{"id":4487,"date":"2024-12-17T16:25:28","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T15:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conmochila.com\/en\/?page_id=4487"},"modified":"2025-11-07T12:42:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T11:42:51","slug":"mexico-travel-guide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.conmochila.com\/en\/mexico-travel-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Mexico"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
How to encompass a country with four time zones, 32 states, 127 million inhabitants, three Sierra Madre mountains, two oceans, 11,000 kilometers of coastline, 3,152 kilometers of border with its northern neighbor, 39 native languages \u200b\u200band a dizzying ethnic landscape and gastronomic diversity?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mexico<\/strong> overwhelms you with all five or six senses, it is visceral in its attraction, in its colors, its smells and flavors, its sounds, its traditions and, above all, in its diversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Caribbean and Pacific beaches, coral reefs, humid jungles and rugged deserts, high mountains and active snow-capped volcanoes, ancient cultures such as the Olmec, Mayan, Mixtec, Aztec and Tarahumara that left their archaeological legacy and impressive pyramids, beautiful cities inherited from the viceregal period, artistic movements of vehement intensity and color and that identity-based food that floods squares and markets and delights all travelers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let’s grab our backpacks and devour inch by inch and plate by plate, to the beat of good cumbias and the warmth and color of its festivals, one of the most authentic destinations on the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I propose dividing this great trip into three areas (Caribbean and South; Central and the Gulf; North and Pacific)<\/strong> in order to have a certain geographical grasp that allows us to organize ourselves better, although we must keep in mind that internal flights are generally very cheap and there are so many connections that it is very easy to put together a trip on demand that allows us to see the most interesting parts of each of these three areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, we will pepper this guide with social and cultural references from the Mexican idiosyncrasy itself that will transversally connect all areas of the country and help us better understand its diversity but also the homogeneity in the behavior of its people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have been traveling around this southern North American country for a year, and there has not been a week in which I have not spent a few hours collecting my travel notes so that I can now share them with you. I hope I have not left behind any of those corners that a traveler never wants to miss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are a European citizen, you do not need a visa to enter Mexico for tourist purposes, only a passport with at least 6 months of validity and you will have up to 180 free days in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have permanent residence (regardless of your nationality) in one of the countries of the Schengen area of \u200b\u200bthe European Union, in one of the member countries of the Pacific Alliance, or in the United States of America, Canada, Japan or the United Kingdom, you do not need a visa either. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To fly cheaply from Europe to Mexico you have to go to Cancun<\/strong>, which, being the entrance to the most touristic part of the country, has many connections and companies, which means there is tough competition between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are several Spanish companies linked to large tour operators and hotel groups that operate several flights a week and are the most competitive because they use their planes for clients from their all-inclusive hotels, but as they do not usually fill them completely, many seats come onto the market at very affordable prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, we will always have the option of traditional airlines that fly from Spain, but it is also worth looking at connections from other European countries, which are sometimes convenient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You wouldn’t be the first to take a flight from Madrid or Barcelona to Copenhagen or another European capital, make a two-hour stop, and fly direct to Cancun for a cheaper price than going directly from Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A round trip to Cancun can cost from 650 (cheap price) to 900 euros.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And in low or mid-season we can also find AeroM\u00e9xico offers to the capital and also to Monterrey, the third largest airport in the country, in case our trip takes us to destinations beyond the Riviera Maya and the Yucatan Peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It goes without saying how important it is to travel to Mexico with a good insurance. We were the first ones to offer the famous 5% discount on IATI Insurance, but you also have it available with Heymondo Travel Insurance<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Follow the links bellow to get a discount on their website:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best time to go to Mexico<\/strong> will depend on the areas we choose to visit, because if we look at the map of North America we will see how almost unmanageable it is, with its 11,000 linear kilometers of coastline and its 32 states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mexico is in the Northern Hemisphere and has summers and winters (more or less harsh) in the center and north, but it is also a hot country in general terms, with a semi-desert climate in the Altiplano, tropical in its wide Caribbean zone, the Gulf of Mexico is also eminently warm and the central Pacific bathes with its waters (also warm here) more than ten states in the south and west. And it is also located in a hurricane zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the following link you have detailed information about the best time to go to Mexico<\/strong>. (coming soon)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nowadays, finding hotels, guesthouses, or restaurants in Mexico with free Wi-Fi is the usual trend, although there are also those who wish (or need) to have continuous internet connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To help with that, we\u2019ll tell you how to get a Mexico eSIM<\/a><\/strong> and make the most of their affordable prices. And now, we also provide information about Mexico’s eSIM with unlimited data<\/strong>. If you want to get one directly, use the following link (with a discount):<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are going to visit this popular country, you should know that Mexico’s currency<\/strong> is the Mexican Peso (MXN)<\/strong>, and you can find it in bills and coins. Its history is extensive and dates back to the colonial era, when the first Mexican coins were minted in 1535 during the rule of the Spanish Empire.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n We begin by devouring the Yucatan Peninsula<\/strong>, one of the warmest and most beautiful areas of Mexico. We take a nice dip in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, preferably at Linda, Chac Mool or Caracol beaches, and leave Cancun on the way to Valladolid, a beautiful and silent colonial city in the middle of the state on the way to Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1.<\/p>\n\n\n These are the most touristic Mayan pyramids due to their proximity to Cancun. They are very well preserved but also very crowded, just like those of Teotihuacan, which are close to Mexico City and among the most visited. If you have little time, half a day in Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1 and the evening in Valladolid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Far from the hustle and bustle of the Riviera Maya, this island in the north of the state of Yucatan is quiet and has been selling its friendly vibe for almost everything for years. Ideal for spending a couple of days walking along its unpaved streets, eating a variety of foods, enjoying its beaches and crystal-clear waters (Punta Mosquito and Cayo Coco) and, if you dare, kite surfing.<\/p>\n\n\n Back on the mainland (Chiquil\u00e1), be sure to visit El Cuyo<\/strong>, a wonderful little town with dream beaches. The next day you can take an excursion to the R\u00edo Lagartos Biosphere Reserve<\/strong>, with its colonies of flamingos and its great biodiversity among mangroves, and from there to the town of Las Coloradas and its pink lagoons<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the vibrant capital of the state of Yucatan, colonial and Mayan heritage collide in a lively nightlife, varied cuisine and wide cultural offering. We can get there by bus (ADO company), by minivan, and of course by private vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its historic center and colonial buildings are spectacular, as are its squares, parks and promenades. It is not in vain that it is one of the most desired cities for Mexicans to live in, due to its beauty, tranquility and security.<\/p>\n\n\n From Merida we can enjoy the Puuc Route<\/strong>, a tour of the Mayan archaeological sites south of the Yucatecan capital, which will take us to visit sites such as Uxmal<\/strong>, Kabah<\/strong> or Labna<\/strong>, and some hidden cenotes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The least known state of the Yucatan Peninsula<\/strong>. Its capital, of the same name, has a beautiful center of colonial architecture, its port character has declined, but, if we head south, very close to the border with Guatemala, we find one of the most authentic and impressive pre-Hispanic Mayan sites in all of Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n Calakmul<\/strong> was, along with Tikal (Guatemala) and Palenque (Chiapas), one of the great centres of Mayan power, and this can be seen in its wonderful pyramids and other architectural structures. There is so much to discover and it is so far from the tourist circuits that it is well worth a stop, especially if you are going along the southern slope of the Riviera Maya on the way to Chiapas and Oaxaca.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Near Chetumal, the capital of the state of Quintana Roo, we have a mandatory stop in Bacalar<\/strong>, a small town full of charm whose main attraction is its exotic lagoon, with crystal-clear waters that, with the effect of the sun, can reach, they say, up to seven colors. It\u2019s surrounded by mangroves<\/strong>, where there are also crocodiles<\/strong>, and several cenotes<\/strong> (Azul, de la Bruja\u2026).<\/p>\n\n\n It is home to the elusive stromatolites (microorganisms that mark the first glimpses of life on Earth and adhere in the form of rock) that are seen in only four or five places in the world. The ideal is to spend several days enjoying a boat trip on the lagoon, paddle surfing, diving in its cenotes and eating in the town’s modern and traditional restaurants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A must-see for lovers of diving and seafood, this town on the Riviera Maya is so far south that few people visit it, although cruise ships have recently stopped by.<\/p>\n\n\n Another lost spot that deserves a two-day excursion is the jungle and coral Punta Allen (Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve)<\/strong>, which is reached by a complicated road that runs parallel to the Mesoamerican barrier reef. There is no asphalt and almost no Wi-Fi, but there are amazing corals to enjoy using snorkeling goggles. And you can dine on a delicious, but warm-water, local lobster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We arrived at what was once a town but is no longer one. Now it is a tourist center full of boutique hotels, hostels for backpackers, Mexican and international food restaurants and lots of nightlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it also offers spectacular beaches and jungle trails for cycling or motorbike tours. And its Mayan ruins<\/strong>, some of the most beautiful in the country, are located right on the seafront.<\/p>\n\n\n![]()
BEFORE YOU GO<\/h2>
BEFORE YOU GO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Author’s Notes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Visa to Travel to Mexico<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Flights to Mexico<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Travel Insurance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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When to Go to Mexico<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Travel SIM Card for Mexico<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Mexican Currency (Peso)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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CARIBBEAN AND THE SOUTH<\/h2>
CARIBBEAN AND THE SOUTH<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Yucatan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Holbox<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Merida<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Campeche<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bacalar Lagoon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mahahual<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tulum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n