What can't you drink the water in Mexico?
Stick to Bottled Water
As a rule, you should not drink tap water in Mexico. Generally, the water is purified at the source, but the distribution system may allow the water to be contaminated en route to the tap.
NO, you cannot drink tap water in Mexico but you can drink iced beverages, coffee, or salad and fruits. Make sure you take a refillable water bottle with you and stay hydrated because drinking TAP water is not the only thing that can make you sick in Mexico.
Although there will be some bacteria in the water from the tap it is fine to brush your teeth with, even if you are at a place where you can't drink the tap water.
Wondering, Is ice safe in Mexico? Yes — You can safely drink ice in Mexico. As mentioned, locals don't drink the tap water, and they don't make ice cubes with it either.
Water delivered to homes in Mexico is suitable for showering and washing-up the dishes, but most people don't use unfiltered tap water for personal consumption.
The boxed milk in Mexico is heated by way of the Ultra-High Temperature Pasteurization (UHT) method. This is why the milk is safe to keep at room temperature when it is in an airtight and light-sealed container.
No Lettuce or Unpeeled Raw Vegetables – Here's a dirty little secret. Many Mexicans soak their lettuce in water with disinfecting drops before consuming leafy greens at home. A common soak deploys iodized silver drops to eliminate microbes.
Tap water in Cancun, Mexico, is not safe to drink or use as a toothbrush. If you find that your toothbrush will not stand up to the cleaning power of tap water, it is best to use something with a battery or electric toothbrush.
As basic as it sounds, hand washing is a simple way to avoid getting sick while traveling. If soap and water aren't available (and they often aren't), be sure to have antibacterial hand sanitizer with you. Many street food stalls in Mexico have a large container of hand sanitizer for customers to use.
Wash your hands just as you would at home and you will be fine. 5.
Can you flush toilet paper in Mexico?
Bathroom etiquette in Mexico! Traveling in México, well shoot, even at Mexican restaurants, bars, discos in the United States you will notice the trash can! Toilet paper is NOT flushed because of clogging drains, filtering water, and the lack of modern sewage systems.
The Bellhop: 25 – 50 pesos is a standard tip for helping you to your room and with your luggage. The Concierge: Tipping 50 to 150 pesos for helpful recommendations is always appreciated. Housekeeping: A tip of 25 to 50 pesos a day for keeping your room tidy is appropriate.

Taking a Bath in Mexico
Young children are too young to know that the Mexican drinking water is not safe and that they need to keep their mouths closed throughout bath time. This significantly increases their risk of getting sick in Mexico. We reduced the risk by severely limiting their 'real' baths in Mexico.
Keep in mind that on the whole, Mexicans are modest dressers, and even in warmer months, long pants, jeans and long sleeve shirts are the norm.
Mexicans often "hold" a gesture (a handshake, a squeeze of the arm, a hug) longer than Americans and Canadians do. Don't stand with your hands on your hips; this signifies anger. It is considered rude to stand around with your hands in your pockets.
Many people use muriatic acid. Muriatic acid is also known as hydrogen chloride acid. This is the yellow acid sold in grocery stores here. It works like magic on build up but also eats away at plastic toilet seats.
Restaurants: For good service, a 10% tip is standard. For really good service, anything between 15% and 20% is acceptable. Street food: Again, tipping is not required or expected, but it is appreciated (saying “keep the change” is sufficient). Taxis: If the driver helps with bags, 10–20 pesos is a good tip.
The minimum legal drinking age in Mexico is 18 years old. Mexico requires that young adults show photo identification, either a passport or driver's license, as proof of age when buying alcohol.
Weekly bathing breakdown – On average Mexican citizens have 8 showers and 3 baths a week. Daily Shower Stats – 90% of women and 88% of men shower once a day. Hair care: Mexicans and Japanese people come closest to fully sanitizing their hair each time they wash.
Yes, the ice in your drink is safe. The ice that is provided to restaurants, bars and convenience stores is produced in ice factories using purified water. Hotels and restaurants that use ice machines also use purified water. Even the local guys downtown selling home-made popsicles use purified water!
Is it safe to eat cheese in Mexico?
Mexican cheese is one of the tastiest things around, but if not stored properly, it can be dangerous. Any dairy items should be considered carefully before ingesting because dairy can turn quickly in the heat. Deciding to skip the cheeses, the cream sauces, and the horchatas might be your safest bet.
Buying ice-cream in Mexico
If you visit or live in a large city or tourist resort, the most likely place you'll find ice cream is at one of these chains, many of which are located at malls.
One of the best ways to prepare for Mexico travel is to prep your immune system and strengthen your gut health. Some common supplements include probiotics, Vitamin C, echinacea, zinc, elderberry, and other immune boosters.
- Nachos.
- Fajitas with sour cream on the tortilla.
- bowl of chili con carne.
- smothered burrito.
- queso with chips.
- chimichanga.
US Food Restrictions
Refrain from bringing rice across the border; according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's border patrol website, rice can harbor unwanted insects. Other banned items include meat products; some exceptions do apply. In many cases, you cannot bring foreign fruits and vegetables.
One of the main reasons that Americans go down to Mexico for dental treatment is the simple fact that it's much more affordable! In many cases, you can take a short vacation in conjunction with your treatment and the grand total will work out less than the cost of the treatment in the US.
Avoid Ordinary Tap Water
While water treatment, filtration, and purification have greatly improved in Mexico, it's still not a good idea to drink ordinary tap water during your visit. Here's why: Sanitation standards there are still different from what you are normally used to, and that's why traveler's tummy strikes.
As a precaution you should not drink tap water in Mexico even if it's purified at the source. Most resorts and hotels provide bottled water or large jugs of purified water for you to refill your bottle.
- Don't consume food from street vendors.
- Avoid unpasteurized milk and dairy products, including ice cream.
- Avoid raw or undercooked meat, fish and shellfish.
- Steer clear of moist food at room temperature, such as sauces and buffet offerings.
- Eat foods that are well cooked and served hot.
A very common misconception regarding Mexico is that you are certain to get sick if you take a vacation there. In fact, there's even a term for it; Montezuma's revenge. In many cases, however, people are sick in Mexico for the first few days of their vacation due to the stress of traveling itself.
Can you eat fruit in Mexico?
One of the joys of visiting or living in Mexico is having an abundance of wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables available.
However, not everything you buy at duty-free is automatically free upon your return to the U.S. You have an $800 personal duty-free limit. This includes limited amounts of products containing alcohol, tobacco, and perfume, valued at more than $5 and all gifts you receive while traveling in Mexico.
The fact that many Mexicans eat small quantities of meat certainly accounts for the higher consumption of eggs.)
It's up to you how much you tip, but the recommended amount in Mexico is between 10% – 20% (15% is a good standard in tourist areas) of the bill or ticket price.
Don't flush toilet paper in Greece
There's a very simple explanation: Greek sewage pipes are approximately two inches (50mm) in diameter. American and British plumbing is twice as large (four inches/100mm). The Greek pipes just get clogged.
Treatment Type | Price U.S. $ |
---|---|
Routine Doctor Visit | $40 to $50 |
Routine Dental Exam | $40 to $50 |
Specialist Exam | $50 to $75 |
Complete Blood Work | $50 to $80 |
Traveler's diarrhea is a digestive tract disorder that commonly causes loose stools and abdominal cramps. It's caused by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Fortunately, traveler's diarrhea usually isn't serious in most people — it's just unpleasant.
As a precaution you should not drink tap water in Mexico even if it's purified at the source. Most resorts and hotels provide bottled water or large jugs of purified water for you to refill your bottle. Velas Resorts stocks its suites with bottled water daily as included in it's all inclusive plan.
Many tourists stray away from drinking any water in Cancun, even if you are visiting a local hotel in the area. Much of the water that is not filtered or sold in Cancun is rampant with parasites and potentially deadly bacteria which can trigger illness and negative responses in the body upon consumption.
To be on the safe side it's always a good idea to use a high quality water filter in Mexico. The type of filter needed depends on the source of the water. For all public tap water a quality carbon block faucet filter is typically the most practical and affordable.
Can you brush teeth with Cancun water?
I have been going to Cancun and Riviera Maya for over ten years and I have always used the water to brush my teeth with no problems. Also you can drink the water or order ice at the restaurants and should have no problems. The better resorts have their own water systems.
It's up to you how much you tip, but the recommended amount in Mexico is between 10% – 20% (15% is a good standard in tourist areas) of the bill or ticket price.
Yes, the ice in your drink is safe. The ice that is provided to restaurants, bars and convenience stores is produced in ice factories using purified water. Hotels and restaurants that use ice machines also use purified water.
If you're out of bottled water to throw in that coffee machine, you can use boiled tap water. Just make sure it gets to a rolling boil for 5 minutes before tossing in your beans or a tea bag — that will be enough to kill off any and all organisms that could make you sick.
Wash Fruits, Vegetables and Fish in Anti-Germ Solution
You can use water from the faucet. Then, immerse your fruits, vegetables or fish in tap water or “garrafon” water (see below), add the anti-germ solution (10 drops per 1 liter of water) and soak for 10 minutes.