I have friends who went to Mexico on motorcycles two years ago - and were stopped, beaten, and robbed by a gang posing as police.

I think the perception that travel in Mexico is "dangerous" may be in part because the cultural differences prevent some people from discerning which areas are "safe" and which ones are not.

Being American, I know that inner cities can be unsafe, and I recognize the signs of increased criminal activity. But how would I know, for instance, if I were travelling through a Cartel's area in Mexico? How would I know where it is safe to pass through, and where it is not?

Unless you are confident that you know the area well enough, and have accurate advanced information, you would do well to be cautious.

I hear stories like the one above all the time. However, the details are always missing. Exactly where and when did it happen?

It is so good to read this! I am a girl fron Guatemala and I wanto to go to Florida in my motorcycle, everybody think I am crazy but I really looking foward to do it, any recomended route I could take ?

A few place to think about in Mexico
 

Hi MG,

Are you looking for the fastest route through Mexico? Do you have time for a few stops? Where in Guatemala will you be starting your trip?

Places I recommend:

San Christobal, Mexico - http://goo.gl/maps/1zfEL
I only spent a few hours there. A good friend spent weeks there and loved it.

Zipolite - http://goo.gl/maps/Pv6q2
Spend two nights resting in this quiet and laid back Pacific coast beach town. Popular with backpackers and surfers. The main street had basically zero traffic. Find "Posada Kiko" for the cheapest room and even cheaper camping. From there it is 6-7 hours riding to Oaxaca, north on MX 175. Fun twisty road through the mountains.

Oaxaca - http://goo.gl/maps/ZbMVF
Lots of artists and political free thinkers. Check out cathedrals, ruins not far from town (I didn't visit...), drink and eat their famous chocolate, and a snack on a deep fried cricket.

Unless there is something you want to see, you might want to avoid Mexico, DF. I got lost there for hours, on two trips, but managed to get around OK the third time.. There are lots of amazing museums in Mexico City.

At any point, blast over to the Caribbean coast and hug it all the way to Texas by taking MX 180, or from Oaxaca take the toll road to Puebla. From there go east of Mexico City (or not), ride to Pachuca then take MX 105 north, twists and turns, twists and turns for hours...then stop in Xilitla.

Xilitla, San Luis Potosi, Mexico - http://goo.gl/maps/fJCcf
Visit Las Pozas, just north of town, and see the buildings and such created by the surrealist sculptor Edward James. Very cool.

Have fun!

As Peter said above, the best route depends on your interests, and how much time you have available.

Have you investigated the procedure for taking your moto into Mexico? Be prepared to make a deposit of 200 to 400 USD depending on the year of your moto. (You get it back when you cross into the USA.)

I spent 2 months in Guatemala in 2012, and have traveled in Mexico by moto as well. You are going to have a great trip, no matter what route you take. Where in Guatemala do you live, and where will you be crossing the border to Mexico?

Since Peter brought up the TVIP security deposit it would be appropriate to add
some important details for Majo

How long are you going to be in the USA and Mexico before you return back to Guatemala? Important for you to know .
The TVIP and security deposit are good for 180 days and if you return from Mexico to Guatemala within that span but before day 181 you do not need to cancel the TVIP nor get the refund for the security deposit when leaving Mexico to go into the USA. This will save you the cost of buying a newTVIP for the return trip through Mexico and the bother of posting the security deposit a second time.
You can cancel the TVIP and get refund when you return to Guatemal
If your trip is for a much longer visit or permanent move to the USA then of course look after getting the TVIP cancelled and the refund.
For your entry point to Mexico from Guatemala you could consider the crossing at La Mesilla because the Mexican Migracion is very easy to find
4km from the actual border .
If you are going west via Tapachula , Mexico by way of CA 2 through Reu then
consider taking the border crossing at Cacahoatan which is not a hectic mess
as the southern crossing at Tecun Uman.
At Cacahoatan you can get a tourist card but it is advisable to get that and the TVIP and deposit done up at the MIGRACION and BANJERCITO office
beside Mex 200 to the west side of Tapachula at village of Viva Mexico .
This office is on North side of road at split for the south bypass to the Tecun Uman crossing and serves both crossings and can look after the cancellation and refund very easily
PS. Being clairvoyant , I see the next post mentioning $449 for the deposit =) Do not confuse the actual TVIP cost as being
part of the refundable security deposit. The $49 additional are the non refundable TVIP costs which may vary slightly over time.
The security deposit is at maximum $400 and it will be refunded when you take the trouble to seek out the border BANJERCITO kiosk to cancel the TVIP BEFORE it expires. No Mexican authorities will come to you to remind you to cancel , it is
completely up to you to start that process.

+1. I am currently slowly passing through in Mexico with the wife. We have a 2010 Yam S10 and paid $449 as a deposit. Hope they pay it back !!

Since arriving 3 weeks ago I have only found the populous friendly and accommodating. Aside from the current weather we are enjoying the visit.

In answer to the above comments about dates and people etc. Here is one problem that Nick Sanders had: He was on one of his mega trips and his support driver was kidnapped and his pickup and two bikes were stolen. I know this because he told my wife and I when we bumped into him in Monument Valley.

--- Thanks Nick, you managed to scare the f**k out of my wife --- Doh!

Bandits attack Nick Sanders expedition | Insidebikes | Carole Nash

Old news, and it was the pickup driver that was attacked because of the truck he was driving. Simple as that. In over twenty years of living here full time and riding here both on and off road, I have heard of only 2 credible incidents where motorcyclists were targeted and attacked. Other incidents I have heard about (only 3 other incidents) could never be verified by anyone.

I do know a guy who spent a couple of months riding here in Mexico, he went back to the USA and was violently robbed within a half hour of getting off his flight in Baltimore, Maryland.

Based on that, I truly hope the US State Department issues a travel warning for Baltimore. Maybe they can also do so for Colorado, Conn, NJ, NY, Ill, Fla, and about 30 other states?

I also know a rider who cris-crossed Canada, then went from Prudhoe Bay to Tierra del Fuego on his Honda. The only problems he had were getting his spare gas tank stolen in Alaska and was attacked on a known bad road in Guatemala and had a few things stolen by the thieves.

Mexico? Enjoy it!:Beach:

I lived in Mexico for 4 months - never once felt threatened and Mexican people are immensely friendly and very hospitable. Only the best things to say about that country! Can't wait to go back.