What are safe places to visit in Mexico?

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Mark The Latin Travel Dude

Outstanding idea!

Sounds like you already have done some homework and know about some of the good options for day trips or weekend jaunts from Cuernavaca. It's roughly 1 hour by bus from Cuernavaca to the Taxquena bus station in Mexico City (aka, Autobuses del Sur). From there, you can Metro to Coyoacan for the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo experience (check out the Leon Trotsky museum there too....fascinating stuff!) Take the Metro to Autobuses del Norte if you want to catch the bus to Teotihuacan (which might well fill most or all of a day).

I'd also do some other stuff in downtown Mexico City. The Templo Mayor is spectacular as is Chapultepec Castle and the Anthropology Museum.

As for doing a trip somewhere safe and culturally rich, I'd seriously consider Oaxaca: especially if you could wrangle some kind of cooking class or gourmet tour because the food and drink in Oaxaca are a constant orgasm for your palate. Some of the world's top celebrity chefs learned their craft in Oaxaca (like Rick Bayless in the U.S. or Marta Ortiz in Mexico). Oaxaca is home to Monte Alban and other archaeological sites from the Zapotec culture, and it also boasts colonial architecture, arts museums (Oaxaca was home of Rufino Tamayo), and a very unique vibe.

I like Morelia too (with easy trips to Patzcuaro and Janitzio), as well as Merida. These areas are increasingly accessible with all the low-cost airlines doing affordable short haul trips (look at volaris.com.mx, interjet.com.mx, aviacsa.com, and vivaaerobus.com --- remember that the Toluca airport (TLC) could be an option for you if you're not finding good fares via Mexico City (MEX).

There are also numerous colonial cities in the Bajio highland region to the north of Mexico City. Many American retirees love San Miguel de Allende, though in my opinion, Guanajuato is one of the loveliest and most fascinating of these colonial gems.

Cat

Cancun and other popular cities on the Gulf Coast are always safe to travel to; as usually is the capitol as long as you stay in well lit, populous areas. The Capitol also has really great murals in the subway and art all over left over from when the Olympics was there.

However, doing so alone whether male or female is a poor idea; just because then there's no one to check in with you to make sure that you're alright, and to see that no one drops something in your drink when you're not looking. See if someone else from your study group wants to travel longer, and join up with you.

And don't let what a lot of people say about Mexico being exceptionally dangerous now distract you from your trip. If things got as bad as the media is making them into your school (either in the US or Mexico) would cancel the trip. Though things in Mexico are turgent right now, you need only be as cautious as you would be going into a large city in the US like New York, Boston, or Los Angeles.

Oh, and enjoy the Kahlo museum, I've heard it's fabulous!

Roz

Tepoztlan is very near Cuernavaca and it is a nice little town, touristy but still has a lot of local flavor. You can go back and forth in a single day. Mexico City is also very near, just need to be careful and plan your itinerary there ahead of time.
You can also take a bus from Cuernavaca to Puebla, a beautiful colonial city. And yes, try to travel along with a friend.

Reinventingmyself

I've only been to Mexico City, Monterrey and Pachua so I can't suggest other places to visit but do be very careful. Are you sure you don't want to travel with a friend? Be aware of everything around you at all times.

Dana R

in teotihuacan you can see the pyramids. They are beautiful. Make sure to climb to the very top. The "luna" pyramid is smaller than the "sol" pyramid and easier to get up to. The view is beautiful from the top.

Antonio

Go to Yucatan it is really nice and is really far from the border, you will found beaches and piramid

Juliette

With what is going on right now in Mexico i don't recommend going anywhere alone.

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