Mexico Travel Guide

It's always easier to become ill in a foreign country with a different climate, different food and different germs, still more so in a poor country with lower standards of sanitation than you might be used to. Most travellers, however, get through Mexico without catching anything more serious than a dose of Montezuma's Revenge. You will still want the security of health insurance, but the important thing is to keep your resistance high and to be aware of the health risks linked to poor hygiene, untreated water, mosquito bites, undressed open cuts and unprotected sex.

What you eat and drink is crucial: a poor diet lowers your resistance. Be sure to eat enough of the right things, including a good balance of protein (meat, fish, eggs or beans, for example), carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Eating plenty of fibre helps to avoid constipation, while peeled fresh fruit will keep up your vitamin and mineral intake although it might be worth taking daily multivitamin and mineral tablets with you. It's also important to eat enough - an unfamiliar diet may reduce the amount you eat, drink plenty of fluids and get enough sleep and rest, as it's easy to become run-down if you're on the move a lot, especially in a hot climate.

The lack of sanitation in Mexico is often exaggerated, and it's not worth being obsessive about it or you'll never enjoy anything. Even so, a degree of caution is wise - don't try anything too exotic in the first few days, before your body has had a chance to adjust to local microbes, and avoid food that has been on display for a while or not freshly cooked. You should also steer clear of salads and peel fruit before eating it. Avoid raw shellfish, and don't eat anywhere that is obviously dirty (easily spotted, since most Mexican restaurants are scrupulously clean) - street stalls in particular are suspect.