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Mexico is by far American's favorite holiday destination with over 30 million visitors per year. 2020 is going to be a much different story as the COVID-19 pandemic decimated the travel industry back in March.
Mexico has reopened for tourism but there are still some restrictions in place including mandatory mask wearing in most tourist destinations and limited capacities at restaurants and hotels.
Traveling in a COVID-19 world is a whole new era and there are a few important things every American traveler will need to know before booking their Mexico holiday this winter.
Can Americans Travel To Mexico?
Americans can travel to Mexico by air but are not permitted to travel across the border by land for non-essential purposes until at least January 21st, 2021.
Americans Traveling To Mexico By Land Border Crossing
Travel from the United States to Mexico by land border crossing is closed to all non-essential traffic.
While there are widespread reports of Americans driving down to Mexico, it is not ‘technically' permitted. If you're planning a holiday to Mexico, it would be best at this time to fly down to avoid any potential issues.
Americans Traveling To Mexico By Air
American tourists are permitted to travel by air to Mexico for tourism. Connectivity between major U.S. cities continues to increase with Cancun currently receiving the most daily flights from the United States.
All international airports in major tourists destinations across Mexico are open for flights.
COVID-19 Entry Requirements For Americans Traveling to Mexico
Mexico is one of the easiest places in the world to travel right now for Americans. There are no COVID-19 tests required before travelers head to Mexico and none will be performed upon arrival unless a traveler is showing symptoms.
There are no mandatory quarantines for travelers not showing symptoms and tourists will be able to begin their vacation soon as they arrive.
Mexico has added a health declaration form that must be completed. See the form and full list of COVID-19 Entry Requirements for Mexico.
Is Everything Open in Mexico For American Tourists?
Most major tourist destinations in Mexico have reopened the following tourist attractions and services:
- Resorts
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Pools
- Beaches
- Archaeological sites
- Malls
- Tours
- Spas
Tourist Destinations
All major tourist destinations in Mexico have now reopened but some are operating at limited capacity.
See the below reopening guides for a specific location in Mexico:
What's it like in Mexico as an American Tourist During the Pandemic?
While most tourist destinations are still relatively quiet, Cancun has seen a dramatic increase in visitors over the last two months. There are still great deals to be found on both hotels and accommodation rentals.
In a recent Travel Off Path poll to over 1347 snowbirds on Facebook who travel south to Mexico every winter, only 31% were positive they would return this year.
Mexico has confirmed 1,250,044 cases of COVID-19 resulting in 113,953 deaths since the pandemic began.
For those headed to Mexico, Travel Off Path highly recommends getting a Travel Insurance Policy that covers COVID-19 For Americans.
U.S. Travel Advisory For Mexico
Back on August 6th, the U.S. removed its global level 4 travel warning but slapped Mexico with an individual ‘do not travel' advisory due to COVID-19.
On September 8th, the level 4 advisory for Mexico has been downgraded to a level 3 ‘Reconsider Travel'.
CDC Travel Advisory For Mexico
The CDC has raised its risk level for Mexico to a level 4 ‘Very High' for COVID in the country.
“Travelers should avoid all travel to Mexico.”
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Alex Grecu
Tuesday 15th of December 2020
This article is for people whi want to freak out about everything. I live in Cancun, masks are mandatory and every person wears one from babies to old folks. I feel safer in Mexico than everywhere in the world. This is not the USA. Come visit and obey the rules.
chooperc
Monday 14th of December 2020
Thanks for posting this article! I flew from LAX to Guadalajara yesterday, 12/13, on Alaska airlines, and was not asked to fill out a health declaration and they did not scan any code. I just filled out the regular customs form (that did not ask anything about COVID) and passed through without any issues. While everything is open in Guadalajara, the citizens all have masks and are being very safe. It is reassuring to see. Thanks again, I love your site and visit it every day!!
TravelingMan20
Monday 14th of December 2020
The Centers for Disease Control a few weeks ago warned Americans against traveling to Mexico, period.
This is just a warning, which many have already been ignoring and will continue to ignore. There are no restrictions on traveling to Mexico by air or sea, just the land borders are technically closed to non-essential travel. However, many Americans are regularly traveling to and from Mexico through the land border crossing stations, even for non-essential travel. Some are not even being asked their purpose for travel and allowed right through (based on what I've been reading on some travel forums).
Amber Marquez
Thursday 1st of October 2020
Does anyone know if CBX is open to US citizens? My family and I are flying to Cancun from TJ Airport coming from San Diego. Has anyone had any issues? I know my mother in law goes to TJ every weekend so the whole essential travel thing is not true at all. Shes been going this whole pandemic they have never closed borders. I will be so upset if we can't get on our flight.
Kashlee Kucheran
Thursday 1st of October 2020
Mexico is completely open to every nationality by air, and despite the land border restriction, many people have been crossing anyway. However, the rules on the government site still say land border is restricted
Michael Gutierrez
Tuesday 29th of September 2020
This is not true. My buddy drove into Mexico through san Diego. No problem.
Trevor Kucheran
Wednesday 30th of September 2020
We only report government facts. According to the Secretariat of Foreign Relations of Mexico “After reviewing the development of the spread of # COVID19 ,Mexico and the United States will extend, for one more month, restrictions on non-essential land traffic on their common border. Source