Mexico is one of those countries that never stops surprising me. From colorful colonial towns and ancient Maya ruins to Caribbean beaches, Pacific coast sunsets, jungle waterfalls, volcanoes, deserts and one of the most exciting capital cities in the world, the list of best places to visit in Mexico in endless.

I first wrote this Mexico travel guide years ago, but after spending more than 8 months traveling around the country, driving thousands of kilometers in rental cars, taking almost 15 domestic flights and visiting 26 of the 31 Mexican states as of 2026, it was time for a serious update.

Are you traveling to Mexico and looking for the best eSIM for Mexico in 2026? Then my first advice is simple: do not just compare prices, data plans or discount codes. In Mexico, the most important thing is the mobile network behind your eSIM.

After traveling through 23 out of 32 Mexican states during a 6-month road trip, I learned that Mexico is not just Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen and Mexico City. Once you travel beyond the main tourist hotspots, mobile network coverage becomes very important.

That is why Traveltomtom only recommends Mexico eSIMs that clearly operate on the Telcel network. Based on the latest prices, plans and network information, Airalo is my top recommendation for Mexico because it uses Telcel and offers the best overall value for most travelers.

Are you traveling to Mexico and wondering what is the best prepaid SIM card in Mexico in 2026? My answer is simple: if you want to buy a local SIM card in Mexico, I recommend Telcel.

After traveling through 23 out of 32 Mexican states, including multiple long road trips of more than 3,000 kilometers / 2,000 miles, I learned that mobile network coverage in Mexico is not something to take lightly.

Mexico is not just Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen and Mexico City. Once you travel to places like Chiapas, Oaxaca, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Baja California, mountain towns, Pacific beach villages or long-distance highways, the difference between mobile networks becomes very noticeable.

Telcel has by far the best mobile network coverage in Mexico and that is the main reason why Traveltomtom recommends a Telcel prepaid SIM card for tourists who want a local SIM card. AT&T and Movistar can be fine in big cities and popular tourist destinations in Mexico, but for traveling around Mexico, Telcel is the safest choice.

Are you flying to Mexico City and wondering if you can buy a prepaid SIM card at Mexico City Airport? I recently arrived at Mexico City International Airport and explored the tourist SIM card options myself, including AT&T, Movistar and Telcel.

The short answer is: yes, you can buy a SIM card at Mexico City Airport, but it is not the easiest or most convenient place to get connected. There are some options inside the airport, mostly through convenience stores and small phone shops, but the setup can be confusing if you have to do it yourself.

My recommendation is very clear: if you want to buy a local prepaid SIM card in Mexico, focus on Telcel. AT&T and Movistar can be cheaper, but Telcel has by far the best mobile network in Mexico. For tourists, especially those traveling beyond Mexico City, Telcel is the safest choice.

Mexico was one of the first countries to open for international travelers without any restrictions and therefore it was an easy decision for me to travel to Mexico in September 2020. What are the restrictions? The rules regarding the Corona virus and how much did it change… read it all in this Mexico travel blog based on my own experiences.