Organize your stay Yucatán Peninsula
Money Yucatán Peninsula
Mexico's currency is the peso, represented by the $ symbol (MXN). Please note that the $ symbol is the same as that used for the U.S. dollar. In this guide, to avoid confusion, we use $ for peso and US$ for North American dollar. Currency in circulation comes in the form of banknotes (20, 50, 100, 200, 500 pesos) and coins (10, 20, 50 centavos and 1, 2, 5, 10 pesos). 500 peso bills are often difficult to use, especially for small purchases. Cab drivers, for example, are often short of change. You should therefore think about getting 50 or 100 peso bills.
The exchange rate in August 2024: €1 = $21.31; $100 = €4.69. 1 US$ = $19.12; $100 = $5.23 US$. It's easier to change dollars than euros, but you can still easily change euros in major cities and tourist centers, at banks or casas de cambio (exchange offices). For card withdrawals and payments, the exchange rate is generally more attractive than the rates charged at exchange bureaus, but bank charges must be taken into account - check with your bank.
Budget & Tips Yucatán Peninsula
Mexico is a relatively inexpensive country. The standard of living in Mexico is low overall, with great inequalities: the difference in standards between those who have money and those who don't is striking. In the country of Carlos Slim (one of the richest men on the planet), the minimum wage is around US$5 a day, but a large part of the population working in the informal sector doesn't even reach this. The middle class is in the minority, and the Western traveller is often regarded by Mexicans as a rich person. Indeed, the average vacation budget of foreigners is often higher than the monthly (or even annual) salary of a large majority of Mexicans.
Budget. Although the Yucatán Peninsula, and in particular the Mexican Caribbean, remains one of Mexico's most expensive regions, you can find very decent rooms in youth hostels for less than €10 per person, breakfast included. Higher-quality hotels also offer good-value rooms (around €50 a night for two), especially outside school vacations and on weekdays. It's also sometimes cheaper to pay in cash, rather than by card. Meals are no different. It's easy to eat locally for less than $100 (€4). Finally, the biggest part of the budget will most certainly be spent on transport. First-class buses charge around 100 pesos per 100 km, and a 4-hour trip from Cancún to Mérida costs $450 in first class. As for renting a car, you'll need to spend the same budget as you would for a European destination, even if gas is cheaper in Mexico. But it's still the best way to get around the peninsula.
Tipping. In restaurants and cafés, it's customary to leave the waiter at least 10% of the bill. The propina is also appreciated by guides and hotel staff.
Haggling. This is not particularly an institution in Mexico. It takes place in tourist markets, when a lot of purchases are made. To be on the safe side, prefer pesos to dollars. On the other hand, don't forget that handicrafts and embroidered fabrics require a certain amount of work. Don't try to buy the most beautiful huipil on the corner for the price of a T-shirt made in China - it's a lack of consideration for the craftsman, who often takes it badly, and rightly so!
Passport and visas Yucatán Peninsula
All travellers to Mexico must be in possession of a passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry, and a return ticket is generally required. Europeans and Canadians do not need a visa for tourist travel, but every adult entering Mexico will be issued a tourist card, the FFM(Forma Migratoria Múltiple). This document, which must be stamped with the date of entry, should be kept handy throughout your stay. It will be required in the event of an inspection and when leaving the country. The FFM allows you to stay in Mexico for a maximum of 180 days, but migration officers sometimes indicate a shorter stay (usually 90 days) on the card. If you wish to stay between 90 and 180 days, don't hesitate to ask the migration officer. When entering Mexico by land, make sure that customs officials stamp your passport, as well as the FFM form. In some places, you can enter Mexico without showing your passport, which can be detrimental when you leave... To stay longer than 180 days as a tourist, you can simply leave the country and re-enter, in Belize or Guatemala for example. Alternatively, you can apply to the Instituto Nacional de Migración (www.gob.mx/inm) for an extension of your stay.
Driver's license Yucatán Peninsula
A French, Belgian, Swiss or Canadian driver's license is valid for driving in Mexico. An international driver's license is not required, but can be useful when faced with an overzealous (not to say corrupt) traffic officer. Residents over the age of 18 can easily purchase a license with their passport, resident card and a fee that varies from state to state, but remains in the region of a few dozen euros.
Health Yucatán Peninsula
First advice: protect yourself from insect bites by covering your body (clothes, mosquito net) and with a good repellent (those sold locally are effective). Mosquitoes can transmit dengue, zika and chikungunya. Malaria is very rare in the peninsula. Also beware of the rare venomous snakes and more scorpions (shake your clothes or shoes before putting them on). In the same way, it is necessary to be attentive with the small boo-boos which are easily superinfected in tropical environment, and with the sun rays much, even under the clouds. Another health problem to which travellers are exposed is "turista", or traveller's diarrhoea. To avoid it, do not drink tap water, prefer bottled water. If possible, buy them in bags of several liters or in cans and refill your water bottle, it is more ecological and economical. If you decide to eat in the markets or on the street, be aware that food (especially chicken) is rarely refrigerated and the raw vegetables that accompany the dishes may not be washed in the best way. So make sure that the food is well cooked and avoid raw vegetables in these places. In a more formal restaurant, fresh salad, rare meat or raw fish are no more likely to be eaten than elsewhere. In case you fall victim to the "revenge of Moctezuma", don't panic, you can cure this illness with a spartan diet: remember to stay well hydrated, prefer rice, bananas, grilled meat (and well cooked!) or rusks with honey, drink a lot of water and stay quietly in the hotel if the intestinal cramps are frequent. If the pain persists and is accompanied by fever, there may be a risk of dysentery (blood and/or mucus in the stools); if it does not disappear on its own after a few days, consult a doctor who will prescribe the appropriate antibiotics.
Mandatory vaccination Yucatán Peninsula
No vaccinations are compulsory, but it is recommended to be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, polio and hepatitis A, plus hepatitis B, typhoid and rabies for those planning a more adventurous stay in remote areas. Vaccination against yellow fever is not compulsory, except for travelers coming from exposed areas in Africa or Latin America.
Security Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula is one of Mexico's safest regions. However, like all tourist areas, it is affected by petty crime. So it's best to remain vigilant, whether on a deserted beach or in a discotheque. The usual rules of caution apply: don't show off your jewelry, your smartphone, your wallet... Wild camping is strongly discouraged, even in specially equipped vehicles, as are unguarded campsites. It's also a good idea not to linger in bars at night, especially if you're alone, and to avoid high-risk areas such as city suburbs, remote villages or little-traveled roads and tracks.
Mexico is no joke when it comes to drugs. Penalties for trafficking, buying, selling and supplying drugs, whatever the type, range from ten to twenty-five years' imprisonment...
Finally, any leisure activity also involves a risk. Beaches in Mexico are rarely supervised, so it's advisable not to swim or dive alone. Even if most tourist operators on the peninsula offer a high standard of service (due to competition), it's a good idea to remain attentive and check the quality of the equipment supplied by the service providers.
For the latest information on local safety, consult the "Conseils aux voyageurs" section of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs. Bear in mind, however, that the site provides an exhaustive list of potential dangers, which sometimes gives a rather alarmist picture of the real situation in the country.
Time difference Yucatán Peninsula
Mexico spans three time zones. As far as the Yucatán Peninsula is concerned, the states of Campeche and Yucatán are 7 hours ahead all year round (except for a one-week gap at the end of March and beginning of November, due to different time change dates). The state of Quintana Roo remains on summer time all year round. The time difference with France is therefore 6 hours in winter and 7 hours in summer.
Spoken languages Yucatán Peninsula
Spanish is spoken by 99% of Mexicans. There are also 68 indigenous languages, including Mayan, which is spoken in the Yucatán Peninsula and has many dialects. In the tourism sector, more and more Mexicans speak English and some French.
Communication Yucatán Peninsula
Telephone and Internet coverage is generally good in the larger towns and tourist resorts of the Yucatán Peninsula, but less so in remote areas. Most hotels and cafés offer free wifi. If you haven't yet installed WhatsApp, you'll need to think about it: in Mexico, this application is much more widely used than the traditional cell phone system, both for sending messages and photos or videos, and for voice calls. It's particularly handy for booking hotels or contacting your loved ones in France free of charge as soon as you have a connection. If your smartphone is unlocked, instead of using your operator's roaming service, buy a SIM card(chip) from a local company (Movistar, Telcel, AT&T...). At around $100 to $150 (sometimes the SIM is even free), you'll receive a small amount of communication credit, which you'll need to top up online or at convenience stores. Activate mobile data and choose a data plan to get Internet access in all areas covered by your operator. If your mobile doesn't accept Mexican SIM cards, you can either try to have it unlocked locally for a small fee in a phone store, or buy a basic phone with a SIM card for around $500.
Electricity and measurements Yucatán Peninsula
The local electrical outlets are 110 volts, 60 cycles, North American type. It is therefore necessary to bring an adapter, as the plugs are of a different gauge and type than those found in Europe. They are easily found locally (and less expensively) in large retail stores and electricians. Power cuts can occur in case of heavy rain, but rarely last more than a few hours. As for weights and measures, Mexico uses the metric and kilogram systems.
Luggage Yucatán Peninsula
Generally speaking, we recommend that you don't pack too much, as this will make getting around easier and leave you with a few kilos to take home as souvenirs. Most hotels offer a fast laundry service. Because of the heat and humidity, bring light, loose-fitting clothing that dries easily, including long-sleeved T-shirts or shirts (for protection against mosquitoes), and an anti-UV T-shirt for snorkeling. If you've forgotten your swimsuit or flip-flops, you'll be spoilt for choice in the local stores. But don't forget your favorite wool and a chèche, which comes in handy on buses with freezing air-conditioning. A few accessories are always useful: headlamp, Swiss Army knife, lighter, padlock, power adapter, Quies® plugs, hat and sunglasses, light umbrella (for both rain and sun), light hiking hammock, waterproof bag for camera or smartphone, spare SD card and USB key to store your photos as you go along, binoculars... Don't forget mask and snorkel, or buy them locally to avoid having to rent them every time. For your first-aid kit, take along solutions for intestinal problems and heartburn (such as Immodium, ideal for long bus journeys, or Spasfon Lyoc, for example; the Mexicans use Pepto Bismo syrup, sold over the counter, which also works very well). Biodegradable sunscreen and natural mosquito repellents (often more effective than those sold in Europe) are also available in major cities and tourist resorts. Don't forget to take a tube of Biafine for sunburn.
