If you played the original Death Stranding, you probably remember the sun-scorched stretches of northern Mexico, home to some of the game’s most generous preppers and rarest crafting resources. It’s no surprise that one of the most common questions new Death Stranding 2 players ask as soon as they boot up the game is death stranding 2 can you go back to mexico, especially if you spent hours grinding deliveries across the desert in the first title. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about accessing Mexico, including unlock requirements, what to expect when you arrive, and how to make the trip without wasting valuable cargo or resources. We’ll keep plot spoilers to a minimum, so you can read safely even if you’re only a few hours into the main story.
Can You Go Back to Mexico in Death Stranding 2? The Short Answer
The short answer is yes, you absolutely can return to Mexico in Death Stranding 2, but you won’t have access to the region right at the start of the game. It’s locked behind a small set of progression requirements that you’ll hit naturally as you work through the main story, so you don’t have to go out of your way to grind for special items or rep. The border unlock is permanent once you meet the requirements, so you can travel back and forth as much as you want for the rest of your playthrough. I tried to hike south from the Texas border relay station 2 hours into my first playthrough, and hit a solid invisible wall, so don’t waste your time trying to sneak across early.
Unlock Requirements for Accessing Mexico in Death Stranding 2
You don’t need any special DLC or paid in-game items to unlock the Mexico border, just a few simple progression milestones that most players will hit around the 15-hour mark of their playthrough. The full list of requirements is as follows:
- Complete all main story missions up to Chapter 4: "Crossing the Border"
- Upgrade your Bridges affiliation level to 3 to receive the official border crossing permit
- Have a fully repaired trike or truck with at least 50% fuel capacity for the initial trip
- Stock at least 2 BT repellent canisters, as the border buffer zone has higher BT activity than most starting areas
If you’re rushing to unlock Mexico as fast as possible, focus on completing main story quests first, and do a handful of side delivery quests for preppers along the Texas border to level up your Bridges rank fast. You don’t need to pay any in-game currency to unlock the border crossing, which is a nice change from the original game’s expensive travel permit system. Just turn in the permit to the border guard at the southern Texas relay station, and the gate will open permanently for all future trips.
What to Expect When You Return to Mexico in Death Stranding 2
The Mexico map in Death Stranding 2 is not just a copy-paste of the original game’s region. The entire playable northern Mexico area is 3x larger than it was in the first Death Stranding, with new coastal regions, abandoned desert towns, and more than 20 new prepper stations to connect to the chiral network. You’ll also find exclusive resources that don’t spawn anywhere else in the game, including desert lithium, which is used to craft high-capacity exoskeleton batteries that last 2x longer than standard versions.
There are a few downsides to the region too, of course. A new group of hostile scavengers called sand raiders patrol the main delivery routes, and they’ll attempt to steal your cargo if you don’t have non-lethal weapons to fend them off. Timefall is much rarer in Mexico than in the northern U.S. regions, but when it does hit, it’s far more intense, and can degrade your gear in half the time of regular timefall. I spent 10 hours wandering the Baja California coast on my first trip, and found a hidden prepper who gives you a free gold-grade speed exoskeleton if you deliver his missing medical supplies, so it’s well worth taking time to explore off the main paths.
Top Tips for Travelling to Mexico Without Wasting Resources
Even if you meet all the unlock requirements, a bad trip to Mexico can leave you stranded without fuel or cargo if you don’t prepare properly. These simple tips will help you make the most of your first trip south:
Always bring a spare set of desert-rated tires for your vehicle if you’re driving. The desert is full of sharp volcanic rock that will pop standard tires in 10 miles or less, and you won’t find any auto repair shops along the main route for the first 60 miles. You can buy desert tires from the Texas border prepper station for just 50 chiral crystals, which is a tiny investment for the hassle it saves.
If you prefer to travel on foot, equip the speed exoskeleton instead of the heavy cargo exoskeleton. The deep sand slows heavy exoskeleton users down by 40%, but the speed exoskeleton’s grip upgrade cuts that slowdown to just 10%, making cross-desert hikes far faster. You can fast travel back to any U.S. relay station from any Mexico prepper station once you connect it to the chiral network, so you don’t have to make the long drive back north every time you need to turn in a delivery to a northern client. You can also leave shared structures like ladders, fuel cans, and shelter markers for other players, just like in the rest of the game.
Whether you’re heading south to farm rare desert lithium, complete side quests for the new Mexican prepper community, or just revisit the desert landscape you loved from the first game, death stranding 2 can you go back to mexico has a straightforward, accessible answer for players of all skill levels. Just make sure you hit the Chapter 4 progression requirements first, stock up on repellent and spare vehicle parts, and take time to wander off the main path to find the region’s hidden secrets. I’ve put more than 40 hours into exploring the Mexico map so far, and I’m still finding new hidden quests and rare resources every time I log on, so don’t rush through the region on your first visit.
