Just wondering if you guys think it's safe to travel alone in mexico (route includes a loop through baja, mazatlan, copper canyon with exit in nogales). I'm a 26 yr old male riding a klr 650. planning to leave this sunday, 11/6. By the way, if anyone's interested in coming with me, let me know asap. Thanks a lot. Jay

I have never had any problems travelling solo,anywhere in Mexico.Stay off of the roads at night;use common sense when choosing a campsite,or hotel;avoid flashy displays of wealth;and most importantly use your intuition(if something looks /feels odd then it's time to move on).I'm planning an extended trip thru Mexico,Guatemala and Belize,and safety is always something to keep in mind,but don't let fear stop your plans.I have encountered far more crime and whackos in my own hometown,then anywhere else in the world.Enjoy your trip.

BmBaxter -

Thanks alot for the encouragment and for sharing your positive experience. I can't wait for the trip, I just get nervous because of all the stories I've heard. It's always tough sifting through everything to determine what's overexaggerated and what's not.

Thanks again!

hello Jay,

I road all by myself through mexico last winter. it was very beautiful, friendly people and a lot of topes (speedbumps).
go for it, and have a great time.
it helps if you know a bit of spanish, my only advice would be to stop riding before sundown and find a nice place to stay and a cantina after that, to look back on another great day of travelling.
enjoy your trip,
MARK

I live in Mexico City and have travelled alone or with my wife on the pillion all over Mrxico. I have never had a problem. The roads are not always in great shape so take it easy and enjoy the scenery. I just came back from the HU Meeting in Creel and it is one of the most beautiful places I have been. The ride down to Batopilas is spectacular if you like gravel roads and the road from Parral to Creel is one of the best paved roads I have ridden anywhere in the world.
Enjoy the trip it will be unforgetable and you will want to come back again and again.

Thanks again guys! I'm all set to head down there this coming Tuesday and am looking forward to the adventure. If you have any route recommendations or sidetrips in the Copper Canyon area, don't hesitate to send them my way. I really was trying to make it to the HU meeting last month, but couldn't get there. Hopefully I'll find time to meet somewhere else at a later date. Take care.

Jay:
First try to get a Guia Roji Atlas de Carreteras. That is the best set of maps we have. You will find it in major cities at supermarkets or drugstores.
Go thru BAJA, Then Creel and Cooper Canyon, Espinazo del Diablo (if you enjoy twisty roads) Mazatlan (bit touristy) Zacatecas, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende.
Pacific Coast of Michoacan, Oaxaca, Veracruz, etc, etc etc.
If you pass by Guadalajara, drop me an e-mail, here´s where I live and I can share a couple of s.
Have Fun and keep in touch.

Humberto

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THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS CARRIED FOREVER...

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Hi Jay,

Mexico is safe as houses although I would travel for at least 6 hours from Tijuana border before stopping as this area of Baja is particularily bad the rest is no problem. We stayed with Humberto for a week he is a great guy so stop in and see him if you get a chance, there is also some good riding and towns near Guadalajara.

Cheers Geoff

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In mexico heading south to central and south america until Jan 06

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Finished 09/04/06, Denver Colorado to Ushuaia and back to Santiago. 27000 miles two up on a 2005 F650GS Dakar

Humberto - thanks for the advice about what to see and for the invitation to stop by your place. If I'm in the area, I will certainly make an effort to stop by for some cervezas.

Geoff - good luck on your journey further south. Wish I was going with you. And I will certainly keep in mind the advice about heading deep into Baja before stopping, although I think there should be plenty of gringos there right now since the Baja 1000 starts next week. I just hope I don't get run over by the pre-runners.

Take care.

A bit late to chime in with info but it may still be of help.hmoro suggests getting the Guia Roji road atlas b ut neglects to mention which one. Guia Roji publish a variety of road atlases in book form , at diferent scales and a whole bunch of fold out road maps of cities, states and regions with varying scale and detail,but get very expensive if you get the entire set or the huge atlas. The best choice for a motorcycle traveller is the GR road atlas with scale of 1: 1 000 000, costs about $13 US , agood fit in luggage. However an other publisher called Editores Quimera also put out an excellent variety of maps and atlases. Get their Road Guide for Mexico, about the size of a magazine( slightly smaller than the Guia Roji noted) which has maps at a scale of 1: 1 750 000 , each page fits neatly on a standard photocopy sheet for your tankbag , or the whole atlas can be put there (Quimera also prints many of the maps for ITMB of Vancouver) I find that the Quimera atlas is every bit as detailed and equal to the GR-offering. This atlas is sold at magazine and periodical shops, bookstores, department store magazine racks , and is also published with Volkswagen as a promo item- check a VW dealership..Usually it is wrapped tight in plastic so you caannot inspect it , but it is excellent, costs about$8US. Each also has anumber of city detail maps, . If you want , buy both, gets you more city maps and you can check out the slight differences some roads are given varying routing ( phantom roads)

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http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93

Thanks, I´m in Ensenada right now so I should be able to track one down here. I appreciate the clarification.

mexico is awesome and you´ll have no problem. smile, try to speak the language and have fun... you can read my escapades in mexico here www.worldrider.com, i´m in honduras right now and had no problem in guatemala either...

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Allan - WorldRider
2005 - Adventure & Discovery - 2008 http://www.worldrider.com

wilgusj:
Ask all these people who are saying that Mexico is dangerous to travel through, if they have EVER BEEN TO MEXICO other than to a protected posh resort. I am willing to bet that 99% of them have not. They are just talking out of their a$$es. Don't listen to them and don't let project their personal phobias into you.
Go and enjoy. Smile a lot and people will smile right back at you.
It's safe.

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Ride On!

A.T.

hi Wilgusj,

I am in puerto vallarta now after a few weeks of baja (alone), then teamed up with Claudio on his Guzzi (www.longwalk.it) to barranca del cobre via el fuerte, partly unmapped dirtroad to creel, down to batopilas, durango, mazatlan and now puerto vallarta. Mexico is awesome. never had a moment i felt unsecure. only annoying thing is to open your luggage at every military checkpoint.

skip the tollroads, they are dull and expensive.

cheers,
sander

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http://sanderonasingle.blogspot.com/

If you are looking for a great place to stay in Creel contact Molly at mogat7@yahoo.com.mx Molly and her husband Enrique own a small clean hotel in Creel. Their english good and they have secure parking. Best of all they are good people and welcome motorcyclist. I was down there last winter with some friends when the reat wheel bearing went out on my GS. Enrique when he learned there was no way for me to fix the bike hauled me 14 hours back to El Paso, TX just for the gas money. Mexico is a wonderful country full of great people like Enrigue and Molly. Be smart about going into the canyon after the crops are harvested and you should not have any issues at all.