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Visas & entry
For tourism and other unpaid visits, citizens of the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, most EU/Schengen states and many Latin American countries are generally visa-exempt for stays of up to 180 days, but the immigration officer decides the actual permitted stay. Some travelers who otherwise need a visa may qualify for an exemption through a valid multiple-entry visa or qualifying residence permit from the US, Canada, Japan, UK or Schengen area. Verify current rules with a Mexican consulate; carry a valid passport, onward ticket, accommodation details and evidence of funds.
Getting in
- Mexico City International Airport: Mexico’s best all-purpose international gateway and the main domestic hub; use it for the capital, central highlands and connections almost anywhere else in the country.
- Cancún International Airport: The practical gateway for the Riviera Maya, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel and much of the Yucatán Peninsula; best for beach-first and Maya-plus-Caribbean itineraries.
- Guadalajara International Airport: The useful western-Mexico arrival for Guadalajara, Tequila and onward connections to the central Pacific.
- Puerto Vallarta International Airport: The simplest direct arrival for Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit and the central Pacific coast.
- Los Cabos International Airport: The main resort gateway for southern Baja, including Cabo, Todos Santos and onward travel around Baja California Sur.
Getting around
Use buses for travel within a region: premium intercity services are often comfortable and more reliable than visitors expect. Rent a car where the landscape demands it—especially Baja, Yucatán backroads and smaller towns—but avoid unfamiliar rural driving after dark. For jumps between regions such as Mexico City, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Yucatán and Baja, domestic flights save days rather than merely adding convenience.
Money
The currency is the Mexican peso (MXN). Cards work well in cities, hotels and established restaurants, but carry cash for markets, small towns, taxis and many food stalls; use bank ATMs rather than exchange counters where possible. Tipping is expected in restaurants and for service staff, commonly around 10–15% in restaurants depending on service.
Book before you land
Chepe Express through Copper Canyon, especially for limited-date scenic rail departures · Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix tickets · Day of the Dead-period guided experiences in Oaxaca, Pátzcuaro and Mexico City
- Mexico is not a country to judge from Cancún alone; resort zones can be culturally and economically detached from the places most travelers come to understand.
- Keep proof of onward travel, accommodation and funds accessible on arrival; visa-free entry does not guarantee an automatic 180-day stay.
- Book Day of the Dead travel months ahead, and treat cemetery visits as commemorations rather than costume-party scenery.
- Use authorized airport taxis, app-based rides where available, or prearranged transfers; do not rely on street-hailing in unfamiliar airport areas.
- Altitude is real in Mexico City, Puebla and other highland cities: ease into the first day, hydrate and do not schedule an ambitious arrival-night plan.
- Check current state-specific security and road conditions before self-driving or taking long overland routes, particularly in remote parts of the north and Chiapas.
Entry rules change — verify visa requirements for your passport before booking this country.