Must know basics for your first adventure to Quintana Roo, Mexico
- FancifulRoamer
- Sep 7, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 23
Quintana Roo is one of Mexico's 31 states, located in the Yucatán Peninsula. The most popular destinations are Cancun and Tulum. The region is known for beautiful beaches, Mayan Ruins, and delicious food, among other things.
The official language is Spanish. As it's a popular vacation spot for Americans and Canadians, many tourism workers speak English. Here are the basic things you should know before your first visit to Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Currency
Mexico uses the Mexican Peso MXN. Most tourist venues accept USD, for an exchange in their favor. It's useful if you're in a pinch.
You should always carry cash for purchases, but don't have it all on you. Use the hotel safe to store your valuables.
Use ATMs in banks, as there's less of a chance they've been tampered with.
Avoid using a card in small businesses and gas stations. It's best to have a specific card for travel, plus a backup. Revolut is perfect for this, request 2-3 cards, just in case. I read a lot of complaints about Tulum gas stations meddling with card readers. Never use your debit card to pay for things.
It's best to exchange money in exchange shops, as they have better rates than the hotels. Some of these shops have extensive paperwork, so look up the reviews beforehand. From my experience, the exchange at the Cancun downtown mall was good, no hassle.
Pay attention to your bill, especially the tip option. It's not legal, but restaurants add the tip as 'servicio' or 'propina' to your total. We encountered this in Tulum, so read the reviews before picking where to eat. It depends on the place and amount, but I generally don't recommend getting into an argument.
Weather
The temperatures are warm year-round in Quintana Roo. If you're coming from the North, even winters are hot. Tourists walk around in shorts and a t-shirt, while locals bundle up in hoodies.
The water is great for swimming almost all year. The main issue is the sargassum, a type of seaweed that piles up on the beach. It's smelly and it can carry bacteria.
June to October is the rainy season, so there will be a lot of showers. It felt like clockwork sometimes, with rain in the morning and the evening. Buildings often get water damage and mold issues.
Summer temperatures are at 36'C/ 97'F. And remember, that's in the shade. It would be best if you were not walking outside, except for early mornings and evenings. The summer sea water temperature is around 28'C/ 82'F.
The coldest month is January, with temperatures averaging at 17'C/62'F. The seawater average is around 24'C/ 75'F.
Humidity is high in all seasons. Mosquitos are only supposed to be out from April to November, but it's not enforced.
Transportation
Arriving at the Cancun airport is beyond chaotic. It's best to have transportation arranged with your hotel or a trusted operator. As you exit the terminal, you will be hounded by taxi and bus drivers, you won't be able to think.
The taxis have no meters and will have ridiculous prices. They will harass, lie, gaslight, and manipulate you for maximum revenue. There are reports of extortion, such as not being let out of the car without paying a few hundred dollars.
Uber operates in Cancun, but they avoid being seen. Taxi drivers become violent towards them and chase after the Uber cars, even with clients in them. Ubers are not allowed at the airport.
Buses, car rentals, and taxis are the main transportation options in Quintana Roo. A new addition is the Maya Train, which operates on the whole Peninsula.
ADO buses are popular and have the best deals for long distances.
If you rent a car, avoid driving at night. As a foreigner, you will be targeted for bribes. Try not to hand over your original paperwork, make copies, and use those.
Before visiting Mexico, I read and heard that Colectivos were the way to go. These are white shuttles with routes within cities. They have main stops but will pull over at a wave, cutting off lanes of traffic. Once in Cancun, I didn't use Colectivos. They were packed with locals going to and from work, it was not a tourist transportation.
My last trip ended with a bitter taste, worse than cilantro. The taxi driver insisted that he was taking me to the correct terminal, and he talked non-stop the whole way. I gave in. Of course, it was the wrong terminal. I went to wait for the free shuttle and was continuously harassed by proxies. They said the shuttle takes too long, etc. I was exhausted, and I just wanted to be out of there. Afraid I'd miss my flight, after 10 minutes of waiting for the shuttle, I gave in again. I paid the same amount I paid for the trip there, this time for a 2-minute trip to the right terminal.
Healthcare
Healthcare and medication are way more affordable in Mexico than in the USA and Canada.
Residents and citizens have access to public and private healthcare. It's best to have health and emergency insurance when you travel.
Emergency services are not free to foreigners. Depending on location, an emergency visit starts at 50 USD/ 970 MXN, plus what other tests are required.
A consultation with an English-speaking doctor in Cancun is 100 USD/ 1,950 MXN.
I had a few good experiences with a doctor and clinics. I had to get some blood drawn, so I had my Google Translate and sentences ready. What I liked is that you don't need a doctor's order to get blood tests done. So I walked in, and between my few words in Spanish and the translator, we managed. They were very nice and helpful.
It costs 20 USD/ 400 MXN per set of tests, depending on what you need. I received the results in 2 days.
Be cautious with Mexican pharmacies. There are warnings from the USA about counterfeit medication.
I had a prescription and it went well. I wouldn't go stock up on medication in Mexico, this was an urgent treatment. Cheap is not always worth it.
Phone data
Prepaid SIM cards from Telcel are the most popular in Cancun. You can find them in Oxxo, a popular convenience store.
The internet service in Mexico is poor. From my roaming to hotel wi-fi, it was painfully slow. I have a T-Mobile service with the North American extension for roaming. It was barely usable. Fancy hotels have good wi-fi, the budget ones have an extra charge for good internet.
The adapter is the same as in the USA and Canada, with two flat prongs.
Laundry
There are a few laundromats in every tourist area. You need to look up 'lavanderia', which is usually both a wash-and-fold and self-service.
I liked that I could use my own detergent, but they also provided it for an extra charge.
The prices are ok, at 6-7 USD/ 115-134 MXN, depending on the size of the load.
The laundromats often have a hang-out area with snacks and wi-fi.
I like to use detergent sheets in the sink, it works great for light summer clothes.
I didn't stay in Airbnbs in Quintana Roo. I figured it was less safe than a hotel. Also, there were a few news articles on how gas leaks ended visitors' lives. If you stay in an apartment, bring a portable gas leak detector.
Another big tip is to be safe and stay far away from anything illegal. Especially after a party, the police will be there to make arrests for anything- drinking in public, public intoxication, and imagined issues. Know the laws and rules. Have a person you trust know your location and report your well-being. If an arrest is made, you might not even get a phone call.
It's a good idea to follow the news for the area you'll be visiting, as well as government advisories. Stay safe!
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