Mexico, the land of Mezcal, tacos, colorful streets, and beautiful white-sand beaches. The country has a lot to offer for both sun worshipers, foodies, and adventurers!
There is some know-how in advance that you have to take into account when you go to Mexico. We traveled through Mexico for two whole months and we listed everything that you need to know for your trip.
1. The language
In Mexico, they speak Spanish. Here you can find the most important Spanish words for your trip. Make sure you know some Spanish in advance and a useful tip is to download Spanish offline in Google Translate. Our experience is that there are not many Mexicans who speak fluently English. Even in the most touristic places like Cancun, it was sometimes an exception to be able to order something in English. And the further you get from the tourist spots, the less English they speak.
Thus be prepared and take advantage of this information and start with Spanish lessons. Nothing is more fun to interact with the locals or just necessary to be able to ask or order something.
2. Visa
US citizens can enter Mexico visa-free for tourism purposes for up to 180 days. Upon arrival at the airport, you will receive a free stamp in your passport which is valid for 180 days and you have to fill out a Forma Migratoria Multiple (FFM). You must keep this physical form carefully because when you leave the country you must be able to hand it over. Please note that your passport must be valid and make sure you have a return ticket or an onward ticket. For all other countries visiting Mexico, please check out this Wiki-page.
And don´t forget one of the most essentials things for your next trip: the right travel insurance! Consider World Nomads or Safety Wings!
3. The best time to visit Mexico
The best time to visit Mexico is from November to April, in the dry season. But even outside this period, you can easily make a road trip through Mexico. And if you visit this colorful country outside of school holidays, it will also be less crowded and prices will be more affordable. Although we do not recommend traveling during September and October due to the hurricane season in the tropical Yucatan area.
4. Continent & timezone
Mexico belongs geographically to the continent of North-America, ethnologically it belongs to Latin America. The country has 128,649,565 (2020) inhabitants and is the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world!
Mexico has multiple time zones. The time zones in Mexico run from GTM-6 to GTM-8. If you want to know the correct time in your travel destination, check out The World Clock.
5. The currency
The currency in Mexico is the Mexican Peso (MEX). It is indicated by a dollar sign, $, but it only has 1 stripe through it instead of the 2 stripes at the US Dollar. Sometimes it is indicated as MEX$ to clarify.
In Mexico, cash is king. Especially if you want to eat tasty street food or shop at markets. You can withdrawal with your Mastercard and often with American Express. In restaurants, to chambermaids, or when using other services, you can tip between 10-15%.
In tourist places, you will pay a bit more for everything. But also in these places such as Cancun, you can eat locally, which is a lot cheaper. And if you are more out of the areas with expensive hotels, you will notice that Mexico is a cheap country where you can eat the most delicious food for cheap!
6. Safety
Unfortunately, Mexico has an image of being very unsafe due to drug crime. Almost all of these events take place in the north of Mexico, especially at the border with America. We have always felt safe during our trip through Yucatan and Oaxaca, but we also have adhered to several rules.
We made sure we didn't have to walk the streets in the dark, especially if we didn't know the town. For example, you can check with the owner of your Airbnb or at the reception of the hotel if you can safely walk the street at night. We never walked alone and stayed away from shady neighborhoods and streets. Make sure you don't look too expensive, don't wear expensive watches or expensive brands, etc. And make sure you don't have too much cash on you.
In the street scene, you see a lot of police on the street in certain cities such as Mexico City. The police are heavily armed and the gentlemen who do the money transport are also heavily armed. Almost all houses are gated and the outside world is kept out with a border of glass shards. Our experience is that the Mexicans themselves are very friendly and helpful.
7. Culture & Religion
Mexico is known for its family values and close-knit community. The divorce rate in Mexico is among the lowest in the world!
Roman Catholicism was introduced with the Spanish conquest of Mexico. While many Mexicans are not regular churchgoers, 89% of the population still sees themselves as Catholic, and Roman Catholicism is seen as part of the national identity. Many elements of the Native American past have been mixed with Catholicism, including the worship of saints, as well as holidays such as the Day of the Dead.
8. Did you know about …
>> We have experienced in the tourist places that there is almost always a lot of noise, especially at night. And that is not so much because of the Mexicans themselves, but because the houses have thin walls and therefore let a lot of noise through. And those sounds are certainly there, giant trucks, partying tourists, raccoons that come to life at night, air conditioners that are turned on and therefore produce a lot of noise…
>> The WIFI internet is most of the time pretty much okay. Don´t expect blazing fast internet. Watching 4K streaming video is not a thing you should expect. Usually, the internet is fine for surfing, emails, social media, Netflix, and Youtube videos. In some places, like the island of Holbox, has some very crappy WIFI and 4G connection. Be sure to get yourself a Telcel data plan for about 10-15 dollars, so that you always have some data for things like Google Maps, WhatsApp, QR codes scanning, and email.
Pro-tip: a must-have for digital nomads; NordVPN. Don´t connect with public Wi-Fi without it!
>> Mexico has a rich and turbulent history. Much of this can still be found in the culture and in beautiful attractions to visit. Make sure you know the Mexican history in advance, then these places are even more interesting. The history of the Olmecs, Inca, Maya, the God Kukulkan, among others, is briefly and clearly explained in this interesting video below.
Be sure to check out our cool Instagram Stories for more atmospheric videos and pictures!
And more fun observations
>> Mexico is more tropical than we imagined. We have seen many exotic animals such as stingrays, hummingbirds, and large wild parrots. It also has occasional tropical showers and during such a tropical rain shower it is very normal and common that the streets are flooded.
>> If you also want to do your shopping during your trip through Mexico, make sure you look up the big supermarkets such as Walmart or Chedraui. These are huge supermarkets where they have everything from fruit and vegetables to kitchen equipment. The small supermarkets such as Oxxo often only sell water and soft drinks and snacks such as chips and nuts. Few healthy products can be found here.
>> Due to its location at the equator, it gets dark very early and quickly all year round. Sunset is between 6-7 pm.
Enjoy your (prepared) trip to Mexico with all these essentials things to know 🙂
More Travel Inspiration: Top 10 Things to do in Cancun, Mexico
