If you’re planning on visiting the vibrant and colorful country of Mexico for the first time, there are some important things you should know before you go. As someone who recently just spent the past 5 months backpacking through this magical country, I’ve learned a thing or two about what it takes to make the most of your Mexican adventure and what to look out for.
Whether you’re planning to explore the beautiful beaches, hike the tallest mountains, immerse yourself in the local culture, or sample the delicious food, Mexico has something for everyone. However, before embarking on your journey, it’s important to be well-prepared and informed about the country’s customs, culture, and practicalities to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip.
In this blog post, I have put together a list of 20 travel tips and useful things to know before going to Mexico, covering everything from currency exchange and transportation to safety tips and cultural etiquette, to help you make the most of your Mexican adventure.
Table of Contents
1. Don’t assume everyone speaks English
If you are planning to travel to a Spanish-speaking country, it’s always a good idea to learn some basic Spanish phrases to help navigate your way around more easily, make a positive impression on locals, and show respect for the local culture. Although many Mexicans do speak English, it’s not a given, so it’s important to try to learn some basic Spanish phrases before you travel there. Do your best to learn Spanish along the way by reading Spanish menu’s and listening to people speaking around you.
Here are some essential key Spanish phrases to get you started:
“Hola”= hello ; “adiós”= goodbye ; “gracias” = thank you; “de nada”= you’re welcome ; “lo siento”= i’m sorry ; “cómo estás?”= how are you? ; “sí”= yes; “no”= no
“Dónde está…”= where is… (a good phrase to know is “dónde está el bano?”, “where is the bathroom?”)
“Disculpe, puedo pagar la cuenta por favor?” = excuse me, can I pay the check please?
“Un boleto para __” = one ticket for __(name of your destination)__
“Cuánto cuesta?” = how much does it cost?
“Hablas inglés?” = do you speak English?
2. Check your visa requirements and get some travel insurance
Depending on your nationality, you may need a visa to enter Mexico so check online to find out if you’ll need one. When you enter the country, customs usually writes how much time you are given in the country, people get 1 month and others can get a year so check when they stamp your passport. I wouldn’t worry toooo much f you overstay your visa, typically you just pay a fee when you leave but I would try to avoid it if possible!
It’s recommended to have travel insurance when visiting Mexico, to cover unexpected medical expenses, trip cancellations, and lost or stolen luggage.
3. Mexico is not as dangerous as you think
Before you go, research the areas you plan to visit. Some parts of Mexico have higher crime rates than others, so it’s important to be aware of any safety concerns.
Just like any country, it is always better to be aware of your surroundings and take common-sense safety precautions, such as not walking alone at night, avoid drinking too much alcohol, and avoiding displaying expensive items. Try to book stays in the main parts of town to avoid walking on too many badly-lit side streets and use ATM’s that are located inside a bank or a well lit location.
Traveling to Mexico as a solo female traveler: If you plan on traveling to Mexico solo as a female, I made another blogpost with 7 safety tips for solo female travelers that applies to any destination, including Mexico. I never felt unsafe during my whole time in Mexico (I myself am a solo female traveler and felt that it was a great destination to travel to solo) so if you are worried about safety, use the tips from above to help you feel more safe.
4. Don’t try to see everything, unless you have the time because Mexico is a lot bigger than you expect
Mexico is a big country, so it’s important to plan your itinerary carefully to ensure that you can see everything you want without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. While Mexico has a lot to offer, it’s impossible to see everything in one trip, so prioritize the places and activities that are most important to you. It’s better to really get to know a place versus trying to see everything and barely getting to know the spaces you visit.
Even after my 5 months in the country, I still wasn’t able to visit everywhere I wanted to go, but that just means I’ll have to visit again 🙂 You can check out the backpacking route I did here and my Ultimate Mexico Nature Travel Guide here.
5. Mexico was not as cheap as I expected
While it’s still possible to travel to Mexico on a budget, it’s important to understand the true costs of travel before you go. Hostels were typically $15 a night and sometimes upwards to $30 a night depending on location and seasons. Obviously the more touristy the destination, the higher the costs for both food and accomodation. Sayulita, Puerto Escondido, Tulum, Bacalar, Cancun all had hostel prices for at least $15 a night while Chiapas, Merida, and Valladolid were $9-$12 a night. Food would typically range between 100-300 pesos per meal, unless you’re getting a 20 peso street taco (not very vegan friendly,-there are mushroom options but its not very nutritious).
Make sure to budget at least $30 daily for both accommodation and food. You can make your trip more budget friendly by cooking your own meals, going to the local produce stands for fruits and veggies, be more flexible with your travel days, and eat where the locals eat if you can.
6. Take advantage of the reliable and affordable public transportation system
Mexico has an extensive public transportation network, including buses and collectivos, which can be a cost-effective and convenient way to travel around the country. The buses can literally take you everywhere so take advantage of the buses to travel between states/towns and collectivos for in between (ex. you can take a collectivo from your hostel to a nearby beach or another side of town- they typically look like trucks with a blue awning over it or a van & are very cheap).
TIP: use the night buses to travel to further destinations to save you from having to pay for accomodation for the night. You can sleep on the bus (8-12 hours) and wake up in the morning at your next destination. I typically used www.busbud.com to look for bus tickets.
7. Always bring cash with you
The official currency of Mexico is the Mexican Peso. If you have cash from your country you can exchange your cash at reputable cash exchanges or banks to get the best price. However if you withdraw money out of the ATM don’t accept the conversion rate they give you and your bank will give you the best conversion rate.
It is best to have cash with you at all times because they typically don’t split bills in Mexico and usually they will charge you an extra 5% if you pay with card (but always ask just incase). There are some places that don’t have ATMS so research or ask around before you go! Most places will take cards but in more rural towns it will be mostly cash based. Some places that didn’t have ATM’s were San Jose del Pacifico, Mazunte (only has 2 ATM’s that sometimes work), and Zipolite.
TIP: bring 2 debit cards just incase one gets hacked or lost and have a travel credit card so you can get travel points for spending money on your card if you have the ability to pay without being charged extra. There is a debit card, the Charles Schwab debit card, that actually rebates you ATM fees whenever you take money out of the ATM that I always use when I’m traveling!
8. Don’t forget to tip
Even if tipping isn’t customary in your own country, it is Mexico, so don’t forget to tip- especially in the service industry. A 10-20% tip is expected in restaurants and it’s also recommended to tip hotel staff, taxi drivers, and tour guides.
9. Be cautious with tap water in Mexico
Only drink purified water and do not drink tap water. To get clean water, bring a reusable water bottle to refill at your hostel and restaurants. Sometimes there are water refill stations on the street that you pay 20 pesos for a whole gallon, but every hostel should have water available. Don’t contribute to the plastic problem and buy water bottles for water, and if you absolutely must, try to buy the biggest bottle and reuse it afterwards.
Wash your produce well and try to brush your teeth with clean water or you might get sick (although, I brushed my teeth with tap water the whole time and only got sick once). Sometimes you get sick when you travel, and in Mexico I kind of think of it like an initiation so take time to rest when needed and eat healthy to keep your immune system strong for further prevention.
10. Street vendors > restaurant chains
Some people say to not trust the street food, and sometimes they are right because their stomachs aren’t used to it. However, there are definitely some things you can always trust on the street that are way better and cheaper to eat like: tamales, the natural fruit juices (my favorite is jamaica, maracuya, and guayaba), elotes, and even the fruits and veggies the lady on the street is selling. Tacos, especially the meat ones may vary (I don’t eat meat but some people I knew got sick from some), but the best way to prevent yourself from getting sick is by asking your hostel or locals where the best tacos are or even trying the vegetarian tacos!
11. Eating healthy in Mexico can be expensive, just like any place
Mexico’s food scene involves a lot of tortillas, meat, and cheese but in different combinations (ex. burritos, empanadas, tacos, etc.) so its not always the healthiest option. There are healthy restaurants in Mexico but it will definitely be more costly than the local street food so be prepared, especially if you are in a touristy area.
To stay on budget you can go to local markets for your fresh fruits and veggies and use those to cook your own meal at home.
12. Being vegan or vegetarian in Mexico is possible
A lot of people said “good luck being vegan in Mexico” before I left or thought it would be really challenging, but it honestly wasn’t an issue. No matter where you go there will most likely always be frijoles (beans), rice, mushrooms, tamales, or noples (cactus) to eat and surprisingly there was a lot of vegan friendly restaurants in Mexico!
I always carry protein bars with me just incase I can’t find food options but you can usually find all of the above anyway and just ask for modifications. However, I learned its also important to be flexible with my diet; if there was miscommunication (since not everyone is used to the vegan diet) and there was a little bit of cheese I could scrape off or they accidentally cooked my food with butter I would still eat it to not waste the food and be disrespectful.
If you think you are missing out on the local cuisine there are actually many dishes you can easily veganize and there are vegan versions for a lot of the local cuisine as well! I typically just search up “vegan restaurants near me” and I can typically find vegan enchiladas, chilaquiles, burritos and tacos!
Some key Spanish phrases for vegans to make sure you are removing unwanted items:
“sin carne, sin leche, sin queso, y sin mantequilla por favor” = without meat, without milk, without cheese and without butter please ; “esto tiene __ ?”= does this have __?; “soy vegana (vegano if you’re a dude)”= I am vegan
13. You can save money by buying bulk
Surprisingly there are a lot of markets to buy your grains, spices, soaps, nuts, and even fruits and veggies in bulk. Go to the local mercados and they will have a wide selection of everything and it is usually way cheaper than going to the local convenience store and chain stores. If you have soap you need refilled or any other toiletries the natural organic stores will have options for you to refill what you need. Remember to bring a reusable bag and try to reuse the bags or empty containers you have to reduce your plastic consumption.
14. Mexico is not always warm
Although Mexico is known to have a warm and tropical climate, there are actually some cities you will definitely need to bring warm layers to. Cities with higher altitude like Mexico City, Oaxaca City, Puebla, San Cristobal de Las Casas, San Jose del Pacifico, and Monterey were all pretty cold so make sure to pack warm clothes like a jacket and long pants if you’re traveling to any of the above.
Mexico has a rainy season that runs from May through October, so be prepared for rain if you’re traveling during these months. I actually traveled during Mexico’s rainy season (I forgot to look up Mexico’s rainy season before I went lol) and most of the rain happened during the night. I didn’t have a rain jacket but I also didn’t mind getting rained on since it was pretty warm where I was anyway. You can get away without a rain jacket, but if you want to be more prepared I would bring one if you’re traveling between those months.
15. You dont need fancy clothes
All the locals in Mexico dresses pretty casually and also pretty conservatively. To blend in better to your surroundings I would suggest dressing casual as well so you draw less attention to yourself as a tourist. Only in places like the Rivera Maya do people dress pretty nice because it is known to be a more resorty area.
I created a packing list on Amazon and a blogpost with everything you should pack for Mexico if you’re wondering what you should be packing on your Mexico adventure!
16. Hostels and work exchanges are key to saving money and meeting people while traveling
If you want to see the most of Mexico on a budget and meet like-minded travelers, I highly suggest staying in hostels. It’s the best way to score affordable accomodation so you can travel and meet people who are on the same travel journey as you!
I did a work exchange in Sayulita and a work exchange in Puerto Escondido, both for a month long and absolutely loved both of these surf towns! It was a great way to really get to know the place I was staying in, feel more like a local and significantly reduce my travel costs since you exchange work for free stay and food. I typically find my work exchange opportunities through Worldpackers! You can see available opportunities to free, but once you find one you like, you have to become a member which is only $39 a year if you use my $10 off code “MONICAROAMS” ; then you can basically travel the world for free!
17. Most nature is not free, especially tourist attractions
Mexico has many natural wonders, including national parks, nature reserves, and ecological preserves, making it a popular destination for eco-tourists.
Although nature is typically free to explore, most places in Mexico will charge you an entrance fee of at least 100 pesos so make sure to bring cash with you. Every waterfall, cenote, hot spring and even hikes will typically require you to pay a fee to either the local community or to the park itself- which is great for the local community to sustain itself and make sure the people coming into their natural spaces respect it.
Some water activities will require you to wear a lifejacket (I know I hate them too) but it is required in some nature attractions to ensure everyone’s safety!
18. Sometimes you need a tour and sometimes you don’t
Tours can be a hit or miss, depending on what you are trying to see. Some natural areas may be difficult to access without a guided tour, particularly if they are located in remote or protected areas. A tour may provide transportation, access to restricted areas, and insider knowledge of the best spots to explore. However, ours can be more expensive than exploring on your own, so it’s important to weigh the cost-benefit ratio. If you’re comfortable navigating on your own, want to save money and avoid the crowds, it might be better to explore it on your own. Hostels also arrange tours which could be a great way to explore nature if you are solo traveling.
There are some collectivos and tours that will take you to popular waterfalls like Cascada El Chiflon and Agua Azul, but if you are going off the beaten bath to explore nature the best and easiest way to get there is by renting a moped. Invite someone from your hostel to share the cost of your moped and go explore! You will have much more chill time and peace of mind when you have a natural place to yourself and aren’t with a huge group of tourists.
I post travel vlogs on youtube on how to get places without a tour in Mexico, you can check them out here.
19. Renting a car in Mexico isn’t actually that sketchy
Renting a car is a great option if you get a group of friends from your hostel that all want to do something together. The rentals are usually $50 a day, but most cars are manual so make sure to check that before renting. I thought renting a car in Mexico would be super sketchy, but if you rent from established renters like Avis or Enterprise you should be fine. I rented from Avis twice, we had to put in a $1000 deposit but both times we got it back- just don’t cause damage to the car.
TIPS: Make sure to take photos and videos of the car before you leave the lot, and if you pay with a travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred it actually covers collision damage on rental vehicles
20. There are strays, give them love
You will notice there are a lot of stray animals around (mostly dogs). I myself am an animal lover so I try to give them as much love as possible whenever I see them. Obviously don’t try to pet aggressive dogs, but most of them will be friendly. If you can, give them food and water and if you feel ticks on them, try to pick them off- you can always wash your hands after.
That was everything I wish I would have known before traveling to Mexico, but hopefully after reading this you can be better prepared for your trip 🙂