Before we get started, I must first apologize. This Mexico Edition of Adventures of an Island Girl is two years late. I’m sorry.
 
I’ll be honest; Mexico was never high up on my “must visit in my lifetime” list of countries. Even when I was planning my gap year, Mexico was a maybe as I charted my course of adventures.
 
I think my perception of Mexico had been coloured by western media. And when I thought of tourism, I pictured massive all-inclusive resorts crowded with tourists drinking by the pool.
 
It wasn’t until I started seeing Mexico coverage from some of my favourite travel bloggers that I began to dream about a Mexican adventure. Initially, I was going to do this trip solo because of how last minute it was, but I ended up with some great travel companions.

 
Over the next few posts you’ll get a taste of our adventures in Mexico City, Oaxaca and Tulum from March 2022. But first, some good-to-know information to help jump-start the planning for your own adventure in Mexico.

Getting to Mexico

 
The most direct way to get to Mexico from Grenada and other Eastern Caribbean countries is to transit through the U.S (e.g. MIA, ATL, JFK). Alternatively, you can get to Mexico via Panama with COPA Airlines from Trinidad or Barbados.

Do Grenadian passport holders need a visa to visit Mexico?

 
Yes; however Mexico’s visa exemption program allows foreign nationals to travel to Mexico as Non Immigrant-Visitors without the need to apply for a Mexican visa if they are holders of a valid visa from USA, Canada, Japan, Great Britain or any of the Schengen area countries.

Also good to know

Currency

 
The Mexican Peso (MXN) is the official currency used in Mexico. The exchange rate to the US dollar fluctuates and is currently hovering around 16.50 MXN for 1 USD, so you’ll want to have Pesos on hand. You can exchange USD for MXN at a cambio at the airport or withdraw from an ATM. Travel tip: check to see if your bank is part of an international ATM network like Global ATM Alliance that waives ATM transaction fees at other international banks, so you know which ones to use. Or, if the option is available to you, get a credit card that waives or reimburses international transaction fees.

Mobile service

 
We don’t pay exorbitant roaming charges over here!
 
The first thing I did when I landed in Mexico City was buy a SIM card at the airport. Back then, for $250MXN, I got a 15 day Telcel plan that included free social media. Now that eSIMs are widely available, you can purchase an eSIM data plan from an online provider like Airalo or Holafly before you even get to Mexico and activate on arrival. However, if having data only isn’t a viable option for you, then you may want to stop by a local provider for a voice and data plan that meets your needs.

Can you drink the tap water?

 
The safety of the tap water depends on where the water is coming from. Ancient, rusty pipes can contaminate the water, so as a general rule, drinking unfiltered tap water is not recommended, one that you’ll find locals observing as well. Stick to filtered, boiled or purified water for drinking and cooking.
 
 
Alright, let’s get this Adventures of an Island Girl: Mexico Edition started. First up, Mexico City!