Location:

In the south of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, you'll find the 160-kilometer-long coastal stretch known as Costa Maya.

Costa Maya runs from Majahual and Xcalak on the border with Belize all the way to Punta Herrero in the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. Here you'll discover miles of secluded, pristine sandy beaches and breathtaking spots set in largely untouched natural landscapes.

Costa Maya covers roughly 19,400 hectares of land, of which 60% is ecologically protected.

- stunning beaches where sea turtles stroll by and powdery-white lagoons
- Maya villages where locals still live as fishermen and farmers
- nature reserves like Sian Ka'an, with its coral reefs and lagoons
- away from the beach and coast, temple complexes painstakingly built into the wilderness — the legends, monuments, and ruins of the ancient Maya civilization that shape the landscape and give it an air of mystery.
Around 1,500 years ago, the Maya built their palaces and temples in what is now Yucatán, deep in the rainforest or along secluded bays.
In Tulum, the Maya created terraced fields and floating gardens. They calculated the lunar month and fought their neighbors with obsidian-bladed war clubs.
Into the soft limestone of their buildings, the Maya carved an entire universe of gods and kings. Their rapid decline remains one of history's great mysteries.

Climate:

Caribbean breezes make the tropical climate of the Costa Maya and the high humidity much more bearable. Average temperatures hover around 26°C (79°F). Most rain falls between June and October, when humidity peaks. Summer highs reach about 36°C (97°F), while winter lows rarely drop below 16°C (61°F) at night.
Hurricanes, tropical storms, and heavy rainfall occur regularly here — hurricane season runs from June through November. Flooding and landslides are common consequences of these natural events.

Entry:

German citizens traveling to Mexico as tourists can enter without a visa.
A tourist card ("FMT") is required. You'll receive it during the flight or at border crossings into Mexico. At the border, the card is stamped with the validity period (important: keep an eye on the expiration date!) to avoid the hassle of having to extend it later. The portion of the tourist card that stays with you must be presented when leaving Mexico.
During identity checks, authorities may ask not only for your passport but also for your Mexican residence permit (tourist card FMT). You should carry it with you at all times to prove you're legally in the country — otherwise, immigration authorities may detain you until your legal status can be confirmed.
Tip: Make copies of your passport, tourist card, and all tickets and keep them in your hotel or a separate bag.

When entering via the USA, tourist cards have sometimes not been stamped. In such cases, this can usually be resolved — for example, by showing your bus ticket — at the relevant authority in Mexico (Instituto Nacional de Migración). When entering or leaving via the USA, U.S. entry requirements also apply.

Your passport should ideally be valid for at least 6 months, but must be valid at least for the duration of your planned stay.

Customs Regulations:
You may bring in duty-free: up to 3 liters of wine/spirits, 400 cigarettes/50 cigars/250 g tobacco, 12 rolls of film, and gifts worth up to US$300.

It is prohibited to import food items or export gold (except gold jewelry), antiques, archaeological artifacts, corals, and cacti.

Note: The minimum prison sentence for drug possession in Mexico is 10 years, regardless of the quantity. The maximum sentence is 25 years.

Vaccinations:
There are no international vaccination requirements for entering Mexico.
For short trips, vaccinations against Hepatitis A, tetanus, and diphtheria are recommended.
For longer stays, additional vaccinations against Hepatitis B, typhoid, and possibly rabies may be advisable.

In Mexico, particularly in the southern rainforest regions, there is a moderate year-round malaria risk. Highland areas, cities, coastal regions, and tourist resorts are considered malaria-free. Dengue fever, transmitted by insects, is relatively common and also occurs in tourist centers along the coast.

When consuming salads, fruit, seafood, ice in drinks, and food from street vendors, caution is advised for hygiene reasons.