Mexico

Entry requirements depend on your nationality, so always check your own situation before you travel. Citizens of the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, Australia, New Zealand and Japan do not need a visa for tourism — they simply arrive and are given a tourist permit. Travellers from many other countries need a visa in advance, though some are exempt if they hold a valid US, Canadian, UK, Japanese or Schengen visa.

The tourist permit is the FMM, issued by Mexico's immigration authority (INM), and it allows tourist stays of up to 180 days. The old paper FMM is being phased out — if you fly in, entry is now generally recorded electronically with a passport stamp. Check the number of days written on or with your stamp, as officers don't always grant the full 180. If you cross by land, you must still stop at the INM office at the border for a stamp.

Mexico is unusually lenient on passport validity and does not enforce the common 'six months beyond your stay' rule — but your airline may, so confirm with your carrier before flying.

The currency is the Mexican peso (MXN), written with a '$' sign — look for 'MXN' or 'pesos' to be sure. Cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops in cities and tourist areas, but cash is still essential for markets, street food, taxis and tips. Avoid paying in US dollars, as the exchange rate offered is poor.

Use ATMs attached to recognised banks, or inside bank branches, rather than standalone street machines, and decline the machine's offer to convert the charge to your home currency. Withdraw during the day in a secure spot.

Tipping ('propina') is an expected part of the culture. In restaurants, 10–15% is standard (15–20% for excellent service or upscale venues) — check the bill first, as some tourist-area places already add a service charge. Round up or give small change for taxi drivers, hotel porters, baggers and housekeeping.

Greetings matter and warmth is valued. A handshake is standard when meeting someone; friends greet with a single cheek kiss or a hug. The key rule when you join a group is to greet everyone individually rather than with a collective wave. Courtesies like 'por favor' and 'gracias' — and a little Spanish — go a long way.

Dress tends to be neater than first-time visitors expect: beachwear belongs at the beach and pool, while in cities and towns locals favour put-together outfits. Dress modestly at churches and religious sites, covering shoulders and knees.

At the table it is customary to wish others 'buen provecho' before eating, and meals are social and unhurried. Always ask before photographing people, especially in Indigenous communities, and avoid loud or confrontational behaviour in public.

Mexico's main international gateways are Mexico City (MEX), Cancún (CUN) and the newer Felipe Ángeles (NLU), with other big airports at Guadalajara, Monterrey and Los Cabos. Domestic flights are cheap and plentiful — useful given the country's size.

Mexico has an excellent intercity bus network: first-class lines such as ADO, ETN and Primera Plus run comfortable, air-conditioned coaches — book ahead online or at the terminal. The new Tren Maya links destinations across the Yucatán Peninsula. Mexico City has a vast, very cheap Metro.

For taxis, use ride-hailing apps (Uber, DiDi) where they operate — the fare is fixed and transparent — or take authorised cabs from an official stand ('sitio') rather than hailing unmarked cars. If you drive, favour the toll ('cuota') highways and avoid driving at night, especially in rural areas.

Getting online is easy and inexpensive. Telcel has by far the widest coverage and is the best choice if you'll travel outside cities; AT&T Mexico and Movistar are cheaper and work well in cities and tourist areas. A prepaid tourist SIM with generous data is cheap — buy one at a Telcel store with your passport, as registration is required, or use an eSIM bought before you fly.

Wifi is widely available in hotels, cafés, restaurants and airports, though public networks aren't secure. Coverage is strong in cities and resort areas but can be patchy in mountainous terrain and at archaeological sites, so download offline maps if you're heading off the beaten path.

Mexico's safety picture is highly geographic, and it is important not to treat the country as one uniform risk level. The US State Department issues a separate advisory for each of Mexico's 32 states: a handful carry a 'Do Not Travel' warning for cartel violence, while major tourist destinations — Yucatán, Cancún and the Riviera Maya, Mexico City, Oaxaca — sit at much lower levels and are visited safely by millions every year. Check the live, state-by-state advisory for the exact places on your itinerary before you book and before you travel.

In tourist areas the realistic day-to-day concern is petty crime and scams, not cartel violence. Watch for ATM skimming (use machines inside banks), unlicensed 'fake' taxis, and people posing as police demanding an on-the-spot cash 'fine'. Use ride-hailing apps or hotel-arranged transport, and keep valuables in the hotel safe.

Do not drink the tap water — stick to bottled or purified water. The CDC typically advises hepatitis A and typhoid vaccinations for Mexico. The nationwide emergency number is 911. Note that visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Tulum, Cozumel) must pay a state tourist tax, VISITAX, via the official site.

Power: Mexico uses 127V, 60Hz, with Type A and Type B plugs — the same as the US and Canada. Visitors from the UK, Europe and Australia need a plug adapter; most modern chargers are dual-voltage.

Language: the official and dominant language is Spanish, alongside dozens of recognised Indigenous languages. English is common in resorts and major hotels but much less so elsewhere — a few basic Spanish phrases are genuinely useful.

Best time to visit: the dry season, roughly November to April, is the most comfortable and is peak season; the rainy season runs May to October, overlapping the June–November Atlantic hurricane season on the Caribbean and Gulf coasts.

Time zone: most of the country — including Mexico City and Cancún — is on Central Time (UTC−6), with western states and Baja California further back. Most of Mexico no longer observes daylight saving time.