🌵What I Learned Traveling Solo in Mexico: A Journey of Tacos, Truths & Total Transformation 🇲🇽
Let’s be clear: I didn’t hop on a plane to Mexico chasing heartbreak, running from drama, or trying to “find myself” like an Eat, Pray, Love rerun. I left because I was desperate, priced out of my community and struggling to keep my head above water.
What followed? A kaleidoscope of flavor, color, rhythm, and real-deal lessons that cracked me open in the best way. From eating tacos that felt like a spiritual experience to unlearning fear in unfamiliar alleyways, Mexico didn’t just change me, it reintroduced me to myself.
So if you’ve ever wondered, “Can I really do this solo?”, baby, this post is your permission slip, and a peek into what’s possible.
LESSON 1: The News Will Have You Scared, But The Streets Will Hug You
Before I left, folks hit me with every scary headline like they were doing me a favor.
“Be careful out there.”
“Isn’t it dangerous for women?”
“Girl, don’t end up in a cartel documentary.”
But here’s the truth: Mexico is not a single story. It’s a massive, complex, and deeply human country. Is safety a priority? Absolutely. But fear doesn’t get to drive the car.
What I Did to Stay Safe:
Picked travel-smart cities: Oaxaca, Mérida, San Cristóbal, and the Yucatán coast (blessed & peaceful).
Got a SIM card day one: Data = safety. I used Telcel and never lost connection.
Shared my location: My bestie had my itinerary like she was my travel manager.
Trusted my gut: If the energy felt off, I didn’t second guess it, I dipped.
Most unexpected thing?
The kindness. Like the abuela in Puebla who walked me ten blocks to find the mole stand she swore by. It was giving real “mi casa es tu casa” energy.
LESSON 2: Ballin’ on a Budget? Say Less.
I had just under $2,000 to my name when I landed, and stayed over a month, slept well, ate like a queen, and never touched a bunk bed.
How I Made It Work:
Airbnbs & posadas: Cozy, private rooms for as little as $18/night.
Tacos al pastor: 15 pesos (less than a dollar), and yes, I cried once because it was that good.
Inter-city travel: ADO buses are chef’s kiss, air-conditioned, smooth, and safe.
Budget for joy: A cenote tour here, a mezcal tasting there. The memories? Priceless.
Pro Tip: Apps like Rome2Rio, Bookaway, and BusBud made getting around a breeze. Also: small change = your VIP pass to markets, colectivos, and taco stands.
LESSON 3: Culture Isn’t a Museum, It’s Alive
Mexico isn’t something you observe. It happens to you. It breathes down cobblestone streets and hums in the background of every corner café.
What Moved Me:
Día de Muertos altars that brought me to tears, even though I didn’t know the names on them.
Frida Kahlo’s home: Stepping into her space as a creative Black woman? Whew. Felt like communion.
The music: Whether it was banda in the plaza or a guitarist playing boleros at sunset, it reminded me, joy doesn’t whisper here, it sings.
Pro Tip: Sign up for a cooking class, volunteer with a local nonprofit, or say yes when someone invites you to dance. Trust me, it’s not tourism, it’s connection.
LESSON 4: When You’re Alone, You Meet Your Truest Self
As a Black woman, traveling solo means your identity shows up before your name. I wondered:
Will I be stared at?
Will I feel safe?
Will I belong?
The answer? All of the above, and more.
In Chiapas, I met women whose ancestral power mirrored my own. In Mexico City, I danced under streetlights with strangers and forgot about shame. In Mérida, I sipped café de olla alone and realized, I wasn’t lonely. I was liberated.
For once, I wasn’t someone’s employee, partner, or stereotype. I was just me. And that was enough.
LESSON 5: The Do’s and “¡No Gracias!” of Solo Travel in Mexico
✅ DO:
Learn basic Spanish, people appreciate the effort.
Travel slowly, rushing ruins the magic.
Carry cash, especially in small towns.
Dress with cultural awareness, modesty matters at sacred sites.
Greet people, it opens doors (literally).
❌ DON’T:
Flash wealth or gadgets. Keep it cute, not flashy.
Assume everyone speaks English. They don’t—and that’s okay.
Ignore your instincts. If it feels wrong, it is.
Overplan. Leave room for spontaneous magic (like that time I followed music to a rooftop salsa party and danced all night).
What Changed Forever?
Traveling solo in Mexico cracked me open in all the right ways.
I let go of fear.
I found joy in stillness.
I remembered that my intuition is not a suggestion—it’s a superpower.
I stopped waiting for someone to join me. I joined myself.
I didn't “find myself.” I came home to her.
So... Can You Do It Too?
Yes. Absolutely.
You don’t need to wait until you have everything “figured out.” You just need the courage to go.
Start small:
A solo day trip.
A weekend getaway.
Say yes to the thing that feels both terrifying and exhilarating.
And when Mexico calls you? Go. Pack light. Bring your softness. Let it change you.
What’s Calling You?
Whether you're craving the pyramids in Egypt, a beach in Bali, or tacos in Tulum, I’m here to help you plan, prepare, and breathe easy through it all.
Drop your dream destination below. Let’s get you on that plane.
Because freedom looks so good on you.
