Mexico has been my home for the past five years, and, for the moment at least, I wouldn't want to travel anywhere else in the world because there's so much to learn and do here. Practicalities Taking care of your health. Any time you travel away from your home environment, your body gets a shock, so be kind to it. Germs are easy to catch, so listen to the far-off voice of your parents and wash your hands before meals. If you don't trust the water, then use an anti-bacteria waterless soap.
Diarrhea is known throughout Latin America as turista.
While major cities often have modern water treatment plants, the water is frequently contaminated by leaky pipes, especially in the heart of Mexico City, my home. Make sure that the food you eat has been well cooked. If you want to eat salad, make sure its been washed in purified water. In remote areas, take water purification tablets with you. Until the standards improve, travelers may find that staying healthy means avoiding the larger cities.