Things to know before travelling to Mexico (advice from a true Mexican)

The time came. I finally decided to come back to Mexico, my home country, for a while after two years of travelling full-time. I am not going to lie; it’s been a pretty bizarre experience. Despite I’m enjoying seeing my friends again, eating some of my favourite dishes and sleeping in my own bed, I am experiencing a sort of “reversed nostalgia” and missing dearly my time on the road. However, I have decided to use those emotions for good and, since I feel that I’m re-discovering my country again, I thought it would be a good idea to share some of the things to know before travelling to Mexico. After all, I have a pretty wide experience in the field.

I actually thought about almost 50 things to advice to travellers visiting Mexico for the first time, but I managed to narrow it down. However, if you have specific questions, I’d be more than happy to answer them on the comments.

1. We speak Spanish

Not Mexican, not English, not “weird Spanish”. Granted, our language is not exactly the same as the Spanish from Spain, but the differences are not that big. Think about American English and British English. Sometimes we name things differently, we have specific slang and, obviously, completely different accents, but we can understand each other perfectly. And it works the same way for other countries in Latin America.

If I must say just one thing about the language is that we Mexicans love jargon. So, if you are not used to the local expressions, it might take a while to get used to them, but afterwards you won’t have any problems. Additionally, if you are wondering if you can speak English, I would say it depends. Contrary to countries like Denmark or Iceland where almost everyone spoke English, in Mexico language knowledge varies. Touristy, places like Cancun and the archaeological zones are populated with English speakers, but in quotidian areas you might find it more difficult to encounter bilingual people. I’d really advise to learn some basic phrases and words if you are going to a less-popular area.

2. Crossing the streets is a high-risk sport

You see a pedestrian crossing? Good for you! None of the drivers will give a flying hoot about it, though. This is one of the most important things to know before travelling to Mexico, because crossing a street can become a risky business if you don’t know the local culture. Unlike many countries where a pedestrian sets a foot in the pavement and all the cars stop, Mexico still hasn’t gotten there yet. Most of the cases, you’ll have to wait until the automobiles pass and then evaluate if it’s safe enough to cross. There aren’t many pedestrian streets lights either, so even if you have a green light, many drives can turn right and block your way. Crossing streets in Mexico is a matter of timing, so be patient and be very careful to avoid accidents.

3. Don’t drink from the tap.

Remember how I said that Icelandic tap water was one of the cleanest, healthiest, most magnificent waters of the world? Awesome, because that’s not the case in Mexico. Although some households are adding filters to their taps, most Mexicans just buy big water bottles weekly in order to fight thirst. I know for some foreigners it’s hard to fight the habit of just opening the tap, but believe me, your digestive system will thank me later.

4. Food… So-Much-Food!

No, I’m not talking about that nacho-fajita-burrito nonsense that the rest of the world thinks it’s Mexican food. I’m talking about authentic, delicious dishes elaborated by true Mexicans.

Food culture is a big thing in my country, so if you are looking for things to know before visiting Mexico, you should be aware that you are going to eat a lot! Every corner has a street vendor, supermarkets are always offering free samples and every Mexican mum or grandma is going to want to feed you. So be prepared to gain one or two pounds. Believe me, they’ll be worth it.

If it’s your first time in Mexico, you can’t miss tacos. I mean real street tacos. Try pastor or asada to begin with ad then start to be a bit more adventurous. I would also recommend sampling some local cheese (panela, specifically or Oaxaca cheese) and seafood, especially if you go to a coastal town.

*BTW, if you are in Guadalajara, don’t forget to check out Boca del Cielo. One of my favourite places for sure.

5. But there’s Moctezuma’s Revenge

I think this is one of the most popular things to know before travelling to Mexico. Moctezuma’s Revenge says that almost every foreigner that samples our local cuisine will inevitably get sick afterwards. It is not true in every case, but truth is Mexican food can be… Heavy. We use a lot of spices and flavours and that might not agree with everyone’s stomach, so foreigners should be wary.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t eat anything, because, as I mentioned it in the past point, food is something you can’t miss if you visit Mexico. However, try not eating too much the first few days, while your body adjusts. Also don’t sample dishes from shady places and, remember number 3: NEVER drink from the tap.

If you are already a victim of Moctezuma’s Revenge, don’t worry. A lot of people have been where you are. Go to your nearest pharmacy and get some Treda. You don’t need a prescription and it will make all your problems go away. You’re welcome.

6. It’s not always sunny and warm

I know that most people imagine white sand beaches or deserts when they think of Mexico. But reality is quite different. One of the things to know before travelling to Mexico is that we are a huge country and that means that we have many landscapes and temperatures. Of course there are deserts and beaches, but w also have forests, mountains and, yes, it even snows from time to time!

So do your research, check where are you going to go and when and then plan your wardrobe accordingly. I remember visiting Mexico City in October a few years ago and spending most of my holiday shaking because it was so bloody cold!

7. We are very noisy.

I’m writing this while my neighbours have a live Mariachi Band playing at full-volume from their balcony. It’s 3:00 am.

What can I say? We are noisy people. We like music and talking and laughing out loud and that’s a huge part of our culture. Vendors scream to the top of their lungs trying to convince people to buy their products, the gas van plays music every Sunday morning outside my window and the guy who sells fried bananas honks his horn like a dying cow not caring that I almost become diabetic every time he does it. But the good side is that we are a very festive culture and we always like having fun, so if you can adapt to that, you’ll be adopted into our country.

8. People are very friendly

We are not afraid to start a conversation with a complete stranger or even offer our help if someone is in need. Besides, we like foreign people, so we will always try to give you directions (sometimes not very precise), suggest some new sights and even invite you to join the party.

9. Yes, it has insecurity issues, but media makes it looks worse that what it really is.

I am not going to say that Mexico is one of the most secure places in the world, because it is not. I did things in Europe that I would have never done in Mexico. However, I have seen that people sometimes have an even worse perception of how things really are. Other travellers have asked me if we have a curfew or if I can even go out of our houses every day.

To this I have to say that most Mexicans can still carry on their day-to-day lives. I can go out at night for drinks with my friends, I can walk alone on the streets and I can keep my daily routines. Yeah, you need to be extra careful. You can’t trust everyone and you have to follow your common sense.

I wouldn’t walk back home at night in my city, as I did in several European destinations. I wouldn’t flash my mobile phone on the streets if I’m in a very populated area or if it’s getting late. And I’m always looking behind me to see if someone is following me or if I sense some danger. But my life can carry on.

When Conor came to visit me, his boss told him that one of the things to know before travelling to Mexico was that he was going to be kidnapped and Mexicans would sell his organs in the black market. Spoiler alert: his organs are all right.

The truth is you can’t go to a country with that mentality. Yes, be careful, yes, be cautious, but enjoy yourself of a place with great things to do and lovely people.

Other things to know before travelling to Mexico

I think that pretty much covers the most important things to know before travelling to Mexico. However, I did not want to finish the article without mentioning some additional details:

• Public transport is tricky… But cheap: We don’t have timetables, buses pass whenever the feel it, so you can wait for them for 5 minutes or one hour. Also, they drive like maniacs, so hold on to your seat. However, they are very cheap. A ticket, in Guadalajara, at least, costs $7.00 Mexican pesos, which is less than $00.50 cents of dollar.
• Also, you can’t pay with card everywhere: I mentioned that cards were tricky in the Netherlands and it’s the same in Mexico. We are big fans of street commerce and small businesses and many of these won’t take your visa. So make sure to carry cash with you at all times. Which leads me to the next point.
• You have to tip. Not only in restaurants, but also to the people who pack your bags at the supermarket, the guy who helps you park your car or the people who pump your gas at the gas station. I know it’s weird for many countries, but for some Mexicans, tips are their main source of income. So one of the things to know before travelling to Mexico is that it is always polite to share a bit of spare change with people who help you.

So there you go. These are the things to know before travelling to Mexico that I consider the most important ones. If you have any additional tips, don’t forget to mention them in the comments.

In the meantime, I guess I’ll see you on the road.

Love,

 

 

 

 

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