How bad are the mosquitoes and other bugs and insects in Yucatan: Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Merida, etc?
Alfonso Galindo - I Go Yucatan
Personally, this year, I don’t think the mosquitoes, insects and other bugs are that bad. There is a phenomenon I can’t explain wherein I don’t see the locals ever get bit by mosquitoes. As a matter of fact, I don’t think the locals even know what air conditioning is. You’ll see the Mayan policemen or Mayan families in a car with the windows rolled up and you realize the air conditioning is not on. You’ll see them in...
Personally, this year, I don’t think the mosquitoes, insects and other bugs are that bad. There is a phenomenon I can’t explain wherein I don’t see the locals ever get bit by mosquitoes. As a matter of fact, I don’t think the locals even know what air conditioning is. You’ll see the Mayan policemen or Mayan families in a car with the windows rolled up and you realize the air conditioning is not on. You’ll see them in some of the smaller communities, whether they’re sleeping in their hammocks in their little Mayan villages and house’s and there’s no AC, usually not even a ceiling fan. I don’t see the local indigenous Mayans sweat or get bitten by mosquitoes. At first, I was fascinated by that. You can always spot the new arrivals by how many mosquito bites they have on their ankles and behind their legs. For some reason, once you’re here for a while, you create some type of immunity to it, because after a while the mosquitoes stop biting you. I guess they go after the newest and freshest new comers that come in.
Some people would say that when the new people arrive, they would say that there are a lot of mosquitoes, usually in the evening and at night to a certain degree. It depends on your location. If you are in the country, in the jungle, sure, there’s going to be more mosquitoes. Once you come into town there are less mosquitoes depending on the area where you live.
Mosquitoes are a problem throughout the tropics. There is dengue, and the chikungunya virus that came from Africa for which they’re supposed to be coming up. But these are very treatable diseases, not like malaria. I haven’t gotten dengue since I moved here, but many people do. They’re in bed for a few days with fever and then go on. They might not ever get it again. Not only is this an issue in Yucatan, but it also exists un South Carolina, Florida, and Alabama. As a matter of fact, these diseases got to the US first before they came to Mexico.
(Mayan house in Yucatan, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted September 19, 2015
Doug Willey - Doug Willey, Independent Real Estate Consultant
The bugs and other insects in Yucatan Peninsula are not really that bad but it depends where you are. If you go to some swampy areas, where the mangroves are, which a lot of people like to do in order to look at crocodiles and the different bird species, you are probably going to encounter problems with mosquitoes. But in general, here in Chelem, in Progreso, and in other beach areas in the state of Yucatan, the mosquitoes come out about 20...
The bugs and other insects in Yucatan Peninsula are not really that bad but it depends where you are. If you go to some swampy areas, where the mangroves are, which a lot of people like to do in order to look at crocodiles and the different bird species, you are probably going to encounter problems with mosquitoes. But in general, here in Chelem, in Progreso, and in other beach areas in the state of Yucatan, the mosquitoes come out about 20 minutes before sunset and 20 minutes after sunset. Everyone that lives here in Chelem knows that so their activities are planned around that. If I want to go to my favorite restaurant, I know that I shouldn’t go 20 minutes before and after sunset. I would either go before that time or wait until after that time to eat. Other than that, the bugs and insects here is not that big of a deal. I don’t think the mosquitoes here are any worse compared to Delaware, where I came from.
(Fisherman at sunset, Yucatan, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted December 25, 2015
Gustavo Cisneros - Petén
How bad the insects in the Yucatan Peninsula are depends on the season. When there is a lot of rain, then there are lots of mosquitoes. It also depends on the breeze. There are certain hours of the day when the mosquitoes come out along the coast, which is usually around during twilight. It happens all along the coast here in Yucatan and it happens in every tropical climate.I don’t think that it is a very big issue. There are campaigns to lessen mosquitoes all throughout...
How bad the insects in the Yucatan Peninsula are depends on the season. When there is a lot of rain, then there are lots of mosquitoes. It also depends on the breeze. There are certain hours of the day when the mosquitoes come out along the coast, which is usually around during twilight. It happens all along the coast here in Yucatan and it happens in every tropical climate.I don’t think that it is a very big issue. There are campaigns to lessen mosquitoes all throughout the year. Near the mangrove areas, there are lots of mosquitoes but you would also get a very nice breeze, which would cause them to go away. Sometimes in the summer, you don’t have a breeze until 2 o’clock in the afternoon. During that time, the ocean is beautiful; it’s just like a lake, but then there would be some mosquitoes so you have to be in the water. It’s all part of being in a tropical country, but it is not unbearable.
There is a certain odor on our skin that attracts mosquitoes and that is why some people are more prone to getting bitten by mosquitoes than others. My wife always gets bitten by mosquitoes. It happens even if I am just standing next to her. She gets bitten a lot but I don’t. If you stay for a long time in a certain area, you get used to everything around you so that could be another reason why after some time, mosquitoes no longer bother the people here.
(The placid ocean and an inlet, Sisal,Yucatan, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted February 28, 2016
Thomas Lloyd - Top Mexico Real Estate
Around August or September in the Yucatan, the mosquitoes do come out. If you are close to the beach and you have the sea breeze, the mosquitoes won’t really affect you but if you are closer to the jungle, the mosquitoes usually come up just like in the States, when the sun starts setting. You live with it.There are not a tremendous amount of mosquitoes but it’s helpful to have some bug spray. There are some new products coming in from Germany; bracelets that repel...
Around August or September in the Yucatan, the mosquitoes do come out. If you are close to the beach and you have the sea breeze, the mosquitoes won’t really affect you but if you are closer to the jungle, the mosquitoes usually come up just like in the States, when the sun starts setting. You live with it.There are not a tremendous amount of mosquitoes but it’s helpful to have some bug spray. There are some new products coming in from Germany; bracelets that repel mosquitoes when you wear them. A friend of mine who is a German brought me a bunch and they work. These bracelets are eco-friendly.
After you’ve lived here in Mexico for a while, most people get used to the mosquitoes. Some people believe that when you eat a lot of bananas, you tend to attract mosquitoes more as opposed to when you eat a lot of citruses like oranges and lemons.
Compared to Indiana, where I am from, there are more mosquitoes here in Mexico. However, I’ve been here in Mexico for 10 years and the mosquitoes are not a big factor for me anymore.
(The jungle overcoming Temple Calakmul, Yucatan, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted April 29, 2016
Andy James
The bugs, mosquitoes and other insects in Yucatan can be as bad as to require you stay behind screaming, as they can carry certain mosquito-borne diseases. There are three of these diseases that people want to avoid. The bugs, mosquitoes and other insects don’t bother me as much as they bother other people. I feel fine most of the time, but when people come here to Yucatan to visit, they get just crushed by the bugs and mosquitoes. Once you’ve been in Yucatan a while, you...The bugs, mosquitoes and other insects in Yucatan can be as bad as to require you stay behind screaming, as they can carry certain mosquito-borne diseases. There are three of these diseases that people want to avoid. The bugs, mosquitoes and other insects don’t bother me as much as they bother other people. I feel fine most of the time, but when people come here to Yucatan to visit, they get just crushed by the bugs and mosquitoes. Once you’ve been in Yucatan a while, you develop a natural defense where the insects don’t bug you as much. To avoid being bothered by these bugs, mosquitoes and other insects in Yucatan, you’ll want to use bug spray and keep your legs from under the table, which is where these bugs and mosquitoes tend to congregate because it’s shady and still. That means if you’re sitting down, it’s a good idea to move your legs to the side; then you’ll find you can get a lot less bites.
Definitely the worst time to be out and about is dusk. You should stay out of outside areas of dusk if you can, or stay behind screening, and don’t put yourself in the position where you’re going to get bit by insects a lot.
The presence of these insects in Yucatan would affect your day if you wanted to go tramping through the jungle. For example, if you wanted to go looking at interesting Mayan stuff in a scrub or jungle type environment, and you went in September at 5 o’clock at night, there’ll be nothing left of you- these insects will eat you to death, because that’s when you’re going to get crushed. Having said that, if you want to go at 11 o’clock in the morning in February, you should be fine because there would be no stagnant water, and because it’s the dry season at the warm time of the day. If you’ve got bug spray, you should be fine.
In Yucatan, to avoid being bitten by insects, what you need to do is know when to go and when not to go. You have to outsmart these insects. I don’t use much bug spray, but if I’m going to be in an environment where I know I’m going to get bitten, I do. I use a thin pair of trousers or a long sleeved shirt and that keeps these insects away. You must not wear dark clothes- they are attracted to anything dark. Wear white.
Generally, if you’re in Quintana Roo, you’re safe from these insects. If you’re in downtown Merida, you shouldn’t get bothered by bugs too much, either. The closer you get to the coastal areas, usually there’s more breeze. These insects don’t like breeze- they tend to go where there’s no breeze, so if you stay in the breeze, you’ll be fine.
(Picture depicting Mayan agricultural workers, pictured.)
Posted February 6, 2017
Roddrigo Sidney Whalesharkdaddy - Cancun Whale Shark Tours
Well, yes there are mosquitos in the Yucatan areas, mainly in the early morning and again at dusk. Most hotel properties spray so it's not too bad. It's ALWAYS recommended to protect yourself as these pesky critters can carry Dengue, Chikungunya, and more bad diseases. Lather up with your favorite potion, be it OFF or natural repellents like citronella and cedar oil derived products. They are also attracted to dark clothing. ...
Well, yes there are mosquitos in the Yucatan areas, mainly in the early morning and again at dusk. Most hotel properties spray so it's not too bad. It's ALWAYS recommended to protect yourself as these pesky critters can carry Dengue, Chikungunya, and more bad diseases. Lather up with your favorite potion, be it OFF or natural repellents like citronella and cedar oil derived products. They are also attracted to dark clothing. White is the preferred color for shirts, blouses, and shorts.
Posted April 7, 2018