{"id":34161,"date":"2017-03-20T15:11:52","date_gmt":"2017-03-20T15:11:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?p=34161"},"modified":"2023-12-08T13:57:57","modified_gmt":"2023-12-08T13:57:57","slug":"safest-places-to-visit-in-mexico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/safest-places-to-visit-in-mexico\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Solo Female Travel In Mexico Isn\u2019t As Crazy As It Sounds"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cYou\u2019re going on your own?? Are you crazy?\u201d When I announced that I would be taking my first ever solo trip this year, my friends and family were concerned. When I told them it would be to Mexico, they were downright alarmed. But the funny thing is, only people who have never been here think solo female travel in Mexico is unsafe.<\/p>\n

\"Coconut The locals and fellow travelers I\u2019ve met on my trip don\u2019t bat an eye. Why? Because they know what the rest of the world doesn\u2019t seem to: Mexico is an\u00a0amazing destination for your first solo trip. Yes, even as a woman. \"Solo At 29, I\u2019d done my fair share of backpacking, but it still took a lot of courage to go it completely alone. But I’m so glad I finally took the plunge. I\u2019ve been here for nearly two months now and it’s become my favourite solo travel destination yet. Whether you\u2019re looking for stunning beaches, rich\u00a0culture, incredible (vegan!) food or wild parties, Mexico has something for everyone. In this blog post I’ll aim to answer all the questions and doubts you might have about solo female travel in Mexico, though please do leave a comment below if there’s anything I’ve missed\u00a0?<\/p>\n

Is Mexico Safe?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Safest For my friends and family, the number one concern seemed to be that Mexico was not a safe place to travel to at all, let alone on my own. You might have encountered similar advice when considering a trip here, so I want to address this one right away: In my experience, I\u2019ve felt completely safe my entire trip, and I haven\u2019t had any issues. As with any country, some areas are safer than others and you need to use your common sense.\u00a0When I\u2019d get to a new area, I\u2019d check with fellow travellers or at the hostel reception to see if there were any neighbourhoods\u00a0I should avoid. I didn’t get stupidly drunk or wander off on my\u00a0own in the middle of the night. I didn’t take unsafe transport (more on that below). But provided you take some basic precautions, there’s no need to feel overly paranoid about your safety as a single woman\u00a0in Mexico.<\/p>\n

Safest Places To Visit In Mexico<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"There The country’s reputation for drug cartels and violence is not unjustified. But what most people don’t realise is that this activity is very isolated and found only in concentrated pockets mainly in the north of the country.\u00a0For the most part, Mexico is a really safe destination for solo travel. A tougher question would: what are the best places to visit in Mexico? Because there are SO\u00a0many amazing things to see here. To help you narrow it down, I’ve listed a few of the highlights of my trip below, plus some overrated places that you can easily skip.\u00a0My one piece of advice is that Mexico is so much more than Cancun and beaches. Even if you’re mainly looking\u00a0for sun and sand, there’s so much variety even among the beaches, and plenty off the beaten track spots.<\/p>\n

Tulum<\/h3>\n

\"Exploring You\u2019ve probably seen photos of Tulum splashed all over Instagram. It\u2019s easy to see why; the beaches here are incredible and the town is full of yoga spots, chilled cafes, and fun beach bars, plus it ranks high on the list of safest places to visit in Mexico. I spent two weeks here and could have stayed longer. Make sure you block off some time away from the beach to explore the Yucatan Peninsula\u2019s many cenotes. These underground swimming holes are amazing, and were one of my favourite parts of the whole trip.<\/p>\n

Mexico City<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I had no idea I would love Mexico City as much as I did.\u00a0 I planned to spend four days here and ended up staying for over two weeks.\u00a0 My favourite neighbourhoods are Roma Norte, La Condesa, and Polanco.\u00a0 They\u2019re all full of gorgeous stores, restaurants, parks, and cafes and have beautiful tree lined streets.\u00a0 San Angel, Zona Rosa, Coyo\u00e1can, and Juarez are also all great areas to check out if you have a bit longer in the city.<\/p>\n

Sayulita<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Sayulita The cutest little hippie beach town, I absolutely loved Sayulita.\u00a0 It’s full of travellers, but doesn\u2019t feel at all like a tourist town in the way that somewhere like Cancun does. Go here for amazing smoothie bowls, cheap street food, surfing, and an overall chill vibe.<\/p>\n

Isla Mujeres<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A gorgeous little island just north of Cancun, Isla Mujeres is a great spot to get away from the tourist insanity of Cancun and Playa del Carmen (my opinion is to skip both!). It’s still not exactly a hidden gem, but the beaches are beautiful and the island has a very laid back vibe. For a similar island paradise vibe with fewer tourists, try Isla Holbox.<\/p>\n

San Miguel de Allende<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"San A beautiful town four hours from Mexico City, it manages to be full of expats while retaining a very authentic Mexican feel. I could not stop taking photos here, the buildings and city views are stunning, which makes\u00a0San Miguel de Allende an obvious choice for the list of safest places to visit in Mexico.<\/p>\n

Puerto Escondido<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"People This surf town and the surrounding beaches are the perfect place to relax.\u00a0 You won\u2019t get the white sand beaches and crystal waters of the Caribbean, but you will find a less touristy, more rustic atmosphere that\u2019s perfect for combining beach time with authentic\u00a0Mexican food.<\/p>\n

But Won’t I Be Lonely If I Travel Mexico Alone?<\/h2>\n

\"DealingOne of my main concerns when I was planning this trip was whether or not I\u2019d meet people. Just because I was travelling alone didn\u2019t mean I wanted to be\u00a0alone the whole time! My worries were quickly put to rest when I got here though because there are so many travellers, expats, and friendly locals that it’s so easy to meet great people. I\u00a0obviously met new friends in my hostel, but I also met people in cafes, restaurants, the beach… I\u2019ve been to some places in the past where it felt like every traveller there was a 19 year old on their gap year looking to get wasted, but in Mexico you get such a mix of ages and backgrounds. I did meet the young party animals, but I also met lots of expats, digital nomads, and people of all ages on vacation. So whatever you’re feeling up for, you’ll find someone to do it with!<\/p>\n

Want to make new friends on the road and find out about all the best events at your hostels? Check out the video below:<\/p>\n