Flying to Mexico: a guide for students and mission groups

Mexico is one of the most common destinations for student travel and short-term mission teams, thanks to its short flights and many direct routes. It is also a place to plan carefully, with attention to customs paperwork and how you travel on the ground.

Mexico at a glance

• Main international gateways: Mexico City (MEX), Guadalajara (GDL), Monterrey (MTY) and Cancún (CUN). Mexico City also has a third airport, AIFA (NLU).
• Busiest fare periods: spring break (March and April), June and July, and late December.
• Often better-value periods: September to November, outside the Day of the Dead week, and January to February.
• Hurricane season: roughly June to November, most active from August to October, on the Yucatán, Quintana Roo and Baja coasts.

When to fly

Demand peaks in spring break, over June and July, and in late December. The Day of the Dead week around November 1 and 2 is also busy, even within the autumn months that are otherwise good value.

Weather mostly matters on the coasts. Hurricane season runs roughly from June to November, and is most active from August to October, which affects the Yucatán, Quintana Roo and Baja. High-altitude inland cities such as Mexico City and Guadalajara are temperate for most of the year. Students should book early for June and December, and mission teams working on the coast may prefer to avoid late summer.

Routings and customs

American, Delta, United and Aeroméxico fly non-stop from many US hubs to Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and Cancún, so most trips are short and simple. Check your fare’s baggage rules, which vary, especially if you are carrying supplies.

Teams carrying supplies should expect scrutiny. Large quantities of identical items such as electronics, medical devices or tools can lead to extra inspection and may attract duty. Carry a letter from your Mexican host church or registered non-profit (asociación civil), an itemized list, and declare what you bring. Ask your host in advance how duty applies to donated goods.

Airports and getting around

At Mexico City’s Benito Juárez (MEX) and other airports, don’t accept rides from people who approach you in the arrivals hall. Use the official authorized taxi booths inside the terminal, where you pay in advance, or a pre-arranged driver or app pickup at a designated point. Note that Mexico City’s other airport, AIFA (NLU), is farther out, so confirm which airport your flight uses.

For intercity trips, many groups use first-class coach lines such as ADO, ETN or Primera Plus, which are comfortable and run on toll highways. Check your government’s travel advisory for each state you will visit, as advice varies a great deal by region, and follow your host’s guidance on road travel, particularly at night.

How to pay less on flights to Mexico

• Avoid the spring and summer peaks. Fares rise for spring break in March and April, in June and July, and in late December. September to November outside the Day of the Dead week, and January to February, are often better value.
• Watch hurricane season. It runs roughly June to November and is most active from August to October on the coasts. Cheap coastal fares then are worth pairing with a flexible plan.
• Use the short, direct routes. Non-stops from many US hubs to Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and Cancún keep trips simple, so compare nearby US departure airports.
• Check the airport and the bags. Mexico City has a second airport, AIFA, so confirm which one your ticket uses, and compare baggage rules if you are carrying supplies.

For the general method, see how we find cheap flights. Send us your dates and a specialist compares the options for this route.

Before you go

Check passport validity and Mexico’s current entry rules for every traveler. US citizens can usually enter with a passport and the immigration form issued on arrival, but rules depend on nationality, so check the official government source for each person in your group.

Health: hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines are commonly recommended, and your clinic will review routine vaccines. The CDC lists malaria risk only in limited rural areas, mainly in the south, so most city and resort itineraries do not need prevention tablets. A yellow fever certificate is not required for travel from the US. See the CDC page for Mexico for current notices.

Safety: read your government’s travel advisory for each state you plan to visit, since levels differ widely across the country, and confirm your route with your host.

Health notes below reflect the CDC’s Travelers’ Health pages as we last checked them (October 2026). Notices and outbreak levels change quickly, so read the current page before you book vaccines.

Last reviewed: October 27, 2026. Airline routes, schedules, baggage rules and entry requirements change, so your specialist confirms the current options when they quote your trip.

Planning a trip? See our Mexico flights page, our mission travel and student travel page, or send us your dates for a quote.