Mexico City

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Mexico City, the capital and largest city in Mexico, spans an area of 1,457 square miles (3,773 square kilometers) and has a swelling population of over 22 million. Built on a former lake bed on a high plateau, it is surrounded by mountains and is visually beautiful, despite its huge size and all-too-evident environmental mismanagement.

At the heart of Mexico City is the Plaza de la Constitución, which after Red Square in Moscow is the second-largest public square in the world. During the Spanish conquest of Mexico in 1521, Cortés destroyed the Templo Mayor of the Aztecs here. They then used many of its stones to build the Metropolitan Cathedral, the oldest cathedral on the continent. Above the ruins of the great Aztec empire, the Spanish began to expand into the sprawling metropolis that exists today.

Avoiding Crime In Mexico City

Like many of the world’s large cities, Mexico City is the site of a wide range of criminal activity. On average, between 500-600 crimes are reported daily, with even more unreported. To assist you while in Mexico City, we’ve put together some advice to help keep you safe:

• As pickpockets are legion in the city, avoid walking around with eye-catching jewelry or expensive watches.
• Thieves target those who look disoriented and vulnerable; therefore, study your guidebooks and maps ahead of time so you know where you’re going.
• Always hail a cab from a taxi stand or outside hotels and restaurants. Those driving around may be “pirate taxi” that can be looking for visitors to fleece.
• Avoid driving in Mexico City. Some police may be corrupt and invent traffic infractions, hoping to receive a bribe after making a false accusation.
• Avoid taking the combis, or rutas, mini-buses that weave dangerously through the capitol’s streets. They present the double danger of crashes and armed holdups. Stick to the new metrobus system, which is far safer.
• Should you be faced with a violent crime, don’t resist, as many criminals are under the influence of drugs, and angering them could put you at serious risk.
• If traveling in Mexico City, carry only a small amount of cash and leave credit cards and your original passport in your hotel or very safely hidden (you can carry a copy). Use your driver’s license if you need to identify yourself.
• Avoid crime-ridden neighborhoods, such as Tepito, Colonia Buenos Aires or Colonia Los Doctores.
• Travel only by day, if possible. Avoid traveling alone by night. Use only private taxis de sitio (Radio Taxi: 55-5271-9146, 5271-9058, and 55-5273-6125, Radio elite: 55-5660-1122) or the Airport Taxi (55-5785-8984) or taxis dispatched by your hotel concierge.