Mexico holidays

Temperature: Mexico enjoys a tropical climate, though it gets cooler the further up north towards the US you go.

When’s the best time to go?

From Day of the Dead carnivals to sun-kissed beaches, our biggest piece of Mexico travel advice is to book yourself a holiday to this exotic destination right now. Mexico is technically in the Caribbean, so you can expect a tropical climate with warm temperatures all year round. In the summer season, the thermometer hovers between the high-20s and the mid-30s.

April and May tend to be the hottest months of the year, right at the end of the dry season and at the start of the wet season. Don’t worry too much, though, the ‘wet’ season isn’t nearly as bad as it sounds, and even in winter, temperatures can rise to 28°C.

While Mexico enjoys lots of blue skies and sunshine, there’s also a chance of rain. Between June and October, you can expect a little more rain than the rest of the year, but it usually only lasts for one or two hours during the evening. It’s also worth noting that hurricanes can occur between July and October. However, they rarely make landfall in Mexico, and hotels are well prepared to deal with them.

Mexico Weather Overview

Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec

Adventure lovers: A holiday to Mexico wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Xel-Ha Park. From courage-testing high dives, to safe and supervised snorkelling activities for young children, Xel-Ha Park gives you the chance to discover new activities and challenge yourself.

Party animals: Put on your party sombrero and experience Spring Break in Cancún. You’ll find everything from all-out raves and pool parties, to sophisticated shindigs and clubs with casinos.

History fans: Step back in time at Chichen Itza and explore the dramatic Mayan ruins. Pronounced ‘chee-chen eet-zah', this is one of the most spectacular and fascinating examples of Mayan architecture.

Language: There are more than 60 indigenous languages spoken around Mexico (including Mayan dialects), but Spanish is the language spoken most widely.

Currency: The currency used is Mexican Peso (Mex$).

Local time: Mexico is 5–8 hours behind GMT/UK time, depending on location. Cancun is 5 hours behind.

Fly to: Cancun International Airport. Transfers to the main resorts take just 25 minutes for Cancun or up to 2 hours for Playa del Carmen and Playacar.

Flight time from UK: The flight time to Mexico is 10.5 hours.

Tourist Information: Further tourist information can be found at www.visitmexico.com.

Visa and health: Before you travel, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mexico for recommendations and advice on visas and health.

Holiday destinations related to Mexico:

• Cancun
• Playa Del Carmen
• Riviera Maya
• Playacar
• Playa Mujeres

By bus: Buses are the most comfortable and cost-effective way to get around. You can even take your pick of travel class, so why not go VIP with first-class reclining seats and a television, as well as drinks and snacks?

By train: For a special trip, hop on Mexico’s only train service, the El Chepe. This will take you on a tour around the magnificent Copper Canyon (Barranca Del Combre), which is even bigger and deeper than Arizona’s Grand Canyon.

Day of the Dead: While some like to call it the Mexican Halloween, it’s actually a 3,000-year-old religious festival held (31 October to 02 November) in honour of celebrating life and mocking death. Fantastical parades, sugar skulls, and mystical altars make up an unforgettably atmospheric treat for the kids.

Spring Break concerts: From Tiësto and Paul Van Dyk to Snoop Dogg and Flo Rida, Cancún will treat you to performances by the biggest music names in the world (mid-February to mid-April). Look out for Inception Music Festival, which is 30 days and nights of sheer partying and supreme electronic dance music DJs.

Do I need a passport?

You’ll need a passport to enter Mexico. Passports need to be valid for the entire length of your stay, but it doesn’t need to be valid for any particular period of time beyond this.

For more Mexico passport information and details of entry requirements to the country, head to https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mexico/entry-requirements.

Do I need a visa?

If you’re travelling to Mexico as a tourist, there’s no need to apply for a visa. However, you’ll have to fill out an immigration form, which you’ll be given during your outbound flight. You must have this form with you when you enter Mexico.

You’ll also need to bring your immigration form with you when you leave the country. If you lose it, you can get a replacement at the immigration office located in any of Mexico’s international airports. However, the immigration form can cost 500 Mexican Pesos to replace, so make sure you keep yours safe for the duration of your trip.

For further Mexico passport and visa information, please visit our Support page here

https://support.thomascook.com/1382149282/Mexico-Visa-Requirements.htm

Should I get travel health insurance?

It’s always advisable to have comprehensive travel and health insurance in place when you go on holiday. That way, you’ll be covered for overseas medical expenses if anything happens, such as emergency treatment and even evacuation back to the UK if necessary.

Make sure you check thoroughly what is and isn’t included in your policy beforehand, and that you’re covered for any activities you’ll be doing while you’re away.

Any other tips?

• Don’t lose your immigration form. You should be given one on your flight and you’ll need to hand it to the immigration officer when you enter. Be sure to hold onto this for the duration of your stay as you’ll be asked for it again when you’re flying home. If you lose it, you risk having to pay a hefty fine.
• In most places in Mexico, you put toilet paper in the bin rather than flushing it down the toilet. However, hotels and resorts tend to be the exception.
• Remember, the official currency in Mexico is Mexican Pesos and not US dollars. It’s possible to pay with dollars in most places, but it’s likely that you won’t get a very good exchange rate.
• For more information and Mexico travel advice, head to https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mexico/health.