Mexico is the most popular all-inclusive destination for North Americans, and it earns it: short flights, a wall of world-class resorts along Cancún and the Riviera Maya, and Maya ruins, cenotes, and coral reefs all a day-trip away. Here's what to sort out before you book.
- Language
- Spanish
- English at resorts
- Currency
- Mexican peso
- USD widely accepted
- Power
- 110V, Type A/B plugs
- same as the US
- Driving
- On the right
- Main airport
- Cancún
- CUN
Where Mexico splits
The resort areas are not interchangeable. What each one is actually for.
Riviera Maya
Cenotes + ruins + beach in one trip; low-rise seclusion
Start with Barceló Maya Palace - All Inclusive, five-star.
Cancún
First trips, nightlife + beach combos, nonstop-flight convenience
Start with Hotel Mousai Cancun, five-star, adults-only.
Puerto Vallarta
Calm swimmable water, town culture with your resort, LGBTQ+-friendly scene
Start with Barceló Puerto Vallarta, five-star.
When to go to Mexico
Climate normals for Cancún / Riviera Maya, and our verdict on each month.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average daily high | 82 degrees Fahrenheit | 83 degrees Fahrenheit | 85 degrees Fahrenheit | 87 degrees Fahrenheit | 89 degrees Fahrenheit | 90 degrees Fahrenheit | 90 degrees Fahrenheit | 91 degrees Fahrenheit | 89 degrees Fahrenheit | 87 degrees Fahrenheit | 84 degrees Fahrenheit | 82 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Rainfall | 3.5″ | 2″ | 1.5″ | 1.5″ | 4″ | 6.5″ | 4″ | 4.5″ | 8.5″ | 8.5″ | 4″ | 3.5″ |
| Verdict | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Off-peak | Good | Shoulder | Off-peak | Off-peak | Good | Prime |
Sweet spot. December–April; rainy season runs June–October, heaviest September–October on the Caribbean side.
Storm risk. The Yucatán Caribbean coast sits in the hurricane belt (June–November, peaking September–October). Pacific-coast resorts (Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta) follow the Pacific season instead.
Sargassum. The Caribbean coast (Cancún → Tulum) sees real sargassum influxes, typically April–August; beach conditions vary week to week and resorts with barriers or bay positions fare better. Pacific and Los Cabos beaches are unaffected.
Figures are long-term climate normals for Cancún / Riviera Maya, good for planning. They are not a forecast.
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.
Getting to Mexico
Indicative round-trip fares into Cancún (CUN) from the major US gateways, cheapest first. Tap through for live prices and dates.
| From | Airport | Round trip |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | ORD | $282Cheapest |
| Los Angeles | LAX | $288 |
| Miami | MIA | $298 |
| Dallas | DFW | $298 |
| New York | JFK | $375 |
| Newark | EWR | $387 |
| Boston | BOS | $419 |
| Atlanta | ATL | $530 |
Where the Mexico resorts are
83 resorts mapped stars are five-star properties
The best all-inclusive resorts in Mexico
The Mexico properties we would actually book. For the full numbered ranking, see the best all-inclusive resorts in Mexico.
Our pick
Where to stay in Mexico
The resort areas we cover, and which properties sit in each.
Resort chains in Mexico
The brands operating here. The ones we rank in full link through to the chain, what its plan really covers, and every resort of theirs we track.
Where these companies came from
Almost nobody in this category publishes it. Read oldest first and the list is a short history of how Mexico came to look the way it does.
Mexico, head to head
Price, flights, sand, food and safety, compared honestly.
Mexico vs Dominican Republic
price, beaches, sargassum, excursions, and food compared with real data.
CompareMexico vs Jamaica
resorts, beaches, excursions, food, flights, and price compared honestly.
CompareMexico vs JamaicaDominican RepublicMaldivesGreeceSpainTurks & CaicosArubaBarbadosSt. LuciaItalyPortugalTurkeyAntiguaCuraçaoBrazilCosta RicaPhilippinesFrench PolynesiaMoroccoEgyptSouth AfricaMauritiusKenyaTanzaniaMozambiqueThailandIndonesiaMalaysiaPunta CanaMontego BayNegrilOcho RiosGuanacasteCreteBahiaBora BoraMalé AtollsRodney BayBarbados South CoastBarbados West CoastViti LevuVanua LevuCanary IslandsBalearic IslandsCosta del SolSharm el-SheikhHurghada & the Red Sea CoastBelekRhodesLara & AntalyaMaldives Outer AtollsCorfuHalkidikiKosSoufrière & South St. LuciaGrenadaFijiCroatiaU.S. Virgin IslandsSri LankaSeychellesBahamasChileArgentinaUnited States
Best-of lists for Mexico
Reading on Mexico
- Guide5 Best All-Inclusive Resorts With Lazy Rivers in Mexico, Punta Cana and JamaicaIt's not just the kids that want a lazy river!Aug 30, 2026 · 10 min read
- FeatureThe beach a computer pickedMexico wanted a Caribbean resort, so a bank ran ten thousand kilometres of its own coastline through a model and let the numbers choose. Then nobody would build the hotels, so the government built them itself. Fifty years on it is one of the largest resort coasts on earth.Aug 12, 2026 · 9 min read
- GuideThe family-of-five problem: resort occupancy, decodedStandard rooms stop at four people, booking engines hide the rest, and nobody tells you whether the baby counts. How occupancy rules actually work, and how to book five under one roof without paying for a presidential suite.Jul 12, 2026 · 4 min read
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a passport to travel to Mexico?
Yes: a passport book is required to fly. No visa is needed for tourist stays up to 180 days, and the FMM tourist permit fee is included in your airfare for air arrivals.
Do I have to pay the Visitax in Cancún or the Riviera Maya?
Yes. If you visit Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cozumel), it's a small state tourist tax of about $11–15, paid online before departure. Keep the QR code handy.
Is the Riviera Maya safe?
The U.S. rates Mexico state by state, and the resort state of Quintana Roo carries a far lower advisory than the higher-risk states elsewhere. Resort zones are heavily policed; the main risks are petty theft and scams, not cartel violence. Use official transport and normal precautions, and check the current advisory at travel.state.gov before you go.
Can I use U.S. dollars in Mexico?
Yes, especially in resort areas, though paying in pesos usually gets a better rate off-resort. Bring small bills for tips.
How much should I tip in Mexico?
Mexico has a strong tipping culture. Even at all-inclusives, tip bartenders, servers, and housekeeping a few dollars; 10–15% is standard for tours, drivers, and outside restaurants. Watch for a propina already on the bill.
When is the best time to visit?
December–April for dry, peak-season weather; May and early summer for value. June–November is hurricane season, and sargassum seaweed can appear on Caribbean beaches in spring and summer.