Is Mexico Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Mexico has diverse regions that are safe to explore, while others are highly dangerous. Highly touristy places like Cancun, Riviera Maya, and Mexico City are generally safe for solo female travelers. However, the unpredictable criminal activity and drug-related violence in certain regions could pose risks. Exercise common sense, stay vigilant about personal safety, avoid isolated areas, and always keep your belongings close to you. Also, ensure to respect local norms and culture. It's advisable to opt for organized tours or travel in a group while visiting lesser-known regions.

Safety rating

Make friends while traveling solo

Meet other female travelers, find travel buddies and stay with local women for free through hospitality exchange.
Download from App StoreDownload from Google Play
Get the Travel Ladies App

How safe is Mexico?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Unsafe

In Mexico, safety at night greatly depends on the specific location. Some areas, particularly in major cities and tourist destinations, can be relatively safe, while others can be riskier due to crime and violence. However, it's advisable to always prioritize safety. Avoid walking alone at night whenever possible, stick to populated, well-lit areas, and use reliable forms of transportation. Always stay alert, be cautious, and get advice from locals or other experienced travelers.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Moderate

Public transportation in Mexico varies greatly depending on the area and mode of transport. In larger cities, the subway and bus systems can be crowded, but are generally safe during the day, though it's advised to stay alert for pickpockets. In more rural or remote areas, public transport options might be less reliable and less secure, hence a certain level of caution is needed. Taxis, particularly those ordered through reputable companies or apps, are usually a safe choice.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:Moderate

In Mexico, street harassment can unfortunately be a common occurrence. While not all parts of the country have the same level of harassment, there are many areas where catcalling, whistling, and unsolicited comments are common, particularly in crowded public places or less tourist-oriented locales. Therefore, it's prudent to stay aware of your surroundings, dress modestly, avoid isolated areas, and avoid being out late at night alone where possible. It is not universally experienced, and respecting local customs and etiquette can often reduce the chances of harassment.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:High

Many areas in Mexico can be known for instances of petty crimes, such as pickpocketing, bag snatching, and cellphone theft. These are particularly frequent in crowded places like public transportation, markets, and tourist hot spots. Vigilance and keeping personal belongings secure can minimize the risk.

Is Mexico worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.7 /5

based on 179 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.7/5

Safety

4.3/5

Food

4.6/5

Budget-friendly

4/5
Samantha

Samantha

United States

Tulum, Solo travel

Tulum was very pricey as it was definitely a tourist town. In order to get onto a beach you had to generally pay to get into any vicinity or buy drinks food at their vicinity to get beach access. You could go to the free beaches but they were full of people & trash. I felt fairly safe but as a woman always stayed diligent. I rode a bicycle all around. There are some cenotes worth checking out for sure!

Posted: June 25, 2025Experienced: March, 2024
favorite_border 0
mode_comment 0

Mexico City, Solo travel

Mexico City is such a beautiful city with many fun things to do and wonderful food! If I had any trouble getting around or getting clarification on something, people were very kind and helpful! I felt mostly safe as a solo traveler, just still on guard as normal, just to be on the safe side. I HIGHLY recommend going to Teotihuacán (it’s about 45 min to an hour outside of Mexico City, worth it!!) to do the hot air balloon ride over the pyramids at sunrise. I’ve also heard Tolantongo is a worthwhile drive as well! I stayed at a hostel inside the city, it was super affordable and they were super friendly and welcoming - for this I used HostelWorld app. Also Didi is like Uber but more local, that came in handy getting around!

Posted: June 23, 2025
favorite_border 0
mode_comment 0
Alena

Alena

Russia

Cancún, Solo travel

I had a solo trip to Cancun, Mexico, and I fell in love with this country! I felt very safe and comfortable. Local people are very friendly and nice. I even became friends with my host, and we are staying in touch ever since. I saw Chichen Itza, went scuba diving at Isla Mujeres and just had the best time in my life. Looking forward to go there again!

Posted: May 4, 2025
favorite_border 1
mode_comment 0

Puerto Vallarta, Solo travel

My experience in Puerto Vallarta was not so good I didn't feel safe only in the big squares, there were people smoking weed at a public transport stop where there were children and families, I respect that but there are also places. The food was not as good or a good size I ate sushi in Plaza Caracol and expected more. Public transport is a bad thing if you are a foreigner and you don't have change, the driver does not let you pass. I was mostly in the sea and walking shopping along the boardwalk and there is a variety of prices for different budgets but preferably it is greater than 2000 Mexican pesos.

Posted: May 1, 2025Experienced: April, 2025
favorite_border 0
mode_comment 0
Marah

Marah

Mexico

Nuevo Vallarta, Solo travel

My experience was good, I went without expectations and I was surprised although there were times when I felt anxious to get to my destination because of the bad publicity that many taxis have. The food is normal, the atmosphere is very nice and it depends on the budget you have and the searches you make to visit the places that make you feel safe, I stayed for a weekend and had a good time. I recommend not walking alone through the center without information about the places to visit or the best routes to get there. Always ask established locals. And make sure you carry a power bank or enough cards to store your memories.

Posted: May 1, 2025Experienced: April, 2025
favorite_border 1
mode_comment 0

Mexico City, Solo travel

1 week will not be enough . Mexico city it's so big. Safety stuff In Mexico city There are female only subway cars so I guess there is historically some violence against women stuff, not trying to scare ppl, but just something to be aware of, I wore my backpack on the front of me to prevent mugging as that's something I don't want to experince But there is also history of the city reforming dangerous neighborhoods like tepito for tourism, And locals may be curious about you But it's a city, ppl mostly managing their own lives /mind their business The culture has some toxic workaholic as well so expect to see tired people on the way to here and there But you'll find warm presence and virtuous people too, like 98% But don't : - Be drunk /loud in public(drinking in public is Illegal and if you stand out you will get robbed by police/targeted by randoms etc) - Take weird offers, ie. Instead of random cab people,Take a reputable rideshare or what locals say is a trusted cab company, or the public transit or collectivos - be alone - go where you can be isolated Do: - enjoy locals/travel experienced ppl, get the right attention not the wrong attention - Dress down, seriously look as poor/mundane as possible lol imo I have not personally gotten into trouble, where my safety was at risk but I've done questionable things like visit people's homes. But hey at least I travelled in groups or pairs. There are people who want to warn/avoid others getting in trouble too One dude who I partied w a few nights he was living in Mexico for years, but one night I saw him it already happened;he was standing alone drunk at night(2 am) and get robbed by the police and he said it was his first time lol, he had to borrow a phone to call his relatives... And also this one traveller who before I saw him, visited a really remote village and was surrounded by teenagers with bats and got robbed(also at night). When I met him he had a gash on his forehead that healed. Was a chill guy, he was Mexican though and felt p betrayed by his ppl So there's a balance I haven't heard cases of outright violence with girls, probably something that only comes out in a hush hush conversation, not in the open. I just had cases where ppl seriously shoot their shot way too much I have also met actually quite a big handful of solo female travellers, even ones with loud /princess personalities lol but definitely helps so much to learn some of the language. If anyone knows Spanish super awesome in your group, always helps to use Duolingo, which was designed by Stanford ppl specifically for English -> Spanish learners. Duolingo is very decent for romantic/Latin languages

Posted: April 24, 2025
favorite_border 1
mode_comment 0

Is Mexico safe for women?

Safety index

3.4 /5

Based on 109 local experiences

Crime index

2.6 /5

Based on 109 local experiences

Cabo San Lucas

It is pretty safe cause city needs tourists and it is unlikely that something may happen to a traveler. Still, just in case don’t flash an expensive phone or cash. Don’t walk wasted at night and all sorts of things like that.

Posted: June 24, 2025
favorite_border 0
mode_comment 0
Fernanda

Fernanda

Mexico City

Mexico has some initiatives to make women feel a little safer. For example, we have women-exclusive spaces in the subway and buses and there are emergency buttons around the city. However, it’s always best to stay alert and have some precautions. I wouldn’t recommend walking alone in the dark, or visiting specific areas in the city (like Tepito or other neighborhoods known for their crime rate) Also, most girls around here will help you if you feel unsafe in any situation, so always reach out for help if you need it!

Posted: June 22, 2025
favorite_border 0
mode_comment 0

Safety in Mexico