Mexico
Last checked:
- Capital
- Mexico City
- Currency
- MXN · Mexican peso
- Languages
- Spanish
- Plugs
- Type A, B · 127 V
Emergency numbers
Top 5 places
- Chichén Itzá · Yucatán
Major Maya city with the El Castillo pyramid; arrive early to beat heat and crowds.
- Teotihuacan · near Mexico City
Ancient city with the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, an easy day trip.
- Historic centre and Zócalo · Mexico City
Cathedral, Templo Mayor and Palacio Nacional around one of the world's largest squares.
- Tulum ruins and coast · Tulum, Quintana Roo
Maya ruins on a cliff above Caribbean beaches, with cenotes nearby.
- Oaxaca city · Oaxaca
Colonial city known for food, markets, mezcal and nearby Monte Albán.
Getting around
Ride-hailing app
Uber
Widely used in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and other cities; generally safer than hailing street taxis. In Cancún and some resort areas, local taxi unions have protested against Uber and blocked roads; airport pickups may be restricted (varies).
Ride-hailing app
DiDi / Cabify / inDrive
DiDi is often cheaper than Uber. Use in-app card payment and the ride PIN where offered to avoid fake-pickup scams.
Taxi
Authorised airport taxis
Buy a prepaid ticket from official booths inside the terminal. Elsewhere use 'sitio' taxis from a rank or ones your hotel calls, not street hails.
Public transport
Mexico City Metro and Metrobús
Very cheap with unlimited transfers inside the Metro. Use a rechargeable Mobility Integrated card or contactless payment; paper tickets are gone. Women-only cars at peak times.
Buses
ADO and other first-class buses
Comfortable long-distance buses (ADO in the Yucatán and south). ADO also runs from Cancún airport to downtown and Playa del Carmen. Book in the app or at terminals.
Bike share
Ecobici
Docked bike share in central Mexico City.
Car rental
Car rental
Useful in the Yucatán. Mandatory Mexican liability insurance is often added at the counter. Use toll roads (cuota) and watch for topes (speed bumps). Green Angels roadside help: 078.
Money and cash
Currency: MXN · Mexican peso
Cash is still important for markets, street food, small shops, colectivos and tips; cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and chains in cities and resorts. US dollars are accepted in resort areas but usually at a poor rate; pay in pesos. Use ATMs inside banks or malls in daylight, decline the ATM's own conversion rate, and carry small notes because drivers and vendors often cannot change 500-peso notes.
Tipping
Tipping (propina) is customary. In sit-down restaurants 10-15% is normal. Tips are voluntary by law: a business may not add a tip to the bill without your consent.
| Restaurants | 10-15% when service is not already included. Check the bill for 'propina incluida' or 'servicio'. |
|---|---|
| Cafés and bars | About 10% for table service, or small change at counters. |
| Taxis and ride apps | Not expected for metered or fixed-fare taxis; round up or add a little if they help with bags. |
| Hotels | Around 20-50 pesos per bag for porters and per night for housekeeping is common (varies by hotel level). |
| Tours and guides | Around 10-15% for guides and drivers on day tours. |
| Food delivery | Small tip, often 10% or 20-30 pesos, in the app or cash. |
Service charge: what’s true
Not usually included. Some tourist-area restaurants add 'propina' or 'servicio' (often 10-15%) to the bill. Mexican consumer protection rules say a tip cannot be charged without the customer's consent, so if it was added without being agreed you can ask for it to be removed. If you accept it, do not tip again.
Pressure tactics to watch for
In resort areas, card terminals or staff may suggest 15-20% or more, or quote tips in US dollars. Some bills include a tip already and still have a tip line. Say politely: '¿La propina ya está incluida?' and tip in pesos at the level you choose.
Useful phrases
- La cuenta, por favor. The bill, please.
- ¿La propina está incluida? Is the tip included?
- ¿Tiene cambio de quinientos? Do you have change for 500?
Etiquette
- Greet with 'Buenos días' or 'Buenas tardes' when entering shops and before asking for anything.
- A handshake is normal; friends often greet with a kiss on the right cheek.
- Cover shoulders and remove hats in churches.
- In restaurants, the bill is not brought until you ask for it ('La cuenta, por favor').
- Haggling is fine at markets and with street vendors, not in shops with fixed prices.
- Drink bottled or purified water, not tap water.
Scams and how to handle them
Timeshare touts at arrivals
Where: Cancún and other resort airports, tourist streets
How it works: People posing as tourist information or transport staff offer free tours or transfers to get you into high-pressure timeshare sales.
How to avoid it: Walk through the arrivals hall without stopping; pre-book transfers and ignore anyone offering 'free' gifts for a presentation.
Express kidnapping in unregistered taxis
Where: Mostly big cities
How it works: Criminals pose as taxi drivers and force passengers to withdraw cash at ATMs.
How to avoid it: Use app rides, authorised airport taxis, hotel-arranged taxis or sitio taxis from ranks. Do not hail street taxis at night.
Gas station tricks
Where: Pemex and other stations nationwide
How it works: The attendant starts pumping without zeroing the pump, swipes a card twice, or swaps your note for a smaller one and says you underpaid.
How to avoid it: Check the pump shows zero, keep the card in sight, and say the note value aloud as you hand it over.
Fake police and fines
Where: Roadside and tourist areas
How it works: People posing as police, or corrupt officers, demand on-the-spot cash 'fines'.
How to avoid it: Do not hand over money or your passport. Ask for ID, the badge and car number, and a written fine to pay at the station.
Virtual kidnapping calls
Where: Phone, often targeting hotel guests
How it works: Callers claim to have kidnapped a relative or say you are in danger and must move hotels and stay off the phone, then demand ransom from family.
How to avoid it: Hang up and contact the person directly. Do not share travel details with callers.
ATM and card skimming
Where: Street ATMs, especially in tourist zones
How it works: Skimmers copy cards, and some ATMs offer a poor conversion rate.
How to avoid it: Use bank ATMs inside branches or malls, decline the ATM's conversion, and cover your PIN.
Ride-hailing no-show with charge
Where: Mexico City and other cities
How it works: The driver marks the ride as started or complete without picking you up, and your card is charged.
How to avoid it: Enable the ride PIN, check the plate before entering, and dispute charges in the app.
Safety
- Check your government's state-by-state advice; risk levels vary greatly across Mexico.
- Crime affects resort areas too (Cancún, Tulum, Playa del Carmen). Stay in well-reviewed places and keep to busy areas at night.
- Do not leave drinks unattended. Methanol-tainted alcohol has caused deaths; avoid very cheap spirits and unlabelled bottles.
- Pickpockets are common on the Mexico City Metro and in crowds; keep phones in front pockets.
- Withdraw cash in daylight from ATMs inside banks or malls.
- Swim only at beaches with lifeguards and observe flag warnings.
How widely English is spoken
Common in Cancún, Riviera Maya, Los Cabos and other resort areas and in upscale places in big cities; limited elsewhere. Basic Spanish helps a lot outside tourist zones.
Sources
- GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Mexico, safety and security
- Wikivoyage: Mexico City
- Wikivoyage: Cancún
- Wikivoyage: Driving in Mexico
- Wikivoyage: Mexico
- Wikipedia: List of tipping customs by country
We check these guides against official and well-known sources, but rules and prices change. Spot something out of date? Email support@tourits.app.