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Central America and Mexico Topics specific to Central America and Mexico only.
Photo by Mark Newton, Mexican camping

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Mark Newton,
Camping in the Mexican desert



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  #1  
Old 7 Sep 2022
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Travelling safely in Mexico
Hi all,

I am planning to drive through Guatemala and Mexico up to the US. I am a little bit apprehensive as to how safe this will be, or if I am being overly worried before my trip begins. I am well travelled but have not been to Mexico yet, and there will be a lot of time spent alone in vulnerable areas on the road, so I just want to be aware of any pointers that might help me along my way.

Does anyone have any experience or advice here that I can incorporate into my planning and overall just get me more settled and know what to expect?

I know that there are areas in Mexico to avoid, mainly in the north is what I've read. I definitely want to visit Oaxaca and Mexico City, and whatever places I find along the way. Any suggestions there would be great too.

I will be avoiding driving at night time, and once I have arrived in any area I will be fine, but it's just the unknown open road that has me second guessing.

Thanks for any help you can offer.
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  #2  
Old 8 Sep 2022
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Mexico
Posts: 61
If you have concerns stay out of large cities and stay on the main road, the auto pista. I have lived in Mexico as a gringo full time for 15 years, speak intermediate spanish, mind my manners, and stopped counting my mileage 5 years ago at 250,000 miles. Never have had a gun pointed at me or shot or stuck with a knife. Not much random violence here like you see in the North.

If you go looking for trouble at 2AM in a Mexican bar you will find it. Que le vaya bien.
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  #3  
Old 14 Sep 2022
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Do not obsess about safety in the northern regions , just stay informed on the news about possible hotspots ( Don’t get frightened off , but a town far and deep into Mexico can be just as “ dangerous” as a border city) . Ask the border personnel if they have any recent intel. The Mexican police will also be useful source of info and they will be apt to be more noticeable around troublesome areas . For instance at Nvo Laredo they were providing escort cars during one such period of problems in that city in early 2020 .
Driving during daylight the risks will be much lower and I have followed any of the regular free highways . If all tourists scattered themselves randomly among the variety of highways it would help dispel any attraction for the criminal element to concentrate on particularly high- yielding crime areas .
Taking to the autopista all the time you will miss out seeing a lot of interesting everyday Mexico in the small towns.Also such fast travel will tend to draw you into doing excessive high mileage days with reservations made for a destination hotel and may actually cause you to drive into the night .
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http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93
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  #4  
Old 17 Sep 2022
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Location: Mexico
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As an American expat in the central highlands of Mexico it seems so strange that on many of the Adventure Moto sites there is so much fear of Mexico. Really, so many of these John Wayne riders are world travelers but yet afraid to veer off the autopista except only for gas or a hotel. In the gringo bubble near me the new demographic is not old retired margarita folks, it is young families with children from NOB. They feel safer here than there.
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  #5  
Old 17 Sep 2022
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pancho View Post
...it is young families with children from NOB.
What does NOB mean?

Michael
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  #6  
Old 17 Sep 2022
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Location: Mexico
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PanEuropean View Post
What does NOB mean?

Michael
That means that there is a town near where I live and the population of that town is about 50% American or Canadian expats. NOB means North of the Border of Mexico, so the USA or Canada. The town also has hundreds of retired European expats in residence. In the past most of the incoming expats were older folks. Now the International schools for children are full and planning expansion because many young families are moving here with children. The most common reasons cited have been cost of living and violence, especially in reference to guns.
Not intended to be a political statement just a fact.
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  #7  
Old 19 Sep 2022
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Pancho - “””many of these John Wayne riders are world travelers but yet afraid to veer off the autopista except only for gas or a hotel.””

So true, sadly, and then the hotel selected too often winds up being a Mexican
affiliate of one of the big-box corporate chain hotels pre-booked priorly ahead of time ( ) with online reservation, at double and triple the price one might pay
as a walk-in client at a smaller nice locally owned Mexican hotel .
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http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93
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  #8  
Old 23 Oct 2022
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We are in north central Mexico at the moment, heading south.
With our health insurance we are not covered for areas where our government (UK) advises ‘essential travel only’, therefore we have downloaded the foreign office map and are sticking to the safe areas only.

We crossed in Texas, using the Columbia Bridge and it was easy and safe - we were told to avoid Loredo. We then rode, using the toll road to Monterrey and a pre-booked hotel - Monterrey was great. We are now heading south through the safe, central corridor and will be going up into the mountains tomorrow and it’s safe from there on in.

We have been told that Mexico City is safe but chaotic - if we go it will be on a no car day which I believe are once a week. We’re definitely going to Oaxaca.
BTW people are 3 times more likely to be victims of crime in the US than in Mexico.
Enjoy
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  #9  
Old 4 Jan 2023
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Quote:
Originally Posted by optimismprimarily View Post
Hi all,

I am planning to drive through Guatemala and Mexico up to the US. I am a little bit apprehensive as to how safe this will be, or if I am being overly worried before my trip begins. I am well travelled but have not been to Mexico yet, and there will be a lot of time spent alone in vulnerable areas on the road, so I just want to be aware of any pointers that might help me along my way.

Does anyone have any experience or advice here that I can incorporate into my planning and overall just get me more settled and know what to expect?

I know that there are areas in Mexico to avoid, mainly in the north is what I've read. I definitely want to visit Oaxaca and Mexico City, and whatever places I find along the way. Any suggestions there would be great too.

I will be avoiding driving at night time, and once I have arrived in any area I will be fine, but it's just the unknown open road that has me second guessing.

Thanks for any help you can offer.
It would be better if you join with other riders and traveling in the daylight is much safer in general. There are police scattered in the city though. For accommodations, you can book through online ahead of time because sometimes it's fully booked specially during peak season. If you intend to get to know more about Mexico City https://gowithguide.com/mexico/mexico-city connecting with a local guide is another option. You'll feel more secured as well.
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  #10  
Old 10 Jan 2023
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Location: Vienna / currently Mexico
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Don´t worry to much
The media is good in showing the bad stuff and make you worried. Most of the problems occurre between the drug cartels and government forces so violence is not directed at you.

Mexico, I am currently traveling through Mexico with my wife, is safe if you stick to common sense.
- Stay away from big cities (always a good idea)
- Avoid driving at night (potholes, animals, etc)
- Ask locals before wild camping or taking offroad trails
- Don´t run around showing your rolex
- Stay away from security forces when possible as they are targets
- Be friendly and smile

As with dangerous areas: here you have to go with the flow and maybe change your route on a daily basis, when problems between cartels and government forces erupt in a certain area.


www.ibahabs.com
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  #11  
Old 17 Jan 2023
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I travelled through Mexico from Canada on a KLR650 in 2018...YOU WILL BE FINE. If you have common sense, dont ride at night, or look for trouble there shouldnt be any problems... My piece of advice if you are travelling into mexico from the US (like I was) don't cross through the Baja first. I did that and was overwhelmed, partly because I didnt speak the language, there were not many foreigners (south of Tijuana) and riding through the desert alone factoring all of the above made me uncomfortable.

Instead I crossed through Juarez and made my way south. I found there were more hostels with travellers who spoke english and it made that transition easier on myself..

ENJOY
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