Everything You Need to Know Before Traveling to Mexico During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Are you allowed to travel to Mexico?

The short answer is yes, Mexico is one of the countries allowing American tourists to plan a vacation. And while U.S. citizens can't drive into the country for nonessential travel, they can fly there. Over the summer and fall, airlines like United Airlines and Southwest started adding flights to popular spots, including Cancun, San Jose del Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, and Mexico City.

The country's many resorts have also adjusted to COVID-19, adopting health guidelines from offering plenty of sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and masks to taking advantage of the naturally outdoor lifestyle (hello romantic dinner on the beach).

What health measures are in place at Mexico's airports?

Anyone arriving at an airport in Mexico should expect to be subject to health screenings like temperature checks, according to the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Mexico. Passengers who show symptoms of COVID-19 may also be subject to additional health screenings and/or quarantine.

What COVID-19 rules and regulations do you need to know about before traveling to Mexico?

Mexico has created a color-coded stoplight system to categorize states based on their COVID-19 situation. The list, which is based on new cases, hospitalizations, hospital occupancy rates, and percentage of positive cases, is continually updated, according to the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Mexico.

Only essential activities are allowed in states that are considered "red," which currently includes Mexico City. In those states, hotels are limited to 25 percent occupancy for people who are there for critical activities.

In states that are designated "orange," hotels and restaurants are allowed to operate at 50% capacity.

If a state is designated "yellow," public spaces can open, and in states under the "green" category, all social and economic activities are permitted. This currently includes popular spots like Baja California Sur and Quintana Roo.

What do you need to do before coming back to the U.S.?

All international travelers returning to the U.S., including those coming from Mexico, are required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within 72 hours of their departure. The test, which the CDC says can be a nucleic acid amplification test or rapid antigen test, must be presented to the airline before boarding a flight to America.

Children under 2 years old are exempt.

States in Mexico have been increasingly offering COVID-19 tests both at airports and hotels. Those traveling to Cabo San Lucas will be able to get a COVID-19 test on-site of their hotel or timeshare. Travelers heading out of Mérida International Airport in Yucatan and Guanajuato International Airport in Guanajuato will also be able to get tested at the airport.

Passengers who have recently recovered from COVID-19 and are no longer contagious can present documentation of their positive test results and a letter from a healthcare provider or public health official that states they have been cleared for travel in lieu of a negative test.

Travelers who have been vaccinated are not exempt from the testing requirement.

Mexico has several approved laboratories for viral testing and many local hospitals, clinics, and laboratories offer private testing for travel purposes, according to the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Mexico.

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Valentino Danchev