A quick checklist for your Mexico holiday

UK citizens do not require a visa to visit Mexico. Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay while the Mexican embassy in the UK recommends that passports be valid for at least 180 days after arrival as this is the longest you can stay in Mexico as a tourist.

There are currently no online or paper forms that UK citizens need to complete in order to visit Mexico as a tourist.

However, if you are travelling to or from Mexico via another country, you should also check the entry requirements of that country. Many countries will only allow you entry (or even transit) if you have at least 6 months validity remaining on your passport.

If flying to or from Mexico via the US, UK citizens will, as a minimum, require a ESTA and may even require a full visa. Please check before booking. In addition, if you are travelling to Mexico via the US, please ensure that your passport is stamped on entry and exit.

Non-UK citizens should check entry requirements with their nearest Mexican embassy or consulate.

The Quintana Roo Tourist Tax, also known as Visitax, is a compulsory state tax for international visitors to the state of Quintana Roo. It supports local infrastructure, tourism and environmental protection projects.

Quintana Roo is one of the three states that makes up the Yucatan Peninsula and covers the entire east coast of the region including Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Holbox, Tulum & Laguna Bacalar.

No matter how long you spend in Quintana Roo, the Visitax must be paid online before departing Mexico. As of 2025, the Visitax was 283 per person.

Spanish is the official language of Mexico although English is widely spoken in major tourist hotels and attractions. Naturally, the further off the beaten track one travels, the less likely you are to come across English speakers. In addition to Spanish, there are a number of native Maya dialects that are still spoken within the Yucatan Peninsula.

The Mexican unit of currency is known as the Peso which is further divided into 100 centavos. It is possible to pre-purchase Mexican pesos in the UK, the US and many other countries. Within Mexico, there are ATM’s in all the major towns and tourist destinations.

This is a slightly complicated one. The state of Quintana Roo (which runs down the entire east coast) is 5 hours behind GMT while the states of Yucatan & Campeche (west coast and most of the centre) are both 6 hours behind GMT! Throughout Mexico, Daylight Saving Time commences on the first Sunday in April and ends on the last Sunday in October.

There are no compulsory vaccinations for travel to Mexico. However, before travel, we suggest you speak to your local medical professional or, in the UK, visit the Travel Health Pro website for guidance.

Value for money is a very subjective concept and depends on one’s individual circumstances, where one lives, personal travel experiences etc.

Accommodation prices vary hugely, not just depending on the quality of a hotel but also its location. Hotels at the beach are generally significantly more expensive than those in the interior of the region.

Private tours (ie with one’s own Driver / Guide) certainly aren’t cheap so hiring a car and driving yourself (safe and easy) is definitely worth considering.

Out and about, food and drink prices also vary depending on location with prices at the beach almost always working out significantly higher than in towns & cities in the country.

Standard voltage in Mexico is 127V at a frequency of 60 Hz. If your electrical appliance is rated for 220V or 240V, you may need a voltage converter. However, the vast majority of modern devices with chargers, such as laptops and mobile phones, are designed to work with a wide range of voltages from 100 to 240 volts.

Mexico uses Type A and Type B plugs, the same types found in the US. Type A plugs have two flat parallel pins, while Type B plugs have two flat parallel pins and a round grounding pin.

So, travellers from the UK will need a universal adaptor which are easy to pick up before travel or, if you forget, at the airport on departure. They are much less easy to find in Mexico.

The Yucatan Peninsula is world-famous for its beaches which people flock to from all over the world.

The vast majority of the region’s best beaches (and beach hotels) are located along its east coast, all the way from Cancun in the north to beyond Tulum heading south.

Less developed beaches are also found on the north coast including delightful El Cuyo, the absolute antithesis of Cancun.

The west coast, facing onto the Gulf of Mexico, is still largely undeveloped for beach tourism (and unsuitable in parts) although there are a handful of options.

One can easily spend a month plus in the Yucatan Peninsula and not run out of things to see and do.

However, for travellers who like to mix things up, the Yucatan Peninsula can obviously be combined with other parts of Mexico including its capital, Mexico City. There are multiple flights between Mexico City and both Cancun & Merida while it is even possible to travel overland all the way from Mexico City to the Yucatan Peninsula as part of a private, tailor made tour.

Further afield, there are direct flights between Cancun & Guatemala City as well as nearby Cuba. It is also possible to cross overland into Belize to the south.

From the UK, direct flights to Cancun (the major international gateway to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula) take around 10 hours. Flying indirect, generally via the US or Europe, will typically take around 15 hours.

There are flights to Cancun from all over the world including most major European cities, countless US cities and numerous Central & South American destinations.

The Yucatan Peninsula is a genuine year-round destination although November through April is high season. The weather tends to be better during this period (no guarantees though!) which coincides with the weather being at its worst in the US, Canada & Europe.

As with any tourist destination, hotel prices are at their highest during the high season, especially at the beach, while smaller, more popular hotels may also book out.