Mexico
Travel Destination – Mexico
Mexico offers a mix of ancient ruins, tropical beaches, and vibrant colonial cities. From exploring Mayan pyramids in the Yucatán to wandering through colourful streets in Oaxaca, cultural richness abounds. Preparing for local health and safety considerations, as well as planning itineraries carefully, helps ensure a smooth and memorable visit.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
Before travelling to Mexico, booking an appointment with a travel doctor is one of the best ways to ensure a safe and healthy trip. A travel health consultation provides a personalised plan tailored to your itinerary, whether you’re exploring Mexico City, visiting Mayan ruins, or relaxing on the beaches of the Yucatán Peninsula. Your doctor will review your vaccination history, recommend any travel vaccines for Mexico, and provide prescriptions for essential travel medications. For the best protection, schedule your visit six to eight weeks before departure to allow time for multi-dose vaccines. Even if you’re travelling soon, a last-minute travel health appointment can still offer accelerated vaccination schedules and crucial health advice for Mexico.
Insect avoidance
Mosquitoes can carry diseases such as dengue, malaria, Zika, and chikungunya in many regions of Mexico, particularly in coastal and tropical zones. Preventing insect bites is essential, so stay in air-conditioned accommodation, ensure windows and doors are screened, or if necessary, use a permethrin-treated net. When outside, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants and apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Additional measures to reduce exposure include permethrin-treated clothing and eliminating standing water around your accommodation.
Food and water hygiene
Mexico is known for its delicious street food and bold flavours, but following simple precautions can help prevent stomach illness such as gastroenteritis. Clean your hands with soap or sanitiser before eating. Opt for steaming-hot, freshly prepared dishes and avoid raw, undercooked, or reheated foods. When buying street food, choose vendors who cook meals to order, and opt for fruits you can peel, like bananas and mangos, as they are generally safer. Drink bottled, boiled, or filtered water, and avoid tap water and ice made from it.
Rabies prevention
Australia remains free of rabies, but in Mexico the virus is still found in dogs, bats, and other land animals. Avoiding animals, especially strays, is the best way to lower your risk of getting rabies. Discuss whether you need pre-exposure rabies vaccination with your travel doctor, especially if you’ll be travelling rurally, volunteering with animals, or spending extended time outdoors. Medical care should be sought immediately after any potential exposure from animal bites or scratches. Early intervention can stop the virus from progressing, because once symptoms develop, rabies is almost invariably fatal.
Our Travel Doctors
Our fully qualified doctors have an interest in travel medicine and immunisations. And they know travel. Their expert advice will be tailored for you, your travel companions and your trip.
Which shots do I need for Mexico?
Hepatitis A
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Hepatitis A is an acute viral infection of the liver that spreads easily in environments where food or water may be contaminated, making travellers more susceptible. Infection can cause fever, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and sometimes yellow skin or dark urine. Because the risk of Hepatitis A in Mexico is higher than in Australia, and the vaccine is not routinely given in Australia, travellers who have not completed a full two-dose vaccine series should be vaccinated before departure. This is particularly important for anyone visiting rural regions, eating from street vendors, or planning extended stays within local communities.
Typhoid
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Typhoid is an infection caused by the bacteria Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi. It is more common in Mexico than in Australia and is typically spread through contaminated food or water. Typhoid can lead to high fever, abdominal discomfort, and severe digestive symptoms. Travellers who have not been vaccinated should consider receiving a typhoid vaccine before their trip, particularly those visiting rural areas, eating food from street vendors, or staying outside major tourist zones. Even if vaccinated, good hygiene and safe eating practices remain essential.
Hepatitis B
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Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver spread through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. Transmission may occur during unprotected sexual contact, through unsterile tattooing or piercing, or by sharing items such as razors. While most younger Australians are protected through childhood vaccines, a large number of adults have not received vaccination. Those planning to travel to Mexico are recommended Hepatitis B vaccination, particularly long-term stays or activities with increased exposure risk. A travel doctor can review your immunisation records and recommend whether vaccination is needed.
Routine vaccinations
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In Australia, routine immunisation helps keep measles, mumps, rubella, and tetanus under control. Mexico still experiences ongoing circulation of these conditions, raising the risk for visiting travellers. To stay protected, arrange a pre-travel vaccine review with your travel doctor to confirm your immunisations are current, and to determine whether extra boosters are recommended, such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus, influenza and COVID-19.
Mexico
Other health risks in Mexico
Malaria
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Malaria results from parasites spread by mosquitoes, leading to symptoms such as high fever, weakness, and muscle pain, and in severe cases, dangerous complications. In Mexico, malaria risk is localised to certain rural and jungle regions. Depending on your itinerary, your travel doctor may recommend antimalarial tablets. Even if medication is not required, using insect repellent, wearing long clothing, and staying in screened or air-conditioned rooms can help prevent nighttime mosquito bites that transmit malaria.
Dengue
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In Mexico, dengue fever is common in tropical and coastal areas and is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Infection can cause fever, tiredness, muscle and joint pain, headaches, and rashes. While most people recover in one to two weeks, a second dengue infection can sometimes progress to severe dengue, which may lead to bleeding and dangerously low blood pressure if not promptly treated. Aedes mosquitoes are primarily active during the day and breed in small pools of stagnant water. Prevention centres on consistent mosquito bite avoidance and reducing mosquito breeding sites around accommodation.
Rabies
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Australia remains free of rabies, but in Mexico the virus is still found in dogs, bats, and other land animals. Avoiding animals, especially strays, is the best way to lower your risk of getting rabies. Discuss whether you need pre-exposure rabies vaccination with your travel doctor, especially if you’ll be travelling rurally, volunteering with animals, or spending extended time outdoors. Medical care should be sought immediately after any potential exposure from animal bites, licks or scratches. Early intervention can stop the virus from progressing, because once symptoms develop, rabies is almost invariably fatal.
Gastroenteritis
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In Mexico, gastroenteritis is one of the most frequent travel-related illnesses, caused by bacteria found in contaminated food or untreated water. Typical culprits include campylobacter, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli or salmonella. Symptoms such as diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps often appear within one to three days.
Hydration is the priority for management, whereby oral rehydration solutions can help replace lost fluids and salts. Many travellers recover within several days without requiring medical attention, but see a doctor if symptoms are severe, prolonged, or accompanied by difficulty maintaining hydration. Antibiotics may be used in severe circumstances. Good hand hygiene and caution with food and beverages significantly reduce the risk of infection.
Non-infectious conditions
Crime and unrest
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Mexico has higher rates of theft, public demonstrations, and violent crime than Australia. Learn more about Mexico’s current safety advice at the Australian government’s Smartraveller website. At the time of writing, a high degree of caution is advised for travellers to Mexico, as well as reconsideration of travelling to some particularly dangerous areas.
Altitude sickness
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Parts of Mexico sit at high altitude, including Mexico City (approximately 2,240 metres), Toluca, and several mountain and volcano regions. While some travellers acclimatise without issue, Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) can occur in people who ascend rapidly to elevations above 2,450 metres. Early symptoms can include headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, or a reduced appetite. These usually improve within 12 to 48 hours if you avoid climbing higher.
More severe altitude-related illnesses can occur at much greater elevations, typically above 4,300 metres, such as on climbs of Pico de Orizaba, Iztaccíhuatl, or other high peaks. High-Altitude Cerebral Oedema (HACE) may present with confusion, clumsiness, or unusual behaviour, while High-Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPE) can cause shortness of breath, coughing, and reduced ability to exert yourself. Both conditions require immediate descent and urgent medical care, as they can be rapidly life-threatening.
To reduce your risk when travelling in Mexico’s high-altitude regions, ascend gradually and allow time for your body to adjust. Consider preventive medications, which a travel doctor can prescribe for itineraries involving very high elevations. If you are trekking above 4,300 metres or are unfamiliar with AMS, HACE, or HAPE, travel with an experienced guide.
The CDC emphasises three key safety principles for altitude travel:
1) Recognise early symptoms and respond promptly.
2) Do not ascend to sleep at a higher elevation if any altitude sickness symptoms appear.
3) Descend immediately if symptoms worsen or fail to improve at the same altitude.
Deep vein thrombosis
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Journeys to Mexico, especially long international flights, can increase the likelihood of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a clotting condition caused by slowed blood flow in the legs. To reduce risk, aim to walk around during lengthy travel, keep your legs moving, and stay well hydrated. Travellers with additional medical risk factors may be advised to use compression stockings during transit. If DVT is diagnosed, blood thinning medication is the standard treatment.
Safety on the roads and elsewhere
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Taking sensible safety precautions can help ensure a safe trip when travelling in Mexico. If you plan to ride a motorbike in Mexico, only do so if you’re confident in your skills, familiar with local traffic laws, and always wear a certified helmet. For long-distance travel, choose reputable transport companies and make sure the vehicle you’re in has working seatbelts, as road conditions and driving standards can vary across regions.
When exploring Mexico’s natural areas, whether hiking near volcanoes, visiting canyons, or exploring jungle trails, wear broken-in boots, use sunscreen and insect repellent, pack lightly, and select routes suited to your fitness level. Petty theft can occur in busy tourist zones, so keep valuables secure and stay aware of your surroundings.
Whatever your itinerary includes, comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical care, theft, and emergency evacuation is strongly advised for safe travel in Mexico.