How Things Work in Mexico

Tip 10–15% at restaurants; also tip taxi drivers, hotel staff, and petrol station attendants.

Updated 2025-06

Mexico City Metro costs around 5 pesos; use Uber instead of street taxis for safety, and colectivos for inter-town travel.

Updated 2025-06

Good private hospitals exist in all major tourist areas; farmacias are everywhere and carry most over-the-counter medications.

Updated 2025-06

Drug possession for personal use is partially decriminalized, but firearms are strictly prohibited under any circumstances for tourists.

Updated 2025-06

Call 911 for all emergencies nationwide; dial 078 for the tourist assistance hotline.

Updated 2025-06

Dress is casual throughout Mexico, but cover shoulders and knees when entering Catholic churches and respect stricter rules in indigenous communities.

Updated 2025-06

The legal drinking age is 18; during Ley Seca (election dry law) all alcohol sales are banned, and drinking in public is illegal in Mexico City.

Updated 2025-06

Bargaining is expected and welcomed at markets, mercados, and street vendors, but never in malls, restaurants, or formal shops.

Updated 2025-06

Photography is generally free in public spaces, but never photograph indigenous ceremonies, the Chamula church interior, or military checkpoints.

Updated 2025-06

OXXO and 7-Eleven convenience stores are open 24/7 every day; government offices and banks close on public holidays.

Updated 2025-06

Use Uber or InDriver exclusively in major cities — street taxis in Mexico City and other large cities carry a serious and documented express kidnapping risk.

Updated 2025-06

Do not drink tap water anywhere in Mexico — use bottled water, hotel garrafones, or a filtered water bottle.

Updated 2025-06

Use ATMs inside bank branches to avoid skimming; always decline DCC and choose to be charged in pesos.

Updated 2025-06

Telcel has the best nationwide coverage; buy a SIM at any OXXO store, or use an Airalo eSIM before you arrive.

Updated 2025-06

Mexico uses Type A and B plugs at 127V/60Hz — identical to the USA and Canada, so North Americans need no adapter whatsoever.

Updated 2025-06

Watch out for ATM skimming, fake police demanding wallet inspection, the timeshare free-gift trap, and deliberate short-changing.

Updated 2025-06

Major tourist zones are generally safe, but several states including Sinaloa, Zacatecas, and parts of Guerrero and Michoacán carry US government Do Not Travel advisories.

Updated 2025-06

Mexicans are warm and formal; greet everyone individually, use titles respectfully, never refuse offered food, and expect flexible punctuality in social settings.

Updated 2025-06

Spanish is the dominant language; English is spoken in major tourist zones only, so Google Translate works well for everything else.

Updated 2025-06

Respect the beach flag system strictly — rip currents on the Pacific coast are deadly, while cenotes offer much calmer swimming conditions.

Updated 2025-06

Drive on the right; watch for unmarked topes (speed bumps) everywhere, and avoid driving between cities at night.

Updated 2025-06

Mexican cuisine is UNESCO-listed; street food at busy stalls is generally safe, and the menú del día offers outstanding value at around 80–100 pesos for three courses.

Updated 2025-06

Cover shoulders and knees in Catholic churches; the Basilica de Guadalupe has strict dress rules, and indigenous churches like San Juan Chamula have their own separate community laws.

Updated 2025-06

Dry season from November to April is the best time to visit; hurricane season runs June to November and particularly affects the Yucatán Peninsula and Caribbean coast.

Updated 2025-06

Eat the menú del día for 80–100 pesos, use OXXO for cheap snacks and water, always pay in pesos not USD, and use local transport.

Updated 2025-06