Looking to do some solo travel in Mexico? With a plethora of historical sites like ruined temples and ornate cathedrals, and nature galore such as cenotes, mountains and white-sand beaches, Mexico is a vibrant destination that’s great for solo female travel. 

If you’re going it alone, there are a few places you should definitely include on your itinerary.

Five Best Places in Mexico for Solo Female Travel

Mexico City, Mexico

While many might be hesitant about going to Mexico City alone, it actually makes for a great solo female travel destination.

If you love big cities like New York, London, and Barcelona, you’ll love Mexico City as well. There are more than 100 museums, historic Unesco World Heritage Sites, ancient Aztec ruins, and of course, tacos! Plus, there’s a reliable public transport system throughout the city that makes it easy to get around. Though it may not have the best reputation in the media, travelers in the know will always sing praises of the underrated Mexico City.

Mexico City has all kinds of transport options: bus, metro, and even a city-wide bike sharing program called EcoBici. There’s also Uber, which saves you precious travel time. For a day trip around Mexico City, the country’s ADO bus is the perfect, inexpensive way to get wherever you need to be.

Speaking of day trips, one of the coolest hidden gems in Mexico is located about four hours away from Mexico City in the state of Hidalgo. Here, you’ll find the Las Grutas de Tolantongo Caves, a natural water playground with hot spring pools built onto the side of a cliff.

Mexico’s bustling capital has alot to offer the solo female traveller, especially in the way of cultural and historical monuments.

Merida, Yucatan

Merida is located in the famed Yucatan Peninsula, about 3.5 hours drive from Cancun and Tulum, though it feels a world away. This colorful historic city is a hidden gem for now, but it is slowly growing in popularity and reputation.

Merida holds several titles including Cultural Capital of the Yucatan and Safest City in Mexico; the latter making it the ideal place for solo female travelers. 

It’s also perfect for culture travelers who want to experience ‘real’ Mexican and Mayan culture. While millions flock to nearby Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Riviera Maya, those wanting to see another side of Mexico always head to Merida.

Once in the city, there are so many things to do including visiting museums, strolling the colorful streets, shopping for Mayan artesanias (handicrafts), and eating at amazing restaurants. In fact, Yucatan food in Merida has even been featured on Netflix shows like Taco Chronicles and Chef’s Table: BBQ.

As it’s still an up-and-coming destination, you can stay in a nice boutique hotel in Merida at a relatively low cost. There is an airport right in the city—Merida International Airport—so it’s also easy to access.

Merida is the capital of the Yucatan state, and located in the near-dead center of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. This makes it the ideal homebase to stay in while you explore other parts of the peninsula like the Chichen Itza Ruins, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Merida is a great base to explore the surroundings such as the world famous Chichen Itza ruins.

Tulum, Quintana Roo

Tulum is a Mexico hot spot, and has been for some time now. Known as one of the most Instagrammable Mexico destinations, you may have seen photos and YouTube videos of this beautiful beachfront town. However, Tulum is more than just pretty pictures!

This Mexico beach town sits right on the Caribbean Sea, so you know there’s plenty of beautiful beaches to lounge around on. It also caters to the more luxurious traveler, with beach clubs that cater to your every whim and elaborate swimming pools with swings, hammocks, and other waterside accessories.

Besides the beaches, there are also cenotes in Tulum, which are natural pools in the jungle. They are located all over the Yucatan Peninsula, but some of the best cenotes in Mexico are located just minutes from downtown Tulum.

There’s also the Tulum Ruins, a Mayan archeological site right on the beach. After exploring, you can take the staircase down to the beach and jump in the sea. There are plenty of taco shops and vegan cafes to indulge in after a refreshing swim.

Tulum is very popular with solo travelers and backpackers, so it’s very easy to meet people and get a lay of the land, including areas to avoid as a solo female. Though it has a big reputation, it’s actually a small town and one of the famed Mexico pueblos magicos (magic towns), making it easy to navigate.

Natural beauty, especially in the form of cenotes, abound in Tulum

Baja California Sur State

Mexico’s west coast consists of two states: Baja California Sur (south) and Baja California state, which is sometimes called Baja California Norte (north). These two states make up Mexico’s famed Baja California Peninsula.

Much like the west coast of the US, Mexico’s west coast is super laid back, and has a similar vibe to California. In fact, Baja is full of expats who have relocated from California. As a result, this is a part of Mexico you can visit and not have to speak Spanish at all.

Of the two Baja states in Mexico, Baja Sur is the more popular of the two. Here, you have the top destinations like Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo (AKA Los Cabos), as well as La Paz, Todos Santos, and the up-and-coming Loreto.

Baja Sur is the perfect place to do a solo road trip, as the best way to get around is by car. It’s considered safe to drive in Mexico, as long as you’re off the road when it’s dark. Car rentals average only about $20 USD per day, and you can rent with a driving license that is valid in your country of residence. International driving licenses are also recommended for ease of car hiring.

The Baja Peninsula is a great year-round destination, with whale watching and gorgeous weather in the winter. In the summers, it’s the perfect time to hit the Baja beaches.

Baja Sur has some of the best beaches in the country—and what some say is the most beautiful beach in Mexico, Playa Balandra near La Paz. The snorkeling and diving scene on the Baja coast is legendary, and this area was famously called “the aquarium of the world” by Ocean Explorer and Naval Officer, Jacques Cousteau.

Go snorkeling, surfing, whale watching, or simply lounge on the beach in Cabo.

San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato

Last but not least is San Miguel de Allende, a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful historical cities in Mexico. San Miguel has good weather for much of the year, so you can visit at any time.

Residents are a mix of older retired expats and younger artists. The city is also known as one of the foodie hot spots of Mexico, and part of the season 12 finale of cooking show Top Chef was even filmed there.

If you want to get lost in a beautiful town, San Miguel is your place. Each building and home is somehow more beautiful than the next, and the cobblestone streets that wind along hidden alleyways only add to the charm.

The zocalo (town square) is centered around one of the most beautiful churches in Mexico, the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel. This large gothic style church is the crown jewel of San Miguel, and everyone gathers here at the Jardín Allende (garden) just in front of it.

Just outside of town there are some nice hot springs, a beautiful botanical garden and also some ancient ruins at the Cañada de la Virgin site. Each of these places is easily accessible by Uber or public transportation from San Miguel.

The pretty little town of San Miguel de Allende is the perfect spot for slow adventure and great food.

Looking to make your stay in Mexico a little more permanent? Check out our Guide to Living in Mexico as a Digital Nomad.