Mexico, the land of Mariachi who along with a shot of tequila guarantee a great Mexican folk experience, taste the real tacos and churros that won’t let you forget the unbelievable taste. Witness the unbelievable sight of stone Aztec structures, venture through ruins of the once mighty empire. Mexico has a lot to offer, besides its historical and cultural aspects, Mexico boasts with beautiful national parks, amazing beaches, and resorts that are waiting to accommodate you. Besides all the wonderful attractions Mexico has also a dark side that you should definitely know about.

Traveling info

The Mexican state requires you to have a valid passport however due to promoting of tourism in Mexico, citizens of USA, Canada, Japan and entire Schengen zone of European Union including UK and Ireland are not required to obtain a Visa if traveling to Mexico for vacation. Foreigners of any country while traveling by a cruise on a leisure trip visiting Mexican maritime ports are not required to have a visa or a consular stamp although it is required to have a valid passport. All the citizens of other countries or not traveling by a cruise are required to obtain a Visa. If you decide to drive in Mexico in your own car, whether you’re from the USA or any other country you’ll be required to purchase Mexican insurance if you don’t then you’re on the mercy of the Mexican court. If you are not in possession of an EU or Canadian drivers license you must apply for an “International drivers license” (link in sources). Gas stations are numerous and prices are regular all across the country because of the nationalization of the national oil reserves and distribution. Car rentals are very cheap although driving such a car may make you a target for local thieves. Public communication is very cheap although pickpocketing is common therefore taxi fares which are fairly inexpensive are considered the safest way to get around short distances.

Traveling hazards

Highways are well maintained although they are not free of tolls. The free roads are usually in worse condition as potholes may cause dangers. The free roads are filled with road bumps called “Topes” and while some may be barely noticeable the other may be the size of a high curb. USA official government website published a list of states where travel should be reconsidered or given up as either in these states crime is extremely high or law is not enforced due to armed groups operate independently of the Mexican government. This means traveling in these areas for tourists may be extremely dangerous.

Environmental hazards

Rural as well as tourist areas of Mexico may be dangerous. The American crocodile, inhabits most of the Latin American coast, including most of the eastern coast of Mexico and most of Yucatan peninsula. These monsters thrive in saltwater which indicates to avoid undesignated beaches, brackish lakes, and mangrove swamps. Jaguars, the largest of the cats of the Americas roam the rural parts of Mexico. Although rarely seen these massive cats can easily kill a human. It is advised not to roam jungles of Yucatan without a guide. Although certain parts of Mexico are heavily infested with sharks, attacks are rare. It is advised to follow safety instructions when entering the water. Of all the dangerous wildlife tourists should mostly look out for snakes. Mexico is home to several species of rattlesnakes of which bites can be fatal however antivenom in Mexico is much cheaper.
The weather has a large impact on Mexico and its tourist areas. Tropical hurricanes affect mostly the eastern coast of Mexico resulting in great damage to property and infrastructure. Besides the hurricanes, extremely hot temperatures cause seasonal droughts although that does not affect tourists as much as the locals.

Health Hazards

While traveling to Mexico there are a number of vaccinations that you should consider before your trips such as MMR vaccines, Hepatitis A and B, influenza, rabies, typhoid and yellow fever however you are not required to have any proof of these to enter the country. It is very important to protect yourself from mosquitoes as these carry very serious diseases such as Malaria, Zika, Chikungunya, and Dengue fever. (List of vaccines provided in sources). Healthcare in Mexico is considerably cheaper than in the neighboring USA and usually on the same level however it is not standardized by any institution and although cheap, costs still may spike up in case of an emergency. Mexican healthcare still requires you to have health insurance. You’ll be asked to present such a document before any sort of an appointment. In case of not having such insurance, you’ll be asked to pay before any visit or treatment. Most health insurance policies have a very limited range of clinics and hospitals you may be able to visit therefore it is advisable to acquire insurance that covers the entire area you want to be traveling to. Clinics and hospital with English speaking personnel are usually limited to major cities and popular travel destinations such as Cancun, Baja California, Mexico City, and Monterrey. Be aware that these places may also spike up the price of any sort of treatment due to the number of tourist patients.
In case of an emergency dial 911.

Crime

Currently, there is an ongoing Drug War that has erupted in 2006. There are certain areas of Mexico that should be avoided. Homicide rate is one of the highest in the world with 29 thousand homicides in 2017 crowning the year as the most violent so far and although it rarely affects tourists, some fall victims of turf wars, shootouts, bombings, etc. between rivaling cartels however these happen mainly in less popular tourist areas, especially around major trafficking routes and along the US border towns. Tourist areas and resorts generally see a much lower level of drug-related violence and crime. Travelers should look out in popular tourist areas for pickpocketing, robberies and other sorts of theft. Vehicle hijacking is also a possibility. While traveling on roads fake military and police checkpoints are also a possible occurrence especially on low-density rural roads at night time. Alcohol is legal statewide. The possession of drugs was decriminalized allowing for up to 5g of marijuana and up to 500 mg of cocaine, heroin, LSD, opium and synthetic drugs however exceeding the possession limit or selling the drugs results in heavy punishments and being assumed as a trafficker even if there are no other indications that the amount was meant for selling. If in possession of drugs you are not allowed to be within a 300-meter radius of schools, police departments or correctional facilities.

Summary

In general Mexican tourist areas and resorts are safe. Traveling outside of these is usually safe as well unless you decide to travel around dangerous zones in which you are not guaranteed safety. Healthcare and infrastructure are generally in decent condition although certain precautions such as vaccinations are advised. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/sudafrica/index.php/english/visa-for-mexico
(Crime stats)
http://time.com/5111972/mexico-murder-rate-record-2017/
(international driving permit USA)
https://www.fastportpassport.co/order-idp
(Safety advisory official USA website)
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/mexico-travel-advisory.html
(Vaccines)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/mexico