Mexico All-Inclusive Travel Guide

Do you need a passport or visa for Mexico?

A passport book is required to fly to Mexico (a passport card only works at land and sea crossings), and no visa is needed for a tourist stay of up to 180 days. For air arrivals the FMM tourist permit is now digital, and its fee is bundled into your airfare as a 'Mexican tourism tax.'

One Riviera Maya wrinkle: the state of Quintana Roo, which covers Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Cozumel, charges a small tourist tax called Visitax (roughly $11–15). Pay it online before you fly home and keep the QR code on your phone.

Is Mexico safe? And the Riviera Maya specifically?

It's worth separating the country from the resort coast. The U.S. State Department rates Mexico state by state, and the resort state of Quintana Roo (Cancún, the Riviera Maya, Tulum, Cozumel) carries a far lower advisory than the higher-risk states elsewhere in the country (see the current level at the top of this guide). The resort zones are heavily policed, and day-to-day concerns are petty theft and timeshare or ATM scams, not the cartel violence associated with other parts of Mexico.

Getting out is very doable: use official taxis or resort transfers, withdraw cash from ATMs inside banks or resorts, never buy or use drugs, and keep an eye on your tab and your belongings. Check travel.state.gov for the current state-by-state advisory before you book.

Currency, U.S. dollars, and tipping

The peso is the official currency, but U.S. dollars are accepted almost everywhere tourists go, though you'll usually get a better rate paying in pesos once you're off-resort. Bring small bills.

Mexico has a genuine tipping culture, more so than much of the Caribbean. Even at an all-inclusive, a dollar or two for bartenders, servers, and housekeeping goes a long way, and 10–15% is standard for tours, drivers, and restaurants off property. Many bills already include a propina (service charge), so check before you double up.

When to visit

December through April is peak: dry, warm, and busiest. May and early summer bring lower prices with still-excellent weather. Hurricane season runs June through November, and sargassum seaweed can wash onto the Caribbean-facing beaches in spring and summer; resorts rake it daily, but it's worth knowing.

Getting there & around

Almost everyone flies into Cancún (CUN), the gateway for Cancún's Hotel Zone, Playa del Carmen (about an hour south), Tulum (about two), and the ferry to Isla Mujeres. Cozumel (CZM) has its own airport for that island's famous diving. Mexico drives on the right, like the U.S.; most resort travelers use pre-booked transfers and day tours rather than renting a car.

What to do beyond the resort

This coast is one of the best in the Caribbean for getting out. Visit the Maya ruins at Tulum and Chichén Itzá, swim in the freshwater cenotes that riddle the Yucatán, and snorkel or dive the Mesoamerican Reef off Cozumel and Puerto Morelos. The eco-parks (Xcaret, Xel-Há, Xplor) are full-day adventures, and the ferry to laid-back Isla Mujeres is an easy escape.

Good to know

Power & plugs: 110V with the same flat plugs as the U.S., so no adapter needed. Language: Spanish, with English widely spoken in resort areas. Water: drink bottled or filtered off-resort. Sunscreen: many cenotes and reef tours require reef-safe (biodegradable) sunscreen, so pack it. Dress: beach-casual, with smart-casual at à la carte dinners.