IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL TO MEXICO? (2024 UPDATE)

Mexican travel safety continues to be in the news, making some travelers wonder, “Is it safe to travel to Mexico?”

According to Rich Biswell, marketing director for Journey Mexico, a Mexico-based tour operator specializing in experiential trips and tours throughout the country, “we feel confident in saying that Mexico is safe for vacationers and travelers.”

Just like travel anywhere else, travel to Mexico requires you to be smart, prudent, and vigilant, and take some precautions before you leave and while you travel. 

 

Isla San Francisco - Baja California Sur | Photo credit: Journey Mexico

 
SAFE PLACES TO TRAVEL IN MEXICO

There were almost 27 million visits by Americans to Mexico from January through October 2023, according to International Trade Administration data.

Still, Mexico is a paradox – an incredibly popular destination for American tourists that has the most active State Department travel advisories of any country in the world.

Part of the reason for that is that the State Department has assigned different levels of travel safety to Mexico’s states.

According to the latest State Department guidance, six states are at level four, the State Department’s highest alert level. The department recommends Americans not travel to:

• Guerrero
• Michoacan
• Tamaulipas
• Sinaloa
• Colima
• Zacatecas

Fortunately, none of these states house resort areas popular with Americans.

In addition, the State Department has issued level-three (“Reconsider Travel”) alerts for:

• Baja California
• Chihuahua
• Durango
• Guanajuato
• Jalisco
• Morelos
• Sonora

The most popular tourist destination in these states is Cabo San Lucas. Check our post on safe travel to Cabo for more information.

Except for the Yucatan, most of the rest of the country is at level-two (“Exercise Increased Caution”) status. This includes many of the most popular resort areas – like Mexico City, Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Chichen Itza, and the Riviera Maya. 

These varying travel-safety ratings mean you should do your homework and just be aware when going to Mexico.

The State Department's Mexico Travel Advisory page is a must-read for anyone considering a Mexican vacation. Check it out for all state-by-state ratings for Mexico, and descriptions of safety statuses within each state.

Adventure in Copper Canyon | Photo credit: Journey Mexico

 
HOW SAFE IS IT TO TRAVEL TO MEXICO? DO THE MATH

According to a U.S. State Department official speaking on background, the main reasons behind the travel advisories are:

• An increase in homicides, mostly gang- and cartel-related killings
• Limited police presence and poor emergency response outside of major cities
• Drug and human-trafficking activity in some level-three or level-four (do not travel) states
• Roadblocks on highways in level-three or level-four states set up by criminal groups looking to kidnap bus passengers and hold them for ransom

 

 
None of these activities specifically target tourists, “I would cordially invite anyone to do the math," said Ana Sofia Lanczyner, former Midwest director of the Mexico Tourism Board. "Almost 40 million international visitors come to Mexico each year, and we have only had a handful of incidents. That’s a pretty good ratio.”   

Still, Lanczyner said, “we take every single case very seriously.” You should too – and that means covering your trip with travel insurance.
 

 
TIPS FOR TRAVELLING SAFE IN MEXICO

Regardless of what you may have read in the headlines, incidents in Mexico involving tourists are extremely few and far between.

“There has been a little misinformation [regarding travel safety in Mexico],” Lanczyner said, with Biswell adding, “Stuff can happen in tourist destinations in Mexico, but when it does, tourists generally aren’t involved.”

 
Here’s how to lessen your chances of being involved:
 

Ask someone who knows Mexico

Know – or ask – about the safe parts of town, the safest ways of getting around, and which clubs are okay. “Have someone you can trust – whether it’s a concierge at the hotel or a guide from Journey Mexico or another reputable operator – give you that advice,” Biswell said. “They’re not going to send you someplace bad.”
 

Turtle in Riviera Maya | Photo credit: Journey Mexico

 
Don’t walk alone at night

Don’t walk the streets alone late at night. “I live in Puerto Vallarta, and there are some neighborhoods that I wouldn’t visit at four in the morning,” Biswell added. “But I wouldn’t go to most neighborhoods in major US cities at four in the morning, either.”
 

Leave the bling home

Flashy jewelry attracts the wrong kind of attention.
 

Zincantan, Chiapas | Photo credit: Journey Mexico

 

Trust your instincts

Never take your eyes off your personal belongings. If a situation or place makes you nervous, exit stage right by the safest means possible. Use common sense.
 

Don’t be a hero

Don’t resist if somebody tries to rob you; hand over what they’re asking for. This is no time to play the hero.
 

Be on guard for pickpockets

Watch out for pickpockets if you’re taking public transport. Split up your money and valuables, minimize your cash on hand, and keep copies of important documents in a safe place at your hotel.