Mexico Stands as a Top Destination as Restrictions are Lenient

Mexico is still proving to be one of the top travel destinations following the recent pandemic. Visitors no longer need to provide proof of a negative PCR test or have any requirements to quarantine upon arrival. Therefore, the country is attracting visitors from across the globe, as it’s one of the most open parts of the world to date.

Health Declaration Form

Upon your arrival in Mexico, you’ll need to have completed a health declaration form and then scan the QR code that it generates upon your arrival. This is a quick and easy online form to complete, and you’ll simply have to declare you are fit for travel and haven’t experienced any of the COVID-19 symptoms recently. When you arrive in Mexico, you may find restrictions are slightly different in your resort to the outside areas, and they will likely ask you to complete a health questionnaire upon your arrival.

Ports of Arrival

If you are traveling from the US to Mexico, it’s important to note that the land border is still closed between these two countries until at least July 21st 2021. You are also likely to still be denied entry from the Belize or Guatemala land borders unless you are traveling for an emergency situation.

However, you can easily enter Mexico by air, and flights are running regularly from across the US to Mexico. While you don’t need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test to enter the country, remember that you may need to show negative test results to return to your home country, such as if you are traveling from the US. You’ll find it relatively easy to find a test center within your resort or the city you are staying in Mexico. It’s advised that travelers are fully vaccinated when heading to Mexico, but this is not a requirement to enter the country.

Cancun and Cruises

Areas such as Cancun are running similarly to pre-pandemic, but you will see more restrictions in place. This is especially true in the resorts, which will likely require you to social distance and wear face masks in certain venues. However, the majority of facilities are now open again.

On top of that, the country was excited to welcome back cruise ship visitors in previous months to destinations such as Cozumel, where many of the big cruise lines are already stopping and allowing their passengers off for the day to explore. Restrictions do vary between cruise lines, so if this is something you are considering for your next vacation, make sure you do your research beforehand.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 cases are still relatively high in Mexico. An average of 4,864 cases were reported during the first week of July, and you’ll find that the cases have increased by 77 percent over the last few weeks. On top of that, deaths are still continuing to increase by about 23 percent.

The vaccination rollout has started in Mexico, however, it’s a lot slower than in countries such as the US. For these reasons, if you are traveling to Mexico in the upcoming months, we encourage you to use caution when spending time in public and keep health and safety in mind at all times.

Essential Things to Note While Traveling to Mexico

All foreign nationals who wish to plan a trip to Mexico must apply for a Mexico visa unless they are citizens of any of the 67 qualified and visa-exempted countries. However, you are entitled to have a valid passport for 6 months and carry all the essential documents and proof of your flights while traveling to Mexico.

While a Mexico visa is only required for some people, it is mandatory for all tourists and foreign nationals to have a Mexico Tourist Card for visiting purposes. You can obtain your Mexico tourist card by completing an application form online before traveling. A Mexico Tourist Card is an obligatory entry requirement for anyone traveling and entering Mexico, whether for leisure, tourism, or business purposes.

Updated: May 11, 2021

Despite the steady fall in the number of new coronavirus cases since its peak at the start of this year, the number of new cases continues to hover around daily. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assigned a Level 4 (extremely high) Covid-19 pandemic label to Mexico in December 2020 and instructed people to avoid any sort of travel to Mexico.

Still, that has not stopped Mexico from relaxing its restrictions to meet the approaching demands of travelers and tourists. Even though Mexico has charted over 180k death cases on account of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, it still boasts some of the most relaxed and loose entry requirements for foreign nationals.

Perhaps no other country in the world has been visited by US nationals than Mexico. More and more people are getting vaccinated. More businesses are reopening and welcoming travelers from different parts of the world. If you are also contemplating the mere idea of what traveling to Mexico is like during the Covid-19 pandemic, here is what you need to know.

Why Mexico Stands As a Top-Rated Destination during Covid-19

An alarming number of foreigners, primarily Americans, are heading down to Mexico for a short vacation or a more extended stay to flee the pandemic-associated and lockdown restrictions. They are somewhat appealed by the idea of adding a touch of normalcy to their lives by fleeing off to Mexico: a place that currently experiences a relatively relaxed scenario regarding coronavirus restrictions.

With Mexico having close proximity to the United States of America, affordable flights, and relaxed entry requirements, a horde of Americans flooded the most renowned destinations in Mexico such as Tulum, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, and Mexico City.

What is Mexico’s Current Situation?

The Mexican government follows and implements a stoplight system that updates weekly to determine what is closed and opened across the different states. Four colored metrics (red, orange, yellow, and green) are used to monitor the trend in the number of novel coronavirus cases, current hospital occupancy rates and trends, and the percentage of positive coronavirus cases.

As per the US State Department, the entire state will be labeled red even if one state indicates red. In Mexico, five states, including the State of Mexico, Mexico City, Morelos, Guanajuato, and Baja California, are operating under “red” conditions. Under the color “red,” you are only allowed to perform the most essential activities. This indicates that hotels and parks are capped at 25 percent.

Most states in Mexico are categorized under the “orange” designation, including Baja California Sur. This indicates if you head over to venues like Punta Mita, Cancun, or Los Cabos, you will find restaurants and hotels running at 50% capacity. Supermarkets and other markets are operational at 75% capacity, but museums, malls, and theatres still have a capacity limit of 25%.

Three states, including Quintana Roo, are classified under the “yellow” designation. Here, you can find open public spaces, while the enclosed ones are also operational but at a limited capacity. Only two states in Mexico, namely Chiapas and Campeche, function under the “green” label.

Is it Safe to Travel to Mexico amid Covid-19?

For the more significant part, most businesses, attractions, and destinations are partially open in Mexico besides the declared red states. Despite the color status, travelers and locals must use masks and hand sanitizers. At the same time, a few other municipalities have set up curfews.

Temperature checks are conducted at airports, popular attraction sites, and businesses. Mexico City requires companies to start implementing QR codes to contact and trace down customers if they have been in contact with another individual infected with the virus.

You will see that capacity limits, temperature checks, masks, and hand sanitizers are the norm at museums, restaurants, supermarkets, and grocery stores during your stay. While the dining experience is quite the usual, it is unwise to plan your trip based on attending indoor theatrical performances and raving at nightclubs. Several states are making necessary adjustments across numerous attractions and venues to give visitors a safer experience.

Conclusion

Despite the leniency of restrictions in Mexico, all travelers, whether vaccinated or not, must present negative test results from Covid-19 with a validity of at least 72 hours before their departure. So, even though the Mexico travel experience has not fully normalized, it can still be a pleasant and rewarding experience for people who are willing to follow the required protocols and take apt measures to protect themselves from Covid-19.