Mexicoby the numbers
Mexico drew a record 47.8 million international tourists in 2025, Canadian demand keeps rising, and higher entry and cruise fees are coming in 2027.
The Mexico numbers that matter
Arrivals from our five markets
How many travellers from Canada, the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand visited Mexico in the latest published period, and how fast each market is moving.
Foreign arrivals by air, by country of residence, 2025 (20.6M in total, +0.5%). Australia and New Zealand are not broken out in SECTUR's published summary.
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United StatesYour edition 13.7M +0.01%
-
CanadaYour edition 2.8M +11.0%
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United KingdomYour edition 447K +4.8%
Crowds and climate, month by month
| Month | Visitors | High °C | Low °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8,037 | |||
| February | 7,383 | |||
| March | 8,369 | |||
| April | 7,667 | |||
| May | 7,938 | |||
| June | 8,020 | |||
| July | 8,405 | |||
| August | 7,880 | |||
| September | 7,279 | |||
| October | 8,298 | |||
| November | 8,793 | |||
| December | 10,133 |
The short answer
International arrivals peak in December, with secondary highs in March and July, so book those periods early. On the Caribbean coast the Atlantic hurricane season runs 1 June to 30 November and peaks around 10 September; the Pacific coast season starts earlier, on 15 May.
Dates that move demand
- Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix2026-10-30 to 2026-11-01 · Mexico City
- Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead)Late October to early November (annual) · Nationwide
- Monarch butterfly overwintering seasonAutumn 2026 to spring 2027 · Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, Michoacán and State of Mexico
Passports, rules and the flight over
Entry rules as checked on 17 Oct 2026. Rules change: always confirm with the official source before travel.
Canadians need no visa for tourist stays of up to 180 days, though the officer sets the actual length. Air arrivals complete the digital FMM (FMMD) online on arrival, and the migratory entry fee is usually included in the airfare.
Official sourceUS citizens need no visa for visits of up to 180 days, with the length of stay set on arrival. Air travel requires a passport book (a passport card is valid only by land or sea), and land travellers must apply for an FMM online.
Official sourceBritish tourists need no visa; 180 days is the maximum tourist stay, and the permitted days are recorded at entry. Visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Riviera Maya) must also pay a state entry tax online.
Official sourceAustralians are visa-exempt for tourist stays of up to 180 days. Chip-passport holders can use e-gates at Mexico City, San José del Cabo and Cancún airports and then have 60 days to download their e-tourist card.
Official sourceNew Zealand passport holders do not need a visa for tourism stays of less than 180 days.
Official source- Currency
- Mexican peso (MXN)
- Time zone
- Mostly UTC−6 year-round; Quintana Roo (Cancún) UTC−5. Daylight saving was abolished in 2022 except in some northern border areas.
- Language
- Spanish
- Plugs
- Types A and B, 127 V
- Driving
- Drive on the right
- Tipping
- About 15% is standard in restaurants (15–20% in beach resorts); tips are voluntary under Mexican law, so check bills for an added 'servicio' charge.
Nonstop from our markets
| From | To | Airlines | Time / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto (YYZ) | Cancún (CUN) | Porter Airlines | Six weekly in summer 2026; year-round |
| Toronto (YYZ) | Mexico City (MEX) | Aeroméxico | Daily Jan–Mar 2026 on 737 MAX 9 |
| Montréal (YUL) | Cancún (CUN) | Air Canada | 11 weekly from June 2026 |
| Montréal (YUL) | Mexico City (MEX) | Aeroméxico | Daily Jan–Mar 2026 on 737 MAX 9 |
| Vancouver (YVR) | Mexico City (MEX) | Air Canada Rouge | about 5h35m |
| Vancouver (YVR) | Cancún (CUN) | Air Canada Rouge | Rouge 737 MAX 8 from May 2026 |
| Vancouver (YVR) | Puerto Vallarta (PVR) | Air Canada Rouge | Two weekly from 2 May 2026 |
| London (LHR) | Cancún (CUN) | Virgin Atlantic | about 11h |
| London (LHR) | Mexico City (MEX) | British Airways | about 12h |
Selling Mexico: the trade file
- The non-resident fee (DNR) is MX$983 in 2026 and normally bundled into airfares. The Chamber of Deputies has approved MX$1,158 for 2027, pending a Senate vote.
- The federal cruise passenger fee is US$10 until 30 June 2027, rising to US$15 from 1 July 2027 and US$21 from 1 August 2028.
- All foreign tourists visiting Quintana Roo (Cancún, Riviera Maya, Tulum) must pay the state Visitax online at visitax.gob.mx.
- The Atlantic hurricane season runs 1 June to 30 November and peaks around 10 September, so build flexibility and insurance into Caribbean-coast bookings in that window.
- Travel Leaders Network EDGE19–22 May 2027
Opening in Mexico
More figures we've reported
International departures by US citizens, July 2026
Up 2.3% on July 2025. Mexico took 3.71 million of them, or 31.5%.
Mexican beaches in the Americas top 20, 2026
Tulum, Playa Balandra, Playa del Carmen, Akumal, Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Amor in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards 2026.
Nobu hotels listed as coming soon, against 20 open
Nobu's hotel collection page lists 20 open hotels and 29 in the pipeline, including Barbuda, Punta Cana, Tulum and now San Juan.
What changes next
Mexico's Chamber of Deputies approved raising the non-resident fee (DNR) from MX$983 to MX$1,158 for 2027, about 17.8%. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Bloomberg LíneaUnder a 2025 presidential decree, the cruise passenger fee steps up to US$15 on 1 July 2027 and US$21 on 1 August 2028.
Diario Oficial de la Federación (decree of 30 June 2025)Air arrivals from the US fell 6.1% to 4.7M in January–April 2026, while Canada rose 9.9% to 1.6M and the UK rose 11.9% to 144,729 (by country of residence).
SECTUR DataTur, Turismo en Cifras (Jan–Apr 2026)Cruise is outpacing air: in August 2026, cruise excursionists rose 12.3% while non-border air tourists fell 6.5% year on year.
INEGI, Encuestas de Viajeros Internacionales (August 2026)
Latest on Mexico
Quick answers on Mexico
Do Canadians need a visa for Mexico?
No. Canadians can visit for up to 180 days as tourists, with the officer setting the exact stay, and air arrivals complete the digital FMM online on arrival (travel.gc.ca).
Is Mexico safe to visit?
Canada advises a high degree of caution in Mexico overall and says to avoid non-essential travel to parts of several states. The US rates Mexico Level 2, exercise increased caution (29 May 2026), with some states at Level 3 or 4.
How many tourists visit Mexico?
Mexico received 47.8 million international tourists in 2025, up 6.1%, and 98.2 million international visitors including same-day visitors (INEGI).
When is hurricane season in Cancún?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November and peaks around 10 September (US National Hurricane Center).
What is the Visitax in Cancún?
Visitax is Quintana Roo's mandatory contribution for all foreign tourists, payable through the official portal at visitax.gob.mx.
How much is Mexico's cruise passenger fee?
US$10 per passenger from 1 August 2026 to 30 June 2027, rising to US$15 from 1 July 2027 (Diario Oficial de la Federación).
Every figure on this page comes from the organisation that publishes it, linked where it appears and listed here. We checked them on 17 October 2026 and update the file when new figures come out. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.
- INEGI, Encuestas de Viajeros Internacionales (December 2025 bulletin, preliminary)
- La Crónica de Hoy, reporting INEGI data
- SECTUR DataTur, Turismo en Cifras (Indicadores Turísticos, Jan–Dec 2025)
- Bloomberg Línea
- Diario Oficial de la Federación (decree of 30 June 2025)
- SECTUR DataTur, Turismo en Cifras (Jan–Apr 2026)
- INEGI, Encuestas de Viajeros Internacionales (August 2026)
- travel.gc.ca
- travel.state.gov
- www.gov.uk
- www.smartraveller.gov.au
- embamex.sre.gob.mx
- expansion.mx
- www.visitax.gob.mx
- www.nhc.noaa.gov