Your own behavior, despite low crime statistics, largely determines your safety in Mexico. For women traveling solo, it is important to realize that the double standard is alive and well in Mexico. Dress and behave modestly and you will most likely avoid embarrassment. Whenever possible, stay in the company of friends or acquaintances; find companions for beach, sightseeing, and shopping excursions. Ignore strange men’s solicitations and overtures. A Mexican man on the prowl will invent the sappiest romantic overtures to snare a gringa. He will often interpret anything but a firm “no” as a “maybe,” and a “maybe” as a “yes.”
For male visitors, alcohol often leads to trouble. Avoid bars and cantinas; if, given Mexico’s excellent beers, you can’t abstain completely, at least maintain soft-spoken self-control in the face of challenges from macho drunks.