Mexico Planning Your Trip

Before You Go
Passport . Required for citizens of all countries, except the US and Canada. Note that a passport is required to return to the US from Mexico by air. This may be extended to land and sea re-entry in Jan. 2008 as well.
Tourist Card . Required for citizens of all countries who plan to venture past border towns and/or stay for more than 3 days. Available at airports and points of entry and can last anywhere from 30 to 180 days depending on country of origin. Included in price of plane ticket or $20 at the border.
Visa . Required for visitors from most countries outside of the Americas and Europe. Must be obtained through the Mexican consul before arrival.
Under 18? . Any non-Mexican under the age of 18 departing Mexico must carry notarized written permission from any parent or guardian not traveling with the child.
Work Permit . Business visas and proof of employment required for all foreigners planning to work in Mexico.
Recommended Vaccinations Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid.
Other Health Concerns: Malaria pills are recommended for those traveling to malaria risk areas . If your regular medical insurance policy does not cover travel abroad, you may wish to purchase additional coverage.

Embassies And Consulates

Australia: 14 Perth Ave., Yarralumla, Canberra, ACT 2600 (☎ +61 02 6273 3905; www.sre.gob.mx/australia). Also provides consular services. Canada: 45 O’Connor St., Ste. 1000, Ottawa, ON K1P 1A4 ...more

Documents And Formalities

Requirements Citizens of Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the UK need valid passports to enter Mexico and to re-enter their home countries. Citizens of the US and Canada only need some form of ...more

Money

The currency chart below is based on August 2007 exchange rates between local currency and Australian dollars (AUS$), Canadian dollars (CDN$), European Union euro (EUR€), New Zealand dollars (NZ$) ...more

Packing

Pack lightly: Lay out only what you think you absolutely need, then take half the clothes and twice the money. The Travelite FAQ (www.travelite.org) is a good resource for tips on traveling light. The ...more

Safety And Health

In any type of crisis situation, the most important thing to do is stay calm. Your country’s embassy abroad is usually your best resource when things go wrong; registering with that embassy upon arrival ...more

Transportation To Mexico

When it comes to airfare, a little effort can save you a bundle. Courier fares are the cheapest for those whose plans are flexible enough to deal with the restrictions. Tickets sold by consolidators ...more

Transportation In Mexico

Flying within Mexican borders is a method of transportation typically beyond the reach of budget travelers. That said, time is money. You may want to consider flying when long bus rides (e.g., over 24hr ...more

Staying Connected

With many Mexican businesses, language schools, and individuals now online, the Internet provides a cheap and accessible alternative to pricey phone calls and slow postal service. Although in some ...more

Outdoor Recreation

The Great Outdoor Recreation Page (www.gorp.com) provides excellent general information for travelers planning on camping or spending time in the outdoors. Leave No Trace. Let’s Go ...more

Travel Concerns

As the number of travelers on the road continues to rise, the detrimental effect they can have on natural environments becomes an increasing concern. With this in mind, Let’s Go promotes the philosophy ...more

Other Resources

Let’s Go tries to cover all aspects of budget travel, but we can’t put everything in our guides. Listed below are books and websites that can serve as jumping-off points for your own research.