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:''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
:''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 hitchhiked for 8 two 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 through the carnival, went up mainland and around the Yucatán, then down into [[Chiapas]], Guatemala, had a great experience. People are very friendly and then back willing to Veracruz, across to all help. The biggest thing is getting outside the city. The good thing about the big central citieshighways is you are more likely to get a long ride, and down the Pacific coast bad thing it can be rough to Oaxaca and Guatemala once morehave someone pull over. I got picked up by plenty of self-proclaimed drug dealersThe small villages are easier to get rides but tend to be short. Whatever. Lovely country. --[[User:Chael777|Chael777]]'', August 2011- Jason
:''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 roadsANDALE! México remains my favorite place to catch a ride- starting in san diego, cali and winding up in the mountains and ciudad de guatemala a month later was a breeze. forget about that one 24 hour wait in Chiapas for instanceTonalà (7eleven outside Guadalajara, can test your patience. If you were cruel to me), and hear me out when i say that topés (speed rumps) are coming from south your besties and camionetas (Guatemalapick ups) people might be afraid are the most splendid way -and most common ride- to pick you up because there are so many checkpointsview méxico, especially with a cold Modelo in your hand and Chalino Sanchez serenading your ears from the front seat. Even 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 ones who do stop ask if you have problems waters of canyon aguacero in chiapas. oh what a wonderful world. thumbed it solo as a chick and with authorities, if you are smuggling drugs or if you have a passportmale and later female road dawg."-¡buen viaje! signing off.''-[[User:Astikain|Astikain]] ([[User talk:Astikain|talk]]) 15:59, 4 June 2013 (CEST)two_string_sally april 2018
"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== Links ==
== Useful resources ==
=== Map===
The Guia Roji road atlas with the maps of the major cities is maybe worth the 100 PesosFor general info about moneyless travels in Mexico, but people tend to know the roads so if you ask lots of questions you can also get around without onesee [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iqhpdy67vceKm6LBTsYQFU_wulqCb7Q-dPRooZxuU0U/mobilebasic?pli=1 this] handy document.
=== Links ===
* For general info about moneyless travels in Mexico, see [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iqhpdy67vceKm6LBTsYQFU_wulqCb7Q-dPRooZxuU0U/mobilebasic?pli=1 this] handy document.
→Personal experiences
* [[Arriaga]]
* [[Ciudad Valles]]
* [[Culiacán]]
* [[Guadalajara]]
* [[Guanajuato (city)| Guanajuato]]
=== 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).
[[User:Zenit|Zenit]] seriously disagrees with the statement that "you rarely have to hitch-hike alone" in Mexico. In three months, between Baja California and Cancún, he only saw other hitchhikers two or three times. [[User:two_string_sally|two_string_sally]] thinks the day she hitched from San Isidro Mazatepec, Jalisco to the airport (50 km) was a fun ole time! prior to that she'd hitched 2,600 km with her male friend and received the usual creepiness of the world. she will say, however, that mexican men (and turkish, indian etc) seem to perceive us western women as free lovin' (which, relative to their culture, we are), and had the usual, 'do you want to have sex with me?,' leg touching drama you just have to deal with. nothin' dangerous, she might add. FUN TIMES! [[Image:31723347 1762829300429691 117312268571508736 n.jpg|thumb|240px|left|the perils of female hitching. nothing dangerous, but annoying when the guys start touching your hair, trying to sleep on your shoulder, or making a grab for your no no zones ha! strange times but super fun hanging at the aguascalientes with them. pictured is Avery warding off a sleepy kid. [two_string_sally]]]
== Food ==
</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)
[[File:Tortugas.jpg|right|thumb|300px|New born turtles in the coast of Mexico, walking towards the ocean.]]
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