I’ve traveled alone to some far-flung places, but for whatever reason, Mexico freaked me out. I wasn’t even going to the border, I was going to the Yucatan Peninsula – the tourism hub! Maybe it’s because years ago, my parents requested  that I never travel to Mexico? (Seriously. Fortunately, I think they forgot.) In hindsight, it was ridiculous to have any fear. I blame the overly cautious and  paranoid American news media. So, what is it like traveling alone in Mexico for one week? First of all, here’s a goofy video to illustrate.   I was never actually alone. That’s usually the case when you travel by yourself! I met great people because I was alone. I’m especially grateful I joined my hostel buddies for a tour of Chichen Itza. I was very underwhelmed by the whole thing (if you’ve been anywhere with ancient ruins, they’re probably better. Tulum’s ruins are more easily accessible and just as interesting, in my opinion). Our camaraderie and propensity to goof off made it memorable. I would’ve been miserable alone — even our tour guide was so bored, he yawned the entire time! People travel Mexico alone… a lot! Mexico isn’t any different from the rest of the world. People travel Mexico alone ALL THE TIME, and from all over: Australia, Brazil, Canada, the Netherlands were just a handful of countries represented at the places I stayed. The majority were solo travelers, too. My trip was far shorter than most due to work obligations. Most solo travelers spend two weeks to several months in Mexico, and cover a lot more ground. I’d love to return and spend more time explore more of the Yucatan– such as Isla Holbox and Isla Mujeres. And then there’s Mexico City, the ruins of Teotihuacan, Puerto Escondido, Guanajuato, Sayulita… I’ll be making return trips for years to come. Where I Stayed Playa del Carmen I had an interesting time in PDC: Despite being a popular tourist spot, Playa del Carmen was without running water for two of the three nights I was there. If you were on the main street of the city that caters to tourists, you weren’t affected, but I stayed in a hostel on the edge of the local neighborhood, and it WAS a problem. We couldn’t take showers. The staff managed to fill the toilet with rain water so that we (all six of us in the dorm) could flush twice per day. I’ve peed in some dodgy places — a hole in the ground in Vietnam that I had to pay to use — but this was disgusting. And the humidity and lack of ventilation in the bathroom didn’t help. Yuck.  In the end, though, we survived and it makes for an entertaining story. I felt especially bad for the guy that flew all the way from Australia to arrive at our dorm room with an unflushed toilet and no running water! This hostel I stayed in is now defunct (maybe due to the water issues?), but if I went back, I’d stay somewhere like The Yak. They organize lots of activities and seem to attract other solo travelers. Tulum  Ah, Tulum. It had running water! It’s a good base for exploring the area: it’s quieter than PDC, and a lot of backpackers stop here, making it a good place to meet other travelers. The main strip is fairly touristy and about a mile off the beach, but you can rent a bike to tour the ruins (my favorite part of my trip!) or get to the beach. The street that is along the beach is full of resorts and private beach access, but there are a few public access trails. The real magic of Tulum can be found...