Yucatán Peninsula : Formalities and administrative procedures

Yucatán Peninsula : Organize your stay

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.

Yucatán Peninsula : Daily life

Hello? Yucatán Peninsula

Mexico's country code is +52. The area codes for the peninsula's main cities are: Mérida 999, Campeche 981 and Cancún 998. To make a call from abroad to Mexico: 00 52 + area code + digits of the local number (7 or 8 as appropriate). To a cell phone: 00 52 + 1 + the 10-digit mobile number. To call Mexico from a landline to a local landline, simply enter the 7- or 8-digit local number. From one state to another, dial: 01 + area code + local number (7 or 8 digits). To call a mobile from a cell phone, simply enter the 10-digit number. From a mobile to a landline: area code + number. From a landline to a mobile in the same region: 044 + number; to a different region: 045 + number. Most large companies in Mexico, including hotels and bus companies, have a toll-free number. All toll-free numbers have the same structure, consisting of 12 digits and starting with 01 800.

Calling from your French mobile while roaming is often very expensive. As soon as you arrive in the country, it's a good idea to buy a local SIM in a phone store. If necessary, we can even unlock your smartphone to make it compatible with the SIM cards of local operators (Movistar, Telcel, AT&T...). If this isn't possible, you can buy a budget phone for around twenty euros. Count on the equivalent of €5 for the purchase of a SIM with a small communication credit "offered", which you will then need to top up online or in an Oxxo supermarket, for example. Activate mobile data and choose a data plan for Internet access. You'll then be able to access the WhatsApp application that everyone uses to call or send messages to each other (much more widely used than the classic cell phone channel). You can use it to book hotels, or make free calls to friends and family in France or elsewhere. You can also use apps like Waze, Google Map or Maps.Me to get around more easily. Most hotels offer free Wifi, so take advantage of it.

Accessibility Yucatán Peninsula

Although Mexico still has a lot of work to do in this area, more and more hotels, restaurants, some ecological theme parks and some archaeological sites have ramps and facilities for people with reduced mobility. The main difficulty remains getting around town, with sidewalks in poor condition that are not designed to be accessible to everyone (whether in a wheelchair or with a stroller), or accessing public transportation such as buses. Fortunately, the kindness of the Mexicans makes it possible to get out of sometimes complex situations.

Health Yucatán Peninsula

There's nothing to panic about when it comes to health on the Yucatán Peninsula. Despite being in the tropics, the region is quite healthy. However, you should follow the general hygiene recommendations to avoid the risk of catching tourista (traveller's diarrhoea): don't drink tap water, prefer bottled water, avoid fruit juices with water and ice cubes in remote areas; if you eat in markets or puestos, make sure your dish is well cooked and avoid raw vegetables (which can be washed with dirty water). No such problem in the more formal restaurants and cafés. Other advice: watch out for sunburn and sunstroke, and any minor injuries that can quickly become infected. Protect yourself as much as possible against mosquitoes (with covering clothing and a good repellent), which can carry certain diseases such as dengue fever (especially from July to September), and more rarely Zika, chikungunya and malaria (no need for anti-malarial treatment if you're not venturing deep into the jungle). Beware of bugs too, including scorpions, poisonous snakes, lion fish(pez león), or the impressive American crocodiles!

To obtain the contact details of a French-speaking medical specialist, the French Embassy recommends contacting its medical advisors, who will direct you to qualified colleagues. Contacts Dr. Alberto AZNAR (tel. 044 55 8581 2118); Dr. Raymundo NUÑEZ (tel. 044 55 5409 1694).

Emergency numbers Yucatán Peninsula

911 is the national number for reporting any emergency situation: accident, fire, assault, etc. It can be called free of charge 24 hours a day, from any landline, cell phone or payphone.

Securty Yucatán Peninsula

Mexico is a very violent country, but this violence rarely affects tourists, especially in the Yucatán Peninsula, a region with a reputation for safety. Of course, you should be careful not to provoke thieves by following common sense rules that apply everywhere: don't leave your belongings unattended in a bar or on a deserted beach; don't show off your jewelry, smartphone or greenbacks, and leave your passport in a safe place. Do not camp on the beach or in unsupervised areas; avoid driving at night on isolated roads; do not go to certain bad neighborhoods; do not buy, consume or transport drugs. As far as nature activities are concerned, it is best to use the services of a certified guide to explore the natural reserves; do not dive alone and use responsible agencies, even if they are a little more expensive, especially for water or air sports; do not swim in a storm or tropical storm, or tempt the devil in areas where the presence of crocodiles is reported...

LGBTQ Yucatán Peninsula

Homosexuality is legal in Mexico. Same-sex marriage is currently permitted in a majority of the country's states, including Campeche and Quintana Roo, and since 2016, a state ban on gay marriage has been considered unconstitutional. But outside the big cities and the most touristy seaside resorts, where more and more gay-friendly establishments can be found , the subject remains taboo, and it's not advisable for two men to walk hand in hand in public. As for the rest, the fact that you're a foreigner will certainly protect you from the usual taunts. But not always... In February 2021, a gay couple were arrested and handcuffed by police on a Cancún beach for the simple act of kissing. Faced with pressure from other tourists over the scandal, the couple were eventually released.

Embassies and consulates Yucatán Peninsula

The French embassy (www.ambafrance-mx.org) is located in Mexico City, as are the embassies of Belgium, Switzerland and Canada. France has 17 consular offices in Mexico, including Cancún (mx.ambafrance.org/Playa-del-Carmen-Cancun) and Mérida (mx.ambafrance.org/Merida), managed by honorary consuls. These are the people to contact if you have any problems during your stay. To facilitate any necessary formalities (loss of passport, etc.) or to be notified by telephone or e-mail in the event of a serious crisis in the country (political crisis, earthquake, hurricane, etc.), French nationals can register online on the Ariane website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fildariane). For a stay of more than 6 months, we recommend registering with the register of French nationals established outside France, also online.

Mail Yucatán Peninsula

Postal mail is not used much in Mexico anymore and there is usually only one post office(Correos) in the cities. It costs $13.5 to send a letter (20g) or postcard to Europe, and takes between two and three weeks to arrive. For an emergency, it is recommended to use an express service like DHL, UPS or FedEx.

Local media Yucatán Peninsula

Two large companies own and operate most of the television channels in Mexico: Televisa and TV Azteca. This duopoly plays the role of the fourth estate in Mexico, openly favouring certain candidates during election periods. Most TV channels are dominated by a mercantile logic, their objective being to generate maximum profits through advertising. The programmes are therefore interspersed with hundreds of advertisements and have no educational or informative purpose. The programming consists mainly of football and boxing matches, North American films and series and telenovelas. The Mexican print media has more than 300 national and local newspaper titles, which are generally of much higher quality than television. Most of the newspapers' income comes from government advertising, so many of them are forced to censor themselves to obtain the funds they need to operate. The three most important national dailies in Mexico are La Jornada (www.jornada.com.mx) with a left-wing editorial line, El Universal (www.eluniversal.com.mx), which is more centrist, and Reforma (www.reforma.com), which is more right-wing. Radio is probably the most democratic medium in Mexico, as there are many community and local radio stations that broadcast independent news. One of the most listened to radio programs at the national level is that of Carmen Aristegui, who broadcasts from her own web portal (aristeguinoticias.com) after being fired for exposing a corruption scandal involving former president Enrique Peña Nieto. It should be noted that journalism in Mexico is dangerous. According to Reporters Without Borders, Mexico is the world's deadliest country for journalists, after Afghanistan and Syria. Since 2006, more than 150 journalists have been killed there and 99 per cent of these crimes go unpunished.