Practical information Mexico

No, French, Belgian, Swiss, and Canadian nationals do not need a visa for a tourist stay of up to 180 days. Upon arrival at an international airport (Mexico City, Cancún, Guadalajara, Monterrey), a migration officer will stamp your passport and give you an FMM form (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) that you must keep carefully until your return: losing it will result in a fine of approximately 30 euros when leaving the country. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your scheduled return date. Since 2023, some airports have replaced the physical stamp with digital registration, but the 180-day rule remains the same. No fees to pay upon arrival.

No vaccines are mandatory to enter Mexico from Europe. We recommend being up to date on DTP (diphtheria-tetanus-poliomyelitis), hepatitis A and B, and typhoid if you plan to eat in rural markets. For stays in humid tropical areas (Chiapas jungle around Palenque, Huasteca Potosina, certain areas of the Yucatán during the rainy season), a light antimalarial treatment can be discussed with your doctor, and mosquito prevention remains essential against dengue, present year-round. Yellow fever vaccination is only required if you are arriving from a risk country (Peru, Colombia, Brazil). Consult an international vaccination center 4 to 6 weeks before departure.

Excluding international flights (€700 to €1,100 from Europe depending on season), budget €80 to €130 per day and per person for a trip with charming accommodation, local restaurants and guided activities. In detail: a night in a boutique hotel costs around €70 to €120 for a double room, a meal in a good restaurant between €15 and €25 per person, a street taco around €1, entry to Chichén Itzá €30, a domestic flight Mexico-Oaxaca approximately €100. For a luxury trip (haciendas, private chefs, transfers in private vehicle), budget rather €200 to €350 per day and per person. Tips (10 to 15% at restaurants, 50 pesos per day for a guide) are to be added.

The dry season, from November to April, remains ideal for most regions: pleasant temperatures on the central plateau (15 to 25°C), clear skies in the Yucatán and Baja California. December, January and Holy Week are the busiest periods, with higher hotel rates. May is very hot everywhere, June to October corresponds to the rainy season (generally brief afternoon showers) with a cyclonic risk over the Yucatán and Pacific coast in September. For grey whales in Baja California, aim for January to March. For Day of the Dead, early November in Oaxaca or Pátzcuaro. For the Guelaguetza in Oaxaca, late July.

Mexico is vast (3 times the size of France) and we systematically combine multiple modes of transport. Domestic flights (Aeromexico, Volaris, Viva Aerobus) often remain cost-effective on Mexico-Oaxaca, Mexico-Mérida or Mexico-La Paz routes, with tickets between €80 and €150 if booked in advance. For journeys under 6 hours, ADO and ETN Turistar coaches are excellent quality (reclining seats, air conditioning, punctuality). Car rental is mainly justified in the Yucatán, where roads are good and driving is relaxed, much less so elsewhere. In cities, we prefer Uber (secure and affordable) over street taxis. Our team arranges private transfers on all strategic segments.

Mexico remains safe for travelers who stick to classic tourist circuits (Yucatán, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Chiapas, colonial heartland, Baja California), where we have operated for years without major incidents. Certain northern states and Pacific coast areas (Tamaulipas, Sinaloa, Michoacán, Guerrero outside Acapulco-Zihuatanejo) are advised against by the French Foreign Office due to drug trafficking activities, and we systematically avoid these zones in our itineraries. Standard precautions apply: no display of jewelry or camera equipment, cash withdrawals during daytime at banks, taxis via Uber rather than hailing on the street, watch out for pickpockets in Mexico City's metro. Kim and our team remain available 24/7 throughout your trip.