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Traveling to Latin America? Avoid these 7 things if you don’t want to get fined
Smoking on a Mexican beach, nude sunbathing in Brazil or flying a drone in Peru could land you in trouble. Know these 7 Latin America laws before you go.
You’re heading to Latin America for the culture, the adventure, and the vibrancy. The last thing you want is to get on the wrong side of the law. But if you’re not cautious, you may unintentionally end up in a spot of bother.
Latin American countries have some unexpected rules that your home country probably doesn’t. But they’re easy to avoid if you know about them.
So here are seven real, enforceable rules across Latin America, what breaking them could cost you, and how to sidestep them.
| Country | The rule | What it can cost you |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | No smoking or vaping in public spaces; no street drinking | Fine plus possible short detention |
| Peru | No naked photos at heritage sites; no single-use plastics; no photographing police or military | Arrest, deportation, confiscation |
| Brazil | No public nudity outside designated beaches | Fine or public indecency charge |
| Colombia | No drinking alcohol in public streets and plazas | Fine at officer discretion |
| Regional | No drones at heritage sites and landmarks | Confiscation plus heavy fines |
1. Mexico: Light up in the wrong spot and you’ll pay for it
Mexico has a strict anti-smoking law where smoking and vaping are banned in all outdoor public spaces. This includes beaches, parks, and plazas, so no, you can’t light up while you’re sunbathing on the best beaches in Mexico. The law also applies to hospitality spaces like hotel and restaurant terraces.
As a tourist, it’s crucial to know this rule as the penalty falls directly on you. Fines vary by municipality and can range from $50 to $500 USD.
If you refuse to pay or continue smoking, the situation will quickly escalate, and you could face temporary detention.
You also cannot bring vapes into Mexico, as the country has a strict nationwide ban on importing electronic cigarettes and vapes. So be sure to leave them off your Mexico packing list.
2. Peru: Strip for a photo at Machu Picchu and you could be deported
You may have seen headlines about tourists who stripped for photos at Machu Picchu and were arrested and deported. In this social media age, more and more tourists and influencers are doing this, and as a result, facing severe punishments.
In Peru, stripping or posing nude at heritage sites like Machu Picchu is treated as a serious crime against the country’s cultural heritage.
This law is actively enforced by Ministry of Culture staff. If caught doing so, you’ll get more than a fine; you’ll be handed over to the National Police of Peru (PNP), who will arrest, deport, and potentially ban you from Peru.
And if you’re spending multiple days in Peru doing the Inca Trail, note that it is strictly prohibited to climb, sit on, or even lean against the Inca walls.
3. Peru: Bring a plastic bottle into a protected site and get turned away
Peru has a strict policy against single-use plastic, prohibiting people from taking plastic water bottles to many public places. This includes cultural heritage sites, national reserves, and beaches.
If you show up at the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu with a plastic bottle, they may confiscate it or deny you entry. To sidestep this rule, simply add a reusable water bottle to your Peru packing list.
4. Brazil: Get the beach dress code wrong and it’s a public indecency issue
Many tourists believe Brazil’s beaches are fun, laidback places where anything goes. And this is true to some degree. Drinking alcohol on the beach is a legal part of the country’s beach culture (something that is surprisingly against the law in Australia). But one thing that’s not allowed is nude sunbathing.
Catching some rays while nude is generally illegal outside specific designated beaches. Penalties can range from fines to public indecency charges and imprisonment (in rare cases).
This law tends to catch female travelers out, as it includes topless sunbathing for women (not wearing a bikini top), but not for men. Nude sunbathing is something you can do in Rio at one specific naturist beach only: Praia do Abricó.
5. Multiple countries: Fly a drone at the wrong landmark and lose it
Want to bring your drone to Latin America to capture some awesome footage? Check local rules carefully, as flying a drone without authorization can be illegal.
Generally, you can fly a drone on the beach or in rural areas (as long as you meet national aviation rules). However, it is typically prohibited at heritage and archaeological sites, as well as national parks and reserves.
For example:
- Mexico bans recreational drones over archaeological sites like Chichén Itzá and Tulum.
- Peru prohibits drones at Machu Picchu, the Nazca Lines, and the Sacred Valley.
- Brazil requires per-flight authorization and restricts iconic spots like Christ the Redeemer.
If you break this law, authorities will confiscate your drone and fine you, which can be pretty hefty in certain areas. For example, flying a drone in Mexico’s restricted airspace could cost you thousands of dollars. So if aerial shots are on your Mexico itinerary, plan around the no-fly zones.
This rule is not limited to Latin American countries. Flying a drone without authorization is also against the law in Asian countries like Singapore and China.
6. Peru and beyond: Photograph the wrong building and you’re a security risk
Photographing military installations, police stations, or police or military personnel without permission is illegal in Peru and treated as a national security concern.
If you want to snap a photo of a police officer, you must ask for permission first. If you don’t, authorities can demand you delete photos or confiscate your device if you refuse.
Similar sensitivities exist elsewhere in the region.
For example, it’s seen as cultural courtesy to always ask before photographing locals in traditional attire, such as the indigenous Quechua communities. It’s also good practice to offer a small tip in return, especially if you’re on a tour. This photo-taking etiquette is just one of the smart phone habits to stay out of trouble abroad.
7. Mexico, Colombia, and More: Crack open a beer on the street and risk a fine
In Mexico, drinking alcohol or carrying open containers of alcohol is typically restricted in the streets, parks, and plazas.
While it is not a federal law, many municipalities and states across the country outlaw it. And be careful when getting around Mexico, as the law also applies to public transit.
Drinking on public beaches is technically illegal, too. So if you want to drink, stick to the resort-owned private beaches.
In Colombia, drinking is technically illegal in open public spaces. However, enforcement is at the officer’s discretion. If you’re in a tourist zone and not causing a disturbance, officers might look the other way. But you still face a real chance of getting a fine.
You’ll also encounter this law in the USA, as most states have banned drinking in public streets.
Plan ahead so a small rule doesn’t cost you
Because these laws differ by country and state, check the rules for your specific destination when planning your South America trip.
Once you know them, these laws are easy to avoid and require minimal adjustments, like bringing a reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic ones.
If you’re planning to visit a particular heritage or archaeological site, check the website for the guidelines on things like plastic, drones, and photos. And make sure you have a travel eSIM with a data plan so you can verify site regulations on the move and as your plans shift.
Stay connected across Latin America with Holafly
Latin America rewards travelers who do a little homework, and a lot of that homework happens on the move: checking whether a beach allows drinking, confirming a site’s drone policy, or looking up the local smoking rules before you get caught out.
A Holafly eSIM keeps you online the moment you land, with unlimited data, 5G speeds, and 24/7 customer support, so you can check the rules for Mexico, Peru, Brazil, or anywhere else without hunting for Wi-Fi. Hopping between countries on one trip? Holafly Plans offers pay-monthly coverage across 160+ destinations with a single eSIM.
What’s more, every Holafly eSIM includes Always On: 1 GB of backup data at no additional cost, which activates automatically as long as the eSIM stays installed on your device and renews every month across 150+ destinations. It means that even if your main plan runs down at the worst moment, you can still pull up a fine you weren’t expecting or message someone for help. Stay connected even when your plans change.
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Hi, I'm Mika, a South Korean writer living in the US. I cover travel and live events, focusing on the practical stuff that makes your trip smoother, whether you're navigating a new city or heading to a major international event.I'm also the founder of Search SEOul, South Korea's leading SEO conference, bringing together search marketing experts and speakers from around the world.
