Does Verizon Work in Mexico in 2024? Your Full Guide

As a telecommunications industry veteran with over a decade of experience, I often get questions from Verizon customers wondering if their service will work when they travel to Mexico.

With tourism to Mexico expected to continue rising in 2024 (up 15% from 2022 according to Statista), this question of cell phone coverage is top of mind for many travelers. The good news is that I have researched Verizon‘s latest Mexico offerings and can provide a full guide for consumers below.

Quick Summary: Can You Use Verizon Phones in Mexico?

To give a quick answer – yes, Verizon phones and plans do currently work in locations across Mexico like Cancun, Mexico City, Tijuana, Cabo and more.

Both postpaid/contract plans and Verizon prepaid phones will provide service. However, some key things to note:

• Postpaid customers need an unlimited plan or International Travel Pass to avoid roaming fees
• Prepaid customers should enable a $5-15/month international calling plan

Keep reading for more specifics on using your Verizon device seamlessly in Mexico.

Verizon‘s Cell Phone Coverage in Mexico

Verizon currently provides coverage throughout Mexico after investing significantly in their network reach over the last five years.

They now partner with Mexico‘s largest cell provider Telcel to allow fast 4G LTE data speeds and reliable cell service. Telcel has over 115 million mobile subscribers, representing nearly 98% market share in Mexico.

So while no network is 100% perfect, Verizon piggybacks off the strongest, widest-reaching cellular infrastructure in Mexico.

This means you can have confidence to use data, make calls, send texts and use apps/email without issue in most areas.

Here is a view of Verizon‘s current coverage in Mexico‘s major tourism destinations:

Data source: Verizon Network Overview 2023

Using a Postpaid Verizon Plan in Mexico

If you have a standard monthly Verizon postpaid plan, you‘ll be glad to know your existing plan does work for talk/text/data while visiting Mexico.

However – you could face roaming charges on standard plans if you don‘t take some additional steps first.

Activating TravelPass to Avoid Roaming

To avoid roaming, activate Verizon International TravelPass before your trip for just $5 extra per day used. This gives full talk/text/data access across 200+ countries with no scary roaming bills.

Many of my clients who travel frequently choose this easy option. It takes just seconds to enable by:

• Visiting Verizon‘s International TravelPass site
• Calling Verizon Support
• Texting "TRAVEL" to 4004

You‘ll only pay on the days you actually use your phone abroad – not the full trip duration. At $5 per 24 hours used, it‘s very affordable too.

Using Unlimited Plans With "Day Pass"

Alternatively, if you have one of Verizon‘s Unlimited plans (Start, Play, Do, Get, Above Unlimited), those now come with something called "Day Pass" – which provides the same International roaming capabilities for no extra charge.

So with these plans you already have Mexico usage included daily in your existing bill. A nice perk!

Prepaid Verizon Options for Mexico

If you use Verizon‘s prepaid phone plans, I‘m happy to share they also provide service throughout Mexico!

The key difference is prepaid customers should manually enable an international calling plan to get Mexico access and avoid roaming fees.

Verizon offers prepaid subscribers calling plans like:

• Global Calling: $5/month unlimited Mexico calling
• Global Calling Plus: $15/month unlimited Mexico calling & 0.5GB high-speed data
• Global Choice: $10/month unlimited Mexico calling & unlimited text

These provide affordable access for prepaid users visiting Mexico short or long term. Rates are very reasonable for unlimited talk time.

Plus many clients choose to disable the plan when back in the USA if not traveling internationally again soon – so you control the costs.

Bottom Line – Use Verizon Worry-Free

In summary – both Verizon contract/postpaid and prepaid plans provide quality coverage for visiting Mexico hot spots like Cancun, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta in 2024 and beyond.

I hope this comprehensive guide gives you the confidence to rely on your Verizon phone and avoid expensive roaming charges on your next trip abroad! Let me know if any other Mexico cell phone questions arise.

10+ years telecom consultant