Mexico

Mexico is so close to America but so different, exotic, and unique. It has a vibrant and beautiful culture with rich and diverse natural areas. Visitors can choose between staying in hotel zones and all-inclusive resorts or venturing out into the countryside; we think you should try both.

Mexico’s resort scene holds its ground on a worldwide stage, but there are secret spaces and smiling faces down a thousand dusty roads for intrepid travelers willing to try something new. So join us as we explore the beauty of Mexico and discover all she has to offer.

Table of Contents

$-$$$
Language(s)

Spanish

Currency

Peso

Exercise Increased Caution
Summer Winter
Tijuana 79 49
Mexico City 80 43
Cancun 90 67
Outlets
Type-A
Type-B

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Mexico is during the dry season between December and April, when there is virtually no rain. The coolest months are between December and February, although temperatures can still reach averages of 82°F during the dry season. The wet season begins in the south in May and lasts until October.

  • Wet Season: May – October
  • Dry Season: October – April

Fun Facts

  • Mexico has 10-12% of the world’s biodiversity, making it the fourth most biodiverse country in the world
  • Chocolate originated in Mexico, where the Aztecs and Mayans first cultivated the cacao plant thousands of years ago
  • Mexico is known for its beautiful cenotes—natural pits or water-filled caves that are popular swimming spots for tourists
  • Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday that celebrates the dead. Before colonization, it was celebrated in the summer, but now it falls around the same time as Halloween
  • The Great Pyramid of Cholula in Cholula, Mexico is the largest pyramid in the world— it’s even larger than the pyramids of Giza

Bucket-List Activities

Natural Wonders

Major Attractions

  • Metropolitan Cathedral (Mexico City)
  • Copper Canyons (Los Mochis)
  • Tulum (Yucatán Peninsula)
  • The Day of the Dead (Oaxaca)
  • Chichen Itza (Yucatán)

Native Foods

  • Chilaquiles (fried tortilla strips with spicy tomato sauce)
  • Pozole (traditional soup)
  • Tacos al pastor (pork tacos slow-cooked in pineapple juice)
  • Tostadas (flat taco)
  • Chiles en nogada (stuffed poblano chiles)
  • Elote (street corn with cofija, chile power, & lime juice)
  • Enchiladas (tortilla stuffed and smothered with savory sauce)

General Travel Tips

Local Culture - Understanding Cultural Differences

  • General note – It’s sometimes hard to get change for tipping so it’s good to build up a stash. 20 peso notes are good for tipping and approximately equal to one dollar
  • Eating and drinking out – Waiters working at restaurants and bars should always be tipped for good service, usually 10%-15%
  • Taxi drivers / Shared ride services – It’s customary to tip by rounding your bill up to the nearest 10 peso
  • Hotel stays – Tip your cleaning ladies $1-$5 daily (20-100 peso). Tip your bellhops $1/bag (20 peso)

Common Phrases

  • Hola – Hello
  • Adios – Good Bye
  • ¡Mucho gusto! –  Nice to meet you!
  • Estoy bien, gracias –  I’m fine, thank you
  • Estoy enfermo/a – I am sick
  • ¿Me puede ayudar? –  Can you help me?
  • ¿Cómo llego a ______ [Hotel]?  – How do I get to ______ [Hotel]?
  • Mexico City / Mexico City International Airport (MEX ✈✈✈✈) – The nation’s capital and major domestic hub
  • Cancún / Cancún International Airport(CUN ✈✈✈✈) – Tourist city in the Yucatan Peninsula
  • Guadalajara / Guadalajara International Airport (GDL ✈✈✈✈) – Capital city of Jalisco in western Mexico
  • Tijuana / Tijuana International Airport TIJ ✈✈✈✈) – If you’re in Southern California, look to fly out of Tijuana to travel in Mexico. You park in the US and cross the border into the airport.
  • Monterrey / Monterrey International Airport (MTY ✈✈✈✈) – Capital of the north eastern state of Nuevo Leon
  • Los Cabos / Los Cabos International Airport SJD ✈✈✈✈) – The very tip of Baja California
  • Puerto Vallarta / Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR ✈✈✈✈) – a Jalisco resort town on the Pacific coast
  • Guanajuato / Del Bajío International Airport (BJX ✈✈✈✈) – a mining city / state in central Mexico
  • Mérida / Mérida International Airport (MID ✈✈✈✈) – The capital and largest city in Yucatán
  • Chihuahua  / Chihuahua International Airport (CUU ✈✈✈) – Capital of Chihuahua and gateway to Copper Canyon
  • Chiapas / Tuxtla Gutiérrez International Airport (TGZ ✈✈✈) – Gateway to San Cristóbal de las Casas
  • Mazatlán  / Mazatlán International Airport (MZT ✈✈✈) – A seaside city on the Pacific Coast in Sinaloa
  • Veracruz  / Veracruz International Airport (VER ✈✈✈) – A seaside city on the Gulf on Mexico, capital of Veracruz
  • Villahermosa  / Villahermosa International Airport (VSA ✈✈✈) – Capital city of Tabasco in Southeast Mexico
  • Morelia / Morelia International Airport MLM (✈✈✈) – Capital city of  Michoacán in Southwestern Mexico
  • Oaxaca / Oaxaca International Airport (OAX ✈✈✈) – Capital city of Oaxaca in Southwestern Mexico
  • La Paz / La Paz International Airport (LAP ✈✈✈) – A beautiful bay near the the tip of the Baja
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Meet Ed & Jenn

Hi! We are Jenn and Ed Coleman, and together we are Coleman Concierge. It is our goal to inspire you to get out, expand your world, and to seek adventure, even in your own backyard.

We deeply believe in the transformational power of travel. Our tagline is amazing adventures for ordinary people because we believe that you don’t have to be super rich, super fit or super anything to have an amazing adventure. Expanding your comfort zone and trying new things will pay huge dividends in both health and happiness.

We advocate for sustainable and ethical travel and truly believe in the power of travel to transform both ourselves as well as the world around us.

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