Mexico Travel FAQ

Citizens of the US, Canada, UK, EU countries, Japan and about 60 other countries do not need a visa for tourist stays. You need a passport valid for your entire stay and you may be granted up to 180 days. At airports, the paper FMM form has been replaced by a passport stamp at most major entry points. Check our full visa guide for country-by-country details.

The dry season — November to April — has the best weather almost everywhere, but also the highest prices. Shoulder months (late April-May, October-November) offer a great balance of weather and cost. Hurricane season on the coasts runs June to November, with September-October as the peak risk months in the Caribbean.

The main tourist destinations — Cancun and the Riviera Maya, Mexico City's central neighborhoods, Oaxaca, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Mérida — receive tens of millions of visitors every year with very low rates of incidents affecting tourists. Like any destination: use registered taxis or ride apps, avoid flashing valuables, and check your government's travel advisory for specific regions before visiting less-touristed states.

Always in pesos. Businesses that accept dollars set their own (bad) exchange rate. Withdraw pesos from bank ATMs (avoid standalone ATMs in tourist zones), and when a card terminal asks "pay in USD or MXN?", always choose MXN — choosing USD activates dynamic currency conversion with a 3-8% hidden margin.

Budget travelers manage on $40-60 USD per day (hostels, street food, buses). Mid-range comfort runs $100-180 per day (boutique hotels, restaurants, some tours). Resort destinations like Cancun or Los Cabos can be significantly more. Mexico City and Oaxaca offer the best value for culture and food.

No — drink bottled or filtered water everywhere in Mexico, including in high-end hotels (most provide it). Ice in established restaurants and bars is made from purified water and is generally safe. Street food is one of Mexico's great pleasures: pick busy stands with high turnover.

In major tourist areas, no — hotels, tours and many restaurants operate in English. Outside those areas, basic Spanish phrases go a long way and are appreciated. Translation apps work well, and Mexicans are famously patient with visitors trying their Spanish.

For long distances, domestic flights (Volaris, VivaAerobus, Aeroméxico) are cheap if booked early. First-class buses (ADO, ETN, Primera Plus) are excellent, safe and comfortable. In cities, Uber and Didi operate in most major destinations except a few resort towns where registered taxis are the rule.