Jennifer Fernández Solano

Is Mexico Safe for Women Travelers? 10 Essential Tips

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 01:26:50 GMT

As a travel writer born and raised in Mexico, I often get asked for tips by friends with upcoming trips. They want to know about the weather, which parts of the country they shouldn’t miss, and my takes on the best places to eat in each city or coastal town. What they probably don’t always expect is a rundown on safety measures to follow while there, but there are things you should know, especially if you’re a woman visiting Mexico.

Mexico is a huge country with varying degrees of violence depending on the region, and chances are nothing will happen to you as a tourist. However, violence against women is a serious issue in Mexico, one that shouldn’t be ignored, and local women are used to taking precautions that tourists are often unaware of.

Here's what to expect and safety measures on how to stay safe as a woman traveling to Mexico.

Blending in in Mexico
Stay aware
Stick to safe areas
Know your transport options
Be careful with money
Watch your personal belongings
Stay alert while drinking
Share your location with friends
Walk with confidence
Emergency numbers

Blending in in Mexico

“But it’s obvious I don’t look like a local,” you might think. Not necessarily. There are millions of foreigners living in Mexico, so it’s better to look like a knowledgeable expat than stick out like a sore thumb as a tourist.

While coastal towns are used to people wearing anything they want and no one will bat an eyelid at the sight of bare legs, cities maintain a certain etiquette. Shorts will definitely make you stand out as a tourist (and might call unwanted attention such as stares or catcalls) in cities such as Mexico City and Oaxaca, as local men and women of all walks of life prefer longer pants, jeans and more modest skirts, regardless of the weather.

When it comes to jewelry, leave anything expensive back home. Mexicans aren’t flashy about wearing expensive jewelry out in public.

Stay aware in Mexico

It might come naturally to walk around in awe of new places you visit but try to remain aware of where you are and who’s around you. As a woman, it’s not advisable to walk alone at night, ever. If you must (say, if you’re a block away from your accommodation and it’s too short a walk to get an Uber or taxi), don’t let strangers get too close or walk right behind you.

On a related note, be aware of the information you disclose to strangers. Unless it’s your tour guide, hotel concierge, or Airbnb host, there’s no need to go around telling taxi drivers and random people you meet that you’re traveling on your own (if that’s the case).

Stick to safe areas

Whether you like traveling “off the beaten path” or not, research the area you’re staying in to avoid less savory parts of town. For example, staying in the historic center may sound appealing (as it does in most cities worldwide), but in Mexico City, most streets in the area haven’t been gentrified yet and can be dodgy at night. Instead, there are leafy central suburbs like Roma and Condesa that are way safer options to stay at.

If you must go to places deemed dangerous (like Acapulco, a once cherished beach town turned narco playground), stay at the hotels within the gated communities.

Know your transport options

A 2018 study commissioned by the Thomson Reuters Foundation found that three in every four women felt unsafe while using public transport in Mexico City. Overcrowding was cited as a major concern, which led to groping and other sexual harassment, and fellow travelers were unlikely to come to a woman's aid. To address the problem, women-only train carriages (normally the first three cars) were implemented some 20 years ago, but they are not available on all the metro lines, and a 2021 study by the University of Chicago found that that the program has only reduced sexual harrassment by 2.9%.

When it comes to taxis, it’s a good practice to avoid hailing them off the street in big cities as street taxis have been known to be involved in crime. Instead, get a taxi from a taxi rank (your hotel or restaurant can usually call one for you). In smaller towns, ask at your lodgings whether catching a taxi off the street is acceptable in terms of safety.

If available in the place you’re visiting, Ubers are preferable to taxis. In general, Ubers are cheap in Mexico and a safer way to get home than walking home alone at night. Local women often share Ubers with a friend when going back home after a night out and always check in with each other to make sure everyone gets home safe.

If you’re traveling long distances by bus, avoid nighttime buses. Try to travel during the day instead. (The same goes for driving on highways, especially around areas where there’s a higher chance that there are narcos or narco fields.)

Be careful with money

It’s not advisable to go to ATMs at night. When you take money out, put it away discreetly, trying to avoid accidentally flashing it. Always keep some money and credit cards locked up at the hotel (in the safety deposit box or inside a locked suitcase).

If you go out at night, take only one card that you know works, preferably not a card attached to a large bank balance that's visible on the screen, and some money in cash. Should you get mugged, ALWAYS hand over the money. Don’t try to argue with the mugger or chase someone down the street if they take your bag – you never know if that person will have a knife or gun, and they probably won’t be afraid to use it.

Watch your personal belongings

Never hang your handbag on the back of a chair at an outdoor restaurant. While sitting on streetside terraces, Mexican women will usually dine holding their purses on their laps. Similarly, don’t leave your bags unattended in a shop to go grab something in a different part of the shop, even if you’re planning on being away for just a minute. And, while walking, don’t let your bag hang loose on your backside, always clutch it towards your front.

When it comes to your passport, leave it locked up at the hotel with most of your credit cards. Take a photo of it and carry a print copy as well in case you ever get questioned by the police.

Planning a trip to Mexico? Find out how travel insurance can help in case of unexpected illness, lost or stolen baggage, or other travel mishaps.

Stay alert while drinking

Like anywhere in the world, don’t leave your drink unattended. And it’s always a good idea to make sure you’ve eaten if you’re planning on drinking. Altitude, jet lag, and tiredness from catching early flights can all contribute to you having less tolerance to alcohol that you would back home. You’ll want to stay alert if you’re traveling on your own.

On a night out, don’t get drunk or put your friend in a cab or Uber by herself if she gets drunk. This isn’t a lesson in morality, it’s a fact that women disappear in taxis in Mexico when going home at night, so it goes back to being aware of your surroundings and who’s around you as much as you can.

Share your location with friends

If you’re considering meeting someone through a dating app, try meeting during the day for the first time. It’s a good idea to meet in a public place that’s not too close to your lodgings, that way you can avoid your date offering to walk you home in case you need to get out of the date. (It’s always better to be able to get out of it using a cab or Uber, as you don’t want someone you didn’t like or know well to know where you live –this applies back home too, actually!)

Take a screenshot of your date’s photo and info and send it to a friend (even if they’re abroad). WhatsApp lets you share your live location with a friend for up to 8 hours. Consider telling them the area you’ll be in and ask them to monitor the map and check in on you if you stir too far from where you’re supposed to be on the map. This may seem extreme, but once you feel comfortable, you can let them know you’re okay. (Your friend doesn’t actually need to be checking the screen for the whole 8 hours.)

Walk with confidence

Be wary of overly helpful people, smile, say “No gracias” and keep walking straight ahead. There are some very creative scams happening in touristy areas. As an example, I once witnessed my Canadian flatmate’s mom being a victim of a “the bird pooped on you” scam in downtown Mexico City.

It consisted of a group of women surrounding her to help her wipe “bird poop” from her face (after one of them had sprayed her with water while no one was watching) while one of the perpetrators went through her bag. The point was just to distract her from paying attention to her bag. Thankfully, hers was a travel bag with lots of hidden compartments, so they never got to her money, passport, or any valuables.

Emergency numbers

Should something happen, opt for the tourist police rather than the regular police. They are known for being more helpful and less corrupt. Mexico operates multilingual Tourist Assistance Centers in Los Cabos, La Paz, Acapulco, Playa del Carmen, Mazatlan, Ciudad Madero, and Querataro.

If not available in the city or town where you’re staying, consider getting help from your country’s consulate or embassy.

In Mexico, you can reach Tourist Assistance by dialing 078 from any phone. They can provide information on embassies or consulates, hospitals, and other issues.

For emergencies call 911.

Hidden Mexico: 6 Ways to Get Off the Beaten Path

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 02:13:00 GMT

Mexico is much more than its resort towns of Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos – and even than it’s chaotic but cool capital city. Here are six ways to get off the tourist trail and explore some lesser-known areas of Mexico.

Uncrowded beaches in San Pancho, Nayarit
Celestún Biosphere Reserve, Yucatán
Spirits and culture in Tequila, Jalisco
Wine and cheese in San Sebastián Bernal, Querétaro
Outdoor adventure in Huasteca Potosina, San Luis Potosí
Fireflies in Nanacamilpa, Tlaxcala

Uncrowded beaches in San Pancho, Nayarit

Give Sayulita a miss and head to San Pancho instead. This beach town, just north of its more famous neighbor, is officially named San Francisco – it’s a socially-conscious town with robust environmental and social programs. The EntreAmigos Community Center offers educational opportunities to the local community and makes impressive efforts to recycle – I even bought some high-quality souvenirs made from repurposed materials during my visit. The town has a children's circus that was founded as a joint effort between EntreAmigos and the Cirque du Soleil, which donated costumes and equipment in 2011 and has remained involved ever since. A massive polo field is one more thing that sets San Pancho apart, and its laidback vibe is reminiscent of Sayulita in the late 1960s when that town was first discovered by international surfers.

A flock of flamingos at Celestún Biosphere Reserve. Photo credit: Getty Images / Emmanuel Lazos Celis

Celestún Biosphere Reserve, Yucatán

Most visitors to Celestún are daytrippers arriving from the famous colonial city of Mérida, but spending at least a night or two at this quiet fishing village will allow you time here once the crowds have gone. Celestún’s main draw is its flamingo population. Scores of birds descend to the shallow waters of the Celestún Biosphere Reserve to feed twice a day – early morning and before sundown – so try to arrive the day before and get up early to see this spectacle. I stayed at a beachfront property overlooking turquoise waters, where the owners arranged a boat tour for me to marvel at the sight of thousands of flamingoes forming a straight horizontal line as they flew. (Confession: I didn’t realize they could fly!). Traversing mangroves on the boat tour is great fun, and you can round off the day enjoying fresh seafood on the cheap at the many casual restaurants right on the beach.

Fields of blue agave outside the town of Tequila. Photo credit: Getty Images / Matt Mawson

Spirits and culture in Tequila, Jalisco

Blue agave fields will greet you long before you arrive in Tequila, an exciting and picturesque town in Jalisco that’s part of the Magical Towns (Pueblos Magicos) program (towns recognized by the Mexican Government for their beauty, history, or legends). Tequila’s famous namesake beverage needs no introduction, and you’ll want to allow some time for touring José Cuervo, Casa Herradura, and La Cofradía to taste different versions of the spirit. However, there’s a lot more to Tequila than tequila. Its colonial architecture is so well-maintained that it looks like it belongs in a movie set. (When I was there, I saw lots of brides and grooms doing photoshoots, taking advantage of the ubiquitous beautiful backdrops.) This gem of a town also has a stately cultural center that opened in 2018 – the Centro Cultural Juan Beckmann Gallardo.

San Sebastián Bernal, with its famous monolith rising behind it. Photo credit: Getty Images / Maria Sward

Wine and cheese in San Sebastián Bernal, Querétaro

Known for its huge monolith, allegedly the third-largest in the world, Bernal is another one of Mexico’s 132 Magical Towns. Besides hiking and climbing, this scenic town is great as a base to explore the wine and cheese route in the state of Querétaro. While there are many wineries in the area, De Cote was my favorite, as you can walk for what felt like miles between the rows of vines and picnic tables offer a rural-chic dining experience. At Bocanegra Cava de Quesos, order a cheese platter and a bottle of wine to enjoy on the deck and buy a couple of blocks of cheese to take with you.

Outdoor adventure in Huasteca Potosina, San Luis Potosí

An adventure lover’s dream, La Huasteca region comprises northern Veracruz, southern Tamaulipas, and parts of San Luis Potosí, Puebla, and Hidalgo. I traveled around Huasteca Potosina, an area found in San Luis Potosí that offers great outdoor exploring. The Tamul Waterfall is an otherworldly vision of turquoise waters perfect for canoeing, while at the Micos Waterfalls you can bike on a zip line over the falls.

Canoeing near Tamul Waterfall, Huasteca Potosina. Photo credit: Getty Images / Cavan Images

Fireflies in Nanacamilpa, Tlaxcala

Though I had seen fireflies before, as a kid, the Firefly Sanctuary in Tlaxcala was like nothing I’d ever experienced. I was a bit nervous about venturing into the woods at night in total darkness – you can’t have so much as a cell-phone light on, to avoid scaring away the fireflies – but once there, my eyes quickly adapted and the trees on both sides of the path began lighting up. If any moonlight starts filtering through the clouds, the fireflies are quick to disappear, so an overcast and slightly rainy night is best. The season runs from June to the beginning of August and the woods do get crowded, but the experience is organized in small groups that venture into different parts of the woods with a guide, and visitors are so mesmerized by the fireflies that they mostly keep silent. I found it absolutely magical.