IS MEXICO SAFE FOR WOMEN TRAVELING ALONE?

IS IT SAFE FOR WOMEN TO TRAVEL ALONE TO MEXICO?

 

NationMaster.com: U.S. and Mexico crime statistics

CHECK OUT THE ULTIMATE 2 WEEKS TRAVEL GUIDE TO MEXICO AS A SOLO TRAVELER

3 reasons why MEXICO – YUCATAN is SAFE for solo female travelers

1. KIND LOCAL people

My first stop was in Cancun, I arrived around 11 pm and was so scared I won’t get it to the hotel. But the first thing I saw once I got out of the bus station was all the police and army walking around. I did not know where to take the bus to the Hotel region, so I asked people around. They were all very nice and helpful and pointed me to the bus station. 

The next day, I was looking for the bus station to go have breakfast and I was standing in the wrong place. A nice local guy came and told me where the bus is, which bus I should take, how much it costs, and the schedule. After he greeted me and left. Let me tell you I was nicely surprised as I was not expecting.

2. GUARDIA NACIONAL

The thing that struck me the most was all the police, known as Guardia Nacional, driving at a fast pace in their cars with bulletproof vests and high-caliber firearms. At first glance, you could feel alarmed and question what is going on, but bear in mind they are there to protect the tourists. Once I understood that, I felt much more secure and relaxed. Of course, I also took precautions not to go alone during the night, not walking on isolated streets or less safe barios.

If you decide to rent a car to get around, know that Yucatán has restrictions on drinking and driving of 0.08% BAC limit. during the night there is a significant number of state police and even medical personnel, taking breath samples in their quest to keep drunk drivers off the road.

3. safe transportation

Although the traffic is very rough, getting around in Mexico is quite practical in public transportation.

ADO buses are very popular in Mexico as they run between airports and popular tourist towns in Yucatan, but also between cities. You can book tickets online or you can buy them from ADO stations for destinations like Cancun, Tulum, Playa Del Carmen, and Chichén Itzá.

In Cancun, you have the R1 & R2 busses that can connect the Hotel Zone, Boulevard Kukulcán (downtown), and Avenida Tulum. The buses run every five minutes and will take you back and forth between downtown and the Hotel Zone. A one-way fare costs 12 Pesos which is roughly 50 cents in USD/€. The buses do not accept foreign coins and make sure to carry Pesos on you, not bills, as it is difficult for them to break big bills. There are plenty of stations between Zona Hotelera and Downtown, but it will stop all along the way if you make a sign. The drivers are very accommodating and friendly. 

In Tulum, Collectivo is quite practical and cheap, 20 Pesos for residents and 30 Pesos for non-residents from Pueblo Tulum to Zona Hotelera. The bike rentals will tell you that Collectivo doesn’t take tourists, only locals working in zona hotelera but it is not true. For the entire week I stayed in Tulum I used only Collectivo and had no problems.

biggest threats in mexico-yucatan are hurricanes, hangovers, sunburns, and mosquitoes.

Safety Tips FOR SOLO FEMALE TRAVELERS TO YUCATAN

Safety issues can be daunting when traveling alone, especially as a solo female. Here you can find some useful tips to make you feel more at ease in Mexico:

• Don’t hold your phone in your hand while on a scooter or bike
• Keep your personal belongings safe and close to you at all times
• Don’t go wandering the streets on your own during the night
• Don’t take strangers to your hotel room or go to their houses, especially if they are locals
• Rather take organized trips where there are more travelers and you can get acquainted with them
• Be careful about drugs if you accept drinks in a bar from strangers. Better go for a bottle opened right in front of you
• Don’t swim while the red flags are up! The tides and currents in Mexico can be really strong.