last edited Dec 11, 2019
Other practical information for Yucatán and southern Mexico
Luggage and equipment to bring
For coastal areas and beach resorts, pack lightweight clothing year-round and a light sweater for evenings or air conditioning. For the Chiapas mountains, warmer clothes are recommended. Also bring sun and rain protection (even in the dry season), as well as good walking shoes if you plan to hike.
Time difference
Since February 2015, Mexico has had four time zones instead of three, ranging from GMT-5 to GMT-8 from east to west. In practice, the south is now divided into two zones since Quintana Roo (Cancún, etc.) decided to change its time zone, unlike its neighbor Yucatán (Mérida, Chichén Itzá, etc.).
Quintana Roo time
Local time (Cancún): .
Since February 1, 2015, the state of Quintana Roo (Cancún, Cozumel, Riviera Maya, etc.) has chosen to align with GMT-5, including daylight saving time, primarily for tourism reasons to "satisfy" cruise passengers and visitors from the U.S. East Coast or Québec, eliminating the time difference. However, its neighbor Yucatán did not adopt this change, so there is now a one-hour difference to consider when, for example, visiting Chichén Itzá from Cancún. Otherwise, it is GMT-5, meaning six hours behind France, give or take a few days during time changes, year-round.
"Central" time
Local time (Mérida): .
This is the time for the capital, most of the country, and the other southern states, from Yucatán to Chiapas. It is GMT-6, meaning seven hours behind France, give or take a few days during time changes, year-round.
Opening hours
Opening hours are quite flexible and not strictly regulated by law for private shops and services. In cities, you’ll find a wide range of opening times, including supermarkets open 24/7.
Laundromats
Local tourist offices
The Mexican Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR) manages information points in major tourist areas and cities.
French language use
While English is widely spoken in tourist areas and beyond, French is not. It is limited to a few beach resorts in Riviera Maya that attract a francophone audience. In short, it’s best to have some basic Spanish—or at least English—to travel independently in the country.