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The information provided in all Mexican pages are only suggestions and anecdotal stories.  The information in the Mexican pages is a generic peace of work and is meant only as a general guide, it should not be taken as absolute fact. The information provided in these pages can change at any given day. You should always use your common sense and remember that Mexico has an excellent health care system.

México uses the metric system. A kilogram is roughly 2.2. U.S. pounds. A half-kilo is very near to a pound. A liter contains five percent more than a quart.

Mexico is overly famous for the threat of bandidos and Moctezuma's revenge. The latter is a stereotypical buzz-word used to describe any stomach or intestinal ailment experienced while on Mexican soil. The fact is that most tourists never contract diarrhea or nausea diseases while touring Mexico, but often experience an upset stomach from over dosing on too many greasy tacos, especially when followed by a couple dozen cervezas (beers) or too much tequila.  

Water

Purified bottled water has undergone something of a revolution in Mexico over the last few years. Most water plants now use space-age micro-filters, and ozone generators to polish and sterilize the water. The result is water so pure, it's almost mineral-free, and sterile enough to be used in a medical center!  "Don't drink the water" is a universal warning inevitably given to tourists departing on a Mexican vacation. Well, what do experienced travelers do, when they're spending months and months down Mexico, way? RV'ers are faced with the improbable task of always finding sterile water to fill their fresh water tanks with. This isn't practical, nor is it really needed. Purified water is sold in just about every village of more than 10 habitants. Five gallon plastic jugs (the same as used on USA water coolers) are refilled at local water plants, usually for about seventy five cents. Use plastic bases for the jugs that have a convenient spigot. It's a snap to set up and dismantle, but while you are on the road, fill frequently a few gallon milk jugs with purified water, and it saves you from having to set up the water stand every time that you need some pure water. 

Fill your fresh water tank with "utility" water from a handy spigot in a gasoline station or trailer park, and then proceed to chemically treat the tank to eliminate any chance of virus, bacteria, or amoeba, from living in the tank. In the tropics, an open tank invites mold and mildew, so something needs to be done. 

To prepare for situations where you don't have good water available, boiling it for 40 minutes is the rule. Also the iodine drops are a good purchase. 8 drops in a gallon of water 30 minutes before drinking is a good preventative. Some people add a measured quantity of pure liquid chlorine bleach, to their tank as they fill it with city water. Usually, one quarter cup of bleach per thirty gallons of fresh water, will serve to sterilize the water in your tank. The object is to kill everything in the tank without, making your water supply smell like a public swimming pool. After you treat the water, it'll be perfectly fine for washing dishes, bathing, and even for cooking! Residual chlorine will boil-off during cooking, and you'll never notice the difference. Bathing in sterilized water insures that a virus or bacteria cannot enter the body through contact with eyes or by inadvertently being ingested.  As a plus, treated water can be used to sterilize raw fruits and vegetables. Simply bathe them for ten or fifteen minutes, and air dry. Bacteria-free produce lasts much longer in your refrigerator as well.

Basically, the flora and fauna in your stomach are not used to the water (and food) here. It will take a while to aclimatize (about 6 months). If you stay here for 3 or more months, you will find you will go through a period of adjustment when you go home! Mexicans who travel suffer from the same maladies as you do when you come here.

Ice & Ice Cubes

Ice cubes in Mexico, sold in plastic bags, by law are made from purified water. Mexicans are very knowledgeable and fussy about water purity (the reason for all of the new space-age water treatment plants). Apparently the ice that gets mushed up in a tasty margarita is usually reliable.

Solid blocks of ice, however, are considered to be for chilling foodstuffs, and is not potable. Most block ice is made from ordinary city water.  Ice plants are usually open seven days a week.

Restaurants

The best way to avoid stomach problems in Mexico, is to take it easy for the first week.  It's really hard to resist those totopos  (chips) and salsa, sitting on the table, while waiting for your lunch to arrive. Go ahead and indulge yourself, but don't eat half a dozen bowl full of salsa and not expect gastrointestinal ramifications later in the day.

• In first class restaurants, you are usually safe to eat whatever you want.
• In less than first class, if it is freshly cooked, ok. Unless you know the restaurant, avoid uncooked vegetables (ie. salads).
• Choose restaurants that seem to be favored or used by the locals.
• Typical restaurants may have restrooms with cold running water, but no soap and no paper towels. 

Street Vendors

• If you want the true Mexican experience, the street Vendors or Kiosks are the way to go, HOWEVER, be careful.
• Is it clean?
• Eat only food prepared before your eyes. If the griddle isn't on, don't eat there.
• Do the locals seem to prefer one over the other? If so, there is a reason.
• This eating experience is more risky than a safe 5 star hotel, but if you have a good constitution and enjoy food, go for it!
• Taco stands located on most streets in Mexico may not be safe because it is difficult to know how long the food may have been sitting out or how fresh it may be. It smells wonderful, though.

Fresh Meat

• Most meat in the US and Canada has color added to give that nice red look. In Mexico this is not a common practice. Dead flesh turns grayish, so don't be put off it unless that gray has a greenish or bluish tinge, or smells "off".
• Cook fresh meat the day you buy it.
• Mexicans have a much more liberal "palette" compared to the sanitized tastes of her northern neighbors. You will find many more animal parts for sale, and many different types of cuts. They also eat a wider range of animals than we do. Experiment, but do so with guidance.
• If you request your meals be served hot  you probably won't experience any unnecessary problems.
• Chicken should be treated like it is radioactive, until cooked (just as true in the U.S.). 
• Wash your hands after handling untreated, raw food, and frequently when preparing food.  
• Pork and bacon are excellent.
• Bring your own deli meats such as salami, hot dogs, sausage, etc.
• Mexican butcher shops are called Carnicerías in Spanish. Steaks are called Bistec.
• Eggs are excellent.
• Milk is inexpensive.
• Chicken is of excellent quality.

Vegetables and Fruits

Mexico has a wonderful array of fresh fruits and vegetables, and if you are going to be in the country for any length of time, you will want to shop at the "mercados" (market) and peel the fruits or boil vegetables. Fruits and vegetables should be washed in sterilized water so that a weak chlorine bleach solution kills offensive bacteria.

• Always wash, then soak in water containing 8 drops of iodine solution or 1 capful of bleach, for 30 minutes.
• If you peel it before eating, you are safe.
• If you cook it before eating you are safe.
• If you want to eat it fresh, choose only unblemished items, and ALWAYS go through the wash/soak process.
• Avoid fresh salads (they may not have been washed in bottled water).
• You can find a much variety in a Frutería (Fruit shop) than at the supermarket and prices are cheaper.
• Coffee is expensive.

Shellfish and Hot Weather

Don't do it! Shellfish tend to spoil quickly. This is especially true when the weather is hot. Even though you love your oysters, the possible results are not worth it.

Even if all of your careful precautions should fail, and you get sick anyway, you know that I am not helpless. Many well-meaning articles have suggested "toughing-it-out" with intestinal ailments, and "letting nature take her course".  Checked with your doctor before you leave home, and obtaine a prescription for "Bacrtrim F" tablets (also available in Mexico without a prescription). Bactrim effectively annihilates offensive bacteria within twelve hours after dosing. To control watery stool, you can also take Lomotil.  Occasionally an unfortunate forager will come into contact with food poisoning. The symptoms are usually quite pronounced and "miserable". Happily, the most common variety of food poisoning in Mexico (infrequently encountered however) lasts only 12 hours. The only cure for food poisoning is time. Sipping sugary soft drinks is a good way to maintain energy. 

• Fish Stores sell fillets of fish rather than the whole fish.
• Canned tuna is extremely expensive.

Supermarkets

Mexican supermarkets sell a variety of USA products such as Kraft and Best Foods.
Bring your own spices, crackers, salad dressing, muffins, pickles, granulated garlic and canned soups and vegetables. Coffee is expensive. Sliced white bread and wheat bread are becoming extremely common in Mexico (bread in Spanish is Pan), and bread sold at Bakeries have no preservatives.

Almacén (it is like a warehouse) sells non-perishable items at substantial discounts. Most times visitors encounter the warehouses when searching the best prices for hard liquor. Bottled Méxican beer is about forty percent cheaper than canned beer. The bottles are returnable and require a deposit which almost doubles the price. Of course the deposit is refundable when you turn the bottles back in. Every town has one particular "Depósito" that consistently under-prices the others. Beer trucks roam the countryside and will sell directly to the customer. They also vend soft drinks and heavy users can arrange to have a "weekly" or bi-weekly purchase delivered directly to their RV space or campsite. These guys are unbelievably knowledgeable about streets, addresses, and locations of isolated Hot Springs, resorts, and other trivia.

Please read our Buying Medicines in Mexico page for more information.