Travel to Mexico during Covid-19: What you need to know before you go

The basics

Mexico is open to travelers. There is no need to provide a negative PCR test or quarantine on arrival, though most resorts ask guests to complete health questionnaires. The land border between Mexico and the United States is closed for nonessential travel through at least May 21.However, air travel is allowed.American travelers should remember they will need a negative Covid-19 test result taken 72 hours or less before travel to return to the US. The US Embassy says results for PCR and antigen tests are reliably available within 72 hours in Mexico.

What’s on offer

Incredible food, sensational beaches, buzzing towns and historical remains. While the beach resorts around Cancun attract the bulk of visitors, those who want more than a fly and flop go for Mexico City’s cultural heft, the coastline of Baja California and traditional towns such as Oaxaca.

Who can go

Mexico has some of the loosest border restrictions, currently, with anyone allowed to travel by air for business or leisure.

What are the restrictions?

Travelers to the country must complete a health declaration form and scan the QR code it generates on arrival. There is no need to take a test before departure or undertake any form of quarantine. Those concerned they may have symptoms should ask for the Sanidad Internacional health organization.The land border with the United States remains shut to all but essential travel. People trying to enter through the southern border with Guatemala and Belize may also be denied entry for nonessential travel.

What’s the Covid situation?

Mexico had logged more than 2.3 million cases of Covid-19 and more than 216,000 deaths as of April 30 (although some believe the actual numbers are higher). President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has come under fire for taking a laissez-faire approach to the virus. Restrictions have not been far reaching and life has gone on as normal for many, which critics say has led to high death and infection rates.

Daily reported Covid-19 cases

What can visitors expect?

Mexico has a four-tier traffic light system of restrictions, with red signifying maximum restrictions, orange limiting capacity in public spaces and at work to 30%, yellow allowing for all work to resume and public gatherings to take place, and green meaning there are no restrictions in place. See a color-coded map here.As of April 30, most states were categorized as yellow or orange. No states listed as red.Quintana Roo, where popular tourist destinations Cancun and Playa del Carmen are located, was listed as orange. So was California Baja Sur, home to Cabo San Lucas. Mexico City has changed from orange to yellow, with less strict measures on movement.Visitors are likely to find the situation different depending on where in the country they travel, with local restrictions varying.

Useful links

Mexico health questionnaireSanidad InternacionalCovid-19 government pageUS Embassy in Mexico