Mexico hub · country-level rules
Mexico: the advisory by state, the entry rules, then pick your coast.
One place for what applies to all of Mexico (State Department Level 2 overall, updated 2026-05-28, with the state lines that matter for resort areas; passport book and the digital FMM). Each coast has its own guide for weather, fares from Omaha and months.
Photo: Photografia / Pexels
Advisory, state by state
Level 2 for Mexico overall; Level 2 in Quintana Roo and Baja California Sur, Level 3 in Jalisco.
The State Department rates Mexico state by state. The resort states Omaha travelers fly to (Quintana Roo for Cancun, the Riviera Maya and Tulum; Baja California Sur for Los Cabos) are Level 2, exercise increased caution. Jalisco, home to Puerto Vallarta, is Level 3, and the restricted areas it names are southern-Jalisco highway corridors, not the Vallarta resort zone. Read the full text; Ann goes through it with every traveler.
Quintana Roo (Cancun, Riviera Maya, Tulum): Level 2, Exercise increased caution.
Baja California Sur (Los Cabos): Level 2, Exercise increased caution.
Jalisco (Puerto Vallarta): Level 3, Reconsider travel.
U.S. State Department travel advisory
Level 2 for Mexico overall: exercise increased caution because of terrorism, crime and kidnapping; risk is set state by state (see state_level).
Advisory updated 2026-05-28.
State-level lines from the Mexico advisory (May 29, 2026)
Quintana Roo (Cancun, Riviera Maya, Tulum): Level 2, Exercise increased caution
“Exercise increased caution due to terrorism and crime. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. Shootings between rival gangs have injured and killed innocent bystanders. U.S. citizens have been the victims of both non-violent and violent crimes in tourist and non-tourist area. Pay attention to your surroundings after dark. Remain in well-lit pedestrian streets and tourist zones.”
Baja California Sur (Los Cabos): Level 2, Exercise increased caution
“Exercise increased caution due to terrorism and crime. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. There are no specific restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Baja California Sur state.”
Jalisco (Puerto Vallarta): Level 3, Reconsider travel
“Reconsider travel due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. U.S. government employees may not travel to the following areas: Southern Jalisco: May not travel on Federal Highway 110 from the state of Colima to the state of Michoacan, nor to the area to the south and east of Highway 110 to the Michoacan border, with an exception for Mazamitla. Federal Highway 80: May not travel on Federal Highway 80 between Cocula and Lazaro Cardenas (48989 - in the south).”
The restricted areas named in the Jalisco line are southern-Jalisco highway corridors toward Colima and Michoacan, not the Puerto Vallarta resort area; read the full advisory for the exact wording.
Full Mexico advisory · State Dept API, 2026-10-30.
Entry rules for every Mexican coast
Passport book, digital FMM, 180 days.
These are country-level: the same for Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta. A passport card cannot be used to board a flight to Mexico; the digital FMM (FMMD) is issued at the airport and your passport is stamped. Currency and exchange-rate notes will live here once sourced.
Passport & entry for U.S. citizens
- Passport
- Required. Valid at the time of entry
- “Your passport must be valid at the time of entry.”
- Online entry form
- No separate online form for air arrivals: Mexico issues a digital FMM (FMMD) at all international airports and stamps the passport; land arrivals apply for an FMM online or at an INM office.
- “Mexican authorities issue a digital Forma Migratoria Multiple Digital (FMMD) at all international airports in Mexico. ... Your passport will be stamped with your entry date. You may be directed through a self-service electronic gate (E-Gate). This will print a receipt with a QR code.”
- Also required
- Passport book required to fly (passport card cannot be used to board).
- “You need a passport book to fly to Mexico. You cannot use a U.S. passport card to board a plane.”
| VisaNo visa for tourist stays up to 180 days (visa required for more than 180 days); the immigration officer sets the length of stay | Blank pages1 blank page per stamp for air travelers |
State Dept Mexico page, guidance August 11, 2026.
Which Mexico?
Four coasts, four guides
Cancun
CUN · driest March, April and February · $409–$635 from OMA · Quintana Roo Level 2
Guide
Riviera Maya & Tulum
CUN · driest April, March and February · $409–$635 from OMA · Quintana Roo Level 2
Guide
Cabo San Lucas / Los Cabos
SJD · driest May, April and March · $347–$591 from OMA · Baja California Sur Level 2
Guide
Puerto Vallarta
PVR · driest April, March and May · $638–$672 from OMA · Jalisco Level 3
Guide
Mexico's five beach destinations side by side
| Destination | Airport | Driest | Jan fare | Apr fare | Jul fare | Sep fare | State level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cancun | CUN | Mar, Apr, Feb | $635 | $610 | $610 | $409 | L2 |
| Riviera Maya | CUN | Apr, Mar, Feb | $635 | $610 | $610 | $409 | L2 |
| Cabo San Lucas / Los Cabos | SJD | May, Apr, Mar | $577 | $347 | $577 | $591 | L2 |
| Puerto Vallarta | PVR | Apr, Mar, May | $672 | $638 | $638 | $648 | L3 |
Fares: lowest 7-night economy round trip found on 2026-10-30 (Ignav); state levels from the State Department Mexico advisory of May 29, 2026.
Getting married in Mexico? The Mexico wedding guide states the federal legal steps once and compares Cancun/Riviera Maya with Los Cabos.
From Ann
Tell Ann which coast.
She prices the flights from Omaha, the resort and the transfers for your dates, and walks through the advisory text with you.
Photo: Photografia / Pexels · How we source the numbers