How do I get around?
In Mexico, city buses in the larger cities are generally available from 6:00 am to midnight in the larger resort night spots. Taxi cabs are available 24 hours a day and run at fixed rates, so check prices. In Playa Del Carmen, buses run to Cancun every 30 minutes and ferries to Cozumel are available almost every two hours. Check with your hotel desk for local bus and ferry schedules.
NOTE: Buses cost $3 to $6 pesos (NO American coins) per person / 1 way depending where you are. You get a ticket, but, it is for their control. There are different buses for different directions, so ask questions. Most bus drivers speak enough English to head you in the right direction. If you are traveling within the hotel zone in Cancun then it really does not matter what bus you take (Wet’ n Wild is the exception. It is in the hotel zone but only half the buses go there so ask before you get on). R-2 & R-15 go to Wal-mart Super Center & Mercado 28. You have to read the front right window of the bus as it lists where it ends up. R-1’s will go to Puerto Juarez, Wal-mart Super Center, Plaza 2000, Mercado 23, the bus station itself. The R 27 turns left on Tulum Ave & goes to Plaza Las Americas (the local’s mall).
Currency
The peso is the Mexican form of currency. It is suggested that you exchange small amounts of U.S. dollars for pesos. Major credit cards are also widely accepted in all the resort areas. A pocket calculator can also be helpful when you shop to help convert U. S. dollars to pesos. Bartering when shopping outside of the resort areas is practiced. U.S. dollars are accepted in the resort areas but keep in mind any change that is due back will be in pesos. One recommendation is to use a credit card which will present the daily currency exchange on your next billing statement.
Pesos are the way to go if you are any nationality other than American. In Mexico every store, restaurant and street/beach vendor accepts the US dollar. The reason to use pesos if you are not American is to eliminate a currency conversion which can get pretty tricky if you have to convert the Euro to American because the vendors generally price everything in pesos then calculate the cost in American dollars if you ask. Of course most vendors will be able to convert the cost from pesos to Canadian or Euro. They ALL have calculators and know the daily exchange rates.
Mexico Currency Exchange Rate
Over a couple of days you will inevitably end up having pesos in your pocket [change is always given in pesos] so if you are not American you will have pesos and American dollars and have to deal with not one foreign currency but two. Stick to pesos and you only have to make one conversion.
NOTE: Most stores, restaurants will take US dollars and travelers checks. Odds are however that the exchange will be in their favor. It is best to exchange your money first in either the bank (best options), exchange places (casa de cambio) or in the hotel (check the rates offered first, because hotels charge you a higher exchange rate). NO ONE takes US coins, bills that are ripped, written on, taped up or glued back together. ATM machines, credit card slips are in pesos so DON’T PANIC when you see all those zeros. Also the keypad is Numerical Only so memorize your Password by it’s number too.
Spanish is the official language. English is also widely spoken in the hotel and resort areas and the tourist areas of the cities. Don’t forget the universal language of a smile and a few general hand gestures works also.
Rental Cars
Rental cars, primarily standard-shift sub compacts and four-wheel-drive vehicles, are available at the larger airports and throughout Mexico. You can rent an automatic car with air-conditioning if you reserve it in advance. You can also hire a big, late-model car with air-conditioning and an English- speaking chauffeur at many hotel travel desks. There are no rental cars available on the smaller islands like Isla Mujeres but you can rent a golf cart and drive it around the Island; you can also bring a car over on the Punta Sam ferry.
International road signs are used in Mexico– although the words are in Spanish, you’ll recognize the signs themselves. Keep your eyes open for bicycles, three-wheeled carts, mopeds and pedestrians, and be especially careful in the traffic circles. One final word of advice: Look out for yellow signs with small mountains on them–they indicate topes, or speed bumps, ahead- sometimes immediately ahead.In the town, the limit is generally 40 km/hr (approx. 25 mph) and in the Hotel Zone and resort areas 60 km/hr (approx. 37 mph) depending, with busy sections at 40 km/hr. Highways range between 90 km/hr (approx. 55 mph) and 100 km/hr (approx. 68 mph). Speed bumps are a very popular way of keeping drivers within the speed limits; look for them when entering and leaving towns and villages. If you run out of gas or break down, don’t leave the vehicle; Mexico’s “Green Angels,” part of the Tourism Department, patrol the main roads and will lend you assistance.
Taxis
If you don’t want to drive yourself, there are other ways to get around Mexico. One of the easiest is to take a taxi. Taxis are easy to find at the hotels, downtown, and at many of the most popular attractions. Taxi rides can be costly, however, with even short taxi rides costing $3-$4 US. You can find the taxi rates at most of the hotel entrances, just be sure to settle on a fare with the taxi driver before departing for your destination. Tips are not required, but are suggested.
Public Transportation
You could also use Mexico’s public transportation system. Air conditioned buses run in the larger Hotel Zones and resort areas and in the downtown area, and the one-way bus fare is approximately $.50. Just be aware that buses can get very busy during the peak hours of 8 to 9 a.m., 1 to 2 p.m., and 4 to 5 p.m.
Ferry Transportation and Water Taxis
Leave from many different pier points at the different resort destinations in Mexico. Check with the tour desk at your hotel or resort for schedules and prices. In Cancun and Puerto Juarez to Isla Mujeras on to and from hourly schedules starting approx. 6am with last boats back to Cancun around 8pm. Price varies from 12USD to 20USD for round trip.
Whether you enjoy land-based or water-based activities, Mexico has something to offer you. With Mexico’s beautiful weather, there are plenty of opportunities to do as much, or as little, as you want. Here, you can do things that you’ve only dreamed about!
Boating and Fishing
Many people are surprised to find out that different parts of Mexico have fantastic freshwater, deep sea and lagoon fishing. From March through July, the best fishing is for dolphin fish and sailfish. If you’re interested in blue and white marlin or bluefin tuna, Los Cabos and The Baja areas are world renown. You can find many different options at the local marinas in the area. Also superb mangrove and flats fishing is now offered for different Mexico areas.
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
Mexico has some of the most beautiful underwater scenery anywhere, which you’ll be able to enjoy through one of the many snorkeling or scuba diving options that are available. At many of Mexico’s resorts you can rent snorkeling gear, and there are a lot of good local scuba companies in the resort areas as well.
Parasailing, Watersking, and Windsurfing
The resorts in Mexico are known for always having the most recent watersports “toys” around. Enjoy any of these activities in the beautiful waters around Mexico. The three best areas for these activities are Nichupte Lagoon, Bahia de Mujeres, and the Caribbean Sea area of Cancun.
Golf
For those who are more interested in land-based sports, Mexico is a fast-growing destination for golf. The featured course is Pok-Ta-Pok, a course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. It has a lot of character, as it is set around Cancun’s saltwater lagoon and the Caribbean Sea. There are many new courses in Mexico under construction or that have just opened that you will also want to consider.
Tennis
If you’re into tennis, you’re in luck. You will be able to find tennis courts at most resorts throughout Mexico.
Spectator sports
If you’d rather watch a sport, Mexico has options for you. If you’d like to learn about a new sport, see a jai liah game, which are held daily.
Watch the sun and drink a lot of water The region is hot year round. Make an effort to drink more (purified, of course) water than normal or you could get dehydration sickness. It is better to drink water than sodas, because your body will get more benefit from it. If you feel dizzy, nauseous, weak or get a headache you could have heat stroke. Immediately sit in the shade and drink some water while you rest. If you get a slight headache, take that as a warning that you are getting dehydrated and drink more water.
SAFETY
Resort cities in Mexico are some of the safest cities in the world for their comparable sizes and the federal and local governments spends a good part of their yearly budget on different kinds of training programs for local police and promotional campaigns to protect all tourists and visitors. The Mexico resort destinations have a lower crime rate than most small cities in the U.S.There has been a lot of talk recently about crime in Mexico. We can only say that most of the violent crimes reported in the news are in the Mexico City area. Mexico City is the largest city in the world with a growing population of over 18 million people. The Caribbean Coast is relatively safe and most problems are petty thievery. You can have a great vacation free of incidents if you use common sense just like you would at home. Lock your car, take your valuables with you, or put them out of sight. We don’t recommend hiding your wallet in your shoes on the beach while you go swimming. It’s not a secure hiding place. Thieves are looking for easy targets. With a little common sense you can avoid having a problem.Keep alert when crossing busy streets in Mexico, where drivers may be less pedestrian-friendly than you are used to at home.By far, the greatest danger in Mexico is overexposure to the sun. Play it safe and apply sunscreen liberally, especially if you are fair skinned. If you don’t, you will probably wish you did.
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