Mexico can be visited all year round. However, please note that tropical storms can form from July to October on the Caribbean coast.

The lowlands and coastal areas have a comfortable, tropical climate with warm evenings.

The climate in the highlands is sub-tropical with hot days and cool nights, particularly in the winter.

By the coast, the weather is nice and hot all year.

The rainy season is in the period from May to October. This is also the hottest season in Mexico. Rain usually falls in powerful showers late in the afternoon, so you can still safely book a tour to Mexico during this season.

The dry season extends from around November to April, when it is dry and comfortably hot. December to February are the coolest months throughout the entire country, and evenings and nights inland can easily get quite cold.

At certain times of the year, the Caribbean coast of Mexico (along with the United States and other Caribbean islands) is hit by a large amount of sargassum seaweed. The local authorities have employed people to remove the seaweed every day, but they’re not always able to keep on top of it. The seaweed is primarily seen in the period from April to September but can vary from year to year and from area to area.

As a British citizen, you must be in possession of a valid British passport. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your return home.

As a British citizen, you do not require a visa to visit Mexico for stays that do not exceed 180 days.

Please note: It is your own responsibility to check whether you need a visa for transit airports en route.

The rules on visas can be checked on the Foreign Ministry’s website.

If you are travelling via the US, the following applies to British citizens:

To travel via the United States, you must apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). Without ESTA, you will not be allowed to travel through the United States. Apply for the travel authorisation in good time at least 72 hours before your departure to the US. All travellers must apply, regardless of their age. You can apply and find the price via the following link: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/. You should have your passport, itinerary, credit card and e-mail address to hand when making your application. The travel authorization is electronically connected to your passport and is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires (whichever is earliest). We recommend that you bring a physical copy of your ESTA with you if, for example, the system is down on your arrival, however this is not a requirement.

If you get a new passport, you must apply for a new ESTA.

Note that you must contact the United States Embassy to apply for a visa if you have visited any of the following countries:

• Cuba as of 12 January 2021
• North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia, or Yemen as of 1 March 2011

Stricter requirements will also apply if you hold dual citizenship with any of these countries.

For further information on filling out your ESTA application, please see the overview of frequently asked questions and their answers here: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/faq?lang=en.

You can also get in touch by telephone at: +1-202-325-8000

If you are travelling via Canada, the following applies to British citizens:

To travel via Canada, you must apply for an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization). Without eTA, you will not be allowed to travel through Canada. Apply for the travel authorization in good time. eTA costs 7 CAD per person and all travellers must apply, regardless of their age. You can apply via the following link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta-start.asp. You should have your passport, itinerary, credit card and e-mail address to hand when making your application. The travel authorization is electronically connected to your passport and is valid for 5 years or until your passport expires (whichever is earliest). We recommend that you bring a physical copy of your eTA with you if, for example, the system is down on your arrival, however this is not a requirement.

If you get a new passport, you must apply for a new eTA.

Specifically for border crossings between Mexico and Guatemala

When crossing the border into Guatemala from Mexico, you are required to have completed and printed an exit form from Mexico (FMMD) in advance. The website where this document is be completed can only be accessed after your registered entry into Mexico. The document cannot therefore be completed from home. When you receive your vouchers from us, you’ll find a link to the website and instructions on how to complete the FMMD form.
We recommend that it is completed, downloaded and printed at your hotel in San Cristobal de las Casas. If you have any questions regarding the completion and need help with this, please contact our partner in Mexico via WhatsApp (recommended) or by calling their phone number.
The FMMD form must be handed in at the border when you leave Mexico.

To enter Guatemala, you must fill out another form. This form is issued and completed at the border. You should hand in the front page of the form and keep the back in a safe place, as it must be handed in when you leave Guatemala again. There is currently no fee to travel in and out of Guatemala, but this may change at short notice.

You do not need to complete any paperwork to re-enter Mexico. You simply get your passport stamped. If your remaining stay in Mexico is for more than 7 days, a fee of approx. 680 MXN is payable. The amount is payable in cash in MXN or USD. This fee may, however, change at short notice.

Specifically for border crossings from Mexico to Guatemala and return to Mexico via Belize

When crossing the border into Guatemala from Mexico, you are required to have completed and printed an exit form from Mexico (FMMD) in advance. The website where this document is be completed can only be accessed after your registered entry into Mexico. The document cannot therefore be completed from home. When you receive your vouchers from us, you’ll find a link to the website and instructions on how to complete the FMMD form.
We recommend that it is completed, downloaded and printed at your hotel in San Cristobal de las Casas. If you have any questions regarding the completion and need help with this, please contact our partner in Mexico via WhatsApp (recommended) or by calling their phone number.
The FMMD form must be handed in at the border when you leave Mexico.

To enter Guatemala, you are required to fill out another form. This form is issued and completed at the border. You should hand in the front page of the form and keep the back in a safe place, as it must be handed in when you leave Guatemala again. There is currently no fee to travel in and out of Guatemala, but this may change at short notice.

When you return to Mexico via Belize, you are required to complete a Belize transit form at the border between Guatemala and Belize. This form is issued and completed at the border. You should hand in the front page of the form and keep the back in a safe place, as it must be handed in when you leave Belize again. You are also required to pay a fee of approx. 33 BZD (Belize dollars) when you leave Belize. The amount is payable in cash in BZD or  USD. This fee may, however, change at short notice.

You do not need to complete any paperwork to re-enter Mexico. You simply have your passport stamped. If your remaining stay in Mexico is for more than 7 days, a fee of approx. 680 MXN is payable. The amount is payable in cash in MXN or  USD. This fee may, however, change at short notice.

If you are arriving in Guatemala by plane, you must have filled in an online entry form in advance. Find the link to the form under our practical info Guatemala – Passport & Visa.

Prior to your departure, you can download our App here to find your travel documents and the contact details for TourCompass and our local partners.

Tourist tax:
In the state of Quintana Roo, where beach destinations such as Playa del Carmen and Tulum are located, a mandatory tourist tax of approx. 260 MXN (15 USD) is payable by all tourists aged 15+. This can either be done online via the website www.visitax.gob.mx/sitio/ (by credit card) or at the airport in Mexico (by credit card or cash) before starting the journey home. You will receive a receipt in the form of a QR code, which you may be required to present at the airport, but the payment is also shown on your passport number, so you will often not be asked to show the receipt.

We recommend that you download the WhatsApp app to your smartphone and add the phone numbers of our business partners. You can send messages and call them for free using the app when you have a Wi-Fi connection.

We recommend that you contact a medical specialist, your GP or an authorised vaccination clinic for information about vaccinations. You can also read more about the rules regarding travel vaccinations here.

Please be aware of the rules about yellow fever – especially if you are entering via another country where yellow fever is present. Some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination upon entry. Your vaccination certificate should therefore always be carried with you in your hand luggage when you travel.

Please read our general travel terms and conditions carefully, as these are part of the agreement terms for tours purchased at TourCompass. Tours purchased from us are covered under the “Package Travel Act”.

Click here to read our travel terms and conditions.

All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it.
Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate click here.

We always advise you to obtain comprehensive travel insurance when heading off on your dream holiday. It is also highly recommended to acquire cancellation insurance for extra protection. 

Click here to proceed to our page on insurance, where you can read more about our recommendations.

The Mexican currency is called peso (MXN). The current MXN exchange rate can be found here.

We recommend that you bring US dollars (USD) with you in cash, which you can exchange at an official bureau de change upon arrival. There are ATMs practically everywhere. The usual credit cards can be used in hotels, many restaurants and shops. If you go further inland in the country, it may be difficult to use a credit card.

Click here to get a general idea of the price levels in the country.

It is a custom and appreciated to tip when you are in Latin American countries, but it is voluntary, and the amount you are willing to give is entirely at your discretion. Have some small notes or coins ready in case you would like to tip someone, and give it to them in person.

The guide below is indicative only:

• Restaurants and bars: 10–15% of the bill
• Guides: 80-100 pesos PP per excursion
• Drivers: 60-80 pesos PP per excursion
• Maids: 10 pesos PRPN
• Hotel porters: 5 pesos per suitcase

At bars or restaurants, your bill may include a surcharge for extra services such as “cover” (“cubierto”) or live music.

At the vast majority of our destinations, we are able to take allergies, as well as allergens or preferences into account when it comes to food, however it is important that you inform us of this when you book the tour.

Telephones & Wi-Fi:

It’s expensive to use data and roaming abroad if it’s not already included in your mobile subscription. Contact your mobile phone service provider to find out what services are included in your subscription and what prices apply to you when travelling abroad.

If data and roaming are not included in your mobile subscription when travelling abroad, we recommend that you make use of the free Wi-Fi at your hotel or in restaurants. That way, you can call and write home free of charge via various services such as Facetime, Messenger and WhatsApp. Note that not all venues offer Wi-Fi.

Electricity:

Mexico has 110-volt power. Sockets are the type with two “flat“ pins. It is therefore important that you bring an adapter.

Make sure you pack all your important and indispensable things in your hand luggage. This applies to items such as passports, visas, vaccination cards, travel documents, insurance documents, credit cards, money, computers, mobile phones and cameras, as well as information about your health and vital medicines.

Visitors are not permitted to bring plants, seeds, fruit and other plant products into the UK from their travels outside the UK, unless they are accompanied by a plant health (phytosanitary) certificate. These rules also apply to smaller quantities of plants and plant products.

Read more about the rules here.

Please note, our tours are generally not suitable for persons with reduced mobility. Please contact us for information about the possibilities according any specific needs.

Most airlines have electronic tickets (e-tickets).
It is important that you check your name for spelling errors, as the name on the reservation must be exactly as it appears on your passport. If your name needs to be corrected, please contact us as soon as possible. Please note that this may incur a fee from the airline.

The airline will assign you a seat on the plane at check-in. If you have specific wishes regarding where you sit on the plane, you can make a seat reservation yourself on the airline’s website or in their app. Please note that most airlines require payment for a seat reservation.

It varies when airlines open for seat reservations, but as a general rule, you can book seats from the time of booking and up to 48 hours before departure.

We also point out that the airline has complete control over all seats on the plane and that they are therefore entitled to make changes to the reservation at any time.
If you do not make a seat reservation before departure, the airline will assign you a seat at check-in.

Your passport and your booking reference, which appears on your itinerary, are required to check in.

We recommend that you download the airline’s app on your phone. In the app, there is an option for online check-in, which typically opens 24 to 48 hours before departure. The app also allows you to stay informed of any flight changes and other important information about your flight.

Please note that the flight times may have changed in relation to those listed on the travel itinerary you received when you booked your holiday. It is always the flight times in the airline’s app or on the airline’s website that apply.

We recommend that you arrive at the airport to check in at least two hours before departure. It is a good idea to check the airport’s website for the latest updates.

We use many different airlines for our destinations. You can check the exact rules for hand luggage and checked baggage on the airline’s website or in their app.

If domestic flights are used in your itinerary, please be aware that baggage permissions may be different from how they are for your international flights. In general, you can always purchase more baggage allowance locally.

 If your baggage is delayed, please contact the staff in the baggage reclaim area to report your missing baggage.

It is important that you have your baggage receipt when completing your PIR (Property Irregularity Report).

 Please note that you must not leave the baggage area at the airport until you have completed the report.

In the event of delayed baggage, we ask you to contact our partner, who will ensure that your guide/driver waits for you.

Should any changes occur in connection with your flight reservation before departure, we will of course contact you to let you know.

Should your flight be delayed after check-in, the airline is responsible for rebooking your flight. They will typically book the next possible flight and arrange any meals and accommodation if necessary.

Our partner checks for any changes in arrival times and will naturally still wait for you, even if your flight is delayed.

If, due to a delay or cancellation, the airline books you on another flight number after you have arrived at the airport, please contact us on TourCompass’ emergency number.

Immigration:
When you arrive at your final destination, you will go through immigration, where your passport and any entry documents and visas are checked. In many places, you will be required to provide fingerprints, and a photo of your face will also be taken for biometric recognition. You may also be asked questions about your travel plans in the country and possibly where you are staying.

Customs:
Once you’ve cleared immigration and picked up your luggage, you will head through customs. If you have nothing to declare, you can go through “nothing to declare”. If, on the other hand, you have something to declare, it is important that you go through “declare”. It’s your own responsibility to check the customs regulations that apply in the country you are travelling to.

Smoking policy:
Smoking in public places – including parks, beaches, hotels and restaurants – has been prohibited in Mexico since January 2023. The ban applies to both traditional cigarettes and the like, as well as e-cigarettes.

It’s also illegal to bring electronic cigarettes/vaping devices and e-liquids into Mexico.

On your arrival, you will be met by a guide/driver who will be ready to welcome you with a TourCompass sign.

In the unexpected event that you are unable to find your guide/driver, please contact our local partner using the emergency number provided in your travel documents.

Normal check-in is typically from 2 pm, and you cannot therefore count on getting your room earlier. If you’d like to check in early, this can be arranged for a fee when you book the tour.

When you check in, the receptionist will generally register your credit card and may reserve an amount. This is not an additional fee, but customary at hotels to ensure payment of any consumption from the minibar and the like. When you check out, the amount will be automatically released if you have not made use of this.

It is very normal for hotels to take a copy of your passport. In some places, this is a requirement of the local authorities.

Check-out is normally by 10 am. If you’re not travelling until the afternoon or evening, you can have your luggage stored until it’s time to leave. If you would like a late check-out instead, this can be arranged for a fee when you book the tour.

Hotel tax in Tulum:

Please note that if your tour ends in Tulum, a mandatory hotel tax of approx. 195-430 MXN (10-22 USD) PRPN is payable. This is settled locally at the hotel.

In the event of unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather, blocked roads or otherwise, it may be necessary to change the order of sightseeing tours and attractions in your itinerary.

We have a 24-hour emergency hotline so that you can always get in touch with us should anything unforeseen occur during your tour. You will also be sent the telephone numbers and emergency telephone numbers of our partners at the destination. In some cases, it may be easiest and fastest to contact our partners due to time differences, if, for example, you find yourself in a situation where your pick-up for an excursion or transfer is more than 15 minutes delayed.

We rely on happy travellers, and we would therefore very much like to hear from you after your return home. Send us an email at info@tourcompass.co.uk or call us on tel.: 01279 704 135