{"id":247971,"date":"2022-05-25T09:00:14","date_gmt":"2022-05-25T13:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=247971"},"modified":"2025-02-22T08:04:47","modified_gmt":"2025-02-22T13:04:47","slug":"solo-female-travel-mexico-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/travel-blogs\/solo-female-travel-mexico-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stay Safe in Mexico as a Solo Female Traveler"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Solo<\/p>\n

Mexico is an amazing country to visit but it has something of a bad reputation thanks to sensational news coverage. In this guest post, Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse<\/a> shares her safety tips and advice to help solo female travelers navigate Mexico with confidence.<\/em><\/p>\n

The tastes, smells, sights, and sounds of Mexico<\/a> are irresistible. It\u2019s the first place I traveled internationally, and whenever I want a warm, welcoming adventure that\u2019s easy and accessible, I think of Mexico.<\/p>\n

But sometimes people with little to no Mexico travel experience will try to talk you out of traveling there solo. They\u2019ve seen nothing but negativity on the news, and so that\u2019s their impression of the entire country. After all, Mexico has an international reputation for having high crime. So yes, this is something you have to be aware of when traveling there, especially by yourself.<\/p>\n

But let\u2019s be real: lots of fantastic destinations \u2014 including many in the US \u2014 have a similar reputation. It doesn\u2019t mean the entire country is \u201cbad\u201d or that you can\u2019t have a great, safe time there. You just need to take certain precautions, just like you would in much of the world. That starts with being well informed. <\/p>\n

To help you stay safe, here are my top tips for traveling safely in Mexico as a solo female traveler:
\n <\/p>\n

1. Choose your destination wisely<\/h3>\n

\"The
\nI tend to base my travel destinations on suggestions from others or photos that I\u2019ve seen and saved, usually from Instagram. That\u2019s how I ended up road-tripping in Baja California, checking out the cenotes of Tulum<\/a>, attending a women\u2019s retreat in Sayulita<\/a>, and falling in love with Isla Holbox. <\/p>\n

But lately, crime has increased in parts of the Riviera Maya<\/a> (largely fueled by tourists’ desire for drugs<\/a>), and tourist cities that used to be popular destinations, like Acapulco, have since become more synonymous with cartels. Just because something was popular ten years ago doesn\u2019t mean it is a good place to visit now. <\/p>\n

How do you know? If you\u2019ve got someplace in mind, do a quick Google search for the town along with \u201ccrime\u201d or \u201ctourist crime.\u201d Keep in mind: the media can really overplay things. I like to look at as many specific statistics as I can, when available. <\/p>\n

I also like posting on message boards (like TripAdvisor\u2019s<\/a>) when planning trips to get the most current information. Local expat Facebook groups can also be helpful. Here\u2019s one<\/a> specifically for Tulum, for example. You\u2019ll be able to ask people who are living or on the ground there what their experience is. This works for almost any major area of Mexico (and the world).
\n <\/p>\n

2. Choose centrally located accommodations<\/h3>\n

Especially if it will be your first time visiting Mexico or a certain city or town, choose a place close to the z\u00f3calo, or main square. These areas are always well lit, and there are usually plenty of police officers around, making it less attractive for criminals. (One exception to this is Mexico City<\/a>, as there are so many neighborhoods to choose from besides the z\u00f3calo downtown.<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Although I haven\u2019t made this mistake in Mexico, from time to time I have gotten this wrong when in other countries. I remember a situation in the Philippines<\/a> where I was so far away from all of the things to do and other tourists that I spent a very lonely few days on the tip of an island, cut off from everyone and everything. <\/p>\n

Coincidentally, that\u2019s exactly when someone tried to break into my bungalow at night. I learned my lesson the hard way on that one: always read the reviews completely and have a good understanding of what is near your accommodation.
\n <\/p>\n

3. Learn some basic Spanish<\/h3>\n

\"People
\nParticularly when you\u2019re a woman traveling solo, knowing some key phrases can help you have a smoother experience. You\u2019ll be able to make friends with locals, get home safely more easily if the taxi driver doesn\u2019t speak English, and understand when somebody is crossing a line when they\u2019re talking to you. <\/p>\n

What if you don\u2019t know much? Well, my Spanish isn\u2019t great. I thought it would be cool to take French in high school, even having grown up in Southern California, where Spanish would have been very helpful! So everything I know it\u2019s just what I have picked up since then. <\/p>\n

That said, the basics are often enough, and Mexico is a great place to learn more. Mexicans are generally very kind and forgiving toward those who try to speak their language.<\/p>\n

Even if you just learn basic greetings and key phrases, you\u2019re off to a great start. Duolingo is helpful with that, and you can also download Google Translate for offline use. <\/p>\n

Speaking the language (even poorly) is a sign of respect and can help break the ice with locals, so why not give it a try?
\n <\/p>\n

4. Find travel friends to feel less alone<\/h3>\n

\"Solo
\nI love everything having to do with the ocean, so when I was in Baja California, I signed up to swim with sharks. On the boat, I randomly ran into a friend of mine with whom I\u2019d swum with whales in French Polynesia! But even if I didn\u2019t already know someone on the boat, I tend to make friends every time I do an activity, and that gives me a built-in group to have dinner with that night, or even hang out with and do more things with in the coming days.<\/p>\n

Sometimes signing up for a retreat is also a good way to go. I usually find these through influencers I follow. I did this toward the end of my trip in Sayulita a few years ago, which gave me a good balance of time with people and also solitude before and after.<\/p>\n

As a solo female traveler, this is my absolute favorite way to make sure that I meet other people. Do you love food? Sign up for a cooking class or even a food tour with great ratings on Google or TripAdvisor.
\n <\/p>\n

5. Opt for rideshare apps when you can<\/h3>\n

Sometimes taxis can be sketchy depending on where you\u2019re traveling to in Mexico. In Mexico City<\/a> and Playa del Carmen, for example, riders have even been kidnapped and extorted. In other cities, however, taxis are totally safe. M\u00e9rida, Canc\u00fan<\/a>, San Crist\u00f3bal de las Casas and San Miguel de Allende are all fine places to take taxis in.<\/p>\n

Rideshare apps are generally a safer option, especially at night. These apps make it possible to hold drivers accountable for any misdeeds, making it far less likely that they would commit any crimes. Plus, no actual money is exchanged, and they\u2019re less likely to add extra mileage to make the bill higher since you can see right on the app what the suggested route is. <\/p>\n

Uber is available in some cities in Mexico, but not all. There is almost always some kind of taxi app (like DiDi, for example) or WhatsApp taxi service available in any significant city, but if you\u2019re visiting a small town or village, these options likely won\u2019t be available.
\n <\/p>\n

6. Avoid being flashy<\/h3>\n

Wearing flashy jewelry and designer clothes will draw attention to you, almost anywhere you go in Mexico. One exception is Mexico City, where people generally dress up more in specific neighborhoods. Almost anywhere else, wearing extravagant clothing could make you a potential target for theft. <\/p>\n

Although I own them, you won\u2019t catch me with designer purses abroad, because I just don\u2019t want to make myself the most attractive target.<\/p>\n

The same goes for having your nice smartphone in hand on the street. There are two reasons for this: one, it can be a big distraction for you, and two, it\u2019s something very easy to quickly steal out of your hand.
\n <\/p>\n

7. Vet tour companies beforehand<\/h3>\n

There are hundreds of tour companies in Mexico, and not all of them are reputable or safe. I almost never book a tour directly from a seller or right off the street. I always want to look at reviews first. <\/p>\n

If you want to go on a day trip with a particular tour company, see if you can look it up online and read actual reviews before you hand over your money. Next, I check if they have websites and social media, such as a Facebook page.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t have a specific company in mind, Google the activity you\u2019re interested in and see which companies offer it and follow the same advice. Chances are there will be some Google reviews, and if someone has had a bad experience, they\u2019ll probably leave one to warn other travelers. You can also check TripAdvisor. <\/p>\n

Another great way to make sure a tour is legit before you book is to go through a third-party site, like GetYourGuide<\/a>. On those platforms, you can see reviews from other customers and make a more informed decision on which tour is safest and worth your time and money.<\/p>\n

Additionally, beware of a common scam in which sketchy tour companies rent equipment to customers and then blame them for extensive damages. This is most common with scooter rentals, segway tours, and even snorkeling equipment rentals. To avoid this, make sure to ask what the policy is for any damage to equipment to make sure you won\u2019t be held liable. You should also take photos of anything you rent before using it. That way you can prove that you haven\u2019t made any damages.
\n <\/p>\n

8. Tell a friend where you are<\/h3>\n

\"Solo
\nIf you\u2019re traveling alone, tell a friend or family member at home your itinerary and with whom you can check in regularly. Before I started traveling internationally, I added my mom to my bank account, so that if it were ever locked while l was overseas, she could easily call and approve the charges. She has saved me many times, including when my bank tried to block my card repeatedly during an overland trip in Africa. There was no way I would\u2019ve been able to call, but she knew that those withdrawals were made by me by quickly checking in with me.<\/p>\n

Personally, checking in with someone every day or sharing my location with them would drive me absolutely bonkers, but so many solo female travelers have recommended this in comments on posts I\u2019ve written over the years that I know that, for some people, the peace of mind is worth it.
\n <\/p>\n

9. Don\u2019t indulge cat-callers<\/h3>\n

\"Solo
\nI know from personal experience how difficult it is to not snap back at a cat-caller who has disrespected me, but it\u2019s not a good idea to pay any attention to them in Mexico. <\/p>\n

In typical machismo fashion, a man who will cat-call you on the street could become aggressive or even violent if shown any kind of resistance. It\u2019s a sad truth and one that pains me to say. But letting a disrespectful person know they\u2019ve crossed a line does not always have the desired effect of making them stop what they\u2019re doing.
\n <\/p>\n

10. Be careful on dating apps<\/h3>\n

A lot of travelers use dating apps like Tinder and Bumble to meet people (even just as friends) while on the move. I\u2019ve had friends rave about it in Europe and have run into people on the road who tell me that\u2019s how they met. This could potentially be a cool way to see Mexico from a local\u2019s perspective, but it also makes me nervous. What if they have expectations? What if you\u2019re not on the same page?<\/p>\n

There are a few ways you can vet someone before deciding to meet up. First, look at their social media for any red flags. Next, make your intentions clear from the get-go. If you just want to make a new friend and see the city, let them know. Then, agree to meet up in a public. You can also have a friend on standby to check in with you mid-date to make sure you\u2019re alright.<\/p>\n

There are also Facebook groups that you can use to meet up with others. I run one specifically for solo female travelers called BMTM Solo Female Traveler Connect<\/a>. There\u2019s also Meetup.com and Bumble Friend, which is specifically set up for platonic situations.
\n <\/p>\n

11. Trust your gut when it comes to food<\/h3>\n

\"Solo
\nLet\u2019s be honest, nobody wants to spend their Mexican vacation in a hotel bathroom. Sometimes getting even just a little sick in a foreign country is unavoidable, but there are a few things to look out for to keep your tummy in working order in Mexico.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not suggesting that you avoid street food and stick to only restaurants. The worst food poisoning I\u2019ve ever had was from a fancy restaurant in Mexico! Plus, I absolutely love street tacos there, and I\u2019m always on the lookout for them. But I have some rules.<\/p>\n

First of all, trust your instincts with street food. If a stall looks unsanitary, it probably is. On the other hand, If you\u2019re unsure of where to eat, pick the taco stand with the longest queue. If there\u2019s a huge line for a particular place, it\u2019s probably because the food is great. Locals really know best on this one.
\n <\/p>\n

12. Buy travel insurance<\/h3>\n

I never travel without insurance. You shouldn’t either. Not only can it save you a fortune, but it also provides peace of mind, which is worth every penny (especially if you have concerned friends or family).<\/p>\n

If you’re on a budget, use SafetyWing<\/a>. It’s super affordable. Insure My Trip<\/a> is the best choice for travelers over 70. <\/p>\n

You can use this widget to get a quote for SafetyWing: <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n