Exploring Mexico: Alternative Travel Options For Your Next Adventure

what are other options for travel in mexico

Mexico is a country with a diverse range of attractions, from metropolitan cities to beaches and ancient ruins. With its year-round warm weather, Mexico offers something for all kinds of travellers.

Mexico City, the country's sprawling capital, boasts impressive historical sites, museums, markets, and a thriving food scene. The city's Zócalo, or main plaza, dates back to the Aztecs and houses the Templo Mayor, an ancient Aztec temple, as well as the colonial Palacio Nacional. The city is also home to over 150 world-class museums, including the Museum of Anthropology in the vast Chapultepec Park.

Beyond Mexico City, the country offers a wealth of cultural and natural attractions. The ancient Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá, Tulum, and Calakmul are some of the most popular archaeological sites, while the beaches of Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, and Sayulita on the Pacific Coast offer pristine sands and resort experiences.

For nature lovers, Mexico's diverse landscape includes over 30 active volcanoes, such as the 2,800-meter Volcán Paricutín, and Pico de Orizaba, the country's tallest peak. The seas surrounding Mexico are also renowned for their excellent diving spots, with diverse marine life and large coral reefs.

With its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning natural attractions, Mexico offers a multitude of options for travellers seeking unique and memorable experiences.

Characteristics Values
Overall safety advice Exercise a high degree of caution
States with higher levels of caution Michoacán, Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains in southern Chihuahua, Guerrero, North-eastern Sinaloa, North-western Durango, South-eastern Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Colima, Guerrero, Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Central region states, State of Mexico, State of Veracruz, Major cities along Mexico's border with the United States, Acapulco, State of Quintana Roo, Zacatecas, State of Mexico, Baja California Sur, Quintana Roo, Morelos, Guanajuato, Baja California, Chihuahua, Michoacan, Sonora
States with lowest level of caution Campeche, Yucatan

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Travel by bus

Mexico has an excellent intercity bus system, with many classes of service available. It has one of the most modern bus fleets in the world, with luxury classes that are even better than most airplanes.

Bus Terminals

The location of the bus terminal depends on the city. In some cities, the terminal is close to the city centre, while in others, it is outside the downtown area. All major bus terminals have official "taxi counters" inside where you can hire a taxi to take you to your destination. If you have access to the internet on your phone, you can also call an Uber to pick you up.

Bus Classes

Second Class (Segunda Clase)

This is the most basic class, offering a comfortable journey without air conditioning and making stops at many points along the way. It is very affordable, but an upgrade is highly recommended.

First Class (Primera Clase)

These buses offer a more premium experience with reserved seats, extra legroom, air conditioning, a restroom, and movies. A sandwich and a drink are usually provided, and they make few or no stops along the route. Between major cities, there is often a bus every 15-30 minutes, and there is no need to book in advance unless it is a busy holiday period.

Luxury Buses (De Lujo or Ejecutivo)

The top-of-the-line luxury buses have spacious 2+1 seats that almost lie flat, similar to business class airline seats. They provide snacks and permanent drink stations in the back of the bus. They make few or no stops and often travel overnight on longer journeys. Tickets can usually be purchased through the bus company's website.

Buying Tickets

You can find out about itineraries and purchase tickets at the bus terminal, from any travel agent in Mexico, or through online services and mobile apps.

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Travel by plane

Mexico has a well-developed network of airports and airlines operating domestically and internationally. With nearly two million square kilometres of territory, flying across Mexico is often a better alternative to ground transport, as it can take many hours or days to travel long distances by car or bus.

Airports

Mexico has dozens of airports, with important cities in major tourist locations and industrial centres offering large, modern airports with international connections. There are also smaller airports, some of which do not cater to commercial flights but do provide facilities for small private craft and charter flights.

Facilities

Main airports in Mexico are modern and offer a wide range of amenities and facilities for travellers, on par with airports in other major cities around the world. These include:

  • Stores, bars and restaurants
  • WiFi internet access
  • Car rental agencies
  • ATMs and money exchange kiosks
  • "Authorized taxi" stands
  • Executive airline waiting lounges

Airlines

The four main domestic carriers are Aeromexico, Viva Aerobus, Interjet, and Volaris. There are also low-cost carriers, which offer no-frills, affordable air travel to the mass travel market.

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Travel by car

If you're driving to Mexico, there are a few things you'll need to know. Firstly, you'll need a valid passport or passport card, or a valid Green Card. Your passport should be valid for at least six months after your arrival date. You'll also need a Mexican car insurance policy—your U.S. or Canadian car insurance won't be valid. You can buy Mexican insurance online or at the border.

Next, you'll need a valid driver's license—an international driving permit is only required if your country uses a non-Roman alphabet. Your vehicle registration documents and a temporary vehicle importation permit (TVIP) are also essential. You can get a TVIP at the border or in advance. If your car is financed, you'll need a letter of permission from your lender.

Finally, you'll need a Mexico Tourist Card (Forma Migratoria Múltiple, or FMM). You can get this at the border or in advance.

When driving in Mexico, it's best to stick to toll roads, avoid driving at night, and always use an offline map as your cell signal may be inconsistent. It's also illegal to use your phone while driving, and speed limits are in kilometres per hour.

If you're renting a car to drive to Mexico, it's a complicated process and not all rental companies allow it. You'll need to call individual locations to find out their rules and restrictions.

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Travel by boat

Mexico has four ferry ports, with the most popular being Cozumel ferry port, which has 49 weekly sailings. The other ports are in Playa del Carmen, Puerto Juárez and Isla Mujeres.

There are approximately 69 daily sailings and up to 478 weekly sailings to Mexico. The ferry from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel sails approximately seven times a day and up to 49 times a week, with a sailing duration of one hour. The average price of this route is £45.76, exclusive of booking fees. Ferries from Puerto Juárez to Isla Mujeres sail approximately 26 times a day and up to 182 times a week, with a crossing time of one hour. The average price of this route is £36.45, exclusive of booking fees.

There are no car ferries to Mexico, only foot passengers are permitted on ferries.

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Travel by train

Mexico has a complex rail history, with plans for commuter trains dating back to the 19th century. However, the country's rail system has been mostly used for transporting goods rather than commuters. That said, there are some options for travelling by train in Mexico, including luxurious private services like the Sierra Madre Express, which operates between Tucson, Arizona, and Mexico's Copper Canyon. Tickets for such services can be purchased through specialist agents.

For those entering Mexico by train, the only option is to use a private service. Mexlist maintains a list of luxury services, most of which have pullman sleepers, restaurant cars, lounge observation and club cars.

In addition to private services, Amtrak provides railway connections to various points along the Mexican border from cities in the USA or Canada.

Mexico is also planning to launch 11 new scenic train routes by 2050, with the first route, the Tren Maya, launching in 2023. This train will run for 1800km on a loop around the Yucatan Peninsula, connecting popular vacation spots and improving access to historical Mayan sites.

Other planned scenic routes include:

  • Pacific Train (4700km)
  • Western Train (2250km)
  • Eastern Train (2000km)
  • Transversal Train (1200km)
  • Gulf Train (650km)
  • Bajio Train (500km)
  • Central Train (1300km)
  • Itsmo Train (300km)
  • Oaxaca Train (750km)
  • Mayan Train (1800km)

Frequently asked questions

There are many must-see attractions in Mexico, including the archaeological zones of Tulum, the white sand beach of Parque Nacional Isla Contoy, the contemporary art museum at Azulik hotel, and Jardín Botánico de Vallarta.

There are many things to do in Mexico, including swimming in cenotes, eating street food, exploring Chapultepec Park, visiting markets, and wandering through Zócalo (Plaza de la Constitución).

Some of the best places to book your trip to Mexico include Tulum, Cabo, Cancun, and Cozumel.

The most common way to get around in cities and towns is by public bus, which is also the cheapest option. Mexico City and Guadalajara also have subway systems.

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