Safe place in Mexico for a single woman to learn Spanish?

Question

I'm thinking of living in Mexico for a year to learn Spanish.

I'll be alone and I want to live in a small city or town near the ocean (either coast).

Has anyone ever spent a lot of time in a place in Mexico that they can recommend to me? I've done a lot of traveling and can handle myslef -but safety is a concern since I'll be alone and it will take me a month probably to get my basic conversational Spanish skills up to par.

Answer 1

Hola.  I live here in Mexico by myself (Canadian girl)  

My favorite experience doing exactly what you mentioned was staying in a town called La Paz, a seaside place on the Baja and going to school called Se Habla La Paz....google their website.  This was such a great experience.  They also arrange for you to live with a mexican family, so you are totally immersed.  I have met so many wonderful people and have had so many great experiences, I highly recommend this.   They also have a sister school in Guadalajara, because I wouldn't want to be in one place for too long.  I would recommend moving around and enjoying the different towns and cultures.

Remember you cannot stay in Mexico for more than 180 days at a time on a tourist visa.

Answer 2

I'd probably not choose Cancun because you'd end up hanging all the time with english speaking people who either don't know spanish either or prefer to improve their english with you instead of you learning spanish with them. There's tons and tons of europeans that live in the Cancun area.

I personally don't like Acapulco that much, the tide is too strong to swim in the ocean and there's a lot of garbage on the beach, not much to do (unless the city has become interesting all of a sudden in the past 5 years I've last been there) and my sister has told me the villages surrounding Acapulco are very rude to tourists (kinda ironic soncidering these people live off of tourism heh).

There probably isn't that many small cities in the coastline with sufficient people that can speak english though. If I had my choice, I'd choose a place like Taxco instead. You may not have the ocean nearby (though Acapulco will still be just a 2 hour drive if you drive pretty fast), but I really loved that small city with it's peculiar architecture and the jewelry.. well it would be too tempting not to buy there! There would still be enough people that can speak english, but you would still have to speak spanish to get around. Haha. Plus the food is great. Gotta love Yoli lemon flavored soda.

Answer 3

I've been learning at http://www.spanishpod101.com, if you're thinking of learning Spanish I'm sure that you will find it useful.

Answer 4

i would say alcapulco mexico because its safe trendy and has lots to do, very safe place and beatiful place to visit. thats your best bet!

Answer 5

First thought you wanted a school but it sounds like NO

I was going to recommend La Manzanilla between Manzanillo and Vallarta with a good school

http://www.lacatalinaschool.com/

Actually there are many small towns between Tepic and Manzanillo I would consider safe but not many with schools.

I live in Melaque and hour north of Manzanillo, very safe but hot and humid in the summer like most/all of the coast.

Answer 6

I recommend you Cancun (Quintana Roo state) its really a safe and a beautifull place, I live in Toluca but I go to Cancun on vacations

Answer 7

Don't forget free websites like

http://www.practicingspanish.com

good luck!