If you’re planning to travel to Mexico now that the world is opening up to travelers again, Cancun is one of the top vacation destinations in Mexico. While you may notice that things are a little bit different, and there are a few things you need to know about traveling in a post COVID-19 world, you are still going to have a lot of fun! We have put together a list of “know before you go” Cancun travel tips to help you get the most out of your vacation.
Cancun is a vacation hot spot for every type of traveler and if you are heading for a beach break in the sunshine, here are some things you need to know:
New Tourism Tax
The state of Quintana Roo has introduced a new tourism tax called Visitax. You can pay this tax online by visiting the official government website or at airport kiosks before you depart from Cancun, however you are advised to pay online so you can avoid long lines at the airport. The cost of the tax is $224 MXN, approximately $11.20 USD, per person. The form on the website is easy to fill out. You just have to follow the instructions and enter your personal information such as departure date, number of travelers in your party and the names, ages, and passport numbers of each person you are traveling with. The online payment form is secure and you can pay using a credit card. This tax can be paid at any time up until the day of your departure. The reason that this tax has been implemented is to help with the post-pandemic recovery of the economy and as well to develop brand-new tourist attractions to make Quintana Roo an even better place to visit!
Do I Need the COVID Vaccine to Travel to Mexico?
No. The Mexican Government does not require travelers to Mexico to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or for travelers to provide proof that they have been vaccinated. Although, since fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get or spread COVID-19, it may be considered a best practice to get the vaccine if you are considering international travel, to keep you as safe as possible.
Do I Need to Take a COVID-19 Test Before Traveling to Mexico?
No, Mexico does not require visitors to provide proof of a negative PCR, antigen, or any other COVID-19 related test in order to enter the country. The only requirement for travelers entering Mexico is to fill out an online Health Assessment Form at https://afac.hostingerapp.com.
After completing the form, take a screen capture of the QR code that is generated to show at the check-in counter before your outbound flight and at customs once you land in Mexico.
Quintana Roo Traffic Light Status
Each state in Mexico has operated according to a traffic light system throughout the entire pandemic. With this traffic light system, each state was assigned one of four colors (green, yellow, orange, red) based on current rates of infection and hospital occupancy with red representing the highest level of contagion and green the lowest, and the traffic light map is updated every two weeks.
For the period between August 23rd and September 5th, 2021, seven states are designated red, seventeen states are designated orange, including Quintana Roo, nine states are designated yellow, and one state, Chiapas, is designated green.
Under orange, both essential and non-essential activities may continue and hotels, restaurants, barber shops, open-air parks, shopping malls, churches, cinemas, theaters, museums, cultural events and gyms are all open with limited and reduced capacity. Markets and supermarkets can operate at 75 percent capacity.
Flights
Airlines have been adding more flights between the United States and Mexico. While land border crossings are restricted until September 21st, 2021, air travel is not affected and passengers are able to book flights.
Cancun Airport is operating normally and receiving flights daily. Health and safety protocols are in place. They have installed thermal scanners to check the temperature of arriving passengers. Contact your airline for COVID-19 travel restrictions prior to your trip. Individual airline regulations may require that you wear a face mask on the airplane. Make sure you bring a face mask with you.
Also, make sure you bring a pen with you so you can complete the Immigration & Customs form on the plane.
If you have never been to Cancun before, be aware that after baggage claim there are many peddlers waiting to sell you timeshares, activities, rented vehicles and more. This can be stressful for first-time travelers, but just ignore them, say ‘no, thank you’ or if you want to try your Spanish, say ‘no, gracias’ and keep on walking.
Activities
Most tour operators have reopened for business. The marinas and most tours are available. Tour operators have taken precautions to promote social distancing, reduce capacity, and offer hand sanitizing gel.
You may be required to wear a face mask during your tour due to individual tour operator regulations. Make sure you bring one with you just in case.
Water sports have all reopened. If you plan to go snorkeling, you may want to bring your own snorkeling equipment, but if you don’t, it will still be provided for you fully sanitized by your tour company.
Major tourist attractions that attract large crowds such as Chichen Itza, the Mayan Ruins and Tulum have all reopened after temporary closure. The government closed all archaeological sites as a precaution during the COVID-19 crisis to ensure everyone’s safety. While a few sites, such as El Meco, remain temporary closed, the majority have reopened.
Private Theme Parks such as Xel Ha and Xenses, Xcaret, and Xplor have reopened and their guides are fully trained and certified in health and sanitization protocols.
Other excursions, such as swimming with dolphins, visiting Rio Secreto (an amazing spot where you can swim in cenotes), luxury sail and snorkeling tours, and the Jolly Roger Pirate Ship, are all fully operating and open to visitors.
We recommend that you book your excursion directly through the concierge team at the resort you are staying at. They can recommend the top tour operators and make sure you book with a reputable company. Villa del Palmar Cancun Luxury Beach Resort & Spa also has an on-site travel agency where you can get information about all the tours offered in Cancun as well as book your tours and transportation.
Make it a point to do an excursion, as having an amazing tour can greatly enhance your vacation experience. Deep sea fishing is very popular in Cancun as is luxury sailing and snorkeling.
Hotels
Hotels in Quintana Roo that have passed the certification and adopted all the necessary health and sanitization protocols are open.
Guests will not be required to wear face masks around the resorts in Cancun, but staff will most likely be wearing face masks, at least in the short-term, for your safety.
Watch this video to see what Villa del Palmar Cancun is doing to keep our resort safe.
Taxis
Arrange your transportation from the airport to the hotel before you arrive. There are taxis outside of the airport when you arrive, but it can be a bit of a circus finding one with many people asking you where you need to go. Avoid the hassle, and arrange your transportation ahead of time.
Villa del Palmar Cancun is situated only 30 minutes from Cancun International Airport. If you choose to book your stay at this luxurious 4-Diamond resort, call toll Free USA/CAN 1 877 845 3795 and ask the concierge team to help you reserve your transportation.
When traveling from the hotel, guests are encouraged to use taxis provided by the hotel and pick-ups from outside taxis are not permitted inside the resort premises.
To return to the hotel, you may arrange a time with the driver in advance. However, if you don’t know what time you will return, and you would prefer to take your own taxi back, Cabify is a safe taxi service. You can download the Cabify app to order your taxi. Cabify is a reputable company that does a good job doing background checks on the drivers. They will send you the name of your driver, a photo and the make and model of the vehicle. Although Uber is widely used in many parts of the world, there are not that many Uber drivers in Cancun and Cabify is more popular in this region and a safer bet.
All taxi drivers now wear and face mask and also ask that you wear a face mask during the trip.
Ferry
There are two ferry companies that operate in Cancun, Winjet and Ultramar. For schedules and timetables, please check their websites.
Restaurants and Bars
Restaurants in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and the Riviera Maya have all reopened and are following strict health and safety protocols including social distancing, strict sanitization measures, and hygienic guidelines to keep you safe.
Cancun’s nightclubs and bars have all reopened including the widely popular Coco Bongo and Mandala.
Currency
The US Dollar to Mexican Peso exchange rate is usually always favorable. While the rate fluctuates daily, currently 1 US Dollar equals approximately 20 Pesos. If you know that you will be going to Mexico soon, you can withdraw money from your local bank before traveling, but the exchange rate has stayed consistent for a while, so you can always wait until you arrive in Mexico and there are several ATMs which accept cards from international banks, and give you the national daily exchange rate.
If you decide to exchange your money ahead of time and bring cash with you, most resorts offer room safes where you can safely store your cash and/or credit card.
If you don’t have time to change your money before you go, US currency is also widely accepted in Cancun and all over Mexico.
Keep in mind that if you don’t want to change money over, you don’t need to. Most restaurants give you the bill with a price in both pesos and dollars, so you have the option of choosing which currency you want to pay with. If you do decide to pay in dollars, you will most likely get change back in pesos.
Weather
Cancun has warm weather year-round, but rainy season typically starts in June and lasts until November. Summers are hot and it rains frequently, but the rain doesn’t last all day. Usually it will rain in the morning or afternoon for a short period of time, and then there will be sunny weather for the rest of the day. In case of a bad weather storm, then the rain may last all day, otherwise you can expect a bit of rain with mostly sun.
Rainy season is also hurricane season, and while hurricanes can hit that area of the tropics, the last devastating hurricane to the region was Hurricane Wilma in 2005.
Before You Go Home
Although you may not want to go home after you experience all that Cancun has to offer including incredible gastronomy, constant sunshine, pristine waters, and luxury accommodation, every vacation must come to an end. Before you go home, remember that American and Canadian travelers, as well as travelers to other countries, must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken at least 72 hours prior to departure. The test result must be presented to your airline prior to departure and without it, you will be denied boarding, so it is very important for you to take it, unless you want to stay living in Mexico! Villa del Palmar Cancun conveniently offers on-site COVID testing for all its guests.
We hope that you have found our list of Cancun travel tips useful. Cancun has everything you need to have fun whether you are a solo traveler or traveling with friends or family. While things may look a little bit different with face masks, temperature checks, and hand sanitizing gel everywhere, Cancun is as amazing as it always has been. The beaches are still beautiful, the locals are still friendly, the gastronomy is still melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and you will have a great time! We look forward to welcoming you soon at Villa del Palmar Cancun!
