Do I need a passport for Mexico?

Specifically L.A. to Cancun.

:shrug:

You will however need your birth certificate.

Also, I recommend go to Chichen Itza a mayan pyramid or Exclaret(sp?) especially, its a water park slash Cultural experience.

From the State Department web site:

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: The Government of Mexico requires that all U.S. citizens present proof of citizenship and photo identification for entry into Mexico. While U.S. citizenship documents such as a certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate, a Naturalization Certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Citizenship are acceptable, the U.S. Embassy recommends traveling with a valid U.S. passport to avoid delays or misunderstandings. U.S. citizens have encountered difficulty boarding onward flights in Mexico without a passport. U.S. citizens boarding flights to Mexico should be prepared to present one of these documents as proof of U.S. citizenship, along with photo identification. Driver's permits, voter registration cards, affidavits and similar documents are not sufficient to prove citizenship for readmission into the United States.

http://travel.state.gov/mexico.html

if you have no passport, you're in the foreign nationals line back in through customs . . . that's usually a longer line that goes much slower

but you will need a birth certificate and your driver's license or other photo ID.

PS: Skip Tulum, go to Coba (but only if you enjoy being away from crowds). It's an all day trip, but worth it; better if you rent a car.

I'm going back down in July to buy a house.

Coba is a lot more rustic since only 10% of the ruins are uncovered, while tuluum's location and restoration make it absolutely one of the most stunning locales in the Yucatan.

Coba is a bit in the jungle.. and doesn't have the view of the ocean like tuluum.

these days, and not difficult to get.

makes it easier especially coming back to the U.S.

generally the passport line at Cancun airport is shorter than the drivers license line.

on a side note, Cancun airport is a real trip. i suggest googling for something like "Cancun airport tips" as there are many who have written "do's and don't's" of Cancun airport.

you can get really hosed if you get sucked in to the scams that are thrown at you from every angle after you get your baggage. been there 4 years in a row now and the tips offered on the web have been VERY helpful.

good luck

just bring your birth certificate and you should be fine. Passports take forever to get in the mail and cost $$, and I'm not sure how soon you're going to be going... but a passport isn't worth it just for mexico.

You can go to any post office and turn in your application. I helped someone who had never get a passport get it that way for Mexico, and it came quite quickly. It can take just as long or longer to get a certified birth certificate if you were born in a disorganized county.

It took about 5 weeks to get here.

I've gone to Mexico w/ and w/out, usually w/, but the people w/out don't seem to get much scrutiny if they are obvious anglos.