Is Mexico travel safe now? Things you need to know.

In this article, we'll talk about how safe it is to travel to Mexico this summer and what are the things you should consider if doing so.

Maybe it is because we have been stuck in an Airbnb for the past 7 weeks in full quarantine in Iquique, Chile, but we cannot take it anymore. Neither can you, right? Your toes are itching to travel again but you don't want to do it without ensuring the destination is safe, correct? Yep, we're on the same page.

So maybe our reasons are not the same as yours, but we'll say them anyway. We traveled the world for less than a month when the pandemic struck South America. And that's how we got stuck in Chile since mid-March. There has been a full lockdown in place since Mid-May here. We can only go out for groceries and we do so every two weeks. And it's getting cold, something we are not really prepared for. Therefore we decided to look for someplace else, ideally cheaper and warmer, but which is still close to the South American continent. That's how we got to research more on Mexico.

Is Mexico open to travel?

Of course, otherwise, we wouldn't be writing this article. However, each region has its own rules for travelers. The good news is, the popular beach destinations are open.

Quintana Roo (Cancun and Riviera Maya)

Cancun and Riviera Maya started welcoming tourists on June 8th. However, the hotels and restaurants must limit their capacity to 30%. The limit should gradually raise if the number of cases doesn't increase, hopefully reaching 50% capacity in July. Nevertheless, clubs, casinos, and public beaches remain closed.

Los Cabos

The pacific coast of Mexico has been slower in reopening, starting on June 15th. However, international flight arrivals will be allowed in early July. The 30% capacity limit also applies to Los Cabos and casinos, clubs, and beaches are closed as well.

Where you should not travel if you go to Mexico

There are some states in which the US government advises against traveling due to high numbers of crimes. However, none of these are tourist spots.

Note: the states in bold are the most dangerous ones.

• Colima
• Chihuahua
• Coahuila
• Durango
• Estado de Mexico
• Guerrero
• Jalisco
• Michoacan
• Morelos
• Nayarit
• Nuevo Leon
• San Luis Potosi
• Sinaloa
• Tamaulipas
• Sonora
• Zacatecas

What's the COVID-19 situation in Mexico?

As of June 29th, Quintana Roo cases only count for 1,58% of all confirmed cases in Mexico. The state with 1.7 million inhabitants has 3,437 confirmed cases. The daily new case numbers are quite steady, averaging at 60-70 since reopening. Source: Covid-19 Mexico

Baja California Sur, home to Los Cabos faces a similar situation. The state has 800.000 residents, out of which 1,437 cases have been confirmed. The average number of daily new cases since reopening is around 98 and decreasing. The total state numbers amount for 0.66% of the total numbers as of June 29th. Source: Covid-19 Mexico

Overall, in Mexico, the situation was steady lately with around 5,000 new cases daily. However, it looks like it is starting to decrease slowly. Mexico is not virus-free as much as we want to think so, accumulating in total 216,852 cases and over 26,000 deaths.

Health protocols upon entry to Mexico

If you decided to travel to Mexico, then you should also know what to expect upon arrival. Airports use thermographic cameras to check your temperature and you may also be screened for symptoms when you enter the country. However, no COVID-19 tests are required.

Where can you stay in Mexico?

If you want to visit Los Cabos, then you can check the list of hotels that are reopening here. Quintana Roo doesn't have such a list, but you can check out hotels on booking.com or Airbnb.

If you have the budget, it's better to check out hotels with a private beach as those are allowed to open. The good news is, most hotels offer flexible cancellation policies so you can also take advantage of that.

Booking.com

Another thing you can look for when selecting a hotel is if it has the Mexican Caribbean Clean & Safe Check Certification, a new program launched in order to ensure high health standards for customers.

What's the weather like in Cancun and Los Cabos?

Another thing to consider if you want to travel to Mexico is the weather. Basically, the country has two seasons, dry and rainy. The rainy season starts in May and spreads all the way through October. However, it usually rains in very short episodes and we can personally say that the Caribbean sea is more beautiful and turquoise during the rainy season.

Nevertheless, the thing you should be more cautious about is the hurricane season, which is from June to November. The riskiest months are September and October. Before you start to panic you should know that the last major hurricane was in 2005 and the previous one in 1988. But even though they are rare, you should still take the necessary precautions if you plan to travel during the hurricane season. To do so, you can check the National Hurricane Center & Central Pacific Hurricane Center or the Weather Underground website.

Temperatures in Cancun

In Cancun, you can expect temperatures of around 26-27 degrees Celsius from April to October and 23-25 degrees Celsius from November through March. This translates into 85-90, respectively 82-84 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperatures in Los Cabos

On the Pacific coast, there are lower temperatures as you may expect, ranging from 25-29 degrees Celsius from June to October and 19-24 degrees Celsius from November until May. This translates to 88-92, respectively 78-85 degrees Fahrenheit.

How to stay safe during your travel to Mexico

Both Quintana Roo and Los Cabos are safe places to go. Even more, Cancun was the first destination to receive the Global Safety Stamp.

However, you should still take the necessary precautions against COVID-19, such as:

• Carrying hand sanitizer with you at all times
• Keeping the social distancing measures
• Applying increased hygiene measures, such as thoroughly washing your hands
• Avoiding as much as possible to touch your face 

Other precautions you should take in order to stay safe:

• Do not drink tap water, it is not potable
• Do not walk alone at night
• Avoid going to any of the dangerous places mentioned above

Conclusion

To sum up, it is pretty safe to travel to Mexico if you are cautious enough and take measures against the pandemic, the crime, and the weather.

Related: things to consider if you want to travel again soon.

Was this information useful? You can check out our article on other countries opening up in the Americas.