Traveling to Mexico in February? A Simple Travel Health Checklist for Canadians

Mexico in February is basically peak travel season: warm weather, beach days, and the kind of meals you “accidentally” build your whole personality around.

The only downside? A few common travel health issues can hit fast, and ruin a trip that was supposed to be all margaritas and no problems.

Here’s a simple, Canadian-friendly checklist to help you travel with confidence.

Quick answer (if you’re in a rush)

For most travellers heading to Mexico in February, the biggest “trip-ruiners” are:

• Traveller’s diarrhea

• Dehydration + sun/heat issues

• Bites/stings (mosquitoes, sand flies depending where you are)

• Cuts/blisters that get infected faster in heat + humidity

A virtual travel health consult can help you figure out:

• Which vaccines you may need (or already have)

• Whether you should bring prescription meds “just in case”

• How to prep based on your exact destination + trip style

Even if you leave soon, last-minute prep is still worth it.

1) First: where in Mexico are you going?

Travel health isn’t one-size-fits-all. “Mexico” could mean:

• All-inclusive resort (Cabo, Cancun, Riviera Maya)

• City travel (Mexico City, Guadalajara)

• Adventure / rural / smaller towns (Oaxaca, Chiapas, Yucatán inland)

• Long stays / visiting family (often different risk profile)

Your destination + activities change recommendations,especially for food/water risk, bug exposure, and how likely you are to need prescription support.

2) The most common issue in Mexico: traveller’s diarrhea

This isn’t glamorous, but it’s real. Even careful travellers can get sick from:

• Contaminated food/water

• Ice

• Fresh produce washed in unsafe water

• “I’ll risk it” street snacks (sometimes worth it… sometimes not)

How to lower your odds (without eating sad food)

• Stick to hot, freshly cooked foods when possible

• Be cautious with raw salads / cut fruit unless you trust the source

• Use bottled or treated water for drinking and brushing teeth (depending where you are)

• Go easy on ice if you’re unsure of water quality

The smart move: have a plan before you get sick

In a consult, we can talk through whether you should travel with:

• Oral rehydration salts

• Anti-nausea support

• A standby antibiotic (sometimes appropriate, sometimes not)

• Guidance on when to treat at home vs. seek care

The goal isn’t over-medicating, it’s avoiding a 48-hour vacation wipeout.

3) Vaccines: what’s commonly relevant for Mexico

This depends on your history, your itinerary, and what you already have.

Commonly reviewed for Mexico travel:

• Hepatitis A (often a big one)

• Tetanus (easy to forget; matters more than you’d think)

• Typhoid (more relevant for rural travel / local eating)

• Routine vaccines (measles, etc.) depending on your records

A big part of what we do is simply: check what you already have and keep it practical. No unnecessary shots. Just what makes sense.

4) Mosquito and bite protection (yes, even in winter travel)

February can still mean bites depending on region. Even when the risk is low, bites can cause:

• Itchy reactions that get infected

• Sleep disruption (which messes with your whole trip)

• Discomfort that leads to “I’m done, take me home”

What actually works

• Use a proper repellent when needed (not just a scented spray)

• Cover up at dusk if you’re in higher-bite areas

• Consider after-bite care (simple stuff that stops scratching spirals)

5) Sun + dehydration: the sneaky vacation killer

Mexico in February feels “not that hot”… until you’ve been outside all day, plus drinks, plus salty foods, plus a flight earlier.

Quick wins:

• Start hydrating before you feel thirsty

• Pack electrolytes

• Don’t let a “cloudy day” fool you, sunscreen still matters

6) Travel meds: what’s worth bringing (and what usually isn’t)

People either overpack a pharmacy… or bring nothing and panic-buy expensive stuff on the ground.

A good middle ground:

• Basic pain/fever support

• Something for allergies

• Blister care

• Diarrhea + hydration plan

• Prescription support if it’s appropriate for your risk

With Virtual Travel Clinic, prescriptions can be sent to a local pharmacy near you in Canada after your consult, so you can travel prepared.

7) When to book your consult

Best-case: 4–6 weeks before departure.
Real life: trips happen fast. If you leave soon, book anyway.

Even a short consult can help you:

• Avoid the most common mistakes

• Set up a “if X happens, do Y” plan

• Travel with less stress

Your next step: travel confident, not anxious

Mexico should be fun — not a health gamble.

Book a virtual travel health consult and we’ll help you build a simple plan based on:

• Where you’re going

• How you’re travelling

• Your medical history and vaccine records

• What’s genuinely worth doing (and what isn’t)

Your Trip. Your Health. Your Way.