So you have actually decided to go to Mexico. Permit me to be the very first to praise you! Mexico is a nation that initially mesmerized me when I was 9 years of ages and has actually had me returning for more since. Nowadays, I call Puerto Vallarta my home and I invest more time in Mexico than I do anywhere else worldwide.
What you will find is a nation that is among the most varied worldwide. It has more than 60 languages spoken, a few of the most gorgeous beaches worldwide, first-rate mountains, ancient cultures, mysticism, underground rivers, tropical jungle, and a cooking scene that will blow your mind.
Since Mexico is where I invest most of my time, it’s not unusual for individuals to come to me with concerns about it, particularly if it’s their very first time going. In order to address your burning concerns, and to assist us be familiar with each other a little much better, I have actually put everything into one cool bundle for you.
Here are all the important things you require to understand about taking a trip to Mexico for the very first time.
Is Mexico safe to check out?
Yes. This is the primary concern I get inquired about travel to Mexico. Though the headings might appear stunning, especially when it pertains to violence in Mexico versus travelers, I can unquestionably state that Mexico is safe for travelers. However, similar to taking a trip to any brand-new location, there are things to bear in mind.
In all my years circumnavigating Mexico by myself, and living there, I have actually never ever when been robbed, held at gunpoint, witness to a criminal offense, or gotten ill. However Mexico, like anywhere else worldwide, has its reasonable share of issues and there are things that tourists must and must refrain from doing.
For the a lot of part, tourists going to traveler locations like Cancun, Los Cabos, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, and any of their surrounding smaller sized towns will not have an issue. Travelers going to Mexico City, Puebla, Guadalajara, San Miguel de Allende, and Oaxaca will likely never ever face any problems, either.
The problems begin to develop when tourists enter into area that is remote and uncharted, wild camp in unmarked websites, or get included with drugs. These are things that you should not carry out in any nation, including your own. Aside from diving into these locations, Mexico is extremely safe to check out.
Finest time to check out Mexico
Mexico is a year-round location. You can go actually whenever of year and have a good time. However there are times that might be much better fit to what you’re searching for. If you desire picture-perfect beach weather condition, December through April is the very best time to check out Mexico. Nevertheless, considered that this is high season, it will be the most costly time to check out Mexico.
The least costly time to check out Mexico is from August through November. This is when costs drop, however temperature levels peak and cyclones end up being a threat along the shoreline.
What are the very best traveler locations in Mexico?
All of it depends upon what you’re searching for — Mexico actually has something for everybody. If you’re searching for the very best Mexico beach locations, then Cancun/Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta have the very best tourist facilities, the majority of hotels, and airport gain access to. For city leaves with culture, history, extraordinary food, and lovely shop hotels, head to Mexico City, Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende, Merida, Mazatlan, Puebla, and Guadalajara.
However if you’re searching for raw, natural appeal beyond the beaches, think about off-the-beaten-path locations like San Cristobal de las Casas, a mountain town in the highlands of Chiapas. It’s home to Mayan neighborhoods that still practice mysticism, and the air is thick with the odor of sage and fire wood. Chiapas is likewise home to the Sumidero Canyon National Forest and the historical ruins of Palenque.
In Northern Mexico, the renowned train trip through Copper Canyon is another outstanding choice. It’s much deeper and, some may state, more amazing than the Grand Canyon. Visitors can hop aboard El Chepe, the railway that passes through the length of the canyon from Los Mochis to Chihuahua.
The Very Best Beaches in Mexico
Okay, however back to those beaches. Mexico has a few of the very best worldwide. With more than 5,800 miles of shoreline, Mexico is filled with gorgeous beaches. Naturally, not all are developed equivalent. The coast of Quintana Roo is where you’re going to opt for the most picturesque Caribbean-style beaches in all of Mexico. These powder-white, tourist-friendly, safe stretches are at their finest from Cancun all the method down previous Tulum into Mahahual, which surrounds Belize. You can likewise find the beautiful Laguna de Bacalar, among the fastest-growing areas in Mexico home to an easygoing lakefront town, eco-conscious lodgings, and great deals of wildlife. Lodgings along the whole Caribbean shoreline variety from luxury turn to all-inclusives, to budget plan backpacker hotels.
Los Cabos is among the high-end capital of Mexico. Though swimming isn’t constantly safe on the beaches there, the resorts tend to offset that with sensational infinity swimming pools. Los Cabos is divided in between 2 cities: Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. San Jose del Cabo is where you’ll opt for cool dining establishments, a lively art scene, and excellent bars. Cabo San Lucas has a lot more of a bar-hopping ambiance, along with a few of the most glamorous resorts in Mexico.
For subtle web surfer town vibes, head to the Oaxaca shoreline to find Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, and Zipolite. Nowadays, Puerto Escondido is much busier than in years past, with boho-chic shop hotels, beach clubs, and a growing dining establishment scene. A new incredibly highway links Puerto Escondido to the mountain city of Oaxaca in 3 hours, which implies that the town is a lot more congested, however likewise that visitors can integrate these 2 great locations in one journey.
Puerto Vallarta has actually turned into one of the most popular beach locations in Mexico over the previous couple of years. It is the entrance to the beach towns of the Riviera Nayarit, along with the more remote and harder-to-access beaches of the Costalegre. Puerto Vallarta is a genuine city on the sea nowadays, with first-rate dining establishments, a pulsing night life, and beautiful resorts. Its Zona Romantica, the historical district, is among the most beautiful in Mexico, too.
Are Mexico’s beach towns simply traveler traps?
Yes. Type of it. It’s a little complex. The majority of the beach towns were constructed particularly with tourist in mind, and the lion’s share of the economy depends upon tourist and all the services it offers. This likewise implies that things tend to be more costly in the beach towns which there is, in basic, a greater concentration of traveler traps.
Still, from these mainstream locations, tourists can venture a little additional from these significant centers in order to find the slower-paced, local-friendly pieces of reality in Mexico — which will be another story for another time, I make certain.
What are the very best cities in Mexico?
Mexico City, for one. It is among the best cities worldwide, and likewise among the biggest. Its history go back to the Aztecs, who established it on a lake in 1325, and ruled up until the Spanish took control of in the 16th century. Today, a lively, art-forward culture has actually plastered the city with contemporary architecture, intense murals, streamlined mixed drink bars, and great food. A walk through the Centro Historico will expose Aztec ruins on one side and a Spanish baroque townhouse on the other.
San Miguel de Allende is a preferred for Americans. Approximately 10,000 expats live there full-time now, and it has actually been voted Travel + Leisure’s preferred city worldwide for the last 2 years. The factor? It’s aesthetically sensational. The whole city is a UNESCO Heritage Website, and it has among the very best dining establishment and bar scenes in the nation. If you like white wine, San Miguel de Allende is at the doorstep of among Mexico’s earliest white wine paths.
Oaxaca (the city, along with the state) is a food lover paradise. The majority of the meals that we think about to be timeless “Mexican” originated from here. There are actually lots of tastes of mole (and how can we forget that sweet, sweet mezcal). Other cities in Mexico have their own specializeds, like ceviche in Puerto Vallarta, cochinita pibil in Quintana Roo, or abundant chocolate and coffee in Chiapas.
Guadalajara is Mexico’s 2nd most inhabited city and the birth place of 2 Mexican classics: tequila and mariachi. Tequila originates from the eponymous city, which is simply outdoors Guadalajara.
The very best ruins in Mexico
Mexico has a history that extends well beyond the scope of the Mayan and Aztec worlds. There are numerous, numerous pre-Hispanic, native cultures that have actually resided on Mexican soil, such as the Zapotecs, Olmecs, Toltecs, and Huichols. The most well-known historical sites in Mexico are the Mayan websites of Chichen Itza and Tulum, along with the pre-Colombian website of Teotihuacan beyond Mexico City.
However there are many other ruins that are simply as outstanding, minus all the crowds. Monte Alban, a Zapotec city home to amazing pyramids, temples, and plazas, sits 1,300 feet above the Oaxaca Valley with a background of towering mountains. In the state of Chiapas, Palenque is among the most crucial Mayan websites and among the very best maintained. It sits at the base of the Tumbala mountains, on the Usumacinta River, deep in the jungle. In the Campeche jungles is Calakmul, which was found in 1931. Just a smidgen of this outstanding website has actually been revealed, however it is stated that the city flourished for more than 1,000 years and has more than 6,000 structures.
How to navigate Mexico
Mexico has truly excellent inexpensive providers, like Volaris and Viva Aerobus. However the bus system in Mexico is likewise first-class, with luxury quality buses that are safe and comfy. I have actually invested months backpacking around Mexico utilizing the bus system — its a wonderful, affordable method to see the entire nation.
Do you require a visa in Mexico?
Americans and Canadians do not. Nevertheless, the optimum quantity of time you can remain there without a visa is 6 months.
Do you require to speak Spanish in Mexico?
I wish to state yes since I believe it is essential to a minimum of attempt to speak the native language in whatever nation you’re checking out. However you do not require to understand Spanish to check out the traveler locations in Mexico. English is extensively spoken — and spoken effectively. That stated, residents value when visitors attempt to practice and they are more than client.
Do you tip in Mexico?
Yes, Mexico is a tipping culture. You can tip in between 10 and 15 percent in Mexico. Fifteen percent is for outstanding service.
Anything else?
Mexico is intoxicating. It will make you fall in love. Choose an open heart, a curious mind, and an empty stomach. Attempt the street food. Speak to the residents. Experience something brand-new. Simply keep in mind to take a trip properly and securely. Above all else, have a good time. And vaya con dios!
If you wish to see more Mexico travel material, you can visit my blog site at drillinjourneys.com or follow me on Instagram at @drillinjourneys.