You’ve decided to travel or move to San Miguel de Allende on your own. That’s fantastic! Hopefully, you’ve done your homework, and you understand enough Spanish to communicate. Moreover, it’s best to check the weather and make sure you pack accordingly. Stay hydrated, and keep your sunscreen or sleeved shirts on hand as well. However, that’s probably not the kind of safety you had in mind when you started reading. The good news is that I am a bit flippant because the dangers of visiting Mexico are overrated. Stay out of Tijuana and the impoverished neighborhoods, and you’ll laugh at the naysayers who told you Mexico is dangerous before the first week is over. Still, singles need to exercise a little more common sense than those traveling in couples or groups. Notably, that’s not because you’re headed to San Miguel de Allende; in fact, it’s true everywhere you go.
Is San Miguel de Allende safe for singles? San Miguel de Allende is safe for singles. While some people will always be more hesitant than others, Mexico, in general, and especially an ex-pat haven like San Miguel de Allende, is very safe for solo visitors. Living the single life in paradise is entirely reasonable in SMA.
Are There More Dangers for Singles in SMA
San Miguel de Allende is safe for singles. Although any traveling comes with risks, and solo travels, in particular, have a slightly higher danger rate, the idea the SMA is somehow uniquely dangerous to singles is laughable. By comparison, you are more likely to lose your wallet, get roofied at the first bar you sit in and wake up in a gutter without your keys in New Orleans or Vegas than you are in most of Mexico.
Does that mean there are no dangers? Well, let’s not be ridiculous. Drunk tourists, especially those on their own, constitute a significant source of income for unscrupulous thieves. Please note that I did not add ‘in San Miguel de Allende,’ because this is not a new or specific phenomenon. Drunk tourists are ‘marks’ anywhere.
You do need to be aware of your surroundings, and it’s smart to take a few self-defense classes or carry a personal alarm. Travel always comes with dangers, but so does staying at home. Sadly, you’re a whole lot more likely to get into a fatal accident at home than you ever would be while visiting SMA.
Are there bad neighborhoods to worry about? Again, the answer is an obvious yes. However, it’s not difficult to see where they are. When buildings go from well taken care of, with active businesses and maintained homes to crumbling facades and small, ill cared for dwellings, you’ve strayed into a less affluent area.
Keep your eyes out for excessive graffiti and other stereotypical signs of a tough area. Although you can also be reasonably safe in these places, they do often have a higher crime rate. However, it’s not very difficult to look around or take a taxi from one destination to another.
If you choose to move to San Miguel de Allende, do your homework on which neighborhood you’re moving to. It’s a good idea to visit and rent for a while before making a final decision. Fortunately, there are many beautiful homes for sale in San Miguel de Allende.
Pickpockets
Anyone can be the victim of a pickpocket. Unfortunately, this happens no matter where you are in town or the world. Hence the dummy wallet is a smart plan for tourists and ex-pats alike.
Take most of your money and any vital identification and either leave it at your hotel, or keep it in a shoe, belt pouch, or other out of the way and hard to snatch location. Meanwhile, put a few pesos in a cheap ‘fake’ and stick that in your pocket. The amount should be small enough not to hurt you, but large enough to keep a thief moving with the wallet.
The dummy wallet is something that you should carry anywhere there are large crowds. Even in the USA, going to a concert or visiting a tourist town is a likely place to lose your wallet or have a purse snatching issue. Carry only what you need, and don’t stick it where thieves can get their hands on it quickly.
The Safest Places for Female Solo Travelers
When women talk about traveling alone, even to a safe place like San Miguel de Allende, the reaction is often one of grave concern. Unlike their male counterparts, females can easily anticipate getting a whole lot of fear-based questions. Your friends and family may even send you alarming articles about anything wrong that ever happened in Mexico.
Take this with a grain of salt. It’s important to understand that the people who react this way probably love you and worry anyhow. Moreover, there’s a pretty high chance that they don’t have any experience with Mexico, SMA, or solo travel. If they do, then more likely than not, they were unfortunate themselves and not typical of savvy solo travelers.
San Miguel de Allende consistently makes the news as a thoroughly safe place for travel or living. Hostel World rated it one of the safest places for a single woman to travel
in all of Mexico. While women do need to be extra cautious, that is not the same thing as living in a state of fear.
Pandemic Safety
I wanted to touch briefly on the topic of safety as it relates to the 2020 pandemic. San Miguel de Allende is not untouched by COVID, but the reaction has been sensible. You will see people out wearing masks and practicing the same level of caution as you would in the US, or better. There is no political divide on the issue of common-sense pandemic safety in Mexico.
Although this is not ‘single’ specific, it is noteworthy for all visitors and future expatriates in San Miguel de Allende. The Mayor and other officials care deeply about the safety of both locals and visitors who fuel the economy. As a result, you’ll likely be safer there than you would, for example, in a US city with no restrictions or anti-mask protesters.
Choosing to live in a sensible place like SMA can be safer than staying in the USA. Real estate is plentiful and cost-effective in San Miguel de Allende. Not only will you be making a wise financial investment, but it can also be an investment in your health and safety.
Businesses have undergone mandatory safety certifications. Moreover, the city received a World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) “Safe Travels” seal of endorsement due to the efforts to control the spread of the pandemic. This doesn’t mean there’s ‘no risk,’ but it does mean the government in San Miguel de Allende has made more effort than most to minimize the impact.
Staying Safe in San Miguel de Allende
Before you travel alone to San Miguel de Allende, I have some tips beyond the dummy wallet to help keep you safe. You can use many of these in your travels to other places as well. The following list is full of items everyone should be aware of before they leave home.
- It’s both a boon and a risk to look like a tourist. Most crime in Mexico relates directly to the cartels, and tourists seldom, if ever, have dealings with those elements. However, low-level snatch and grab criminals also know that tourists have to go home. Hence they are unlikely to stick around for long to catch the crook.
- Don’t drive at night. Although it’s not a huge issue in San Miguel de Allende, vehicular crimes are more common in Mexico at night. Stick to calling a taxi when you’re out after dark.
- Get the right taxi. While taxi crime in SMA is also very low, make sure you either call a verified service or get your cab from an area where legitimate taxis collect, like major attractions, bus stations, and hotels.
- Don’t try to look obviously wealthy. It’s not a good idea to wear jewels, high-end fashion items like Gucci and Prada, or big expensive watches. Similarly, do not flash large ‘wads’ of cash around as you travel. Keep most of your money safely tucked away in a bank or hotel. Only carry what you need for the day.
- Being single doesn’t mean you should be alone all the time. Instead of seeking out untravelled areas and total solitude, stick to the busier areas where there are plenty of people around.
- Don’t take drugs. Naturally, if you have prescriptions, they are fine. However, buying or using illegal drugs can land you in jail or worse in Mexico.
- Avoid over-drinking. There’s nothing wrong with having a shot or a beer, but getting tipsy makes you an easy target. Your reaction times will drop, and it will be evident to criminals that you’re not at your best. If you do get drunk at a bar or party, have the bartender or host call you a taxi back to your home or lodgings.
- Get local. Buying a home in San Miguel de Allende is a great way to live your best life. Moreover, it will also mean that your neighbors and other locals become familiar with you, so you’re a part of the ex-pat scene and not just some temporary visitor.
Final Thoughts
San Miguel de Allende is as safe for singles as most American cities, and safer than some of the more populous areas. There’s no particular reason to be concerned about life or vacationing in this lovely city. Don’t let fear hold you back.
With some good common sense, there’s no reason you can’t travel or even expatriate solo. Keeping your wits about you and practicing situational awareness is good advice for anyone. Moreover, most of the frightening stories about Mexico have to do with specific high-crime areas and people who get involved with the drug trade.
Keeping yourself safe on a solo adventure is not difficult. Make sure your friends and family know where you are, and make sure you stick to well-trafficked areas, like San Miguel de Allende.