Know before you go : Mexico Edition

In this article, I’ll make an overview of everything useful to know before going to Mexico, including some travel tips.

You’ll find : 

Mexico is a country located in North America. It shares borders with the United States to the north, and with Guatemala and Belize to the southeast, and it is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and south and the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea to the east.

The capital is Mexico City, which is also the largest city in the country. Mexico City is situated in the central part of Mexico, on a high plateau surrounded by mountains and volcanoes.

Known for its rich history, ancient civilisations, diverse landscapes, and renowned cuisine, Mexico offers a wide range of cultural and natural attractions – from Mayan and Aztec ruins to colonial towns, tropical beaches, and unreal cenotes.

As of 2025, Mexico covers approximately 1,964,375 km² and has a population of around 129 million people.

The best time to visit Mexico is usually from November to April, during the dry season, when the weather is warm and sunny across most of the country, with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 30°C.

If you plan to come between June and October, be aware that it’s the rainy season in many regions (such as in the Yucatan). It is warmer and more humid, with heavy rains, especially in places like Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, or Oaxaca.

However, I visited Yucatan and Quintana Zoo regions from end of May to mid-June and we had a wonderful weather, and very few tourists.

The currency in Mexico is the Mexican Peso (MXN).

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and shops, especially in cities and tourist areas. However, cash is still essential—particularly in taxis, local markets, small eateries, for tipping and for entrance fees in cenotes or ruins. It’s a good idea to withdraw or exchange some pesos upon arrival. ATMs at banks like BBVA and Santander have less fees, and always choose to be billed in Mexican Pesos (not your home currency) to avoid dynamic currency conversion fees.

Mexico is generally fairly affordable, especially outside the most touristy areas. A meal at a casual restaurant or taco stand can cost around 5-10€ per person, while dining in more upscale or touristy places may cost 15-20€. Street food like tacos, tamales, or marquesitas is often under €2.

Entrance to cenotes, archaeological sites, or cultural landmarks typically ranges between 5-15€ – although some major attractions like Chichén Itzá or Tulum ruins will be more expensive (if I can make a recommendation: save your money for the Chichén Itzá and skip Tulum Ruins).

Accommodation can also be budget-friendly: expect to pay 30 to 70 euros per night for nice hotels or Airbnb with a swimming pool for two people (depending on the location). Prices may increase during holidays or in hotel/resort zones.

Clothing: Mexico is a very hot destination, so not need for warm clothes. Instead, pack light and breathable clothing. Don’t forget to bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen (reef safe, as sunscreen is forbidden in lots of places to protect the ecosystem), particularly if you’re heading to the beach or archaeological sites.

Pack comfortable walking shoes and waterproof sandals for exploring cities, ruins, but also to be practical for boat days. If you’re visiting higher-altitude places like Mexico City, San Cristóbal de las Casas, or Puebla, bring a light sweater or jacket—it can get cooler in the mornings and evenings.
A small backpack is great for day trips and excursions, especially to bring water bottles as tap water is not drinkable.

Adapter: Mexico uses Type A and B power outlets, the same as in the United States and Canada. If you’re coming from Europe or other regions, you’ll need a plug adapter. A power bank is handy to keep your phone charged while traveling.

There’s a lot to bring back from Mexico!

Traditional Items: For authentic Mexican souvenirs, consider hand-painted skulls or alebrijes, beautiful ceramics, silver jewelry or handcrafted textiles like embroidered blouses (huipiles) and colorful rebozos (shawls). You can also bring back ocally made leather goods like belts, wallets, or huarache sandals.

Food & Drinks: Mole paste, Mexican hot chocolate tablets, locally roasted coffee or caca, and a jar of salsa macha are some of the best traditional food you can bring back from Mexico. Don’t miss vanilla extract from Veracruz, dried chili peppers, and for sweet treats, try cajeta (goat’s milk caramel), dulces de leche, or pan de coco. Alcohol-wise, a bottle of tequila or mezcal is a must!

The official language of Mexico is Spanish. In most tourist areas, you’ll find people who speak basic English, especially in hotels, restaurants, and major attractions.

Here are a few basic Spanish phrases that might come in handy:

• Hello: Hola – [OH-lah]
• Thank you: Gracias – [GRAH-syahs]
• You’re welcome: De nada – [deh NAH-dah]
• I (don’t) understand: Entiendo / No entiendo – [en-TYEHN-doh / noh en-TYEHN-doh]
• Sorry: Perdón – [pehr-DOHN]
• My name is…: Me llamo… – [meh YAH-moh…]
• Yes / No: Sí / No – [SEE / NO]

These phrases will help you connect with locals and show appreciation for the culture—even just a few words can go a long way!

If you’re traveling to Mexico from Europe, EU roaming doesn’t apply, so you can buy a local SIM card from providers like Telcel or AT&T Mexico. If you buy a SIM card at the airport with unlimited data, it will cost around 200-300 MXN (10-13€). You can also buy them at convenience stores (like OXXO or 7-Eleven), or phone shops.

If you don’t really plan to explore a region but more a city such as Mexico City, Guadalajara, or Monterrey, you don’t need a car. You can manage with public transport and Uber/local taxis.

But for visiting multiple places, especially exploring Yucatan, Quintana Roo and the countless cenotes, it is best to rent a car. I definitely recommend Royal Rent a Car in Cancun, near the airport. It is one of the only car rental company accepting Debit Card (and Credit Card), their cars are in great condition and they have been very helpful and accommodating, even for last minute rentals. Plus, we got our deposit back in a couple of days!

There’s a lot to see in Mexico ! You can spend a few days exploring the mayan ruins, wandering through colorful colonial towns or swimming in the most unreal cenotes… You definitely won’t be bored!

Here’s a list of the best things to do in Mexico :

That’s it for my Mexico travel tips !

I have also made detailed posts about the best hidden gems in Mexico, the best cenotes to see in Mexico, a boat day in Cozumel, in Holbox or even a Catamaran day in Bacalar.