United States Mexico Travel Advisory: Staying Safe in 2024

Mexico, a vibrant country known for its rich culture, stunning beaches, and historical sites, attracts millions of U.S. tourists annually. However, it’s essential for travelers to be aware of the current safety landscape. The United States government regularly issues travel advisories for Mexico to inform citizens about potential risks and ensure their safety while traveling abroad. Understanding the United States Mexico Travel Advisory is crucial for planning a safe and enjoyable trip. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the current advisory, breaking down the safety levels across different Mexican states and offering essential travel tips for 2024.

Understanding the U.S. Mexico Travel Advisory System

The U.S. Department of State employs a four-level advisory system to guide U.S. citizens on safety conditions in different countries and regions. For Mexico, these levels are particularly important to understand as the safety situation can vary significantly from state to state. Here’s a breakdown of what each advisory level means:

Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions – This is the lowest advisory level. It indicates that while there are some risks in the country, they are no higher than what you would typically encounter in your daily life. Travelers are advised to be aware of their surroundings and take standard safety measures.
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution – This level suggests that travelers should be more vigilant due to heightened risks to safety and security. It doesn’t necessarily mean avoiding travel, but rather being more aware of potential dangers and taking extra precautions.
Level 3: Reconsider Travel – At this level, the Department of State advises travelers to reconsider their plans due to serious risks to safety and security. This often involves specific threats like crime, terrorism, or civil unrest. Travel is not prohibited, but it is strongly discouraged.
Level 4: Do Not Travel – This is the highest advisory level, recommending U.S. citizens not to travel to the country or specific areas due to extremely dangerous conditions. This level is issued for situations like war, civil unrest, widespread violent crime, or health crises.

It’s important to note that these advisories are not static and are periodically reviewed and updated based on the latest safety assessments. Always check the most current United States Mexico Travel Advisory before planning your trip.

Mexico Travel Advisory: State-by-State Breakdown

The current United States Mexico Travel Advisory categorizes Mexican states into different levels based on safety risks. Here’s a detailed look at each level and the states included:

Level 4: Do Not Travel

These states are considered the most dangerous, and the U.S. government advises against any travel to these areas.

Colima State: Due to crime and kidnapping. Violent crime and gang activity are widespread. Bystanders have been injured or killed in shooting incidents. U.S. citizens have been victims of kidnapping. U.S. government employees’ travel is severely restricted to tourist and port areas of Manzanillo and specific routes.
Guerrero State: Due to crime. Crime and violence are widespread. Armed groups operate independently, frequently maintaining roadblocks and using violence towards travelers. Tourist areas including Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, Taxco, and Ixtapa are included in the “Do Not Travel” advisory.
Michoacan State: Due to crime and kidnapping. Crime and violence are widespread. U.S. government employees can only travel on Federal Highway 15D to transit the state, to Morelia by air or specific highways, and to Lazaro Cardenas by air, limited to city center or port areas. The Monarch Butterfly Reserve in Michoacan is included in the areas U.S. government employees may not visit.
Sinaloa State: Due to crime. Violent crime is widespread, with criminal organizations operating throughout the state. U.S. government employee travel is limited to Mazatlan (Zona Dorada and historic town center), and Los Mochis and Topolobampo (city and port), accessible only by air or sea and via direct routes.
Tamaulipas State: Due to crime and kidnapping. Organized crime activity, including gun battles, murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, and extortion, is common, especially along the northern border and in Ciudad Victoria. Criminal groups target public and private buses and private vehicles. U.S. government employees’ travel is highly restricted to limited areas around U.S. Consulates in Matamoros and Nuevo Laredo and between these consulates and the U.S. ports of entry.
Zacatecas State: Due to crime and kidnapping. Violent crime, extortion, and gang activity are widespread. U.S. citizens have been victims of kidnapping. U.S. government employee travel is limited to Zacatecas City proper, accessible by air only.

Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Travelers should reconsider visiting these states due to significant risks to safety and security.

Baja California State: Due to crime and kidnapping. Transnational criminal organizations operate in the border area, leading to violent crime and gang activity. Tijuana, particularly non-tourist areas, has a high homicide rate. U.S. citizens have been victims of kidnapping. U.S. government employees have restrictions in the Mexicali Valley area.
Chiapas State: Reconsider travel due to crime. Criminal activity and violence can occur throughout the state. U.S. government employees are restricted from traveling to the municipality of Ocozocoautla and certain southeastern regions.
Chihuahua State: Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping. Violent crime and gang activity are common, with battles between criminal groups resulting in violence in areas frequented by U.S. citizens. Ciudad Juarez and Copper Canyon are areas of concern. U.S. government employees have specific travel limitations, especially in Ciudad Juarez and other areas including Copper Canyon.
Guanajuato State: Reconsider travel due to crime. Gang violence, primarily related to fuel theft, is prevalent, especially in the south and central areas. High murder rates are linked to cartel violence. Tourist areas like San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato City are under “Reconsider Travel” advisory. U.S. government employees are restricted from areas south of Federal Highway 45D.
Jalisco State: Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping. Violent crime and gang activity are common. Guadalajara sees territorial battles between criminal groups, sometimes affecting tourist areas. U.S. citizens have been victims of kidnapping. U.S. government employees are restricted from the Jalisco-Michoacan border area and parts of Federal Highway 80. Tourist areas including Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Ajijic are under this advisory.
Morelos State: Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping. Violent crime and gang activity are common. U.S. citizens have been victims of kidnapping. There are no specific restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Morelos state.
Sonora State: Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping. Sonora is a key area for international drug trade and human trafficking. Violent crime is widespread, and U.S. citizens have been kidnapped. Travelers should be highly aware of their surroundings. U.S. government employees have significant travel restrictions across the state, including areas around Hermosillo, Nogales, Puerto Peñasco and eastern and southern Sonora.

Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

Travelers should be more cautious in these states due to increased risks.

Aguascalientes State: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.
Baja California Sur State: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.
Coahuila State: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Violent crime and gang activity occur in parts of Coahuila. U.S. government employees are restricted from certain municipalities and have a curfew in Piedras Negras and Ciudad Acuña.
Durango State: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Violent crime and gang activity are common in parts of Durango. U.S. government employees are restricted from areas west and south of Federal Highway 45.
Hidalgo State: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.
Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico): Exercise increased caution due to crime. Both violent and non-violent crime occur. Exercise extra caution at night and outside tourist areas.
Mexico State (Estado de Mexico): Exercise increased caution due to crime and kidnapping. Both violent and non-violent crime occur. Exercise caution outside tourist areas.
Nayarit State: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout Nayarit.
Nuevo Leon State: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.
Oaxaca State: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Criminal activity and violence occur throughout the state. U.S. government employees are restricted from the Isthmus region and parts of Federal Highway 200. Tourist areas like Oaxaca City, Monte Alban, Puerto Escondido, and Huatulco are under “Exercise Increased Caution”.
Puebla State: Exercise increased caution due to crime and kidnapping. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.
Queretaro State: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.
Quintana Roo State: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Criminal activity and violence can occur even in tourist destinations like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum. While not targeted at tourists, gang shootings have caused bystander injuries and deaths. Increased caution is advised after dark.
San Luis Potosi State: Exercise increased caution due to crime and kidnapping. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.
Tabasco State: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.
Tlaxcala State: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.
Veracruz State: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Violent crime and gang activity are increasing, especially in central and southern Veracruz. Impromptu roadblocks are common.

Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

These states are considered relatively safe, and travelers should exercise normal precautions.

Campeche State: Exercise normal precautions.
Yucatan State: Exercise normal precautions. Tourist areas including Chichen Itza, Merida, Uxmal, and Valladolid are included.

General Safety Tips for Traveling to Mexico

Regardless of the specific advisory level for your destination in Mexico, it’s always wise to take extra precautions to ensure your safety. The U.S. Department of State recommends the following actions for anyone traveling to Mexico:

Stay Informed: Keep your travel companions and family informed of your travel plans. Share your GPS location with a friend if you are separating from your group. If taking a taxi alone, photograph the taxi number or license plate and text it to a friend.
Use Secure Transportation: Utilize toll roads when possible and avoid driving alone or at night. In many states, police and emergency services are limited outside major cities. Rely on dispatched vehicles, including app-based services and regulated taxi stands, instead of hailing taxis on the street, especially after dark.
Be Vigilant in Public Areas: Exercise increased caution when visiting local bars, nightclubs, and casinos. Avoid displaying signs of wealth, such as expensive jewelry. Be extra vigilant at banks and ATMs.
Enroll in STEP: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier for the U.S. embassy to locate you in an emergency.
Follow Social Media for Updates: Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X/Twitter, and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico on Facebook and X/Twitter for real-time updates.
Review Security Reports: Check the Country Security Report for detailed security information on Mexico.
Prepare for Emergencies: Develop a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
Health Precautions: Visit the CDC page for the latest travel health information.

Staying Informed and Safe

The United States Mexico Travel Advisory is an essential tool for planning safe travel to Mexico. By understanding the advisory levels and specific state-level warnings, travelers can make informed decisions about their destinations and activities. Always prioritize your safety by staying updated on the current advisory, practicing caution, and being aware of your surroundings. For the most up-to-date information, always refer to the official U.S. Department of State travel advisories website before your trip.

[Disclaimer:] This article is based on the information available in the provided U.S. Department of State travel advisory as of the last update of the original document. Travel advisories are subject to change, and travelers should always consult the official source for the most current information before making travel decisions.