Solo Female Traveler in Mexico

Discover Mexico beyond the stereotypes: no wonder if you end up loving it.

Many people may think that Mexico is a dangerous destination, especially if you are traveling alone as a woman. Although it is probably not as easy to travel in Mexico as a lone woman as it would be in Europe, it is definitely worth it.

Mexico is not only beaches and parties in Cancun on the Riviera Maya. Although tourism has dropped in the last decade due to the media focus on the drug war, Mexico is not as dangerous as it may appear. I'm not saying those things don't happen but for the most part, tourists can explore the country in peace.

I have to admit that I wasn't very passionate about Mexico before my first visit in 2010. European media coverage and American movies such as Man on Fire, Babel and From Prada to Nada, don't really portray Mexico in a positive light. After seeing and hearing things such as these, it's not surprising that a regular tourist would rather go to Peru, Costa Rica, or any other country due to the fear of being robbed, kidnapped or maybe even killed in Mexico.

I actually ended up in Mexico by accident for the very first time in August 2010, after my graduation from Harvard University and my internship in Argentina. I originally came to visit only for 2 weeks, but I instantly fell in love with the place so straight after my placement I returned to Mexico City to live for a while.

Despite meeting a lot of people through my Mexican ex-boyfriend, I wanted to do a lot of things on my own. In the beginning I used to teach business English at various companies and so I commuted on my own to different places in various areas of the city. Despite the opinion of some Mexicans, I claim that public transport is relatively safe in Mexico City. In my opinion, women are privileged in the sense that the government offers special pink buses only for women, a separate entrance to Metrobus, and women-only sections in the metro. Some would argue that this doesn't make women privileged because the primary reason to create this 'Viajemos Seguras [We travel safe]' program is to keep women safe. However, compared to other countries in Latin America, at least Mexico decided to take action. Furthermore, traveling by long-distance buses isn't dangerous at all. It's actually pretty comfortable and I've never been harassed or offended in any way.

Mexicans are extremely nice people. Men might stare at you and call you 'bonita' [beautiful], but they are not doing this to offend you in any way. They simply like the fact that you look 'different' than the women they are used to.

I spent almost 2 years living in Mexico, in the end working for a magazine and advertising agency. I met a lot of nice people and as a woman, I've never felt insecure. Everyone was incredibly nice and I'd even go so far as to say that the locals were somehow thankful that I came to Mexico and liked it there.

During my 2 years in Mexico I visited various places. Here are my top recommendations:

1. Mexico City, as the capital, offers many museums, stunning parks, and big city architecture combined with historic buildings. It's a must see when visiting Mexico!

2. Pyramids of Teotihuacan. Located less than an hour from Mexico City, these UNESCO world heritage Aztec pyramids are definitely worth visiting. They might seem small when you see them... but wait till you have to climb them.

3. Taxco is a small town located less than 3h from Mexico City. It's known for its production of silver and stunning views from Monte Taxco with its own aerial tramway.

4. Puerto Vallarta. I'd recommend staying in the old part of town, instead of in the more popular big resorts. Puerto Vallarta offers cheap local seafood and margaritas for only $1.

5. Valle de Bravo. This picturesque valley offers beautiful forest surroundings and water activities on Lake Avandaro. It's a great place for a weekend getaway.

6. Puebla, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta and Guanajuato. I made my way to all of these places using planes, buses, taxis and public transport. I was never scared or felt insecure – actually quite the opposite. I remember in Guanajuato when the person I was meeting for an interview was late, the taxi driver offered to let me wait in the cab as a nice gesture. A similar thing happened to me in Acapulco when the waiter was amazed that I'm not afraid to travel on my own and offered me a margarita on the house.

Did I have any problems doing this all on my own? The answer is of course not. Traveling by yourself doesn't mean you're completely alone all the time. You can take day tours, go to bars, talk to people in your hostel when you stop and realize: wait a second, I'm actually NEVER alone.

Still hesitating about whether or not you should go to Mexico? Give it a try! You don't have to move there for 2 years like I did, however bear in mind that you might end up loving it and stay longer than you expected.

This article was written by Anna Lysakowska. She runs her blog annaeverywhere.com, and she's also an editor and translator who has visited more than 45 countries and lived in 7, including Mexico City, Boston, London, Cape Town, Florence and Leiden. She studied journalism at Harvard, international law at Oxford Brookes and obtained her Masters in Latin American Studies from Leiden University. Since 2013 she has been residing in the Netherlands where she works at a marketing company, but this doesn't stop her from traveling.