USA to South America - How Safe is Driving thru Mexico Now?
 

Planning a trip to South America, possibly as far as Tierra del Fuego, traveling alone starting in July 2018. I had already ruled out any time in Venezuela due to their current situation. However, Mexico is looking scarier in recent weeks. The two bicyclists murdered in southern Mexico is in the news now. Friends with connections in Mexico are advising me to either find a group (or at least someone) to travel with or not go at all. Mostly they say do not go at all due to crime. Is anyone else going around this time? Is it as dangerous as I am being told?

Interesting question. I am interested to see what folks who have rode in Mexico recently have to say. I did quite a bit of riding there in the 1990s and thought it very safe the last time I rode in Mexico, but that was 2007...

There are specific areas of Mexico that you would want to stay away from. Eastern MX along the Gulf, the Tamaulipas area, is a trafficking route as far as I know, which is one for certain. There a definitely other areas that should be considered as well. When I was going through MX a few years back, Veracruz was another. I don't know how it is now.

There are some very experienced MX riders that frequent this forum and ADV Rider and hang out around the "Is Mexico Safe?" thread over there. I would propose a route based upon what you want to do, then post up a map of your route and ask people for feedback. That would probably give people the best chance to give you good advice.

Also take a look at what is happening in Nicaragua right now. They're going through the same issues that we had here in Honduras last November/December.

From latest news I hear, Thirty-One's post above is pretty accurate. Other areas can have incidents too but FACTS show that despite sporadic crime in certain areas, most times Tourists are not targeted or involved.

It's mostly Cartel wars, hits, attacks on local Police or Mayors. This all gets very complicated but suffice to say lots of dealing and corruption going on but rarely involves tourists. Fast easy drug money has really caused serious lasting problems for Mexico.

I hadn't heard about the bicyclists. Link? RIP

The HUGE "Is Mexico Safe" thread on ADV Rider has been going on years. I have not read it in years. Some guys there make a living of that thread.
A bit sad.

I haven't traveled in Mexico in 3 years but last there, went through Copper Canyon area where there had been some Cartel activity recently. (so I heard) All quiet ... not even military check points ... which are common everywhere in Mexico. Even hung out in and around Culiacan ... Chapo's home town. Quiet.

Couple tips:
Try to get your miles done early AM, settle in somewhere by 3 - 4 pm, don't go partying out late and walking empty streets.

Camping in some areas ... I WOULD NOT DO. Not a fan of wild camping on beaches near tourist areas (like Mazatlan or Acapulco). I have first hand knowledge of robberies there.

If you are in a rural area ... choose your spot carefully. Pay camp grounds are safe as are most Hostels/Hotels.

Biggest possible threat to travelers (IMO) would be drug people who are now doing there own product ... principally Speed.

Cheap and plentiful.(same as it is in USA). Most will know it makes people go INSANE after a while.

Most North Americans learned long ago the dangers of Speed but not all of that wisdom has filtered down South yet. Shame. Worst drug ever.

As mentioned, keep eye on News (but don't believe all they say!) ... Mexican media are worse than even the UK or USA Hype and out right lies.
Also, do not believe anything the US Embassy tells you.

Talk to locals if you can. The guys in Moto shops are usually pretty straight and some know what's going on ... but probably get most of what they know from TV news ... which is BRIGHT YELLOW there. So filter that too.

Traveling at night is never recommended ... but of course I've done it for years!
Did it last time I was there! doh "Do as I SAY ... NOT as I DO!" :smartass:

Use common sense ... use a dummy wallet. Have really really good hiding places for cash. 98% of Mexicans are honest and good people. Smile, be friendly, look them in the eye! (something Americans no longer do here in California) Try to make a connection.

bier

All of this is spot on. The biggest one for someone that hasn't spent any time in Latin America would be that at night time things change drastically. So, don't travel at night (get to your destination a few hours before dark and give yourself a small window if you get lost, breakdown, etc).

I will tell you that people that tell you not to go are people who haven't traveled and only read the news. They have no first hand knowledge. If they did, they wouldn't tell you not to go. There are a LOT of travelers that come through Latin America regularly. It's not at all what the news media would have you believe...unless you're in some of the major cities. Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula and Guatemala City are pretty effing dangerous.

Mollydog, link here: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...n-mexico-94997

We spent a total of one year in Mexico on our way from Alaska and currently in Ecuador. In the States we met two types of people: those who had been to Mexico and told us we'd have a great time (correct) and those that had never been and told us we'd die (obviously incorrect).

As with anywhere else use common sense. Avoid known trouble areas, don't go out and get drunk late at night and walk "home" down a dark street, take local advice and specifically ask if it's safe to go somewhere/do something etc etc. These are pretty much "rules" we use all the time regardless of location.

Enjoy Mexico, along with Colombia, one of our two favourite countries on this RTW trip so far.

Saludos
Steve and Janette
Tiger 800 RTW - Two Brits and a Triumph Tiger 800 Round The World

PS at the start of our trip, when asked, we would tell Americans that we were going to Argentina. We could tell by the look on their faces that many people had no idea where that is (one guy asked us what state it's in) so we started telling people we were going to Mexico. From that point on people often told us we would surely die when we got there. The media has a lot to answer for.

PPS you might ask yourself how safe is it riding through the USA on the way to Mexico!!!

Spot on Stevo and correct on all counts.
Education in US is deplorable ... and has been for decades. Also, with your boy Rupert Murdoch and his Fox News at top of TV ratings, most yanks suck up all the mis-information they spew like free beer. So sad.

Typical American knowledge of geography is comical ... starting right at the top with the Orange Moron in the White House. Absolutely no one even close to this Grifter has come along in all our short history.

TIP to the world: Trump has put the world in an incredibly dangerous situation.

Yes, there are efforts to stop him ... but reactionary/fascist forces are working hard to keep their Puppet in play and surround him with little Mussolini's like John Bolton.

I agree, Mexico is generally quite safe. I've never had a problem in my 20 plus trips there since age 14. (1964) Some great memories.

Mollydog is spot on
 

I agree with Mollydog
simon and I have travelled through Mexico many times and never had any issues in any state. Have travelled through them all.
however, we are always aware- never travel at night - never leave our bikes on the road at night - chose our camping spots carefully! and so on.....
we find Mexicans to be helpful, friendly, willing to assist.
of course we've also come across the odd bad apple but you get these in every country wherever you go!
still love riding there.

That's been my experience too, but some parts are definitely sketchier than others. The road the cyclists were killed on has had a reputation
for a long time. I met a touring cyclist in San Cristobal that had been robbed on that road, and while he only lost his wallet and phone, he was justifiably shook about it. That said, I have ridden that road 3 times my self, in '03, '06 and '16 without issues. In '16 there was a Zapatista roadblock as a protest, but it was interesting and not dangerous.

If I were headed to Mexico from Houston, based on my imperfect knowledge, I would not cross the border in the Rio Grande Valley, but further upriver, maybe Laredo or Eagle Pass, and stay in the highlands. Better weather and more interesting country, and arguably safer IMO. Tamaulipas and Veracruz along the Gulf seem to have more security issues. There again, I have been through both states without a problem.