Top 9 Mexico Travel Myths Debunked
Kathleen Crislip is a freelance writer who has covered backpack travel adventures for students and other young travelers.
Jillian Dara is a freelance journalist and fact-checker. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Michelin Guides, Hemispheres, DuJour, and Forbes.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive getaway from the United States, Mexico should be at the top of your list. It’s safe, the food is excellent, the beaches are beautiful, and it’s easy to make friends with other travelers while you’re there.
The U.S. media, however, likes to perpetuate many myths about Mexico—mostly that it’s dangerous and scary. Don’t let this put you off visiting, though, as it’s a super-safe destination even for student travelers.
Let’s get on to debunking the top Mexico travel myths.
Mexico Is an Incredibly Cheap Country
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Mexico has a reputation for being crazy-cheap, but if you head to some of the more touristy parts of the country, it can be just as expensive as the U.S., if not more expensive.
If you want an affordable vacation to Mexico, look to the Pacific coast or inland, rather than the Caribbean hotspots like, Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, and Tulum. Those areas are all popular (and therefore great for making friends), but also relatively expensive.
Puerto Vallarta, Sayulita, Guanajuato, and Oaxaca can all be visited for around $500 a month ($15 a night). A basic but clean and quiet apartment rental in Oaxaca City for a month can total just $250 a month.
Learn about how to save money on street food (and not get sick), as well as how you can visit Mexico on a budget.
I’ll Get Sick in Mexico
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Speaking of getting sick, one of the most common fears of visitors to Mexico is that they’ll fall ill to traveler’s diarrhea. Fortunately, this is a pretty rare occurrence as long as you take some simple precautions while you’re there.
First, you should make sure not to drink water from the tap while you’re in Mexico, and that includes brushing your teeth and keeping your mouth closed in the shower. Instead, pick up some cheap bottles of water and use those for everything. If you’re going to get sick in Mexico for any reason, it’ll most likely be due to the water.
Secondly, street food is king, and you should eat as much of it as possible. You’re less likely to get food poisoning eating from stalls than choosing the clean-looking restaurants. Street food stalls have high levels of turnover, high levels of hygiene (which you can see as your food is cooked in front of you), and high levels of deliciousness. Look at where the locals choose to eat: they wouldn’t be there if the food wasn’t safe.
Mosquitoes aren’t a huge problem in Mexico, especially in places at altitude, but you should take precautions while you’re on the coast. Dengue can be particularly bad during the rainy season, and Zika is beginning to appear, too. Cover up as much as possible, wear insect repellent, and stay informed about the risks in the areas you’ll be visiting.
As always, be sure to utilize common sense while you’re in the country. Research dangerous neighborhoods to check you’re not putting yourself at risk. Don’t accept drinks from strangers unless you’re at the bar and keep an eye on your drinks at all times. Don’t wander alone at night if you have no reason to. Just simple steps like this can help drastically reduce the risk of getting hurt in Mexico.
I Can’t Go to Mexico Without a Passport
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Here’s a myth that’s not technically true.
To enter Mexico, you will need a WHTI-compliant ID document, and also for when you’re returning into the U.S. from Mexico by air, land, or sea.
If you are traveling overland, you don’t have to have a passport to return to the U.S. from Mexico, but you do need a similarly official document, like a PASS card instead. You can no longer use the formerly acceptable combination of a birth certificate and driver’s license or other state-issued photo ID to visit Mexico. So make sure you have a passport or PASS card if you’re planning on visiting.
I’ll Have to Share the Bus With Chickens
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If you’ve spent any time in Central America, you’ve most likely heard of a chicken bus. If you’ve never heard of a chicken bus before, you’ll most likely be surprised to hear that it’s precisely what it sounds like: a bus full of chickens.
Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on what you’re looking for on your trips), chicken buses are super-rare in Mexico. It is unlikely you will come across them unless you’re heading really off the beaten track. In fact, the buses in Mexico are some of the best in the world.
The buses are safe, comfortable, inexpensive, and clean. And if you ever have to take an overnight bus, you’ll be pleased to hear that the VIP buses have fully reclinable seats. You’ll find buses are as luxurious as anywhere else in the world.
I Can’t Drive to Mexico
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You can drive to Mexico, and in Mexico, too!
To drive your car into Mexico, you’ll just need a temporary vehicle importation permit, which you can easily get at the border. In some tourist border areas, you don’t need this permit or a tourist card. For instance, neither of these are needed when driving to Puerto Penasco, a tourist destination on the Gulf about 70 miles from the Arizona-Mexico border. You should also buy Mexican car insurance online before you arrive.
I’ll Have a Wreck Because People Drive Like Maniacs in Mexico
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The country’s laid-back attitude is evident in the locals’ casual driving habits, and Mexican driving patterns are extremely logical—the residents have devised ways to keep traffic moving that would be illegal in the U.S., but make perfect sense once you learn them.
Wear a seat belt and drive defensively—in short, follow the safety rules you would at home—and learn the Mexico road rules. You’ll be fine if you keep your cool and move slow.
Crime Is Rampant and I’ll Have to Bribe Cops
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Yes, there are drug gangs in border towns.
If you’re going to Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, Cancun, Guadalajara, or just about anywhere else in Mexico, you won’t see it. Use basic travel precautions in Mexico and the same common sense you’d use in a U.S. city, and you’ll be perfectly safe.
Do read a little about taxi safety to avoid scams or worse. And the whole cop-bribing thing is gradually going away in Mexico. Ask to see the jefe (chief) if you think a cop wants a bribe, and chances are it ends then and there.
I Can Buy Prescription Drugs in Mexico
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This is both true and false.
Some prescription drugs in the U.S. are readily available over the counter in Mexico without you needing to provide a prescription. You can also easily buy birth control pills and antibiotics from a pharmacy without having to see a doctor (an, they’re affordable). If in doubt, head to a pharmacy and ask what they have to offer for your ailment. They’ll likely have just what you need without you having to visit a doctor.
Some drugs like Xanax and Vicodin, though, will require your U.S. prescription for you to buy them.
As always when you travel, remember to carry any prescription medicine in its drugstore-labeled bottle bearing your name, so your life will be easier if you are searched at customs.
I Will Love Mexico
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Oh, wait—this isn’t a myth!
Mexico is a fantastic destination for student travelers and is highly recommended. It’s cheap to visit, it’s safe, it’s beautiful, its cultural heritage runs deep, and the locals are friendly and welcoming. Mexico is incredible, and you’ll fall in love with being there.
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