Some Basic Information
“Bien Viaje” is a useful expression for you to know when travelling and backpacking around Mexico. It is very likely that you will encounter many native Mexicans and their children when backpacking Mexico according to the excellent travel book The People’s Guide to Mexico (by Carl Franz and Lorena Havens, Avalon Travel, 2007). When doing so and departing from them, they may wish you Bien Viaje (Safe Journey). You may pick up such phrases from the “Useful Expressions” section of Knopf Guides Mexico (2006) and other travel guides. It might be a good idea for the traveler to know some of these basic phrases and expressions and other points of interest for their trip. It is also a good idea to read up and do some research on this beautiful country.
Basic People Info
Some very basic backpacking and traveling Mexico information for one to know is that the traveler (from outside of Mexico) will likely be noticed by the locals wherever they may travel and camp. Remember that the traveler will look and be different and the locals will likely marvel at this. Children can be particularly invasive. But, these folks will mostly remain friendly. This means that if the traveler desires privacy, planning and scouting for privacy will be of necessity. If privacy is not a necessity, it is also important to remember that the people can be a great source of information and creature comforts.
Getting Around
How one gets around Mexico while backpacking and traveling seems like a very basic question. Besides getting around on foot the travelers can get around a variety of ways; RV, RV Caravan, Motorhomes, Trailers, Vans, Pickups, Cars and Rent-A-Cars (of course). RV Caravans can be the largest and most noticeable of ways to get around. But their special appeal is in the number of goods and foodstuffs these fellow travelers may be able to offer in trade in barter. That can be a good thing to know when the backpacker is running short on supplies and/or funds.
Another good and economical thing to know is that it is equally acceptable to camp through Mexico via one’s car. Many backpackers and travelers have noted that this can be a very inexpensive way to shelter overnight. However, it has been infamously stated that if one’s car or vehicle has USA license plates that it will be stolen. This may be a shameful thing to say but notoriously represented in such movies as Traffic (2000). For this reason, some folks prefer to go Rent-A-Car camping.