Local Time
The actual time in Cancun is -5 GMT (just as U.S. Central Standard Time). Cancun also observes Daylight-Saving Time in winter and becomes -6GMT

Immigration Requirements
In order to travel to Mexico and back to the U.S. you will need a valid passport. You can no longer enter into Mexico with only a driver's license and birth certificate. PLEASE BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR PASSPORT. Certified copies of birth certificates are only valid for minors traveling with parents.

Taxes:
A 10% IVA (VAT) tax is applied to all products and services.. Lodging tax in Cancun is 2% (in case you stay at a hotel).

Tips
For individual services, the usual is 10% over the total bill amount or according to the quality of the service you received. For groups a 15% is the standard.

Beaches
All beaches are federal property and open to everyone. The sand is white and fine and the sea is turquoise! Use extra caution at beaches located on the open sea because of strong waves and undertow.

Public Transportation
Taxicabs are clean and are always available at every hotel lobby and don't use a taximeter, instead, pre-established fares according to the distances will be charged. You can easily consult these fares with your lobby concierge.

As with taxicabs, buses are available 24 hours. You can ride all along the hotel zone strip and downtown where bus-stops are visibly marked along the way.

Banks and Currency
The peso is Mexico's official currency, but almost all purchases can be paid in US dollars. There are currency exchanges in the Hotel Zone and downtown, and you can also exchange currency in the hotels and banks.Banks in Mexico usually open from 9:00 am to 4:00pm.

Major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) are accepted all over Cancun as well as Travelers Checks.

Telephones, Cell Phones and Mail
American and Canadian Cell phones, (digital & analog) can now work all over Mexico. Please contact your cell phone provider to guarantee that your phone will work here and/or make some adjustments before entering Mexican territory.

The post office is located in downtown Cancun. Some hotels have a mail services.