A customized tour makes your visit to the butterfly sanctuaries an effortless journey, enabling you and your companions to fully absorb the experience of this remarkable migration.

The butterflies arrive in November and leave in March

Our travel partner has been helping visitors to enjoy the Monarch Butterfly sanctuaries for over 15 years and their custom-made itineraries are underpinned by a depth of experience and close working relationships with local guides and travel specialists, as well as the local community leaders that run and caretake the protected butterfly sanctuaries.

The Monarch butterflies begin to arrive in Mexico during November and leave around mid-March.  Peak viewing season runs from mid-January to late February—this is when the butterflies are most active.  The oyamel forests are situated at elevation of up to 10,000 feet above sea level in the mountains west of Mexico City.  Ascent on horseback is available for those who may need assistance with the climb.

An outstanding customized tour to the butterfly sanctuaries

A customized tour arrangement can begin in Morelia (Airport: MLM) or Mexico City (Airport: MEX).  These carefully crafted tours provide a guide and transportation exclusively assigned to your party.

You will be met personally at the airport by your English-speaking guide and driver, and swiftly transported to your accommodations, so that you can settle-in and begin to get acclimatized the locality and altitude.

Every day of your tour, the guide and driver will meet you at your hotel to begin the day’s activities.  The guide will also accompany you for your overnight stay near the butterfly sanctuaries.

Custom tours are offered with varying durations from three-to-six nights’ stay, to flex with your available schedule and budget.  Tours can begin in Mexico City, or Morelia—as you prefer.  Shorter itineraries of three nights’ stay focus primarily on a visit to one butterfly sanctuary, whereas the longer 6-night+ tours enable you to visit two or three sanctuaries and take in additional tours in the locality.

Monarch butterfly tours starting in Mexico City

Monarch butterfly tours starting in Mexico City include:

• Overnight stay in the historic downtown area of Mexico City
• Visit to the fresh and vibrant forested lakeside area of Valle de Bravo
• A visit to one, two or three sanctuaries, depending on your time scale, with at least one overnight stay near one of the three sanctuaries
• Ascent to the sanctuaries on horseback is available by request, at an additional cost
• You can optionally start in Mexico City and end in Morelia, or vice-versa

Day tour options for extra days:

• Take a guided tour of the historic center of Mexico City and visit the outstanding Anthropological Museum;
• Visit the holy shrine of La Virgen de Guadalupe and take a private trip out to the spectacular Teotihuacán archeological site;
• Discover more of Mexico City with a visit to the bohemian Coyoacán art district and the floating gardens of Xochimilco

Tour prices starting in Mexico City

Prices for customized butterfly tour packages starting in Mexico City start from US$875 per person, depending on duration, and based on two people sharing a room. There are surcharges for single-occupancy rooms and solo travelers. Optional add-on day tours and tour customizations around Mexico City and Morelia can be quoted and arrange by request. Prices are subject to change. Please request a personalized quote from our travel partner by completing the request form below.

Monarch butterfly tours starting in Morelia

Monarch butterfly tours starting in Morelia include:

• Overnight stay in the historic city of Morelia
• Visit to two or three butterfly sanctuaries, depending on your time scale, with at least one overnight stay near one of the three sanctuaries
• Ascent to the sanctuaries on horseback is available by request, at an additional cost
• You can optionally start in Morelia and end in Mexico City, or vice-versa

Day tour options for extra days:

• Enjoy a tour of the fascinating and insightful folk-art villages around lake Patzcuaro;
• Visit the ancient and mysterious Purépecha archeological site of TzinTunTzan;
• Take a historic walking tour of the regal colonial city of Morelia;
• Watch as copper is formed into art and homewares and buy unique pieces of copperware in the village of Santa Clara del Cobre

Tour prices starting in Morelia

Prices for butterfly tour packages starting in Morelia start from US$1,045 per person, depending on duration, and based on two people sharing a room.

There are surcharges for single-occupancy rooms and solo travelers. Optional add-on day tours and tour customizations around Mexico City and Morelia can be quoted and arrange by request.

Prices illustrated are subject to change. Please request a personalized quote from our travel partner by completing the request form below.

What your butterfly tour includes and excludes

Regardless of your tour’s start point or duration, your package always includes:

• being met personally with transfers to and from the airport;
• lodging at hotels that have been carefully chosen by our travel partner;
• a private driver and guide to the butterfly sanctuaries;
• entrance fees to the sanctuaries; and
• your morning breakfasts and in-tour transportation.

Tour package prices exclude

• your flights (or other transportation) to the start point in Mexico City or Morelia;
• meals other than your morning breakfast at the hotel(s);
• tips for the guide, driver, hotel and restaurant staff; and
• trip insurance.

Make a Monarch Butterflies tour request

Complete the request form below and receive a quote for a customized tour to visit the phenomenal Monarch butterflies in Mexico.

Our travel associate creates custom-made tours that combine exploration of Mayan archaeological sites, discovery of picturesque colonial towns, refreshing swims in cenotes, catching your breath along the coast, and tasting the mouthwatering local flavors—with plenty of opportunity absorb the nuances of this quite magical region in Mexico.

Enjoy a thoughtfully crafted tour of Yucatán

Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula is a fascinating place to visit. Once the heart of the ancient Maya civilization, during the colonial era it became a prosperous center of trade and commerce, renowned for production of sisal fibers—used for ropemaking.

Following the downfall of the sisal haciendas in the early part of the twentieth century, Yucatán modernized without betraying its ancient roots and today is a prosperous, thriving, and culturally-rich region of Mexico.

Our travel associate creates custom tours that enable you to experience authentic facets of this extraordinary region, on a carefully planned and thoughtfully crafted custom itinerary that enables you to experience Yucatán authentically.

A custom tour that helps you get the most of your visit

Your custom tour of Yucatán can begin and/or end in Mérida (Airport: MID), Chetumal (Airport: CTM), or Cancún (Airport: CUN).

Expertly crafted tours. Our travel partner’s tours of Yucatán are crafted and led by people who know the region intimately. As part of your tour package, your transportation, accommodation, and assistance services will be carefully arranged to ensure that your time is spent absorbing the experience and not worrying about the travel logistics.

Independent tour with a driver option. Our travel partner offers independent self-drive tours—recommended for Yucatán—complemented by a detailed information packet that is tailored to your itinerary and that will assist as you engage independently through your day-by-day travels and activities. Optionally you can choose to have a vehicle and driver to accompany you, for an extra fee.

Airport arrival and transportation. If you choose to self-drive, our associate’s recommended option for Yucatán, a suitable sized rental car will be waiting for you when you arrive at the airport. If you choose the vehicle and driver option, you will be met personally at the airport and chauffeured transport will be provided for your trip.

Accommodation. Your custom tour of Yucatán is offered with a choice of accommodation comfort levels and styles, with properties that match the character of each place: eco-cabins, small guesthouses, boutique hotels, and selected resorts are available. Most travelers choose a blend of accommodation styles, for example, staying at an eco-cabin when exploring nature, a comfortable hotel in urban locations, and treating themselves to a night or two at a sumptuous property that is an experience in its own right. Regardless of which types you choose, you can expect excellent service with friendly and attentive staff, and the water and food are safe.

Flexible itineraries. Custom tours are offered with a core plan of five or ten days’ stay, and options to extend the core stay with additional days to flex with your available schedule and budget. The ten-day core tour introduces you to some of the region’s most important and remarkable attractions. The five-day core tour offers a shorter itinerary that sharpens focus on a selected pick of places and is ideal for those with less time to spare or smaller budgets. All itineraries offer a well-balanced program that is not rushed.

Places & activities to experience and absorb

Our travel associate’s itineraries focus on visits in and around the areas of Valladolid, Mérida, Progreso, Xpujil, Bacalar, and Campeche. Choose a five- or ten-day core tour, and optionally add extra days customized to your needs, schedule, and budget.

Every itinerary is custom designed around your needs. Highlights include:

• The colorful and historical colonial city of Valladolid; and the archaeological wonder of Ek Balam, where you can climb to the top of the acropolis; afterward take a refreshing swim in a natural water cenote (underground lake); learn how corn, beans and squash are grown in this region using techniques passed down through generations on an ancestral agricultural tour.
• Discover Mérida, the capital city of Yucatán state, known for its outstanding colonial architecture, lively cultural scene, and remarkable gastronomy; include a stop at Chichén Itzá, one of the most important Mayan archaeological sites in the world; cool down with a refreshing swim at Yokdzonot, a cenote considered sacred in Mayan tradition and transformed into an eco-tourism project by women from the nearby rural community.
• Experience the northern coastline of Yucatán, take a boat trip to Columpios island, a perfect spot to relax on the beach, swim in calm waters, and enjoy the swings (“columpios”) suspended over the sea. Afterward, travel to El Corchito, a protected natural area surrounded by mangroves to visit three small, crystal-clear pools and observe water birds, raccoons, and coatis roam freely. Close your day strolling along the boardwalk in the port town of Progreso and take a traditional evening meal at one of local restaurants before returning to Mérida.
• For active travelers, the “Mayab Adventure” offers a full day of activities with an early departure. Enjoy early morning swimming at cenotes, including a 4 km (2.5 mile) bike ride to a remote and beautifully preserved cenote off the beaten path. After lunch, stop for a tour of Izamal —”the Yellow City”— and adjacent Kinich Kakmó archaeological site to combine an experience of pre-Hispanic remains, colonial buildings and modern houses and discover why Izamal is known as the “city of three cultures.”
• Take a full day to absorb Mérida and enjoy this extraordinary city at your own pace. Your itinerary includes important landmarks including the Plaza Grande, Government Palace, Casa de Montejo, and the cathedral. Take in local markets and important museums, stop for refreshment at a local café, and round off the evening at Santa Lucia park for dinner and live music al fresco.
• Experience an in-depth visit to the impressive archaeological site of Uxmal, and travel onward to the state and city of Campeche, on the shores of Mexico’s Gulf coast, famous for its pristinely kept UNESCO-listed historical center, seafront walks, museums, the San Miguel fort, and delicious seafood.
• From Campeche, excursion out to the archaeological site of Edzná and the small town of Xpujil where you can visit the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve—one of Mexico’s most important ecological areas. Xpujil offers small hotels, local restaurants, and a quiet, authentic atmosphere to experience the jungle and Mayan culture off the beaten path.
• Visit the lakefront town of Bacalar, best known for its Lagoon of Seven Colors—its hues change throughout the day with variances in depth and light. Take a kayaking trip out on the water, enjoy a refreshing swim to cool down, take a gentle boat trip, or simply relax on the lakeshore.

Optional Side Trips & Activities

When you have extra days to spend on an itinerary, (whether you choose the five- or ten-day core plan) additional options include:

Around Valladolid

• Cooking classes and Mayan cooking workshops.
• Free walking tour of the historic center.

Around Mérida

• VIP cenote experiences.
• Honey tasting & coconut eco-tour.
• Full-day gastronomic tours focused on Yucatecan food.
• Combined Izamal–Chichén Itzá–cenote excursions.

Further afield

• Campeche historic center and museums.
• Additional days in Bacalar for more time on the lagoon.
• Archaeological sites in the Calakmul region (from Xpujil).

Meals & Drinks Plan

Meals and drinks may be included on certain day tours, and most accommodation will include breakfast. Your other meals and snacks may be sought at local restaurants, markets, or beach spots, at your own expense.

There is plenty of time built-in to itineraries for you to explore regional dishes like cochinita pibil, panuchos, and the remarkable local seafood. Vegetarian options and special diets can be catered for locally.

Purified drinking water is provided during activities and transfers. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are at your own expense unless specifically described as included in a given activity or trip that is part of your tour.

Families, age groups

Every tour is customized around the individual needs and composition of your party.

Our travel associate will advise you regarding the length and pace of each day on your itinerary, as well as practical matters like heat and travel conditions, age considerations, and the level of physical ability required to participate in some tours/activities so that you can make informed choices and enjoy a tour tailored around your party’s priorities.

Prices for custom tour of Yucatán

These prices illustrate typical ranges for the core 5- and 10-day tour.

Every tour is tailor-made and quoted based on your individual preferences and needs.

Prices vary depending on your final chosen route, travel length and dates, group size, any extended tours/activities you may add, and accommodation comfort level and style.

A 10-Day core tour typically prices from US$2,200 per person.

A 5-Day core tour typically prices from US$1,100 per person.

Whichever core plan you choose, our travel associate’s itineraries will not rush you; there will be time and space to connect with local people, enjoy the breathtaking landscapes, and savor the regional foods amidst a flexible structure that adapts to different budgets and travel styles without losing the heart of the experience.

What your custom tour includes and excludes

The core package includes the essential ingredients your party will need for a comfortable journey, and excludes optional customizations, tips, and trip protection insurance.

Tour package prices include:

• A detailed information packet to guide you on your independent self-drive tour (recommended for Yucatán). A vehicle and driver to accompany you on the journey is optionally available for an additional fee.
• A suitable sized rental car waiting for you at your arrival airport. If you choose the vehicle and driver option, you will be met personally at the airport, driven on the tour, and returned to the airport of your choice at the end of the tour.
• Accommodation at hotels that have been carefully chosen by our travel associate and aligned with your preference and budget.
• Purified drinking water during activities and transfers.
• Breakfast is included at most accommodation places; and some meals might also be included—your custom itinerary will describe this.

Tour package prices exclude:

• Your flights (or other transportation) to your chosen starting point in Yucatán.  Most typically this is an airport, but if you’re arriving by some other means, our travel associate can accommodate this.
• Additional meals, drinks, and snacks, including alcoholic beverages, not described as included in the itinerary.
• Tips for the guides, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff.
• Trip protection insurance.

Request a quote for your custom tour of Yucatán

Every itinerary is custom made and quoted. Complete the request form below and our travel associate will contact you to talk about your travel plans and give you a no-obligation quote for a customized tour of Mexico’s Yucatán region.

Our travel partner has been taking visitors to the Copper Canyon for over 20 years and specializes in custom-made tours that take care of all the details and enable you, your family, and companions to get the most from your visit to this most remarkable region of Mexico.

Enjoy breathtaking scenery on a remarkable train journey

You can experience the Copper Canyon by hiking, biking, trekking, horseback, or four-wheeling; however, by far the most popular route is to take the Copper Canyon train line—that runs between Los Mochis and Chihuahua City.

The Copper Canyon railway is a stunning engineering achievement. The railway line is over 390 miles in length, crosses 39 bridges (the longest bridge is over 1500 feet long) and 86 tunnels (the longest over a mile in length). The line crosses some of Mexico’s most rugged and wild natural terrain—hugging the edge of mountains and traversing deep ravines across its bridges. The scenery it travels through is truly breathtaking.

Choose a custom tour to get the most from your visit to the canyons

A custom tour of Copper Canyon can begin in Los Mochis (Airport: LMM), Mazatlán (Airport: MZT) (from where you will be provided with ground transportation to the beautifully picturesque town of El Fuerte where you’ll board the train); or Chihuahua City (Airport: CUU).

Expertly crafted tours. Our travel partner’s tours are underpinned by over two decades of experience and provide guides and transportation exclusively assigned to your party. As part of your tour package, all your transportation, accommodations, food, and assistance services will be provided to ensure that your time is spent absorbing the experience and not concerning about the travel logistics.

Airport transfers. You will be met personally at the airport and swiftly transported to your comfortable accommodations in preparation for your copper canyon tour.  At the end of your tour, you’ll be transported back to the airport of your choice.

Accommodations. Hotels in the canyons are attractive colonial-style hotels, and all rooms have private baths.  They provide comfort amidst the natural scenic locations where they are situated; you can expect excellent service with friendly and attentive staff, and the water and food are safe.

Independent or fully guided. Our travel partner offers independent tours complemented by a detailed information packet that is tailored to your itinerary and that will assist you as you engage in your day-by-day activities. Optionally you can choose to have an English-speaking guide for an extra fee to accompany you on the entire trip and thus give you the most complete experience in Copper Canyon.

Flexible itineraries. Custom tours are offered with varying durations from five to eight days’ stay, to flex with your available schedule and budget.  Shorter itineraries of four nights’ stay focus primarily on the extraordinary train ride through the canyons, whereas the longer 6-night+ tours enable you to experience more of this outstanding region, interact with the tribes and communities who live locally, and take in additional day tours.

Copper Canyon tours starting in Los Mochis, Mazatlán, or Chihuahua City

We recommend you begin your tour in Los Mochis or Mazatlán, and you can end your tour where you began (complete a loop); or you can elect to begin and end your tour at one of the other start/end points.

If you begin the tour in Los Mochis or Mazatlán, you will be met at the airport and provided with comfortable ground transportation from there to El Fuerte, where you’ll be accommodated overnight at a charming colonial-style hotel, and board the train early in the morning.  Optionally, you can include side tours in and around El Fuerte.  It’s a 90-minute road trip from Los Mochis to El Fuerte, or a 6-hour road trip from Mazatlán that includes travel along a scenic oceanside highway.

If you begin the tour in Chihuahua City, you will board the train from there; optionally you can include side tours around Chihuahua before or after your canyon tour.

Copper Canyon tour itineraries

All tours are customized to your needs, schedule and budget and can include:

• Itineraries ranging from five to eight days, or longer, depending on your schedule and budget
• Overnight stay at a specially selected hotel in Los Mochis, El Fuerte, or Chihuahua City before the start of your journey into the canyon
• Train tickets with as a class of service to suit your preferences and budget. The copper canyon train offers three classes of service: First class, Executive class, and Standard class. Our travel partner will describe the features of each one so you can choose a class of service to suit your preferences and budget.
• Overnight stays at selected hotels on the ridge of the copper canyon, near Divisadero
• A choice of various activities and tours in the canyons (see below)
• Independent (self-guided) tour using a detailed information packet provided by our travel partner, or full guided tour with an English-speaking guide, as you prefer

Activities to take part in at Copper Canyon

Choose from a range of activities and experiences when you’re in the canyons. A modest additional fee per person, per activity, applies:

• Third longest cable car in the world
• Zip lines across ravines
• Aerial forest view
• Visit to the serene and remote Oteros canyon and cave
• 1-hour (easy/moderate) hike along the Tarahumara trail
• 3-hour (moderate/difficult) hike to visit the community of Wakajipare and the Tarahumara museum designed by the Rarámuri community
• Horseback ride (3.5 hours) into the canyon to discover the best view of the Urique River
• Around Creel and Cusarare: a cultural and spiritual tour that takes you to see the village of San Ignacio de Arareko, the lake of Ararek, and several picturesque valleys including the Valley of the Monks.

Additional activities and customized tour options

For travelers who can spend extra days on a highly customized itinerary, additional options include:

• Tour and enjoy the highly picturesque colonial town of El Fuerte and environs including a visit to the Mayo indigenous villages and dances; a gentle cruise on a raft down El Fuerte river; black bass fishing in the lake (seasonal); massage and hydro whirlpool therapies.
• Enjoy eco/adventure tours around Los Mochis including fishing, snorkeling, boat rides, bat caves, and taking-in the sunset on the island of Farallon;
• Visit Creel and reconnect with nature on outdoor activities in the surrounding area, including half-day or full-day hikes into the notably peaceful and serene wilderness around Creel; a day’s hike to bathe in natural hot springs; an outstanding 10-hour day hike that will take you to discover and experience the highest waterfall in Mexico at Basaseachi falls
• Visit the Cerocahui mission town and alpine village is situated in Urique Canyon (the deepest canyon in the region) in a valley dotted with fruit trees along the riverside—a destination characterized by extraordinary natural beauty and tranquility. Nearby is the Cerro del Gallego vantage point offering spectacular views of the canyons including the town of Urique, revealing the depth of the canyon and the river that winds along the valley floor.
• Complete your tour with a visit to the colonial city of Chihuahua, enjoying a guided tour of the historic quarters of this old city and a visit to local limestone caves.

Deepen your experience with a visit to Batopilas

For travelers who want to experience the Copper Canyon beyond the usual tourist sights, consider adding a custom visit to Batopilas to your itinerary.  This tour will have your feet traversing through three outstanding canyons that lead down to the beautifully picturesque rural town of Batopilas.

Your journey will take you through three different climate zones: beginning in the upper Sierra at over 7,000 feet, gradually descending to the base of Batopilas canyon, just above sea level.  This 85-mile trip will take most of the day and enables you to witness some the most magnificent natural scenery in Mexico—no other tour in the canyons matches the depth of visual stimulation offered by these places.  The optional tour includes:

• An overnight stay at a fabulously restored 15-room hacienda hotel; and
• A walk to the Lost Cathedral at Satevo and the ruins of the Batopilas Mining Career.
• Optionally, a walk to the aqueduct and Porfirio Diaz tunnel opening; and hiking in the picturesque Cerro Colorado can also be arranged by request.

Copper canyon custom tour prices

These carefully crafted tours of the Copper Canyon comprise a core offering with optional customizations to suit your schedule, preferences, and budget.

• Prices for 5-day core tour packages starting in Los Mochis or Chihuahua start from US$820 per person, and based on two people sharing a room.
• Prices for 7-day core tour packages starting in Los Mochis or Chihuahua start from US$955 per person, and based on two people sharing a room.
• Prices for 8-day core tour packages starting in Mazatlán start from US$1,060 per person, and based on two people sharing a room.

Families are welcome: Children (ages 3-11) accompanied by an adult(s) pay a discounted rate.

Train class options: Prices include the cost of a standard class train ticket; executive and first-class tickets carry a surcharge of between US$20 and US$250 each, depending on your travel choices.

There are surcharges for single-occupancy rooms and solo travelers. Optional add-on day tours and tour customizations around Los Mochis, Creel, and Chihuahua can be quoted and arranged by request. Prices are subject to change.

Prices illustrated are subject to change. Please request a personalized quote from our travel partner by completing the request form below.

What your copper canyon tour includes and excludes

Regardless of your tour’s start point or duration, your package always includes:

• being met personally with transfers to and from the airport;
• booking of your train tickets in the class you have chosen to travel in;
• lodging at hotels that have been carefully chosen by our travel partner;
• breakfast, lunch, and dinner (at Cerocahui and Divisadero only); and
• a detailed information packet to guide you on your independent tour, or a fully escorted tour with an English-speaking guide.

Tour package prices exclude:

• your flights (or other transportation) to the start point and end point;
• additional meals, drinks, and snacks, including alcoholic beverages
• costs of activities and local day tours you may choose to participate in in the canyon (prices range from US$15-$75 per person, per activity)
• tips for the guide, driver, hotel and restaurant staff; and
• trip insurance.

Make a Copper Canyon tour request

Complete the request form below and receive a quote for a customized tour to visit the magnificent Copper Canyon in Mexico.

Our travel partner offers in-depth insights to this remarkable region of Mexico, underpinned by close-knit working relationships with local community service providers. Choose from set date tours, or request a custom itinerary to suit your dates and travel preferences.

Whale watching season in Mexico

The Grey Whales journey from the icy waters off the coast of Alaska to arrive at the warmer coastal lagoons along the Baja California peninsula during the month of January. 

• The breeding season is short and advance planning is essential.
• Peak viewing begins in late January.
• The whale watching season ends in late March.

The coastal lagoons near Guerrero Negro are located on the 28th Parallel, virtually halfway between the northern and southern reaches of Mexico’s Baja region.

Mexico’s Baja peninsula is a narrow but very long tract of land, so to make the best use of time, our associate recommends that visitors fly at least one-way.

Planned tour: As part of your tour package, your tour transportation, accommodations, most meals, and all assistance services will be provided to ensure that your time is spent absorbing the experience and not concerning about the travel logistics.

Set-date itineraries take a picturesque road trip to Guerrero Negro and fly back from there on a small private aircraft to an air strip in Ensenada, with ground transportation to San Diego.  Your party may be combined with other parties on ground transport during these set-date tours.

Custom itineraries are formed according to your party’s schedules, interests, and transportation preferences. A custom tour offers full flexibility and ground transportation is exclusively assigned to your party on custom itineraries.

Accommodations. Hotels chosen for the tour are attractive local hotels and inns, and all rooms have private baths.  They provide comfort amidst the natural scenic locations where they are situated.  You can expect excellent service with friendly and attentive staff, and the water and food are safe.

A unique tour in an extraordinary location that will create lifelong memories for you and your party

These tours, carefully crafted by a highly skilled tour operator based in Baja and working hand-in-glove with local indigenous communities in the region, offer one of the most awe-inspiring travel experiences available in Mexico.

The highlight of tour is being in the company of the grey whales and their baby offspring. Many dream of meeting a whale and feeling its majestic presence nearby, and this tour opens an opportunity for you and your family and friends to realize that encounter in a way that respects nature and the whales themselves as they frolic in the natural habitat where they arrived to give birth to their progeny.

Highlights of the Tour

Your tour will be composed of a series of activities that will bring you close to the rugged and breathtaking beauty of Baja’s deserts—a place that provokes inward contemplation and provides inspiration for our senses.

You can join a set-date group tour, or request a no-obligation quote for a fully customized tour to suit your party’s schedules, interests, and travel preferences.

In all cases, knowledgeable and passionate English-speaking guides will provide detailed insights and narratives about the natural history and the local culture as you travel through and absorb this remarkable experience.

Extraordinary whale encounters

The coastal lagoon area off the coast of Guerrero Negro is one of the best places in the world to meet and encounter with gray whales. You may have the chance to see mothers with their newborns; some whales encourage their offspring to frolic with the humans and you may even touch them during carefully-managed encounters.

Birdwatching in Baja

Guerrero Negro is also known one one the world’s ornithological hotspots, as the region provides a vast natural and unspoiled habitat to host migratory birds as they meet and mate among its pristine estuary ecosystems and isolated salt flats.

Iconic garden, ancient caves and a salt mine

Hike and wonder among the whimsical granite boulders and boojum trees of Cataviña, an iconic garden of cacti and hidden cave paintings. A guided tour into the largest salt mine in the world is also possible; this a remarkable experience that leads you in to a pearl white landscape of mountains composed entirely of salt rock.

Wine tasting tour

You’ll be passing through the heart of Valle de Guadalupe, one of Mexico’s top and most renowned wine producing regions. The tour offers an option to visit one of the great vineyards of the region where you will take lunch, taste from a variety of fine wines produced on the estate, and have an opportunity to buy some wine to take home with you, directly from the producer.

Active touring on foot and water

Depending on your timescale, interest, and physical ability, local hikes can be included as well as kayaking in the local lagoons. This can include a hike along coastal volcanoes with a wonderful view of surrounding wetlands.

Visits to local points of interest

Itineraries also include visits to local cultural centers, museums, and other local community centers, reserves and local initiatives to help you gain deeper insights into the local culture and its people.

Local restaurants and eateries

The tour will include visits to hand-picked places to eat, including popular local restaurants and quaint local eateries, with fresh oysters and other seafood being one of the local delicacies due to the proximity of the ocean and the Sea of Cortés. Special dietary arrangements can be accommodated with advance notice.

Small airplane travel

Small aircraft fly lower and slower than commercial jets.  The tour operator offers an option to climb aboard a small aircraft to return to Ensenada and in doing so encounter a bygone era of air travel, when the experience was valued over speed.

The ~300-nautical mile (two-and-a-half hour) flight offers passengers a birds-eye view of the areas you explored on ground, including majestic mountains that rise-up from the vast desert landscapes to the east, and the foam and spray of the inspiring and powerful Pacific Ocean to the west.

Optional Road Cruise northward

If you would prefer not to fly back to Ensenada, you may opt for a Land Cruise back north, with a side trip to visit the Sea of Cortés.  This land cruse return option adds one or two nights to your timescale and itinerary.

Typical 6-day itinerary

Tours typically last six days and begin and end in San Diego, California; or in Tijuana, Mexico.

Baja whales and nature tour prices

These carefully designed tours to visit the whales in-season, combined with other local attractions in the Baja region, are offered on set-dates with a preset itinerary or via a customized quote to suit your own dates (season runs from January to March), activity interests, transport options, and tour timescales.

• Six-day tours are priced from US$1,920 per person.
• Make a request for dates in 2024/2025 and receive a no-obligation quote from our travel associate.

Make a Baja Whales & Nature tour request

Complete the request form below and our Baja travel associate will be in direct contact with you to share a detailed itinerary for set-date tours or provide a no-obligation quote for a customized tour.

Bigger than the Grand Canyon in Arizona

The ‘Copper Canyon’ is actually a series of twenty canyons, formed over the years by six rivers.  The area is about seven times the size of the Grand Canyon, and has distinct topography, flora and fauna to Arizona’s premier natural wonder.

The most popular —and best— way to travel into the canyon is by making use of the remarkable railway which traverses areas of this rugged wilderness.  Opened in 1961 following decades of construction, the line is an extraordinary feat of engineering in its own right.

Copper Canyon train line: an engineering marvel

The railway was originally devised to connect the commercial Pacific sea port at Los Mochis to the central colonial city of Chihuahua. A distinctive engineering feature of the line is that it begins at near-sea level on the Pacific coast, rises to an altitude of over 8,000 feet and then declines again to an altitude of around 2,500 feet.

The incline of a railway track cannot exceed fifteen degrees, so to accomplish the  ‘climb and descent’ the engineers needed to construct bridges, burrow many tunnels through the mountains, and use ‘switch-back’ stages in order to complete the route.

By the time the railway was finished, engineers had laid over 390 miles of track crossing thirty-nine bridges and traversing eighty-six tunnels: the longest bridge runs for a quarter mile and the longest tunnel for nearly a mile.

A remarkable train journey through the canyons

Two first-class trains begin the journey across the canyon: one starting in Chihuahua City and the other in Los Mochis.  They meet, roughly half-way, near Divisadero station, which is also a base for most of the canyon’s hotels, lodges, and tours which take visitors deeper into the canyons.

The most scenic and dramatic areas of the canyon are on the west side, so to take advantage of the daylight it’s generally accepted that the train traveling eastbound —from Los Mochis towards Chihuahua— is a better sight-seeing option than the one traveling east to west.

When to visit the Copper Canyon

Seasonally, May and June tend to be the driest months in the canyons.  July to November are months when the rains are most abundant and the canyons’ flora show-off their deepest colors.  Between December and May, the canyons’ colors pass through a transition between the wet and dry seasons.  Winter months (December to February) are the coldest and it can snow in some areas of the canyon.

El Fuerte is the most popular boarding point

Although the train journey begins in Los Mochis, many tour visitors board the train at its first main stop situated in the beautiful colonial town of El Fuerte, which is about an hour’s drive from Los Mochis—the city which most people fly into to take the train.  When you arrange your visit to the canyon using a tour service, there will be a driver and vehicle waiting to meet you at the airport.

You can take the train straight through to Chihuahua City and simply see the canyon ‘in passing’ on the train.  However, to properly experience the canyons and get the most out of a visit to the region, we recommend you explore the various tours on offer and include a stay at one of the hotels or lodges in the canyon itself (the more adventurous can hike and camp in the canyon) and, from there, participate in some of the wonderful outdoor activities on offer.

For detailed information about the Copper Canyon, including local knowledge about the area, best times to travel, the train journey, the attractions and activities on offer, connect to our comprehensive Guide to Mexico’s Copper Canyon.

The Mexican piñata party ritual

For the uninitiated, the piñata is a decorated clay pot or papier-mâché container filled with treats (more about those later) which is strung from a rope and flailed at in turns by party-goers who are blindfolded and armed with a stick.

A person at one end of the rope —or sometimes a person at each end— will be able to swing the piñata in an attempt to keep it away from its assailant, and make the game last as long as possible.

When the piñata breaks, the contents are scattered on the ground and a rush is made to collect as much loot as possible.

At most children’s birthday parties and Christmas posadas the order in which the participants get a shot is based on age, from youngest to eldest.  This is logical since the bigger the person, the more likely they are to break the piñata, and the idea is to keep it going for a good while—at least long enough to ensure that every child has a turn.

Stick flailed to the piñata song

The duration of a “turn” is as long as it takes to sing the piñata song, which goes like this:

Dale dale dale, no pierdas el tino,
Porque si lo pierdes, pierdes el camino.
Ya le diste uno,
Ya le diste dos,
Ya le diste tres y tu tiempo se acabó.

Which loosely translates as:

Hit-it hit-it hit-it, don’t lose your aim,
Because if you lose it, you will lose your way.
Now you’ve hit it once,
Now you’ve hit it twice,
Now you’ve hit it three times,
And your time is up.

Essential preparations for your piñata ritual

More thought and decision-making goes into a simple piñata ritual than you might expect:

First of all, what should go inside the piñata?

Christmas piñatas tend to be healthier than birthday piñatas.  They usually contain pieces of sugar cane, tangerines, or little oranges called naranjas piñateras, peanuts, a Mexican fruit called tejocote, limas (a sort of cross between an orange and a lime) and a variety of candy: boiled sweets, chocolate coins, and such.  Birthday piñatas tend to have more candy and less fruit.  Some piñatas may also contain small toys and other trinkets.

Next, where to stretch the rope on which the piñata will be strung?

This often involves at least one person, usually an adult, leaning precariously out of an upstairs window, on a rooftop terrace, or hanging-off the side of one of those spiral iron staircases common in Mexico as a way up onto the roof.

Finding the right stick to strike the piñata

A traditional wooden broom handle is the best, and if you visit your local ferreteria you should be able to buy one.

The new-style hollow plastic or thin hollow metal tube handles are too light to make any impression on the piñata, especially the more common papier-mâché ones which are quite resistant. A baseball bat is too heavy for the smaller swingers and gives an unfair advantage to the bigger children or adults.

Piñata shops actually sell sticks that are about the right size and weight, which is fine in today’s world of ready-made.  If the stick doesn’t break during the ritual, it can be stored ready for the next party.

Add a blindfold and the piñata ritual can begin

Once the piñata is all set up, and someone finds an adequate scarf or bandanna to use as a blindfold, the fun is ready to begin.  (The little children are not blindfolded, by the way.)

Unwritten rules and strategies

If the piñata is one of the spherical ones with paper cones stuck on it, a common strategy frequently used by players is to knock-off one or more of the cones without breaking the piñata.

There’s a sort of unwritten rule that if you break one of those off, that ends your turn, but you get to keep the cone, which is useful for filling with goodies once the piñata is broken.

If the piñata is thematic —Disney characters seem perennially popular— an arm or a leg or any other non-core piece of the piñata could be broken-off and kept for the same purpose.

Time outs, the break, and the final rush for the bounty

With clay-pot piñatas, one good crack can break them open and the contents would spill on the floor.  With the more common and most popular papier-mâché variety, often the piñata will split rather than break, and just a few things fall out, prompting some of the children to rush-in to grab them while the person with the stick may still be in full-swing: if blind-folded, they might not realize the piñata has been split.

This calls for a time-out while the stray pieces of fruit or candy are retrieved. If the split or tear in the piñata is big enough, the person in charge of the rope will usually shake it up and down so that more fall out.

Then one of the adults will take it upon him or herself to declare the piñata broken, step into the arena, grab the damaged artifact and shake it until all the contents are emptied onto the ground.

This signal is a cue for the scrum, as children rush-in armed with their cones and other piñata parts, or at least one of those ubiquitous plastic bags, to fill.

After the adrenaline fest, adults with brooms appear to sweep up the remains of tissue paper, papier-mâché, and the odd broken fruit no one claimed; and some redress is made in benefit of the less aggressive of the participants whose share of the loot doesn’t come anywhere near to what even the least social-minded might consider fair.

Also known as Epiphany, the date marks the visit of the Magi to the Christ child: they are traditionally considered to have numbered three wise men, corresponding to the three gifts mentioned in the Bible.

Gift-giving traditions

For many years, Three Kings Day was the date when gifts would be given to Mexican children, who would put shoes out before going to bed on the evening of January 5th. Although this was gradually and inexorably taken over by the imported tradition of Santa Claus, families here maintain the tradition of giving children toys on Three Kings Day. Rather than the main course, this is for many a complement to the excesses of modern-day Christmas; “Por no dejar” —for the sake of keeping it— as some may say.

The continuation of Three Kings Day celebration is notable in the commercial world: toy prices in Mexican stores aren’t discounted to unload leftover inventory until around the second week of January, and the days leading up to January 5th can often see parents out late at stores and markets seeking to fill last-minute orders.

Rosca de Reyes

The extravagant meals taken at Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are not repeated for Día de Reyes, but instead Rosca de Reyes (“Kings’ Loaf”) is shared, traditionally in the presence of family and close friends and accompanied with hot chocolate, on the eve of January 6th.

The large oval-shaped cakes —sweet bread topped with crystallized fruit and sugar— are interspersed with little plastic dolls representing the baby Jesus. Whoever gets a doll in their slice —and you have to cut your own to avoid feelings of being cheated— is supposed to buy the tamales on February 2nd—Día de la Candelaria, a Catholic tradition celebrating the presentation of Jesus in the temple.

How many of the people who get the slices with dolls actually end up buying the tamales themselves is an open question. But you probably don’t want to gather for Rosca with people who insist on further slicing each slice horizontally to inspect for dolls: not the spirit you’d want to start out the New Year with.

Rosca de Reyes shows up in the shops long before January, just as Pan de Muerto is usually available long before Día de los Muertos, and loaves may still be found in stores and bakeries for a few days after this.

Closing out the Guadalupe-Reyes festive season

There are other ways in which Día de Reyes marks the end of the long holiday season, sometimes referred to as Guadalupe-Reyes to describe the slow month between Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12th and the grade schools going back for the new term in the days after January 6th.

It’s also the time to start taking down Christmas trees, festive lights, and other seasonal decorations. But there’s no rush.

Learn more about food traditions in Mexico

Mexperience helps you to discover food traditions in Mexico:

• Learn about the tradition of eating Tamales at Candlemas
• Foods at Christmas and other holidays in Mexico
• Learn about Pan de Muerto on Day of the Dead
• Learn more about Mexican Food and Drink.
• Mexican beers, liquors and cocktails

Most Mexicans spend the eve of the New Year at a private party hosted in their home with close friends and family gathered near. Families who live in cooler climates may repair to the one of Mexico’s coastal resorts for some winter warmth and a party at a privately-rented house, or attend a dinner party at their hotel.

For those seeking a more lively night to say farewell to an year passed and welcome in the new, dinner parties at hotels and other events hosted in public plazas provide opportunities for merry-making.

New Year celebrations at family homes

Families, and particularly those with young children, tend to pass New Year’s Eve at their homes in Mexico—either at their own, or at a nearby friend’s house, where a party may be organized, or a more simple gathering with a supper and drinks prepared.  The celebrations might later spill-out onto the local street, where an impromptu and convivial congregation with the neighbors could take place.

New Year dinner parties

Young adults usually ring-in the New Year with their friends and cohorts at locally-arranged parties or public plazas.  In urban centers —and especially in Mexico’s three big cities— hotels (and especially the fashionable ones) typically arrange a New Year’s Eve dinner, dance and a party for a set fee. Attendees of these events will usually repair to one of the hotel’s rooms, with late check-out arrangements in place allowing guests to sleep-off the party.

Popular oceanside resorts like Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, and the Riviera Maya fill-up for New Year’s Eve, and you can expect to pay a premium for experiencing celebrations at these places—whether you stay at a hotel, or rent a private home.

Some hotels and resorts host dinner parties with dancing, live music or other entertainments for guests who want to participate, and some also welcome guests who are not staying at the hotel/resort—check locally for details.

Some of the more elegant hotels in Mexico’s provincial cities may host a gala dinner and dance event; room rates are in-line with their high-season prices and there is an additional cover charge to attend the dinner and cocktail party.

Civic events and local markets

In larger towns and cities, you’ll find civic events taking place in and around the zocalo (central plaza), which usually includes market stalls, food and drink stands, live music, dance groups, as well as other forms of street entertainment.  Street and public festivities vary by town and city—check locally for details and arrangements.

Elegant firework displays

Fireworks are tremendously popular for all types of celebrations in Mexico, and New Year firework displays tend to be among the most elegant.

In smaller towns and villages locals usually set-off private displays in their gardens, at local neighborhood town squares, or on their street. Formal displays arranged by local governments or hotels & resorts can offer extravagant displays which feature a wide assortment of pyrotechnics and create spectacular shows of light and sound for anyone in the vicinity to witness and enjoy.

Grapes and other traditions

In addition to the demand for fireworks, markets undertake a brisk trade in grapes on the run-up to New Year, as well as red and yellow-colored underwear.

These satisfy a demand to uphold Mexican traditions which include eating twelve grapes at midnight —one grape to be taken on each strike of the midnight toll— and, for the superstitious, wearing red underwear to draw luck in matters of love, and yellow underwear to draw luck in matters relating to money during the coming year.

Another tradition practiced by some with plans to travel in the New Year is to carry an empty suitcase around the block to attract good fortune in one’s future expeditions.  Some parties also celebrate the New Year by breaking open a piñata.

An older tradition, not witnessed frequently these days, is one where a well-heeled member of the local community throws coins —traditionally silver troy ounces, although today Mexican legal tender is more likely— from a high balcony or a rooftop to children who gather below and retrieve the falling coins for spending in the New Year.

Traditional Mexican food for New Year’s Eve

The traditional foods taken on the eve of the New Year include bacalao, a salted dried codfish re-hydrated and prepared in a stew with fresh chiles and green olives; tamales, natural corn-paste flavored using sweet or savory ingredients, wrapped in corn leaves and steamed; and bañuelos, light and crisp Mexican wafers drizzled with a sweet syrup made using piloncillo.

Traditional seasonal tipples include ponche, a fruit-punch spiked with rum; and rompope—eggnog.  Tequila and mezcal, champagne, and sparkling cider (sidra) are also firm favorites for New Year celebrations here.

The Guadalupe-Reyes festive period continues

With party-goers well-fed and properly watered, and grapes scoffed at the stroke of midnight, a ritual of hugs and kisses begins, in line with Mexican social etiquette, before dancing and music continues into the early hours and, for some, through to daybreak on January 1st.

Following the year-end climax celebrations, Mexico’s festivities continue into the New Year: the Guadalupe-Reyes festive period that begins with Día de Guadalupe on December 12th, continues until January 6th, King’s Day, or Epiphany.

Christmas and New Year traditions in Mexico

Mexperience helps you to discover Christmas traditions in Mexico and enjoy all the country offers during this important festive period:

• Learn about preparing for Christmas and New Year in Mexico
• The story of Juan Diego and Guadalupe
• Christmas party Piñatas
• The Christmas Aguinaldo
• Learn about Mexican party foods at Christmastime
• Enjoying Mexico’s traditional Christmas Posadas
• December Festivities and the Christmas Experience
• New Year Celebrations in Mexico
• Kings’ Day gifts and Rosca de Reyes
• Articles about Christmas and New Year in Mexico

La Ofrenda: the altar of offering

A centerpiece of the traditions that surround the occasion is the creation and open placement of an ofrenda —an altar of offering— that usually manifests as an altar in family homes, although some ofrendas are also arranged at local cemeteries, and in public spaces including parks and plazas.

These altars are an art form and personal expression of love towards one’s family members now passed; they are not intended for worshiping but instead for the purpose of remembrance and celebration of life.

The three tiers of an ofrenda

Traditionally, altars featuring ofrendas will be composed of three layers:

• the top tier contains photographs of the remembered deceased as well as religious statues or symbols, especially that of La Virgen Guadalupe;
• the second tier will contain the ofrendas: toys are usually offered for deceased children, and bottles of tequila, mezcal, or atole for deceased adults.  Personal ornaments, and/or the deceased’s favorite food or confection will also be present here, as will Pan de Muerto;
• the third tier will feature lit candles, and some people add a washbasin and a towel so that the spirits of the deceased may refresh themselves upon arrival at the altar.

The second tier of the altar is the most personal, furnished with a thoughtful selection of ofrendas for the remembered deceased.  Special care is given to the composition of this layer by those creating the ofrendas, giving due consideration to the important things their loved ones most enjoyed during the course of their lifetime.

In remembrance of deceased children, toy and game sets, cuddly toys, as well as candy and snacks they enjoyed may be placed here.  For adults, it’s traditional to leave samples of the food and drink they especially enjoyed (or the ingredients which make them).

Small clay pots containing samples of foods like corn, spices, chiles, and confectionery are common; as are clay cups or mugs containing the deceased’s favorite beverages—which could include sodas, chocolate, coffee, tea, atole; as well as tequila, pulque, or mezcal, etc.

Every altar will include Mexican orange marigold flowers called cempaxochitl —colloquially referred to as flor de muerto— as well as Pan de Muerto, bread of the dead.

Making arrangements for the ofrenda

In the two weeks or so leading-up to Day of the Dead, local markets across Mexico begin to fill-up with colorful stalls selling all the items traditionally needed to fully dress a family ofrenda.

Local markets are indispensable

If you’re visiting Mexico in the days leading up the event, be sure to visit at least one local market to experience the atmosphere and witness the traditions which accompany the creation of family altars, and where you’ll see local people busily seeking out the indispensable pieces they need to compose their own unique and very personal ofrenda: a symbol of remembrance and a celebration of lives lived.

Drapes and adornments

The altar tables are usually draped and adorned with colorful paper or cloth, some with cut-outs known as papel picado and formed into a variety of patterns which echo the traditions —Catrinas, skulls, crosses, and flowers are most common— and some even depict pumpkins.

Something sweet

Most altars will include some form of confectionery, typically caramelized pumpkin and an assortment of sugar skulls which are creatively decorated and painted and sold in a range of different sizes.

The importance of candlelight

Candlelight is an important atmospheric aspect of each ofrenda, and the markets are replete with options, often presented in colorful pots and jars, or with edges of the wax candle painted and decorated in harmony with Day of the Dead themes. Incense burners may also be found on some ofrendas, alongside the candles.

Where to find ofrendas in Mexico

The ofrendas can be seen at local cemeteries, and in public parks and plazas. In some provincial towns and villages, local families traditionally open their homes’ altars on the 1st and 2nd of November—so a visit to a local cemetery and a wander around local neighborhoods may provide you with an opportunity to share and experience Day of the Dead traditions at a very local and personal level.

You can learn more about the traditions of Day of the Dead, including the altars and Catrinas on our article about Celebrating Life on Day of the Dead in Mexico

Learn more about Day of the Dead in Mexico

We publish guides and articles to help you discover more about Day of the Dead in Mexico, as well as Pátzcuro and Oaxaca City.

• Articles to discover Day of the Dead in Mexico
• How to plan ahead for Day of the Dead
• Celebrating life on Day of the Dead
• Meet the elegant Catrinas
• Delicious bread and hot chocolate traditions
• The iconic flower synonymous with Day of the Dead
• Children’s Calaverita traditions
• Guides to Pátzcuaro and Oaxaca City

Business Hours and Public Holidays in Mexico

Business Hours

Shops: Shopping hours in big towns and cities start at around 10 or 11 a.m., and continue through to between 8 and 10 p.m. Shops in cities and big towns are open seven days a week; smaller places may close on Sundays, except tourist spots at high season. Christmas and Easter public holidays are observed; on other public holidays you’ll find most places open in cities and bigger towns and tourist spots. Smaller towns will have more limited opening hours, and in hotter, non-tourist regions, stores may close between 2 and 4 p.m.; check locally.

Banks: Bank branches in Mexico are now generally open from 9 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m. in many cities and big towns, and some even open Saturday mornings. HSBC, for example, now opens from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. six days a week in large towns and cities. For more information about managing your money in Mexico, connect to the Money in Mexico section here on Mexperience.

Office Hours: Commercial Office hours tend to run in line with those of the US: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lunch breaks usually last an hour, but business lunches can go on much longer. Connect to the Business Section here on Mexperience for full details about business practices in Mexico.

Churches: Some churches remain open all the time; others are locked if there is no service going on, especially those hosting valuable art or artifacts. If you visit a church, be mindful of those inside who may be taking part in a church service.

Museums: Museums tend to have specific opening hours, and those outside of the major tourist areas usually close for a day in the week (often, but not always, on Mondays), so it’s best to check opening times beforehand if you plan to visit a specific museum.  A quick look online will reveal opening times.

Archaeology Parks: Archaeology parks are open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and all except those in the most frequented tourist areas (e.g. Chichen Itza in Yucatan) are closed on Mondays.

Public Holidays in Mexico

Mexico celebrates a number of public holidays throughout the year. You can learn more about the dates, holidays and events surrounding them on our guide to Public Holidays in Mexico.

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Video and Photography in Mexico

Printing Digital Photos in Mexico

If you would like to print your digital photos while in Mexico, you can visit the photo department inside major supermarkets (e.g. Wal-Mart). There are also independent photography shops—especially common in small towns where there are no major shops—where you can edit/print your digital photos, purchase additional memory chips for your digital camera, buy batteries and accessories and purchase a new camera or video equipment (note that photographic equipment is more expensive in Mexico than it is in the USA).  Film and videotape for non digital cameras are becoming obsolescent, but may still be available in some specialist photographic stores in larger towns and cities.

Video and Photography Etiquette in Mexico

Museums: Some museums and all major archaeology parks will make a small charge if want to take a handheld video recorder into the museum or site with you; some make a charge for cameras, although this is rare. Some will not allow flash photography, especially on ancient stonework and murals as it affects the longevity of the work. You’ll see notices written in Spanish and English that will advise you at each location.

Tripods: The use of tripods at all archaeological sites and some museums requires a permit. If you want to use a tripod you will need to apply for special permission from INAH (the government department that manages archaeological sites and some museums) and there will be a significant fee and plenty of paperwork involved. If you are outside Mexico, contact your local Mexican Consulate for information and details. Sites and museums which don’t allow tripods offer a “package hold” facility for people carrying tripods, where they can be left until you leave the site or museum. Use of tripods elsewhere (public spaces, beaches, towns, etc.) is permitted.

Etiquette: Be mindful of people you photograph and, if possible, ask their permission first – especially in small provincial communities and in the State of Chiapas, and particularly in and around San Cristobal de las Casas. A small few places (mostly small rural towns and villages) have restrictions on photography, and signs will be posted to advise you in such cases.

Military and Navy Installations: It’s best not to photograph the army or any military installations to avoid any misunderstandings.

Churches: Taking pictures inside a church when there is a service going on is considered disrespectful, so you should refrain from doing it. Taking pictures inside a church at other times is acceptable in Mexico.

Filming Professionally in Mexico

If you are planning to travel to Mexico to film or take photographs professionally (including research, cultural, artistic and educational programs), you will need to apply for a temporary filming permit. Contact your local Mexican Consulate for details.

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Drinking Alcohol in Mexico

Legal Drinking Age in Mexico

The legal minimum drinking age in Mexico is 18 years; three years before the USA’s legal drinking age, which is why a lot of older American teenagers ‘fly south’ to Mexico for a weekend or longer.

Although it has been rare in the past, requests for proof of age or identification when asking for an alcoholic beverage in Mexico are on the rise. Local authorities are also beginning to make spot-checks on establishments which sell alcohol, with officers approaching drinkers at the bars who look under age and asking for identification. However, Mexico is nowhere near as strict as the USA, where anyone who looks underage is immediately asked for identification before being served.

The Effect of Altitude

Many places in the interior of Mexico are situated at altitude (for example, Mexico City, Guadalajara and most colonial cities) and at high altitudes, alcohol will have more effect on you than if you were drinking at, or close to, sea level. See Blog: Breathing Easy at High Altitudes

Alcohol Licensing Laws in Mexico

Most Mexican states allow stores, restaurants, and bars to sell alcohol 24 hours a day. However, some state restrictions do apply; for example in the northern state of Sonora, that borders the U.S. state of Arizona, establishments cannot sell alcohol between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Mon-Sat, and on Sundays, they cannot sell alcohol from 3 p.m. until 7 a.m. the following Monday.

Drinking on the Street in Mexico

Technically, it is illegal to drink on the street in Mexico, but some people do, especially in tourist areas. If you want to drink a cold beer while walking down a street on a hot day, go ahead; but don’t be stupid and get drunk on the street: it will call attention to yourself, and you may end up having to deal with the police who, in such a circumstance may apply the letter of the law to your behavior.

Drinking and Driving in Mexico

Drinking and driving is a serious crime in Mexico. If you drink, take a cab: taxis are very affordable in Mexico, there is absolutely no need to take your car if you are drinking.

Drinking and driving is still more common in Mexico than it is in places like the USA and Canada and so, if you’re driving at night, or if you are a pedestrian near a tourist area with lots of bars, be extra vigilant of cars and traffic, especially in the early hours of the morning, when drunk drivers may be about.

Mexico has been stepping up its campaign against drunk-drivers in recent years, with structured programs where rolling road-blocks are set-up in areas where there are many bars and restaurants and on occasions when people are known to drink more (e.g. public holidays and Christmas).  New laws have enacted stiff penalties (including the prospect of prison sentences) for offenders. In Mexico City, for example, the police are now regularly setting up roadside breath tests on routes leading to and from popular night spots across the capital.

See Blog: Getting Consular Assistance in Mexico

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Newspapers and Magazines in Mexico

English Language Media

The only English daily print newspaper in Mexico is “The News”, which was re-launched in 2007 after an absence of several years, the result of its parent Mexican paper Novedades being closed. “The News” is widely available in Mexico City and is also distributed to tourist destinations and other cities across the country; especially cities with significant expat populations, e.g. San Miguel de Allende, Chapala/Ajijic.

Some magazine kiosks at Mexican airports and a few specialized stores in the capital and some other larger cities sell U.S., British or European print newspapers, some of which can be a day or two old.

English-language ‘global’ news magazines such as Time, Newsweek, People, etc. are available in their U.S. editions in cities and large towns across Mexico. The British based magazine ‘Economist’ is now available at larger news stands in the big cities and at Mexican airports.

Newspapers and magazines can be bought on street corner stalls. Many supermarkets are now beginning to stock newspapers and magazines too; but not all of them.  Sanborns Stores stock a very generous selection of magazines, some of which are in English.

Spanish Language Newspapers and Magazines in Mexico

Mexico has a wide selection of Spanish language newspapers from all sides of the political spectrum.  Click on the names in green to view the online versions; all are currently subscription-free except Reforma.

El Universal – One of Mexico’s biggest daily papers, news online does not require subscription, in Spanish

Milenio – A popular daily newspaper with a strong online following.

El Economista – Financial/Business Press, in Spanish

El Financiero – Financial/Business Press, in Spanish

Reforma – Mexico’s biggest daily, in Spanish (subscription required)

Latin Trade – Online version in English of the popular magazine that is dedicated to trade in Latin America

Magazines in Mexico

Popular Spanish language magazines include:

Proceso – A weekly publication with informed commentary and opinion about Mexican and Latin American politics

Mexico Desconocido – A travel magazine with lots of photos, dedicated to highlighting travel and tourism in Mexico

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Traveling to Mexico with Children

Take your family to Mexico with confidence. Read the comprehensive guide about Traveling to Mexico with Children for detailed information about making the most of your family time in Mexico.

Lone Parents and Minors Traveling to Mexico

The rules for minors (people under the age of 18) and lone parents* traveling with their children to Mexico have changed. See the Link to the guide above for full details.

*Lone parents includes single parents, and parents who are traveling with their children and without their spouse or partner.

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Tipping and Bargaining in Mexico

See Blog: Mexico’s Tipping Culture

See Also: Social Etiquette in Mexico

Tipping in Mexico

Tipping is common in the United States: it is almost second-nature and practiced frequently at most service establishments. In many European countries, it is not so common or customary to tip people for services.

Most people working in Mexico’s tourism and service sectors rely on your tips to supplement their basic pay and they give good service to prove that it makes a significant difference to them.

When you are traveling in Mexico, always keep some loose change in your pocket because you never know when you’re going to need some of it for a tip.

Some hotels and tours indicate that “all tips are included in the price”; if this is the case, fair enough, and there is no need to tip further. You may still wish to leave a small tip for the maids at the rooms you stay in, or offer the tour guide a small tip at the end of the program.

Although tips are frequent in Mexico, the amounts are relatively small, and they really can make a difference to the person whom you are tipping.

If you did not get poor service, you should consider tipping in these situations:

Restaurants – 10% – 15% is normal, depending on the class of establishment and level of service you received. At diners and similar places 10% is sufficient; at higher-end restaurants and bistros, 15% is expected for good service.

Hotels – Bellboys should be paid around US$1 per bag; Concierge around US$2 equivalent if they do something for you (e.g. book a table at a local restaurant); more if they undertake some particular research (e.g. found you a local tour operator, car rental agency, or chauffeur). If you don’t speak Spanish, remember that they will also be acting as translators for you and you should take this into account with your tip.

Hotel Chamber Maids – The unsung heroines (they are invariably women) of the hotel industry: chamber maids.   They will often travel a considerable distance to reach your hotel and spend the day cleaning and keeping guest rooms in good order, so that when you get back to your room, it’s waiting for you clean, fresh, and tidy.  It’s appropriate to leave a small tip and leave it each day because work schedules change, and the maid who cleaned your room initially may not be on duty the day you check-out.  The amount of the tip should vary depending upon the category of hotel: a sum in Mexican pesos, left in cash on the side table (next to the maid’s greeting card if one is present), equivalent to between US$1 (for economy hotels) and US$5 (for luxury hotels) per day is suggested and will be sincerely appreciated.

All-Inclusive Hotels: A small few packages stipulate that ‘tips are included’ and in this case no further tipping is required.  However in most cases, guides, porters, the concierge, table staff, and the chamber maids (see above) will appreciate a tip—even if, for example, the price of your meals (or just breakfast) is included in the room rate. For local guides, a reasonable tip commensurate with the amount of time and knowledge they shared with you is appropriate.  One US dollar (equivalent in Mexican pesos) per bag for porters; a dollar or two left on the table after each meal or round of drinks at the bar; and a tip for the chamber maids (see above) will be very much valued.

Gasoline Service Stations – If you rent a car and buy fuel, 3-5% of the cost of the fuel is normal, with 5-10% of the cost of the fuel if the attendant provides additional services (water, oil, tire pressure, etc). It’s usual to leave a few pesos tip within a rounded amount; for example, if you are filling up with $200 pesos of fuel, then you may tell the attendant that you want $190 or $195 pesos of fuel; you hand over the $200 peso bill and the attendant keeps the change. Read related guide to Driving in Mexico. You’ll need to ask for the additional services if you want them.

Car Valets – If you drive to a bar or restaurant and have your car parked by the establishment’s valet service, you should tip the attendant around US$1 equivalent in pesos when you leave, unless the valet has a pre-advertised rate (probably higher than this) in which case, pay that rate and no more.

Porters – When you arrive at a bus station, airport or hotel there will usually be a group of porters nearby waiting to take your bags. US$1 per bag in pesos equivalent is sufficient; perhaps a little more if the bags are over-sized, particularly heavy or if the attendant offers some additional value, for example, some local advice or directions.

Home deliveries – When you have goods or services delivered to your home, it’s customary to tip the service providers.  Examples include: gas deliveries, water bottle deliveries, supermarket deliveries, postal and courier services (e.g. Amazon, Mercado Libre). $10-$20 pesos is sufficient.

Bus Station Baggage Handlers/Caddies: If you placed baggage in the hold on a long bus journey, you might consider tipping the baggage handler with a coin ($5-$10 pesos is sufficient) when he checks your reclaim voucher and hauls the bag from the baggage compartment.  Although most people have baggage with wheels these days, sometimes if you have several bags you might call upon the help of a caddie: most (but not all) stations have a team of caddies using wheeled dollies to carry baggage from the bus-stop platforms to the taxi cab ranks. There is no set fee, although around $1 US dollar per bag, equivalent in Mexican pesos, and a bit more if the bags are over-sized, is sufficient.

Bus Station Taxi Rank Attendants – If you carried your own bags to the official taxi booth at the bus station, you may find that there is an assistant waiting nearby there who will offer to carry your bags once you have purchased your taxi ticket. You don’t have to allow this person to help you, but if you do, you may find it more efficient getting the next taxi from the rank. See Traveling by Bus in Mexico for more details. $10 pesos is sufficient. See Traveling by Bus in Mexico.

Taxis – If you take a cab from the street, it’s appreciated if you round up the meter charge to nearest $5 or $10 pesos depending on the comfort and speed of your journey; however, taxis hired from taxi ranks at hotels or official taxi ranks should be paid the advertised rate (or the rate you agree in advance) and no more. Also read the guide about Traveling by Taxi in Mexico which includes a link to current taxi prices in Mexico.

Bars and Cantinas – Tables at these are often attended (you don’t need to go to the bar to order food or drink) – and a tip of 10% of the value of your spending that evening is normal.

Supermarket Bag Packers: Students and retired folks work at supermarkets across the country to pack bags at the supermarket checkout counters. For students, the money they earn contributes to the funding of their education; for retired folks, the money they earn supplements their pension.  These people are not salaried and work entirely on tips.

Car Park Attendants – Some car parks will have an “attendant”; a man or woman dressed up in a security-type uniform, who may direct you to a free spot, and see you reverse out when you return. These attendants are often older men who also keep an eye on things while you’re away. $3-$5 pesos is sufficient; a little more if they help you load your shopping bags into your car.

Spas – For personal services at Resort Spas, 10-15% of the value of the service (e.g. a Massage) is normal. If you’re staying at a Destination Spa, you can tip good service personally, 5-10% of the service’s ‘stand alone’ value is fine; or you can add a tip to your final bill, to cover everyone—even the ‘behind the scenes’ people: 10-15% of the bill is sufficient. For more information about Spas, read our guides to Spas in Mexico.

Toilets / Restrooms – Some public toilets now make a small charge for entry, and you’ll find these are usually reasonably clean and tidy. If one of these is not available, go to a restaurant, bar (even if you’re not eating or drinking at it) or department store if there’s one nearby. You may well find an attendant there who is looking after the place, making sure it’s clean tidy; some may hand you a paper towel to dry your hands. Near the wash-basins, you may see a small wooden box, sometimes with a piece of cloth inside (and usually a coin or three on it). $5 pesos tip, double that if it’s an upscale establishment, is sufficient.

Stop-Light Entertainers – In Mexico City particularly (but not exclusively) you may find that one or more informal entertainers begin to perform a short skit. The ‘performance’ may include juggling, eating fire, miming, etc. After the performance is over, the people walk between the stationary cars in search of a small tip. Tipping is at your discretion.

Stop-Light Windscreen Wash – Some people will “wash” your vehicle’s windscreen, sometimes whether you want their service or not! Tipping is at your discretion.

Angeles Verdes – Meaning “Green Angels”, these are trucks that are painted green and travel along Mexico’s interstate highways helping people who have broken down. Their help is free, but they will charge you for parts and fuel if your car needs it. Be sure to tip the attendant; the amount is discretionary and should relate to how much help they were in a particular circumstance (e.g. more at night) and on how much work they have done for you. Read more about Traveling by Road in Mexico with Mexperience.

Bargaining in Mexico

People who visit Mexico rate shopping at the local markets as one of the most rewarding travel experiences they encounter.

Mexican traders enjoy bargaining, but beware: if they feel you are trying to devalue their goods too much, they will become upset and may even refuse to trade with you.

Bargaining is a common activity in Mexico, especially at markets and artifact stores and handicraft workshops.

As a rule, you should refuse the first price you’re offered, but be realistic with your subsequent offers, and don’t become too aggressive with your position.

Speaking Spanish – If you speak Spanish (even broken Spanish) you stand a much better chance of getting a better a deal on your purchases. This another good reason to Learn Spanish in preparation for your next visit to Mexico.

Markets and Street Traders – Mexican market traders are usually polite people who enjoy a good trade negotiation but, equally, they may become offended if you are too obstinate and will simply cease bargaining with you completely. Keep in mind that the people selling arts, crafts, and artifacts are generally humble artisans making a simple living and often supporting a family. Some may also be the creators of the wares they are offering for sale, so any deep devaluation of their work might be taken personally, too.

Department Stores, Malls – Department stores and shops in retail centers and shopping malls will not bargain with you.

Taxis – Some taxis are not metered (especially in small provincial towns) so negotiate your price before you get in. Also read the guide about Traveling by Taxi in Mexico which includes a link to current taxi prices in Mexico.

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LGBT in Mexico

Tolerance of sexual diversity is improving in Mexico’s three big cities and some cosmopolitan provincial towns, although Mexican society’s typically conservative social attitudes means that tolerance in Mexico of people who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender remains measurably lower than in places like the USA, Canada, Europe, and Australia. In certain Mexican indigenous cultures — for example, the Zapotecs and Mayas — sexual diversity has been widely tolerated for some time.

The legal rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people in Mexico have been evolving in recent years, in line with international movements towards decriminalizing and respecting people’s sexual orientation. Same-sex relationships in Mexico were decriminalized in 1871, although individuals who were caught were prosecuted under lewd-behavior laws throughout much of the 20th Century.

In recent years, significant legal advances have been made in favor of sexual diversity. A significant amendment to the Federal Constitution in 2011 now prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and, in 2015, Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled to change the legal definition of marriage to encompass same-sex couples. As a result, an increasing number of States and Municipalities will now perform same-sex marriages, including Mexico City, Jalisco (Puerto Vallarta), and Quintana Roo (Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum) and Guerrero (Acapulco).

Places in Mexico known to be gay-friendly and with active/growing LGBT communities are: Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Mexico City, Acapulco, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana, and Puebla.

See Also: Getting Married in Mexico

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Drinking Water

When you’re traveling in Mexico, you must take extra care when drinking water, or fresh beverages that may have tap water added to them. Also check the ice—ask if it was made with tap water especially in more rustic establishments and rural areas. Salads can also be dangerous if they have been rinsed with tap water; so again, the rule is: if in doubt, ask first! All main hotels and good restaurants use purified water throughout.

All commercially produced beverages, including bottled and tinned water, fizzy drinks, wine, beer, spirits, etc will be perfectly safe for you to drink.

To make tap water safe, boil it for at least a few minutes; perhaps longer in locations situated at higher altitudes as the water boils at lower temperatures there. Water purification tablets and drops are available, but these generally have an adverse affect on the water’s taste. Another option is sterilizing pens that use ultra-violet light to purify, but don’t change the taste of the water.

See Blog: Drinking Water in Mexico

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Electricity

Mexico’s electricity system is the same as that of the USA: 120 V; 60 Hz. Any electrical equipment you carry with you that operates at the higher (240v) rate will need to be dual-voltage (e.g. hair driers). A lot of electrical equipment (like video cameras, digital cameras, laptops) that operate on low voltages via a product-specific adapter will happily cope with dual voltage—check the adapter and the device instructions to be sure.

Electricity Sockets in Mexico: You might need a socket adapter.  Plugs in Mexico are the same as in the US; two flat prongs; and some have a third, circular prong for earth, and small adapters can be sought locally for these too if the plug you want to connect into doesn’t have the third (earth) prong socket.  If you are coming to Mexico from a country that uses a different socket type, e.g. the UK or Europe, you will need to bring electricity socket adapters with you.  People visiting from the U.S.A. do not need to bring socket adapters as the plug fittings in Mexico are identical to those in the U.S.A.

Blog Article: When the lights go out

See Also: House Maintenance in Mexico

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Embassy and Consulate Information

What can your consulate in Mexico do for you?

Foreign consulates in Mexico can usually help with administrative tasks like replacing a lost or stolen passport, provide you with a list of lawyers if you get into legal trouble, (and let your family back home know you’re in trouble), liaise with Mexico’s foreign office to make sure that you are being properly treated if you’ve been arrested and, in exceptional circumstances, provide you with a publicly funded loan to pay for repatriation home if you become completely stuck (you will need to pay the loan back).

Foreign consulates and embassies cannot get you out of trouble. When you are in Mexico, you are bound by its laws and customs and subject to its legal penalties if you fall shy of the law, intentionally or otherwise.

See Blog: Obtaining Consular Assistance

Directory of Consulates & Embassies:

Directory of Foreign Consulates in Mexico

Directory of Mexican Consulates Abroad

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Time Zones and Clock Changes in Mexico

See: Mexico’s Time Zones and Clock Changes

Jet Lag

Travelers arriving in Mexico from the east (e.g. from Europe) do not generally experience severe jet lag as they have gained time traveling west. Returning from Mexico and traveling east (e.g. to Europe) can be tiring, as time is lost traveling east.

Read this Related Article in the travel health guide here on Mexperience for tips and advice about how to minimize the impact of Jet Lag when you travel to and from Mexico.

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The very special Methuselah generations of butterflies migrate each year, leaving the colder northern climes of the U.S. and Canada to take winter refuge and breed in Mexico.

The butterflies’ winter migration

These migrating Monarch butterflies travel in colonies of about 20 million insects and will travel between 80-120 nautical miles per day, depending on the wind and other weather conditions. The butterflies take advantage of ascending warm-air currents, gliding in the thrust they provide, needing only to flap their wings when the air current diminishes a little or when they change their flight path. This technique uses their energy efficiently, and physically enables them to undertake the long journey.

They overwinter in Mexico between November and March

The butterflies usually start arriving in early November, and between mid-late November and the end March, it’s possible to visit one of the sanctuaries open to visitors and witness these remarkable insects in their natural habitat.

The Monarch Butterflies settle in the Oyamel fir tree forests which are situated west of Mexico City; along the eastern perimeter of the Mexican state of Michoacán, also bordering the State of Mexico. Once here, the butterflies cluster on the tree trunks and remain in the region for the winter.

As the sun heats the day, some of the butterflies will flutter in the forests and return to the tree trunks when the air cools in the evening.

Peak viewing season is between mid-January and the end of March. Before the mid-January, the air temperature on the mountain is colder and the butterflies don’t flutter as much.

The Mexican government has set up a number of protected sanctuaries within a biosphere reserve to ensure that the important habitats required by the Monarch Butterflies are protected and preserved, while still allowing visitors to witness these remarkable insects amidst some of Mexico’s most breath-taking landscapes.

Learn more and arrange a tour to see the butterflies

You can learn more about these butterflies, their migration, their breeding cycle, and their journey back north on our detailed travel guide to Monarch Butterflies in Mexico.  Watch the PBS video below for a glimpse of this extraordinary experience.

This guide gives you an overview of the private school system in Mexico as well as some of the avenues open for your consideration.

Choice of Schools in Mexico

People who move to Mexico with children will have to find adequate schools. There is no lack of private schools in Mexico, although the number of bilingual or bilcultural schools is limited.

The choice of schools is greater in the larger cities, although the time it takes for traveling in traffic can be a limiting factor in choosing a school, reducing the options to those in reasonable proximity to home. Newcomers can choose an area to live that has convenient access to the school they want their children to attend, or conversely, pick a school among those in the area of the city where they live.

The choice of good schools narrows with the more advanced grades. Finding an adequate kindergarten or primary school is easier than finding a suitable secondary school or high school.

Most of the bicultural schools offer a combination of foreign systems (American, British, or others) with Mexican education. At higher school levels, several include the internationally recognized International Baccalaureate course. This is useful for foreign students who live temporarily in Mexico, or Mexican students who wish to pursue further education abroad.

Among the foreign schools in Mexico City offering bilingual (English/Spanish) education from pre-school through high school are:

• The American School Foundation www.asf.edu.mx
• The Edron Academy www.edron.edu.mx
• Greengates www.greengates.edu.mx
• Lancaster School www.lancaster.edu.mx
• Lomas Hill: Certified IB, multicultural school (K1-G9), located on the west side of Mexico City www.lomashill.com
• Peterson Schools www.peterson.edu.mx
• Instituto Thomas Jefferson itj.edu.mx
• Wingate School www.wingateschool.mx

School Fees in Mexico

Fees vary from school to school (some publish their fees online).

The foreign, bilingual, and bicultural schools tend to be expensive, certainly by Mexican standards.

Aside from monthly tuition, most schools will charge a fairly hefty first-time admission fee, as well as annual re-inscription fees for students returning for the next school year, plus additional charges for school transportation (which is mandatory in some cases) after-school, and other student activities.

Books policies also vary: Some schools loan students textbooks against a returnable deposit; others require students to purchase the books they’ll need each school year.

See also: Shopping in Mexico: Buying Books

Universities in Mexico

Mexico’s National Autonomous University (UNAM) has a special school for foreign students who wish to improve their Spanish and knowledge of Mexican culture and history.  The Centro de Enseñanza para Extranjeros, located in the University’s main campus in the south of Mexico City, offers a series of intensive language and culture study courses. It also offers diploma courses – on-site and open learning – in art, literature, and other subjects. Admission and tuition fees are more expensive for foreigners than Mexican students, but are still very reasonable. The school also has a campus in Taxco, in Guerrero state.

Others universities in Mexico with international programs and admission for foreign students include:

• Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey http://www.itesm.mx, known popularly in Mexico as “El Tec,” has campuses all over the country.
• Universidad Iberoamericana, or “La Ibero,” http://www.ibero.edu.mx
• Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico, or ITAM,  http://www.itam.mx
• Universidad de las Americas, Puebla http://www.udlap.mx/englishversion/

Learning Spanish

If you are moving to Mexico and want to learn or improve your Spanish, you may choose from a large number of language schools in Mexico.

See also: Learning Spanish section on Mexperience

See also: Articles about Language in Mexico

Useful Mexico School Links

Here are a number of links you may find useful as you research the options to have your children schooled in Mexico:

Directory of Foreign Consulates in Mexico: Your country’s local consulate will keep a list of local provate schools. It may not be exhaustive and you may want to contact two or three consulates to compare lists.

US Embassy (Mexico) The U.S. Embassy has compiled a non-exhaustive list of schools frequently attended by children of U.S. citizens in Mexico City.

The Association of American Schools in Mexico: The Association of American Schools in Mexico, or Asomex, also has member schools in other cities around the country.