 |
| Boats, Xochimilco MX |
Safety is complex and depends upon you and how you see things. I live in an urban environment, in a city notorious for its safety issues. For instance, last week a getaway car from a shooting way across town deposited its bullet-ridden victim in the street a block away from my house, which, incidentally, is in a very "nice" area. Many years ago I was held up at gunpoint near my home. Things have improved, but are far from perfect. Plus you also have to factor in recent mass shootings in the US and Europe into the equation of "Is Mexico Safe".
My answer to the question, is "yes"- many places Mexico are safe enough for tourists with good judgment to visit. Of course, there are always places off the beaten path in Mexico, or anywhere, where you can find trouble. The "frontera", the US/Mexico northern border area is a good place to avoid, although I know of someone who recently spent time in Durango, MX without any issues; even in the "dangerous areas", some places are safer than others; you need to do some in-depth research before you go.
My husband and I recently did a driving trip across the Yucatan Peninsula from Merida to the ruins of Palenque and then further south into the jungle. I had done this drive alone a few years before and had felt comfortable.
A Drive You Wouldn't Want to Miss:
The drive from Merida to Palenque is beautiful and we would do it again, tomorrow.
We flew into Merida in the evening and stayed at our favorite hotel there, the Hyatt Regency, located steps away from Merida's famed Paseo de Montejo. Breakfast was in an old stand-by, Sanborne's, although it turned to not be a great choice because it was Constitution Day and half the personnel were on holiday and service was slow.
Our next leg of the trip was the drive that day to Campeche, with a stop-off in Celestún for flamingo-watching.
The night was in Campeche (the name of the city as well as the state), in the old town which
dates back to the 16th century when the Spanish arrived in this former Maya stronghold.
The seafood there is fantastic, cheap and just off-the-boat.
The next morning we began the six hour drive to the famous Maya ruins in Palenque. This is my favorite part of the drive because the highway runs along the coastline and the scenery is beautiful and not quite like anywhere else in the world.
That afternoon we reached Palenque, the city that surrounds the famous ruins of the same name.
We spent the next two days in Palenque with a trip and jungle boat ride to the ruins at Yaxchilan and Bonampak.
Making our way to Cancun for our flight out, we reversed the procedure and drove north,
We stopped along the coast in Champoton for a seafood lunch at El Cachimbazo. It's almost worth a trip to Mexico to eat at this place.
After one more night in Merida, we drove back to Celestún to check-out the Campeche shore. It is less developed and sophisticated than the beaches of Quintana Roo, but pristine and beautiful.
So, Is Mexico Safe?:
My point in this article, has not been to write a travelogue, although I could not resist sharing the incredible experience of our drive. What I was trying to do was communicate how comfortable travel in much of Mexico can be, Roads in the Yucatan are good and plenty of gas stations with modern facilities line the highways. The towns you drive through are pretty much like towns anywhere. In cities such as Campeche and Merida, I am comfortable walking around by myself, at night, although I stick to areas where there are a lot of people. Media would like to give you the impression that there is a bandit or kidnapper behind every tree, but it's just not that way.
My answer to the question, is "yes"- many places Mexico are safe enough for tourists with good judgment to visit. Of course, there are always places off the beaten path in Mexico, or anywhere, where you can find trouble. The "frontera", the US/Mexico northern border area is a good place to avoid, although I know of someone who recently spent time in Durango, MX without any issues; even in the "dangerous areas", some places are safer than others; you need to do some in-depth research before you go.
My husband and I recently did a driving trip across the Yucatan Peninsula from Merida to the ruins of Palenque and then further south into the jungle. I had done this drive alone a few years before and had felt comfortable.
 |
| Map of Driving Trip |
The drive from Merida to Palenque is beautiful and we would do it again, tomorrow.
We flew into Merida in the evening and stayed at our favorite hotel there, the Hyatt Regency, located steps away from Merida's famed Paseo de Montejo. Breakfast was in an old stand-by, Sanborne's, although it turned to not be a great choice because it was Constitution Day and half the personnel were on holiday and service was slow.
 |
| Sanborne's Merida, MX |
 |
| Along Merida's Paseo de Montejo, Merida MX |
Our next leg of the trip was the drive that day to Campeche, with a stop-off in Celestún for flamingo-watching.
 |
| Flaminges, Celestún Biosphere Reserve, Celestún Campeche |
 |
| Celestún Biosphere Reserve with Flamingoes in Background, Celestún Campeche |
The night was in Campeche (the name of the city as well as the state), in the old town which
dates back to the 16th century when the Spanish arrived in this former Maya stronghold.
 |
| Campeche Cathedral |
The seafood there is fantastic, cheap and just off-the-boat.
 |
| Stone Crab Claws at Los Defines, waterfront, Campeche |
The next morning we began the six hour drive to the famous Maya ruins in Palenque. This is my favorite part of the drive because the highway runs along the coastline and the scenery is beautiful and not quite like anywhere else in the world.
 |
| Campeche Coast, Champoton, Campeche |
 |
| Campeche Coast, Champoton, Campeche |
That afternoon we reached Palenque, the city that surrounds the famous ruins of the same name.
 |
| Pyramid, Palenque Archaeological Site, Palenque Chiapas |
 |
| Maya Murals, Bonampak, Chiapas |
Making our way to Cancun for our flight out, we reversed the procedure and drove north,
We stopped along the coast in Champoton for a seafood lunch at El Cachimbazo. It's almost worth a trip to Mexico to eat at this place.
 |
| Seafood Restaurant along Coastal Highway, Champoton, Campeche |
 |
| Tiny Lobster Tails, a Specialty of Campeche |
 |
| Pompano, Champoton, Campeche |
 |
| Behind El Chachimbazo, Champoton, MX |
 |
| Sunset, Celestún Campeche |
 |
| Fishing Boats, Celestún Campeche |
So, Is Mexico Safe?:
My point in this article, has not been to write a travelogue, although I could not resist sharing the incredible experience of our drive. What I was trying to do was communicate how comfortable travel in much of Mexico can be, Roads in the Yucatan are good and plenty of gas stations with modern facilities line the highways. The towns you drive through are pretty much like towns anywhere. In cities such as Campeche and Merida, I am comfortable walking around by myself, at night, although I stick to areas where there are a lot of people. Media would like to give you the impression that there is a bandit or kidnapper behind every tree, but it's just not that way.
No comments:
Post a Comment