Entry and exit
German citizens who wish to enter Mexico as tourists do not need to apply for a visa beforehand. When entering Mexico, whether by air or at other border crossing points, you will receive a tourist card (FMM), which allows a stay of 180 days. The fee for the tourist card (currently 558 MXN) is already included in the price of the flight ticket and therefore only has to be paid locally when entering the country by land. The card is stamped and the validity period is entered. The tourist card should be kept in a safe place, as it must be presented or handed in again when leaving Mexico. If it is lost, a new card must be purchased on departure at the latest (for a fee of approx. €20).
The validity period should also be strictly observed and adhered to in order to prevent problems when leaving the country or the expense of a possible extension. An extension of up to 6 months can be applied for at the responsible authority in Mexico (Instituto Nacional de Migración):
Instituto Nacional de Migración, Head Office:
Av. Ejército Nacional 862, Col. Polanco
Tel.: (+52) 5387 2400
When entering the country by land (USA), it may happen that the tourist card is not stamped. This must then be done urgently at the Instituto Nacional de Migración at the border town, for example by presenting the bus ticket.
- Passport/temporary passport
- Children's passport
- Still valid child ID card (old model; child ID cards have not been issued since 01.01.2006)
Important: Travel documents must be valid for at least 6 months or for the duration of the planned stay (if this is longer than 6 months).
If you are checked, you will not only be asked for your passport, but also for your Mexican residence permit (tourist card). Travelers should therefore carry at least a copy of their tourist card with them at all times. Otherwise, there is a risk of being detained by the immigration authorities.
- Personal items (photo and/or video camera)
- Allowance for cigarettes and alcohol
- Weapons
- Fresh food
- plants
- Fruits
- More than 10,000 USD must be declared
- Gold (except gold jewelry)
- Antiques
- Archaeological finds
- Cacti
- Corals and other protected animals
- Drugs
- 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars
- 1 liter of spirits, 2 liters of wine
- 500g coffee
- Souvenirs with a value of up to 175 €
- Animals/animal products
- Souvenirs that are under species protection
More detailed customs information on importing goods can be obtained from the embassy of the respective destination country.
Vaccinations
No vaccinations are compulsory for a trip to Mexico, but some are recommended. The Federal Foreign Office recommends checking the standard vaccinations according to the current vaccination calendar of the Robert Koch Institute(www.rki.de) and updating them if necessary. For example, adults should be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, as well as mumps, measles and rubella. We also recommend hepatitis as a travel vaccination (possibly in combination with hepatitis B).
Before traveling to Mexico, be sure to seek advice from a tropical or travel medicine specialist or a tropical medicine advice centre.
Zika virus
There has been an increase in the transmission of the Zika virus in Mexico. Pregnant women are advised not to travel to the country.
Malaria
Larger cities, the Yucatan Peninsula and altitudes above 1000m are considered malaria-free. In rural areas below 1000m altitude in the southern border regions, there is a medium risk of transmission all year round. In other regions, however, there is only a minimal risk.
Dengue fever
Dengue fever is characterized by a combination of fever, aching limbs and skin rash. It is transmitted in many parts of the country by Aedes aegypti.
There is currently no vaccination or treatment for dengue fever. The only way to avoid infection is therefore to take personal measures to minimize mosquito bites.
Leishmaniasis
This infectious disease is also transmitted by mosquitoes, which makes consistent mosquito protection necessary.
Chikungunya
Chikungunya is another viral infection that is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Similar to dengue, symptoms can include high fever and aching limbs. There is currently no chemoprophylaxis or vaccine, so mosquito repellent should be used consistently.
Tips
Due to the risk of infection from mosquitoes, we therefore recommend that all travelers
- Wear clothing that covers the body! (long pants, long shirts)
- Apply insect repellent repeatedly to all exposed areas of the body!
- If necessary, sleep under a mosquito net!
As a general rule, you should always take out health insurance before you travel. This should also include repatriation in an emergency.
A list of hospitals and doctors can be found on the website of the German Embassy under the heading'Regional Medical Service'.
No guarantee can be given for the accuracy and completeness of the medical information listed here, nor can any liability be accepted for any damage that may occur. You remain responsible for your own health.
Facts and figures
Due to the vast size of the country, its location between two oceans and the very different altitudes, Mexico has different climate zones. In the south, the climate is tropical and humid, while in the north it is predominantly dry and hot, with temperatures of up to 40°C in summer.
There is a rainy season between May and October and the whole of Mexico is generally considered a potential earthquake zone. In addition, Mexico (as well as Central America, the Caribbean and the southern states of the USA) is hurricane season from May to November, when tropical storms, heavy downpours and, as a result, severe flooding can be expected.
Travelers should therefore always follow the regional weather forecasts and heed the advice of the local safety authorities.
The ideal time to travel to Mexico is between the months of November and May, with peak season between December and January, then again between April and May and generally in the week before Easter, which is reflected in higher prices and fully booked hotels.
The time difference to Germany is -6 hours in winter and -7 hours in summer.
Mexico's national currency is the peso. Every major hotel has bureaux de change where euros and US dollars can be exchanged. Cash can also be withdrawn with a Maestro card from ATMs displaying the Maestro symbol.
Major credit cards are widely accepted, but payment difficulties can sometimes occur, so it is advisable to always have some cash with you.
Electricity
The mains voltage in Mexico is 110V. There are two adapter options, one NEMA 1-15, 2-pole, or one NEMA 5-15, 3-pole, (both of which are also used in the USA, Canada and Cuba).
Telephone
There are public telephone booths throughout the country that can be used to make national and international calls. Most of these phone booths work with phone cards that you can buy in one of the many kiosks. To make calls to Germany, simply dial 0049 before the number. So-called collect calls, where the called party has to pay, are also possible. To do this, simply dial 800-10-49, then the area code and then the telephone number.
Internet
Internet cafés can be found in every major city. Most hotels also offer WLAN, either free of charge or for a fee.
(information about Mexico City and the entire country)
Avenida Presidente Masaryk 172, corner Calle Hegel, Col. Chapultepec Morales, Mexico City
Tel. 0052/ 55/ 30 02 63 00 Embassies/Honorary Consulate German Embassy/Embajada de la República Federal de Alemania
Ambassador Viktor Elbling
Horacio 1506, Col. Los Morales Sección Alameda, 11530 Mexico City
Tel.: 0052 55 52 83 22 00
E-mail: info@mexi.diplo.de
Website: www.mexiko.diplo.de Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Cancún/Cónsul Honorario de la República Federal de Alemania
Honorary Consul Rudolf Bittorf
Quintana Roo Punta Conoco No. 36, SM 24, 77509 Cancún, Quintana Roo
Tel.: 0052 998 884 53 33
E-Mail: cancun@hk-diplo.de Austrian Embassy/Embajada de Austria
Sierra Tarahumara Pte. 420, Col. Lomas de Chapultepec, 11000 Mexico City
Tel.: 0052 55 5251 0806
E-Mail: mexiko-ob@bmeia.gv.at Embassy of Switzerland/Embajada de Suiza
Torre Optima, piso 11, Paseo de las Palmas Nr. 405, Lomas de Chapultepec, 11000 Mexico City
Tel.: 0052 55 91 78 43 70
E-Mail: mex.vertretung@eda.admin.ch
Country and people
According to the latest estimates, Mexico has around 128 million inhabitants, making it the largest Spanish-speaking nation in the world. The largest number (approx. 60%) of Mexicans are mestizos or Ladinos, who are descendants of the indigenous Indian population's union with the Spanish. The proportion of the indigenous population, the indígenas, is estimated at around 10%. The rest is made up of immigrants of European descent (mostly Spaniards).
Even though it is not enshrined in law, the official language of Mexico is Spanish. There are also 68 indigenous languages that are recognized as official national languages.
Around 90% of the population are Catholics, making Mexico the second largest Catholic nation in the world after Brazil. The separation between church and state is taken more seriously here than in any other country in the world, so the church is financed exclusively by donations from its members and there are no links to the Vatican. The only church holidays are December 25 (Christmas) and Easter Monday. In Mexico, church weddings and baptisms are services that have to be paid for separately.
Around 50,000 Mennonites now live mainly in the more northern regions of the country. They live strictly according to the Bible, sell agricultural products at markets and are easily recognizable by their traditional clothing, blond hair and blue eyes. In addition to Spanish, they speak the dialect "Plautdietsch", a mixture of Low German and East Prussian.
Mexico's landscape is largely made up of highlands, mountains and volcanoes. The Citlaltépetl and Popocatepetl volcanoes to the south of Mexico City are the highest mountains in the country at over 5,000 meters. The longest river in Mexico is the Rio Grande in the north.
The flora in Mexico is very species-rich. Large quantities of our food, such as corn, potatoes, tomatoes, vanilla and tobacco, come from Mexico. Cacti, yucca palms and agaves grow in the desert regions. Central Mexico is characterized by highland plains and steppe areas. On the coasts there are miles of sandy beaches with many palm trees. South America's animal world is also very large and rich in species. Mexico's lowlands are home to exotic animal species such as jaguars, monkeys and pumas. The highlands are home to black bears, lynxes, badgers, sloths, raccoons and deer.
The special thing about Mexican cuisine is the clash of many different flavors - spicy and mild, sweet and sour, tart and delicate. There is actually no such thing as 'typical' Mexican cuisine, but rather a combination of many typical regional dishes (platos tipicos). In southern Mexico, aromatic stews, many types of vegetables and tropical fruits are very popular. Northern Mexico is known for its meat dishes and Central Mexico for traditional foods such as corn, beans and poultry. The Yucatan Peninsula has some culinary specialties, such as cochinita pibil, shredded pork stewed in banana leaves in an earth oven.
The traditional Mexican breakfast consists of huevos rancheros, fried eggs on warm tortillas. Lunch, which usually starts at 2 pm and can last until late afternoon, consists of a sopa (a thin soup), a main course and a dessert. Dinner is rarely served before 9 p.m., although several courses can be served, usually including meat, chicken or fish.
Generally speaking, you can only get to know the full range of Mexican cuisine if you stop off at fondas, taquerías or toterías and enjoy the inexpensive food at loncherías, comedores and puestos de comida (street stalls/'food on wheels').
Mexico's (alcoholic) national drink is tequila. This is not made from fruit or grain, as is often assumed, but from the 8-10 year old, steel-blue Agava americana or Agava tequiliana weber, whose leaves retain a liquid, so-called aguamiel (honey water), which is fermented to make tequila.
Places of interest
In the footsteps of the Maya - this is not just the name of one of our round trips, but rather what you will experience in Mexico: the Mayan culture. It is represented everywhere. Whether you travel to Palenque, Tikal or Chichén Itzá - or take a vacation on the "Riviera Maya" and relax on the beach - you will always find evidence of this ancient, highly developed culture of the indigenous people of Mexico. Natural spectacles such as the Laguna de los Siete Colores (Bacalar Lagoon) or the petrified waterfall Hierve el Agua should not be left out - or even the culinary highlights of Oaxaca. So there is plenty to see in the land of the Maya.
Can't decide on a specific route? What is most worth seeing, what suits your ideas? With a rental car or a guided tour? We have listed the highlights of the country and the most interesting places for you and compiled information for you. Take a look at our page for highlights in Mexico. Here you can also find out which round trips will take you to the highlights you want to see.
Please note that the local security situation can change at any time. We therefore recommend that you check the security situation in your destination country with the German Foreign Office before you travel.
Disclaimer
Travel, health and safety information is based on the information available from Sprachcaffe Reisen GmbH at the given time and is deemed to be reliable. A guarantee for the correctness and completeness as well as a liability for possible damages cannot be assumed. Dangerous situations are often confusing and can change quickly. The decision to go on a trip is your sole responsibility.