The Travel Survival Kit: How to Stay Healthy in Mexico City (And Beyond)

If you’ve been to Mexico City, you’ll know it doesn’t hold back. It’s big, bold, and brilliantly intense. At over 2,200 metres above sea level, CDMX can leave you buzzing one minute and absolutely zapped the next. Between the dry air, altitude headaches, strange sleep patterns, and general sensory overload, it can hit you harder than expected.

But I’ve got good news: a few smart habits and pocket-sized essentials will keep you feeling good, sleeping better, and fully game for tacos, rooftop bars, and exploring the madness of the city. These aren’t just CDMX-specific hacks either – they’re golden for any trip, or even day-to-day life when you’re feeling a bit run down.

Here’s what helped us stay on top of our game:

1. Melatonin supplements
Altitude does weird things to your body, especially when it comes to sleep. Melatonin helped regulate our sleep patterns and made it much easier to nod off – ideal when your body clock’s a bit scrambled or you’ve just arrived from a long-haul flight.

2. Electrolyte drinks
The combo of heat, walking, and high altitude can drain you fast. We picked up electrolyte drinks from local shops like OXXO, 7-Eleven and even pharmacies and they made such a difference. Quick hydration hit when you need it most. Pro-tip: Don’t skip water! These should be used to boost hydration levels rather than be the main source.

3. ORS hydration tablets
If you like coming prepared, throw a few ORS tablets in your bag. They’re tiny, lightweight, and perfect for long travel days, hangovers, or post-taco rehydration. Just add to water and you’re good to go.

4. Ginger shots (yes, from 7-Eleven)
A spicy little immunity booster you can grab while picking up some snacks. Ideal after flights, late nights, or just when your body’s screaming for something fresh.

5. Hand sanitiser
Simple, obvious, still underrated. My go-to is always The Ritual of Karma Cleansing Hand Gel from Rituals. The metro, street food stalls, markets – it’s a lot. We kept a mini sanitiser in our pockets and used it before eating, after transport, or just when things felt grimy.

6. Probiotics
Trying all the food is the point – but it doesn’t have to come at your gut’s expense. We took daily probiotics with breakfast and honestly, no issues. Just a small habit that kept things ticking along nicely. We paired up our probiotics with vitamins with these immunity supporting capsules from Holland & Barrett, H&B Expert High Strength Triple Action Immune Support 60 Capsules.

7. Nasal saline spray
Dry, dusty air + pollution = sinus chaos. A quick spritz of Sterimar in the morning and evening kept our noses happy and helped with altitude adjustment too. Not glamorous, but ridiculously helpful. Pro-tip: Keep in your hand luggage and use on your flight to keep any germs at bay!

8. MyVegan Clear sachets from MyProtein
When you’re travelling as a vegetarian, it’s easy to miss out on protein. These sachets were light, easy to pack, and tasted more like juice than a protein shake. Great for post-flight recovery or just keeping the gains in check.

Mexico City might throw a few curveballs your way, but it’s nothing you can’t handle with a few smart additions to your daily routine. Whether you’re gearing up for CDMX or just want to feel more human on your next adventure, these health hacks are solid, everyday-friendly, and genuinely useful.

Save them, pack them, and thank me later.

Last Updated on 1 year ago by Ryan | Irish Travel Addict