To give that some time-zone perspective, its longitudinal land mass covers a distance-equivalent starting on the Pacific coast in California USA, and ending near Pensacola, Florida—thus spanning some 1,700 miles.

Mexico’s four time zones

Mexico has four time zones, two of which are exclusive to two states.  The four time zones in Mexico are listed below.

• Zona Noroeste — Northwest time zone (Orange)
• Zona Pacifico — Pacific time zone (Burgundy)
• Zona Centro — Central time zone (Blue)
• Zona Sureste — Southeastern time zone (Green)

Mexico’s Time Zones by State

The table below summarizes the four time zones, and which Mexican State(s) adhere to that time zone.

* The State of Chihuahua is officially part of the Mexico’s Pacific Time zone, but in practice its clocks are aligned with Mexico’s Central Time Zone.

** The State of Sonora never moved its clocks and remained synchronized with time in the US State of Arizona, that also never moves its clocks.

Learn more about time and time zones in Mexico

Mexico has several time zones and most states move their clocks forward in the spring and back in the autumn.

• Learn about Mexico’s Seasonal Clock Changes
• Learn about Mexico’s time and Time Zones
• Learn about seasons in Mexico

Mexico enjoys long daylight throughout the year

Mexico’s geographical location gives the country a privileged mix of daylight and dark, regardless of the season.  This is in contrast to countries situated further away from the equator, where daylight hours can be substantially curtailed during the winter months.

One of the reasons why so many people enjoy overwintering in Mexico is because the country offers pleasantly warm or temperate climates, and also because the daylight here remains fairly constant —thus by living here during the winter you can avoid the ‘long nights’ —and enjoy plenty of sunshine, too.

How Mexico’s daylight hours vary during the year

Mexico’s privileged daylight hours can be well illustrated by way of an example.

The table below shows the hours for sunrise and sunset on the longest and shortest days of the year —and the total daylight hours on those days— for three locations in Mexico:

• Tijuana one of Mexico’s northernmost cities, situated on the border with the US; and
• Mexico City on a similar latitude to Mérida, in the Yucatán; and
• Tapachula that is Mexico’s southernmost city on the border with Guatemala.

(Times shown take into account Mexico’s abandonment of annual clock changes.)

Enjoying long daylight on the shortest day of the year

The hours recorded in the table above for the ‘winter low’ are for December 21—the shortest day of the year in Mexico. These show that:

• In the northern-most areas of Mexico, even the shortest days of the year give more than 10 hours of daylight.
• In the southern-most areas (nearer to the equator) you can enjoy over eleven-and-a-quarter hours of daylight on the shortest day of the year.
• Mexico City (and Mérida, on a similar latitude) enjoy nearly eleven hours of daylight on the year’s shortest day, and over 12 hours of daylight on the longest day of the year.

A good balance on the longest days of the year

On or around June 21 —the longest day of the year in Mexico— you’ll enjoy between 12 and 14 hours of daylight in the peak of summer, regardless of where you’re situated in the country.

Mexico’s geographical location in relation to the equator offers a year-round equitable balance of night and day, with each month and season offering plenty of daylight every day of the year—which can be supportive to one’s moods, general health, and overall well-being.

Mexico’s light is also extraordinary

As well as offering an equitable balance of daylight and dark, when you pause to consider the quality of the light here, you come to realize that Mexico’s light is truly extraordinary.

Its quality is especially noticeable in the mountain highlands, although it’s exceptional even at lower elevations, and along the coasts.

Mexico is often said to be one of the most ‘colorful countries in the world’ and the quality of the light undoubtably contributes to the sparkling tapestry of colors on display to appreciate here.

Writers describing Mexico’s scenery often remark, for example, on the sharp and crisp ‘azure blue’ skies, especially in the central highlands.  They’ve noticed how the subtleties and hues of the light in Mexico are quite special.

The exceptional light is complemented by sensational fragrances during the rainy season as the groundwater swells and the flora blossom and bloom.

When the ground becomes parched during the dry season, dust particles rise high up into the atmosphere and contribute to the composition of the most magnificent sunsets you’ll experience anywhere.

Mexico for living and leisure

Mexico is one of the most visited countries in the world, offering beautiful beach locations, picturesque colonial mountain towns, fascinating archaeology, and an abundance of wild, natural habitats to traverse and enjoy. It also offers remarkable opportunities for living and lifestyle that you can also discover and explore here on Mexperience.

• Explore complete guides to aspects of living in Mexico
• Learn about leisure and travel opportunities in Mexico
• Read insightful articles about living and lifestyle in Mexico
• Sign-up to our free email Mexico Newsletter published monthly

Mexico abandons practice of clock changes after October 2022

In 2022, Mexico’s congressional representatives and Senate voted to eliminate the practice of changing the clocks in the spring and fall, with exceptions for municipalities bordering the US.

Daylight Savings Time in Mexico’s Central and Pacific time zones —which encompass most of the country including Mexico City— used to start on the first Sunday in April, several weeks later than in the U.S. where the clocks go forward one hour on the second Sunday in March.

Usually this creates a time difference for three weeks, although in some years the gap stretches to four weeks because of the calendar effect.

There were —and even after abandonment of the clock change regime— there remains an exception, that being most municipalities on Mexico’s northern border which move their clocks forward at the same time as the U.S. to make life easier for people who cross the border daily to study or work. (Sonora state, which borders Arizona, does not move its clocks.)

Daylight savings time has never been particularly popular in Mexico, a country with plenty of sunlight all year round, although after nearly a quarter of a century of it being applied —since 1996— complaints and efforts to overturn it had mostly died out until, in 2022, the Mexican Congress voted to abandon the clock-change and its Senate ratified the law.

The principal argument in favor of the measure is that it saves electricity by extending the hours of light in the evenings. This was always debatable and in Mexico as elsewhere in the world, many people are unconvinced that it is true. Mexican households saw no noticeable effect on their individual utility bills.

Mexico has dithered with different ways of applying daylight savings, including using it for just five months —May through September instead of April through October— in 2001. This Solomonic solution, aimed at addressing widespread dissatisfaction with the clock change, was short-lived.

The airline industry said it would cause havoc at Mexican airports—which it didn’t. The Mexico City mayor of the time —who became the Mexican president— took the case to the Supreme Court arguing that the executive branch didn’t have the authority to decree the change in the capital. The Supreme Court agreed and said only the Congress could authorize it—which it did. And thus, since 2002 Daylight Savings Time was observed in Mexico for seven months each year.

When the US extended daylight savings time to eight months a year in 2007, Mexico did not try to follow suit. But the Mexican stock markets —now there are two— open and close an hour earlier in local time until Mexico’s clocks catch up so that trading hours coincide with those in the US.

Horario de verano still has its fans in Mexico, particularly among office workers who get to go home while it’s still light. There are even people who say they wish daylight savings applied all year round.

Learn more about clocks and time zones in Mexico

Mexico has four time zones.  Most of the country does not move its clocks each year, although certain municipalities along the northern border move their clocks in synch with their sister cities in the US.

• Mexico abandons seasonal clock-time changes
• Mexico’s time zones
• Long daylight hours and the extraordinary light
• Mexico (no) clock-time changes after 2022

In 2022 Mexico abandoned the practice of the country’s clocks “springing forward” and “falling back” each year.

The law also allowed for specific exceptions for Baja California state, and border municipalities in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas to continue applying daylight savings to keep their border cities in sync with the US.

Although Mexico won’t move its clocks this year, time changes will be apparent during spring and summer months for those in Mexico and dealing with the US, Canada, and countries in Europe as they do change their clocks.

2026 “Spring Forward” clock change effects on Mexico

• The United States moves its clocks forward by one hour on Sunday March 8, 2026; and
• Europe (including the UK & Ireland) moves its clocks forward by one hour on Sunday, March 29, 2026.

When the clocks in those other countries are moved forward in the spring:

• US Pacific Time, that is normally 2 hours behind Mexico City, will be 1 hour behind.
• US Mountain Time, that is normally 1 hour behind Mexico City, will be on the same time as Mexico City.
• US Central Time, that is normally aligned with time in Mexico City, will be 1 hour ahead.
• US Eastern Time, that is normally 1 hour ahead of Mexico City, will be 2 hours ahead.
• The UK and Ireland will be 7 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 6.
• Central Europe will be 8 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 7.

2026 “Fall Back” clock change effects on Mexico

• Europe (including the UK & Ireland) moves its clocks back again by one hour on Sunday October 25, 2026; and
• The United States moves its clocks back by one hour on Sunday November 1, 2026.

When the clocks in those other countries are moved back in the fall:

• US Pacific Time, that was 1 behind Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 2 hours behind.
• US Mountain Time, that was on the same time as Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 1 hour behind.
• US Central Time, that was 1 ahead of Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be aligned with Mexico City time.
• US Eastern Time, that was 2 hours ahead of Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 1 hour ahead.
• The UK and Ireland will be 6 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 7.
• Central Europe will be 7 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 8.

United States and DST

There has been a lot of discussion during recent years in the USA regarding the abandonment of DST. The so-called “Sunshine Protection Act,” which passed the US Senate in 2022, has stalled in the US House of Representatives.

Although a recent poll reveals that the majority of Americans favor abandonment of DST, there is no current consensus on whether the country ought to adopt Standard Time or Daylight Savings Time permanently. As of 2026, the US and Canada continue to observe DST, with the exceptions of (most of) Arizona, and Hawaii, that do not change their clocks.

Learn more about time and time zones in Mexico

Mexico has four time zones; most of the country does not change its clocks in the spring and the fall.

• Learn about Mexico’s Time and Time Zones
• Learn about seasons in Mexico
• Find times by Mexican town, city or state with Time & Date

Mexico’s congressional representatives and Senate voted to eliminate the practice of changing the clocks in the spring and fall, with exceptions for Mexican municipalities bordering the US.

The US, Canada, and Europe move their clocks

Although Mexico ceased the practice of moving its clocks every spring and fall, its closest allies and trading partners —the USA and Canada— as well as other countries around the world continue to move their clocks each spring and fall.

Even when Mexico used to move its clocks, there was usually a wider time difference than normal for some weeks every year, because different countries moved their spring and fall clocks on different dates.

Baja California State and Mexican Municipalities along the US border

Baja California (but not Baja California Sur) continues to move its clocks in the spring and fall in alignment with US Pacific Time.

Important Mexican municipalities along the US border continue to move their clocks in the spring and fall to remain synchronized with their sister towns and cities in the US.

The Mexican State of Sonora, in alignment with its US neighboring State of Arizona, never moved its clocks.

Check Time&Date.com for details of clock times in your locality.

The effects of Spring clock changes in other countries

When the United States, Canada, and Europe move its clocks forward by one hour in the spring:

• US Pacific Time, that is normally 2 hours behind Mexico’s Central Time, will be 1 hour behind.
• US Mountain Time, that is normally 1 hour behind Mexico’s Central Time, will be on the same time as Mexico City.
• US Central Time, that is normally aligned with time in Mexico’s Central Time, will be 1 hour ahead.
• US Eastern Time, that is normally 1 hour ahead of Mexico’s Central Time, will be 2 hours ahead.
• The UK and Ireland will be 7 hours ahead of Mexico’s Central Time instead of 6.
• Central Europe will be 8 hours ahead of Mexico’s Central Time instead of 7.

The effects of Fall clock changes in other countries

When the United States, Canada, and Europe move its clocks back by one hour in the fall:

• US Pacific Time, that was 1 behind Mexico’s Central Time when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 2 hours behind Mexico’s Central Time.
• US Mountain Time, that was on the same time as Mexico’s Central Time when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 1 hour behind Mexico’s Central Time.
• US Central Time, that was 1 ahead of Mexico’s Central Time when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be aligned with Mexico’s Central Time time.
• US Eastern Time, that was 2 hours ahead of Mexico’s Central Time when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 1 hour ahead.
• The UK and Ireland will be 6 hours ahead of Mexico’s Central Time instead of 7.
• Central Europe will be 7 hours ahead of Mexico’s Central Time instead of 8.

Learn more about time and time zones in Mexico

Mexperience helps you to learn about Mexico’s time zones and the effects of annual clock changes:

• Discover Mexico’s Four Time Zones by State
• Learn about Mexico’s annual clock-time changes
• Learn about seasons in Mexico

In 2022, the Mexican Chamber of Deputies and Senate approved a change in the law that abandoned the practice of the country’s clocks “springing forward” and “falling back” each year.

The law also allowed for specific exceptions for Baja California state, and border municipalities in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas to continue applying daylight savings to keep their border cities in sync with the US side.

Spring ‘forward’ clock change effects on Mexico

• The United States moves its clocks forward by one hour on Sunday March 9, and
• Europe moves its clocks forward by one hour on Sunday, March 30, 2025.

When the clocks in those other countries are moved forward in the spring:

• US Pacific Time, that is normally 2 hours behind Mexico City, will be 1 hour behind.
• US Mountain Time, that is normally 1 hour behind Mexico City, will be on the same time as Mexico City.
• US Central Time, that is normally aligned with time in Mexico City, will be 1 hour ahead.
• US Eastern Time, that is normally 1 hour ahead of Mexico City, will be 2 hours ahead.
• The UK and Ireland will be 7 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 6.
• Central Europe will be 8 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 7.

Fall ‘back’ clock change effects on Mexico

• Europe moves its clocks back again by one hour on Sunday October 26, and
• The United States moves its clocks back by one hour on Sunday November 2, 2025.

When the clocks in those other countries are moved back in the fall:

• US Pacific Time, that was 1 behind Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 2 hours behind.
• US Mountain Time, that was on the same time as Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 1 hour behind.
• US Central Time, that was 1 ahead of Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be aligned with Mexico City time.
• US Eastern Time, that was 2 hours ahead of Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 1 hour ahead.
• The UK and Ireland will be 6 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 7.
• Central Europe will be 7 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 8.

Learn more about time and time zones in Mexico

Mexico has four time zones; most of the country does not change its clocks in the spring and the fall.

• Learn about Mexico’s Time and Time Zones
• Learn about seasons in Mexico
• Find times by Mexican town, city or state with Time & Date

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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In 2022, the Mexican Chamber of Deputies and Senate approved a change in the law that abandoned the practice of the country’s clocks “springing forward” and “falling back” each year.

The law also allowed for specific exceptions for Baja California state, and border municipalities in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas to continue applying daylight savings to keep their border cities in sync with the US side.

Although Mexico won’t move its clocks this year, time changes will be apparent during spring and summer months for those in Mexico and dealing with the US and Europe as they do change their clocks.

Spring ‘forward’ clock change effects on Mexico

The United States moves its clocks forward by one hour on Sunday March 10, and Europe moves its clocks forward by one hour on Sunday, March 31, 2024.

When the clocks in those other countries are moved forward in the spring:

• US Pacific Time, that is normally 2 hours behind Mexico City, will be 1 hour behind.
• US Mountain Time, that is normally 1 hour behind Mexico City, will be on the same time as Mexico City.
• US Central Time, that is normally aligned with time in Mexico City, will be 1 hour ahead.
• US Eastern Time, that is normally 1 hour ahead of Mexico City, will be 2 hours ahead.
• The UK and Ireland will be 7 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 6.
• Central Europe will be 8 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 7.

Fall ‘back’ clock change effects on Mexico

Europe moves its clocks back again by one hour on Sunday October 27, and the United States moves its clocks back by one hour on Sunday November 3, 2024.

When the clocks in those other countries are moved back in the fall:

• US Pacific Time, that was 1 behind Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 2 hours behind.
• US Mountain Time, that was on the same time as Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 1 hour behind.
• US Central Time, that was 1 ahead of Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be aligned with Mexico City time.
• US Eastern Time, that was 2 hours ahead of Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 1 hour ahead.
• The UK and Ireland will be 6 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 7.
• Central Europe will be 7 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 8.

Learn more about time and time zones in Mexico

Mexico has four time zones; most of the country does not change its clocks in the spring and the fall.

• Learn about Mexico’s Time and Time Zones
• Learn about seasons in Mexico
• Find times by Mexican town, city or state with Time & Date

Previous solar eclipses

The last time a solar eclipse path crossed over North America was on August 21^st, 2017.  Back then, northern US states experienced the event—but the path came nowhere near Mexico.

The last time Mexico experienced a solar eclipse was on July 11^th 1991, the ribbon of which draped across southern and central areas of the country (including the capital) and touched parts of the Baja California peninsula.

The 2024 solar eclipse across Mexico

The ‘totality’ ribbon of the solar eclipse that will cross Mexico on April 8, 2024 —11,960 days after the last one in 1991— will pass over several states in northern Mexico and create a partial solar eclipse in varying degrees across almost all of Mexico’s land territory.

The eclipse is happening during Mexico’s dry season, so the skies in Mexico’s northern (mostly desert) regions are likely to offer a unique opportunity to view the totality of the eclipse amidst crystal clear skies. Parts of the Mexican states of Coahuila, Durango, Nayarit, and Sinaloa will be under a total or near total ribbon of the solar eclipse in 2024.

Mazatlán, Torreón near the totality line

This zoom-able map on Google shows the totality (red) and near totality (yellow) lines—inside of which you can experience near or absolute darkness around midday.

The ‘totality ribbon’ is about 115 miles (185km) wide. Purists in all matters eclipse assert that nothing less than 100% will do, and if you’re seeking that absolute totality in Mexico this year, note that the central totality line in 2024 doesn’t cross any large Mexican towns or cities precisely—Mexico’s northern deserts are vast, and mostly uninhabited.

However, if you’re in Mazatlán, a short drive south of there to Playa Las Garzas will get you on target, and if you’re in the northern city of Torreón, a drive north on highway 49(D), to near the small town of La Esperanza, will also get you to the magic line.

This map on Time and Date shows helpful shaded areas across all of Mexico that will experience the total and partial eclipse in varying degrees, along with times.

Further resources

The information box that follows shares some links you may find helpful for further research and exploration about the solar eclipse in Mexico.

In 2022, the Mexican Chamber of Deputies and Senate approved a change in the law that abandoned the practice of the country “springing forward” and “falling back” each year.

The law also allowed for specific exceptions for Baja California state, and border municipalities in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas to continue applying daylight savings to keep their border cities in sync with the US side.

Although Mexico won’t move its clocks this year, time changes will be apparent during spring and summer months for those in Mexico and dealing with the US and Europe as they do change their clocks.

Spring ‘forward’ clock change effects on Mexico

The United States moves its clocks forward by one hour on Sunday March 12, and Europe moves its clocks forward by one hour on Sunday, March 26, 2023.

When the clocks in those other countries are moved forward in the spring:

• US Pacific Time, that is normally 2 hours behind Mexico City, will be 1 hour behind.
• US Mountain Time, that is normally 1 hour behind Mexico City, will be on the same time as Mexico City.
• US Central Time, that is normally aligned with time in Mexico City, will be 1 hour ahead.
• US Eastern Time, that is normally 1 hour ahead of Mexico City, will be 2 hours ahead.
• The UK and Ireland will be 7 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 6.
• Central Europe will be 8 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 7.

Fall ‘back’ clock change effects on Mexico

Europe moves its clocks back again by one hour on Sunday, October 29, and the United States moves its clocks back by one hour on Sunday November 5, 2023.

When the clocks in those other countries are moved back in the fall:

• US Pacific Time, that was 1 behind Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 2 hours behind.
• US Mountain Time, that was on the same time as Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 1 hour behind.
• US Central Time, that was 1 ahead of Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be aligned with Mexico City time.
• US Eastern Time, that was 2 hours ahead of Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 1 hour ahead.
• The UK and Ireland will be 6 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 7.
• Central Europe will be 7 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 8.

Learn more about time and time zones in Mexico

Mexico has four time zones; most of the country does not change its clocks in the spring and the fall.

• Learn about Mexico’s Time and Time Zones
• Learn about seasons in Mexico
• Find times by Mexican town, city or state with Time & Date

Fall Clock Changes in Mexico 2022
(“Fall Back”)

DST in most of Mexico and Baja California Sur will end on Sunday October 30th 2022, when the clocks will be moved back again by one hour at 2 a.m.

The state of Baja California (not to be confused with Baja California Sur) and Mexican cities immediately bordering the US (including Juárez, Reynosa, and Matamoros) clocks move back one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday November 6th, 2022.

Learn more about time and time zones in Mexico

Mexico has several time zones and most states move their clocks forward in the spring and back in the autumn.

• Learn about Mexico’s Time and Time Zones
• Learn about Mexico’s annual clock-time changes
• Learn about seasons in Mexico

Members of the Chamber of Deputies voted overwhelmingly in favor of eliminating the practice —only eight voted against— so one can infer that the decision is expected to be widely popular.  On October 25th, 2022, the Mexican Senate approved a change in the law eliminates the practice of “springing forward” and “falling back,” and the time will return to what it was before daylight savings was introduced in 1996.

Clock-changes were never that popular in Mexico

People living in Mexico will know that the time change, with clocks going forward an hour in the spring and back an hour in the fall, has never been popular here.

Many doubted the assertion that it reduced overall demand for electricity and were certain that it did nothing to lower their electricity bills. In any event, Mexico’s geography endows the country with good daylight all year round, regardless of any clock changes.

A survey conducted by the Interior Ministry reported that 71% of people oppose daylight savings time and 29% support it.

In proposing its elimination this year, government officials cited studies that found the energy savings to be negligible —less than 1% of demand— and that people took at least two weeks to adjust to the change, affecting the amount of sleep they got. Some studies, they said, even suggested other health problems could be associated with the changes.

However accurate these studies may be —previous studies cited in favor of daylight savings by past governments had suggested no related health problems and significant energy savings— few people are likely to be crying out for a clock change in the spring.

Border cities will stay in synch with the US

There are some exceptions to the new rule. The state of Sonora, which borders Arizona, was already exempt from daylight savings, as was Quintana Roo, home to such popular tourist resorts as Cancún and Playa del Carmen.

This time, Baja California state, and border municipalities in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas will be able to continue applying daylight savings to keep their border cities in sync with the US side.

Stock markets, traders, and school children

People who work in financial markets may not be so happy. Since the US extended daylight savings to eight months of the year, around 2007, the two exchanges of the Mexican stock market moved their opening and closing times for those additional four weeks to operate at the same time as US markets. That means a 7:30 a.m. start and 2 p.m. close for the first week of November and the last three weeks of March.

Without Daylight Savings Time in Mexico, those opening times could be extended to eight months of the year, and that may even stretch to 12 months if the bill passed by the US Senate to keep Daylight Savings Time all year round in the US beginning in November 2023 is ever passed by the lower house and signed into law.

On the other hand, parents will no longer have to take their children to school in the dark during April and October—the tail ends of the daylight savings period.

Readjusting to no clock-time change

Past arguments about how eliminating Daylight Savings Time could mess up commerce, tourism, airline schedules, etc. have become somewhat irrelevant.

With the advent of the smartphone, younger generations these days, and many of the older generations, hardly use clocks and watches. They get the time and the date from their smart phones and apps—the same ones that tell them how far they walked in the last week, what their oxygen levels are, and when it’s time to have a salad.

Those of us who still manually adjust the date on our watches at the end of February or any other month with only 30 days, will still have to do that. We may not, however, need to wander around the house at 2 a.m. or preferably sometime within the next few days, hunting down forgotten analog clocks that need moving back or forward an hour.

Ultimately, the Mexican expression, a todo se acostumbra uno menos a no comer —you can get used to anything except not eating— will likely apply.