Mexico Mexico’s ancient cities, tropical shores, vibrant arts scene and unmistakable cultural energy

Yes, mainland Mexico spans several time zones, with Mexico City and Cancún on Central Time while Baja California and parts of the northwest sit on Pacific or Mountain Time, and Mexico’s approach to daylight saving now varies by region since the country largely abolished it nationally in 2022 except near the US border. This is worth checking specifically for any itinerary connecting central Mexico with the Pacific coast or northern border areas.

The Mexican Peso (MXN) is the local currency, and while US dollars are accepted in tourist zones like Cancún and Los Cabos, Pesos are expected and more practical everywhere else. ATMs are widely available in major cities and resort areas for withdrawing Pesos as needed.

Spanish is the national language, though Mexico recognises 68 indigenous languages, including Nahuatl and Maya, still spoken by significant communities particularly in the south and Yucatán Peninsula. English is spoken confidently in Cancún, Los Cabos and Mexico City’s tourist areas but becomes less reliable elsewhere.

Tap water is not safe to drink anywhere in Mexico, including resort areas like Cancún. Bottled or filtered water is provided as standard at hotels, and it’s worth extending the same caution to ice at smaller, less established restaurants and street stalls.

Cards are widely accepted at hotels, resorts and established restaurants, but markets, street food stalls and smaller towns generally expect cash. Pesos in small denominations cover day-to-day spending more comfortably than relying on cards outside the main tourist zones.

Tipping around 10 to 15 percent in restaurants is customary and generally expected, with resort staff, drivers and guides also commonly tipped directly in cash. This runs slightly higher than several neighbouring Central American destinations.

Mexico uses Type A and Type B sockets, the same flat two or three-pin design used in the US, running at 127V. This applies consistently throughout the country, so US travellers can generally use their own devices without an adapter.

Tequila is legally required to be made from blue agave grown specifically in and around Jalisco, while mezcal is a broader category made from various agave species across several Mexican states, often with a distinctly smokier flavour from traditional roasting methods. Knowing the distinction makes a tasting experience considerably more informative than treating the two as interchangeable.

Día de los Muertos, held in early November, is a genuinely joyful, family-centred celebration of remembrance rather than a somber occasion, and visiting a cemetery decorated for the holiday is welcomed provided you’re respectful and ask before photographing families at gravesites. This is entirely distinct from Halloween despite the close timing, and treating it as a costume party rather than a meaningful cultural tradition is worth avoiding.

During the spring and autumn equinoxes, the afternoon sun creates a shadow effect on El Castillo pyramid resembling a serpent descending the staircase, a deliberate feat of ancient astronomical engineering that draws considerably larger crowds than a standard visit. Visiting outside these two specific windows, if the equinox effect itself isn’t the priority, generally means a calmer, less crowded experience of the site.