Mexico FAQs

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Written by
Jennifer Richt, David Corvacho Puente, Lily Bunker & Charles Kronsten

Published on: October 21st, 2012

Last modified: December 30th, 2022

We've compiled our list of most frequently asked questions to help you get prepared before your big adventure to Mexico. Please read through the questions, using the navigation bar on the left hand side of your page to move easily between the different sections.

Please note that requirements and advice can change so we do recommend you check in with your own travel insurer, doctor and relevant local embassies before embarking on your adventure.

Are there any entry requirements for Mexico?

Visas

Visas are not required for US, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, Israeli and most EU countries. There are some EU countries that do require a visa so please check on the Mexican Consulates website before travel (or at the time of booking your trip), other nationalities not mentioned above should do the same.

All visitors to Mexico must fill out a tourist card on your inbound flight and it’s important that you keep this card safe for the duration of your trip.

Passports

All passports must be valid for at least six months after your intended departure and have at least two blank pages for immigration stamps.

We will confirm certain elements of your trip such as regional flights or permits using your current passport details. If a member of your party changes their name in their passport after booking (for example, through marriage or adoption) this could mean having to reissue important parts of the trip at an extra cost and subject to availability. 

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes, once your trip is confirmed it is essential that you take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover you in case anything unexpected happens. 

We always recommend that our guests get the maximum level of coverage that you feel comfortable investing in. Read more about travel insurance for US travellers here and for travellers from other countries here.

Do I need to visit a travel doctor before my trip?

Yes, you should visit a travel doctor before your trip as they may recommend certain vaccinations or medications before or during travel. Some vaccines commonly recommended for travellers to Latin America include: Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies and Meningitis.

Please seek professional medical advice and recheck close to the date of travel as the situation may change.

There is a low risk of Malaria in some rural parts of Mexico (around the Yucatan and Chiapas Highlands regions) so please do discuss your itinerary with your travel doctor so they can advise you on whether or not you should be taking anti-malarial medication. We recommend that all our guests protect themselves from mosquito bites, particularly during dusk and dawn. Please consult with your doctor regarding the best mosquito repellent for you, particularly if you’re travelling with children. Wearing long sleeved tops and trousers will also help protect you against insect bites.

What will I receive from Jacada before I depart?

Travel pack

Before you head off on your adventure you will be sent a travel pack. The travel pack is full of great information and is also a beautiful keepsake. It is not necessary to travel with vouchers or confirmations on your trip but we do recommend having a printed copy of your travel itinerary to hand when you arrive into Mexico.

Bon Voyage email

Around 2 weeks before you depart we will email you an electronic version of your travel pack including your domestic flight tickets. Once you’ve received this email your Travel Designer will reach out to arrange a time for you to talk on the phone to go over any last minute questions and talk you through the information we’ve sent over.

Do I need to bring the local currency?

Yes, you will need the local currency which is the  Mexican Peso (MXN). It’s best to buy some of the local currency at home before departure to bring with you, but if you can’t, it’s straightforward to exchange on arrival.

You can exchange cash (US Dollars work well) or travellers cheques in most large airports or at Casa de Cambios (currency exchange agencies) in the major hubs. Just a note that travellers cheques can take longer to exchange and the rate can be poor.

ATMs are also available throughout the country, with the exception of rural areas or some more remote beach destinations. It’s always best to plan your funds before leaving a major hub. When using an ATM, be sure to look for the relevant symbol on the machine to ensure it is an international machine (displaying the VISA, MAESTRO etc symbols), local ones won’t work.

Credit cards are accepted in most places, especially major cities and large shopping areas. In more remote areas there may be difficulties using credit cards, so don’t solely rely on them, make sure you have some cash too. We also recommend that you carry small bills and coins as change may not be readily available for larger denominations when you’re in smaller shops, restaurants or shopping in markets.

Can you tell me about tipping and etiquette in Mexico?

Tipping is generally expected for tourists in Mexico and it’s best to tip in the local currency rather than US dollars, so work out the equivalent amounts for the figures recommended below. If you’re on a trip with several guides and drivers, tip them individually, rather than relying on one of them to split the tip evenly. For this purpose, many people find travelling with a few envelopes to be useful.

It can be tricky to break down big bills in Mexico, so try and hang on to small denominations, which you can use for tipping.

Normally, the rates are 10-15% in restaurants, hotel porters get USD 1 to USD 2 per piece of luggage, a private guide on a full day trip will get about USD 30 or USD 15 for a half day tour and it’s about USD 10 for a private driver on a full day trip.

What’s the weather like and how should I pack?

Mexico is overall a tropical, warm country but there are some exceptions. Higher altitude regions experience quite chilly temperatures, particularly at night and first thing in the morning. There is also a rainy season in Mexico (May to October) when warm temperatures are broken by some potentially heavy rain and even storms.

Choosing what to pack for your trip to Mexico will depend on where and when you visit, it also depends on the sorts of activities you’ll be taking part in. Please click through to our Mexico packing guide to read more on the weather and what to bring.

Almost all of the properties in Mexico will offer a laundry service at an extra cost. You might find some pricing to be quite expensive so please do check the costs with reception before sending your items to be washed.

 

Should I make restaurant reservations?

We highly recommend that you make restaurant reservations in advance of your trip. Once your trip is confirmed you will be introduced to your concierge who will be able to assist you in not only making the reservations but also  making  recommendations based on your preferences.

What’s the transport like?

We only recommend taking transfers arranged by Jacada travel, the team on the ground, your hotel or a restaurant we’ve reserved for you. Although there are metered taxis and even uber in the major cities these shouldn’t be necessary on your trip. 

How can I keep connected on my trip?

Plugs and power

For Mexico there are two associated plug types, types A and B. Plug type A is the plug which has two flat parallel pins and plug type B is the plug which has two flat parallel pins and a grounding pin. Mexico operates on a 127V supply voltage and 60Hz.

Wifi and Internet

Wifi is common in most hotels and lodges in Mexico. In remote areas the connection can be patchy and is not always available throughout the entire property, sometimes only being available in the common areas or in the rooms. There are some exceptions, so if regular and reliable connectivity is important to you please discuss this with your travel designer or concierge.

Remote areas

Cell phone reception and roaming is not always possible in some remote areas so please bear this in mind when planning communications while on your trip. You can speak with your provider at home to ask about roaming charges.

Please contact your Jacada travel designer or concierge before your trip with any further questions