How to avoid Montezuma's revenge when traveling to Mexico
- FancifulRoamer
- Sep 21, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 23
Montezuma was the last Aztec ruler before the Spanish conquistadors took over his empire. Visitors to Mexico may experience diarrhea, which is considered Montezuma's revenge for the massacre and enslavement of his people.
Between the changes and stress with travel, and the hot sauces, any stomach could be irritated. Here are my travel tips to keep you safe from Montezuma during your trip to Mexico.
Different customs
When you sit at a restaurant in Mexico, it's common for the servers to bring salsa/ hot sauces and a few tortilla chips. This is complementary. The sauces come with serving spoons, so people like me have a small taste to see how hot the sauce is. Most times, they come in crusty little containers, so I didn't usually touch them.
I found out later from YouTube that those sauces are used all day, for any table. They don't just throw out the sauce after each patron uses it. Instead, they top it up and bring it to the next table.
Each country has its own rules and regulations for the restaurant/ hospitality business, so it's best that we do our research beforehand.
Thankfully, I was never hit with Montezuma's revenge. But I wouldn't push my luck.
Buffets
Buffets are an affordable option, especially for a large family or group of friends. But it's not always worth it.
Buffet restaurants often purchase goods that are about to expire and serve them in bulk, without needing servers. This is mainly how they keep costs low. Once in a while, you find one that offers great quality food.
When traveling, you want to avoid food that may or may not be fresh. Also, having dozens of clients touch and poke everything does not help. I see people at buffets who like to nibble on stuff off their plates, lick their fingers, and then keep using the utensils. That's a good way to get some kind of bug that will keep you in bed on your vacation. Washing our hands all the time will keep the stomach bugs away.
Definitely skip cold cuts when they look dry or sweaty. Avoid desserts that have milk or cream, even if they're cooked.
Habits
While traveling, our schedules and habits are disturbed. That disturbance often makes its way to our stomachs.
Do your best to keep your meal and sleep schedule, or rest during the day. Eating all kinds of new foods is great, but pair that with things you usually eat as well. The portion is important too, as too much of anything can make you ill.
Spicy food is sometimes the culprit behind Montezuma's revenge. When you normally don't eat spicy food, adding all the tasty Mexican salsas to your taco can bother the digestive system. So take it easy with the spiciness level.
Just remember to ask for a bottle of hot sauce if you want to add some to your dish.
Heat exhaustion
If you live in the North or the constant AC, you will not be familiar with heat exhaustion. You will get dizzy, sweaty, nauseated, tired, and get a headache. It looks a bit like food poisoning.
Here's how to avoid it:
-drink water all day
-wear loose, light-colored clothes
-stay in the shade as much as possible
-alcohol and sun don't mix. A beer at the beach is fine, but anything after that will have a big impact on your well-being.
If you feel like the heat is affecting you, you need to cool off immediately. Get in the shade, and sit. This will naturally cool you off. Drink cold water, place cold compresses or cold water bottles on your wrists, head, and neck.
Fruit
Fruit is healthy, and we're encouraged to consume it daily. It's fine if you buy the fruit, wash it, and cut it up yourself.
Cut-up fruit cups and pineapple in a bag on the side of the road are a gamble. We want to support the locals, but we have to be careful with what we're eating.
Enjoy sipping from a coconut and whole fruit that you can handle in sanitary conditions.
There are many ways that fruit gets contaminated, like unwashed hands, unwashed fruit, dirty knives, dirty cutting boards, and cooks picking their teeth as they make the hotel breakfast.
I also don't trust fruit wedges from the bar. Most of the time, they're not even washed.
Water
As it's so hot in Mexico, it's important to stay hydrated.
Tap water in most cities is not great, either because of the addition of chlorine or because of old pipes. Showering and brushing our teeth is fine. But drinking it will not be. The locals are used to it, but as a visitor, you're likely not.
I like to go to the nearest supermarket and stock up on water bottles.
Mexico has been offering clean tap water at restaurants in order to reduce plastic waste. Which is a great initiative. I also drank the water in some places, and I was fine. Again, I wouldn't push my luck too much.
No matter what resort you pick, always be cautious.
Alcohol
Canada has a travel advisory for Mexico regarding their unregulated alcohol in restaurants, bars, and resorts.
There are also horror stories of people getting very sick because of contraband alcohol, spiked beverages, and more recently, tap water. So it seems like no matter what, you can't win.
You'd expect too much partying to make you sick, but not drinking water. I'll leave the link here.
Young women are especially targeted. You can never let your guard down. I suggest not being too friendly with the servers, being polite is enough. Pick drinks that come in a bottle and keep your eyes on the service and the bottle. I know it's a vacation, but don't appear too relaxed, scrutinize everything.
Obviously, don't even think about taking anything from anyone, legal or not.
Seafood
A good way to pamper yourself on your trip is with food. Steak and oysters are an important part of a fancy feast. They are also a gamble. Anything that's not properly stored or thoroughly cooked might make you sick.
It's best to keep the undercooked stuff for when you go back home and go to your trusted restaurants.
In Mexico, you should avoid oysters and other raw meat. Ceviche in a nice place is usually fine. Just keep in mind that the lemon does not 'cook' the fish. At most, it makes the outer layer more tender. The lemon juice is there for flavor, nothing else.
Overall, visiting Mexico is a good experience if you make the right choices. Our well-being is the top priority, especially when traveling, so do your research and stay safe!
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