Casa del Sol: Links + Mexico information

San Blas
Mexican Vacation Questions

San Blas:

There is an excellent website resource that covers many details on the local town of San Blas and the surrounding areas. San Blas is approximately 16km (10 miles) north of Playa los Cocos.  Go to the website from here >>  San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico

San Blas is a small fishing village of about 12,000 people on the Pacific Coast of Mexico located between Puerto Vallarta and Matzalan. If you are active you will not be bored, as there are many ecotourism adventures available here, such as the jungle boat ride, a visit to the village of Singayta, whale watching, surfing, waterfalls and hiking in the jungle and beaches.

There are no condos here, no major resort hotels, no shopping malls, no freeways no golf courses and no stoplights. You don't need a car to get around. You can walk or take a bike around town and buses run everywhere in Mexico.

photos above and below: the colorful market area of San Blas

...some sights in and around San Blas; the internet cafe to stay connected and a nighttime sidewalk cafe in the center of San Blas to enjoy local Mexican food

Mexican Vacation Questions:

Is traveling to Mexico safe?
Yes. Overall Mexico is considered very safe, and one should feel comfortable traveling to any part of this extensively diverse and interesting country. Popular vacation destinations have low crime rates and are sensitive to security issues for visitors. That said, act just as you would at home, locking doors and windows, putting valuables away and not bringing unnecessary attention to yourself. If you use your common sense and take the same precautions you would at home, then you will enjoy your Mexican vacation, like the millions of visitors that never have a problem.

Do I need a passport to travel to Mexico?
Effective January 23rd, 2007, citizens of the U.S. or Canada are required to present a valid passport to enter Mexico by air. Effective January 31st, 2008, if you are traveling to Mexico by land or sea, you will be required to present a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, and proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. A valid passport is the best form of identification and most airlines already require a passport for travel to Mexico. The United States government also suggests its citizens register travel outside of the country with the U.S. State Department.
Beginning summer 2008 a valid passport will be required when traveling to Mexico by land, air, or sea. So the shorter answer is YES you need a passport.

Prior to entering Mexico, visitors must fill out two forms; a migratory form and a customs form. These will usually be supplied by airline staff before your flight arrives, or you can obtain a copy from the nearest Mexican embassy or consulate in your home country. If you are a single parent, parent traveling alone with children, or parents with children bearing a different last name, you will be required to provide a signed, notarized letter from the legal parent or guardian consenting to the child leaving your home country.

Do I need to bring money or credit cards on my Mexican vacation?
You will no doubt want to have some spending money while traveling in order to go to a restaurant, take in a tour or shop for that special gift, as well as tipping. Pesos is the currency of Mexico and is accepted everywhere. Although the currency rate is constantly changing, the generally accepted rate is 10 pesos to a U.S. dollar. The sign for pesos is also "$", but ask if you are not sure. Most prices are quoted in pesos. Expect to conduct your transactions in Mexico in pesos.

U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars, Euros and British Pounds are accepted at most money exchange booths and many of the banks, but not at many businesses. Traveler's checks are rarely accepted by businesses but will be taken at most banks and money exchange booths. Some places will require a passport to exchange them.

There are ATM machines across Mexico where you can use your bank debit card to receive pesos. The ATM’s are handy because you don’t have to bring as much cash and they usually have the best exchange rates. Note that ATM receipts are in pesos, not dollars. It is not very common for businesses to have point-of-sale equipment for you to pay with a bank debit card. As for credit cards, the larger businesses that cater to tourists are more likely to accept your card than the smaller ones. Plan to bring as much cash as you feel comfortable carrying, then offset this with either your credit card, bank debit card or travelers checks.

Do I need to learn Spanish to travel to Mexico?
No. English is spoken quite extensively throughout most Mexican tourist destinations. However, do not expect everyone to speak fluent English or to understand you, especially in the smaller villages, stores and restaurants. It is recommended that you pick up a small Spanish phrase book before leaving home. You will have some fun learning a few words and win the respect of the locals no matter how limited your vocabulary or poor your pronunciation. If you make the effort to speak some limited phrases, the locals will be more than glad to help you with words that you don't know.

Is it safe to drink the water in Mexico?
Large resorts and hotels all along the Riviera Maya and the Pacific Coast resort areas advertise purified water. Most resorts do have their own water purification systems in the hotels. Many people who drink tap water at their hotel have no problems, but to play it safe use bottled water.

What should I bring with me on my Mexico vacation?
Half of what you think you need. The weather is most often warm, and the dress is casual even at the best restaurants. You might want one pair of long pants and a light sweater or sweat shirt just in case it is cool in the evening. Likely, you will purchase a few t-shirts and some other souvenirs while you are here so leave space in your suitcase, or pack an empty duffel bag to take along.

Don’t forget the sunscreen. You should have a hat to protect your head, sunglasses, a good book, your camera and some insect repellant. Suggest to bring these items with you, they may or may not be available locally if you forget them or don’t want to carry them with you. You should also bring your prescription medicines and a copy of your prescriptions with your important papers.

If you are going to visit the ruins or explore the various towns and villages, comfortable walking shoes are important, and a day-pack is nice to have along to carry water and a snack. Water shoes are a good idea as some of the beaches may have a rough or stony bottom.

It is a good idea to have a list of all your credit/debit cards, emergency health care card, and the contact numbers listed, should you lose one. Include a copy of passports and other important documents. You can leave this information with someone at home that you know you will be able to reach in case of an emergency or carry a copy with you in a safe place different than your cards. Many larger hotels have in-room safes to store important documents and other valuables.

Will I have cell phone coverage and internet access in Mexico?
Mobile cell phone coverage is pretty good in the entire Riviera Maya, as well as the Pacific Coast. Some U.S. and Canadian cell phone providers have agreements with the two Mexican mobile phone companies to provide service to their customers. However, in most cases you must contact your service provider at home before leaving to have this feature activated on your cell phone. There are many very inexpensive internet cafes throughout Mexico. Keep in mind that you are in Mexico, so many of the keyboards will contain Spanish characters even though the letters are the same. Most important to note is the lack of the "@" symbol on the keyboard (Hint: to type the "@" symbol, hold the ALT key, then 64).

What else should I know about traveling to Mexico?
-Electrical: outlets are the same in Mexico as in Canada and U.S. Not all places have polarized outlets (one prong bigger than the other), so best to be prepared and bring an adaptor.
-Telephone: you can buy a pre-paid phone card nearly anywhere in Mexico for making calls from your hotel or a pay phone, and the rates are fairly inexpensive.
-Gasoline: prices are uniform throughout Mexico, regardless of your location, cash only. Pemex gas stations are the only official outlets where you can purchase fuel in Mexico. The unleaded gasoline is called 'Magna Sin', which is supposed to have an octane rating of around 90. At some locations you may be able to find 'Magna Premium' which is supposed to have an even higher octane level, but 'Magna Premium' is not available at all Pemex locations. Diesel fuel is also available at most Pemex stations, and it is labeled 'Diesel Sin'. Be prepared to pay for your fuel with cash. Although some Pemex stations close to the US border may accept US dollars, you should expect to pay for your fuel with Mexican currency. During busy travel times there may be fuel shortages at some of the more remote Pemex stations, so it is always a good idea to top off your gas tank whenever you can.
Gasoline is measured in liters in Mexico, so make sure to remember your gallons to liters conversion: 1 US gallon = 3.785 liters
Be aware that some gas stations in Mexico have been known to attempt certain fill-up ploys. To avoid being ripped-off, make sure you actually see the fuel pump is set to $0.00 before the attendant begins fueling. Also, pay careful attention to how much change you should receive in return when paying for your fuel.
-Car rental: the minimum age to rent a car in Mexico is 21, but expect to pay a higher price than drivers over 25.
-The legal drinking age in Mexico is 18. However, it is always a good idea to carry your ID with you, if asked to present it at a club or bar.
-Time Zones: Mexico uses three time zones. Most of the country uses Central Standard Time. The Mexico states of Chihuahua, Nayarit, Sonora, Sinaloa and Baja California Sur use Mountain Standard Time and Baja California Norte uses Pacific Standard Time. Mexico utilizes daylight savings time.

With some careful planning, research, and preparation you will be prepared for a great vacation in beautiful Mexico!

  ...expect the unexpected

Website created and produced by:
Chris Hollinshead - Wolf Marketing Communications
Website updated: February 15 2011

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