Mexico is an incredible nation to go to…however it has one thing of a foul popularity. Is it really secure to go to? What if you happen to’re a solo feminine traveler? On this visitor publish, Kristin Addis from Be My Journey Muse shares her security suggestions and recommendation that will help you navigate Mexico with confidence as a solo feminine traveler.
The tastes, smells, sights, and sounds of Mexico are irresistible. It’s the primary place I traveled internationally, and each time I need a heat, welcoming journey that’s simple and accessible, I consider Mexico.
However generally folks with little to no Mexico journey expertise will attempt to speak you out of touring there solo. They’ve seen nothing however negativity on the information, and in order that’s their impression of all the nation. In any case, Mexico has a global popularity for having excessive crime. So sure, that is one thing you might have to concentrate on when touring there, particularly by your self.
However let’s be actual: a number of implausible locations — together with many within the US — have the same popularity. It doesn’t imply all the nation is “unhealthy” or that you could’t have an awesome, secure time there. You simply must take sure precautions, similar to you’ll in a lot of the world. That begins with being properly knowledgeable.
That will help you keep secure, listed below are my high suggestions for touring safely in Mexico as a solo feminine traveler:
1. Select your vacation spot correctly
I are likely to base my journey locations on ideas from others or pictures that I’ve seen and saved, often from Instagram. That’s how I ended up road-tripping in Baja California, testing the cenotes of Tulum, attending a girls’s retreat in Sayulita, and falling in love with Isla Holbox.
However recently, crime has elevated in components of the Riviera Maya, and vacationer cities that was common locations, like Acapulco, have since turn into extra synonymous with cartels. Simply because one thing was common ten years in the past doesn’t imply it’s a good place to go to now.
How are you aware? When you’ve bought someplace in thoughts, do a fast Google seek for the city together with “crime” or “vacationer crime.” Remember: the media can actually overplay issues. I like to have a look at as many particular statistics as I can, when out there.
I additionally like posting on message boards (like Journey Advisor’s) when planning journeys to get probably the most present data. Native expat Fb teams can be useful. Right here’s one particularly for Tulum, for instance. You’ll be capable to ask people who find themselves dwelling or on the bottom there what their expertise is. This works for nearly any main space of Mexico (and the world).
2. Select centrally situated lodging
Particularly if it is going to be your first time visiting Mexico or a sure metropolis or city, select a spot near the zócalo, or primary sq.. These areas are at all times properly lit, and there are often loads of law enforcement officials round, making it much less engaging for criminals. (One exception to that is Mexico Metropolis, as there are such a lot of neighborhoods to select from in addition to the zócalo downtown.)
Though I haven’t made this error in Mexico, every so often I’ve gotten this unsuitable when in different nations. I bear in mind a scenario within the Philippines the place I used to be so far-off from the entire issues to do and different vacationers that I spent a really lonely few days on the tip of an island, lower off from everybody and the whole lot.
Coincidentally, that’s precisely when somebody tried to interrupt into my bungalow at evening. I realized my lesson the arduous method on that one: at all times learn the evaluations utterly and have a great understanding of what’s close to your lodging.
3. Study some fundamental Spanish
Notably whenever you’re a lady touring solo, understanding some key phrases may also help you might have a smoother expertise. You’ll be capable to make pals with locals, get dwelling safely extra simply if the taxi driver doesn’t communicate English, and perceive when anyone is crossing a line once they’re speaking to you.
What if you happen to don’t know a lot? Effectively, my Spanish isn’t nice. I believed it could be cool to take French in highschool, even having grown up in Southern California, the place Spanish would have been very useful! So the whole lot I do know it’s simply what I’ve picked up since then.
That mentioned, the fundamentals are sometimes sufficient, and Mexico is a superb place to study extra. Mexicans are typically very variety and forgiving towards those that attempt to communicate their language.
Even if you happen to simply study fundamental greetings and key phrases, you’re off to an awesome begin. Duolingo is useful with that, and you may as well obtain Google Translate for offline use.
Talking the language (even poorly) is an indication of respect and may also help break the ice with locals, so why not give it a attempt?
4. Discover journey pals to really feel much less alone
I really like the whole lot having to do with the ocean, so after I was in Baja California, I signed as much as swim with sharks. On the boat, I randomly ran right into a good friend of mine with whom I’d swum with whales in French Polynesia! However even when I didn’t already know somebody on the boat, I are likely to make pals each time I do an exercise, and that offers me a built-in group to have dinner with that evening, and even hang around with and do extra issues with within the coming days.
Generally signing up for a retreat can also be a great way to go. I often discover these via influencers I observe. I did this towards the top of my journey in Sayulita a couple of years in the past, which gave me a great stability of time with folks and likewise solitude earlier than and after.
As a solo feminine traveler, that is my absolute favourite technique to be sure that I meet different folks. Do you like meals? Join a cooking class or perhaps a meals tour with nice scores on Google or TripAdvisor.
5. Go for rideshare apps when you may
Generally taxis may be sketchy relying on the place you’re touring to in Mexico. In Mexico Metropolis and Playa del Carmen, for instance, riders have even been kidnapped and extorted. In different cities, nevertheless, taxis are completely secure. Mérida, Cancún, San Cristóbal de las Casas and San Miguel de Allende are all advantageous locations to take taxis in.
Rideshare apps are typically a safer choice, particularly at evening. These apps make it potential to carry drivers accountable for any misdeeds, making it far much less probably that they might commit any crimes. Plus, no precise cash is exchanged, and so they’re much less probably so as to add additional mileage to make the invoice larger since you may see proper on the app what the instructed route is.
Uber is on the market in some cities in Mexico, however not all. There’s virtually at all times some sort of taxi app (like DiDi, for instance) or WhatsApp taxi service out there in any vital metropolis, however if you happen to’re visiting a small city or village, these choices probably gained’t be out there.
6. Keep away from being flashy
Sporting flashy jewellery and designer garments will draw consideration to you, virtually anyplace you go in Mexico. One exception is Mexico Metropolis, the place folks typically gown up extra in particular neighborhoods. Virtually anyplace else, carrying extravagant clothes might make you a possible goal for theft.
Though I personal them, you gained’t catch me with designer purses overseas, as a result of I simply don’t wish to make myself probably the most engaging goal.
The identical goes for having your good smartphone in hand on the road. There are two causes for this: one, it may be a giant distraction for you, and two, it’s one thing very simple to rapidly steal out of your hand.
7. Vet tour corporations beforehand
There are a whole lot of tour corporations in Mexico, and never all of them are respected or secure. I virtually by no means e-book a tour instantly from a vendor or proper off the road. I at all times wish to take a look at evaluations first.
If you wish to go on a day journey with a selected tour firm, see if you happen to can look it up on-line and browse precise evaluations earlier than you hand over your cash. Subsequent, I test if they’ve web sites and social media, comparable to a Fb web page.
When you don’t have a selected firm in thoughts, Google the exercise you’re curious about and see which corporations supply it and observe the identical recommendation. Chances are high there can be some Google evaluations, and if somebody has had a foul expertise, they’ll most likely go away one to warn different vacationers. You may as well test TripAdvisor.
One other wonderful means to ensure a tour is legit earlier than you e-book is to undergo a third-party website, like GetYourGuide. On these platforms, you may see evaluations from different clients and make a extra knowledgeable choice on which tour is most secure and value your money and time.
Moreover, watch out for a standard rip-off during which sketchy tour corporations lease tools to clients after which blame them for in depth damages. That is commonest with scooter leases, segway excursions, and even snorkeling tools leases. To keep away from this, be certain to ask what the coverage is for any harm to tools to be sure you gained’t be held liable. You also needs to take pictures of something you lease earlier than utilizing it. That method you may show that you just haven’t made any damages.
8. Inform a good friend the place you might be
When you’re touring alone, inform a good friend or member of the family at dwelling your itinerary and with whom you may test in often. Earlier than I began touring internationally 10 years in the past, I added my mother to my checking account, in order that if it had been ever locked whereas l was abroad, she might simply name and approve the fees. She has saved me many instances, together with when my financial institution tried to dam my card repeatedly throughout an overland journey in Africa. There was no method I might’ve been in a position to name, however she knew that these withdrawals had been made by me by rapidly checking in with me.
Personally, checking in with somebody every single day or sharing my location with them would drive me completely bonkers, however so many solo feminine vacationers have really helpful this in feedback on posts I’ve written through the years that I do know that, for some folks, the peace of thoughts is value it.
9. Get a Mexican SIM card
When you’re from the US, you might have cellular phone service whereas in Mexico at no extra value. If not, contemplate selecting up a Mexican SIM card whenever you arrive. A Telcel card solely prices 150 pesos ($7.50 USD) and you may simply load information onto it on-line or at any OXXO (24-hour comfort retailer).
I just about at all times get native SIM playing cards as a result of they work higher and are a lot cheaper that utilizing your common SIM. I simply ask a good friend or individual I meet at a hostel who’s bilingual to assist me get mine in Mexico, as my Spanish isn’t adequate to get the job executed.
However after that, I’m set by way of navigation, making native calls when wanted, and at all times being related.
10. Don’t indulge cat-callers
I do know from private expertise how troublesome it’s to not snap again at a cat-caller who has disrespected me, however it’s not a good suggestion to pay any consideration to them in Mexico.
In typical machismo style, a person who will cat-call you on the road might turn into aggressive and even violent if proven any sort of resistance. It’s a tragic fact and one which pains me to say. However letting a disrespectful individual know they’ve crossed a line doesn’t at all times have the specified impact of creating them cease what they’re doing.
11. Watch out on relationship apps
A whole lot of vacationers use relationship apps like Tinder and Bumble to fulfill folks (even simply as pals) whereas on the transfer. I’ve had pals rave about it in Europe and have run into folks on the highway who inform me that’s how they met. This might doubtlessly be a cool technique to see Mexico from an area’s perspective, however it additionally makes me nervous. What if they’ve expectations? What if you happen to’re not on the identical web page?
There are a couple of methods you may vet somebody earlier than deciding to fulfill up. First, take a look at their social media for any purple flags. Subsequent, make your intentions clear from the get-go. When you simply wish to make a brand new good friend and see town, allow them to know. Then, agree to fulfill up in a public. You may as well have a good friend on standby to test in with you mid-date to be sure you’re alright.
There are additionally Fb teams that you need to use to fulfill up with others. I run one particularly for solo feminine vacationers known as BMTM Solo Feminine Traveler Join. There’s additionally Meetup.com and Bumble Good friend, which is particularly arrange for platonic conditions.
12. Belief your intestine relating to meals
Let’s be trustworthy, no person desires to spend their Mexican trip in a resort toilet. Generally getting even just a bit sick in another country is unavoidable, however there are some things to look out for to maintain your tummy in working order in Mexico.
I’m not suggesting that you just keep away from road meals and keep on with solely eating places. The worst meals poisoning I’ve ever had was from a elaborate restaurant in Mexico! Plus, I completely love road tacos there, and I’m at all times looking out for them. However I’ve some guidelines.
To begin with, belief your instincts with road meals. If a stall appears to be like unsanitary, it most likely is. Alternatively, When you’re not sure of the place to eat, decide the taco stand with the longest queue. If there’s an enormous line for a selected place, it’s most likely as a result of the meals is nice. Locals actually know greatest on this one.
