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{{Infobox Country
|country = of Mexico
|map = <map lat='23' lng='-102' zoom='4' view='0' float='right' />
|pop = 108,700,891
}}
'''Mexico''' is a country in [[North America]]. Despite its notoriety, hitchhiking in Mexico is not only possible but it can be a rather enjoyable experience. Due to its sheer size it's impossible to give a general hitchability rating for this country: the experiences vary from state to state. As anywhere, you can go fast on highways and very slow on small less trafficky roads.
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For more general info about moneyless travels in Mexico, see [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iqhpdy67vceKm6LBTsYQFU_wulqCb7Q-dPRooZxuU0U/mobilebasic?pli=1 this] handy document.
Peculiarity of Mexican hitchhiking are the ubiquitous pick-up trucks where you just jump in the back, hold onto your hat, kiss the wind and forget about communicating with the driver. Many people will offer you food and drinks, especially Coca Cola! On routes with poor public transportation, payment is sometimes expected and ordinary pickups magically turn into ''collectivos'' (shared taxis).
You can also catch long rides at the exits of the cities when you travel on the highways. Many cities have speed bumps (''tope'') where the highway begins at the edge of town. On smaller highways in more rural areas, there are often speed bumps at every little town, making it easy to move quickly with a number of shorter rides.
Many of the larger, faster highways operate on a toll system. It's common for there to be a free road (''libre'') parallel to the paid one (''cuota''), the former being slower and easier to catch rides, but the latter much more likely for getting longer rides. The tollbooths (''caseta'') can be good places, too. However, sometimes you have to stand about 100m past the tollbooth(ask the attendants where you can stand), so traffic has often already picked up speed by the time they get to you, and it can be difficult for cars to pull over. Often there's restrooms, gas stations and stores just past the ''caseta'', so you can talk to drivers that stop there. Signs can come in really handy at tollbooths.
== Signs ==
If you get stuck on the road at night, you can ask to be dropped off at any PEMEX (the only gasoline company of Mexico). If you talk directly to the people in charge, they will tell you what's the safest spot to sleep at. Many gas stations also have free showers and you don't need to be a truck driver to use them.
When you're inside of a town, it's better to go to the fire station. The firemen are very friendly and they are used to host broke travelers from exotic places.
If you ask in churches, you should try to find the priest, explain your situation and ask for a place to stay. Usually, however, they direct you to the police (who, in turn, might direct you back to the church).
Bus stations are safe and open 24 hours as there are buses round the clock and there is a security guy. Of course, you will have to sleep with one eye open but it’s a somewhat safe place to spend the night.
The municipal police is always friendly and you can just ask them where to spend the night. They might assign you a nice well-guarded spot outside in front of the town hall (Palacio Municipal) for instance. It’s not a bed but it is a place to stay, with a roof!
If you're traveling through the West Coast it might be difficult to find a free camping site at the popular beaches. However, almost every beach town has a '''turtle camp''' where you can camp for free. You might be asked to do some work in exchange, like counting and liberating baby turtles!!!
* [[Tehuantepec]]
* [[Tuxtla]]
* [[Xalapa (City)|Xalapa]]
== Gallery ==
[[es:México]]
[[fr:Mexique]]
[[ru:Мексика]]
[[trash:Mexico]]
[[nomad:Mexico]]
