Country guide
Flights to Mexico
A short flight, several very different countries inside one border
Mexico is close enough to much of the United States for a long weekend and large enough that the Caribbean coast, the Pacific coast and the central highlands are effectively different destinations with different seasons.
Most American itineraries head to Cancún and the Riviera Maya, which is understandable given the flight times and the resorts. But the interior — Mexico City, Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende — is a completely different trip and often a more interesting one.
Cities we have guides for
CUN
Cancún
One of the shortest international beach trips from the US
MEX
Mexico City
Two airports with similar names, and 2,240 metres of altitude nobody mentions
GDL
Guadalajara
Mexico's second city, and one of the busiest air corridors to the United States
PVR
Puerto Vallarta
Ten minutes from the airport to the beach, once you get past arrivals
SJD
Los Cabos
Two towns thirty kilometres apart, and an hour between the airport and one of them
Where to go beyond the obvious
The Yucatán and Riviera Maya
Cancún, Tulum, Playa del Carmen and the Mayan sites inland. The most heavily served region from the US and the easiest to reach.
Mexico City and the highlands
A high-altitude capital with world-class museums and food, plus Puebla and San Miguel de Allende nearby. Cool year-round because of the elevation, which surprises people.
Oaxaca
The culinary and craft heart of the country, a short domestic flight from Mexico City. Day of the Dead here in early November is a major draw and books out well ahead.
The Pacific coast
Puerto Vallarta, Cabo and the Oaxacan coast. A different climate pattern from the Caribbean side and generally outside the Atlantic hurricane belt.
When to go
December to April is the dry season on the Caribbean coast and the peak travel period, with the best weather and the highest prices.
Hurricane season in the Atlantic and Caribbean runs from June to November, with the greatest risk from August to October. Travel insurance and flexible bookings matter more in that window.
The central highlands are mild year-round because of the altitude, with a rainy season from roughly June to September that brings afternoon showers rather than washouts.
Getting around
Domestic flights are cheap and frequent and are the practical way to move between regions, which are further apart than they look.
Long-distance buses are comfortable and well organised, particularly the premium services, and are a genuine option in the interior.
A car is useful in the Yucatán for reaching the cenotes and ruins, and less so elsewhere.
The basics
- Currency
- Mexican peso (MXN)
- Language
- Spanish; English is common in resort areas, less so in the interior
- Time zone
- Several zones; Quintana Roo, which includes Cancún, sits an hour ahead of most of the country
- Power
- Types A and B, 127V — the same plugs as the US
- Driving
- On the right
- Entry for US passports
- Short tourist visits generally do not require a visa. Confirm current requirements, including any tourist card or fee, with Mexican immigration before travelling.
Before you book
Cancún is on a different clock
Quintana Roo sits an hour ahead of most of the country and does not observe the same time changes. It catches out people connecting via Mexico City.
Understand hurricane season
June to November on the Caribbean side, with August to October the peak. If you travel then, flexible bookings and insurance are worth the cost.
Mexico City's altitude is real
At over 2,200 metres, the first day or two can leave you short of breath. Take it easy on arrival rather than scheduling a full day.
The interior is a different trip
If you have been to the resorts and found them generic, Mexico City, Oaxaca and the colonial towns are barely the same country.
Routes to Mexico
Flight times are non-stop estimates from great-circle distance. Actual schedules and whether a non-stop exists on your dates come from a live search.
Airport guides
FAQ
Flights to Mexico — common questions
If yours isn't here, just call — we're happy to explain.
When is hurricane season in Mexico?
The Atlantic and Caribbean season runs from June to November, with the highest risk from August to October — that affects Cancún, the Riviera Maya and the Gulf coast. The Pacific coast has a different pattern, and the central highlands are largely unaffected. If you travel in the peak window, flexible bookings and travel insurance are worth the additional cost.
Is Mexico City worth visiting compared with the beach resorts?
It is a completely different trip. Mexico City has world-class museums, some of the best food in the Americas and a mild year-round climate thanks to its altitude, with Puebla, Teotihuacán and San Miguel de Allende nearby. If the resorts have felt interchangeable to you, the interior is barely the same country.
Do I need a visa to visit Mexico?
US passport holders generally do not need a visa for short tourist visits, though there may be a tourist card or entry fee depending on how and where you arrive. Requirements do change, so confirm the current position with Mexican immigration before you travel rather than relying on a previous trip.
Still have a question? We're happy to explain — just call.
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