Mexico travel guide
Mexico runs from the deserts of Baja California to the rainforests and Caribbean beaches of the Yucatán, with one of the world's great capital cities in between. Ancient pyramids, colonial towns, a celebrated food culture and two long coastlines mean there is something for almost every kind of traveller, from beach holidays to long cultural road trips.
Places worth the trip
Mexico City
A huge, high-altitude capital with the Zócalo and Templo Mayor ruins at its heart, the National Museum of Anthropology in Chapultepec Park, the leafy neighbourhoods of Roma and Condesa, Frida Kahlo's Blue House in Coyoacán and the colourful boats on Xochimilco's canals.
Teotihuacan
An hour north-east of the capital, the vast ancient city is dominated by the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon, linked by the Avenue of the Dead. Go early for cooler air and fewer people; hot-air balloon flights rise over the site at dawn.
Oaxaca
A colonial city in the south known for its food, especially its many moles, its markets, mezcal and textile villages. Nearby are the Zapotec hilltop ruins of Monte Albán and the petrified waterfall of Hierve el Agua.
Chichén Itzá and the Yucatán
The great Maya city of Chichén Itzá, with its stepped pyramid of El Castillo, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The peninsula around it is dotted with cenotes, natural sinkholes of clear water where you can swim, and the colonial city of Mérida.
Tulum and the Caribbean coast
Maya ruins on a cliff above the sea, white beaches and nearby cenotes make Tulum one of Mexico's most visited places. Further south, the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve protects lagoons, mangroves and reef.
Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende
Two UNESCO-listed colonial towns in the central highlands. Guanajuato has colourful houses stacked up a ravine and roads running through tunnels; San Miguel is known for its pink-stone parish church and arts scene.
Copper Canyon
In the Sierra Madre of Chihuahua, a system of canyons larger and in places deeper than the Grand Canyon. The Chepe railway crosses bridges and tunnels through the region, home to the Rarámuri people.
Baja California Sur
Desert meets sea on the long peninsula. Grey whales gather in lagoons such as San Ignacio in winter, and La Paz is a base for swimming with sea lions and, in season, whale sharks.
Interesting facts about Mexico
- Traditional Mexican cuisine was added to UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage in 2010, and maize, chillies, beans and chocolate were all first domesticated in the region.
- Mexico has more Spanish speakers than any other country in the world, and dozens of indigenous languages are also recognised as national languages.
- Parts of Mexico City are sinking by several centimetres a year, because the city was built on a drained lake bed and draws water from the aquifer beneath it.
- The Great Pyramid of Cholula in Puebla is the largest pyramid in the world by volume, though from a distance it looks like a hill topped by a church.
- Each winter millions of monarch butterflies migrate from Canada and the United States to forests in Michoacán and the State of Mexico.
Best time to visit Mexico
The dry season from about November to April is the most popular time, with sunny weather across most of the country. The rainy season, roughly June to October, usually brings afternoon showers in the central highlands that leave mornings clear, and turns the landscape green. The Caribbean and Pacific coasts are in hurricane season from June to November, with the highest risk from August to October. Day of the Dead celebrations at the start of November are especially rich in Oaxaca, Michoacán and Mexico City. Christmas, New Year and Easter are busy holiday periods.
Getting around
Long-distance buses are comfortable, frequent and the backbone of travel between cities, with first-class and executive services on major routes. Domestic flights save time over long distances, such as from Mexico City to the Yucatán or Baja. Mexico City has a large metro and Metrobús network, and ride-hailing apps are widely used in most cities. The Tren Maya now links several cities and sites around the Yucatán Peninsula. Renting a car works well in the Yucatán and central highlands; use toll highways where possible and avoid driving at night in rural areas.
Practical details
- Capital
- Mexico City
- Currency
- Mexican peso (MXN)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Plug types
- A, B
- Voltage
- 127 V, 60 Hz
- Emergency
- 911 (police, ambulance and fire)
- Driving side
- right
- Tipping
- Expected. Around 10–15% in restaurants, small tips for hotel staff, tour guides and petrol station attendants, and rounding up for taxis.
Staying online in Mexico
Mobile coverage is good in cities, tourist areas and along major highways, with 4G widely available and 5G in large cities. Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafés and many public squares. Coverage becomes patchy in mountains such as the Sierra Madre and Copper Canyon, in remote parts of Chiapas and Oaxaca, on long stretches of Baja's highways and in the jungle interior of the Yucatán. Download offline maps for road trips. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
Mexico eSIM plans
1 GB
1GB eSIM Data for 7 Days for Mexico
Ilimitado
Unlimited eSIM Data for 1 Day for Mexico
2 GB
2GB eSIM Data for 15 Days for Mexico
3 GB
3GB eSIM Data for 30 Days for Mexico
Useful apps
- Uber: Widely available in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and many other cities, often preferred to hailing taxis on the street.
- DiDi: A popular ride-hailing alternative in Mexican cities, sometimes cheaper than Uber.
- Google Maps: Public transport routes in Mexico City and offline maps for road trips.
- Google Translate: Spanish translation of menus and signs, with offline download for rural areas.
Mexico travel FAQs
It is generally recommended not to drink tap water. Bottled and filtered water is widely available, and most restaurants serving visitors use purified water and ice.
Yes. Coverage is good in cities and tourist areas. Roaming on a home plan can be expensive, so many visitors use a travel eSIM for local data, which also makes ride-hailing and maps easier, while keeping their home number active.
Millions of visitors travel to Mexico each year without problems, but conditions vary by state and region. Check your government's travel advice before you go, use authorised taxis or ride-hailing apps, and follow local guidance.
Cards are widely accepted in cities and hotels, but markets, street-food stalls, small shops and rural areas often take cash only. Use ATMs inside banks or shopping centres.