Mexico travel checklist: what to do before you go

The long-lead items are documents and money. Check your passport validity against the current rule for your nationality and trip length — many official sources advise six months of remaining validity, but confirm it with your airline and Mexican immigration, and renew early if it is close. Renewals in the US, UK, Canada and Australia can take several weeks, and you cannot board a flight with an expired passport.

Decide the shape of the trip before you book anything non-refundable. The parent guide's default for a first trip is Mexico City for four nights, then one flight to either Oaxaca or the Yucatán. Flying between regions beats overnight buses on a short trip. If you plan to work remotely, read the digital nomad visa page before you commit to dates.

Travel insurance with medical care and evacuation is strongly recommended, not a legal requirement. Check whether your policy covers the activities you have planned, such as diving in Cozumel or hiking in the highlands.

Book internal flights and the first two nights of accommodation. Mexico City, Oaxaca, Mérida and the Caribbean coast fill up over Christmas, Easter and the Day of the Dead period, and prices climb with them. Booking the first nights only keeps the rest of the trip flexible.

Sort out money. Tell your bank you are travelling, check your card's foreign transaction fee, and plan to carry some pesos in cash for markets, taxis and small towns. Cards are widely accepted in cities and resorts, but rural areas and street stalls are cash — check locally. Tipping runs 10–15% in restaurants and MXN 20–50 for porters and guides' helpers.

Check vaccinations and any medication you need. Some courses, such as hepatitis A or typhoid, need weeks to complete, and some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination if you are arriving from a risk area — check the current requirement for your route. Book a travel clinic appointment now rather than the week you fly.

Print or download everything you might need offline: flight confirmations, the first hotel address in Spanish, insurance policy number and emergency contacts. Save the address in Spanish so a taxi driver can read it. Download an offline map of your first city.

Pack for the climate you are actually getting. Mexico City sits about 2,240 m above sea level, so it is cool at night even in the warm months, and the rainy season runs roughly May to October with afternoon downpours. The Yucatán and Pacific coast are hot and humid; the highlands need a layer. Check the packing list for the full version.

Arrange your phone: an eSIM or a local SIM on arrival, and a power bank for long travel days. Plugs are US-style types A and B at 127 V, so US and Canadian devices work without an adapter; UK, Irish, Australian and New Zealand travellers need one.

Carry your passport, boarding pass and any entry paperwork in your hand luggage, not the hold. Have the first night's address ready to show. On arrival, expect a possible customs inspection and a form or stamp at immigration; keep the stamped slip or electronic record — you may need it when you leave.

Change a small amount of cash at the airport for the taxi, then use ATMs or casas de cambio in town for a better rate. Use official airport taxis or a pre-booked transfer rather than an unmarked car. If you are driving, remember traffic is right-hand side and toll highways (cuota) are faster and safer than free roads (libre).

Save 911 for emergencies and 078 for tourist assistance. Give someone at home your itinerary and check in when you land.

Your passport is the one document that can stop the trip. Validity rules vary by nationality and trip length, and many official sources advise six months of remaining validity — confirm the current rule for your passport before you book. Check the visa requirements page for your nationality: many Western passports get a tourist stay without a visa, but the length and the rules differ, and some travellers may be asked to show onward travel or proof of funds — check the current official entry requirements.

The FMM entry form is now usually handled electronically or replaced by an entry stamp at the airport, but the rule changes, so confirm the current process before you fly. Keep any stamped slip or digital record safe: it is your proof of legal entry and you may be asked for it at departure.

If you are travelling with children, or on a one-way ticket, or staying longer than the standard tourist period, check the specific rules for your case rather than assuming the standard entry applies.

Mexico uses the Mexican peso (MXN, written $), roughly 17–20 to the US dollar — check the rate before you go. Budget from the trip cost pages rather than guessing: a 7-day trip and a 14-day trip have different shapes, and internal flights are the biggest variable.

Carry a mix. Cards are widely accepted in cities, resorts and larger restaurants; cash is needed for markets, street food, taxis, small towns and tips — check locally. Withdraw from bank ATMs inside branches or malls during the day, decline the ATM's own conversion rate and let your bank do it, and keep a backup card separate from the first.

Tipping is expected in restaurants (10–15%) and for porters, guides' helpers and housekeeping (MXN 20–50). It is not optional in the way it is in some countries; it is part of the wage.

Book a travel clinic appointment a month or more ahead. Routine vaccines should be up to date, and hepatitis A and typhoid are commonly recommended; some travellers also consider rabies or malaria prophylaxis depending on the itinerary — check what applies to your route. Yellow fever proof may be required if you are arriving from a country with transmission — check the current requirement.

Altitude matters in Mexico City and the highlands. At about 2,240 m, some visitors get headaches and breathlessness in the first day or two. Take it easy on arrival, drink water, and go easy on alcohol the first night. The rainy season (roughly May to October) brings mosquitoes, so pack repellent, especially for coastal and jungle areas.

Carry a basic kit: rehydration salts, painkillers, any prescription medicine in its original packaging with a copy of the prescription, and a thermometer. Check the health and vaccines page for the full list.

Pack for two climates if you are combining the highlands and the coast: a light layer for cool highland evenings, quick-dry clothes for humid coasts, and a rain shell for the May–October wet season. Comfortable walking shoes matter more than anything else in Mexico City and the colonial towns, where the streets are uneven.

Electronics are easy: US-style types A and B at 127 V, so US and Canadian plugs work as-is and everyone else needs an adapter. Bring a power bank for long bus and travel days. Sun protection is essential at altitude, where the sun is stronger than the temperature suggests.

Leave room for what you buy: textiles, ceramics and mezcal are the usual souvenirs, and checked-bag weight limits catch people out. See the packing list for the full version.