| Some Basic Information | | | | Besides getting around on foot the travelers can |
| "Bien Viaje" is a useful expression for you to | | | | get around a variety of ways; RV, RV Caravan, |
| know when travelling and backpacking around | | | | Motorhomes, Trailers, Vans, Pickups, Cars and |
| Mexico. It is very likely that you will encounter | | | | Rent-A-Cars (of course). RV Caravans can be the |
| many native Mexicans and their children when | | | | largest and most noticeable of ways to get |
| backpacking Mexico according to the excellent | | | | around. But their special appeal is in the number of |
| travel book The People's Guide to Mexico (by Carl | | | | goods and foodstuffs these fellow travelers may |
| Franz and Lorena Havens, Avalon Travel, 2007). | | | | be able to offer in trade in barter. That can be a |
| When doing so and departing from them, they | | | | good thing to know when the backpacker is |
| may wish you Bien Viaje (Safe Journey). You | | | | running short on supplies and/or funds. |
| may pick up such phrases from the "Useful | | | | Another good and economical thing to know is |
| Expressions" section of Knopf Guides Mexico | | | | that it is equally acceptable to camp through |
| (2006) and other travel guides. It might be a good | | | | Mexico via one's car. Many backpackers and |
| idea for the traveler to know some of these | | | | travelers have noted that this can be a very |
| basic phrases and expressions and other points of | | | | inexpensive way to shelter overnight. However, it |
| interest for their trip. It is also a good idea to read | | | | has been infamously stated that if one's car or |
| up and do some research on this beautiful | | | | vehicle has USA license plates that it will be stolen. |
| country. | | | | This may be a shameful thing to say but |
| Basic People Info | | | | notoriously represented in such movies as Traffic |
| Some very basic backpacking and traveling | | | | (2000). For this reason, some folks prefer to go |
| Mexico information for one to know is that the | | | | Rent-A-Car camping. |
| traveler (from outside of Mexico) will likely be | | | | Security and Safety |
| noticed by the locals wherever they may travel | | | | While most places are safe and friendly to camp |
| and camp. Remember that the traveler will look | | | | and backpack in Mexico, this lovely country has |
| and be different and the locals will likely marvel at | | | | sometimes had some security issues appear in |
| this. Children can be particularly invasive. But, | | | | the international news. As was just mentioned, it |
| these folks will mostly remain friendly. This means | | | | is sometimes seen as best to rent a car than to |
| that if the traveler desires privacy, planning and | | | | bring in one with USA license plates. It is a good |
| scouting for privacy will be of necessity. If privacy | | | | idea to check for travel warnings to any foreign |
| is not a necessity, it is also important to | | | | country through TravelState (dotGov) before |
| remember that the people can be a great source | | | | traveling there. For example, the site posted a |
| of information and creature comforts. | | | | travel warning to Mexico as recently as 8/27 |
| Getting Around | | | | 2010. Please note that the site does state that |
| How one gets around Mexico while backpacking | | | | millions of Americans travel safely to Mexico each |
| and traveling seems like a very basic question. | | | | year. |