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Cancún Hotels: 2472 Reviews - 3744 Photos
Playa del Carmen Hotels: 851 Reviews - 1561 Photos
Puerto Vallarta Hotels: 1259 Reviews - 1827 Photos
Cabo San Lucas Hotels: 831 Reviews - 1208 Photos
Mexico City Hotels: 2570 Reviews - 4233 Photos
San José del Cabo Hotels: 65 Reviews - 117 Photos
Mazatlán Hotels: 565 Reviews - 775 Photos
Isla Mujeres Hotels: 243 Reviews - 527 Photos
Puerto Aventuras Hotels: 41 Reviews - 82 Photos
Tulum Hotels: 542 Reviews - 1284 Photos
Punta de Mita Hotels: 16 Reviews - 20 Photos
Puerto Morelos Hotels: 3 Reviews - 5 Photos
Akumal Hotels: 77 Reviews - 146 Photos
Tijuana Hotels: 716 Reviews - 941 Photos
Acapulco Hotels: 479 Reviews - 690 Photos

Mexico Local Customs

Asking people at the top of the Pyramid

by Kuznetsov_Sergey

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Asking people at the top of the Pyramid
by Kuznetsov_Sergey
Watching the film about Trotsky and...
by Kuznetsov_Sergey
Local Customs
by Kuznetsov_Sergey
Son Jarocho music
by DSwede
food in Merida
by cochinjew

Most Viewed Local Customs in Mexico

126.

Tipping Cancún

12 Reviews Re: ".. don't tip taxi drivers in Cancun. Of course you should tip them! Just like you would in any other country." This is very wrong. Whilst tipping may be expected in Cancun it is not universal...

See All 48 Local Customs in Cancún

127.

Tipping Puerto Vallarta

7 Reviews Even when "all gratuities included" at a resort (and I laugh), think twice about not tipping. If you like waiting 10-20 minutes to be noticed for a drink that's fine.. but tipping 1.00usd a round gets...

See All 47 Local Customs in Puerto Vallarta

128.

Native Animals Playa del Carmen

3 Reviews We've seen the large band of coatis on both of our trips to Riu Tequila, in 2009 they were hanging out near the pool and near some of the rooms near the pool waiting for someone to take pity on them...

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129.

Drinking Cabo San Lucas

2 Reviews To have the perfect shot of tequila, you start with ice-cold tequila, kosher salt, and fresh Mexican limes; then you lick your hand and sprinkle the salt, lick the salt onto the tip of your tongue,...

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130.

Food / Drink Tijuana

7 Reviews Traditional Mexican food varies from different regions in Mexico. Since Mexico also spans several climatic zones, the types of foodstuff available and the regional cuisines display much variety. While...

See All 69 Local Customs in Tijuana

131.

Cultural Mazatlán

8 Reviews I enjoyed taking the time to talk to the vendors on the beach... Some may think it is a chore but I liked that aspect of my trip. I tried to get to know as many of them by name as I could.. They loved...

See All 14 Local Customs in Mazatlán

132.

Dia de los Muertos Monterrey

5 Reviews Every november 2 the hollyday ¨Dia de Muertos¨ (Dead´s Day), is celebrated in Mexico. This is a special day where people build a ¨Altar de Muertos¨ (Dead´s Shrine ) in memorial of any special...

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133.

Slow Pace Cancún

4 Reviews Any gringos with little patience for slow service should probably stay away from Cancun. The fact that the city owes it's sheer prominence almost entirely to foreign tourism, combined with the Yucatan...

See All 48 Local Customs in Cancún

134.

Local People Puerto Vallarta

14 Reviews Puerto Vallarta, just as it is now, meets all the expectations that visitors may have; however, it isn’t resting on its laurels. Projects are being planned for the development of the area to make it...

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135.

People / Language Tijuana

23 Reviews If you stick to the tourist spots, like Revolution, you will find that language isn't an issue. Most of the shopkeepers speak English very well. It does help to know spanish, but it is definitely not...

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136.

Tipping/Financial Mazatlán

4 Reviews Tipping... At restaurants, 10 to 15% is standard, but check to ensure a tip has not been included in your bill. Be sure to differentiate between the 15% tax and a tip. Bellmen usually receive about...

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137.

Traditional Dress Monterrey

2 Reviews A few old men still use ranch style sombrero, in some case hand made. In this photo the girl is celebrating his 15 aniversary, in Mexico these celebratios is very special because it mark the end of...

See All 32 Local Customs in Monterrey

138.

Learn the lingo Cancún

5 Reviews Many first names have a Spanish equivalent. For fun, find out if you have a Spanish name before you go so that you can use it to introduce yourself. Hotel workers, guides, and locals will be able to...

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139.

Financial Puerto Vallarta

6 Reviews bring several american one-dollar bills with you for tipping before you change your money into pesos. DO NOT change your money at the american airports; the rate is terrible, and some charge a...

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140.

Border Culture Tijuana

7 Reviews There are numerous parking lots on the U.S. site of the border crossing point in San Ysidro. They are large and always guarded - does it mean that there are many car thefts there? The parkings are...

See All 69 Local Customs in Tijuana

141.

Greetings / Courtsey Monterrey

7 Reviews These are typical greetings and sultations. The translations are less literal and more "general meaning." Greetings... In person: Buenas Good Buenas (tardes, dias, noches) (afternoon, day,...

See All 32 Local Customs in Monterrey

142.

Shopping/Haggling Puerto Vallarta

6 Reviews It seemed common that a lot of women where getting their hair put in beads. I didn't see any local women with them but amongst the local tourist it seemed to be the thing to do for the women. I don't...

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143.

Los Negocios Tijuana

10 Reviews I considered putting this tip in the Warning section, but since it probably won't happen while you visit Tijuana it seems better as a Local Custom Tip. Actually having your hair done in a restaurant...

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144.

Music & Dance Monterrey

2 Reviews Regional music is dubbed musica norteña, northern music, which is unique, very lively, kind of Mexican polka, with accordion, guitar and drum, and has lots of groups and fans. It is obviously not only...

See All 32 Local Customs in Monterrey

145.

Nature Puerto Vallarta

4 Reviews The most wonderfu thing about the "Dreams Resort" in Puerto Vallarta, is that the sea turtle conservatory is located on the beach!! We were walking early one morning on a romantic strole & were called...

See All 47 Local Customs in Puerto Vallarta

146.

Music / Drinking Tijuana

8 Reviews The exciting music of a Mariachi band embraces the essence of Mexico and its people. Characterised by lively rhythms and the sounds of violins, guitars, vihuelas (a five-stringed guitar) and a...

See All 69 Local Customs in Tijuana

147.

Alameda Monterrey

2 Reviews Lesson # 325 to be a good tourist in Mexico: When you come to Monterrey, come to the Alameda (central park) and go to the big fountain to get a picture of you riding one of these wood made horses. As...

See All 32 Local Customs in Monterrey

148.

Health/Safety Puerto Vallarta

4 Reviews Hopefully you will not need any! But, it is good to know that there are some excellent, English speaking doctors here. There is a brand new hospital here in Vallarta, San Javier and really is as nice...

See All 47 Local Customs in Puerto Vallarta

149.

Poverty Tijuana

2 Reviews Walking around Tijuana you can find a lot of signs of poverty and first of all you can find beggars but not in Avenida Revolucion (main street of Tijuana) - it's forbidden there, I suppose. But when...

See All 69 Local Customs in Tijuana

150.

Local Foods Monterrey

3 Reviews Mostly on the weekends restaurants (and sometimes individuals) will set up grills on the side of the road and roast kid goats, chicken, sausages, etc. Not exactly haute cuisine, but at least you see...

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Colourful Mayan dresses

by micas_pt

For several times I had the opportunity of watching women dressed in traditional Mayan costume. It's a large dress, made of plain cotton fabric (I saw white fabric) and then it has colourful embroidery at the bottom of the dress and neck. The embroideries I saw were all like big colourful flowers. I think that they no longer wear those dresses in their daily life, but they show them when tourists are around. This photo was taken on a little "farm" where typical animals from jungle were shown, as well as some rituals they performed periodically. Curiously some young men were wearing mobile phones, a "rather traditional" Mayan gadget, … :-)

Danza del Volador

by micas_pt

In some touristy spots such as Tulum you will be able to assist a curious performance: the Danza del Volador (Flying Men Dance). This dance dates back to AD500 and is a fertility ceremony.Five men dressed in traditional costume climb to the top of that pole. One of them takes the middle position and plays a flute and beats on a drum. The other four fasten a rope around their wastes and take their places on the square wooden framework. As the "middle position" man starts to play the flute and the drum, the other four jump (all at the same time!!). The player makes this central piece jump and the four flying men wheel around the central pole as the ropes unwrap and slowly they reach the ground. Afterwards the player slides down the pole and they all approach the tourist to receive tips. What i found awesome was that they were not young at all, ...

Tequila

by micas_pt

Tequila is Mexico's famous alcoholic drink. It is made from a cactus that is commonly found through Mexican landscape.The "rule" for drinking tequila shots is: > put a little salt in your tongue> bite a piece of lemon (some drop lemon in salt and then bite it altogether)> bottom upI have always drunk tequila this way. Although I was once tough by a Mexican his way of doing it:> bottom up> bite a piece of lemon that was previously dropped in saltWhy? Because this way you can really taste tequila! I prefer first way of doing it, … cheers!

Mariachis

by micas_pt

Mariachi singers and players perform typical Mexican folk music and you can find them in inumerous places, specially if visiting touristy spots; it is also very often to find them in restaurants singing for customers or even in the streets and squares through Mexico. They are often tipped, so it's a way of living for many of them, … Mariachi developed in the 19th century in the state of Jalisco and throughout the Central Mexico. They dress in a typical way with smart clothes and big distinctive hats.

The RPSoS Game!

by rmdw

Here's a fun game you can play with two people. Kids absolutely love it!It requires no equipment, just a set of stairs - 10 to 15 is recommended."RPSoS" stands for "Rock-Paper-Scissors on Stairs". If you don't know the rules of basic RPS then click here.RPSoS expands on the game in this way: - Both players start on the bottom step. - They play successive rounds of RPS. - The winner of each round goes up one step and the loser goes down one (as far as the bottom step). - If there's a tie then they switch which stairs they're on. - Whichever player reaches the top step first wins that game and gets a point.Incidentally, the reason I've placed the instructions here in Mexico is because my best friend, Danny, and I first invented this game in Mexico!

Purified body and soul

by micas_pt

The Mayan believed that some actions purified their bodies and soul. One of then was bathing in a cenote. Cenotes are holy places for the Mayan culture. Another action was going up a pyramid (religious place for Mayan culture). And if those 2 actions were performed on same day, the benefit would be maximized.I can only say that i went up pyramid and bathed cenote on same day, so i came purified from Mexico!!

The Mayan bee

by micas_pt

It is commonly believed that the Mayan bees' honey has healing powers.The Mayan communities produce a lot of honey, part of which is sold. They keep to themselves the royal jelly and a green honey that has healing powers (accordingly to their beliefs).

The Mayan tree legend

by micas_pt

There is a legend that says why the Chechem and Chaka trees always grow side by side (you won't find them separate from each other, that's true i saw!!). Chechem was an evil Mayan prince who was turned into a tree by the Gods. As he was bad he turned the sap of the tree into poison. Chaca was his good-hearted brother and turned himself into a tree. The sap of the Chaca tree has healing powers. That's why you will always find them side-by-side in jungle.

The Mayan houses

by micas_pt

Every family has its own "house" in the community. Their "house" is made of wood and some dried leafs and has one single room, were they cook, eat and sleep. Mayan people are not ambitious so they build their houses just the exact size they need at the moment (1 couple). And as children are born and the room gets sparse, then they build another house, adjusted to that new family size.Mayan people sleep in nets hanging from the ceiling in the one roomed housed. Their "tables" are very very low and as you can imagine all their household utensils are manufactured by themselves (from nature materials).

Currency

by micas_pt

Mexico's currency is the Peso. It's symbol is $ and is often marked as mex$ or $ M.N. (M.N. = moneda nacional, which means nacional currency).If you're travelling to some touristic spot or resort you can pay almost everything in dollars (USA). Usually they have the prices marked for both currencies. Although sometimes prices are not marked in Euros, vendors accept them. When i visited Mexico (March 2003) the convertion rate was better if you paid in US dollars instead of Euros.

Top 3 Hotels in Mexico

Four Seasons Mexico City Mexico City

6 Reviews and 219 Opinions If you are there over the weekend, do forget to check-out the rate. We paid about US$165 excl tax...

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Club Med Cancun All Inclusive Cancún

4 Reviews and 958 Opinions I spent a week at the Club Med from 18-25 May 2008 with my 12-yr old daughter and thoroughly enjoyed...

Hotels in Cancún

Marival Residences & World Spa Puerto Vallarta Puerto Vallarta

6 Reviews and 313 Opinions We had a DREAM VACATION at the Marival Resort. We will be going back once or twice a year. The...

Hotels in Puerto Vallarta

4,109 Hotels in Mexico

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Reviews and photos of Mexico attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Mexico sightseeing.

Experience Mexico

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Questions and Answers

Q: Going to Puerto Vallarta for Cino de Mayo. Never been to PV before. Any tips you can provide me?

A: I have not been to Puerto Vallarta but know about it as a popular tourist resort town. I do live next to the Mexican border and have experience with Mexicans and...

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