Guanajuato solo travel: is it safe? I visit Guanajuato regularly by myself since it’s close to Mexico City. Here are my experiences traveling alone as a woman in Guanajuato City.
📬 Hola, Trisha! Thank you for all your resources about Mexico. I enjoy your writing because it really helps me a lot in preparing for my trip. I have scrolled about 4 blogs and yours is what I like the most so thank you for everything that you do! I have seen on your Instagram that you traveled to Guanajuato a lot. I want to pick your brain about my upcoming solo trip to Guanajuato City. My backpacking trip in Mexico will start in Mexico City. I read that Guanajuato will be a great stop. However, I also read that many people got robbed in GTO. Is this true? How safe is Guanajuato? Do you recommend it to solo female travelers? Thank you in advance and I hope to meet you in this trip!
-Elena Ramos, San Diego, CA
Here we go with safety in Mexico again… but let’s get to it. When I first arrived in Guanajuato in 2018, I had no idea what to expect but I know that one of the reasons I visited Guanajuato is to see its colorful city. It really is one of the most vibrant in terms of architecture in the country.
Many people don’t know about Guanajuato so when I told my family and friends that I will come here, they weren’t as worried as they were when I was in Guadalajara and Mexico City. Guanajuato did not ring a bell, which I find funny because Mexico has bad press regarding safety in general – not its destinations.
In this post, I will share my genuine experience of feeling safe in Guanajuato. I know it’s super hard to travel solo, especially in Mexico. However, this does not stop you from traveling around Mexico because this is a great country. In the years that I have lived in Mexico, I have never been harmed.
You will be surprised that recently, I went to Georgia (the country, not the state) and was harassed. This experience made me appreciate how safe I feel in Mexico compared to Europe. Then again, safety is very objective and personal.
Anyway, if you wish to visit Guanajuato, I can connect you with some people I met while traveling there. Knowing someone gives you more confidence when traveling, so feel free to get in touch if you need local contacts.
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How safe is Guanajuato City?
I always ensure that I share my personal experiences in my blog, but I don’t ignore the facts. I did not do research heavily on safety in Guanajuato City because I already know the locals there, so I always feel comfortable visiting this city.
During my first time, I was surprised by how many foreigners and digital nomads live in Guanajuato. I met many cool expats who fell in love with Guanajuato City, and they shared their experiences with me. I have always wondered how people fall in love and choose the place to live in Mexico, and from their stories, I have deeply understood the GTO charm.
America’s favorite destination, San Miguel de Allende, is also in Guanajuato state, where many foreigners and expats retire. Other major GTO destinations include Leon, San Jose Iturbide, Irapuato, Silao, and Tarimoro.
This means you have to check the specific city in Guanajuato that you want to visit to check its safety. In this blog post, I will only focus on Guanajuato City as it is the leading destination I have expertise.
Guanajuato solo travel highlight: meeting people
This was the funny thing when I traveled solo to Guanajuato. I was sitting at a rooftop cafe when a Mexican guy approached me and asked, “Are you Trisha?” I was so surprised because I did not arrange any Couchsurfing meetings there or not even Facebook groups.
It turns out, I posted a picture on Instagram and he saw me in the Guanajuato hashtag. He sat down, and we briefly chatted, but he had to go because he needed to go to work. Some of you may even think that there’s no privacy on social media. People can recognize you from hashtags.
But the funny thing is this guy has been following me on Instagram for over a year. That’s why it did not feel creepy to me. I checked my DM, and we have already had message exchanges. I didn’t know who he was!
The next day, he offered to pick me up at my hostel to drive around. I agreed to a meeting time and he came in a car! Look, I am not some crazy girl who’d jump on a car with someone I don’t even know but when things like this happen, I just know the vibe. I do not know how I know that vibe, but it’s instinct. There’s always that feeling that draws me to people.
This guy that I met was a young boy studying arts at the University. He told me that he was studying photography and was impressed with my photos on Instagram. He even had a professional camera with him when we met. It could be all for show, but believe me, how I feel towards people is always right.
We went around the city, and he took me to the highest points – mind you, the streets of Guanajuato are really uphill. I’ve tried to walk uphill at least once but having a car (and a local tour guide) was way more manageable.
It was also great to have a photographer! After that, we explored the nightlife in Guanajuato but this is not about bars and clubs. It was all about the music and dancing on the streets, street food at midnight, alleys with interesting cocktail bars, etc. I did not expect Guanajuato to be that lively till late.
If the people around you are discouraging you to travel alone, it’s better to talk to someone who has the same goal or intention as you.
Where I stayed in Guanajuato
On my first trip, I made a mistake by not checking the terrain and layout of Guanajuato City. I ended up booking a hotel at the top of the cliff. It wasn’t difficult, it was just challenging to walk at night because I prefer walking over taking taxis.
Taking taxis also takes time because the streets of Guanajuato are narrow and always busy. In this Guanajuato hotel I stayed in, it was OK to walk during the day, but at night, I always had to take a taxi.
On my second trip, I thought I already knew Guanajuato well and I ended up booking the same situation. This time, it’s not the road that’s uphill but the hotel had so many stairs before you get to the reception. I felt bad for the hotel staff because they had to carry my suitcase on those stairs! Plus points to this hotel because there was a pool on the rooftop!
Is it safe to walk alone in Guanajuato?
As someone who blends in (with my skin color and Spanish language skills), I am comfortable walking by myself at night in Guanajuato City. During my first visit, I did not feel that comfortable yet and I sort of booked a hotel at the top of the hill so at night, I took a taxi to go back to my accommodation.
If you are not confident, take the taxi after 9:00 PM. As usual, don’t go into dark areas and avoid places that have fewer people, which, in my opinion, are only a few in GTO. There were always people when I was out at night which made me so confident and safe.
Activities I did in Guanajuato alone
1. Stroll the streets of Guanajuato
I’m sure you’ve seen all these pictures on Pinterest – Guanajuato is the most colorful city in Mexico! Wander the narrow streets and get to know the culture through this walk. You can even do this by yourself without the tour. The center of Guanajuato is very pedestrian-friendly and cars are not even allowed in most of them.
If you prefer to know more history and/or don’t have the luxury of time, you can book a 3-hour Guanajuato City walking tour that only costs US$17 with a local guide!
2. Visit El Callejon de Beso (Alley of Kiss)
This place is from popular folklore, where a young couple would sneak out and meet at this alley. The female was from a well-off miner’s family, and the male was from a poor family. With this societal conflict, they kept their love a secret and would meet (and kiss) in this narrow street. The wealthy family was living above the alley while the young lad was renting an apartment opposite it.
The late-night escapade became the talk of the town, but the female’s father said he won’t believe it until he sees it. He then stayed up one night to catch the couple in action. To his dismay, he saw his daughter with the young man, and out of shock, the young man jumped and tripped off the edge of the balcony.
The folklore has a tragic ending since the young man died from the jump.
3. Funicular ride for city views
My friends thought I was crazy when I walked the steep roads to Pipila but nobody told me there was a funicular! I never really research when I go on trips since I always stay long (up to 1 month), so when I discovered I could take a ride up, I did it again, and it was so much faster!
The funicular is one of the best ways to see the whole city of Guanajuato. The ticket is only US$1.50 (one-way). You don’t need to book these tickets in advance – go to the Funicular Station behind Teatro Juarez.
Guanajuato solo travel tips
Get in touch with locals on Couchsurfing
I stopped staying in people’s couches a long time ago but I still use Couchsurfing for getting in touch with locals. I have proven and tested this platform to be the best community if you really want a deep dive into a city’s culture.
I was also quite surprised by how active the CS community is – many people are hosting and welcoming travelers into their homes! As usual, make sure to read the reviews and/or contact the Couchsurfers who stayed with the host you are viewing and ask questions.
Couchsurfing reviews are always legitimate (in my experience) so don’t worry as it is really hard to make a fake review on this platform. I love this for connecting and meeting with people (better than Tinder or Bumble).
Find a volunteering exchange gig
I’ve always been lucky to meet many local families in this lifetime – volunteering and staying with them for years gave me that opportunity. This is not a paid opportunity as you do five work hours (5 days a week) in exchange for food and accommodation.
I use Worldpackers when looking for volunteering opportunities, and you can get 10% off on your membership if you use my code PSIMONMYWAY10.
There are many types of volunteering (not limited to family stays), such as language exchange, hostel work (my favorite as a teenager), ranch work, eco projects, etc. Just browse the website above and see what works for you!
Take Uber at night
Never walk by yourself at night – take the Uber! It’s cheap, and it is widely used in Guanajuato. My Uber rides within the city were never more than $5, except when I went to eat at Costal, which was $8 for the ride.
Don’t hang out with people you don’t know
Mexico can become very welcoming, especially if you are going to participate in nightlife. I sit at Guanajuato bars by myself, and within minutes, people will be around and approaching me to chat. And it’s not just the Mexicans. Many foreigners from around the world visit Guanajuato ,so you will find yourself hanging out with many people. Don’t just go with people you don’t know, especially if you don’t feel comfortable doing it.
Get travel insurance!
Never travel without insurance! Since I am on the road consistently, I have a digital nomad insurance that costs $40 monthly. This travel insurance also covers you back home in the US for a few days after your travel.
Consider your source
I understand that you consistently base your travel plans on the news, and Guanajuato gets a lot of bad press (as with all of Mexico). My best advice is to only talk to people who have been to Guanajuato City so that you can get first-hand experiences. After your trip to Guanajuato, you will be the most credible source to others because of your experiences! All you have to do is visit and see it for yourself.
✈️ Ready for your trip to Guanajuato? This blog thrives on reader questions, so feel free to ask questions about Guanajuato solo travel using the comment box below. You can also sign up for 1-on-1 solo travel coaching with me if you need more help!
