Mexico safety?
 

I'm planning on two weeks in Mexico in March, riding in from southern Texas, ride south about as far as Veracruz, across to Mazatlan, then back to Texas. My goal is to see real Mexico and historic sites.

I prefer riding by myself, off the beaten track. I've seen a number of recommendations to not do that. I know some of that are just scare tactics and selling-newspaper tactics, but there are credible reports of deaths and kidnappings.

Danger thoughts? Recommendations? What to avoid? What to see?

thanks,
Chris

P.S. Reading "God's Middle Finger", about a guy who actively sought out narcos and bad-guys in the Sierra Tarahumara, probably wasn't a great choice http://s3.amazonaws.com/advrider/icon10.gif

Mexico
 

HEY CHRIS

I have about 6K RECENT MILES IN MEXICO.
About !/3 of it is solo ( KLR 650)

I go thru the border as early as possible,ride south for a few hours and then begin to enjoy.

Next week my son and i leave for about a month,my 3rd trip his first.

I'm an old dude -65
Try to learn a little spanish, use common sense,be vigilante.
I'm a little old to still be nieve (can't spell it) but i think people are basically good.

I have had good experiences.
GregEaton

I've lived here for over 30 years and have travelled around a bit. I have never had a serious problem so my advice is would be the same be careful and sensible.
If you want to come to Mex City send me a PM or post here. We can show you around and put you up.

My wife and I got back yesterday from a month long 2-up from Arizona to Guaymas, ferry to Santa Rosalia and then thorough riding throughout Baja (N & S). We observed all the normal precautions and had an awesome trip and never felt we were in danger or that a situation was not safe. Mexican drivers were courteous and helpful and the Mexican people were warm and friendly. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Be sure to check out Mollydog's postings. Don't ride at night, yada yada yada. Mexican cops are be on super good behavior and were nothing but helpful and friendly. Go for it and have a super time. Don't take to much stuff- I ended up shipping a box home from Cabo San Lucas.

Prawns And Courtesy
 

I'm 75 and met with no problems or difficulties riding south from Veracruz (where I bought my Honda 125 for the ride to Tierra del Fuego) or on the way back north where I crossed to the US at Brownsville. Treat people with courtesy and you will be treated with courtesy. Consider them inferior and you are into a bad trip. Breaking the law (as in speeding) is dumb. Do not expect trucks to have perfect breaks or steering, nor expect all drivers to act in a manner you would consider rational. Do expect animals in the road and rocks left out by drivers who used them as brakes when parked. Don't ride at night - not because of bandits, but because you may hit an unlit car, truck, car, bike or donkey. Heading south, you will pass by the Sierra Gorda, fabulous riding country, charming people. When in Veracruz, eat at any of the restaurants above the fish market - everything fresh and great prawns!

You might find something of help at my BLOG.
Have fun, and ride safely...:thumbup1:

Thanks everybody; that was the kind of responses I was hoping for. Use common sense!

That's one thing you learn in travel, isn't it, the dangers are amplified by people who don't know what it's really like.

Thanks for the invite garrydymond, I need to go to the Teotihuacan museum -- I'll contact you if I do.

:mchappy:
Chris

Chris,

Two weeks is a pretty quick trip to cover These rest breaks, IMO, are important.

In October I did a 3000-mile, 2 week trip from Los Angeles, through the Sierra Madre/Copper Canyon area to Parral, Durango, and Mazatlan, then back to Los Angeles.

Then I read "God's Middle Finger".

My opinion - that guy is a really great writer and very entertaining, but he's full of shit about the dangers to gringo travelers in the Sierra Madre. Unless you plan on dealing drugs or smuggling guns you're just not going to be involved in any trouble. On safety you should be much more worried about the logging trucks on the narrow mountain roads, or the long/fast rides on the desert blacktop than about any danger from the drug war.

I loved the book, but I wouldn't take it literaly and I certainly wouldn't let it stop you from an epic Mexican road trip.

Also - I did some 300 and 400 mile days on Mexican back roads on a 1977 KZ650 street bike, and while they were very tiring, they were a lot of fun. Thats an ambitious schedule, but is very doable, especialy on a fancy new bike.

go for it..

i can only contribute to all positive reactions. just finished a 4 month trip (well effcectively 3) through mexico.
it's safe, divers and beautiful.

....except a bastard stole my mascot, Mel the Sasquatch who traveled with me for all the way from the Kotaneys, from my bike in Guanajuato! left the bike (well locked to pole and no luggage) outside my hostel and didn't bother to take it off. so that is my own fault i guess...

drive safe,
sander

I've not seen or heard of this book.

Sierra Madre Safety
 

As for your safety down there, I wouldn't be terribly concerned with getting shot.

I lived in the Sierra Madres for the past 13 months and just moved back to Colorado.

The Sierras are loaded with drugs and guys with guns but...don't give them a reason to shoot you and you're fine. What you need to be wary of is the roads. While living there, I knew of about 20 people who were killed in separate accidents from driving off cliffs. Most happened at night after a few many Tecates, but not all.

Be kind to everyone you meet. Be very aware of your body gestures and how you 'hold' yourself. Are you standing there puffing your chest out looking for a fight or are you comming across in a non-confrontational way? Something to think about.

Learn some Spanish. Bring a small phrase book. The locals love when gringos attempt Spanish. Often times they see it as both humorous and respectful.

Your best advice
 

Warning to brother Viking! If traveling through Mexico greeting everyone with a big Viking smile, you will be treated to incredible friendship and hospitality. The real danger though is falling in love with the country, cashing in your chips and moving here. (Like I did)

When passing through Mazatlan, I always have a spare room for long-riders. Te esperamos.
Que tenga un buen viaje! :welcome:

Richard Grant is the author. I bought it for myself for Christmas on Amazon. You would enjoy it, Patrick, he talks about a lot of places you've been. This guy went looking for trouble, so he found it. I have never been approached to buy commercial quantities of mota in the time I have spent in the area. A little for personal use, sure, but this guy is always having people offer him pounds of the stuff out of the blue, and it just doesn't ring true sometimes. Worth reading regardless.

Mexico is great, and very safe. Just spend a quick 40 days there and whished I stayed longer. The most scenic part is the far south. If you want to see some amazing old cities, do not miss Guanojuato, Morelia and Zacatecas, you will be blown away by the Colonial buildings and coble stone roads. Lovely!

We had no issues with safety and never had a problem with the cops either.

Enjoy
Johan

PS: Do not miss the road between Durango and Mazatlan (Not the toll road, the free, Libre road). Very scenic indeed.

Learn some Spanish. Bring a small phrase book. The locals love when gringos attempt Spanish. Often times they see it as both humorous and respectful.[/QUOTE]

Very wise advice! :thumbup1:

I've had guys approach me for small amouts .... they are usually working a deal with the local cops or federales.

Mexico......sweet Mexico
 

As usual great advice from Mollydog.
As for me, I have been through Mexico Sonora to Chiapas and up and down both east and west coasts riding alone. Maybe it is easier for a woman alone as there is no intimidation factor. I am leaving soon for my 5th adventure in Mexico alone as well next month. I ask my riding guy buddies to join me but never any takers. Perhaps guys have it tougher because of the machismo of the Mexican guys but a smile and humility go a long way. This time I am exploring the states of Tobasco and Jalisco. I chose these because of the feelings I had when I rode through them last time. Now it's time for the detailed appoach.:scooter:

I doubt you had that problem on your 125 :mchappy:

But bribes are graciously accepted to get out of trouble!

[/quote]Do not expect trucks to have perfect breaks or steering, nor expect all drivers to act in a manner you would consider rational... Don't ride at night - not because of bandits, but because you may hit an unlit car, truck, car, bike or donkey. ...:thumbup1:[/quote]

Best advice I have seen!! This is the main danger you will face in Mexico--the drivers, and the road hazards.

Thanks StrikingViking and MollyDog and everyone. I leave San Antonio on March 16, plan to cross at Piedras Negras, then pretty much head due south.

My planned points are Poza Rica (near El Tajin), Xalapa, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Dolores Hidalgo, Real de Catorce, and Zacatecas. Not sure what order I'll do them in :scooter:

StrikingViking -- your advice is sure good, and appreciated. Sure don't want to travel as an ugly american. I'm not sure if I'll get as far west as Mazatlan, but I'd like to visit and to ride the Espinoza del Diablo. Your presentation at Bob's BMW in Maryland still rings inside me. I'll definitely look you up.

Regards,
Chris

You'll be fine. I've been all through Mexico and Latin America. I ride solo.

Get a phrasebook, wear a smile, be polite, and you will have a great time. I love going to Mexico, yes indeedy I do.

Mike

current Mexico safety?
 

Hi, My husband and I are planning a trip from Canada to Ecuador and back through July, Aug and Sept 09. I'm curious about the stuff in the news about gang fights and swine flu. Has anyone been in or through Mexico lately and have some insight on this? Thanks

I experienced mexico as being friendly and save for 99%. And this i confirmed by numerous fellow travelers. Just use common sense and park your bike inside hotels, which is 9 ouf of 10 times possible. So go and enjoy!

About the pig flu.... don't know how that will develop though...

cheers,
alexander

I have seen several articles about the flu, and it should be something to think about. Not in a paranoid way, but be realistic. The people who have died in Mexico probably did not have easy and direct access to medical care. As visitors, we probably would not know where to find a hospital either, so just be aware of this potential menace. The flu does kill thousands of people in N. America yearly, but this particular strain is scaring people due to it not being around long enough for the majority of people to have developed immunity to it, like we have to other strains. Right now, the US CDC is recommending people not to go to Mexico for non-necessary travel, but that is more to err on the side of caution rather than for an actual pandemic situation.

I would think that being conscience to not itch our eyes or nose, and to keep our fingers away from our mouth would should keep us relatively safe, as it does to help prevent us from getting the common cold or the common strains of flu. Since viruses live on items, we are more likely to catch it by touching items, and then putting our fingers somewhere on our bodies (i.e. eyes, mouth, or nose) than by passing by someone in public.

Just be aware, and stay as clean as you can. I would hate to give someone a false sense of security, so think twice if you need to go to/through Mexico now versus in a few months (the US, too), or wait for the illness to pass, such as the bird flu or SARS of several years ago.

mexico safety
 

the most dangerous thing on the road is the mexican bus,iwas on one that was drag racing a coke-ocola truck south of puerto vallarta,,drive defensly,evasively+if that fails hit the eject button.mexicans are generally very good drivers ,they have to be as most do not have insurance- are o.k.,cops-are fine-if you show respect +a cash donation:oops2:

Hi StrikingViking,

As it happens I do plan on passing through Mazatlan, before heading up the Devils Backbone (I think that's what it's called) to eventually Copper Canyon and then east, then south - to continue my trip through Central and South America.

My bike and I flew into LA on 22nd April and I am crossing into Mexico on 11th May 2009. The plan is to head south down the east side of the Baja California perninsula (enjoying all that fresh fish) to La Paz and then take a ferry over to Mazatlan before tackling the rest of the mainland. I'm guessing it will take about a week to get down to La Paz.

If you're around roughly between 18th-23rd May I'd love to meet for a chat, etc.

There's a bit more information about what I'm doing on my Greasy Sprocket site.

And I've recorded my travels so far on my blog here:

Travels on a Motorbike

Hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks,
Ollie

ollieabrahamsATyahooDOTcoDOTuk

(Note AT = @ and DOT = . )

Hola amigo. Nice website--it looks like you are off to a good start. I commute back to So Cal frequently but will try and hang around for a few extra days to meet you. If you reach here in time, I have a spare room for long-riders passing through. Please update me direct: locovikingman@yahoo.com