First 7 Days Checklist

Juárez · Experience date Feb 21, 2026

Resisted the Telcel airport stand. Walked to the nearest OXXO and got a 30GB Telcel plan for 200 MXN. OXXOs are on every corner and sell SIMs over the counter instantly.

Centro · Experience date Mar 21, 2026

Applied for my CURP on gob.mx from my laptop the day I arrived. Took 10 minutes. You need CURP to open a bank account, rent formally, and register for anything official. Print it and keep copies.

Centro Histórico · Experience date Mar 28, 2026

Mexico City sits on a former lake bed which amplifies seismic waves — earthquake safety knowledge is non-negotiable. Learn these immediately: Punto de Reunión: green and white assembly point signs on streets — your nearest one is where to go after evacuating your building. Alerta Sísmica: the city's distinctive early warning alarm — a repeated mechanical buzz/siren (not the same as an air-raid siren). When you hear it: walk (don't run) to the nearest exit and wait at your Punto de Reunión. Do NOT: shelter under doorframes (outdated advice), use lifts, re-enter buildings until officially cleared. Download: 911 CDMX app for alerts and Sistema de Alerta Sísmica Mexicano (SASMEX). Practice: identify the exit routes from your apartment in your first 24 hours — before you need them.

Aeropuerto · Experience date Jan 19, 2026

WhatsApp is not optional in Mexico City — it is the primary channel for almost all communication. Set up immediately on your Mexican +52 number. Key uses in CDMX: communicating with landlords, plumbers, doctors, dentists, hairdressers, local friends, building portero, market vendors. Most Mexican businesses do not use email for informal communication — WhatsApp only. WhatsApp Business: many CDMX restaurants, cafés, and services have WhatsApp Business numbers for reservations and orders. WhatsApp groups: your building will have a group, your colonia may have one, expat community groups are on WhatsApp. Voice notes: extremely common in Mexican culture — don't be surprised to receive 1–3 minute voice messages instead of text. Embrace the voice note culture — it's faster for both parties.

Roma Norte · Experience date Jan 22, 2026

Buy your Mexican SIM at AICM Airport on arrival (recommended) or at any OXXO within hours. Step by step: 1) At the Telcel kiosk in arrivals: tell staff you want a prepaid SIM (tarjeta SIM prepagada). 2) Show your passport. 3) Choose a plan ($250–350 MXN for 30 days with adequate data). 4) Staff activates the SIM while you wait (10 minutes). 5) Insert SIM, confirm data and calls work. OXXO alternative: buy a blank Telcel SIM ($30–50 MXN) and activate at the counter using your passport. Activating via app: some SIMs can be activated via Mi Telcel app if the in-store activation has issues. Your Mexican +52 number is needed immediately for: WhatsApp setup, Uber registration, Nubank account. Do this before leaving the airport area.

Aeropuerto · Experience date May 1, 2026

The CDMX expat community is very active and welcoming — finding your tribe takes days, not weeks. Facebook groups: 'Mexico City Expats' (largest English-speaking group, 40,000+ members), 'Expats in CDMX', nationality-specific groups (British Expats Mexico, Aussie Expats Mexico). Meetup.com: active groups for language exchange, hiking, digital nomads, tech workers. InterNations Mexico City: monthly events, some free, good for professional networking. Reddit: r/MexicoCity has an active expat thread for questions and recommendations. WhatsApp: expat groups form quickly — once you meet 2–3 people in person, you'll be added to groups. Selina Condesa: the coworking/hostel is a natural hub where digital nomads meet — even if you don't stay there, attending an event there in week 1 is worthwhile.

Roma Norte · Experience date Feb 28, 2026

Mexico City altitude (2,240m/7,350ft) affects approximately 30–40% of new arrivals to some degree. Symptoms: headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, disturbed sleep, loss of appetite. Onset: usually within 24–48 hours of arrival. Management: drink much more water than usual, avoid alcohol for the first 48 hours (dramatically worsens altitude effects), rest more than usual, avoid heavy exercise. Medications: ibuprofen for headaches works well. Diamox (acetazolamide — requires prescription): used preventively for severe cases, available at CDMX pharmacies. Most cases resolve within 3–7 days. When to seek medical help: if symptoms are severe, worsening after 48 hours, or include chest pain or confusion — visit ABC Medical Center emergency. Altitude sickness at 2,240m is usually mild — serious cases are rare.