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'''Mexico''' is a country in [[North America]]. Hitching in Mexico is extremely easy. In many places, locals hitch to get home from the grocery store, etc. You'll likely ride in a the back of a lot of pick-ups, and many people will offer you food and drinks, especially Coca Cola! Whenever you're going to wait for a longer time, it's going to be due to low traffic. On heavily touristed routes with poor public transportation, payment is sometimes expected.
In rural parts of '''Mexico ''' is a country in [[North America|North]] and [[Central 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 common impossible to see whole families hitchhiking together, or for give a pick-up to stop general hitchability rating for several different groups of hitchers until this country: the back of the truck is completely fullexperiences vary from state to state. Because pick-up trucks are the vehicle of choiceAs anywhere, it's quite easy to get rides just outside of any you can go fast on highways and very slow on small town (knock on the back window when you're ready to get out)less used roads.
Useful [[Spanish]] words are "ride" Avoid disappointment and "aventón", both meaning a lift. Near unnecessary loss of money by keeping your proof of payment of the [[Guatemala|Guatemalan]] border tourist fee when you enter the word "jalón" is usedcountry! They will want to see it again when you leave.
== Signs ==Signs are almost always unnecessary in Mexico. However they really seem to help when you're hitching at a ''caseta de cobro'', especially when the highway splits soon after.
However, if If you're in an area with a lot of local traffic, it might be useful to make a sign that says "Siguiente Gasolinera" (next gas station). Then you can get a ride to a better hitchhiking spot. Similarly, signs that say "reten" (checkpoint) or "caseta" (tollbooth) can be really useful, especially when cars are passing quickly and the checkpoint or tollbooth is only 10 or 20 km away.
== Shelter ==You can hitchhike pretty much everywhere, even on the highway (although pretty much no one stops at such high speeds). In general, asking at gas stations (''gasolinera'') or even traffic lights (''semáforo''), especially on bus stops and the like, can get you far pretty easily. Sometimes 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 on the window when you want to get off.
[[File:TortugasOther good places include exits from shopping centers, in truck stops or at the restaurants where truckers eat.jpg|right|thumb|300px|New born turtles Some petrol stations in the coast 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 Mexico, walking towards the oceanpetrol station or at the door (they can't forbid you that) and ask.]]
When traveling long distances with no specific plan, it becomes difficult to arrange shelter through hospitality networks. Also, in Mexico also has many small towns few people have access to the internet.Luckily, it's really easy border control and military and safe to stay over in police checkpoints (''retén'gas stations''' or '''fire stations) in the middle of the highways throughout the country.'''If you get stuck on the road at night, you These can ask to be dropped off at any PEMEX (the only gasoline company of Mexico)great for hitchhiking. If you talk directly It's usually good practice to ask the people in chargepersonnel for permission beforehand, and oftentimes they will tell you what's ll be asking all the safest spot to sleep at. Many gas stations also have free showers and you don't need to be a truck driver to use them.When youdrivers where they're inside of a towngoing, itso they can even let you know if someone's better to go to the fire station. The firemen are very friendly and they are used going to host broke travelers from exotic placesyour destination.
If you're traveling through the West Coast it might be difficult to find a free camping site [[File:Tope-mexico.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Hitching at the popular beaches. However, almost every beach town has a '''turtle camp''' where you can camp for free. You might be asked to do some work in exchange, like counting and liberating baby turtles!!!tope (speedbump)]]
== Precautions ==It is even less recommendable than in other countries to take drugs or weapons with you, especially as You can also catch long rides at the exits of 2010 since the Mexican government, backed by cities when you travel on the US ADA who are actually present in Mexico highways. Many cities have speed bumps (!!''tope'') have decided to crack down on narco and weapon traffickingwhere the highway begins at the edge of town. Therefore you likely will be checked Where there are police posts at one of the numerous check points, especially in the north as you near the US border. But it's also good entrance or exits to know that the soldiers hardly ever search all the way through a large back-packtowns, unless you answer their questions really badthere are usually topes too. If the vehicle you're riding On smaller highways in does get stopped just stay calmmore rural areas, show your passportthere are often speed bumps at every little town, say the magic words "''turista''" ("tourist") and "''de paseo nada más''" ("just passing"), and if they ask making it easy to see your stuff open you bag and show them that it's all clothes and stuffmove quickly with a number of shorter rides.
AlsoMany of the larger, faster highways operate on a toll system. It's common for there to be a free road (''libre'') parallel to the paid one (''cuota''), the former being slower and easier to catch rides, but the latter much more likely for getting longer rides. The tollbooths (''caseta'') can be good places too, in and the ones near the southcities can usually be reached by local transport. However, sometimes you rides might ask be told to stand about 100m past the tollbooth itself, so traffic has often already picked up speed by the time they get to you about your immigration status and advise it can be difficult for cars to pull over. Fortunately, there are often restrooms, gas stations and stores just past the ''caseta'', so you of immigration check pointscan talk to drivers that stop there. Signs can come in really handy at tollbooths.
== Notes on Baja California and Yucatan ==*It may be extremely easy to hitch in mainland Mexico, but in the Baja California peninsula, it's a completely different story! In [[Baja California]], there is only one road, the HWY 1, which isn't hell to hitchhike on but requires a lot of patienceUser: there are often large distances in between cities (which are barely even cities, rather a few ranches and cactus farms) and even larger distances between petrol stations (example: El Rosario is the last one before Guerrero Negro, about 360 km further down in [[Baja California SurZenit|Zenit]]). Getting stuck in seriously disagrees with the middle of the desert is NOT fun, and many people can only take statement that "you from town rarely have to town as it is local traffic or gringos doing one of the many races down hitch-hike alone" in the BajaMexico. AlsoIn three months, unless you are planning on staying in between Baja California and going back up towards the USA-Mexico borderCancún, you should hitchhike from [[Mexicali]] south. If you plan on heading to mainland Mexico from the Baja, you must take a ferry in either [[La Paz (Baja California Sur)|La Paz]] he only saw other hitchhikers two or [[Cabo San Lucas]] towards [[Mazatlán]], which costs about 80$ USDthree times.
*The Yucatan Peninsula ''([[CampecheUser:two_string_sally|two_string_sally]]thinks the day she hitched from San Isidro Mazatepec, [[Yucatán]], [[Quintana Roo]]Jalisco to the airport (50 km)was a fun ole time! prior to that she''d hitched 2, on 600 km with her male friend and received the usual creepiness of the other handworld. she will say, outshines all Mexico for its ease however, that mexican men (and amiability of hitchhiking. You might not even fall victim turkish, indian etc) seem to perceive us western women as free lovin' (which, relative to Moctezuma revenge eating old papaya slushies their culture, we are), and bean burritos out of had the trash in some of those tourist stripsusual, 'do you want to have sex with me?,' leg touching drama you just have to deal with. nothin' dangerous, she might add. HeyFUN TIMES!
== Map==The Guia Roji road atlas with [[Image:31723347 1762829300429691 117312268571508736 n.jpg|thumb|240px|left|the maps perils of female hitching. nothing dangerous, but annoying when the major cities is maybe worth the 100 Pesosguys start touching your hair, trying to sleep on your shoulder, or making a grab for your no no zones ha! strange times but people tend to know super fun hanging at the roads so if you ask lots of questions you can also get around without oneaguascalientes with them. pictured is Avery warding off a sleepy kid. [two_string_sally]]]
:''I hitched at exits and on-ramps and speed bumps (topes) and made excellent time from [[Matamoros]] to [[Catemaco]]. As long as cars are going somewhat slow any place is really a good place to hitchhike. I rarely waited more than fifteen minutes. People were very hospitable. I was treated to lots of delicious food and given places to stay by those who picked me up. '''This is my favorite country to hitchhike thus far.''' --[[User:Eripson|Eripson]]== Personal experiences ==
== Cities ==* [[Mexico City]] (capital)* [[Oaxaca (City)|Oaxaca]]* [[Poza Rica]]* [[Acapulco]]* [[Guadalajara]]* [[San Cristóbal]] de las Casas == Gallery ==<gallerystyle="float:right; width:200px; margin-left:25px;">
→Personal experiences
{{Infobox Country
|country = of Mexico
|map = <map lat='23' lng='-102' zoom='4' view='0' float='right' />
|pop = 108,700,891
|capital = [[Mexico City]]
}}
== Where License plates == Mexican license plates are very easy to hike? interpret: The name of the issuing federal state is written on them (as you will easily notice once in the country). When traveling longer distances or in central Mexico with its many small states it can therefore be useful knowing which state your destination is in (if you have one). == Cities ==The best place __TOC__* [[Acapulco]]* [[Arriaga]]* [[Ciudad Valles]]* [[Culiacán]]* [[Guadalajara]]* [[Guanajuato (city)| Guanajuato]]* [[Mexico City]] (capital)* [[Oaxaca (City)|Oaxaca]]* [[Palenque]]* [[Poza Rica]]* [[Puebla (city)|Puebla]]* [[Querétaro (city)| Querétaro]]* [[San Cristóbal de las Casas]]* [[San Luis Potosí (city)| San Luis Potosí]]* [[Tehuantepec]]* [[Toluca]]* [[Tuxtla]]* [[Xalapa (City)|Xalapa]] == Hitchability and General Advice== Hitchability in Mexico varies wildly depending on the region and on the setting. by the touristic coast of Oaxaca, for example, it's extremely easy to get find rides, while you might wait a ride is not few hours on low-traffic rural roads or by the side overwhelmingly crowded ''casetas de cobro'' near Mexico City. A 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 road or an ondriver. 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). On the small roads, however, hitchhiking can sometimes be time-rampconsuming – waiting times of 2–3 hours are not unheard of. Be prepared with patience, like water and sun cream. Although in many other countriesplaces locals hitch to get home from the grocery store for instance, but at petrol stations hitchhiking as a lifestyle or exits from shopping centersas 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 roads for instance, in truck stops or at your brain should be wired more to enjoy the magnificent views and eating the restaurants where truckers eatabundance of fruit nature has on offer rather than making a lot of progress. As for security, most hitchhikers never encounter any major problems. Mexico is an enormous country and experiences vary a lot from state to state. Some petrol stations in the north don't allow people If you want to do thatavoid risks, but you can try avoid the states close to speak the border with USA - Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Chihuahua and Durango, i.e. take buses and collectivos when traveling north of the managerline between Tampico, it works sometimeSan Luis Potosi and Mazatlan (the map). Otherwise, just stay by Apparently also the cashier states of Guerrero and Michoacán (mostly by the petrol stationcoast), or Sinaloa and Veracruz can be risky. If you go hitchhiking in Mexico, being able to speak and understand at the door least a bit of Spanish is nearly mandatory. Apart from touristic areas, most people you encounter do not speak English, unless they have lived in the store or anything else (they canUS which isn't forbid you all that)infrequent. Still, and ask. Nevertheless if you don't ask know Spanish you can communicate way better with people and stick out your thumb you can still make good distanceget a closer connection with them. Useful [[Spanish]] words are "ride" and "aventón", both meaning a lift. Near the [[Guatemala|Guatemalan]] border the word "jalón" is used. No one understands what hitchhiking or autostop means so say “busco/buscamos un ride” instead when looking for a ride. === Signs ===
== License plates = Where to hitchhike? === Mexican license plates are very easy to interpret: The name of the issuing federal state is written on them (as you will easily notice once in the country). When travelling longer distances or in central Mexico with its many small states it can therefore be useful knowing which state your destination is in (if you have one).
In some mid-sized cities like [[Tampico]], Oaxaca, and [[Pachuca]] there are no transit roads and you have to cross the city. Taking a bus makes things easier.
== Safety ==
It is even less recommendable than in other countries to take drugs or weapons with you, especially since after 2010 the Mexican government, backed by the US DEA who are actually present in Mexico (!!), have decided to crack down on drug and weapon trafficking. This has declined again since the following government of Peña Nieto seems to be more friendly towards the narcos. There still are numerous checkpoints all around the country, but in general it doesn't seem very likely that you will be checked and the soldiers hardly ever search all the way through a large back-pack, unless you answer their questions really bad. If the vehicle you're riding in does get stopped just stay calm, show your passport, say the magic words "''turista''" ("tourist") and "''de paseo nada más''" ("just passing"), and if they ask to see your stuff open you bag and show them that it's all clothes and stuff. Small quantities of marijuana are decriminalized and police officers can probably be convinced to overlook them with a small payment, although of course the Hitchwiki community endorses neither drug possession nor bribery. ;-) Be aware that knives are illegal as they are considered "lethal weapons" according to Mexican law and can theoretically be punished by up to five years of prison.
In the south, your drivers might ask you about your immigration status and advise you of immigration check points.
=== Single Women ===
[[Image:20180310 123251.jpg|thumb|240px|left|my girl Ave ride beggin' in San Isidro Mazatepec, Jalisco- a pueblo harboring my favorite taco stand with the most toppings you'll ever want [two_string_sally]
]]
One of the great things of hitchhiking in Mexico is that even if you travel alone, you rarely have to hitch-hike alone, because hitchhiking is such a common activity among locals - joining locals hitching will not only add to the fun, but also your safety. This is especially handy as in certain areas - like in the North, around [[Chihuahua (City)|Chihuahua]] - men might take you for a prostitute (even if you have a large bag and totally look like a foreigner).
== Personal experience Food ==:''In 10 months and tens of thousands of km covered by thumb, my only "bad" experience was between Pto. Angel and [[Oaxaca (City)|Oaxaca City]] (a notorious drug route, as I later learned). The driver asked me to drive and once I was behind the wheel informed me that the van was full of Colombia's finest. I nearly shat myself, but the experience turned out to be quite interesting, as we were forced to make several detours to avoid police checkpoints, taking me through beautiful and remote parts of the [[Oaxaca|Oaxacan]] mountains I otherwise never would have discovered. Be careful not to get set up. A very, very, rare occurance, but one that can happen.''
Vegetarians/vegans:''I traveled for 8 months in Mexico, all by thumb. I came down Baja California, hitched a sailboat from La Paz to Mazatlán, steamed over to [[Veracruz (City)|Veracruz]] for the carnival, went up and around the Yucatán, then down into [[Chiapas]], Guatemalaif you ask food carts or taco places if they have anything vegetarian, and then back to Veracruzthey say no, across to all look at the big central cities, and down the Pacific coast to Oaxaca ingredients they've got in their work area and Guatemala once more. I got picked up by plenty of self-proclaimed drug dealers. Whatever. Lovely country. --get creative! [[User:Chael777Chinahitch|Chael777One vegetarian traveller]]''s favourite is tomato and avocado taco.
Image:Katja and Augustas in Mexico.JPG|Hitchhikers [[Katja and Augustas]] barely fit with all their stuff in the front of this pickup.
Image:Katja hitchhiking in Mexico.JPG|[[Katja and Augustas|Katja]] is ready to get a ride!
Image:Augustas is helping to push the truck in Mexico.JPG|Sometimes hitchhikers can be of help to a driver - here [[Lithuania]]n hitchhiker [[Katja and Augustas|Augustas]] helping to push a truck somewhere in Mexico.
</gallery>
''It may be extremely easy to hitch in mainland Mexico, but in the Baja California peninsula, it's a completely different story! In [[Baja California]], there is only one road, the HWY 1, which isn't hell to hitchhike on but requires a lot of patience: there are often large distances in between cities (which are barely even cities, rather a few ranches and cactus farms) and even larger distances between petrol stations (example: El Rosario is the last one before Guerrero Negro, about 360 km further down in [[Baja California Sur]]). Getting stuck in the middle of the desert is NOT fun, and many people can only take you from town to town as it is local traffic or gringos doing one of the many races down in the Baja. Also, unless you are planning on staying in Baja and going back up towards the USA-Mexico border, you should hitchhike from [[Mexicali]] south. If you plan on heading to mainland Mexico from the Baja, you must take a ferry in either [[La Paz (Baja California Sur)|La Paz]] or [[Cabo San Lucas]] towards [[Mazatlán]], which costs about 80$ USD'' - [[User:Narfette|Narfette]], April 2008
''The Yucatan Peninsula ''([[Campeche]], [[Yucatán]], [[Quintana Roo]])'', on the other hand, outshines all Mexico for its ease and amiability of hitchhiking. You might not even fall victim to Moctezuma revenge eating old papaya slushies and bean burritos out of the trash in some of those tourist strips. Hey''
''In 10 months and tens of thousands of km covered by thumb, my only "bad" experience was between Pto. Angel and [[Oaxaca (City)|Oaxaca City]] (a notorious drug route, as I later learned). The driver asked me to drive and once I was behind the wheel informed me that the van was full of Colombia's finest. I nearly shat myself, but the experience turned out to be quite interesting, as we were forced to make several detours to avoid police checkpoints, taking me through beautiful and remote parts of the [[Oaxaca|Oaxacan]] mountains I otherwise never would have discovered. Be careful not to get set up. A very, very, rare occurance, but one that can happen.''- unknown hitchhiker, July 2010
''I traveled for 8 months in Mexico, all by thumb. I came down Baja California, hitched a sailboat from La Paz to Mazatlán, steamed over to [[Veracruz (City)|Veracruz]] for the carnival, went up and around the Yucatán, then down into [[Chiapas]], Guatemala, and then back to Veracruz, across to all the big central cities, and down the Pacific coast to Oaxaca and Guatemala once more. I got picked up by plenty of self-proclaimed drug dealers. Whatever. Lovely country.'' - [[User:Chael777|Chael777]]'', August 2011
''I hitched at exits and on-ramps and speed bumps (topes) and made excellent time from [[Matamoros]] to [[Catemaco]]. As long as cars are going somewhat slow any place is really a good place to hitchhike. I rarely waited more than fifteen minutes. People were very hospitable. I was treated to lots of delicious food and given places to stay by those who picked me up. This is my favorite country to hitchhike thus far'' - [[User:Eripson|Eripson]], March 2012
''The small less trafficky roads, in the mountains and in Chiapas for instance, can test your patience. If you are coming from south (Guatemala) people might be afraid to pick you up because there are so many checkpoints. Even the ones who do stop ask if you have problems with authorities, if you are smuggling drugs or if you have a passport.'' - [[User:Astikain|Astikain]] ([[User talk:Astikain|talk]]) 15:59, 4 June 2013 (CEST)
''I hitchhiked for two months through the mainland and had a great experience. People are very friendly and willing to help. The biggest thing is getting outside the city. The good thing about the big highways is you are more likely to get a long ride, the bad thing it can be rough to have someone pull over. The small villages are easier to get rides but tend to be short.'' - Jason
''ANDALE! México remains my favorite place to catch a ride- starting in san diego, cali and winding up in ciudad de guatemala a month later was a breeze. forget about that one 24 hour wait in Tonalà (7eleven outside Guadalajara, you were cruel to me), and hear me out when i say that topés (speed rumps) are your besties and camionetas (pick ups) are the most splendid way -and most common ride- to view méxico, especially with a cold Modelo in your hand and Chalino Sanchez serenading your ears from the front seat. got our shit checkpoint-searched HARD in southern baja, witnessed bribes in guate, were taken to unknown aguascalientes in jalisco, had too much tequlia in Tequila, got robbed in jocotepec, hitched a ride with turkeys, bread, candy and piñatas, drank the waters of canyon aguacero in chiapas. oh what a wonderful world. thumbed it solo as a chick and with a male and later female road dawg. ¡buen viaje! signing off.''- two_string_sally april 2018
== Links ==
[[File:Tortugas.jpg|right|thumb|300px|New born turtles in the coast of Mexico, walking towards the ocean.]]
For general info about moneyless travels in Mexico, see [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iqhpdy67vceKm6LBTsYQFU_wulqCb7Q-dPRooZxuU0U/mobilebasic?pli=1 this] handy document.
== Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==
{{nomadwiki}}
[[es:México]]
[[fr:Mexique]]
[[trashru:MexicoМексика]]
