I still have my couch, but I do not sit on lie on it. I let my guests have that priviledge.

... Zigeuner53, Kusi1 and Joel33, your information is very helpful.
I'll ad Mexico at the tail end of the trip, bike's already on its way to Lima.

Ciao, Helly

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South+Central America 2012: http://allthoseroads.wordpress.com

I'd really like to know about which places in Mexico, if any, are to be avoided. It's fair to claim that the news media has blown things out of proportion, but posts from people who are there or who have been there recently would be much more useful and appreciated by me. Thanks!

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SF to TdF via KLR! http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=784921

Two Canadian tourists murdered in Mexico the past couple of days. The boyfriend of one was also murdered. Seems like a common happening there. Adventure riders like to downplay the dangers but the truth is that travel in Mexico is much more dangerous than in the USA or Canada. Not saying you can't travel there and return safely but if it's adventure you want that's the place.

I live in Mexico City which is as safe as a city with 20 million people can be. The north of the country seems to be the most dangerous. Border towns being some of the worst. In spite of this I would still travel anywhere in Mexico and not worry about it too much. Use common sense, which may not be that common. Avoid travelling at night. Don't go looking for drugs unless you like problems.
Having said that we have put up about 70 travellers over the last 5 or 6 years and only 1 has had a serious problem. He was killed in a traffic accident. You are riding a motorcycle in a foreign country that will be by far your biggest risk.
If you plan on coming to Mexico City send me a PM or post here and we can fix something up.
Safe travels

The two Canadian deaths, and the numerous others are senseless tragedies.

On the other hand, almost 1.5 million Canadians visited Mexico in 2010. I can only assume that the numbers for 2011 were similar. The number of Canadians murdered in Mexico for 2011 was 6. So that means that approximately 0.000006% of Canadians visiting Mexico were killed. Those are odds that I can definitely live with and I would hardly consider it "adventure" ...unless I feel that interacting with helpful, friendly, caring, interesting people is considered an adventure. All I can say is that I must have been one of the "lucky" 99.999994% of Canadians who didn't get murdered while visiting Mexico 6 times.

Of all the places I've been (Mexico, Cuba, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, USA, Canada, Barbados, Antigua, Morrocco, Germany, France) I've only once truly feared for my safety. That was right in my current home town of Victoria, BC (metropolitan population 330,000), where two drunken young men briefly taunted four of us in the early morning hours.

Mexico definitely has its' problems but let's keep it all in perspective. The chances of being murdered in Mexico are still pretty darn slim regardless of a number of tragic deaths. A quick search on Google will reveal that Mexican cities generally have a lower murder rate than many cities in the USA, yet people visit those US cities in droves. I'd honestly rather travel to most places in Mexico than many places in the USA, where I don't feel particularly safe in the big cities with their high crime rates.




...Michelle
www.scrabblebiker.com

Now that these threads arise at a rate of approximately once every ten minutes--all day, every day--it's possible to identify a few patterns. For example, the overwhelming majority of those claiming terrible peril are not, have not, and will not ride motorcycles through Mexico. Of those like myself who have recently done so, virtually all report no particular problems or worries.

That must mean something....but what? Uh... that we're all clueless ninnies, maybe? No, that doesn't seem right.

Give me time: it'll come to me.

Mark

There are some people who think an evening of bingo is exciting and dangerous, everybody has to decide for themselves what their personal level of risk is. Mine is I'm leaving for TDF 1st Aug, hope to see all you guys along the way.

November and December 2011 Crossed the border at Tijuana, caught the ferry road along the Pacific Coast. Never had to stop for any reason about 20 miles later at a Fed checkpoint. The numerous checkpoints were welcome betweeen there and Cabo San Lucas.

Baja is a magical land not to be missed.

Yes we are adventurers. Most people stay home on their couch. That is not us.

Have no fear! Live fully! Just do it! Have fun and be careful.

Sorry to go out on a tangent here, but...

These two folks were murdered in Huatulco, a small seaside resort area. I taught English at the local university campus there for three years, so I still know and chat with a few people living in the area. I'm told that the local rumours are that the boyfriend was involved in the drug trade, and these two were not quite the innocent tourists that the Canadian media make them out to be.

I've also read reports in online Mexican newspapers that their bodies were found with hands tied behind backs, their throats cut, and the bodies burned on the beach - yet somehow that information didn't make into the Canadian media. The media here in Canada reported the official line that they are believed to be the victims of a random robbery. Sorry, but you don't burn the bodies of people you rob - you grab their valuables and get away as fast as you can.

What's the truth? I'm not sure, but I think it's safe to say we don't always get the truth in a quick 30-second on the local 6 o'clock news...

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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

Even though my thoughts go out to their families, that was my first thought as well. But then we'll probably never really know what happened.

The media (CBC.COM) actually did report that they were bound with signs of torture. That's what made me wonder whether there's more to this story. Maybe she was innocent and naively didn't realize that her boyfriend was involved in the drug trade. Maybe they were both involved in the drug trade. Maybe they were in the wrong place at the wrong time and were taken for rival cartel members. Maybe they unknowingly associated with cartel members. Who knows what really happened but there are more questions than answers as far as I'm concerned.

Regardless of whether these unfortunate Mexican/Canadians were innocent victims or not, the fact remains that the chances of foreign travellers being murdered in Mexico are extremely slim. Much slimmer than being run over by a motorist back home who "didn't see you".


...Michelle
www.scrabblebiker.com

Hi Joel,
thanks for the advise.
I am leaving in three weeks to Argentina. I will do the baja option. From Mazatlan I want to avoid Mexico DF. What is my best option,
thanks AGAIN,
Arpon

I live in Leon, Mexico (Central Mexico), Before I live in Monterrey, Mexico (North East)
I agree with all how says Don´t avoid Mexico... Its a matter of be aware. Its more danger to be hitted by a Car that to have a Holdup with a gun.

Going to Sturgis this year, in a secundary road a crazy guy liteeraly try to run my bike and me off the road, almost killed me...So you know how important is to be aware when you are riding in traffic....
In this roas there were no cars, but this truck almos killed me...

In Mexico, now is not recomended to ride at night. But I can tell for sure that the sates in North Mexico like Chihuahua, Coahulia, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, MUST BE AVOIDED.
If You are coming from San Francisco, You can Cross Tijuana, and go all the Baja to La Paz, take the ferry to Mazatlan, and go down to Guadalajara Jalisco, where you can make a very nice and beautyfull stop in Puerto Vallarta, and after Tequila, Jalisco
From Jalisco all the way down is Mexico, City, Oaxaca, Chiapas, all this places and roads are in great condition and secure..
If you want more information or routes, I will be glad to help you or any one else.

I have ride for 16 years Alaska, USA, Europe, México... and what kill is distraction and be hited by a car, NOT A GUN...
Only Bikers Know more about security than people reading news in there office..
Dont stop being a Biker, I trust more on comments likeKusi1 and other Bikers, than the news...

Forget Shipping to LIMA AND ENJOY THE EARTH....

JOEL[/QUOTE]

Helly, everything I have heard bears out what others in the thread have said. I'm headed through Mexico to Guatemala and points south at the end of November.
http://snipr.com/reno-padre-atitlan

Here are some reasonable guidelines for safety. Others with experience in Mexico, please add corrections, additions and deletions.

1) Take off reasonably early in the morning and plan on being at your overnight location an hour before sunset.
2) Chain your bike at night through the frame to a pole or immovable object in a lighted area (if available).
3) Don't park the bike at a bar and hang out until the late night hours.
4) Don't dress in wealthy style or stand around chatting on a smartphone in the middle of nowhere.
5) Enjoy the cleanliness of the towns and the warmth of the people. I find Mexican towns cleaner and the people less crass than in the US.

Other suggestions?

The world is full of people who forego adventure and excitement in life for excessive safety. They lose out. Weigh counsel based on the type of people giving it. Cheers!

__________________
2007 Suzuki Boulevard S83
http://snipr.com/reno-padre-atitlan

Hope this gets to the right thread... Mexico has been great..The people, the cops and the military.. Im riding solo and I crossed the border at Eagle Pass Texas about 3 weeks ago...It was Fine... Yes military is everywhere, armed and ready to fire at a moments notice..Police toooo... I havent been stopped once. They are looking for drugs and weapons..Just get south of the border asap..I have spent time in San Miguel de Allende, Oaxaca city, Puerto Escondido, San Cristobal de Las Casa and a bunch of places in between...I'd cross the border again... All The Best.. Eliza

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http://www.elizajmassey.blogspot.com/
http://www.elizamassey.com/

In the early 80's I traveled all over northern Mexico. Near the border there were often openly well-armed (m-16,ak's, not just pistols) guys who were involved in the drug trade and they couldn't care less that I was there. Of course all I heard in the US was that I'd die, be robbed, run over, blah, blah, blah and all that happened was I had many excellent trips and met some awfully nice people. Oddly, one of those well-armed people struck up a conversation about my bike (81 bmw R80GS) which made me a bit apprehensive. As it turned out, he had exactly the same bike himself and we had a great conversation. Had I listened to the doomsayers, I'd have missed out on some great trips. Remember, you are not going to live forever and it's better to die doing something you love than die at work. That would be truly depressing.