Mexico Solo Travel Guide: Top Destinations to Explore
A solo vacation to Mexico can offer adventure, history, beaches, and culture. Depending on what your interests are, choosing the right city makes all the difference. Are you looking to explore the rich cultural heritage, a relaxing beach vacation, or a thriving social scene?
There’s several cities that stand out amongst solo travelers. These destinations typically have good walkability, plenty of activities that are suitable for enjoying by yourself, as well as ease of meeting other travelers.
Traveling as a solo female, there are some considerations to factor in, especially concerning safety and comfort. Many of Mexico’s popular beach resort destinations have designated “hotel zones” which is a specific district or strip designed for tourists with beaches, hotels and restaurants.
Mexico City
The capital city of Mexico is a massive energetic hub with plenty of sightseeing opportunities for your solo trip.
Neighborhoods like Roma and Condesa make for a comfortable home base as they are walkable and ideal for wandering down the streets which are surrounded by cafes, museums, and parks. With a plethora of options, solo travelers looking to enjoy some incredible Mexican food won’t be disappointed.
Solo travelers will be able to navigate the city and keep busy with things to do. With such a big city, it’s also easy to blend in with the masses, or choose to join a downtown walking tour for a fun way to explore and learn about the city in a group setting.
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a good choice for solo female travelers looking for a blend of beaches, culture, and a social vibe without the chaos of a massive resort destination. Puerto Vallarta is situated on the Pacific Coast and has two main districts for tourists, the Zona Romántica and Centro.
In the heart of the city is the Malecon, which is a 1-mile long boardwalk along the beach lined with palm trees, cafes and bars. During the day, it’s a wonderful place for a scenic stroll with a coffee; in the evening it becomes more lively and is a hot spot for sunset watching, street performers, and having dinner or drinks.
Puerto Vallarta sparks a balance between being a beach destination and a real city with neighborhoods and cafes that you can explore by foot. There are opportunities for excursions that involve nature hikes hikes and swimming.
Oaxaca
Oaxaca is a rewarding destination for a solo trip focused on history, food, and culture. Surrounded by the mountains in southern Mexico, Oaxaca’s compact historic center is very walkable, with streets that are lined with colonial buildings, markets, plazas and cafes.
Widely considered to be the culinary capital of Mexico, food enthusiasts will appreciate everything from street food stalls to traditional markets, to popular restaurants. This also makes solo dining quite convenient. As a food lover, joining a local cooking class was an exciting activity for solo travelers to indulge in the local traditions while meeting new people.
Just outside of the city (6-miles away) is Monte Albán, an archaeological site that is a popular day trip from Oaxaca. Also Nestled outside of Oaxaca are quaint villages known for producing artisan crafts and is a opportunity to get wonderful handicrafts and folk art.
Playa Del Carmen
Situated on the Caribbean coast of the Riviera Maya, Playa Del Carmen is a popular destination for a solid beach vacation. Playa Del Carmen is about 1 hour away from the bustling city of Cancun.
With a bit of a touristy vibe, solo travelers won’t feel out of place, especially by Quinta Avenida which is a a pedestrian friendly street with cafes, restaurants and shops right in the heart of the town.
From Playa Del Carmen, there is access to nearby attractions including busses to cenotes (natural swimming holes), and a short ferry ride to the island of Cozumel, which is known for it’s calm waters, coral reefs and relaxed atmosphere. I found it incredibly convenient that the ferry departs right from central pier in Playa.
In addition to the beaches, Playa Del Carmen offers both vibrant nightlife in bars and clubs as well as more relaxed activities for solo women like yoga and cafes. All-inclusive resorts are also quite popular and common in Playa Del Carmen. Those interested in exploring more yoga and wellness activities might appreciate the nearby town of Tulum.
Merida
Another inland city, Merida is a calm place that’s perfect for walkability and culture. Explore the historic center on foot, with wide streets, historic architecture and plazas. In the main squares, there are clusters of cafes and museums.
Part of the appeal of Merida is to soak up the atmosphere and observe the culture and daily life in the city. Learn about the regional history at the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya. Catch regular public performances which include live music, dance, and folklore shows which often take place outdoors in the central plazas.
With the city’s slow pace of life, wander through the markets, sit down and have a coffee break. Compared to some of the other top cities in Mexico, Merida offers a more relaxed atmosphere that is less touristy.
Merida is also a great base for day trips and tours, as there are many excellent cenotes and Mayan ruins (like Uxmal) that are a decent distance from the city. Explore Mayan culture at the Uxmal Archaeological Zone, or an excursion to the Cenote Peva or Cenote X’batun.
Which City Is Right For You?
The main consideration is what type of experience you are interested in. If you are looking for a solo beach vacation, there’s a nice selection of cities along the coast.
If you are looking for more of a cultural experience, there are awesome inland cities. Another thing some people may factor in is whether you are flying in from the West Coast or the East Coast, as well as the desired length of your trip.
For a brief first-time visit to Mexico, I decided between more convenient and tourist-centric cities such as Mexico City and beach resort spots like Playa del Carmen.
Meanwhile, I found cities like Oaxaca and Merida to be especially ideal for a second visit to Mexico, after having already become familiar with the country and having more time to dive into the culture.
Beaches
For the ultimate beach destination, the Yucatan Peninsula is on the Caribbean side so it is favored for it’s crystal clear water.
Popular cities on the coast are Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Tulum, and the island of Cozumel. When choosing a beach destination, having that beautiful see-though water was important to me.
That being said, if you live on the West Coast, destinations such as Puerto Vallarta and Cabo will be closer for you to to fly from and are excellent cities for a warm beach vacation as well.
History & Culture
For foodies and history buffs, you’ll have the opportunity to see more of the daily life in Mexico and learn about the culture in cities like Mexico City, Oaxaca, and Merida.
If you’re looking for a big city experience, Mexico City is a top choice. It has efficient public transportation, an abundance of museums, shops, and restaurants. Mexico City is also the most convenient to get to as there will likely be direct flights from your departure city.
Meanwhile Oaxaca and Merida require a bit of extra effort to get to. But they are slower paced cities where you really get to dive into the culture and take your time to wander and appreciate the atmosphere of the city.
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