Ron K. Loc: Upstate NY.

The Yucatan is beautiful and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit there but the only people I saw were the staff and guides from the outfitter, as well as my fellow hunters. When we "went afield" we all carried firearms provided by the outfitter (except for the guides - they weren't allowed to carry guns) but they did carry mean-looking machetes. The only other people we saw were occasional wayfarers heading up from Guatamala, looking for "better opportunities" in Mexico. We were only about 20 miles from the Guatemalan border.

Ron K. Loc: Upstate NY.

Conversely, when I was in Chihuahua on a turkey hunt my guide took me up this remote mountain path looking for turkeys and a guy that looked like the bandit chief in "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" stepped out of the bush and said in Spanish "I don't think you want to go any further." My guide said Muchas Gracias and we retreated. I learned later we had blundered too close to a marijuana plantation and were unwelcome.

Nessguide Loc: Montreal,Canada

I am 71 and go to San Miguel de Allende (no advisory)every winter for photography..usually alone or have visitors during my month...I rent a house and over 5 years have established various contacts and also,keep a pretty simple routine. If I take an out of town trip, eg to Pozos..old silver mining town, I will go with a photo group of which there are many, or wait till I have friends visiting and get Dan,my now friend(guide,property manager,emergency contact etccc)to take us out for the day.
You have to have some savvy and exercise the caution you would use anywhere...I wouldn't go slumming in Montreal either.
I fly in and take the 3 hour bus trip in from MC. Other flights from Montreal that get you closer have very late arrival hours.....nicer and more secure coaches than our top end tour coaches here..and I know as am retired guide.. Everything is super cheap..taxis 2.00 a pop in the town.
This is my speed now,but if you want adventure and action you takes your chances...been there done that.
To answer your question..no I would not drive through Mexico for all the other reasons folks have given...but it is a fabulous place..you have to pick your spots and follow the advisory link..

BillBrennan Loc: Tucson, Az.

I live in Tucson, I will not go to Mexico only about one hour south of Tucson, because of the drug crime. There are a lot of people that drive to Rocky Point which is a vacation spot and many own condos(you can't own the land). They drive from Tucson, many have no problem and others have been robbed by the local police or bandits on the road. Drive only during the day, you have to get Mexicali car insurance before you go, if you are in an accident you will be at falt and could end up in jail or bribe your way out of it.
I work with a lot of people who were born in Mexico and won't go back, I think that alone says something! The major tourist areas used to be safe and off limits to the drug lords but not, but not any more.
If you do go don't even think about taking any kind of weapons into Mexico as you could be in a Mexican prison for a very long time.
Just my two cents worth.
Bill

stonecherub Loc: Tucson, AZ

I am "working" in the Pinacate Volcanic Field (if you want to call what I do as a retired geologist "working"), a desert wonderland located north of Puerto Penasco near the Gulf of California. I, too, hear stories but not from anyone I know either here or in Mexico. Needless to say, I have never experienced any problems in my travels.

My wife and I just returned from ten days in Oaxaca (air travel both ways) and spent a similar time in the mountains around Puebla two years ago with my wife's Spanish teacher, a similarly wonderful trip. Mexico is great!

But! We are liberals and have liberal brains. We are open to new experiences and eager to learn new things. We accept that living in the world has risks. My shadow shows me the direction to the sun, I'm not afraid of it. I feel no compunction to own or carry a gun. If "my" field explodes, I will run toward it not away. It's what I am.

EDIT: I don't know why that damned "smiley" replaces the right paren and I don't know how to get rid of it.

cindy11 Loc: Honeoye Falls, NY

NO IT IS NOT SAFE anywhere in Mexico! The police are sooo corrupt! We just accidentally drove one mile into Mexico and was returning to the boarder when the police pulled us over, detained us for a long time, threatened with jail, demanded money, etc. We finally paid them and they let us go. And that's just a mile from the border. Please don't drive. Stay close to an organized group. Do not venture by yourselves.

orterrym Loc: Miami

Mexico all depends on where you go. Of course stay away from border towns. My fiance is from Poza Rica, which is in Vera Cruz Mexico. We go every year and have never had any problems of any kind. We visited the El Tajin pyramids and took a lot of great pictures. I walk around Poza Rica taking pictures by myself many times I have never felt unsafe, and I'm about as gringo as they come. But use your common sense. Check out where you want to go and find out all you can about the area first. Renting a car I can't comment on, only to say we have never rented one and probably would not want to drive by oursevles. We fly through Mexico City, but have never stayed there, too big, like big cities around the world, you never know what to expect. Don't be careless, anytime you travel outside the US there is risk, but I would not write off Mexico off hand.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I live in Arizona and I wouldn't cross our Southern border on a bet.

Emelen Loc: Westchester, NY

Have been to Mexico dozens of times since 1960. Mexico was always my favorite place to see. Great weather, great people, relatively safe. I also speak Spanish.
I am saddened to say that I have not been back in a few years and have no intention of going any time soon.
When you constantly have to look over your shoulder to be safe that is not a vacation. I am from New York and I have enough of that stuff here. When I go away, I don't automatically drop my "street smarts" but I do look forward to a less challenging and relaxed atmosphere.
My family's safety comes first. The Mexican ruins will still be around when Mexico rids itself of crime.

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

"The Mexican ruins will still be around when Mexico rids itself of crime".

Is that the same time we have honest politicians? :roll:

asylum1972 Loc: Hilton Head Island, SC

Wow!!!! St. Lucia here we come! Thank you for all the insights!

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

Good call! :thumbup:

jolly1

Jarede, you are either an absolute fool, or a very evil trouble maker. Probably botrh. Telling these folks to "carry weapons" into Mexico is, in itself, criminal. Like you want these people to spend up to twenty-five years in a filthy Mexican prison.
There is nothing on the face of this earth that is more dangerous than carrying weapons into Mexico. And, if one is caught with weapons there, the U.S. will do nothing to help you, other than visit you in prison once a month.

gphotography Loc: Colorado

I know the terrible things that go on in mexico very well. You would be absolutely stupid to take a young girl there! Please find another place to vacation. There is so many beautiful national parks in the U.S.

jdmjesse Loc: Montclair, CA

You do not want to even think about driving in Mexico. You are better off flying. Please do not drive in Mexico. It is not safe