ryan754326

Canadian traveling through Mexico alone. I’ve seen some amazing sights and eaten great food all along the way, but I’m completely bored after dark.
I’ve spent a lot of time traveling alone in other countries before, and never found myself unable to meet other travelers or even make friends with the locals, but here, I haven’t had a conversation with anyone in weeks.
I’m not an antisocial person, so I don’t think I’m the problem, but maybe I am. My Spanish isn’t good at all, and I’m not bumping into English speaking tourists aside from a few older American couples who probably weren’t interested in partying with me anyway.

Looking for suggestions of places to go where I can find normal nightlife with a mix of tourists and locals together. Would really rather stay away from the big resort cities like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta etc.
Classy wine bars and mezcal rooms aren’t my thing either; I just want to drink the same beer that the Mexicans drink, listen to music, meet people, and maybe dance if the party is lively enough to allow it.
I’m dumbfounded that I haven’t found a bar with live music or dancing yet.

What am I doing wrong here? Could covid be killing the mood, or am I just looking in the wrong places?

november_moon

I think that a big part of the issue is COVID - definitely. That is putting a damper on all kinds of things, but most notably meeting strangers and hanging out with them. People are still traveling, but they tend to be sticking to themselves more. Also, with COVID restrictions, things like live music and dancing in bars has been really curtailed pretty much everywhere.

The next issue is that because your Spanish isn't good, you need to go where English speakers are. I have found that Mexicans in cities are much more likely to speak English than in smaller towns. We heard a lot of English in Merida, for example, but not much in the smaller areas around Merida. Of course, if you are looking for other English speaking tourists/travelers, you'll have to go where the English speaking visitors are. Right now, that may mean going to some of the more touristy areas. Keep in mind that while a place like Puerto Vallarta does have big resorts, there is a lot more to the area than the resorts.

It would help to know where you have been so far - maybe people can give you some good advice for where to try next.

ryan754326

Thanks for your reply.

I entered Mexico through Tijuana, left quickly to San Jose Del Cabo (didn’t realize it was Cabo San Lucas’ quiet twin, and a separate city), to La Paz, then to Los Mochis where I got on the El Chepe train, stopping for a couple days each in El Fuerte, Creel, and Chihuahua (amazing trip). Admittedly, none of these places are known as big party towns, and I knew that going in (still enjoyed them all enough for what they were), but still expected to find other travelers and somewhere fun to have a few drinks.
The weather was too cold up north, so I flew to Oaxaca city, which is where I am now. Everything I’d read about Oaxaca indicated that it is a lively city with a fairly young crowd, and a good number of tourists around, which it does seem to be during the day, but at night, the bars around the central/historic district are very quiet, if not completely empty.

I realize that there’s more to the big tourist cities like Puerto Vallarta or Cancun than just the resorts, but those areas appeared to be relatively expensive, and I’m just used to staying a bit further off the beaten path when I travel - usually sticking to mid-size cities and adventuring into the smaller towns for a few days at a time.
In other countries I’ve always found stuff to do, and friendly places to hang out at night, but maybe this approach just isn’t suited to Mexico without a better level of Spanish. It looks like I’ll have to adjust the way I do things here.

november_moon

I think this is largely just the reality of traveling during COVID. Nightlife has been severely curtailed so there is a lot less to do in the evenings, and then people just aren't mingling as much with strangers as they would otherwise. There is also less tourism in general, so the tourists that you will find are likely to be more concentrated in the resort-y areas.

baldone

Try maybe Puerto Econdido. Surfing center, popular with Aussies.

ryan754326

It’s on my list. Waiting for my uncle to arrive at the end of the month and meeting him there.

Fra_Diavolo

When I was last in Oaxaca, about three years ago, many young people gathered around Santo Domingo in the evening.

In Mexico City, during the same trip, there seemed to be many clubs in the Zocalo area.

Are you staying in hostels? They usually cater to a younger crowd.

ryan754326

The Zocalo/Santo Domingo area is where I’ve been going at night. Restaurants seem busy enough until around 10:00, and there’s plenty of people walking the streets after that, but the many bars in that area are almost empty. I guess it’s just slow here at the moment.

I’m not staying in hostels. Rented an Airbnb for a month here in Oaxaca.
I’m not exactly young either, at 37, so I don’t know how well I’d fit in with the hostel crowd. I have no problem hanging out with them myself, but would prefer a more mixed crowd. I don’t mean to offend anyone, but the man-bun/dreadlock types tend to be pretty cliquey in my experience.

Fra_Diavolo

Have you tried the Oaxaca Lending Library? Seems to be a sort of English-speaking community.

https://www.oaxlibrary.org

ryan754326

I hadn’t heard of it, but I’ll check it out. Thanks!

I don’t use Facebook, so that’s probably hindering me in finding groups to associate with. I’ve always just been able to meet people organically in the past.

MmePerdu

I was about to post a suggestion yesterday about OLL, but then didn't as the crowd there tends toward the geriatric. But you never know & since you're there already, definitely have a look. The language exchange sessions may be of interest as the Spanish-speakers there to learn English tend to be younger and if you're interested in improving your Spanish it's a good opportunity.

ryan754326

Sounds like it’s worth a look, at least. If I can meet some locals who want help with practicing English then that would be great.

thursdaysd

Not the best idea if you want to meet people. Even a hotel with a bar would be better, and a proper B&B or pension better still if you don't want to go the hostel route. Have you looked for walking tours or day tours? (They are plentiful in Europe, don't know about Mexico.)

ryan754326

Fair enough, but I like to have some privacy when I’m not out on the town.
I’ve stayed at hostels a few times while traveling in Asia, and was confronted with drunk people stumbling in throughout the night at the best of times, and backpackers screwing on the bunk above me at the worst of times.

MmePerdu

This group, Hoofing It In Oaxaca, has group hikes around the countryside & villages outside the city. I've gone on several & enjoyed them very much, nice people. Check with them if you're interested. They're also affiliated with OLL. Schedule of hikes goes to the end of March. They do get booked up in normal years but who knows now.

https://www.hoofingitinoaxaca.com/

thursdaysd

Plenty of privacy in hotels, pensions, B&Bs. Also, many if not most hostels have private rooms, so you can sleep alone but mingle in the public rooms, which is what you were asking for.

crellston

When we were in Oaxaca some three years ago, it was quite lively day and night so I can only assume that its current quietness is down to the pandemic and lack of tourists. Prior to that we were in San Cristobal de Los Casas which was even livelier with both domestic and foreign tourists. If anything , it was too lively for my tastes! Guadalajara was also very lively , though to be fair, it was in the run up to Christmas. Morelia was also pretty buzzing when we were there and, along with Oaxaca, these were was probably our fav places in Mexico.

As others have suggested, not speaking, Spanish will be a major factor in not mixing with people. I have taken Spanish classes in many different places, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador and found them to be a great place for meeting people, Spanish and English speaking AND you get to learn Spanish! Staying for a month, would give you plenty of opportunity for lessons say 3-4 mornings a week. Staying in an AirBNB won’t be helping with meeting people. Hostels will be by far the best accommodation choice for meeting fellow travellers. You don’t have to share a dorm, most will have private en suite rooms these days and common rooms or bars for meeting others.

Fra_Diavolo

Crellston --

Were you staying at the Quinta Real in Oaxaca? We were there three years ago, and a British couple had the room next to us. They kept catching us sitting outside our room between tourist excursions. Be funny if it was you!

crellston

Not guilty I’m afraid! It would have been funny though! We stayed at the Hotel con Corazon. So named because it’s profits go towards supporting the education of underprivileged children in Oaxaca. Apart from support for a good cause, it is also a great place to stay.

We were only saying the other day to our housekeeper in Pasadena who originated from Guatemala, that now that we have ceased our full time travelling, Mexico and especially Oaxaca is a place we would love to return to some day and carry on south to Guatemala.

Fra_Diavolo

Seems a very worthy mission for the hotel. We'll be heading back ourselves, probably next year around this time.