Mexico tours & vacations

All tourists traveling to Mexico need a tourist permit, but not all need a visa. For more information, please visit the Government of Mexico's website or the Essential Trip Information section of your trip.

Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveler. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information.

You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our visa and entry requirements page.

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

Tipping is expected in most parts of Mexico. Service workers typically earn a low wage and rely on tips to earn a decent living. We recommend leaving 10–15% at restaurants (if the service charge is not already included), 5–10% of your room cost for housekeepers, and a few dollars for porters, bartenders and local guides.

What you pack for your Mexico tour will depend on where you are traveling to. Thanks to its high altitude, Mexico City, for example, will be much cooler than the coastal areas of Playa del Carmen or Tulum. In the winter, temperatures can drop below freezing at night while reaching 73°F during the day, so it’s important to be prepared for both ends of the spectrum.

We do not recommend drinking water in Mexico. We also advise avoiding ice in drinks and peeling fruit and vegetables before eating. Your local leader will help you source purified water for drinking on your trip.

Internet access is good in Mexico, with wi-fi available in most accommodations, bigger restaurants, airports and in some public spaces. It’s also easy and affordable to buy a local SIM card for the duration of your Mexico trip.

Cell phone coverage is fairly good in Mexico, especially in larger cities. If you want to stay connected, it's a good idea to purchase a local SIM card.

It's likely that you will encounter different types of toilets while travelling in Mexico. Western-style flushable toilets are commonly found in high-end resorts, hotels and restaurants, while squat toilets are common in rural areas and homes. Be prepared by carrying your own supply of toilet paper and soap, as these aren't always provided.

Mexico is becoming increasingly more accepting of same-sex relationships and has laws in place to protect those that identify differently, but it remains a country of strong Catholicism that has historically been hostile towards the local LGBTQIA+ community.

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or ILGA before you travel.

If you are travelling solo on an Intrepid group tour, you will share accommodation with a passenger of the same gender as per your passport information. If you don’t identify with the gender assigned on your passport, please let us know at time of booking and we’ll arrange the rooming configuration accordingly. A single supplement is available on some tours for travellers who do not wish to share a room.

From Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to: Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to: UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to: Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to: US Department of State

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. In fact, we make a donation on behalf of every traveler. Trips to Mexico directly support our foundation partner, Gastromotiva Mexico.

Gastromotiva Mexico

Gastromotiva Mexico is tackling food scarcity and homelessness while promoting a sustainable food movement. Donations help them provide nutritious, balanced meals to community shelters for vulnerable people such as women affected by domestic violence and refugees.

Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travelers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Many destinations in Mexico, including Mexico City and the resort areas on the Yucatan Peninsula, are seeing an increasing number of hotels, restaurants and tourist sights fitted out to accommodate travelers with limitations. That said, it can still be difficult for those with mobility issues and visual and hearing issues, particularly on public transport.

If you do live with a visual, hearing or other impairment, let your booking agent or group leader know early on so they’re aware and suitable arrangements can be made. As a general rule, knowing some common words in the local language, carrying a written itinerary with you and taking to the streets in a group rather than solo can help make your travel experience the best it can be.