If you're like me and a former emetophobic, current hypochondriac or just a bit worried about ruining your trip with a nasty bout of food poisoning, this is for you. Despite the stories of Montezuma's revenge, it is entirely possible to not get sick while travelling around Mexico. And I bumped into him almost immediately. 

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So here you can find my General Health Tips, Staying Safe and Health in San Cristobal specifically: 

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Top Tips:

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1. Don't drink the tap water: No really. 

• I know, I know, that 'old' tip! But you'd be surprised how many people still stick their mouths under the tap to quench the 3am thirst.

• In many places, it's fine to cook & wash with, even brush your teeth in it! Just don't glug it back.

• Contrary to popular belief, ice is actually usually ok - look for the tell tale hole in the middle. Literally all places we visited had it and if they didn’t, we asked for no ice. 

 

2. Stick to bottles over glasses. Most restaurants will open them in front of you. 

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3. Avoid street food covered in flies or next to Metro stations. But don't let it put you off trying some street food at all. My favorite meal in the whole country was an 80p burrito from a lady with a grill and plastic chairs.

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4. Salads, especially side salads are usually alright if at a reputable place. But avoid as a rule, they are usually washed in tap water. 

5. Peel your fruits ~ avoid apples! I am 99% sure that was the culprit...

6. Take a probiotic to stimulate healthy gut bacteria. We only started this after getting sick but have been told it’s not a bad idea to begin with earlier. 

7. Bring toilet paper everywhere ! It's not standard. And some toilets (even the ones you pay for) leave a lot to be desired…

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8. Regularly wash and sanitize your hands. Classic Germ Theory. Before eating and after using any toilet is standard. I did it straight after coming in from the day too. 

9. Don't eat taco that costs less than $15 pesos. Trust me. 

10. When first arriving, allow time to adjust. Hydrate and lay off the alcohol-just for a bit! ;)

 
11. Deet Up! Those mozzies are nasty! And also carry dengue fever. 

12. Don’t stay in the sun for long periods of time. The rays are powerful.

13. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Aim for at least 2 litres a day.

14. For chronic nail biters, now's a good chance to stop! All safety tips are useless if you munch on all the bacteria stored under them. 

15. Sanitise your phone with wipes at the end of the day. You'd be surprised how much grime and bacteria gets caught on it 

 

Safety:

In terms of safety, Mexico doesn’t have the best record. Just because we didn’t experience any issues doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Tourists are killed every year and while most are preventable, it is still the kind of country where wrong place, wrong time can carry a lot of consequences. 

1. Situational Awareness:

I believe our success mostly came from simply avoiding trouble. Obviously there is always the ‘wrong place, wrong time’ but for the most part, avoiding situations that could potentially cause harm is by far the most effective, e.g. buying drugs. Yes they’re cheap. But it will cost a lot more if the cartel decide they want more from you. It’s not worth it. You could pay with your life. We met an Australian who was clearly making the most of cheap drugs and had been chased and beat up because of an unpaid deal. He seemed relatively unconcerned and I’m not sure he appreciated how lucky he was to be alive. 

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2. Your Money or Your Life:

If someone does want to rob you, just hand it over. It’s not worth your life. We made sure when we packed that we had nothing of value and everything was replaceable. No branded clothes or shoes or jewellery. If our bag got stolen, sure it’s annoying but it’s just old clothes and toiletries. The only precious thing was our passport. We never carried large amounts of cash around and only a small amount in our pouches. Minimise what can be taken and keep your passport close to your chest. I do think this made us less of a target.

3. The Long Way Home:

 While we were there, the case of the two American surfers murdered was ongoing. It seemed they had been killed over a car hijacking. Avoid isolate roads known for this. Taking the direct route in a collectivo from San Cristóbal to Palenque is half the price for a reason. Book an ADO coach and take the long and safe way around. 

4. Grab'n'Go:

In terms of transport, collectivos are great and cheap to get around cities during the day. But still people will not hesitate to snatch a bag and run. Don’t take them for long distances or at night. And keep an eye and arm on your bag when you do.

5. Sleep with One Eye Open:

Night coaches are pretty safe. Obviously travelling as a pair gave us a bit more security so if alone, keep an eye on your valuables at all times. Strap them around your legs and not overhead. I wouldn't take any sort of sleeping pills either so you can remain alert if need be.

6. Green Spaces:

During the day the parks are vibrant and alive and usually full of police officers. After dark however, it’s a different story. Don’t go into parks after dark. Just don’t. It’s full of unhoused individuals who get more aggressive with their begging tactics and with lack of police can get away with thumping you.

7. The Border Scam:

Make sure you have plenty of cash when leaving. The land border guards are corrupt and there’s no one to complain to. Your ability to leave is in their hands so just pay up and get out of there. We had all the proof and receipts needed, but they still hovered over our passport with the stamper until we handed over $90 cash. 

8. Strong Independent Woman:

• I travelled with a man so cannot overstate how different things could have felt if I were alone as a woman. Most solo female travellers I met were relatively content, but obviously more on guard. Similar rules apply as above but on night buses, I would have sat nearer the front nearer the driver. If anything untoward were to occur, I’d have more eyes.

• Book ADO coaches sooner rather than later to claim these seats. We usually booked the day before and on popular routes they’re long gone.

• I would also link up more with other travellers to avoid travelling alone too much.

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9. Nowhere to Hide:

Mexico is corrupt. You won't notice it so much in daily life but higher up in the government it becomes more obvious. We were travelling during the bloodiest election campaign in Mexican history where up to sixty prospective candidates were assassinated. Therefore it is entirely possible that governments can suddenly collapse or be hit by a coup and all flights will be grounded. Ensure you have a good travel insurance that can cover diplomatic indicidents and emergencies, and check your own government travel advice reguarly. 

 

​Staying healthy in San Cristobal specifically:

 

Ok so the usual rules do not apply here! This is the one place in Mexico where the mythical horror stories still hold true. The water is actively dangerous and will make you very sick. Do not, I repeat, do not let this put you off visiting. A lot of travellers skip it for this exact reason, but it was easily one of the best and most interesting places I’ve ever visited (and I’ve seen the Eiffel Tower). I am very glad I decided to go in the end, despite being nervous (and I got pretty sick too).

For some background, the story of the water is actually quite tragic. San Cristóbal is in Chiapas, the poorest state in Mexico and has a large indigenous population. Some years ago, a Coca Cola plant was set up on the outskirts and subsequently drain about one million litres of ground water a day. This not only deprives the local population of any clean water, it has also resulted in the most diabetic population in the world. Coca Cola is so engrained in their society now, it is even used as a healing remedy in their traditional rituals. And sadly, it likely is safer to drink the Coke over the water. 

Regardless, here are some of my top tips that I’ve gathered both from my experience, and other travellers I met: 

1. Alongside the absolutely no drinking rule, do not brush your teeth with it either. Really, you do not want a drop inside you. Those who brushed their teeth with it got significantly sicker than those who didn’t. 

2. Don’t boil pasta water or coffee with it. Same as above. 

3. Keep your eyes and mouth shut in the shower and do not gargle it. Wipe your mouth afterwards. 

4. When washing plates and cutlery, use a good soap and allow to fully dry so there are no drops left on it. Wipe any remaining droplets off with a paper towel. 

5. If you want to be really careful, wipe all cutley and cup rims with an antibacterial wipe 

Ultimately, you simply can't help some water drops getting in you sometimes and it comes down to luck. Among our hostel there was about a 50/50 hit rate on whether it struck. I did all the above things and still got sick (I blame the lady who made my crepes and looked me dead in the eye as she washed the apples with tap water).

To be honest, getting the shits in Mexico is all part of the experience. Really makes you feel like a true traveller who’s fully embraced the country, warts and all. But for real, when you get the shits, it’s the pits. You can’t fully relax because every fart has the potential to cause major destruction.

In San Cristóbal especially, it came on halfway through a beer and I was doubled over on the bed from the pain. However I survived and came out the other side stronger than ever before (until it hit again in Palenque but we’ll get to that) 

Top Tips if the Worst Does Happen!!

1. Get it all out. Whichever end it chose, use it and do not suppress. It will come out one way or the other! 

2. Following on from that, avoid Imodium unless absolutely necessary (like a night coach). It’ll just block you up and you won’t feel any better.

3. Medications I do recommend:

• Pepto-Bismol is a lifesaver. Easy on the stomach, it really calms the gurgling.

       An unnerving side effect people are not always aware of, is that your poo will

       turn dark black. Also don’t overdo it. You will end up constipated and

       annoyed for three days – a very different but equal level of hell.

• Probiotics: we probably should have started them earlier, but better late than

       never to stimulate some healthy bacteria.

• Paracetamol can soothe bellyache. Ibuprofen will make it worse.

• If all else fails, visit a pharmacy and a little kind Mexican lady will provide

       various miscellaneous pills. And they work! 

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4. Hydrate! Sounds obvious but easily forgotten. Small sips! Monitor your intake. Use a litre bottle and aim to finish at least two of them. 

5. Electrolyte up. Your body is expelling a lot of bad stuff. But also good stuff that you need. Electrolytes are normally drawn from food but that’s usually out of the question at first. Get yourself a disgusting electrolyte drink from basically any convenience store. Tell yourself it’s a strawberry milkshake, pinch your nose and bottoms up! It will help. 

6. Avoid eating too soon. It’s SO tempting to immediately eat normally again once the worst has passed but in my experience it will return with a vengeance (Palenque...). Stick to bananas, crackers and tea, attempt plain rice and simple pasta when ready, avoid coffee and especially alcohol for a good few days. It’s boring I know, but worth it. 

7. Monitor your symptoms. Severe diarrhoea or vomiting should not last more than three days. You can get yourself checked earlier in some places. San Cristobal had various test labs dotted around the centre, that offer testing of your “produce”. If known bacteria/parasites are found, appropriate medicine is prescribed. Pretty accessible. But yes, if you’re losing far too much liquid that’s not good. Get to a hospital ASAP in severe cases of cholera you can lose 20 L in 24 hours. Scary stuff.

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And in conclusion, despite this would I visit Mexico again? ABSOLUTELY and I would even try more street food! But perhaps that is just all the Pepto talking. 

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