Cultural Etiquettes to Remember When Traveling to Mexico

Mexico is probably on everyone’s travel bucket list, but if you are visiting it for the first time, remember to travel in colder months and ensure that you do not offend local cultures.

Mexican culture is rich and diverse, characterized by a blend of indigenous and Spanish influences, which many foreigners may neglect, especially when it comes to greeting and gifting, respecting religious customs, dining etiquette, punctuality, tipping to servers, and speaking Spanish with the locals.

Fill your bag with essential Mexican cultural etiquette to avoid embarrassing yourself during the trip.

A Bit About Mexican Culture

Mexico has a diverse culture influenced by indigenous tribes and later Spanish civilizations.

However, it was inhabited by indigenous tribes for centuries, giving birth to the Mesoamerican civilization that spans across Mexico to South America.

Therefore, you will likely find ancient and Spanish cultures concoctions on daily lifestyle, religion, arts and literature, music, and food.

Most locals are Roman Catholic, influencing various aspects of daily life and celebrations with music ranging from Mariachi to ranchera and traditional folk. Remember to respect the local music and enjoy it whenever you can to make your Mexico trip exciting.

The exciting thing about Mexico is its exotic cuisine like Tacos, enchiladas, guacamole, and mole that uses local produce like maize, beans, chili peppers, and tomatoes.

Something you may only find in Mexico is its festivals of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and Cinco de Mayo, marked by colorful parades, music, and traditional rituals.

8 Mexican Cultural Etiquettes to Know

Understanding the critical aspects of Mexican culture can enhance your appreciation and engagement when exploring the country.

Keep a check on these Mexican cultural etiquettes.

1. Greetings

Mexicans are strict about greeting each other with “Hola” or “Buenas Dias,” even if you are a stranger.

Expect to receive frequent firm handshakes with eye contact and a smile from a fellow Mexican during your visit.

Use a firm handshake and maintain eye contact. Greetings are often warm and friendly.

In more casual settings, they may give a nod of the head.

Although not mandatory, you can call them by their formal title when greeting: Senor (Mr), Senora (Ms), Don (Sir), and Dona (Ma’am).

Here are a few Spanish phrases you should know.

• Hola — Hello
• Adiós — Goodbye
• Beunas Dias — Good day
• Beunas Nohes — Good evening/Goodnight
• Por favor — Please
• Gracias — Thank you
• Lo siento — I’m sorry
• ¿Cómo estás? — How are you?
• Sí/No — Yes/No
• ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much does it cost?
• Me gusta — I like it

2. Religious Customs

Although Mexico has no official religion, most Mexicans follow Roman Catholicism, spread by the early Spanish conquistadors.

Therefore, you are likely to encounter many churches with locals spending time celebrating Catholic festivals and events.

However, many people identify with other Christian denominations, including Evangelical, Jehovah’s Witness, Pentecostal, Protestantism, and folk beliefs.

Remember not to comment on or commit to any activity that offends their faith, including folk traditions.

Moreover, remember to follow prevalent cultural practices or consult with your guide and locals when visiting religious destinations.

3. Dining Etiquette

Mexicans love to eat sitting together, usually as family or friends; therefore, expect to eat in a group when visiting someone’s home.

Here are a few pointers to remember when dining at home or a restaurant.

• Remember, they are incredibly proud of their cuisine and find it endearing when foreigners eat the same with the same zeal.
• It is typical for most Mexican dishes to be spicier (Picante), so tell them beforehand, especially when ordering the food in the restaurant or street stall.
• Wait to be seated, keep your hands on the table during meals, and it’s polite to finish everything on your plate.
• The same goes for eating with a hand. Most Mexicans will devour food using their hands or tortillas as a spoon.
• Do not feel embarrassed to eat with your hand or frown when seeing someone eating with your hands.
• It is also common for the host to serve alcohol with the meal, especially dinner. Do not worry; you can say No to it without offending them.
• If you happen to have one, do not forget to toast your drink by yelling ‘Salud!’

4. Time and Punctuality

Mexicans are not very strict about punctuality. While punctuality is appreciated, it’s common for social events to start a bit later than scheduled.

Therefore, you can expect your guests to arrive 15–20 minutes late, a standard “window of tolerance.”

In Mexico, starting breakfast late and eating lunch around 2:00 pm is standard, which should be the appropriate time to hold meetings.

You can willingly go late to social events, as many would likewise, but never keep someone standing for long as it is considered rude.

5. Talking to Locals

When approaching locals, remember Mexicans are pretty open about warm greetings.

Use a firm handshake and maintain an eye contact. If meeting a close person, you can hug them as well.

Most Mexicans tend to stand closer during conversations than in some other cultures, reflecting a comfort with close personal space. Therefore, do not be alarmed.

Similarly, they would appreciate it if you could start a conversation in Spanish with basic phrases like Hola, ¿Cómo estás?, Por favor, Gracias, or when addressing Amigo, Senor, Senora, Don, Dona, etc.

When invited by the locals, remember not to leave immediately after a meal. The hosts often expect their guests to stay to converse for a while afterward.

Moreover, always take the time to bid farewell before leaving, as a hasty exit may imply otherwise.

6. Speaking Spanish

Let’s face it: Mexicans love it when foreigners manage to talk in the local language with them.

Therefore, you can try to learn at least basic phrases or sentences to strike a conversation or break the ice.

For example, greeting them with a “Buenos Dias” instead of a plain Good morning will likely get you a hearty smile from them.

• Mexicans use a lot of diminutives when speaking to make the conversation more affectionate, using “ito” or “ita” at the end of a word. For instance, instead of just saying “Abuelo (grandfather),” they use “Abuelito” meaning Grand Pappy.
• Similarly, you should know how to call out politely or casually when addressing a person. For example, “usted” is the formal form of you, while “tu” is more casual.
• Politeness is highly valued. Using “Por favor” (please) and “gracias” (thank you) goes a long way.
• If you’re struggling with Spanish, don’t hesitate to ask for help, as locals are more than willing to assist you.

7. Tipping

The tipping culture in Mexico is not different from any European country, where customers are expected to pay 10–15% as a tip after a service has been performed.

Tipping is expected and appreciated for various services, including dining and bar, hotel stay, taxi commute, and tour guide services.

It’s advisable to carry small bills and change to make tipping more convenient.

Remember that while tipping is customary, the specific percentage may vary, and it’s always good to consider the level of service received.

Moreover, currency exchange houses routinely demand to verify a passport to change even a tiny amount; hence, avoid leaving a tip in USD or any other cash than Mexican pesos.

8. Gift-Giving

Mexicans are not very uptight about giving or receiving gifts, but gifting one may be viewed as a goodwill gesture.

They are generally more interested in receiving you as a guest and conversations.

In local culture, it is common for female guests to bring a salad or dessert to dinner, while male guests can bring alcohol such as wine or sometimes chocolate and flowers.

Remember, gifts are often opened in private, not immediately upon receiving, so avoid asking them to unbox one upon giving.

Conclusion

When visiting Mexico, do not forget to try traditional beverages like horchata, tamarind juice, tequila, and mezcal while listening to some tremendous Hispanic music like Mariachi.

Understanding these critical aspects of Mexican culture can enhance your appreciation and engagement when exploring the country.

Get in touch with Rick Perdian, the best music travel consultant, for quick tips on traveling to Mexico.