Is it safe to travel to Mexico? The truth is that the news that has appeared on television over the years about Mexico is not very encouraging.

There are many travelers who love Mexico. Many of them come to the country to see its most touristic areas and, in love, return time and again to see lesser-known corners.

It is obvious that the events that appear in the media are real. However, it is convenient to look at them in perspective. The spiral of violence that exists in some states of Mexico is basically caused by drug cartels, and tourists who enjoy their vacations in the most visited places in Mexico do not usually suffer more than common crimes such as theft or robbery. While victim-blaming isn’t appropriate, the truth is, most foreigners who are robbed in Mexico gave the criminals an opportunity by not being aware of their surroundings. I have been robbed twice. Both times late at night walking on dark streets. One time intoxicated. It’s the perfect recipe to become a victim of a crime.

Health Safety while traveling in Mexico

It is advisable to avoid mosquito bites in the hottest and rainy months because there are diseases that are transmitted through these insects. The states with the highest risk are Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Tabasco and Veracruz, and less intensely in Nuevo León, Jalisco, Michoacán, Yucatán, Nayarit and Sinaloa. A good mosquito repellent and wearing long clothes at dusk and dawn may be sufficient. It is also essential to drink bottled water and be a little attentive to hygiene when eating, especially if it is done in street stalls.

Another aspect to consider is that it is safe to travel to Mexico, but health care throughout the country is uneven. In large cities, there are good quality hospitals and medical centers. In Private medical care, it is normal that a previous deposit is required to be treated. If you don’t have a form of payment, you won’t receive medical care. Therefore, one of the keys to traveling with peace of mind is making sure you have travel insurance.

Is it safe to travel alone in Mexico?

You want to travel alone to Mexico or you don’t want to wait any longer for anyone to accompany you, but every time you tell someone they tell you that you are crazy. It is normal, the country has earned a bad reputation. However, traveling to Mexico alone is an experience that you will never forget for several reasons: it is a super varied country, it is easy to get around by public transport, and it is relatively inexpensive.

On your first trip to Mexico alone, so that you feel calm, what we recommend is that you gather a lot of information. That is, you plan almost your entire route, find out which areas are safe, and move around tourist places. Perhaps you are better off avoiding large cities until you have spent a few days and are familiar with the country, people, and social norms.

It will be very rare for you to suffer violence traveling alone in Mexico, although it is always advisable to be on the lookout for possible thefts. Use your common sense and do not party alone or walk through desolate places at sunset. Unfortunately, Mexico, like many others, is a country where you can see a lot of machismo, so it is likely that if you are a female traveler, will receive a compliment or look on the street that makes you uncomfortable. In these cases, it is best to avoid a direct confrontation and withdraw yourself from the situation.

• Go protected with the best travel insurance to Mexico
• Don’t be ostentatious. It is safe to travel to Mexico, but, as in many other countries, do not display high-value objects such as jewelry, cameras, smartphones … Do not talk much about your economic capacity.
• Try to distribute your money and your cards between several wallets or pockets. Leave everything you can at the hotel and take a copy of your documentation with you.
• If you suffer an incident, report it in Mexico and save all the documents for future claims. Take the Consulate’s phone number with you and notify them also if you have had any problems.
• If you plan to get a rental car, try to travel during the day and do not rent a very flashy vehicle. You should also try to park in guarded parking lots overnight. It is advisable to use the toll highways.
• Do not carry valuables in the luggage that you are going to check in on the plane or put in the hold of a bus. Store them in your carry-on luggage and keep them in sight.
• Try to withdraw money at ATMs in guarded areas: banks, shopping centers, tourist areas with a lot of people …
• If you are going to pay by credit card, review the charges that have been made to you later. There have been cases of card cloning.
• Avoid lonely areas at night and dark streets.

More safety and health trips for traveling in Mexico

• Use insect repellants and try to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes bite the most.
• If you receive a threatening call , hang up as soon as possible and do not give any information. A few years ago there were some cases of “virtual kidnappings”. They are isolated dangers, but it never hurts to know.
• Due to covid-19, try to avoid public transport.
• Try to take taxis at official stops, especially in Mexico City.
• It is safe to travel to Mexico at any time of the year, but if you can, try to avoid hurricane season , which runs from July to November approximately.
• If your hotel has a safe, deposit your documents and valuables in it.
• Watch out for the “Montezuma ‘s Revenge”! We know you want to try as much Mexican food as possible (we don’t blame you, it’s wonderful), but if you’re not very used to spicy or overly seasoned food, you could have some stomach problems. Get acquainted with spicy food little by little and, of course, don’t drink tap water.
• When going to the beach, watch your belongings when you bathe and try to avoid areas that are too lonely if you travel alone.
• Talk to the locals. They are the ones who will know how to tell you which areas are safest and will give you advice that you will not find on the internet.
• It is safe to travel to Mexico but use common sense. It never hurts to remember that just because you are on vacation it doesn’t mean you can stop using your head.