Trip to Mexico: The Travel Guide

Mexico, the home to so many natural beaches and beautiful coastal resorts. When you go out there, you will sense the true colors of natural beauty. Mexico is known to be home to the world’s smallest volcano. Mexico covers 1.973 million km of the earth’s space, with a population of 129.2 million people. It is considered to be one of the most diverse nations in the world; it has 68 official languages. Chichen Itza in Mexico is one of the seven wonders of the world. You trip to Mexico will surely turn special after going through this travel guide.

Visa Process

Wondering how to get a visa for this incredible place? We have got you covered. Follow the steps, and you are all set to have a visa to travel to Mexico.

First things first, Mexico’s tourist visa is only valid for six months for a single entry. Although, it can be extended into double or multiple entries in certain circumstances. A tourist visa must be used within 90 days of its issue. Let’s have a look at the steps to get a visa for Mexico:

1. Download the visa application form
2. Fill up the visa application form
3. Gather the required documents for the visa application
4. Provide photographs for your visa application
5. Check the visa application fee
6. Submit your visa application form
7. Pay the required a visa application fee

Required Fees for Mexico Tourist Visa

Fees for Mexico tourist visa – USD 22

Tourism in Mexico

Mexico is the hub of natural sceneries, the beaches, the white sands, and the greenery. Any country with all these things will obviously attract tourists from all around the world. The same goes for Mexico; tourism is a vital industry here in Mexico. It’s considered to be a favorite place for spending holidays. According to the Mexico Tourism Board, 10.6 million tourists visited Mexico in the first quarter of 2018. World Tourism organization listed Mexico in “most visited places in the world.”

Safety in Mexico

It is said, “Traveling to Mexico is not safe.” This statement is as good as a myth. For years, this myth has been keeping away a lot of people from visiting this beautiful nation. This is wrong!

Mexico is great to visit even if you are planning to travel all alone. Don’t let this myth come in between you and your adventurous and exciting trip to Mexico. US State Department ranks Mexico safety at level 2 for travelers. This means traveling to Mexico is as safe as going to France or Italy.

The Climate in Mexico

Mexico has a varied temperature, based on the topography. The climate near the coastal areas is hot and humid. The areas other than the coastal ones enjoy warm summers and mild winters with up to 18 degrees Celsius. Northern regions of Mexico get very hot in summers with sudden violent and heavy rains and hail storms with tornadoes sometimes.

Best Time of The Year to Plan Your Trip to Mexico

If you are planning to visit Mexico, then plan your trip in the dry season. The season between December and April is really the best time to travel to Mexico. During this time the coast is the most beautiful with lower humidity, cooler nights and comparatively warmer days. There are no heavy rains, no tornadoes or hail storms during this season.

The coldest months in Mexico are between December to February. Despite the details mentioned here, it is always best to check the weather forecasts before traveling. And there perhaps not a wrong time to visit any place, different people are attracted by different things. Of Course, keeping the tornados and storms aside!

4 Mandatory places to visit in Mexico

I hope by now; you are already planning your trip to Mexico. So, for your assistance, here are some of the best places that you must go to make your trip to Mexico more interesting.

Here is the list:

Cancun

If you are a night person and you love partying on the beachside, then Cancun is your place. The all-inclusive resorts, the cheap flights from the US are cherries on the top. Apart from this, the city also has lush green jungles and a vast network of caverns. These are all the attractions for vacationers. Cancun is also near to the Chichen Itza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Best Things to Do in Cancun:

• Visit the Chichen Itza
• Spend time at Isla Mujeres
• Go to the Playa Tortugas Beach

Mexico City

The Capital of Mexico, is one of the liveliest and largest cities around the globe. The region with its rich culture and history attracts many people. Mexico City is affordable, and It has got some amazing cuisines, actually the best in the Western Hemisphere. So, do not miss out on this fantastic place on your trip to Mexico because it will definitely be a great experience.

Best Things to Do in Mexico City:

• Check out the Museo Nacional de Antropología
• Trip to Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe
• See the Ancient Palacio de Ballas Ares

Tulum

If you are looking for a secluded getaway, Mexico’s East Coast is a perfect place for you. The beaches, here at Tulum are some of the world’s best places to be. Moreover, there are dozens of cenotes in Tulum. This is seriously a paradise for swimmers and divers.

Best Things to Do in Tulum:

• Playa Paraiso
• El Gran Cenote
• Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen was once a fishing village. However, with time the growth of the population, the place has grown to be a luxurious place. Other than the beaches, cenotes and amazing sites, you can go out shopping and buy souvenirs for your loved ones. 

Best Things to Do in Playa del Carmen:

• Playa del Carmen Beaches
• La Quinta Avenida
• Snorkeling and Scuba Diving

5 Best Hotels to Stay in During your Trip to Mexico

Hotel Riu Cancun

The hotel is at a fantastic location. It is only a few minutes’ walk from Forum Beach, Tortuga Beach, Caracol Beach, La Isla Shopping Mall. Apart from the location, the hotel has a Spa service that you can avail and make your stay worthwhile.

Galeria Reforma Plaza

If you love shopping, then this hotel is best for you. It is located in a walkable area with some good shops. One can’t let go of the area’s eye-capturing places like Chapultepec Park and Jardin Botanico, Paseo de la Reforma and Museo de Arte Moderno. The guests like living in the area with all these beautiful places.

International Presidente Santa Fe Mexico

The exotic hotel is located in the business district of the city. So, if you are traveling to Mexico to enjoy and as well as lookout for the business, this hotel is best suited for you.

Habitas Tulum

The hotel is situated in Tulum in Quintana Roo region. Like all the hotels mentioned above, it too has a great location. The hotel has an outdoor pool and a private beach which you can enjoy for the whole year. Parque Nacional Tulum is 400 m from Habitas Tulum. This hotel is said to have the best locations in Tulum, and the guests love staying here. So, if you are traveling to Tulum in Mexico, you now know where to stay.

Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort

The hotel is said to be in the heart of Playa del Carmen. It is one of the top picked properties in the area. With spectacular architecture, three open front outdoor pools and a spa will definitely make you enjoy your whole trip to Mexico. The beautiful sunset from the hotel will make you to stay there forever!

Mexico’s Famous Dishes

After enjoying all the activities, here comes my favorite part, eating. It is said, one should not leave a place before trying the traditional food of that travel destination, for it is the real essence of that place.

Since Mexico is a multi-ethnic and diverse place, it has a long list of delicious and traditional foods. Take a look at the ones that should be on your list during your trip to Mexico.

Chilaquiles

This is a traditional breakfast made up with corn tortillas and spread up with red or green salsa, and it is a bit spicy.

Elote

Well, that is just a fancy Mexican name for corn. You can find them in almost all the street corners in Mexico. But what makes it different is the addition of spice, mayonnaise and a lot of butter. These ingredients make it taste totally different.

Enchiladas

This dish dates back to Mayan times. It is basically corn tortillas wrapped around a small fish. Now, it is modified with corn or flour tortillas, wrapped around meat with beans, vegetables, any seafood, or all of them. This ancient dish is a must-try.

Travel Costs in Mexico

Since Mexico is a huge country, it is challenging to outline a proper budget for traveling there. However, if you try to stick to one place that will be beneficial for estimating the total costs of your trip to Mexico. For instance, if you are traveling to the Yucatan Peninsula, you will only have to pay $33 on average per day.

Local Traditions, Customs, And Celebrations in Mexico

Every country has some rituals, traditions, and customs that make them different from the rest of the world. Mexico, too has some of the traditions which might be weird for us but these festivals make the place more exciting and attractive.

Dia De Los Muertos

This is the day of the dead people. People all around Mexico celebrate this day. According to them, the dead people come back to life on this day. They too mourn over the death of their beloved people, but this celebration is in their honor. This is the day to remember the people who left the world.

This day takes place on the 1^st and 2^nd of November every year. The tradition in Mexico admittedly sounds like Halloween, but it is different. It’s not at all spooky, scary and dark. Instead, it’s bright and colorful. If you are willing to have a trip to Mexico, then plan it around these days so that you can experience something new.

Cinco de Mayo

This is a very important event for the people of Mexico. They celebrate their victory on this day against France on 5^th May 1862. Cinco de Mayo is indeed an auspicious occasion, and if you are lucky enough to be in Mexico for this event, you will see for yourself the height of excitement and patriotism among Mexicans.

Piñata

Piñatas are actually a paper container made to hold candies, usually in the form of an animal. These are then hung in a high place. The children are blindfolded, and they have to hit these piñatas with a bat to enjoy those candies hid inside. This is done for celebrations or any fiestas.

Last Words

I hope your trip to Mexico gets as exciting as it was for me while writing about it. Make sure you visit Chichen Itza and try all the traditional food when you can. So, get ready, pack up your bags and leave, the exciting adventure awaits you!