When it comes to safety in Mexico (or anywhere really) one of biggest pieces of advice I see online is to blend in. This is cute, but at no point in time will any visitor blend in, ever. Visitors are always the new kid in class. Every one in town has seen you. Behave well… or don’t.
How can I say that no one will blend in? Imagine a complete stranger showed up to your birthday party. You would know. Even other Latinos do not blend in. If its not your physical giveaways, it is your clothing, and if you pass those two, even just saying the word ‘gracias’ will be a dead giveaway.
My advice? Stop trying to blend in and embrace the fact that you are a visitor in someone’s home. Smile. Say hello. Ask for a good place to eat. Mexicans have great pride in their country and are more than happy to make sure you eat good food.
Each state and at time small towns have their own specialty dish, never stop asking for local food recommendations in Mexico.
Each day of driving, have a basic plan of how far you will drive. Once you have been on the road for a few weeks, its important to set a healthy max amount of drive time per day. Do not push yourself to drive beyond your limits. In my early days of overlanding, I set a rule. Arrive to camp no later than 4 pm. This also happens to be Porter’s dinner time. It is the perfect arrival for me. In the daylight, its great to walk the area with Porter, make a nice dinner, and just relax as the sunsets.
Border Crossing Tips
- Enter early so you have enough time to drive at least 2 hours from the border to camp.
- Enter with a full tank of gas, less stops, avoid higher prices close to the border.
- Have plenty of water and driving snacks.
- Use the bathroom before you leave the border.
- Avoid entering Mexico during ‘rush hour’ times. Keep in mind, thousands of people commute across these government lines each day for work, family or to simply shop. Avoid entering Mexico on a Friday or Saturday. I have found the best times to enter Mexico are Sundays, and Tuesday – Thursday from 10 am – 2 pm.
- Have you maps downloaded offline.
Driving Tips
- Avoid driving at night. When the sun sets, the pavement is warm. This draws out cows, donkeys, goats, horses, and more animals into the road.
- Keep a keen eye out for topes (speed bumps) personally I take my time behind locals, they know where they all are.
- Make sure you have enough pesos for tolls and keep the receipt.
- If traveling to a new camp site, make sure to have a plan B, C, or sometimes even D just in case the site does not exists anymore or has become unreachable.
- Share your itinerary and live location with someone you trust.
Extra Tips
- Be mindful of your belongings and avoid displaying expensive items.
- Stay Aware of Your Surroundings
- Keep your phone charged and have emergency numbers saved, Mexico is 911
- Learn and use basic Spanish phrases, a smile followed by buenos días or hola, como esta goes a long way.
Hey there! My name is Ashley and I am the adventurer behind the wheel of a Toyota Tacoma Overland rig, driving around the world with my four-legged bestie, Porter da explorer.
This once-in-a-lifetime adventure is not only fulfilling my dreams, but also paying homage to my late father. His free spirit of exploration continues to guide me every mile of the way.
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