The first time I visited Mexico, was on a bit of a whim. I finally decided to go somewhere warm after almost a month of trotting around cold places (Belgium and New York). So I booked a flight to Cabo, and was absolutely blown away by the city’s natural beauty. It was not what I expected and I left already wanting to plan my next visit. So the second time around, I came prepared with a list of cities I wanted to see. These ended up being: Oaxaca, Puerto Escondido, Mexico City, and Puerto Vallarta.
Along the way, I picked up a few useful travel tips that I hope will make your trip to Mexico a little bit better!
Don’t. Drink. The. Tap. Water.
This is probably the most popular piece of advice out there. Mexico doesn’t have the best water filtration system and a lot of times, there’s a chance your tap water is contaminated.
The hostel in Oaxaca I was staying at even had their water delivered! This is an issue throughout most of Mexico, however, if you want to test your luck, try Puerto Vallarta! It’s said to have some of the cleanest tap water in the country!
So to be safe, drink purified or bottled water, and try not to swallow the tap water when brushing your teeth.
Fun Fact: Mexico is one of the biggest consumers of Coca-Cola worldwide. Some say it’s because it was safer (and cheaper) to drink than water, and ever since, it’s become a tradition.
Don’t flush the toilet paper…
This one really surprised me! Apparently, it’s common in Mexico to throw toilet paper into bins instead of flushing it. It took me a while to get used to this, as at first, I didn’t fully believe what I was reading. But yes, the piping in Mexico can be a bit faulty, and too much toilet paper can clog the pipes.
Don’t wear shorts
If you want to blend in, don’t wear shorts or tank tops, even if it’s hot out! It may surprise you, but it’s not common in Mexican culture to wear overly revealing clothing, especially in central and southern Mexico.
Since the UV can be very high, it makes sense to cover up. Also, Mexicans just prefer to dress more formally. You’ll see quite a few locals in jeans out on a hot day.
Always have cash on you
Major tourist destinations and big cities will accept credit cards, but it’s always a good idea to have pesos on you just in case. Street vendors and taxis only accept pesos, so you’ll miss out on a big chunk of your Mexico experience by not having them on you.
Wear mosquito repellent
You’ll thank me for this one. The mosquitos in Mexico are relentless. I didn’t realize how bad it would be until my legs were covered in very itchy, large red spots. Funnily enough, I got more scars from my scratching than the actual bites.
Get a DiDi
Taxis in Mexico are as expensive as anywhere else…if not more. I once paid 200 pesos (11 USD) for a five minute ride to the local airport! So to save money, I would suggest using an Uber or a DiDi.
Yes, you heard that right, a DiDi. Besides having a cute name, it’s actually a popular ride-sharing app in places like Mexico, China, and Australia. Prices are usually lower than Uber’s, but there are fewer drivers. So getting a DiDi can be difficult at times, but it’s worth a try.