Local Information Travel Guide
The practical layer of a Mexican Caribbean trip: money, time, transport, and local customs. The currency is the Mexican peso; cards are widely accepted in tourist areas, but keep cash for colectivos, market stalls, and tips. Tipping runs about 10–15% in restaurants and is customary for guides and drivers. Quintana Roo keeps Eastern Standard Time all year and does not observe daylight saving, so the hour can differ from the rest of Mexico. Electricity is 127V with US-style plugs. Spanish is the official language, though English is common across the tourist corridor, and local SIMs and eSIMs are easy to buy. Weather splits into a dry season (roughly December to April) and a hot, humid rainy season with hurricane watch from June to November. The guides in this cluster cover each of these topics in detail so you can plan without surprises.
Frequently asked questions
Should I bring pesos or dollars?
The currency is the Mexican peso and paying in pesos gets you the fairest rate. Cards are widely accepted in tourist areas; keep some cash for colectivos, market stalls, and tips.
How much should I tip?
Around 10–15% in restaurants; it is also customary to tip guides, drivers, and hotel staff. Some restaurants add service to the bill — check before doubling up.
What time zone is Cancún in?
Quintana Roo keeps Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5) all year and does not observe daylight saving, so the hour can differ from the rest of Mexico depending on the season.