Travel Insurance for Mexico
Tourists flock to Mexico every year to discover its natural wonders, ancient ruins, delicious food, and sandy beaches. If your next holiday or business trip is in Mexico, here is some useful information about Mexico and some places you may like to visit during your trip.
Emergency Contact Information
You can reach all of Mexico’s emergency services by dialling 911. You can reach the individual emergency services by calling 060 for the police, 068 for the fire department, and 065 for emergency medical and ambulance services.
If you need an emergency travel document, replacement visa, or other consular services, contact the British Embassy in Mexico City or the British Consulate in Cancun. If your passport is stolen, you can replace the entry stamp online.
Travel Safety Tips
Street crime and theft are common in Mexico and travellers are advised to avoid travelling at night, to be vigilant in tourist areas and in on public transportation, and to be careful when using ATMs. Only use licenced taxis from reputable taxi companies; never hail one on the street.
Never leave your belongings and bags unattended and always keep an eye on your food and drinks as there have been reports of spiking in Mexico. Be wary of scams, such as phony police officers, unlicenced taxi drivers, fake alcohol, and swapping real notes for counterfeit ones. If you become the victim of a crime, you should go to the nearest police station and report it. You will need a written police report to make a claim on your travel insurance.
While you’re out and about, you may be asked by local police to provide your travel documents to prove you’re legally allowed to visit the country. Carrying e-cigarettes and vaping is illegal in Mexico, and you could face a fine or jail time if caught in possession of one. You will face harsher penalties for the possession and use of illegal drugs.
Do not drink tap water while in Mexico. Only drink filtered or bottled water, and when you visit a bar or restaurant, ask them not to put any ice in your drink. While travelling in certain areas of Mexico, travellers run the risk of catching Zika virus, Dengue fever, or Chikungunya virus. To prevent this, you should use insect repellent to deter mosquitos and ticks and wear long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, and closed toes shoes.
Before going on your trip, you should look at the weather updates as Mexico can experience extreme weather. You may not want to travel during hurricane season, between June and November. Guerrero and Oaxaca have been known to be hit by earthquakes. Because of Mexico’s high temperatures and sunny weather, many tourists suffer from sunburn, heatstroke, and dehydration. Tourists are advice to wear sunscreen to protect their skin from the sun and to drink plenty of water. Be careful when swimming or participating in water sports as there can be strong currents.
Tourists do not need a visa to enter Mexico; however, if you plan on undertaking volunteer work or paid work, you will need to get a visa from the Mexican Embassy in London. When going through immigration, you may need to show proof of your travel plans, including your accommodation booking information, proof of travel funds, and your return ticket.
If you intend to drive a rental car in Mexico, you will need your UK licence and a 1926 International Driving Permit. Travellers are advised to drive cautiously and be mindful of poor road conditions (especially potholes) and dangerous drivers.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)advise against all but essential travel to specific parts of Mexico. For more information check the FCDO Travel advice for Mexico.
Places to Visit in Mexico
Mexico is a magical place with lots to see and do. We’ve compiled a list of our favourite places to visit in Mexico so you can brush up on your Spanish and do some sightseeing.
Mexico City
Mexico’s capital city is a lively place that is jam-packed with culture and entertainment. To learn about Mexico’s history, stop by the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts), the Museo Frida Kahlo (Frida Kahlo Museum), the Museo del Templo Mayor (Templo Mayor Museum), and the Museo Anahuacalli (Anahuacalli Museum).
Set aside a day during your trip to Mexico City to see the several-acre Bosque de Chapultepec (Chapultepec Forest) park. Inside, you’ll find the Museo Nacional de Antropología (National Museum of Anthropology), the Museo Rufino Tamayo (Rufino Tamayo Museum), and the National Museum of History in Chapultepec Castle on Chapultepec Hill. There are several other museums and galleries within the park, as well as a zoo, a botanical garden, Aztec ruins, and several statues and monuments.
Take a sightseeing tour of the city to see the Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Cathedral) and Palacio Nacional (National Palace), Plaza de la Constitución (Constitution Square), and Plaza Garibaldi (Garibaldi Square). You should also visit the markets, such as San Juan Market, Mercado de Artesanias La Ciudadela (Ciudadela Artisan Market), and Mercado de Sonora (Sonora Market). From Mexico City, you can take day trips to San Juan Teotihuacán, Cempoala, Bioparque Estrella, and Iztaccihuatl.
Puerto Vallarta
This resort town is a great place for people who love to be near the water. The most popular beaches are the Playa de los Muertos (Beach of the Dead), Playa Camarones (Shrimp Beach), Playa Olas Altas (High Waves Beach), and Playa Conchas Chinas (Curly Shells Beach). Puerto Vallarta is known for its stunning views, especially from the Mirador de la Cruz (Cross Hill Viewpoint).
If you take a tour of the Old Town, make sure you stop by the Plaza de Armas (Main Square) and try some of the fresh seafood at a local restaurant. Head over to the Malecón (pier) that stretches from the Old Town to the Zona Romántica to see the statues, the Los Arcos amphitheatre, and the Malecón Lighthouse. From the promenade, you can walk across the Puente Rio Cuale (Cuale River Bridge) to Cuale Island and buy some souvenirs at the flea market.
If you’re looking for some outdoor adventures, take the 45-minute drive to Los Arcos National Marine Park in the Banderas Bay, where you can go snorkelling and scuba diving. There are plenty of hiking trails around Puerto Vallarta, such as the Mirador Linda Vista (Linda Vista Viewpoint) trail, the Cascada Palo Maria (Palo Maria Waterfall) trail, and the Vallarta Botanical Garden trails.
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas is another resort town that is popular with tourists all over the world. Most people come to Cabo San Lucas to hike up Mt. Solmarat on Land’s End, to see Pelican Rock near Playa del Amor (Lovers Beach), and to spend some time at the Reserva de Lobos Marinos (Sea Lion Reserve) across from Playa del Divorcio (Divorce Beach). Tourists can swim, snorkel, and kayak around El Arco de Cabo San Lucas (the Arch of Cabo San Lucas) too.
Cabo San Lucas is known for its fantastic surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, and fishing opportunities, and visitors can go whale watching from December to April. Some beaches you may want to visit are Playa el Médano (Médano Beach), Playa Coral Negro (Black Coral Beach), and Playa Santa María (Santa María Beach).
This town is known for having more than 16 golf clubs, the most popular ones being the Cabo Del Sol Club, the Cabo Real Golf Club, and the Palmilla Golf Club. Check out some of the best shops and eateries in Plaza Puerto Paraiso shopping centre and have some fun in Wild Canyon Adventure Park. Many visitors enjoy touring the Wirikuta Botanical Cactus Garden and hiking in the Sierra de la Laguna Mountain range.
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is a fantastic holiday spot for adventurers. The heart of the town is Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue), which is home to the Paseo del Carmen shopping centre. A short walk from there is the 3D Museum of Wonders and the Portal Maya sculpture at the entrance of Parque Los Fundadores (Founding Fathers Park).
Families will love spending couple of days at the Xplor Adventure Park and the Xcaret Water Park. The top tourist beaches in Playa del Carmen are Playa Mamitas (Mamitas Beach), Playa Playacar (Playacar Beach), and Playa Punta Esmeralda (Punta Esmeralda Beach).
There are several archaeological sites not too far from Playa del Carmen, including Tulum, Chichén Itzá, Xcaret Archaeological Zone, Cobá Archaeological Zone, and Punta Laguna Archaeological Zone. If you enjoy snorkelling and scuba diving, you may want to visit the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef or one of the nearby cenotes, such as Cenote Chaak Tun, Cenote Azul, and Grand Cenote. You can also do the 40-minute drive to Playa Akumal to swim with sea turtles. Go hiking, biking, swimming, and rappelling in the Rio Secreto (Secret River) Nature Reserve.
