1. Traveling by bus is safe, but the distances can be very long. Mexico has good bus companies that offer intercity services with comfort and quality, such as ADO and OCC, for low prices. However, it’s also worth taking a look at plane tickets, as the country’s distances are immense and it’s easy to spend 19 hours sitting in a bus seat. Mexicans rely on low-cost airlines, such as Viva Airbus and Interjet, and often a plane ticket can be just a little more expensive than land transport.
2. Don’t trust the Mexican palate. If someone there tells you that a dish isn’t spicy, it’s almost certainly a lot spicier than you’re used to. But if a Mexican tells you that a dish is very spicy, don’t even dare try it (or yes, if you’re a fan of the heat). Luckily, the less resistant have good alternatives in Mexico, as pepper or chili are often in the sauces used for seasoning and are not cooked together with the main dish. This way, each person adjusts the level of spiciness they can handle. In addition, they usually have two or three sauce options with different heat, the weakest one is usually easy to handle.
3. Take dollars. Debit and credit cards are not always accepted, sometimes not even in the nicest and most modern establishments. This is even more valid if you are venturing into the interior of the country. Therefore, you should always have cash in your wallet, and the best way to get your pesos is by exchanging dollars at exchange offices. Don’t even try exchanging reais directly for pesos in Brazil, as the exchange rate here for currencies with little outflow is quite unfavorable. By exchanging dollars, you also avoid the high fees charged by ATMs and your card provider. Go without fear, you can even change at Mexico City airport, if you enter the country through the capital. The price there is practically the same as for houses in the center.
4. Explore popular cuisine. Go beyond tacos. Don’t be afraid of public markets, street food, taquerias and fondas – small family restaurants. In these places you will find authentic and tasty Mexican food, which is far from limited to the famous tacos and burritos. Tlayudas, pies, tamales, nopales, mole, chicarrones (cracklings), gorditas, quesadillas (which, no, don’t come with cheese) and enchiladas are just some of the dishes that will appear on the menus of restaurants across the country. And it’s worth exploring the options and going beyond common sense to discover the rich flavors that make up one of the tastiest cuisines in the world (in my humble opinion). By the way, tequila is not the only national drink either. Give mezcal and pulque a try.
Read too: Typical dishes of Mexican cuisine.
5. Prepare for the weather. Mexico may have a reputation for being a tropical country, but it is not. At least not completely. Although some parts, especially the coast, are hot all year round, it is possible that you will face temperatures of more than 30 degrees one day, and less than 10 the next day, just for having moved a few hundred kilometers. Mexico City is in a high altitude region and, therefore, has cold and dry months during the winter (between October and February). Temperatures are also lower at this time in San Cristóbal de las Casas. Therefore, if you are going to travel a lot around the country, it is worth checking the climate of each destination and putting together a versatile suitcase. In the summer months, the heat is widespread and humidity tends to rise. Bring plenty of light clothing made from breathable fabrics, such as cotton.
6. Give the Pacific Coast a try. It’s difficult to escape common sense and not think of Cancún when talking about beaches in Mexico, but the experience can be quite disappointing for those looking for something more authentic than a tropical theme park for foreigners. Dominated by luxury resorts, the Atlantic coast of Mexico has long lost its authenticity and has that “made for tourists to see” look. Crossing the country, however, the beaches bathed by the Pacific are still immune to mass tourism.
Read too: Puerto Escondido, a surfing paradise on the Pacific coast of Mexico.
7. Immerse yourself in the country’s incredible diversity. One of the most fascinating things about Mexico is the diversity of people and cultures that have inhabited its territory since pre-colonial times and the richness of its history. Far beyond the Mayans and Aztecs, Mexico still preserves 68 original languages, hundreds of pre-Hispanic ruins from different peoples and cultural and gastronomic traditions to be discovered that change with each state. Dedicate time to discover this diversity, the accents, the seasoning of the food and the history behind each ruin you visit.
Muxes, the third genus in the state of Oaxaca, are an example of the country’s incredible diversity
8. Corona is not the national beer there. Mexicans simply don’t understand why this beer is so famous in the rest of the world. There, the bars’ favorite brands are Indio and Tecate, but the country also has an excellent production of craft beers that any brewer will love.
9. Take advantage of the off-season in spring and fall. The months of March, April, May, September, October, November are the cheapest times to travel in Mexico. Take advantage of the good weather and the empty spaces, especially if you want to visit mega-tourist places, such as the Riviera Maya.
10. Leave a 10% tip at bars and restaurants. It is an unwritten rule, but one that is widely respected among Mexicans. The amount doesn’t appear on the note and needs to be calculated and added by you when paying the bill, but it’s a little bad to leave without leaving the waiter’s 10%. Street stalls and taxi drivers generally do not require a tip.
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