If you plan to travel to Hidalgo and bring your car, there is something you need to know about the Hidalgo Tourist Pass. Turns out, many people were confused thinking they would have to pay, but the good news is that the process is completely free. What is mandatory if you come from another state.

Basically, the Hidalgo Tourist Pass is a permit you need if your car has out-of-state plates. It does not apply if you are from Mexico City, State of Mexico, Puebla, Morelos, Querétaro, or Tlaxcala; those are exempt. But if you're coming from anywhere else, you need to apply for it. The permit allows you to circulate for up to 14 days per semester, and it only applies to cars from 2010 onward.

The interesting part is that all of this is to improve air quality and protect the local ecosystem—no surprise charges. The process is super simple: go to the official website, click on register, fill in your vehicle details, and you're done. So if you plan to move around Pachuca or the surrounding municipalities, it's best to get your Hidalgo Tourist Pass before you depart. Oh, and one thing: it does not apply during environmental contingencies, so stay alert for that.