Solo travel in Mexico isn’t just about margaritas on the beach, though of course those are delightful. It’s about showing up with wide eyes and an open heart and knowing that you’ll return home with stories to share for years. Let this Mexico solo travel guide serve as your hype-up, your nudge, your invitation to say “why not?” and go.
Why travel solo in Mexico?
Mexico is waiting, with tacos, sunsets, strangers-turned-friends, and a thousand little moments that remind you why you decided to go it alone. Travelling solo isn’t lonely. It’s liberating. It’s you writing your own vibrant story. And Mexico? It’s one hell of a chapter.
Diversity and culture
You want big city energy? Hello, Mexico City. Do you want sleepy beach towns with surf shacks and hammocks? Hola, Puerto Escondido. How about mountains, picturesque towns, and tacos that make you practically cry tears of joy? Yep, Mexico’s got those too. Mexico isn’t a one-note destination. It’s a 1,000-piece orchestra blasting everything from mariachi to punk rock, and somehow, it all works. The food, the art, the history, the people — it’s an explosion of culture, and it hits you in the best way.
Welcoming destinations for solo explorers
Mexico is one of the friendliest countries for solo travellers. You get the kind of warm welcome that makes you question why strangers at home barely make eye contact in the grocery store. Locals help you when you look lost. Street vendors make sure you try their favourite salsa. Fellow travellers? They’re everywhere, and they’re usually down for a taco run. Mexico doesn’t just invite solo travellers, it high-fives them at the airport.
Experience it for yourself on: Solo-ish Mexico
Top Mexico destinations for solo travellers
These are some of the best places to visit in Mexico alone — walkable, safe, and brimming with culture.
Mexico City
Mexico City is big, messy, and alive — kind of like your coolest friend who knows all the bands before they’re famous. Neighbourhoods like Roma and Condesa are tailor-made for wandering. Cafés spill onto sidewalks, art galleries pop up in repurposed mansions, and street food stalls test your spice tolerance. Travellers can find museums for everything: Frida Kahlo, anthropology, and even tequila. And at night? The city doesn’t sleep. But you should probably grab at least a nap before salsa dancing until 3:00am.
Experience it for yourself on: Classic Mexico Adventure
Oaxaca
Oaxaca isn’t just a city — it’s a vibe, full of colourful streets, mezcal bars that will happily wreck your morning, and markets stuffed with moles (the sauce, not the animal). Hop over to Puebla for stunning churches and arguably the best street food in the country. San Miguel de Allende, meanwhile, feels like walking through a living postcard, with cobblestones, pastel walls, and sunsets.
Experience it for yourself on: Mexico City to Oaxaca: Pottery & Aztec Pyramids
Best Mexico beach towns
Sayulita’s surf schools will have you up on a board before you can say “wipeout.” Holbox is where shoes go to die (no one wears them, ever), and at night, it’s pure magic. Picture yourself kayaking through a glowing lagoon lit by bioluminescence. Puerto Escondido is the chill beach escape your stressed-out brain didn’t know it needed.
If you’re wondering about the best beaches in Mexico for solo travellers, these are the top contenders. Hammock naps, tacos al pastor by the beach, and swapping stories with strangers under the stars — now that’s how to relax. Don’t forget the cenotes, those otherworldly limestone sinkholes where you can swim, float, and feel like you’ve slipped into a secret underworld.
Experience it for yourself on: Highlights of the Yucatán
Cultural festivals and unique events
When is the best time to visit Mexico? For one of its amazing events. Día de los Muertos is not just a festival — it’s an explosion of colour, emotion, and love. You’ll see families in cemeteries, altars covered in marigolds, and a culture that knows how to honour the cycle of life and death with absolute joy. At Guelaguetza in Oaxaca, music, dance, and food collide into a festival so cheerful it could cure seasonal depression. These are some of the most unique experiences in Mexico solo — and you’ll never forget them.
Experience it for yourself on: Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido: Day of the Dead
Safety tips
“Is Mexico safe for solo travellers?” is probably the first question potential travellers ask. Yes, it is, with awareness and common sense. Mexico is doable, safe, and rewarding for travellers going it alone, including women who want to solo travel.
Some Mexico solo travel safety tips:
– Check current travel advisories before you go.
– Use rideshare apps instead of taxis hailed from the street.
– Stick to busy areas and don’t go off on your own at night.
– Trust your gut — if it feels off, it probably is.
– Dress modestly in smaller towns and away from the beach.
– Choose accommodations in safe, lively neighbourhoods.
Language and connectivity
Learn a few Spanish phrases to get you by. Even if you butcher the grammar, effort gets you smiles (and sometimes extra guac). Grab a local SIM card for cheap data and to use Google Maps.
Travel insurance
Don’t roll the dice on travel insurance. It’s required for all G Adventures tours. You might not use it, but if you need it, it’s a lifesaver. Bring basic medicines, and remember your sunscreen.
Getting around Mexico
When you book a Mexico tour with G Adventures, all of the logistics are taken care of for you, so you can sit back and relax.
Mexico’s bus system is a dream: cheap, comfy, and reliable. Colectivos (shared vans) are great for shorter hops and come with the bonus of making friends. Rideshares are safe and easy when arranged through apps (Uber and DiDi operate in Mexico, and BlaBlaCar is an option for longer distances). Domestic flights can be affordable and time-saving when you don’t want to ride the bus for 12 hours.
You’re in good hands on: Mayan Discovery
Where to meet people
Group tours and day trips are a great way to add social moments to your Mexico solo backpacking adventure. Food tours make an excellent icebreaker, as do cooking classes. Markets are your best friend. Belly up to a counter, order whatever the person next to you is having, and suddenly you’re in a conversation about which salsa is superior.
Budgeting and money tips
Mexico runs on pesos. Cash is king in markets, small towns, and taco stands. ATMs are easy to find — use ATMs at banks, not the standalone ones.
Markets and bargaining
Street food is cheap and incredible. Market vendors love a little bargaining — just smile, be respectful, and don’t haggle over pennies.
What you need for solo travel in Mexico
– Passport
– Travel insurance
– SIM card or eSIM
– Power bank
– Comfortable shoes for hiking and city walks
– Flip-flops or sandals for the beach
– Sunscreen and a sunhat
– Spanish basics: gracias (thank you), por favor (please), una cerveza por favor (one beer, please)
– An openness to adventure
