How to travel to Mexico with a dog? Is it possible to go on vacation to Mexico with a dog? What to do in Mexico with a dog? Elodie and her dog Nana tell us all about their adventure in Mexico!

Going on an adventure with your dog is possible… even as far as Mexico ! There are many misconceptions about Mexico: the treatment of animals, safety concerns, the sweltering heat, and the wild environment… Mexico can seem a little daunting when traveling with a dog. And yet! Elodie and her dog Nana took on the challenge and crisscrossed the country. From Baja California to the waterfalls of Chiapas, they discovered an unexpected Mexico, sometimes demanding, but often welcoming. In this article, they share their experience, practical tips , and favorite spots for a successful trip with your dog to the land of tacos, Mayan temples, and idyllic beaches!

We previously followed them on their adventures in Canada and the USA , this time we find them further south.

In this article, Elodie and Nana take us through North America's most iconic parks and share all their tips , gear , and travel anecdotes . Buckle up and get ready for an extraordinary journey, where every trail promises an unforgettable adventure! 🌲🏕️🐾

Summary

Going to Mexico with your dog: how to prepare properly?

Today we're going to talk about Mexico ! Its Aztec temples , its idyllic beaches , its jungle , its authentic villages … so many places that inspire dreams. But what about the place of dogs in a country where four-legged companions aren't always treated well? We'll explore this topic in the article below.

After Canada and the USA, the next logical step in our trip was to continue down to Mexico. We were looking for a slightly different side of our European culture to get out of our comfort zone. We crisscrossed the country for almost four months between December and April.

Mexico is a very different country from Canada or the United States . We had to relearn everything there and break all our habits. To be perfectly honest, it's not an easy trip for someone who wants to travel by campervan . Between the undrinkable water, the roads in a catastrophic state, the non-existent waste management, the intense heat and humidity, and the numerous scams on the road… We expected all of that, but until you've experienced it, it's difficult to prepare for it.

We also had some concerns about our safety, as well as Nana's, especially regarding stray dogs . We had read a lot before crossing the border and had consulted many travelers to find out about their experiences and how they had dealt with difficulties. We weren't entirely at ease before crossing the border. Nevertheless, there was never any question of not going to Mexico.

It's important to note that, for us, there are two Mexicos: Baja California (also called Baja ) and mainland Mexico . The former is a small strip of land known for being quite safe , where American retirees come to spend the winter. Beaches and relaxation are the order of the day . It's a perfect place to unwind, but it's clearly nothing like the rest of Mexico. Let's say it's a middle ground between the US and Mexico, allowing for a smooth transition to the mainland.

We chose a border crossing in Baja that was considered “easy and safe” to cross into Mexico and everything went very well.

Regarding the dog: No paperwork , no checks , no questions . It would have been difficult to make things simpler in that respect.

Mexico: the different regions and their dog-friendly attitude

We crossed the whole of Mexico from west to east to begin with, then from south to north. We visited almost all of Mexico's most famous places, both cities and archaeological sites.

In towns and villages, dogs are accepted almost everywhere , and no one bats an eye at seeing a dog off-leash since stray dogs are ubiquitous, even in markets. However, all ruins, archaeological sites, and nature parks are generally off-limits to dogs . As for waterfalls and hiking trails , dogs are allowed in most cases, including in the water, unless it's a nature park.

Before moving to Mexico, we really thought we'd have a harder time with Nana. In our minds, Mexicans didn't like dogs and considered them dirty living beings who didn't deserve any attention.

We were far from imagining that Mexicans would turn around to look at our Nana and smile at her, just as they had since the beginning of our trip. We never thought people would ask to pet her. And we certainly never imagined she would follow us around so much during our stay. So overall, the experience was quite positive regarding the way our dog was received.

However, we can note a big difference in reception between Baja California , which is truly a dog paradise , and Yucatan / Quintana Roo where we had a lot of difficulties because everything was blocked for dogs (quite a bit of frustration on this subject which left us with a bitter taste about this region).

A dog on a beach in Mexico.

Nana, just like us, loved Baja California . It's desert-like and sorely lacking in shade, but on the other hand, there are holes in the sand, rolling around on the beach, swimming in the sea, paddleboarding sessions with her parents… and all of this to her heart's content and without any access restrictions . We didn't see any beaches where dogs weren't allowed , and there were generally so few people that Nana could freely go about her business on the beach while we did other things. Pure bliss for her.

Regarding the mainland, we loved enjoying the waterfalls, streams, and turquoise pools of the Chiapas region with Nana . With temperatures approaching 40°C, being able to swim was truly a lifesaver for all of us.

Cities and places to visit in Mexico with your dog

A dog on a paddleboard with his owner in Mexico.

During our trip to Mexico, there were a few cities that particularly impressed us.

We loved the city of Guanajuato . It's a small city, very popular with travelers, and yet we felt like we were the only foreigners there. We loved that aspect, being immersed in the local culture. It's a city full of surprises, where every street corner makes you want to take out your camera. Guanajuato is famous for the hills with colorful houses that surround the city . The view from the lookout is incredible. We explored the streets, neighborhoods, and markets with Nana, introducing her to an explosion of smells.

We also really enjoyed Oaxaca, which is very colourful, and San Cristobal de las Casas, whose cultural traditions are very strong.

As for natural areas, the three of us really enjoyed the Roberto Barrios waterfalls in Chiapas , which offered us a refreshing place almost entirely to ourselves.

Aside from the cities and beaches of Baja California , when you look at the list of Mexico's most iconic tourist destinations, you have to admit that few, if any, are dog-friendly . Don't imagine you can take your furry friend to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World at Chichen Itza or explore the Palenque jungle ; you're likely to be disappointed. But Mexico is full of less touristy, but equally charming, places where you can bring your dog. As we like to say, all it takes is a little planning and determination!

One last point: In Mexico, dogs are allowed on almost all types of transportation . Collectivo, tuk-tuk, Uber, ferry, hitchhiking… This is sometimes the advantage of having dogs, who are considered “insignificant.” No one pays them any attention, and they can follow us without any problem. We experienced almost every type of transportation with Nana without any issues!

Safety and adaptation to the environment in Mexico with a dog

A dog lying under a tree in the shade in Mexico.

Managing the temperature has been very complicated in Mexico , much more so than in the United States. Three main reasons:

  1. Temperatures never drop below 30 degrees at night.
  2. A constant humidity level between 70 and 80%. 
  3. A desire to remain discreet at night, for security reasons, not allowing us to sleep with the doors and windows open.

All three of us suffered from the heat, especially during the nights, which were really difficult and interrupted. Fatigue quickly built up.

Another consequence of the humidity was that Nana developed what's called pyoderma twice . Her stomach was constantly covered in bumps, pustules, and scabs, which really bothered her, beyond just being unsightly. The first time, she was given antibiotics that made the bumps disappear in three days. The second time, when we realized it was the humidity in the air and that it would keep coming back as long as we didn't change climates, we decided to apply Betadine to her stomach every night, and that soothed her considerably.

A few little anecdotes: 

  1. During our crossing of Mexico, Nana gave us a real scare. With her annoying habit of eating anything and everything, she had the good idea of ​​​​ingesting cannabis. Obviously, the effects were felt around 21 p.m., at night, while we were 3 hours away from the nearest veterinarian, assuming that we can find a veterinarian open for emergency in this country and taking into account the fact that the roads are in very bad condition and therefore very dangerous at night. We hesitated for a long time knowing that during this time our Nana was on another planet. She saw things on the ceiling, was afraid of the light, couldn't stand on her legs and ended up peeing on herself. The situation could have been dramatic and we didn't know what to do. All 3 of us had a bad time but after a good long sleep, everything returned to normal.
  2. In Mexico, the very first question that systematically comes up when people see our Nana is: “Does he bite?” We can clearly feel from this question that people here are more used to wild and slightly more aggressive dogs.
A dog in Mexico.

As for the environment , we did encounter a few snakes , some of them deadly . Luckily, when we saw them up close, Nana wasn't with us. It's difficult to take precautions in that situation because there's no warning. Snakes can be present almost anywhere and anytime; there are no rules. So we were relying on our luck. We didn't want to restrict Nana's movements.

We also came across alligators . They mainly come out and hunt at sunset and at night, but we were on our guard during the day too and prevented Nana from going into the bushes.

There are a lot of iguanas in Mexico, but they are generally timid. Nana was quite intrigued by these new creatures.

And finally, Nana allowed us to see raccoons and coatis that we wouldn't have spotted without her help!

A dog and his mistress in a village in Mexico.

The issue of stray dogs with Nana was one of our biggest concerns in Mexico. However, we were very pleasantly surprised.

50% are fearful and don't even try to approach.

49% are sociable and extremely well-socialized . They communicate perfectly well and respect the signals sent by other dogs. This is the main consequence of having dogs living together in a pack. They are perfectly socialized.

And there's still 1% of dogs left, completely crazy , who have a screw loose.

Most of the time, we kept Nana off-leash during playdates so she wouldn't feel any tension from us. When that wasn't possible, we put as little tension on the leash as possible.

99% of dogs travel in pairs, but sometimes more . We always kept an eye on the interactions so we were ready to intervene if necessary. Over four months, we maybe had to yell at some rather silly and aggressive dogs five times. Luckily, they're so afraid of humans that it's easy to scare them away. But in the vast majority of cases, everything went very well. Nana made lots of new friends. This experience was truly enriching for her. I thought she might have some negative aftereffects, but on the contrary, she improved her communication and patience. Her personality helped us ensure peaceful encounters.

As for dog-friendly accommodations in Mexico , there's no problem finding them. In Mexico City, we rented a place right in the city center for a few days so we could explore the city at our leisure without any issues with our campervan. Nana was accepted there without any problems.

We also thought finding suitable food for Nana would be difficult, but actually, not at all. You just need to be a little organized (again, organization is key when traveling with a dog! ) and plan ahead. In all major cities, there are pet stores that sell quality kibble. We had no trouble finding Nana's Royal Canin.

In short, the place I recommend if you're going to Mexico with your dog is clearly Baja California to fully enjoy it without any constraints!

I also advise you to leave with a dog that is comfortable in its paws, that is not reactive with its peers and extremely well coded, that will be likely to get along with all the stray dogs encountered.

Planning a trip to Mexico with your dog? Discover the how-to guide and 5 must-see places in Traveling to Mexico with your dog!

Follow Nicolas, Elodie, and Nana's entire journey on their Instagram page: un_voyage_de_woof