Mexico

There's no single fixed route through Mexico, and the country's size means most backpackers pick a region rather than trying to cover it all in one trip. That said, a well-worn loop runs from Mexico City down through Oaxaca and into Chiapas (San Cristóbal de las Casas, then on to Palenque), before heading east into the Yucatán for Mérida, Tulum and the Caribbean coast, often continuing on into Belize or Guatemala from there. Others fly straight into Cancún and stick to the Riviera Maya and Yucatán entirely, treating it as a shorter, beach-and-ruins trip. Baja California and the Pacific coast (Puerto Vallarta, Sayulita, Oaxaca's coast) form a separate, less-travelled route for those with more time or coming from the US side.

Check the forecast for the exact region and elevation on your route, then leave room to change outdoor plans when conditions move.

Average the full trip rather than forcing every day into the same number. Keep emergency funds separate from daily spending.

Mexico is large enough that most trips pick a region rather than attempting the whole country – here's a breakdown by area: Regional safety note: Some northern border states and specific cities, including Tijuana and Tecate, carry a higher FCDO advisory tier, and Baja California Sur has seen isolated cartel-related incidents affecting public transport in Los Cabos, La Paz and Mulegé since April 2026 [Likely - based on the most recent update to FCDO guidance at time of writing, worth checking gov.uk directly for any changes before travel]. None of this affects the core backpacker route through Mexico City, Oaxaca, Chiapas or the Yucatán – see Safety and Common Scams for the full picture. To get a feel for the cities you are exploring, we'd highly recommend booking a 'free walking tour' via Guruwalk. You sign up for the tour and pay via a tip based system. Alternatively, many hostels offer a walking tour within their activities. Our Outpacker chatbot is available to help you plan and build out your itinerary to make the most of your trip.

Make sure you've got an eSIM or a data roaming contract set up, and download offline maps for each city before you arrive – signal can be patchy outside major towns.

Confirm the official programme, accommodation pressure and transport changes before committing non-refundable plans.

Visible turnover is a useful guide. Explain allergies carefully and carry a translated note when an ingredient could cause a serious reaction.

That said, it's worth being upfront about the regional picture. The FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel to specific areas, most relevantly the city of Tijuana and parts of several northern border states (Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Sinaloa and Durango) linked to drug-related organised crime – none of which sit on the standard backpacker route covered in this guide. Baja California Sur has also seen isolated incidents affecting public transport in Los Cabos, La Paz and Mulegé since April 2026 [Likely - check gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mexico directly for the current list of affected areas before travel, as this changes]. If your route touches any of these areas, check the FCDO page directly before you go. None of this should overshadow the trip – Mexico's backpacker route is well-established for a reason, and millions travel it safely every year. Just build in the same street-smart habits you'd use in any major city.