What documents do I need to enter Mexico and what about customs?
What is the local currency?
Which governmental agencies may be useful to me?
What are health risks and precautions?
How’s the weather?
What is the time zone?
What is the electrical system?
What language is spoken?
What about telephone & e-mail?
What amount should I tip?
Is Mexico safe?
What documents do I need to enter Mexico and what about customs?
The government of Mexico requires that all U.S. and Canadian citizens present a valid passport when entering the country via international flight. Driver's permits, voter registration cards, affidavits and similar documents are no longer accepted to prove citizenship.
U.S. and Canadian citizens traveling as tourists must also obtain a tourist card (a free document), also known as an FM-T which is available at Mexican consulates, Mexican border crossing points, Mexican tourism offices, airports within the border zone and aboard all airlines serving Mexico.
Citizens of other countries should contact the Mexican consulate or embassy for entry requirements. Click on Consular Services at http://portal.sre.gob.mx/usa/.
Children traveling without either parents or guardians will need a notarized letter from the absent parent or guardian authorizing the trip to and from Mexico.
It is always recommended that visitors make two copies of their passport identification page. This will facilitate replacement if a passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at home with friends or relatives. Carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport.
Customs
New customs declaration forms must be filled out by all incoming travelers, domestic and foreign. The luggage of all incoming travelers (except for diplomatic personnel) is subject to spot checks using a "traffic light" system. Arriving passengers press button indicating either a red light (possessions will be spot-checked) or a green light means a search will not be conducted.
Tourists are allowed to bring in personal effects duty-free. According to customs regulations, in addition to clothing, personal effects may include a camera, video cassette player, personal computer, CD player, 5 DVDs, 20 music CDs or audio cassettes, 12 rolls of unused film and a cellular phone. Any tourist carrying such items, even if duty-free, should enter the "Merchandise to Declare" lane at the first customs checkpoint. TOP
What is the local currency?
Mexican coins come in denominations of 50 centavos (cents) and 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 pesos; bills come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 pesos. Once in Mexico, currency can be exchanged at banks or exchange houses (casas de cambio) at the airport or in town.
Acceptance of US dollars is common, although change may be given in pesos. It is always wise to travel with at least enough pesos to cover travel for the day, since gas stations only accept pesos, as do most market or craft vendors.
Major credit and charge cards (primarily American Express, MasterCard and Visa) are welcome at many establishments. ATMs belonging to Cirrus, Plus and other systems, enable travelers to access their accounts and make withdrawals in pesos while in Mexico. Banks will not cash personal checks, but most American Express offices in Mexico will cash personal checks for cardholders. Travelers’ checks can be cashed into pesos in many establishments, as long as the bearers of the checks show proper identification. But it may be difficult to use them in small towns or any place without banking facilities nearby. TOP
Which governmental agencies may be useful to me?
U.S. Embassy, Paseo de la Reforma 305, Col. Cuauhtemoc, Mexico City
Tel. +52 (55) 5080-2000
Business hours: weekdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3p.m. to 5 p.m.; closed for U.S. and Mexican holidays (however, a duty officer is always on call)
Canadian Embassy, Schiller 529, Col. Polanco, Mexico City
Tel. +52 (55) 5724-7900
Business hours: weekdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2p.m. to 5 p.m.; closed for Canadian and Mexican holidays.
Tourism information is available at www.visitmexico.com TOP
What are health risks and precautions?
No vaccinations are needed to enter Mexico from the United States or Canada. Travelers should take it easy on food and alcohol consumption the first few days after arriving in Mexico, particularly in cities at high elevations such as Mexico City (7,350 feet).
Bottled water is readily available and tourist class hotels often have purified tap water. English-speaking doctors are usually on call at most hotels.
Mexico has an abundant number of pharmacies (farmacias) that dispense prescription drugs (often without prescriptions) at a fraction of their cost back home. Modern, first-rate hospitals can be found in all metropolitan areas, and most coastal resorts have private hospital options with excellent care.
Before going abroad, it is recommended that visitors learn what medical services their health insurance will cover overseas. If health insurance policy provides coverage outside country of origin, it is recommended that visitors carry both their insurance policy identity card as proof of such insurance and a claim form. Although many health insurance companies will pay "customary and reasonable" hospital costs abroad, very few will pay for medical evacuation back to a country of origin. Medical evacuation can easily cost US$10,000 and up, depending on one’s location and medical condition. Please visit the Travelers insurance link on JB Journeys website.
For a major medical emergency, jet evacuation services are available, including Red Cross Mexico: from Mexico City, dial 5395-1111 or 5557-5757. For local offices in Mexico City, dial 5658-1111. TOP
How’s the weather?
Mexico has two main seasons: the rainy season from May to mid-October and the dry season from mid-October to April. The rainy season can be of little effect in the dry, northern region of the country. Southern regions typically have tropical showers. Rains may commence around 4pm or 5pm for a brief time or a couple of hours. Although these rainfalls can come on abruptly and be relatively strong, they frequently finish just as rapidly and cool the air at nighttime.
Yucatán Peninsula and the other coastal areas have hot temperatures during June, July, and August, although, temperatures rise only into the mid-80s to 90°F (mid-20s to 32°C). Most of coastal Mexico experiences temperatures in the 80s°F (20s°C) in the hottest months. The northern states that border the United States experience very high summer temperatures.
Another important aspect is the elevation; for instance, elevated cities such as Mexico City and San Cristóbal de las Casas can be unexpectedly cold; however, temperatures can drop close to freezing at night in winter even in San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato, which are at minor elevations. TOP
What is the time zone?
Baja California Norte is on Pacific Time; Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Nayarit, Sonora and Sinaloa are on Mountain Time and the rest of Mexico is on Central Standard Time. In addition, Mexico observes daylight savings time from the first Sunday in April up to the last Sunday in October.
What is the electrical system?
Mexico is on the same 60-cycle, 110-volt current as the United States. A plug adapter is often necessary, with two straight, even-sized prongs to accommodate appliances with three-pronged plugs, or plugs with one prong larger than the other. TOP
What language is spoken?
In Mexico the official language is Spanish.
What about telephone & e-mail?
Your cell phone will probably work in Mexico if it is a quad band GSM phone. Contact your provider to allow for international calls, but be sure you know the rates they will charge. It can be very expensive. Many people traveling to Mexico now will purchase a cell phone there, for about $35 which includes some minutes. They can be easily purchased at grocery stores, malls, and some booths at airports. Brands include Mexitel, Movistar, and AmigoSIM, among others.
Public phones marked Ladatel are the best to use for long-distance calls within or outside Mexico. Most of these telephones require debit phone cards, which can be purchased at newsstands or convenience stores. In addition, there are special street sides businesses marked Caseta de Larga Distancia which are set up for long-distance calling and are usually marked (long distance telephone booth). Casetas will have several private booths, a clerk who makes and times the call, directs you to a booth, and collects the money. Caseta offices usually offer fax service, and some even offer Internet service. They are also located at most bus stations in major tourist or business locales.
Phone numbers in Mexico City have eight digits. To call a Mexican cell phone number within the country, dial 044 + Area Code + Phone Number. The 044 prefix should be dropped when dialing the number from the US or Canada.
Courier services such as Mexpost (which is a branch of the Mexican Post Office), Federal Express, DHL, UPS and others operate throughout Mexico. Mail acceptance services such as Mail Boxes Etc. are also available. In addition, Internet centers or cyber cafes and wifi signals are increasingly found throughout the country. TOP
What amount should I tip?
It is suggested to give an extra 10% in restaurants and from 15 to 20% in beauty salons and hairdressing salons.
It is not accustomed to give tips to taxi drivers, except when they assist with luggage. In that case you can give the equivalent to 1 dollar per suitcase. The same goes for porters at the airport or hotel.
Is Mexico safe?
When traveling in Mexico, put into effect the same safety precautions used traveling anywhere in the world: carry money inside clothing, keep your eye on your possessions at all times, don't leave valuables in plain view in vehicles, don't be alone on empty beaches and don't purchase or use illegal drugs.
Travel on buses that run on toll highways during daylight hours. Consult the U.S. State Department site for safety and travel tips at http://travel.state.gov.
Take care to use only radio-dispatched taxis, especially in Mexico City. These can be found at all hotels and restaurants. Request the number of the taxi to be dispatched. If there is any question about a taxi requested, compare the picture on the laminated 5"x7" picture permit (tarjeton) with the driver. If there's no picture permit, or the picture doesn't match the driver, do not get in the taxi.
Tourist class hotels in Mexico City have specially licensed tourist taxis, without taxi markings, assigned to them. Verify that the drivers are known. At the airport and bus stations in Mexico City, use only officially designated taxi service for which special tickets are sold. TOP
