Trip readiness checklist for Mexico
Beach towns, Mexico City's food scene, or Mayan ruins inland — know the entry rules, safety basics, and what to pack before you go.
Build my checklistEntry rules for a US passport
Visa-free up to 180 days
Up to 180 days as a visitor, but the officer sets the number and often writes far fewer; check your entry stamp or FMM before you leave the airport.
- US passport valid for your whole stay (six months' validity is the safe habit; some airlines enforce it at check-in even where the country doesn't)
- The FMM tourist form: many airports now issue it digitally or stamp the passport instead; keep whatever you're given, you may need it to leave
- Proof of onward or return travel — a booking on your phone is enough
- Hotel or host address for the form
Source: U.S. Department of State, checked September 14, 2026. Other passports get their own answer in the app. Confirm at the official source before you book.
What to pack
Mexico is sun, street food, and serious history. Pack light cottons, real sun protection, and a slightly dressier option for nights out — and never drink the tap water.
Sun protection that works
Strong sun year-round, especially on the coasts. Hat, sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen.
Light, breathable clothing
Hot and humid in much of the country; linen and cotton win.
A light layer for evenings and AC
Highland cities like Mexico City cool off at night, and buses crank the air conditioning.
Comfortable walking shoes
Ruins, cobbled colonial towns, and big cities all mean a lot of steps.
When to go
Winter (Dec–Apr) is dry, warm, and peak — especially the beach resorts; spring break (Mar) packs the coasts. Summer is hotter and wetter, with hurricane season on the coasts running Jun–Nov. Shoulder months trade a little rain for fewer crowds.
Money & getting around
Mexico runs on the peso (MXN). Cards work in cities and resorts, but carry cash for markets, street food, and small towns. Tipping matters here — around 10–15% in restaurants, plus a few pesos for the many people who help you out. Stick to bottled or purified water.
Local quirks worth knowing
Mexico is warm, unhurried, and personal. Greet first, rush never, and follow the locals' lead on where to eat.
Greet before business
A 'buenos días' opens every interaction — shops, taxis, market stalls. Skipping it is the gringo tell.
The busy stall is the safe stall
For street food, join the longest local line. High turnover means fresh — and delicious is usually attached.
The bill comes when you ask
Bringing it unrequested is considered rude, so it won't happen. 'La cuenta, por favor' when ready.
Paper in the bin
In many bathrooms, toilet paper goes in the wastebasket, not the bowl. The sign (or the bin's placement) will tell you.
A week in Mexico, the list starts here
Quantities scale with your dates, the weather groups arrive once we have your travel days, and your own plans add their gear on Trip Pass.
- Passport & travel documents1
- Phone charger & adapter1
- Wallet, cards & some local cash1
- Toiletries bag1
- Any daily medicationsenough for the trip
- Underwear7
- Socks7
- T-shirts / tops5
What am I forgetting?
A real answer from Trip Happens for a sample week in Mexico, departing in five weeks with a checked bag and nothing packed yet. Yours is built from your own trip.
A week in Mexico City, five weeks out. Three gaps.
- 1.
Proof of onward travel
The entry guide says you need a return or onward booking and your host address for the FMM form. Save both to your phone now, and keep whatever the airport gives you — stamp or digital form — since you may need it to leave.
- 2.
Pesos and small change
Cards work in the city, but markets, street food and the many small helpers along the way run on cash, and tipping sits around 10–15%. Plan how you'll get pesos, and stick to bottled or purified water for the whole seven nights.
- 3.
Sun cover and one smart outfit
Your packing list has the basics but nothing for strong sun or a dressier night out, both of which Mexico City asks for. Add real sun protection and one better shirt or dress, and keep a day's essentials in your carry-on since the bag is checked.
Entry, advisories & health
These change. Confirm at the official source before you book.
Entry and visa requirements depend on your nationality. Confirm the current rules for Mexico with the official source below before you book.
U.S. State Department travel advisory for Mexico — check the current level and any alerts before you go.
CDC traveler health page for Mexico — recommended vaccines, health notices, and a packing checklist.
Get the full Mexico checklist
Add your dates and passport and we build the complete, checkable list: weather-aware packing, crowd forecasts, entry rules for your passport, and free advisory alerts if anything changes before you fly. Free, no sign-up needed.
Start my trip