Safety in Mexico

I recently had a conversation with my dad in which he told me about some friends in Cancun who felt extremely unsafe in Mexico.

I was super quick to point out that Cancun is a terrible representation of Mexico. If you’ve vacationing in Cancun, you have money, and those overpriced margaritas make it very easy for people to take advantage of tourists.

Snark aside, I recognize that my safety in Mexico has been a concern for many people who love me.  I also recognize that the United States has an extremely warped perception of Mexico, and I want to help end some of these stereotypes so that other students can have the opportunity to study in this beautiful country.

I feel much safer in Colima than I do in Dallas. I feel much safer in Colima than I do in New Orleans. I even feel safer in Colima than I do in Richardson.

Community

I think what makes me feel the safest here is the sense of community. Privacy isn’t really a thing in Mexico. Everybody acknowledges everybody they pass on the street. Because it is so hot, most houses keep their windows and doors open whenever somebody is home. After work, families will sit outside their doors, talking with their neighbors and watching the kids play in the street long after the sun sets.

I walk by a pair of older women on my street. I can barely understand what they are saying, but the tone of their voices makes it clear that today’s gossip is juicy. The culture here is very nosy. Like, church lady knitting club level nosy. And nosy is not necessarily a bad thing because they have no problem prying into somebody’s business when they need to.  I’m sure they’ve discussed the peculiar house full of Americans on the corner. I’m also sure that if they saw somebody following me or if I looked afraid, they would not hesitate to intervene. 

The population density is much higher here than in Texas, and every window is open. If I were to scream, I would certainly be heard.

Cars

At home, my biggest safety concern is automobile accidents. Yes, in Colima, the vehicle standards and regulations are less strict and nobody really knows how to drive. Maybe that bit isn’t so safe, but people don’t know how to drive in Dallas, either. 

However, a lower percentage of the population in Colima drives cars, and taxis cost about 25 pesos (about $2) to get to most places in town. People actually use public transportation. At night, most of the cars on the streets are taxis. 

Walking

I come from a land where people will get in their cars to drive from the Target to the Marshall's in the same strip mall. Don’t lie. You’ve done it, too.  When I arrived in Colima, I discovered this amazing mode of transportation called walking. No joke! People can actually travel from one part of town to the other using just their shoes! 

Really, though, the pedestrian accessibility here makes walking places feel much safer in Colima than in Richardson. There are sidewalks everywhere, and people actually use them. There are also plenty of paths that are only accessible by foot. I feel a lot safer walking around or going on runs because there are almost always other people on the sidewalks.

Unfortunately, bikers are a bit out of luck in Colima. No bike lanes and terrible drivers. I’ve seen a few very large biking groups, though. One of them easily could have had 100 people in it.

Guns

One of the more concerning aspects of Colima is the number of soldiers with guns. There is a military base here less than a km from our house, and you always see soldiers with guns along the gates. I’ve seen banks with armed soldiers guarding them and military trucks with 20 gun-toting soldiers standing in the back will cruise through town. 

As a human being who would rather not be shot, guns make me extremely uncomfortable. However, I recognize that a lot of the military’s presence through the city is in order to dissuade gang and cartel violence, the violence that is the main fear of Americans traveling to Mexico. 

I was talking to somebody the other week, and he asked, “Is it true that everybody in Texas has a gun? That’s pretty scary.”

So...how safe is Mexico?

Mexico is a large country with a lot of inequality, and my experiences are limited to small section. However, my experiences have only been positive.

Colima is a relatively wealthy region filled with people who take pride in their community and are determined to keep it safe.  As a student living abroad, I feel comfortable getting out and exploring the town. I truly believe that Colima is a great place for students and travelers to experience Mexico without being bombarded by the tourism industry, and I would recommend visiting Colima to anybody.   

I also cannot ignore that there is violence and gang activity going on in the background in Colima, just as there is plenty of drug-fueled violence in DFW that I have never witnessed from my comfortable corner in Richardson. It’s important to be aware that this exists, but I believe that it can easily be avoided by obeying the law and exercising common sense.

A level of danger exists to anybody visiting a country where he or she looks foreign and cannot speak the language. Should this keep anybody from traveling? Absolutely not. I even believe that Colima is safer than many cities that are more accessible to foreigners.  Because tourism is so uncommon here, there not much to gain from taking advantage of tourists.

I can’t speak for all of Mexico. There are good parts and bad parts. The sleepy little town of Jala, Nayarit, seemed as safe as can be, and I felt very comfortable walking around Valle de Santiago, Guanajuato, with other students at night.  I’ve also heard plenty of people tell me, “The Michoacán coast is the most beautiful in all of Mexico, but you can’t go there anymore because it’s too dangerous.” Juarez isn’t exactly a top tourist destination right now, either.

I don't think I can properly assess the danger of a foreign region without accepting the danger that exists within my home. In the state of Colima (including the Michoacán border) during its most dangerous year, 2012, the murder rate was 0.38 per 1000.  This murder rate was high enough to give Colima a United States travel advisory warning. In comparison, the murder rate in New Orleans is 0.53 per 1000, yet I’m quick to tell anybody that it’s the best city in the United States and they absolutely must visit it.  

I want to encourage everybody to go ahead an book that trip to Mexico. Travel off the beaten path. It’s a beautiful country filled with warm people, rich history, and fascinating geology. There are dangers that travelers should be aware of, but they should be fine in most regions if they avoid places that the local population avoids and exercise caution as if they were in a city in the United States. 

I still carry a little knife in my bag, but its sole purpose is to peel mangoes I find hanging over the sidewalks.