MEXICO: 6 Tips before leaving
To give a little bit of context, I have been exploring the region of Quintana Roo but what I'm about to tell you will surely become handy if you are about to visit the most touristic parts of the country!
1 - Money money money 💸
In Mexico, they use MXN Mexican pesos. In some of the most touristic places they accept USD but trust me, having the local currency will be more useful!
Take some cash with you because not every place accepts credit cards and this way, you will avoid fees. You will need it to pay for taxis, souvenirs and food in some places. 🌮
I would recommend making the change in your own country ahead of your trip. For a week, I would recommend to change easily 150-200 CAD.
2 - Taxi! 🚕
For short distances, taxis are the best way to travel but remember to always ALWAYS negotiate prices before the engine is turned on. This is a beginner's mistake, once you've done it, you won't do it again trust me!
If you know you will need a taxi for different occasions, you can ask the phone number of your taxi. They use WhatsApp and the number will usually connect you to the taxi company and you will be able to call them any time you need. 📞
In bigger cities you will find Uber. It can be better sometimes for instance in Cancun, at the main bus station, the taxis are twice more expensive with "fixed" rates (impossible to negotiate). But in the rest of the region you can safely use the local taxis!
3 - Travelling by bus 🚌
Travelling in a new country can sometimes be scary. I've heard many stories about people renting cars and having to bribe the police to go through. Since I really wanted to avoid this anxiety, I've looked into it and discovered you can easily travel by bus to the most touristic places across the country with the company ADO bus.
It is safe, clean and very comfy! It's an easy and cheap way to travel around. You can either buy your tickets online or directly at the bus station (check on maps).
4 - Stay hydrated! 🌊
First of all, in Mexico, it is HOT! So staying hydrated is super duper important. Any time you have the occasion, buy yourself a bottle of water but DO NOT DRINK THE TAP WATER (your stomach might not survive it).
Do not hesitate to buy drinks with electrolytes in it, it will help you to stay hydrated and there are many different flavours and brands to try! 🥤
Even though you cannot drink the tap water, you should definitely take a reusable bottle as plastic bottles are banned in some touristic places for instance in Tulum Ruins.
5 - Sunny, burny, hotty 🌞
The UV indicator can get quite high in Mexico. Protecting your skin will be your priority!
Since most of the touristic places are protected and sunscreen is not allowed, it could be an awesome idea to buy an anti UV tee shirt. For instance, if you are planning on going to Bacalar and spend the day in the lagoon, you should definitely consider it as you are not allowed to use any type of sunscreen to protect the fragile nature. 🐠
For other locations in Mexico, better take only reef safe sunscreen to protect the beautiful nature.
Just to be safe, you might want to take an after sun to keep your skin hydrated too!
6 - Pharmacy 🏥
This tip can apply to most of your trips: have a little pharmacy with you.
It is always a good idea to have some medicines with you just in case. Some medicine you can think of are for the stomach, for instance, if you eat food you are not used to.
Vale! Ahora, you are ready to go!
Here is the best one week itinerary to explore Quintana Roo and avoid the crowds
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