The currency
The Bank of Mexico explains that commercial transactions in the country are based on the Mexican peso. Profeco, Mexico's consumer protection agency, says businesses must display prices in pesos, though they may also show them in dollars, and must state which payment methods they accept. If a business takes dollars, ask about the exchange rate before you pay.
Cash or card
- Cash for: cenote and park entry, boats, local fees (like the Isla Mujeres sanitation fee), markets, tips and small village businesses.
- Card for: established restaurants and shops, hotels and your tour deposits.
ATMs aren't always close at hand in villages and rural areas, so withdraw cash in Mérida before your day trip.
Tipping
Profeco reminds travelers that tipping is voluntary and shouldn't be added to the bill without the customer's consent. If it's included without asking, you can request that it be removed. On tours, guides, drivers and boat captains often receive a tip as thanks for good service, but the amount is up to you.
How Mary Tours bookings are paid
To secure a booking you pay at least 50% of the tour, or the full amount; the balance is paid on the day, before boarding. Payment methods:
- Credit or debit card (terminal at the office).
- Bank transfer or deposit.
- Cash, at the office or when boarding.
- OXXO, with a payment reference.
- PayPal, in pesos or dollars.
- Revolut.
Profeco also notes that the provider must honor the price stated before you book.
Fun facts
- Businesses in Mexico must display prices in pesos.
- Tipping in Mexico is voluntary.
- Mary Tours accepts payment from any country via PayPal.
Related tours
Coupon −$300 MXN per personCaribbean · 17 h
Isla Mujeres
Playa Norte, which makes every list for a reason
from $2,500 MXN per person
See itinerary
5:00 AM – 10:00 PM · daily
- 4:45 AM Boarding — We leave from the downtown office. If your accommodation is on the way, we collect you there — agreed beforehand on WhatsApp.
- 5:30 AM Drive to Valladolid — Two hours on the motorway, with a fifteen-minute stop.
- 7:45 AM Drive to Puerto Juárez — Two more hours to the pier in Cancún.
- 10:00 AM Isla Mujeres — Sailing the Caribbean, snorkelling at the reef with gear included, a stop at Playa Norte, buffet lunch at the beach club and free time in town.
- 6:00 PM Back to Mérida — Four hours back, with a stop halfway.
Included: Transport, Guide, Boat transfer, Snorkelling gear, Lunch
Not included: Environmental tax, Shopping on the island, Extra drinks
Archaeology · 11 h
Chichén Itzá, Izamal and Valladolid
Four stops in one day, and none of them rushed
from $1,200 MXN per person
See itinerary
8:00 AM – 8:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road to Izamal. The guide uses the drive to set up what comes next.
- 9:00 AM San Antonio de Padua Convent — The story of the 16th-century Franciscan convent told in its atrium, then free time to walk the yellow town.
- 11:15 AM Chichén Itzá — Guided walk through the Temple of Kukulkán, the Sacred Cenote, the Ball Court, the Tzompantli and the Jaguars and Eagles platform.
- 1:45 PM Regional lunch in Kaua — Buffet of Yucatecan dishes: cochinita, relleno negro, lime soup and meat-free options.
- 3:00 PM Selva Maya cenote — The swim lands exactly when the sun is at its worst. Changing rooms and showers on site.
- 4:20 PM Valladolid — Francisco Cantón Rosado park with its original railings, the church of San Servacio and the murals in the town hall.
- 8:00 PM Back in Mérida — We drop you off where the day started.
Included: Air-conditioned transport, General culture guide, Regional buffet lunch
Not included: Chichén Itzá entrance, Cenote entrance, Drinks
Cenotes · 7 h
The four cenotes of Santa Bárbara
Four different cenotes and a lunch made by hand
from $1,450 MXN per person
See itinerary
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM · daily
- 10:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road to Homún, through the ring of cenotes.
- 11:00 AM Cascabel cenote — Closed, cave type. You descend inside and the water sits in half-light: the most striking of the four.
- 11:30 AM Chaksikín cenote — Semi-open. You go down between limestone walls painted with Maya-themed murals.
- 12:00 PM Xooch cenote — Semi-open, with a shaft of light that falls straight onto the water mid-morning.
- 12:30 PM Pool Cocom cenote — Open and surrounded by vegetation. You swim along a channel out to the wide part.
- 1:30 PM Regional lunch — Home cooking with hand-made tortillas. Plenty of time to eat without rushing.
- 4:00 PM Back to Mérida — An hour back, arriving around five.
Included: Transport, Certified guide, Entry to all four cenotes, Regional lunch
Not included: Drinks with lunch
Frequently asked questions
What currency is used in Yucatán?
The Mexican peso. Some businesses take dollars, but ask about the exchange rate.
Is tipping mandatory in Mexico?
No. It's voluntary and, according to Profeco, shouldn't be added to the bill without your consent.
Do I need cash on day trips?
Yes, for entry fees, boats, tips and purchases at small businesses.
Can I pay for the tour with PayPal?
Yes, Mary Tours accepts PayPal in pesos or dollars, plus card, bank transfer, cash, OXXO and Revolut.
