Your Safety in Cuernavaca

An Open Letter to the HOY Community:

We are aware that there has been a lot of bad press about Mexico lately. The escalation of the drug war in Mexico has even prompted the U.S. State Department and many universities to issue warnings to those considering travel in Mexico.

If your only impression of Mexico comes from watching the news, the country’s associations have likely changed from sunbathing and margaritas to widespread and random violence.

First, let us make it clear that many areas of Mexico are safe and quiet, a far cry from the headlines you read. Cuernavaca—which boasts more than 20 language schools for foreigners, aside from HOY’s homebase for participatory trips—is among these low-key cities exceedingly safe for foreign travelers.

Although some news reports may paint the entire country as a war zone, the drug war that is fueling the violence reported in the U.S., is concentrated in specific areas. These are mainly border cities where the cartels are fighting over turf and routes and a few cities along the Pacific coast. There have also been sporadic murders of government and police officials in different parts of the country, and some armed assaults on foreigners driving through Baja on solitary stretches of main roads.

Fortunately, Cuernavaca is far removed from the violence in the north and other “hot” spots. Coming here as a traveler-volunteer or a language student (i.e., not as a drug trafficker, cop, or bureaucrat), your greatest threat is the “tourist tax”—being charged $4 by a taxi driver for what should be a $2 ride.

In Mexico City, as in any major city in the U.S. or around the world, urban crime is a concern. There are parts of the city best avoided, pickpocketing on the metro does occur, and taxis should be called for ahead of time or picked up at authorized taxi stands rather than hailed on the street. For traveler-volunteers who wish to spend time in Mexico City, a city we love for its variety and cultural riches, we can share plenty of recommendations for itineraries, as well as safety tips.

We appreciate your concerns and understand how hard it is to judge the true state of a situation from so far away and with little information. Without a context, how can one truly judge something? This is where we come in. HOY is here to answer your questions and allay your fears. After all, what are friends for?

Katy Barnhart & Gerardo Jaime

For more non-alarmist information:
The U.S. State Department’s travel alert is available at www.travel.state.gov > international travel > Mexico.
About.com response to “Is it safe to travel to Mexico?”
http://seniortravel.about.com/od/travelsafety/f/MexicoSafety.htm
http://gomexico.about.com/od/healthandsafety/f/is_mexico_safe.htm
A typical visit to Mexico City
http://www.peoplesguide.com/1pages/best/mexico/m.c./jim-j/mx-city-safe.html

5 Simple Recommendations While Traveling in Mexico:

1. Don’t use, buy, or sell illegal drugs! (As a foreigner, even peeing in the street could get you in big trouble with Mexican police!)
2. Always carry with you a photocopy of your passport.
3. Avoid using ATMs in solitary places and at night. Avoid carrying large sums of money and bank/credit cards with you on a daily basis. Leave them at the hotel in a safe.
4. In big cities, when possible, use public transportation rather than taxis. Ask locals for “taxis seguros” (safe taxis), nearby taxi stands, and telephone numbers to call them for service.
5. Don’t accept drinks from strangers and don’t drink to excess. You need to be alert if necessary.