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Usually it makes sense to hitchhike after traffic lights, especially on bus stops and the like, but '''in Mexico it is better to be among the cars, in the traffic lights, and directly ask rides from people who have open windows.''' Sometimes you can just jump in the back of a pick-up without even telling where you are going and just tap in the window when you want to get off. You can catch long rides at the gas stations (gasolineras) and at the exits of the cities when you travel on the highways. On the small roads, however, hitchhiking can sometimes be time-taking - waits and walks of 2-3 hours are not unheard of. Be prepared with patience, water and sun cream. Although in many places locals hitch to get home from the grocery store for instance, hitchhiking as a lifestyle or as a means of long-distance travel is not so common in Mexico and not everybody might immediately understand what you want. So, on the mountain paths for instance, your brain should be wired more to enjoy the magnificent views and eating the abundance of fruit the nature has on offer rather than making a lot of progress.
You can hitchhike pretty much everywhere, even on the highway (although pretty much no one stops at such high speeds). In general, asking on the gas station or even traffic lights can get you further pretty easily. You can also thumb up at the various border control and military checkpoints (just ask the personnel for permission beforehand).
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'''Mexico''' is a country in [[North America]]. Despite its notoriety, hitchhiking in Mexico is not only possible but it can be a rather enjoyable experience. Due to its sheer size it´s impossible to give a general hitchability rating for this country: the experiences vary from state to state. As anywhere, you can go fast on highways and very slow on small less trafficky roads.
Peculiarity of Mexican hitchhiking are the ubiquitous pick-up trucks where you just jump in the back, hold onto your hat, kiss the wind and forget about communicating with the driver. Many people will offer you food and drinks, especially Coca Cola! On routes with poor public transportation, payment is sometimes expected and ordinary pickups magically turn into collectivos (shared taxis).
As for security, most hitchhikers never encounter any major problems. Mexico is an enormous country and experiences vary a lot from state to state. If you want to avoid risks, you can avoid the states close to the border with USA - Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Chihuahua and Durango, i.e. take buses and collectivos when traveling north of the line between Tampico, San Luis Potosi and Mazatlan (the map). Apparently also the states of Guerrero, Michoacán and Veracruz can be risky.
== Where to hitchhike? ==
You can hitchhike pretty much everywhere, even on the highway (although pretty much no one stops at such high speeds). In general, asking on the gas station or even traffic lights can get you further pretty easily. You can also thumb up at the various border control and military checkpoints (just ask the personnel for permission beforehand).
The best place to get a ride is not on the side of the road or an on-ramp, like in many other countries, but at petrol stations or exits from shopping centers, in truck stops or at the restaurants where truckers eat. Some petrol stations in the north don't allow people to do that, but you can try to speak with the manager. It works sometimes. Otherwise, just stay by the cashier of the petrol station or at the door (they can't forbid you that) and ask. Nevertheless if you don't ask people and stick out your thumb you can still make good distance.
Usually it makes sense to hitchhike after traffic lights, especially on bus stops and the like, but '''in Mexico it is better to be among the cars, in the traffic lights, and directly ask rides from people who have open windows.''' Sometimes you can just jump in the back of a pick-up without even telling where you are going and just tap in the window when you want to get off. You can catch long rides at the gas stations (gasolineras) and at the exits of the cities when you travel on the highways. On the small roads, however, hitchhiking can sometimes be time-taking - waits and walks of 2-3 hours are not unheard of. Be prepared with patience, water and sun cream. Although in many places locals hitch to get home from the grocery store for instance, hitchhiking as a lifestyle or as a means of long-distance travel is not so common in Mexico and not everybody might immediately understand what you want. So, on the mountain paths for instance, your brain should be wired more to enjoy the magnificent views and eating the abundance of fruit the nature has on offer rather than making a lot of progress.
== Signs ==
