Mexico tours & holidays
A truly flavour-filled country
Come for the colourful festivals, palm-fringed beaches and buzzing metropolitan cities. Stay for the rich cultural heritage, the warmth of the locals and, of course, the food. Whether you're sampling seafood and salsas in the Yucatan, enjoying a traditional mole in Oaxaca or grabbing a street cart churro in Mexico City, the local flavours will stay with you long after you've said adios.
Get to know Mexico
Adios inbox, hola adventure
Tight on time but craving an adventure? Our Short Breaks are ideal for those who are looking for a quick escape but don't want to sacrifice any of Mexico's flavour and charm.
Explore Short BreaksMexico at a glance
CAPITAL CITY
Mexico City (population 9.2 million)
POPULATION
131 million
CURRENCY
MXN
LANGUAGE
Spanish
TIME ZONE
(GMT-06:00) Guadalajara, Mexico City
CALLING CODE
+52
ELECTRICITY
Type A (North American/Japanese 2-pin) Type B (American 3-pin)
Learn more about Mexico
Best time to visit Mexico
Mexico is generally most pleasant between September and June. July and August can be very hot and humid but perfect for swimming, snorkelling and lazing on the beach. Winter months tend to be a busy time for travel because of North American school holidays.
Read more about the best time to visit Mexico
Mexico is made up of seven main climate regions, ranging from arid deserts in the north/central to tropical climates, such as the Yucatan Peninsula in the southeast. Highland areas such as Chiapas and Oaxaca tend to be cooler year-round, with cold nights.
History and culture
People have been living in Mexico for more than 13,000 years. Mesoamericans occupied the area early on, and a variety of cultures contributed to the region's early history. The Olmec, Toltec, Maya, Teotihuacan and Aztecs all brought unique religious and artistic styles to the region. The Mayan and Aztec Empires had the greatest (and most enduring) impact on the region.
Many ancient ruins and constructions from these periods are still standing throughout Mexico and can be visited and viewed today.
Mexico lays claim to one of the richest and most historic cultures in the world. Characterised by their strong regional identity, locals are affiliated directly with the region they hail from, with each region having its own unique customs, cuisine and even dialect.
Despite this, national identity is still strong, with all Mexicans sharing common bonds over their love of sport, dance, food and religion.
A predominantly Roman Catholic country, religious festivals and celebrations are plentiful in Mexico. Parades, street fairs, and parties held in honour of local saints are commonplace.
Eating and drinking
One of Mexico's biggest drawcards is its food and drink. From Oaxaca's Indigenous staples to the sizzling street food of Mexico City, there's almost too much choice for the hungry traveller. By the end of your Mexico tour, you'll know your tacos from your tamales, your enchiladas from your elote and your tequila from your mezcal.
Geography and environment
Mexico shares land borders with the United States, Belize and Guatemala, and has an extensive coastline that runs along the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
Featuring a wide variety of natural environments, Mexico is home to tracts of tropical rainforests, vast areas of low-lying plains and deserts, volcanic mountains and temperate beaches and lagoons.
Mexico's capital and major cities are typically built up, busy and lively – with a vast network of public transport, highways and roads. Rural areas, on the other hand, are distinctly less developed, with small-scale housing, unsealed roads and rustic farms.
Top places to visit in Mexico
1. Tulum
This coastal town is well-known for its incredible cliff-top Mayan temple ruins with expansive ocean views. But outside of architectural wonders, Tulum also has quite a few natural wonders. Spend some time exploring Tulum's numerous cenotes and caves for unforgettable snorkelling and diving.
2. Oaxaca
Numerous significant architectural sites, baroque churches and impressive cultural displays may have landed Oaxaca the badge of Unesco World Heritage Site, but in recent years, the city has gained notoriety as a culinary destination. Make sure to try regional specialties like tlayudas, mole and mezcal.
3. San Cristobal
Set in a valley surrounded by pine forests, San Cristóbal de las Casas has a bright yellow cathedral, pastel houses and buildings draped in deep pink bougainvillea, making it one of Mexico's most colourful cities. Stop by the local markets to browse locally-made handicrafts with colours that rival those of the city itself.
Money matters
Credit cards are generally accepted in Mexico at large stores and most mid to high-range hotels. Some cafes, bars and restaurants may accept card too, but the places with real character – and the best local food – tend to be cash only.
ATMs are available across towns and cities in Mexico. Travellers should not encounter trouble finding an ATM but be wary of international transaction fees. For your own safety, try to use ATMs in daylight hours.
Mexico travel FAQs
Many countries do not need to obtain a visa for tourist travel to Mexico.
However, all visitors are required to fill out an online Multiple Immigration Form (FMM) to obtain a Tourist Card for stays of less than 180 days.
To enter Mexico you may need:
- An undamaged passport valid for at least six months from the date you exit Mexico
- One blank passport page for an entry stamp
- A Tourist Card
- A return or onward ticket from Mexico
- Proof of funds to financially support yourself while travelling in Mexico
- Documentation supporting the purpose of your stay, like accommodation or tour booking.
Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their adventure. Your leader will record your travel insurance details on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of healthcare around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.
Learn more about travel insurance
Tipping is expected in most parts of Mexico. Service workers typically earn a low wage and rely on tips to earn a decent living. We recommend leaving 10–15% at restaurants (if the service charge is not already included), 5–10% of your room cost for housekeepers, and a few dollars for porters, bartenders and local guides.
What you pack for your Mexico tour will depend on where you are travelling to. Thanks to its high altitude, Mexico City, for example, will be much cooler than the coastal areas of Playa del Carmen or Tulum. In the winter, temperatures can drop to freezing at night while reaching 23°C during the day, so it’s important to be prepared for both ends of the spectrum.
We do not recommend drinking water in Mexico. We also advise avoiding ice in drinks and peeling fruit and vegetables before eating. Your local leader will help you source purified water for drinking on your trip.
Internet access is good in Mexico, with wi-fi available in most accommodations, bigger restaurants, airports and in some public spaces. It’s also easy and affordable to buy a local SIM card for the duration of your Mexico trip.
Cell phone coverage is fairly good in Mexico, especially in larger cities. If you want to stay connected, it's a good idea to purchase a local SIM card.
It's likely that you will encounter different types of toilets while travelling in Mexico. Western-style flushable toilets are commonly found in high-end resorts, hotels and restaurants, while squat toilets are common in rural areas and homes. Be prepared by carrying your own supply of toilet paper and soap, as these aren't always provided.
Mexico is becoming increasingly more accepting of same-sex relationships and has laws in place to protect those that identify differently, but it remains a country of strong Catholicism that has historically been hostile towards the local LGBTQIA+ community.
For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or ILGA before you travel.
We take the health and safety of our travellers seriously and take every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and inclusive for everyone. When you travel with us, you have access to our global support network and local on‑ground leadership, and you can rest easy knowing we have a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination.
We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure. The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.
Travelling from Australia?
Go to: Smart Traveller
From Canada?
Go to: Canada Travel Information
From the UK?
Go to: UK Foreign Travel Advice
From New Zealand?
Go to: Safe Travel
From the US?
Go to: US Department of State
Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. In fact, we make a donation on behalf of every traveller. Trips to Mexico directly support our foundation partner, Gastromotiva Mexico.
Gastromotiva Mexico
Gastromotiva Mexico is tackling food scarcity and homelessness while promoting a sustainable food movement. Donations help them provide nutritious, balanced meals to community shelters for vulnerable people, such as women affected by domestic violence and refugees.
Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.
Many destinations in Mexico, including Mexico City and the resort areas on the Yucatan Peninsula, are seeing an increasing number of hotels, restaurants and tourist sights fitted out to accommodate travellers with limitations. That said, it can still be difficult for those with mobility issues and visual and hearing issues, particularly on public transport.
If you do live with a visual, hearing or other impairment, let your booking agent or group leader know early on so they’re aware and suitable arrangements can be made. As a general rule, knowing some common words in the local language, carrying a written itinerary with you and taking to the streets in a group rather than solo can help make your travel experience the best it can be.