Top 8 places to (safely) visit in Mexico now

May 5, 2011 4:17:03 PM

Robert Reid
Lonely Planet Author

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‘Is it safe to go to Mexico?’ We hear that question weekly. And the answer is always yes, if you know where to go and do your research.

Despite increased reports of grisly drug-war murders that tend to cluster in northern border zones, travel to Mexico did edge back up a bit in 2010. Still many more potential visitors are passing on Mexico – or even staying aboard the cruise ship when it docks at places like the essentially crime-free Cozumel.

Before brushing a Mexico trip aside this year, consider that about 245,000 square miles are free from the State Department’s warning list (for a visual, check this CNN map) and it neatly matches areas people usually visit (Cabo, Cancún, Cozumel, Tulum, Mexico City, Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende).

Recently, the San Francisco Chronicle listed the five safest Mexican states to visit, in terms of per-capita drug-related homicides (per Mexican government statistics). We’d like to add to the list by zeroing in on our eight top places to visit (there are dozens of other candidates), in terms of travel appeal and safety record. None are on the US State Department’s warning list.

1. Mexico City

There really is no more fascinating city in the world than Mexico’s misunderstood capital. With a population of over 21 million (and a crime rate about a third of Washington, DC’s), Mexico City had a serious scrub-up for its bi-centennial, and now some places like mariachi-filled Plaza Garibaldi are considered (like Times Square in New York) safe enough to be a ‘Disney version’ of its former gritty self. Also, many restored colonial buildings show details long obscured by years of pollution build-up. Meanwhile, this ancient city built over a filled-in lake has Aztec canals, pyramids, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo’s old studio, and hipster dining in chic eateries of the Condesa and Polanco. That and a million other things.

Soak up the 21st-century style at the great B&B Red Tree House, built in an ultra-stylish 1930s home in Condesa. Rooms start at $79.

2. Mérida

Four hours inland from Cancún, Mérida is ‘real Mexico,’ a colonial city of 750,000 lived-in and loved by locals and near several days’ worth of superb daytrips. It’s not only an underrated add-on from a beach vacation, but a destination in its own right. The city’s best on weekends, when the historical core – a scene of 17th-century cathedrals made from Mayan bricks – closes to vehicles and fills with open-air stages, taco stands and much life. By day, the Ruta Puuc is an easy DIY bus loop of Uxmal and four other interesting Mayan sites. To the northwest, you can tour flamingo-filled mangroves at the fishing village of Celestún.

Los Arcos is a fun B&B, with courtyard pool and art-filled rooms, made from a 19th-century home.

3. Todos Santos

If you’ve not been – and most haven’t – circle ‘Todos Santos’ for the next Baja trip. Sure, some long-timers say it’s not what it used to be, as popularity has swelled (and its ‘gringo: Mexicano’ ratio has evened out), but it still beats the Cabo San Lucas condos for laid-back sense of peace in Baja Sur (incidentally one of Mexico’s safest states). A couple hours from the Cabo or La Paz airports, it’s a mountain-backed artist community near very good surfing beaches. You can easily drive into Sammy Hagar bars and boat trips at Cabo, then return for the quiet at night. Plus the Hotel California here likes to claim it’s the Hotel Califoria (it isn’t, but don’t tell them we said so).

Learn to surf at Pescadero Surf Camp, complete with lessons and (yay!) a BYO swim-up bar. If it’s just comfort you want, Posada La Posa is one of Baja’s most atmospheric inns.

4. San Miguel de Allende

Yes, it’s obvious, and with reason. A bit of an American-expat go-to of the silver towns of the central highlands north of Mexico City (and two hours from the León airport), San Miguel de Allende is a stunner, with any worry of drug violence a distant rumor. The town itself – as seen in Robert Rodriguez’s Once Upon a Time in Mexico – is the main attraction. A Unesco World Heritage site since 2008, the town of 62,000 is filled with handicraft shops, 17th-century cathedrals, botanic gardens, organic farmer restaurants and lovely (sometimes luxe) guesthouses.

San Miguel’s a good spot to study Spanish or cooking. Set in a colonial building, Academia Hispano Americano is a good choice (and can arrange homestays).

5. Huatulco

If it’s resorts you want, Huatulco is a rare success story in recent resort development. This former fishing village has become the Oaxacan beach resort of choice lately, benefiting from its gentle development plan that keeps much of the 12 miles of sandy shoreline completely unspoiled and the town under six-stories high. Activities can fill several days. Snorkeling, diving, kayaking, surfing, cycling and rafting trips are easy to find, as are tours to waterfalls and coffee farms. There are flights in from Mexico City and Oaxaca City.

The Mediterranean, hacienda-styled Camino Real Zaashila is, by our authors’ estimation, one of the greatest stays on the Pacific Coast. Most of the rooms in the gorgeously landscaped property have private pools.

6. Playa del Carmen

Speaking of forward-thinking resort towns, Playa del Carmen corrects nearly every mistake of Cancún’s Zona Hotelera just up the road of the Yucatán Peninsula. With direct buses to the Cancún airport, the ped-oriented Fifth Ave (‘La Quinta’ – where it’s wise to keep an eye out on your belongings after hours) is lined with bars, nightclubs, take-away tacos and tacky souvenirs. And it’s one block from the water. Yes, it’s touristy (particularly when the cruise ships are in), but you can keep walking north to more remote beaches where the crystal-clear water is home to some of the world’s better snorkeling (even better if you daytrip by boat to nearby Cozumel Island). Also consider renting a car and go cenote-hopping for a surreal dip in rain-filled limestone sinkholes.

A nice mid-range choice, a couple blocks from the main strip, Kinbé Hotel is an Italian-owned hotel with a breezy rooftop terrace and a lush courtyard.

7. Guanajuato

A gorgeous hill town of 16th-century cathedrals and brightly colored homes on alleys ways and plazas lined with laurel trees, Guanajuato is best visited during October’s Festival Cervantino – a serious cultural extravaganza with orchestras, ballet folklórico, modern art, mariachis, Moroccan folk, Mexico City punk bands. And most of it’s free. At any time of year it’s a great hub for laid-back colonial life and a look at a mummy museum, plus a visit could easily be combined with nearby San Miguel de Allende. The town’s 30 minutes from León’s Bajío airport, or five hours by bus from Mexico City.

Several schools offer Spanish classes and homestays, including Escuela Mexicana (www.escuelamexicana.com). Or just sign up for puppet workshops with Mika Matsuishi & Felipe Olmos (lunamika47@hotmail.com).

8. Puebla

A ‘mini Mexico City’ – with a mere 1.5 million residents – Puebla is a colonial wonder city, packed with cathedrals and a wonderful museum devoted to ancient artifacts, and is far more manageable and laid-back than the size attests. The historic center is the place to stay, with building decked in azuelos (painted tiles) and many spots to sample the local taco árabe (Arabic taco), made of marinated pork served on Middle Eastern-style flat bread. (Try Las Ranas at Av 2 Pte 102). More adventurous should ask for escamoles (rice-like ant larvae sauteed in butter). It’s two hours by bus from Mexico City.

Tile fetishists should book a room at the great-value Hotel Provincia Express (tel 222-246-35-57), with stunning interiors that span centuries in look. Rooms start at M$500 ($42).

For more information on the many fantastic travel options across the country, get Lonely Planet’s full guidebook to Mexico.

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Comments

7 May 2011 10:32AM adrianarivera Report this comment
Dont forget Valle de Bravo, State of Mexico. Magic colonial town, picturesque and folkloric town that sorrounds a huge lake. Paragliding, skiing, equestrian, mountain bike rides, hikes, rappel, zip lines Amazing nature, great decoration stores, amazing food Home for Monarch Butterfly migration
7 May 2011 4:24PM wookie1 Report this comment
San Cristobal and Tulum can't be missed!
9 May 2011 5:19AM sivesgaard Report this comment
Skip Huatulco and go to chill-out Zipolite instead. Although there are more tourist than there used to, it's still the perfect spot for hanging in a hammock with a drink in your hand, while watching the Mexican sun set in the Pacific.
9 May 2011 7:00AM trav3322 Report this comment
Mexico may actually qualify as a failed state but it is so big that some of it remains "safe" for tourism but I wouldn't take the matter lightly. There is still a relatively high degree of garden variety crime outside of very established tourists areas. Lonely Planet used to be more useful and candid in its safety information.
24 May 2011 7:48AM yelapalover Report this comment
Great choices! I travel Mexico and the press hype is so off base! I highly recommend Quetaro, near Guanajuato and San Miguel. Another UNESCO SPECTACULAR, safe and historic colonial City. My favorite escape place by far is Yelapa, a very scenic 35 min. water taxi ride (from Puerto Vallarta) to the most scenic, tropical and friendly pueblito. No cars, busses and the second largest bio diverse jungle in the world! Fresh fish dinners about $8.00 USD. Stay directly on the oceanfront for cool summer breezes and snorkeling unsurpassed. It is the best kept secret in Mexico!
2 June 2011 6:58AM emiliogt Report this comment
For increased safety when travelling in Mexico you should only take offical taxi cabs, there is a new free app for iphone, android and blackbery called taxiaviso that can help you verify if a cab is official and to notify other people through facebook and twitter that you have taken the cab,
8 June 2011 7:59AM InsideTroncones Report this comment
Thank you Lonely Planet!!! I can personally vouch for this. After more than ten years living and travelling alone in Mexico, I feel much safer here than in the US. Especially in quiet spots like San Miguel de Allende, or Troncones. We all take basic precautions, of course—there is no absolutely safe place. I, too, avoid violence hotspots (like parts of Acapulco, or, say, Los Angeles or Detroit). We who live here are so SICK of the violence hype. Seriously, people...the U.S. is a far more violent place than Mexico—it's just that you're used to that kind of violence. Check the figures. Do your math. Those with open minds, please come and visit us! You won't regret it...
10 June 2011 9:51AM blackat33 Report this comment
The island of Cozumel is a wonderful place to experience also. There are many activities to choose from and the people are very friendly and family oriented. The island of Cozumel also has a great history not to mention if you are a scuba diver it has some of the best diving the world has to offer. As far as safety is concerned Cozumel is a great place to go.
14 June 2011 12:43PM paradiso Report this comment
The best kept secret to enjoy Todos Santos is to be away from the "crowd" - I did a camping and kayaking trip in one of those islands off Sea of Cortez (Espiritu Santo), many many moons ago...pure bliss!!
15 June 2011 2:11AM martina41 Report this comment
I miss Puerto Vallarta in this list!! One of the safest places in Mexico. In winter thousands of tourists (winterresidents and cruise-passengers) are staying here without any problem! I think it should have been on top of the safe list.
12 July 2011 4:52AM holisticmexico Report this comment
Thanks for the great article! I love reading about new places to travel within Mexico, especially with such a focus on safety. I linked this article to my blog, which discusses yoga and holistic lifestyle in Mexico and globally. Please take a look! www.HolisticMexico.org, and follow me on Twitter @HolisticMexico.
-Julie
5 October 2011 6:29AM jrinpv Report this comment
I've lived full time for 18 years in Puerto Vallarta and it is, by far, safer then the two cities I live in the USAz, Los Angeles and NYC.
31 October 2011 2:45PM ju_ca_partt Report this comment
Isla mujeres is a wonderful place to go, it's really magic, there are many magical places, if you want to read more about you can visiti this site and read more http://www.vacationsmexican.com/mexico-beach/isla-mujeres-quintana-roo.htm