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Before You Go> Mexican Entry Requirements for US Citizens: Proof of citizenship & photo ID. Passport & visa not required for tourist/transit stay of up to 180 days. Tourist card issued by Mexican consulates & airlines serving Mexico, required. Minors require notarised consent from parent(s) if travelling alone, with 1 parent, or in someone else's custody. Upon arrival in Mexico, business travellers must complete form (FM-N 30 days) authorizing conduct of business, but not employment, for 30-day period. If business traveller departs & re-enters, 30-day period begins again. Contact Embassy of Mexico, 1911 Pennsylvania Av. NW. Washington, D.C. 20006, (202) 736-1000, or consulates in New York, Denver, Los Angeles, SFO & Sacramento. Authorities may scrutinize more closely visa situation of Americans residing or working in Mexico. If planning on working or living in Mexico, apply for Mexican visa (FM-2 or 3). Detailed information can be found at the U.S. Department of State website. US students visiting Cancun for Spring Break should also read THIS carefully!!
Mexican Entry Requirements for UK, EU and most Western Citizens: Passport valid for at least 6 months from date of entry. Visas not required for UK, EU, Australian, New Zealand, Japanese, Canadian and Israeli passport holders. Travellers from South Africa, Brazil and most East European countries do require visas. Check before you travel.
Health: Adequate medical care found in all major cities. Health facilities in Mexico City excellent. Care in more remote areas limited. US medical insurance not always valid outside USA. In some instances, Getting Medical Help in Mexico.
Crime& Security: See Safe Travel in Mexico. Crime continues to increase, particularly in urban areas. Leave valuables items in safe place. Make use of hotel safes when available; avoid wearing obviously expensive jewellery or designer clothing & carry only cash or credit cards needed. Don't bring large amounts of cash, as officials may suspect money laundering or other criminal activity. Most frequently reported crimes involve taxi robberies. Also armed robbery, pick pocketing & purse snatching. In several cases, tourists report uniformed police are crime perpetrators, stopping cars & seeking money or assaulting & robbing tourists walking late at night. Area behind US Embassy & Zona Rosa (Pink Zone), restaurant/shopping area near US Embassy, frequent sites of crime against foreigners. Beware when walking in these areas, especially at night. Be careful when ordering beverages in local nightclubs & bars, especially at night. Some establishments contaminate or drug drinks. Victims, almost always unaccompanied, robbed & abducted & held while credit cards used. Metro robberies becoming more frequent in Mexico City. If riding metro, hold belongings tightly. Avoid using metro during busy commuting hours in morning or afternoon. Incidents of people boarding long distance busses as passengers, & robbing & assaulting real passengers while underway, have also been reported. If someone attempts to rob you, immediately comply by handing over requested items. Kidnapping, including kidnapping of non-Mexicans increasing. US businesses with offices in Mexico or concerned US citizens contact Embassy to discuss precautions. Criminals, particularly in Sinaloa, sometimes represent themselves as police or other local officials. Highway hold-ups in Campeche have become bolder. While favoured targets are long distance buses at night, reports of buses being stopped & passengers robbed during daylight hours. Avoid night time travel anywhere in state of Campeche, especially by bus, due to increasing numbers of bus robberies, some involving violence. No route considered safe, although routes leading to/from Escarcega, Campeche, more dangerous than others. Avoid visit or stop in Escarcega. Victims of crime ARE encouraged to report the incident to local police authorities & to nearest home national consulate of the traveller. Avoid travel on highways after dark. Highway 15 & Express Highway 1 (limited access) in state of Sinaloa particularly dangerous areas where criminal assaults & murders occur day & night. Taxicab Crime: Absolutely avoid VW bug taxis & other cabs on street. Robberies of passengers in taxis more frequent & more violent. Tourists not only robbed but also often beaten. Use only taxis from authorized taxi stands (CTO or "sitio" stands), especially upon arrival at Mexico City Airport; or Mexico City radio taxis at 271-9146, 271-9058, or 272-6125. Avoid taking taxis parked outside Bellas Artes Theatre, in front of nightclubs, restaurants or cruising tourist areas
Money: Nuevo Peso (MXN) = 100 cents. Amex, Diners, Visa & Mastercard widely accepted. Travellers checks or letters of credit in US$ issued by well-known banks or travel organisations readily negotiable in banks & hotels. Be very cautious using ATM cards & machines. Users frequently targeted by criminals, who in several cases have beaten victims to discover PIN numbers, & then held victims until next day to again use card. Use ATMs only during business day at large protected facilities (preferably inside commercial establishments, rather than at glass-enclosed, visible ATM on streets.) Banking hours Mon-Fri 9 am to 5 pm. however for money exchange hours normally from 9 am. to 1 pm. Casas de cambio open later than most banks & generally offer quicker service. Credit cards widely accepted, with Visa, MasterCard, & AmEx most popular.
Weather: Climate varies according to altitude. Coastal areas & lowlands hot & steamy with high humidity, while central plateau temperate even in winter. Inland highlands mostly mild, but sharp changes in temperatures occur between day & night. Cold lands above 2000m. Rainfall varies greatly from region to region. Only Sierra Madre Oriental, Isthmus of Tehuantepec & state of Chiapas in far south receive appreciable amount of rain during year, with wet season running June - Sep. All other areas have rainless seasons, while northern & central areas of central plateau are dry & arid. Some snow in north in winter. Dry season Oct. to May.
Advice & Tips for Mexico:
Driving Information: US driver's licenses valid in Mexico. Mexican insurance required. All traffic restricted in Mexico City to reduce air pollution. Restriction based on last digit of license plate. (No specific provision regarding license plates with letters only.)
- Monday: No driving if license plate ends with 5 or 6.
- Tuesday: No driving if license plate ends with 7 or 8.
- Wednesday: No driving if license plate ends with 3 or 4.
- Thursday: No driving if license plate ends with 1 or 2.
- Friday: No driving if license plate ends with 9 or 0.
- Saturday and Sunday: All vehicles may be driven.
Also, no driving of vehicles with temporary license plates or any other plate that does not conform with above. For more information and updates visit Driving in Mexico website.
Customs: Limit of $300 per person goods brought in by US. citizens arriving by air/sea & by land to $50 pp. Other travel-related items may also be brought in duty-free. Amounts exceeding duty-free limit subject to 32.8% tax.
Electricity: 60 cycle, 120 amp service - basically same as in Canada & US. However, supply of electricity sometimes interrupted; subject to surges; & subject to "brown-outs", (drops in voltage &/or amperage). Protect valuable electronic equipment.
Airports in Mexico
Mexico City, Benito Juarez Airport (MEX)
(5) 571-30-07, (5) 571-32-30,Fax: (5) 784-88-02
Authorized baggage handlers identified by "Union" identification placard on hand carts.
Taxicab Crime in Mexico City: Avoid hailing VW bug taxis & other cabs on street. Robberies of passengers in taxis becoming more frequent & more violent. Tourists not only robbed, but also often beaten. Use taxis from authorized taxi stands (CTO or "sitio" stands) or Mexico City radio taxis at 271-9146, 271-9058, or 272-6125.
Acapulco International Airport (ACA)
(748) 66-93-23, (748) 66-93-25,Fax: (748) 66-94-40
Taxis from/to Airport: Be aware that unauthorized taxis not permitted to carry passengers from airport to town.
Special airport taxi service, with fares based on zones, can be hired by purchasing prepaid fare card at official taxi counter directly outside terminal.
Cancun International Airport (CUN)
(988) 6-00-49, Fax: (988) 6-00-22
16 kms. southwest of Cancún City.
Expanded terminal (one of Mexico's best & largest) houses several shops, restaurants & bars. Black marble floors & lots of windows give modern, contemporary look. "California Pizza" outlet on the lower level. Food prices in departures area 2-3 times what you might expect.
From airport, frequent van transfers available at reasonable rates.
Private taxis also operate, though rates higher. Pre-paid tickets for special airport taxis to hotel zone available at official taxi counter in terminal.
Cozumel International Airport (CZM)
(987) 2-04-85, Fax: (987) 2-40-88
No authorized taxi service from airport due agreement between taxi drivers’ & bus drivers’ unions.
Buy prepaid ticket to hotel zone & board colectivo, multi-passenger van, to hotel.
Private van services - especials - will take you directly to hotel for premium.
Tourist taxis available at all major hotels.
Guadalajara - Don Miguel Hidalgo Airport (GDL)
(36) 89-02-84, (36) 89-14-62, (36) 88-53-82,Fax: (36) 88-50-01.
Use official airport taxis to reach destination.
Prepaid tickets may be bought at booth outside terminal.
Be aware that regular city taxis not permitted to accept passengers at airport; drivers soliciting fares inside terminal illegal & should be avoided.
La Paz-Manuel de Leon Airport (LAP)
2-29-59, 2-14-87
Mazatlan-Gral R.Bueno Airport (MZT)
(678) 82-20-88, (678) 82-23-99
From airport to downtown takes about 40 mins.
Frequent van transfers at reasonable rates.
Special tourist taxis available at major hotels are safest & most convenient.
Unique pulmonia taxis - open air cabs for 2 passengers provide scenic views.
Merida Lic.-Manuel Crescencio Rejon Int'l Airport (MID)
(5) 571-63-96, (5) 726-04-33,Fax: (5) 762-59-51
Monterrey Airport (MTY)
Tel: (83) 45-44-34, (83) 45-61-05,(83) 69-07-52, Fax: (83) 69-08-91
Oaxaca Airport (OAX)
Tel: (951) 1-50-78, Fax: (951) 1-50-78
Puerto Vallarta - Gustavo Diaz Ordaz Inter'l Airport (PVR)
4 miles north of downtown (centro).
Pass customs by hitting green/red stop light; if you hit red get ready for inspection, if you hit green just keep on moving.
Just outside customs you'll be swamped by entourage of placards, agents, taxi solicitors & whole bunch more agents.
Unless you've made other arrangements bypass as best you can ALL of these people & proceed directly straight or left out of building.
Use one of the bag couriers, if necessary.
Outside look for small white booths for taxis & vans. Prices are set. You'll be assigned taxi or van (van cheaper but makes more stops).
Some resorts provide shuttle service to/from airport.
Most major Rental car companies also available in airport. Not cheap &
get insurance.
Transportation Taxes: Domestic air travel within Mexico tax of approx. $8.50 U.S. per person. The peso equivalent changes periodically. This tax cannot be collected in advance & must be paid in Mexico. Not collected for domestic portions of international journeys & applies only to tickets purchased in Mexico for travel within Mexico. International air travel from Mexico carries departure tax of $11.50 US. Paid in Mexico & under some circumstances included on tickets issued outside of Mexico (ask airline for details). Not paid by infants, but children 2 & over pay full amount.
Customs: Limit of $300 per person goods brought in by US. citizens arriving by air/sea & by land to $50 pp. Other travel-related items may also be brought in duty-free. Amounts exceeding duty-free limit subject to 32.8% tax.
Regions and Cities
capulcoSpectacular natural bay surrounded
by mountains of Sierra Madre. Geographic location provides steady,
sunny & warm climate, unequalled anywhere, all year long. Beaches considered
among very best in world.
Cabo San LucasWith av. of 350 sunny days a year,
temps in low 80s & water sports everywhere, excellent vacation for
entire family.
Cancun:On Yucatan Peninsula
facing Caribbean Sea. 3 distinct but integrated areas: City of Cancún,
ecological reserve & resort zone. Development is designed around ecologically
sensitive master plan. Hotel Zone, narrow island where luxury high-rise hotels
& ultra world class resorts dominate the beachfront. Considered premier
collection of "Gran Turismo", or 5 Star hotels in world plus many
other fine & more affordable properties.(Link to simple Cancun Map)
CozumelJewel-shaped
island 6 miles off Yucatán Coast, & measures some 28 miles long x 10 miles
wide. Jungle-clad interior & ivory white beaches surrounded by most spectacular
coral reefs in hemisphere. Surrounding island’s limestone shore - temperate,
crystal clear waters from turquoise, to aquamarine, to deep indigo.
Ixtapa - Zihuatanejo:On
"Mexican Riviera" located in northwest state of Guerrero, 150 miles
up coast from Acapulco via coastal Highway 200. Unlike any other Mexican beach
resort destination. 2 entirely different places with distinct lifestyles, Ixtapa
& Zihuatanejo, only 4.3 miles apart.
MazatlanIncomparable port
city - one of most important tourist desitnations in world. Set in beautiful
cove of Pacific, temperature fluctuates from mid-60's to mid-90's depending
on time of year.
Mexico City:On anenormous dry
lake bed in highland basin with towering mountains. City faces some formidable
urban problems.
Puerto VallartaNestled on shores
of Bahía de Banderas (Mexico's largest natural bay), Has grown to become
beautiful vacation spot, known throughout world.
Isla Mujeres (Island of Women), got name in 1517, from Spanish explorer Francisco Hernandez
de Cordoba, who discovered sparsely populated island with stone statuettes of
semi-clothed women. Theory says that island was shrine to Ixchel, Maya goddess
of fertility. Bohemian outpost. Beaches & calm, jewel-like waters that fade
from fluorescent lime green at Playa Norte to pale turquoise at Garrafon reef.
Have you been to Mexico and know about some more great highlights worth a mention? Add details for other visitors to read about.
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