Travel Insurance for Mexico
What all Canadians should know before visiting Mexico
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At a glance
- World Nomads offers four travel insurance plans for your trip to Mexico. Plans range from standard to higher-limit protections.
- Coverage may apply to popular activities in Mexico like diving, horse riding and whitewater rafting.
- Policies for Canadians include protection for medical emergencies, trip cancellations and lost luggage.
Mexico draws visitors in with its beaches, but venture beyond the coastline and you’ll be rewarded with authentic encounters with locals, colourful towns, and rich, varied regional cuisine that’s a far cry from Tex-Mex – Puebla’s chiles en nogada (stuffed chillies) and Yucatán’s citrusy cochinita pibil (slow-cooked pork) deserve a place on every Canadian’s itinerary. Whether you’re exploring Mayan sites, wandering colonial towns or unwinding by the sea, Mexico is a destination more Canadians than ever are visiting – over 4 million a year, in fact. Most trips go to plan, but it’s the ones that don’t where travel insurance really earns its keep.
Plan Comparisons
Choosing the right travel insurance coverage depends on your trip type and planned activities. Each of our four plans – Standard, Explorer, Epic and Annual – offers different coverages and benefit maximums.
| Standard Plan | Explorer Plan | Epic Plan | Annual Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ideal for: Coverage Includes:
Covering the basics for your Mexico trip. Get a quote |
Ideal for: Coverage Includes:
Optional 'Cancel for Any Reason' available. Get a quote |
Ideal for: Coverage Includes:
Optional 'Cancel for Any Reason' available. Get a quote |
Ideal for: Coverage Includes:
Get a quote |
Travel insurance for adventure activities in Mexico
There’s an exhilarating experience to be had every which way you look in Mexico. Swim or snorkel in cenotes – natural limestone sinkholes filled with clear, cool water – or dive along the Mesoamerican Reef, one of the largest coral reef systems in the world. Along the Pacific coast, consistent swells bring wave-chasers to relaxed coastal towns, while inland, hiking trails lead to canyons, volcanoes and forested highlands. High-energy thrill-seekers can zipline through the jungle, gallop along the beach on horseback, whitewater raft on mountain rivers or ride ATVs at speed across dunes and desert terrain. Choose your own adventure.
Coverage for 250 activities you love + more
Common insurance considerations for Mexico
Accidents and emergencies
No one likes imagining the worst, but if you do get seriously sick or have an accident that sends you to hospital, you’ll be patting yourself on the back that you sorted your travel insurance before you left home. Hit by a car crossing the street? Tripped over on a Mayan trail and have a gash on your head that needs stitching? Ate a dodgy taco and came down with a nasty bout of food poisoning? Emergency assistance is a phone call away.
Trip cancellation
The best trips are often the ones you’ve planned months in advance, but you can’t predict the future and unexpected situations can sometimes happen before you even set off. Trip cancellation coverage is included in all single-trip and annual travel insurance plans offered by World Nomads and gives you the opportunity to cancel your trip before you depart – but only for covered reasons. Optional Cancel For Any Reason coverage allows you to cancel for any reason that’s not otherwise covered by your plan. Broke up with your partner? You can cancel your trip. Sick dog? You can stay home to care for your fur baby. Change your mind about travelling? There’s no judgment here. Just make sure you purchase Cancel For Any Reason insurance cover within 15 days of making your first trip payment (like booking a hotel or flight).
Missing luggage
Nothing gets a trip off to a rocky start quite like arriving in Mexico City without your bags. If your checked luggage is lost or delayed, travel insurance benefits may help reimburse you for lost items. Keep original receipts for any personal items you buy – like a toothbrush, medication or a change of clothes. The first step is always to report missing luggage to your carrier and check what compensation they may provide.
Lost or stolen gear
Even the most careful of travellers can face that sinking feeling when they realise they’ve left their passport or wallet on the train, or that an opportunist has taken off with their phone or camera and there’s no hope of getting it back. Whether you bought the lost or stolen item on your trip (and have the receipts to show for it) or carried it with you from home, travel insurance may be able to reimburse you.
Tips for travelling to Mexico
- Before you leave Canada, check the Canadian government’s safety warnings for Mexico, and review the latest advice on which areas of Mexico to avoid.
- Be mindful of petty theft – keep valuables secure in busy places like markets, beaches and public transport.
- Use official taxis, hotel-organised transfers or rideshare services rather than hailing cars on the street.
- Take care with food and water – stick to bottled or filtered water, avoid ice unless you’re sure it’s purified and choose freshly cooked food.
FAQ
Here are our most frequently asked questions about cover for Mexico. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Help Center or you can ask the customer service team.
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Do Canadians need a visa to visit Mexico?
Canadians don’t need a visa for short stays in Mexico (typically up to 180 days). You may need to complete an entry form on arrival. Entry requirements can change, so check official government advice before you travel.
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Is Mexico safe for tourists right now?
Safety varies by region. Popular tourist areas are generally well managed, but petty theft and more serious crime can occur. Stick to well-known areas, use reputable transport and stay aware of your surroundings. Check the Canadian government’s safety warnings for Mexico, being mindful of which areas of Mexico to avoid.
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Is it safe to drink tap water in Mexico?
No – it’s best to avoid tap water. Stick to bottled or filtered water, avoid ice unless you’re sure it’s purified, choose fruit you can peel yourself and take care with raw foods – hot, freshly cooked food is the safest choice.
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When is the best time to visit Mexico?
The dry season, from November to April, is generally the best time to visit, with warm, sunny weather. The rainy season (May to October) can bring heavy showers and higher humidity.
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What currency is used in Mexico and can I use US dollars or credit cards?
Mexico uses the Mexican peso (MXN). US dollars are sometimes accepted in tourist areas, but you’ll usually get a better rate paying in pesos. Credit cards are widely accepted in cities and resorts.
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Is healthcare free for tourists in Mexico?
Healthcare in Mexico is not free for visitors. Private hospitals can be expensive, so travel insurance is important to cover medical costs.
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How expensive is Mexico to travel to?
Mexico offers a wide range of price points. Resort areas can be more expensive, while smaller towns and local experiences are often good value.
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Do I need travel insurance for Mexico?
Travel insurance isn’t mandatory, but it’s strongly recommended. Cover for accidents, medical emergencies, cancellations, delays and lost luggage can help protect you against unexpected costs. Whether you’re in a major city or off adventuring in a more remote location, it’s reassuring to know you can get the help you need – especially when it comes to an accident or sudden illness.
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How do I make a claim?
You can make a claim online 24/7. Have your documents and receipts handy to upload, and get started. If you get stuck, you can call us collect on +1 416 646 3723 or send an email to worldnomads@travelguard.com and we will assist you with your claim.
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What do I do if I need emergency assistance?
No matter where you are in the world, our 24/7 Emergency Assistance partners at Travel Guard are ready to help – 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Whether it’s a medical emergency, stolen gear, missing bags, or a natural disaster, they’re the first call to make. Need a translator? They can help with that too.
When you call, you’ll be asked if you are experiencing a travel emergency. If you are having a medical emergency, you’ll be connected with Emergency Assistance right away. If your situation is not urgent and you are calling outside of normal business hours, you’ll be able to leave a message and be called back.
The contact information for medical emergency assistance is:
Phone: +1 866 878 0192 (toll-free from Canada and the Continental U.S.); or
Phone: +1 416 646 3723 (collect from anywhere else in the world)
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What if my passport gets stolen in Mexico?
World Nomads travel insurance plans cover theft or damage of the following documents:
- Passports
- Driver’s licenses
- Birth certificates
- Travel visas
You can claim up to the maximum limit stated in the policy towards the replacement of your passport or one or more other travel documents mentioned above.
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Insurance protection for your hard earned vacation in the event of unexpected cancellation.
- Standard Plan: $2,500
- Explorer Plan: $10,000
- Epic Plan: $15,000
- AMT Plan: $10,000
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalized?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
We’ll get you to hospital or home quickly.
- Standard Plan: $250,000
- Explorer Plan: $500,000
- Epic Plan: $750,000
- AMT Plan: $500,000
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medevac home?
Help starts here.
Gear & Baggage Protection
Coverage for the theft, damage or delay of your bags, tech and sports gear.
- Standard Plan: $1,000
- Explorer Plan: $2,000
- Epic Plan: $5,000
- AMT Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
- Passport or tech stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
Protect your health
- Emergency Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
- Bedside Companion Travel and Subsistence
- Emergency Professional Services
- Return of Remains
- Return of Travel Companion/Dependent Children
Protect your trip
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Interruption
- Trip Delay
- Optional Cancel for Any Reason (Explorer or Epic)
- Trip Exchange (Explorer, Epic or AMT)
- Rental Vehicle Damage (Explorer, Epic or AMT)
Protect your stuff
- Baggage and Personal Effects Theft or Damage
- Baggage and Sporting Equipment Delay
- Travel Documents Theft or Damage
- Sporting Equipment Theft or Loss by a Common Carrier
- Covered Adventure Sports listed in Policy
Assistance Services
- 24/7 Worldwide Emergency Medical Assistance
- Worldwide Travel Assistance
- Personal Security Assistance
- Adventure Traveller’s Hotline
- Bag Trak
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.