Do I need a visa, where do I change my money, do I have dollars, do I get a lot of rain, do I tip in restaurants, do I need vaccinations? All the practical information you need for your trip to the Mayan lands in Mexico today. 


As usual in this blog, we are going to focus on the areas of the ancient Mayan territory in the Mexico current. The three states that form the Yucatan Peninsula, Quintana Roo (where the Riviera Maya), Campeche y Yucatan, and the state of Chiapas.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS TO TRAVEL TO MEXICO:

routes_mayas

VISAS FOR MEXICO: 

Nationalities such as Spaniards, Argentines, Colombians, Peruvians, Brazilians, Chileans No. They need a visa.

Check if your nationality requires a visa in these links:

  • List of countries which they do not need a visa to enter Mexico: click here
  • List of countries which yes they need a visa to enter Mexico: click here.

If you make a stopover in the United States, keep in mind the law that came into force in 12 in January of the 2009 and requires a new procedure to enter, the ESTA. The authorization is processed online (click here for the ESTA).

If you make a stop in Canada you should also have the eTA, you can transact here online.

VACCINES FOR MEXICO:

Are not necessary.

Practical data for traveling to Mexico 1


TIPS FOR CHANGING MONEY IN MEXICO, WHAT IS BEST FOR THE TRAVELER?

Mexico

LOCAL CURRENCY IN MEXICO:

la currency local is the Mexican peso, which you should use on the street. In rural Try to carry small currency, 500 pesos bills (about 35 dollars) cost to change them, not to say that it is impossible, even those of 200 pesos. 

The dollar, and behind the euro, are the most accepted currency in tourist areas such as Riviera Maya, where you will have no problem paying for excursions in dollars, euros, card. I repeat, in Riviera Maya you have all the payment facilities you want, it is a very comfortable tourist center, they know how to make life easier for visitors, and more in terms of payment.

HOW MUCH MEXICAN PESOS GIVE YOU FOR 1 EURO OR YOUR NATIONAL CURRENCY?

Here you have a good currency converter so that it is easier for you to calculate and plan your trip: http://www.xe.com/ucc/es/ (The Mexican peso is MXN). As app you find it as XE Currency, very good.

WHERE TO CHANGE MONEY IN MEXICO?

El currency exchange Mexican peso can be made in benches, riding a change houses and in hotels. The change houses They usually offer a better exchange rate than hotels and banks.

If you take travel cards change them in a bank. In the international airports There are exchange houses with higher commissions, there are also ATMs.

PULL MONEY IN AUTOMATIC ATMs:

You can take money out of ATMs (ATM). There are ATMs in all large towns, and now in many small towns as well. You will pay the commission between banks, which varies between banks. It is advisable when withdrawing money from the ATM, to make a high amount, since the commissions go for withdrawal, not for amount withdrawn.

CARRY CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD:

All the t They are accepted in most businesses. American Express is not accepted in many establishments. For those who go to renting a car will be essential a credit card. Take your Debit, You can also withdraw from ATMs and pay with it, although sometimes they do not accept it.

What is better to pay by card abroad or withdraw from the ATM?

In the end, all money operations abroad will entail commissions. My advice is don't go crazy over this. As you will surely start your trip in a big city like Cancun, Mérida or San Cristóbal, find an exchange house and take the opportunity to have local currency cash.

During the trip you have the options of getting out of the ATMs, paying by card or changing more money.

HOW TIPS WORK IN MEXICO:

At Lóleo Eventos, Riviera Maya (Quintana Roo) is established between a 10%, 15% or 20% tip in services, according to your criteria. It is not mandatory by law, but we all really leave tips in services, only if the service has been disastrous is not done. The issue is that most of waiters (waiters) work for the tip, barely without pay, so it is important for them.

That the system may like it more or less is another story, but the one who attends you lives on the tip. EYE: Take a good look at your account in case the tip already includes it in the final account. It is something that many restaurants They do, they go over ready and they charge double the tip if you do not notice.

Riviera Maya, being a very tourist area, there are many who expect to tip "by custom", whether or not it is typified, and this may be a bit disconcerting. I personally tip according to the service received. On the excursions the guide is tipped at the end of the day, which is shared with the driver. Canadians and Americans (two countries more culturally accustomed to the tip) tend to pair between 15 and 20 dollars, while the European gives between 5 and 10 euros.

At rest of the Yucatan Peninsula and Chiapas, in services there is usually Tip of the 10%. In cheap restaurants and in areas further away from tourism do not expect tips.

As data provided by Skyscanner where it places the Spanish as the least generous.

 RACE IN MEXICO:

Mexico
  • MARKETS: across Street markets of souvenirs where they do not mark the price, the price they give you first is high, sometimes twice. You can bargain calmly, according to your skills you will get better price. I'm not very good, so I can not advise you much. Some stores move with fixed prices, you can take some reference before.
  • HOTELS: if you are going to be several days in a hotels or it's low season, you can also bargain prices.
  • EXCURSIONS: there are excursions with travel agency that you can try to get a price, sometimes it works. If you make more than one excursion with the same agency, it is easy to get a rebate.
  • TAXISTS: You can also bargain with the taxi drivers the prices of some trips.

CALL BY TELEPHONE IN MEXICO:

We write the information of call from Mexico to facilitate the subject.

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS IN THE PENINSULA AND CHIAPAS:

All states have international airports, the two most important entrances being that of Cancun in the Yucatan Peninsula Tuxla Gutiérrez (San Cristóbal de las Casas) en Chiapas.

Other international airports are Mérida, Cozumel, Campeche y Chetumal in the Yucatan Peninsula, and that of Villahermosa in the state of Tabasco. Some companies stop in DF.

LAND BORDERS OF MEXICO WITH BELIZE AND GUATEMALA:

Practical data for traveling to Mexico 2

Mexico limits in the south of its territotio with Belize y Guatemala.

For to cross from Mexico to Guatemala, you must do it for Chiapas:

Alternatively move from Mexico to Belize and enter Guatemala from Belize.

There are very cool routes through these Mayan worlds, crossing borders either by boat, by rental car or on foot. The Mayan civilization does not understand borders.

TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION TO TRAVEL IN MEXICO:

tricitaxi transports yucatan
  • BUS: the main company of trucks (buses) that operate the southern part of Mexico is ADO. It has different kinds of buses, Platinum is the best, they operate well and are comfortable. You can book in your web site. The important cities of the Yucatan Peninsula and Chiapas are all included in their routes. There are other companies with smaller fleets.
  • COLLECTIVES: that collectives, collective taxis, combi or vans (vans) are very common to move around smaller towns.
  • CAB: if the taxi It is not metered, ask the cost of the journey before going up. It is not customary to tip the taxi driver. In small towns it is usual to travel by mototaxi, a peculiar three-wheeled transport in the Yucatan Peninsula.
  • RENT CAR: It is a great way to travel the Yucatan Peninsula by car. Safe, good roads and many corners where to stop that public transport does not arrive. Remember that you will need your credit card to rent a car. Chiapas you can too travel by car by road.

TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION AND PRICES IN MEXICO:

hotel_mexico
  • TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION en Yucatan Peninsula y Chiapas They are used to receiving tourism, so you will find all kinds of accommodation: hostels, hostels, cabins, hotels, resorts, house rentals…. In rural tourist areas there are usually cooperatives running lodgings, in Chiapas it is very common. In the Yucatan Peninsula, Mayan communities are beginning to emerge with lodging in cabins, what they call rural tourism.
  • TYPES OF ROOM: single (1 bed), marriage (1 bed for two people), double (2 double beds where up to 4 people can sleep). The price of fourth (room) varies as you want with fan (fan) or climate (air conditioner). The controls (TV or air controls) you must return them to the exit, many times you must leave deposit for them.
  • Prices: or economic sector. from 200 to 500 pesos, planet from 500 to 2000 weights and high what you want to pay. Some hotels offer breakfast included, look at this option. Double rooms, up to 4 people, are used by families and friends to share expenses.

Riviera Maya is the most expensive area, but travelers can move aside from high tourist prices.

LANGUAGES IN PENINSULA OF YUCATÁN AND CHIAPAS:

The area is spoken Spanish y Mayan languages as the Yucatec, the Chol or the Tzetzal. At the traveler level you can speak spanish everywhere, except in some Mayan area that you will find people who do not speak Spanish.

In tourist areas, especially on the Caribbean coast, they speak English.

CLIMATE IN THE YUCATÁN AND CHIAPAS PENINSULA:

time_cancun
  • PENINSULA YUCATÁN: we have an average of 26º. We divide the year in dry season (November to April) and rainy (May to October). The region is warm-sub-humid with rains in summer. The terrain presents a precipitation gradient that increases from northwest to southeast, which is reflected in the vegetation, from arid zones in the northwest, through low and medium forests, to high forests in the south, near Chiapas.
  • CHIAPAS: The average annual temperature in the Altos de Chiapas is 18 ° C. The northern region of the state has rainfall throughout the year, in the rest of the territory, rains in summer. More than half of its territory, 54%, presents humid warm climate, 40% subhumid warm climate, 3% humid temperate and the remaining 3% has temperate subhumid climate.

RAINS: the Rain They tend to fall precipitously and condensed, you will see heavy showers of rain during the rainy season. A good raincoat, or the local mode without an umbrella or anything, you shelter where you can and continue when the rain. Umbrellas almost use them more to cover the sun than to rain in this area of ​​Mexico. You can see spectacular storms, some are impressive. The rains are usually in the afternoon.

HOT: that is the great complaint of the traveler who comes to these lands. Between the humidity and the high temperatures from May to October, people sweat the fat drop here. Remember that from December to March are the best months to visit the Yucatán Peninsula and Chiapas. More cool and less rain.

HURRICANES: the time of Hurricanes is June to November. These natural phenomena are anticipated before they reach the coast, so if you have the bad luck to live a hurricane, follow the security protocol wherever you are. The population knows how to act, follow security protocols.

As nobody escapes the evidence that the weather varies and is not accurate, here is a website to follow the weather and better plan your trip: http://www.wunderground.com/

GENERAL TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO MEXICO: 

Take with you one photocopy of your passport separated from the original passport. In case of loss or theft, the photocopy or digital copy that you can save in dropbox or any storage that you use, saves you from bureaucratic procedures. Protect your documents in sealed bags in case they get wet or go to places of humidity.

For this type of climate we give some advice from what to bring to your trip for these Mayan lands. Are you ready? Well, only the best remains, enjoy the trip.

Good way,

Travel hacks
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Sandra Salvadó Training photographer, traveler by vocation and certified tourism guide by the Government of Mexico. We promote natural wonders and contemporary Mayan culture. Great fan of pre-Hispanic history. Author of the blog and co-founder of The Shortest Path Travel, agency that guides you through alternative paths in Mayan lands. Social and sustainable tourism in the Yucatan Peninsula and Chiapas.
I am at your disposal for whatever you need. Let's talk.

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