whole packing guide to Mexico which you can read here and you can also check out my packing list for Mexico on Amazon here.
🚗 Where can I book bus or private transportation while I’m in Mexico?
I strongly recommend using GottoGo. You can book almost all transport in the major Mexican tourist destinations through them online. They don’t just cover buses they also cover shuttles, ferries, and private drivers.
🎫 Where can I buy tickets for museums, attractions, and tours in Mexico?
First and foremost check out all of the amazing Mexico tours Where Sidewalks End has. They are a small local company and they have some really special experiences.
For everything else I recommend either Viator or GetYour Guide.
If you are traveling to Cancun you can use GoCity and save up to 55% of the initial cost of entrance tickets to various museums, tours, and attractions!
If you are traveling to Playa del Carmen then I recommend booking through my friend Vanessa at Turismo Channel. You can check out their tours by clicking here and using the following discount codes for the best prices clairecaroff (car rental), claire10off (for 10% off group tours), claireprivate (for a discount on private tours). You can also send her a WhatsApp message quoting the above codes to receive the discount.
👩⚕️ What is the best insurance to have while traveling?
I recommend using Heymondo for a great value policy. The app also offers you 24/7 Dr Chat. For Digital Nomads check out SafetyWing digital nomad insurance.
I have also written a blog post covering all my recommended travel insurance here
✈️ Any flight recommendations?
WayAWay offers you cheap flights with cashback. You can use this code CLAIRE22 to get 10% off. Otherwise Skyscanner or Expedia are my go-to flight searching platforms.
📱What do you use for internet connection while traveling?
I’m a big fan of personal WiFi devices and they have saved my ass so many times when traveling. I wrote a full review of the top travel WiFi devices you can read here. I personally use GlocalMe as I can either pop in a physical sim card or use their local carrier.
With regards to my phone connection, I use e-sims while traveling, so rather than having to swap out my regular sim card I can download the app and buy a virtual sim card. I recommend using eitherAirhub or Alosim. Both have great coverage of multiple countries and are very easy to use.
🛏️ What is the best platform to use for booking accommodation?
The 3 best platforms that I normally use are Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Expedia They offer great deals and multiple options. I always check all three to be sure of the best deals.
🛅 Do you have any luggage recommendations for traveling?
I do have a complete list of the best packing and luggage products that I recommend, you can check the list here. I’m currently traveling with this suitcase and this backpack.
The best time to visit Mexico is during the dry season between December and April, when there is virtually no rain. The coolest months are between December and February, although temperatures can still reach averages of 28℃ during the dry season. That said, if ou are on a budget this is probably the worst time to visit. Especially if you plan on coming to the Riviera Maya as prices skyrocket.
The wet season begins in the south in May and lasts until October. A heavy shower during this period usually clears the increased humidity before it builds up again. The Caribbean coast can be affected by the hurricane season, which runs from June to November.
Mexico is a huge country, and the weather varies by season and by region. It’s worth checking the local forecast for your chosen destination.
In my opinion, the best months to visit Mexico are February or March. At this time of year the places that get cold in the winter, like CDMX and Chapas, will be warming up, The Riviera Maya is still relatively cool, and it’s low season so prices will be cheaper.
The worst time to visit Mexico is over Christmas and during Samana Santa. Prices double and there are people EVERYWHERE!
Where would we be without the trusty Lonely Planet Mexico book?!? It really is the best all-around guide to Mexico. The only issue I ever have with these books is that often the information can be outdated, but if you want to really explore Mexico, not just the tourist trail version of Mexico then get this book on your Kindle. It’s oftern free if you have a kindle unlimited subscription.
It’s all about the food here in Mexico. Especially in Oaxaca, thought of as the culinary heart of Mexico. This Mexican cookbook is the first true introduction to Oaxacan cuisine by a native family, each dish articulates their story, from Oaxaca to the streets of Los Angeles and beyond.
The book showcases Mexican “soul food” serving up 140 authentic, yet accessible recipes using some of the purest pre-Hispanic and indigenous ingredients available.
As much as I don’t want to perpetuate Mexico’s reputation as a county full of cartels, drugs, and danger. It can’t really be ignored, and I know many people are interested in learning more. So I’ve included Midnight in Mexico on my list of books to read. It’s a true crime book written by a Mexican-American journalist and migration lawyer. It’s about as close to the truth as you can get. Being. journalist here in Mexico is one of the most dangerous arrears you can have. But Corchado is known for never shying away from the truth reporting on government corruption, murders, and the drug cartels of Mexico. In 2007, Corchado received a tip that he could be their next target, he had twenty-four hours to find out if the threat was true…
Are you even alive if you don’t know who Frida Kahlo is? If you are a Friday fan then this is the perfect fictional accompaniment to your Mexican vacation. Especially if you will be visiting Mexico City.
Using several of Frida’s notebooks as inspiration acclaimed Mexican novelist F. G. Haghenbeck was inspired to write this touching fictional account of her life. Through the book, you are taken on a magical ride through this imagined life of Freida
An old, but a goodie! This one is for all of you lovers of romance novels! It’s described as:
“A novel of passion, food, and magic, Like Water For Chocolate is a romantic, poignant tale, touched with moments of magic, graphic earthiness, bittersweet wit – and recipes.”
Forbidden love, family obligations, and seduction by food… what more could you ask for in a novel!
I must confess, my friend Mexico Cassie wrote this book. That doesn’t mean it’s not a bloody brilliant guide to moving to Mexico, because it is. As someone who moved to Mexico there was so much of this book that resonated with me, even though I moved here myself, without a family.
She goes in to great detail about the visa application process and some other notoriously tricky things like trying to buy a car or find a good school for your kids.
If you are considering a move to Merida, or anywhere in Mexico actually this is a great read!
