Nearly all of the Mexican population is white, indígena (of indigenous descent), or a combination of the two. This means that many travelers are bound to stick out, particularly when traveling in rural or less touristed parts of the country. In general, the whiter your skin, the better treatment you’ll receive. Unfortunately, light-skinned travelers are also viewed as wealthier and therefore are more likely to be the targets of crime. If you are lighter-skinned, take the extra precaution to avoid looking like a tourist and attracting unwanted attention. Travelers of African or Asian ancestry will likely attract attention for their perceived exoticism. East Asians may find themselves called chinos, South Asians might be referred to as índus or árabes, while those of African descent are often called morenos or negros. None of these words are considered derogatory in Mexico; they are simply descriptive terms. In many rural areas, non-Spanish speakers may also be viewed as a threat. Note that most of Mexico is Catholic—non-Catholics would also be considered a minority.
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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