Is Oaxaca Safe? What You Need to Know As a Solo Traveler

This publish was published by Emily Becker, who is a Mexico-based freelance writer for BMTM.

Oaxaca is a point out in southern Mexico that has a wonderful standing for remaining a person of the most culturally lively locations in the state. The state is mountainous, with a rugged shoreline that presents way to sandy beaches and quintessential surf towns. The cash, Oaxaca de Juárez (or Oaxaca Town), is a bustling location, bursting with color. It’s the gastronomic capital of Mexico — and for great reason.

That said, the issue on your intellect as a traveler is in all probability: Is Oaxaca protected? As a solo female traveler who has visited the town of Oaxaca a handful of situations, I’m right here to address your largest safety fears with these guidelines:

1. Opt for Your Accommodations Correctly

My major piece of tips for keeping protected in Oaxaca Metropolis is choosing accommodations that are in the Centro, Xochimilco, Reforma, or Jalatlaco neighborhoods. The first time I frequented, I stayed in the Centro, and even though I felt secure, it is a noisy area to stay.

If you want to remain central but in a quiet and safe neighborhood, choose for Xochimilco or Jalatlaco. Both of those of these spots are famed for their impeccable street art scenes, so you will want to check out them in any case. I stayed in the Xochimilco neighborhood the very last time I was in Oaxaca and unquestionably cherished the quaint streets, vibrant murals, and spouse and children ambiance.

Reforma is also a safe neighborhood, but it is a little bit even further out. It can take about a 20-minute wander to get to the Centro from Reforma, relying on what conclude of the neighborhood you’re in.

2. Be Cautious of Taxis

The very first time I frequented Oaxaca at the stop of 2019, I was shocked by how substantially the taxi drivers harassed my buddy and me. To be honest, I would not have recommended getting a frequent taxi in Oaxaca if you had asked me then.

On the other hand, the city has cracked down significant-time on harassment, and additional and a lot more gals are coming ahead to denounce their aggressors. I just cannot be particular if these two items are connected, but I observed a change this past time I visited Oaxaca. I was not harassed at all — not in the road or in taxis. It’s possible this is exclusive to my knowledge, but I’d like to hope that items are shifting.

A excellent way to be certain your protection though using taxis in Oaxaca is to just take brief photos of the license plate and taxi amount right before you get in. Make this clear — when the driver sees your vigilance, they will be more likely to be on their most effective actions.

If you continue to sense uncertain about taxis in Oaxaca, consider trying DiDi. It’s like Uber and allows you to file a grievance if your driver tends to make you truly feel unsafe.

3. A Small Mezcal Goes a Extended Way

Oaxaca is recognised globally for its mezcal, and there are loads of sites to check out it. Because so lots of individuals flock to Oaxaca to do so, it’s no shock that there is a dense occasion lifestyle below. Any specified day, you can locate mezcalerías, bars, and clubs complete of people today consuming and partying.

If you’ve tried out mezcal, you know that it’s quite solid. If you have not, perfectly, I’ll help you save you from a awful hangover by breaking the information.

I have constantly experienced a fantastic time in Oaxaca, dancing and socializing although sipping mezcal, but it’s by no means a great idea to binge-consume in a overseas spot.

Perhaps I audio like a damaged report, but be thorough how a great deal you consume when you vacation. Permitting your guard down too considerably can place you at danger — and no party is really worth dropping handle.

If you want to attempt the various forms of mezcal in a much more minimal-important environment, opt for a daytime mezcal tasting. Many tours provide them as a element of the tour, like this a single.

4. Consume Avenue Meals Correctly

Oaxaca is street food stuff heaven. From tlayudas to mole and every thing in concerning, you could commit your total journey ingesting practically nothing but avenue food items and be entirely content with the range you’ll obtain.

Not all road food stuff stands are established equally when it comes to hygiene, however. Specifically if your abdomen is not applied to the spices made use of in Mexican cooking, you could obtain on your own wishing you hadn’t long gone for that 2nd splash of salsa verde on your roadside tacos.

To have the very best prospect of staying away from any tummy problems though experiencing Oaxaca’s incredible road fare, glance for the stands where there are extensive strains of persons waiting around to purchase. Probabilities are, locals won’t be lining up someplace that has a standing for currently being unhygienic.

A further tip is to take in inside of the marketplace. Mercado 20 de Noviembre is complete of little stalls, and several of them are regional favorites, wherever you will uncover lots of persons having fun with a meal. These stalls are ordinarily cleaner than the types on the avenue, as the current market has a higher typical of cleanliness.

I recommend using a lap all-around the current market or the road food stuff stalls near the Zócalo about lunchtime, say 2 or 3pm. See which place is the most well known, and go back again all over 4 or 5pm, when there are fewer patrons.

5. Gown Down

Oaxaca is absolutely not the area to flaunt any flashy jewelry or designer outfits that could make you a focus on for petty crime. Contemplating that most people today — locals and vacationers alike — dress very casually, everything way too glamorous would make you adhere out like a sore thumb.

6. Find out Some Essential Spanish

From time to time I obtain that folks from Mexico are stunned that I communicate Spanish fluently, which would make me chuckle a very little little bit. Speaking the language has opened a lot of doors for me and authorized me to make good friends quickly, even when I was a beginner.

For some persons, it can be daunting to take on learning a new language. You really don’t have to be fluent to continue to be protected in Oaxaca, but it guaranteed will help to know at minimum a minimal bit of Spanish.

If you can master simple greetings and crucial phrases, you’re off to a good commence. Getting equipped to request for help if you want it, tell a taxi driver to prevent, or allow a waitress know about your food allergy are all important items to be in a position to categorical in Spanish.

7. Adhere to the Centro at Evening

Walking all-around by itself at night time everywhere isn’t a terrific plan, but if you are going to do it in Oaxaca, stick to the Centro. It is properly-lit, there are a lot of persons, and you are going to obtain pedestrian-only streets that are safer to walk along.

I found that some of the streets outside of the Centro were being dim, with unforeseen alleys and in general not the most secure vibe. When in question, just just take a DiDi car, or keep away from going any where you’re not common with at night, specially if it’s outside the town centre.

8. Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems

It’s hardly ever a very good notion to walk all around with copious quantities of funds whilst traveling, and Oaxaca is no diverse. Having said that, ATM costs can be way too large to take into consideration having out compact amounts more frequently. To get about this, consider out what you will need in the morning at a bank’s ATM (prevent ATMs in the significant marketplaces or on the avenue), then acquire a DiDi to your lodging and lock your hard cash in a protected. Only retain what you need to have when you go away your home.

Even if you only get small quantities of income with you when you go out, take into account dispersing it amongst your wallet, purse, bra, and so on. That way, if you are robbed or pickpocketed, the thief won’t take every little thing you have. Some tourists propose obtaining a dummy wallet with a bit of income and expired playing cards to hand about.

9. “No, Gracias”

This just one is fewer about your safety and much more about the security of many others.

You could possibly see a lot of men and women in the metropolis center asking for adjust. Often you’ll see youngsters promoting products as very well. Even soon after dwelling in Mexico for in excess of two yrs, I’m however not sure what my dollars would be supporting if I have been to get from those children or give transform to people today on the avenue. Some experiences suggest that contributing to this casual current market is the same as contributing to little one trafficking, and which is sufficient for me to prevent it altogether.

I know that is is a sophisticated problem, and I really don’t claim to have all the answers, so use your possess judgment on this just one. I generally just smile and say “no, gracias” to the little ones, and then they go on their way.

10. Vet Any Tour Businesses

As you wander as a result of the Zócalo in Oaxaca’s city middle, you are going to see hundreds of persons marketing excursions to nearby internet sites. A ton of these are fantastic, but to say that they are all absolutely secure or worth your revenue would be a extend. Some tour providers really do not generally follow safety protocols and do a sloppy work of giving visitors correct details about the web sites.

It’s greatest to just stay clear of the hawkers completely in Oaxaca, and choose for a tour from GetYourGuide or Viator alternatively. I have even performed Airbnb Experiences in this article and experienced a great (and harmless) time.

11. Get a Mexican SIM Card

I do not believe that a lot of folks realize how low-priced it is to decide up a SIM card and use it when they’re in Mexico. A SIM from Telcel (the largest provider in Mexico) prices 150 pesos ($7.50 USD), and you can effortlessly spend as you go, loading info onto your SIM making use of your credit rating or debit card.

Getting a SIM card can be a terrific way to stay safe and sound, mainly because you are going to have the peace of intellect of being ready to connect at any time. You will be able to access maps if you get shed, use a translator application to communicate improved, and make a phone if you’re in hazard.

Some US cell phone corporations let their users a particular total of knowledge for each day although in Mexico, so question yours right before you head to Oaxaca to see if acquiring a SIM card is even required.

12. Touring Solo as a Female in Oaxaca

My to start with encounter touring in Oaxaca was extremely distinct from these that adopted. I don’t have a apparent explanation as to why, but potentially I have just come to be far better at touring on your own and now know how to avoid scams, foodstuff poisoning, and overall risk.

The very first time I went to Oaxaca, I was adopted and catcalled twice. On top rated of that, a pair of taxi drivers created pretty inappropriate opinions to me that created me come to feel unsafe.

To be straightforward, I was hesitant to solo vacation listed here once more. But considering that I experienced organized to satisfy a buddy in Oaxaca in January of 2022, I decided to deal with my fear and expend a couple days alone right here just before she joined me. This time was totally different. Not a one taxi driver harassed me, for which I felt a huge sigh of aid. I also discovered fewer avenue harassment, even though I was there for a longer period and was out and about extra this time all over.

Is this to say that Oaxaca is safer now? Not actually. I figure out that my emotion safer this last time I went to Oaxaca could be because of to prospect. Possibly two much more many years of living in Mexico has also manufactured it a lot easier for me to blend in?

In any situation, I nonetheless assume Oaxaca is completely really worth viewing as a solo feminine traveler. But it’s specifically crucial for us to be vigilant, to approach our trip thoroughly, and stay away from risks like scam artists and adult men who prey on drunk overseas females in bars (sure, they exist).

Test to do as a lot as you can for the duration of daylight hours, prevent ingesting also a lot, and make positive your telephone is doing work get in scenario of emergencies. Under no circumstances engage with catcallers and they’ll go away you by itself.

Pin me for afterwards:

General, Oaxaca requires the cake as one particular of the most interesting places to pay a visit to in Mexico. If you maintain in brain these security tips, you’ll be a little bit sharper and in a position to make safer selections when you pay a visit to Oaxaca de Juárez or the coast, letting you to have an amazing knowledge.

Imagining of heading to Oaxaca? Check out out our guides to Oaxaca Metropolis, Puerto Escondido, and Zipolite!