Organize your stay Yucatán Peninsula
Covid-19 : current situation Yucatán Peninsula
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, entry and travel restrictions may apply Yucatán Peninsula. Remember to visit the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you leave for the latest information
Money Yucatán Peninsula
The currency of Mexico is the peso, represented by the $ symbol (MXN). Please note that the $ symbol is the same as that used for the US dollar. In this guide, to avoid confusion, we use $ for peso and US$ for North American dollar. The currency in circulation comes in the form of bills (20, 50, 100, 200, 500 pesos) and coins (10, 20, 50 centavos and 1, 2, 5, 10 pesos). The 500 peso bills are often difficult to use, especially for small purchases. Cab drivers often have little change, for example. It is therefore necessary to think about getting 50 or 100 peso bills.
The exchange rate in September 2022: 1 € = $19.80; $100 = €5.05. 1 US$ = $19.95; $100 = $5.01 It is easier to change dollars than euros, but you can still easily change euros in the major cities and tourist centers, in banks or casas de cambio (exchange offices). For withdrawals and payments by card, the exchange rate is generally more interesting than the rates charged in the exchange offices, but you have to take into account the bank fees, ask your bank.
Budget & Tips Yucatán Peninsula
Mexico is a relatively cheap country. The standard of living in Mexico is generally low, with great inequalities: the difference in standards between those who have money and those who do not is striking. In the country of Carlos Slim (one of the richest men in the world), the minimum wage is about US$ 5 per day, but a large part of the population working in the informal sector does not even reach it. The middle class is in the minority and the western traveller is often considered by Mexicans as a rich person. Indeed, the average holiday 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 especially the Mexican Caribbean, remains one of the most expensive regions in Mexico, you can find very decent rooms in hostels for less than €10 per person, including breakfast. Some higher quality hotels also offer good value rooms (around €50 per night for two), especially outside school holidays and on weekdays. It is also sometimes cheaper to pay in cash than by card. As for meals, it's the same story. It is easy to eat "local" for less than $100 (4 euros). Finally, the biggest part of the budget will most likely be spent on transportation. The first class buses charge about 100 pesos per 100 km, a 4 hours trip from Cancún to Merida costs $450 in first class. As for renting a car, you will have to spend the same budget as if you were going to a European destination, even if gas is cheaper in Mexico. But it remains the best way to get around the peninsula.Tipping. It is customary to leave at least 10% of the bill to the waiter in restaurants and cafes. The propina
is also appreciated by guides and hotel staff.Haggling. This is not particularly an institution in Mexico. It is practiced in tourist markets, when many purchases are made. To be on the safe side, it is best to use pesos rather than dollars. On the other hand, don't forget that the elaboration of handicrafts or embroidered fabrics requires some work. Do not try to buy the most beautiful huipil of the corner at the price of a T-shirt manufactured in China, it is a lack of consideration for the craftsman, who often takes it badly, rightly!
Passport and visas Yucatán Peninsula
All travellers to Mexico must have a passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry, and a return ticket is usually 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 must be stamped (with the date of entry) and must be kept at hand throughout your stay. It will be required in case of control and when leaving the territory. The FFM allows you to stay in Mexico for a maximum of 180 days, but sometimes migration officers will write a shorter period of stay on the card (usually 90 days); if you wish to stay between 90 and 180 days, do not hesitate to ask the migration officer. When entering Mexico by land, make sure that the customs officers stamp your passport, as well as the FFM form. In some places, you can enter Mexico without having to show your passport, which can be detrimental when you leave... To stay beyond the 180 days as a tourist, you can simply leave the country and re-enter, in Belize or Guatemala for example. Otherwise, you can apply for an extension of stay at the Instituto Nacional de Migración, INM (www.gob.mx/inm)
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 it can be used against an overzealous (not to mention corrupt) traffic cop. Residents over 18 years old can easily buy a license with their passport, resident card and a fee that varies by state but is still around 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 required, but it is recommended to get 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 mandatory, except for travellers coming from an exposed area in Africa or Latin America.
Security Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula is one of the safest regions in Mexico. But like all tourist areas, it is affected by petty crime. It is thus advisable to remain vigilant, as well on a deserted beach as in a discotheque. The usual rules of caution apply: do not show your jewelry, your smartphone, your wallet ... Wild camping is strongly discouraged, including in vehicles equipped for this purpose, as well as unguarded campsites. It is also a good idea not to linger in bars at night, especially if you are alone, and to avoid high-risk areas, especially the outskirts of cities, remote villages or little-travelled roads and tracks.
In Mexico, drugs are no joke.
The penalties for trafficking, buying, selling and supplying drugs, regardless of the type of drug, range from ten to twenty-five years in prison...Finally, any leisure activity also involves a risk.
Beaches are rarely supervised in Mexico, so it is recommended not to swim or dive alone. Even if most of the tourist operators in the peninsula offer a quality service (competition obliges), it is good to remain attentive and check the quality of the material provided by the providers.For the latest information on local security,
consult the "Advice to travellers" section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs. However, take into account that the site draws up 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 have 7 hours less all year round (except for one week of beat, at the end of March and the beginning of November, due to the different time change dates). The state of Quintana Roo stays on summer time all year long. 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 cities and resorts of the Yucatan Peninsula, less so in the more remote areas. Most hotels and cafes offer free wifi. If you haven't installed WhatsApp yet, you should think about it: in Mexico, this application is much more used than the classic cell phone system, both for sending messages and photos or videos, and for voice calls. It is very useful to book hotels or to contact your relatives in France for free as soon as you have a connection. If your smartphone is unlocked, instead of using the roaming of your operator, buy a SIM card(chip) from a local company (Movistar, Telcel, AT&T...). It costs about $100 to $150 (sometimes the SIM card is even free) and you will have a small communication credit that you will have to top up online or in supermarkets. Activate the mobile data and choose a data plan to have Internet in all the areas covered by your operator. If your cell phone does not accept Mexican SIM cards, you can either try to unlock it locally for a small fee in a phone store or buy a basic phone with a SIM card for about $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 do not carry too much luggage, as this will make it easier to move around and you will have a few kilos left over to bring back souvenirs. Please note that most hotels offer a very fast laundry service. Because of the heat and humidity, bring light, loose-fitting clothing that dries easily, including long-sleeved shirts (to protect against mosquitoes), and a UV protective shirt for snorkeling. If you forgot your swimsuit or flip-flops, you'll have plenty of choices in local stores. But don't forget your favorite wool and a chèche, very useful in the cold air-conditioned buses. A few accessories are always useful: headlamp, Swiss Army knife, lighter, padlock, electrical adapter, earplugs, 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 renting them every time. For the first-aid kit, bring solutions for intestinal problems and heartburn (such as Immodium, ideal for long bus trips, or Spasfon Lyoc for example; the Mexicans use Pepto Bismo syrup, available 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 large cities and tourist centers. Don't forget to take a tube of Biafine for sunburns
