CanuckingAbroad / BLOG, Posts / Why You Should Travel To Mexico.
There has been a lot of controversy about traveling to Mexico these days. Governments advise against it, the media promotes every reason why you shouldn’t go, and mothers fear for their adventurous children willing to take their chances. Violence, drug wars, kidnappings, and armed assaults have been crushing headlines the world over for years, and [...]
Filed Under: BLOG, Posts by admin December 26, 2010, 11:09 am
There has been a lot of controversy about traveling to Mexico these days. Governments advise against it, the media promotes every reason why you shouldn’t go, and mothers fear for their adventurous children willing to take their chances. Violence, drug wars, kidnappings, and armed assaults have been crushing headlines the world over for years, and even more so recently. How can you ignore such horrific yet intriguing headlines? Well, you can’t. The media as a whole are great at what they do, focusing on the facts that grab attention, sensationalizing the negative. Something tells me a headline like, “Mexico is a beautiful country with the nicest people in the world” wouldn’t sell the papers. So the obvious choice is to focus on details that even Hollywood couldn’t reenact.
Let’s get a few things straight right off the bat. Yes, Mexico can be dangerous. With horror stories plaguing the evening news, it’s easy to think twice before jumping on that flight. An important thing to remember is that most of what you are hearing about is happening in the northern border towns and is directly related to the drug trade. This related violence is proving to be a never ending battle with a glum outlook, but the interesting thing is, Mexico is actually more safe now than it has been in the past. The murder rate has drastically declined since the 1980’s, from nearly 20 per 100,000 people to 12 as of 2008. Kidnappings are also down. A growing middle class is a better representation of things to come.
As a traveler, I honestly can’t think of a time that I was in a safe country. Let’s face it, when you travel you put yourself at risk. But at the same time, whenever you get out of bed you face a slew of risks you couldn’t possibly imagine. The world is unfair and cruel at times, and freak accidents will happen. Do you know how many 5 star resorts have lost guests who met their ultimate demise in a head on collision with a coconut from 50 feet above? Or how many hips have been broken after slipping on a shuffleboard puck? Worrying won’t accomplish anything, and denying your free spirit to explore will eat at your conscience forever. A backpacking tourist may be a target for theft in a popular tourist spot, or as fate might have it, be an innocent bystander, but generally I think it’s safe to say that travel through Mexico is safe….if you know how to avoid putting yourself in dangerous situations. My rule of thumb is ‘don’t be stupid’. Simple yet effective.
So how does one decide to travel to such a country? It’s a simple equation that I have been working on for the last few years:
Travel choice =
Pro quotient x (need for adventure) / chance of getting laid(%) x ambition
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Con quotient x (need for adventure) / possible freak accident (%) / ave. murder rate
So after careful deliberation and countless hours of ‘Good Will Hunting’ this absolutely condescending equation on a whiteboard, I concluded that “I like them apples” and was going to formulate my own opinion of Mexico.
And what I found was a wonderful and more accurate portrayal of such a ‘horrible’ country. I got to experience the warmth of Mexican hospitality when I was invited into the homes of complete strangers willing to put up a traveler for the night. I saw how kind and helpful the people were as I hitchhiked through the country. I dined with strangers who invited me to their tables to show me how to properly prepare my market barbeque platter. I met locals in bars who insisted I go with them so they could show me a proper night on the town which they are so proud of. I found myself stuck and lost in Morelia, only to be helped in minutes by a beautiful woman who took me to my intended destination, but not before we stopped for tacos and exchanged words while straddling the language barrier.
It is because I came here that I was able to experience some of the best cuisine in the world.
It is because I came here that my heart was won over by the generosity and kindness of the general population.
It is because I came here that I will never forget the raw beauty and natural wonders of this wonderfully diverse country.
It is because I came here that I will one day be able to annoy my grandchildren with tales of my misadventures that start with ‘Back in Mexico…’
From the enormous urban centers to the colonial mountain towns, the historical ruins to the palm lined surf beaches, you will find more than ample reasons to constantly postpone your departure to the next spot. Mexico has my full endorsement as a safe and exciting country to travel through. Make up your own mind about it.
Latin Hostel Guide says January 30, 2011,10:36 pm
This is a great article. There are a lot of people out there who are completely writing Mexico off. I’m flying into Mexico Feb. 16th. I know it’s just another day waiting to happen. Life goes on there as it does elsewhere. By the way, I heard a statistic that said more people die each year from falling coconuts than Shark attacks. Swallow them apples’ ~ Barry LatinHostelGuide
I am a 29 year old Canadian who has been traveling and chasing experiences over the last as long as I can remember with no plan or ultimate destination. My thirst for adventure has...
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