Travel tips & useful information

Table of contents

When is the best time to travel?

Which travel guide did we use?

Do I need a visa and how do I enter the country?

Do I need certain vaccinations?

What is the security like in Yucatan?

Which means of Transport should I use?

Do I need a international driving license?

Do I need to know Spanish?

Do I need an Adapter?

What Currency is there and how do I pay locally, do I need a credit card?

How do I get mobile data volume?

Whats typical for Mexican cuisine?

How do I find the best place to stay?

What has to be in the travel first aid kit?

When is the best time to travel?

The best time to visit Yucatán is between November and April. These months are the dry season, meaning the weather is pleasantly warm and largely rain-free.

Temperatures range between 25°C and 30°C, which is perfect for beach visits and exploring. Humidity is lower than in the summer months, making the climate more pleasant.

The dry season has significantly less rainfall than the summer months (June to October), which are considered the rainy season. This makes outdoor activities and sightseeing easier to plan. Hurricane season runs from June to November, with the highest risk between August and October.

The months of December to March are considered peak tourist season. It can get particularly busy around Christmas and Easter, and accommodation and flight prices can rise. Traveling in November and April can be a good option to avoid the crowds while enjoying good weather. Tourist numbers are moderate during these months, and prices can be cheaper.

Which travel guide did we use?

With so many travel guides, it's not easy to keep track and find the best one for you.

We spent a lot of time researching things beforehand and browsed through various travel guides in the library. In the end, we decided on the DuMont travel guide "Yucatán & Chiapas". For us, it had the perfect combination of "insider tips", short, interesting texts about the respective history, and photos to help you better imagine where you're going.

Erscheinungsdatum: 7. September 2022

Do I need a visa and how do I enter the country?

If you are a German citizen, you do not need a visa to enter Mexico. Provided your stay does not exceed 180 days.

However, you do need a passport that is valid for at least six months upon entry.

When entering the country, we were only asked for the address of our first accommodation. So it is best to have this ready. We did not have to present a tourist card (so-called FFM - Forma Migratoria Múltiple), proof of our return journey or sufficient financial means for the duration of our stay.

However, we can only tell you about our experiences with entry. It is advisable to check the current entry regulations on the website of the Federal Foreign Office shortly before your trip, as regulations can change.

Do I need certain vaccinations?

There are no mandatory vaccinations for direct entry from Germany. The Foreign Office recommends vaccinations against hepatitis A, and for long-term stays also against dengue fever, hepatitis B, typhoid and rabies.

If you want to be on the safe side, it is best to go to your GP well in advance of your trip and ask for travel vaccination advice. This way you can be sure that you have all the necessary vaccinations for your trip. Unfortunately, travel vaccination advice is not free. The costs can be between €20 and €60 and are usually not covered by health insurance. Manuel had been vaccinated against hepatitis A at the time.

Compared to previous years, there are currently significantly more cases of dengue fever. Please find out more here in advance and protect yourself adequately with insect repellent when you arrive if a vaccination against dengue fever is not an option for you.

What is the security like in Yucatán?

Die Halbinsel Yucatán in Mexiko gilt im Allgemeinen als eine der sichereren Regionen des Landes, insbesondere im Vergleich zu anderen Teilen Mexikos. Dennoch ist es wichtig, dass du dich vor deiner Reise über die aktuelle Sicherheitslage informierst.

Städte wie Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Mérida und die Insel Cozumel sind beliebte Touristenziele und gelten als relativ sicher. In diesen Gebieten gibt es eine starke Präsenz von Polizei und Sicherheitskräften, um die Sicherheit der Besucher zu gewährleisten. Wie in vielen touristischen Gebieten weltweit solltest du jedoch auch hier wachsam sein und auf Taschendiebstähle und kleinere Kriminalität achten. Es ist ratsam, Wertgegenstände sicher zu verwahren und keine großen Mengen Bargeld mit dir zu führen.

Driving in Yucatán is generally safe, but it is important to drive carefully and follow the traffic rules. Avoid driving at night at all costs, as the streets can be poorly lit and accidents can occur.

We had read and heard a lot about corrupt police officers beforehand, which made us quite uneasy. We struggled for a long time with the idea of ​​traveling through Mexico in a rental car.

From our personal experience, however, we cannot report anything negative. We were not stopped by the police and did not encounter any corrupt police officers. However, we suspected that because it was not peak travel time, it would not have been lucrative enough for the police officers, as there were few tourists, or it was because there were construction sites all over Yucatán and therefore a lot of people because of the "Tren Maya". Would you like to know more about the Mayan train?

However, we recommend that you only drive during the day, obey the traffic rules and hide your cash well. When we withdrew a little more cash, Julia hid most of it in her bra.

How should I behave if I am stopped by the police or encounter corrupt police officers?

We can only tell you what was recommended to us: pull over to the side of the road and follow the police officer's instructions. It is usually helpful if you can speak a few sentences of Spanish. In our experience, Mexicans were much friendlier and more open if you tried to speak a few words of Spanish.

You are often accused of speeding, even if you have kept to the speed limit. You are usually then asked to pay a horrendous sum before you can continue driving, otherwise you have to go to the police station or hand over your driver's license. Here is a tip: always hide your original driver's license and carry an international driver's license with you. If you have to hand it in, it is absolutely no problem. You can tell the police officer that you do not have that much money with you, just 200 pesos, for example. It is best to show him your wallet straight away to underline your credibility. Therefore, always hide the rest of the money well. We cannot guarantee that you will get off lightly.

Which means of transport should I use?

Rental car

We decided to rent a car for our round trip. This is the most flexible way to do it and you can easily transport your luggage from A to B.

Before our trip we often had concerns about whether we could do it, as we had read many negative reports about corrupt police officers and poor road conditions. However, we did not have any bad experiences. The roads are largely well developed. You get the impression that this is "due" to the Mayan train. You just have to keep an eye out for potholes.

After a lot of research, we decided on the provider "Sunny Car" and can only recommend it. You sign a contract with a German provider and therefore your claim in the event of any breakdowns etc. is also subject to German law. Even if the prices are a little more expensive, we thought it was worth every cent. Our mid-range car did not have very many kilometers on it and was in great shape. So we did not have to worry about the car falling apart at the first pothole. The trunk was also completely separate from the seating area, so you can safely leave your luggage in the car on short trips.

Find out about the traffic rules beforehand and be sure to follow them.

Public bus

If you don't have a rental car, you can also use the largest local bus company - ADO Busses. Here you have reliable connections between large cities and tourist destinations.

There is also the option of using shared taxis, so-called colectivos. We have heard a lot of positive things about them. You get on at any stop by raising your hand and pay the driver in cash. This is an inexpensive alternative to expensive taxis. However, you will mainly only be able to use colectivos for shorter routes.

Taxis

There are of course taxis on site, but we wouldn't recommend that. The prices are ridiculously expensive. If you do need a taxi, you should "negotiate" the price in advance.

Guided Tours

Many tour operators offer organized tours to attractions such as Chichén Itzá, Tulum, and the cenotes, allowing for stress-free travel.

Cancún Airport Transfers

This provider was worth its weight in gold for us. We had to return our rental car in Cancún and wanted to go from there to Isla Mujeres and then to a hotel near Tulum. Since we didn't want to pay for expensive taxis, but also didn't want to rely on a bus or colectivo, we decided on this Transfer. We were able to easily book our trips online and get a price. If you request multiple trips, you can negotiate the price a little. We did this easily via WhatsApp (+52 9984102992).

Do I need an international driving license?

The Foreign Office only recommends that you get an international driving license.

However, we recommend a clear YES! to an international driving license. Especially if you get stopped by the police and encounter corrupt police officers. Would you like to know why?

Click here.

Do I need to know Spanish?

Yes and no. You will get very far with English on the Yucatán Peninsula and will be able to communicate in most cases. However, we have had personal experience that the local people, especially the Mexicans themselves, are much friendlier and more helpful if you approach them with a warm "¡Buenos días! ¿Cómo estás?" which means something like "Hello, how are you?"

Manuel downloaded and subscribed to the Babbel app 3 months before the trip and was able to communicate very well on site with the vocabulary he had learned up to that point.

Do I need an adapter?

Yes, you definitely need a type A and B socket adapter.

The mains voltage in Mexico is just 110 or 120 volts and the mains frequency is 60 hertz. In Europe, the mains voltage is 230 volts. Therefore, you should check before your trip which of your devices you can use in Mexico. We didn't do that and therefore lugged our travel hairdryer around for 25 days for nothing. It's best to take two adapters with you.

What currency is there? How do I pay locally and do I need a credit card?

In Mexico, payment is made using the Mexican currency, which is called Peso (MXN). Before our trip, we downloaded the “Currency Converter” app and downloaded the currencies EURO, Pesos and Dollar offline. This way, you can check how much you are paying at any time during your trip, even without internet access, using the current exchange rate.

Before the trip, we opened a joint account with comdirect and applied for a credit card. With this credit card, we were able to withdraw money 3 times for free (comdirect does not charge a fee). However, most banks in Mexico charge a fee for withdrawals on site. You cannot avoid this and you will not get it reimbursed by your bank. We preferred to withdraw money from HSBC and Santander Bank. You can certainly withdraw money from other ATMs too. However, we have found that the fee was lowest at these ATMs.

In the vast majority of cases, your credit card will also be accepted when paying. However, it is always advisable to have some cash with you. Especially if you want to try the delicacies at the street food stalls. The rule here is: cash is king.

Tip: Never change your money directly at the airport. The exchange rate here is usually terrible. You also don't have to change EUROs into pesos in Germany beforehand. You can do all of this in a relaxed manner in Mexico.

How do I get mobile data volume?

If you want a SIM card with mobile data volume, you can simply go to a local Oxxo store and ask for a SIM card at the checkout. We had the Telcel card, which we can highly recommend. It's best to have the card installed directly at the checkout. At first we felt a little uneasy about handing our smartphone over to a complete stranger and letting them fiddle around with it. But this way everything was set up correctly straight away. We initially had problems getting social media to work.

What is typical of Mexican cuisine?

Mexican and especially Yucatecan cuisine has a lot to offer. We'll tell you what you definitely shouldn't miss here:

Food:

Cochinita Pibil: An absolute classic of Yucatecan cuisine. It is marinated pork cooked in banana leaves and given a unique flavor by the special preparation with achiote paste (red annatto seeds), orange juice and other spices.

Sopa de Lima: A refreshing lime soup with chicken or turkey, typical of the region. It is light and aromatic and often served with tortilla strips and avocado.

Empanadas de Queso: Small dumplings filled with Edam cheese and often served with sweet or spicy sauces.

Tacos: Soft corn or wheat tortillas filled with a variety of ingredients such as roasted meat, al pastor (marinated pork), fish or shrimp, accompanied by fresh ingredients such as onions, cilantro, salsa and lime wedges.

Enchiladas: Corn tortillas filled with meat (often chicken or beef), rolled and covered with a spicy sauce (usually red chili sauce), sprinkled with cheese and baked.

Buritos: Large flour tortillas are filled with beans, rice, meat, cheese and/or vegetables and then wrapped. They are handy and are often served with sauces, guacamole, salsa or sour cream.

Guacamole: A cream of avocado mixed with tomatoes, onions, coriander, lime juice and sometimes chilies, served with tortilla chips.

Marquesitas: These sweet crepes are especially popular in Mérida. They are filled with Edam or Gouda cheese and then refined with various toppings such as Nutella, peanut butter, bananas or other sweets.

Drinks:

Tequila: It is made from the blue agave and comes mainly from the region around the city of Tequila in Jalisco.

Mezcal: Counterpart to tequila and is made from various types of agave. Mezcal has a smokier taste than tequila.

Agua Fresca: A refreshing mixture of water, fruit, sugar and lemon juice. Popular varieties include Agua de Jamaica (made from hibiscus flowers), Agua de Tamarindo (made from tamarind) and Agua de Horchata (rice milk).

Agua de Chaya: Agua de Chaya is a traditional drink from Yucatán made from the leaves of the chaya plant. The chaya plant is a nutritious leafy vegetable that has been used in Mayan culture for centuries and is considered particularly healthy and healing. It is prepared with chaya leaves, water, lemon or lime juice and sugar.

Cocktails: There are also all kinds of cocktails in Mexico. The most famous is probably the Margarita. This consists of tequila or mezcal, triple sec (or another orange liqueur, such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier) and lime juice.

Beer (Spanish: Cerveza): Of course, you can find beer everywhere. The most common are Sol or Corona. Manuel's favorite was Dos Equís.

Tipp: You'd better not drink the tap water in Mexico!

Tip:

Tipping (in Spanish: propina) is customary in Mexico. In restaurants, it is usually around 10-15% of the bill, depending on the quality of service.

How do I find the best place to stay?

In most cases we opted for hotels or booked apartments. We booked the accommodation via Booking.com, AirBnB and Check24. It's definitely worth comparing prices here.

Once you have planned your travel route, it is often helpful to search for the places on Instagram to find possible accommodations.

You can find out which accommodations we chose, how much they cost and whether we would recommend them under the individual travel stops.

What absolutely has to be in the travel first aid kit?

We don't usually take a lot of medication with us, but this time we wanted to be on the safe side as we had a tight schedule and didn't want to end up in bed with stomach problems. But please check with your doctor before you travel.

Must-Haves:

• Charcoal tablets (for diarrhea and acute oral poisoning)

• Tannacomp film-coated tablets (for acute diarrhea and for the prevention and treatment of traveler's diarrhea)

• Paracetamol (for fever and pain)

• Buscopan plus (for stomach pain, abdominal cramps & period pain)

• Elotrans powder (electrolyte-glucose mixture for diarrhea)

• GeloMyrtol (for coughs, colds and pressure headaches)

• Fenestil

• Zinc ointment

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