Mexico Travel Advisory: Ensuring Your Safety in 2024

Mexico, a land of vibrant culture, stunning beaches, and rich history, is a dream destination for many. However, like any country, it’s essential to be aware of the current safety landscape. This comprehensive Travel Advisory To Mexico provides crucial information for travelers in 2024, ensuring you can make informed decisions and enjoy your trip with peace of mind.

This guide, inspired by official travel advisories, delves into the realities of traveling in Mexico, focusing on safety concerns and offering practical tips for a safer journey. We aim to provide a more detailed and SEO-optimized resource than standard advisories, helping you navigate your Mexican adventure with knowledge and confidence.

Understanding the General Safety Situation in Mexico

It’s no secret that Mexico faces challenges with crime, and it’s important to acknowledge this upfront. Violent crime, including homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery, is a serious issue in many parts of the country. The U.S. government, like many others, closely monitors the situation and issues travel advisories to help citizens understand the risks.

Key takeaways about the general safety situation:

• Widespread Crime: Criminal activity is not isolated to specific areas and can occur in various forms throughout Mexico.
• Limited U.S. Government Assistance: In certain regions, the U.S. government’s ability to provide emergency services to its citizens is restricted due to safety concerns for their own personnel.
• Variable Local Emergency Services: Outside of major cities and state capitals, local emergency services can be limited, potentially impacting response times and available resources.
• U.S. Government Employee Travel Restrictions: To ensure the safety of their personnel, the U.S. government has imposed travel restrictions on its employees, which serve as a valuable indicator of risk levels in different areas.

It’s vital to understand that these advisories are not meant to deter travel entirely but to equip you with the knowledge to travel smartly and safely. By understanding the risks and taking appropriate precautions, you can still experience the beauty and wonder of Mexico.

Navigating Mexico: State-by-State Travel Advisories

To provide a clear and actionable travel advisory to Mexico, we’ve broken down the country by state, mirroring the structure of official advisories. This detailed state-by-state guide will help you understand the specific risks and recommendations for your intended destination.

It’s important to note the advisory levels:

• Do Not Travel: This is the highest advisory level, recommending against travel to these states due to extreme safety risks.
• Reconsider Travel: This level suggests travelers should carefully reconsider their plans due to significant safety concerns.
• Exercise Increased Caution: This is a moderate advisory level, urging travelers to be more vigilant and aware of their surroundings due to potential risks.
• Exercise Normal Precautions: This is the lowest advisory level, suggesting standard safety practices should be followed.

Let’s explore the advisories for each state:

States Where You Should Do Not Travel

These states pose the highest risk to travelers. The U.S. government advises against traveling to these areas due to extremely dangerous conditions.

Colima State – Do Not Travel

• Reason: Crime and Kidnapping.
• Details: Colima is plagued by widespread violent crime and gang activity. Homicides, often targeted assassinations, and shootings affecting bystanders are common. Kidnapping is also a significant concern for U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents (LPRs).
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: Travel is severely restricted to tourist and port areas of Manzanillo, with specific routes mandated. All other areas of Colima are off-limits for U.S. government employees.

Guerrero State – Do Not Travel

• Reason: Crime.
• Details: Crime and violence are rampant throughout Guerrero. Armed groups operate outside government control, frequently setting up roadblocks and posing a direct threat to travelers. Kidnapping of U.S. citizens has occurred.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling to any part of Guerrero, including major tourist destinations like Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, Taxco, and Ixtapa.

Michoacan State – Do Not Travel

• Reason: Crime and Kidnapping.
• Details: Michoacan experiences widespread crime and violence.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: Limited travel is permitted on Federal Highway 15D for transit and to Morelia and Lazaro Cardenas under specific conditions. All other areas, including parts of the Monarch Butterfly Reserve within Michoacan, are off-limits.

Sinaloa State – Do Not Travel

• Reason: Crime.
• Details: Violent crime is pervasive in Sinaloa, a stronghold for criminal organizations.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: Travel is restricted to Mazatlan (Zona Dorada and historic center), Los Mochis, and Topolobampo, accessible only by air or sea and limited to specific zones and routes. All other areas are off-limits.

Tamaulipas State – Do Not Travel

• Reason: Crime and Kidnapping.
• Details: Organized crime is rampant, with gun battles, murder, robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, disappearances, extortion, and sexual assault being common, especially along the northern border and in Ciudad Victoria. Criminal groups target buses and private vehicles, often kidnapping passengers for ransom.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: Travel is extremely limited to areas around U.S. Consulates in Matamoros and Nuevo Laredo, with curfews and restrictions on overland travel. Most of Tamaulipas is off-limits.

Zacatecas State – Do Not Travel

• Reason: Crime and Kidnapping.
• Details: Zacatecas is plagued by widespread violent crime, extortion, and gang activity. Kidnapping of U.S. citizens is a concern.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: Travel is limited to Zacatecas City proper, accessible only by air. Overland travel to Zacatecas City and all other areas of the state are prohibited.

States Where You Should Reconsider Travel

These states present significant safety risks, and travelers should carefully weigh the necessity of their trip.

Baja California State – Reconsider Travel

• Reason: Crime and Kidnapping.
• Details: Transnational criminal organizations are active, leading to violent crime and gang activity, particularly in Tijuana. Homicides are frequent, and bystanders can be caught in the crossfire. Kidnapping of U.S. citizens and LPRs has occurred.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: Restrictions apply in the Mexicali Valley due to cartel violence. However, major tourist areas like Tijuana, Ensenada, and Rosarito are not restricted for U.S. government employees, although increased caution is still advised for travelers.

Chiapas State – Reconsider Travel

• Reason: Crime.
• Details: Criminal activity and violence are present throughout Chiapas.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: Travel is restricted to specific southeastern regions and the municipality of Ocozocoautla. Travel to Tapachula city limits and Highway 225 to Tapachula airport is permitted.

Chihuahua State – Reconsider Travel

• Reason: Crime and Kidnapping.
• Details: Violent crime and gang activity are common, with targeted assassinations and territorial disputes leading to violence in public areas. Bystanders have been injured or killed, and kidnapping of U.S. citizens is a risk.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: Travel is limited to specific areas within Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua City, and certain highways for transit between cities. Copper Canyon and other areas are off-limits.

Guanajuato State – Reconsider Travel

• Reason: Crime.
• Details: Gang violence related to fuel theft is prevalent, especially in the south and central areas. High murder rates linked to cartel violence are a major concern. Kidnapping of U.S. citizens has been reported.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: Travel is restricted to areas south of Federal Highway 45D, including Celaya, Salamanca, and Irapuato. Tourist areas like San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato City are not restricted for U.S. government employees, but travelers should still be vigilant.

Jalisco State – Reconsider Travel

• Reason: Crime and Kidnapping.
• Details: Violent crime and gang activity are common, with territorial battles in tourist areas of Guadalajara. Bystanders have been caught in shooting incidents, and kidnapping of U.S. citizens is a risk.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: Travel is restricted along the Jalisco-Michoacan border, Federal Highway 110, and Federal Highway 80 south of Cocula. Major tourist areas like Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Ajijic are not restricted for U.S. government employees, but caution is advised.

Morelos State – Reconsider Travel

• Reason: Crime and Kidnapping.
• Details: Violent crime and gang activity are common in parts of Morelos. Kidnapping of U.S. citizens and LPRs is a concern.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: There are no specific travel restrictions for U.S. government employees in Morelos state.

Sonora State – Reconsider Travel

• Reason: Crime and Kidnapping.
• Details: Sonora is a major hub for drug trafficking and human smuggling. Violent crime is widespread, and kidnapping of U.S. citizens is a risk. Security incidents can occur anywhere in the state.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: Significant travel restrictions apply, particularly regarding highway travel between Hermosillo and Nogales, and in cities like Nogales, Puerto Peñasco, San Luis Rio Colorado, Cananea, and Agua Prieta. Eastern and southern Sonora are largely off-limits. Tourist areas like Hermosillo, Bahia de Kino, and Puerto Penasco have restrictions but are accessible under certain conditions.

States Where You Should Exercise Increased Caution

These states have crime concerns, and travelers should be more alert and take extra safety measures.

Aguascalientes State – Exercise Increased Caution

• Reason: Crime.
• Details: Criminal activity and violence can occur throughout the state.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.

Baja California Sur State – Exercise Increased Caution

• Reason: Crime.
• Details: Criminal activity and violence can occur throughout the state.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.

Coahuila State – Exercise Increased Caution

• Reason: Crime.
• Details: Violent crime and gang activity occur in parts of Coahuila.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: Restrictions apply to municipalities like Zaragoza, Morelos, Allende, Nava, Jimenez, Villa Union, Guerrero, and Hidalgo. Curfews are in place for Piedras Negras and Ciudad Acuña.

Durango State – Exercise Increased Caution

• Reason: Crime.
• Details: Violent crime and gang activity are common in parts of Durango.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: Travel is restricted west and south of Federal Highway 45.

Hidalgo State – Exercise Increased Caution

• Reason: Crime.
• Details: Criminal activity and violence can occur throughout the state.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.

Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico) – Exercise Increased Caution

• Reason: Crime.
• Details: Both violent and non-violent crime occur throughout Mexico City. Petty crime is frequent in tourist and non-tourist areas.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.

Mexico State (Estado de Mexico) – Exercise Increased Caution

• Reason: Crime and Kidnapping.
• Details: Both violent and non-violent crime are present. Petty crime is common in tourist areas, and kidnapping is a risk.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.

Nayarit State – Exercise Increased Caution

• Reason: Crime.
• Details: Criminal activity and violence can occur throughout Nayarit.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.

Nuevo Leon State – Exercise Increased Caution

• Reason: Crime.
• Details: Criminal activity and violence can occur throughout the state.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.

Oaxaca State – Exercise Increased Caution

• Reason: Crime.
• Details: Criminal activity and violence occur throughout Oaxaca.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: Restrictions apply to the Isthmus region and Federal Highway 200 northwest of Pinotepa. Tourist areas like Oaxaca City, Monte Alban, Puerto Escondido, and Huatulco are not restricted for U.S. government employees, but caution is still advised.

Puebla State – Exercise Increased Caution

• Reason: Crime and Kidnapping.
• Details: Criminal activity and violence can occur throughout Puebla. Kidnapping is a risk for U.S. citizens and LPRs.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.

Queretaro State – Exercise Increased Caution

• Reason: Crime.
• Details: Criminal activity and violence can occur throughout Queretaro.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.

Quintana Roo State – Exercise Increased Caution

• Reason: Crime.
• Details: Criminal activity and violence can occur anywhere, including tourist destinations like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum. While not targeted at tourists, gang shootings have injured bystanders. Violent crime has increased in Tulum.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees. Increased caution is advised after dark in major tourist areas.

San Luis Potosi State – Exercise Increased Caution

• Reason: Crime and Kidnapping.
• Details: Criminal activity and violence can occur throughout San Luis Potosi. Kidnapping is a risk for U.S. citizens and LPRs.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.

Tabasco State – Exercise Increased Caution

• Reason: Crime.
• Details: Criminal activity and violence can occur throughout Tabasco.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.

Tlaxcala State – Exercise Increased Caution

• Reason: Crime.
• Details: Criminal activity and violence can occur throughout Tlaxcala.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.

Veracruz State – Exercise Increased Caution

• Reason: Crime.
• Details: Violent crime and gang activity are increasing, particularly in the central and southern parts of Veracruz. Roadblocks for payment are common.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.

States Where You Should Exercise Normal Precautions

These states are considered relatively safer, but standard safety precautions are still recommended.

Campeche State – Exercise Normal Precautions

• Advisory Level: Exercise Normal Precautions.
• Details: No specific safety concerns beyond normal precautions.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.

Yucatan State – Exercise Normal Precautions

• Advisory Level: Exercise Normal Precautions.
• Details: Generally safe for travel.
• U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees. Tourist areas include Chichen Itza, Merida, Uxmal, and Valladolid.

Essential Safety Tips for Traveling to Mexico

Regardless of your destination in Mexico, adopting safe travel practices is crucial. Here are expanded safety tips to enhance your security and peace of mind:

1. Stay Informed and Share Your Plans:

   • Keep abreast of the latest travel advisory to Mexico updates and news.
   • Inform family and friends about your detailed itinerary, including cities, accommodations, and travel dates.
   • If traveling in a group and separating, share your GPS location with a trusted friend.
   • When taking a taxi alone, discreetly photograph the taxi number or license plate and text it to a contact.

2. Transportation Safety:

   • Prioritize Toll Roads: Opt for toll roads (cuotas) whenever possible, as they are generally better maintained and patrolled than free highways (libre).
   • Avoid Driving Alone or at Night: Minimize driving during nighttime, especially in less familiar areas or between cities. If possible, travel with companions.
   • Use Reputable Transportation Services: Rely on dispatched vehicles like Uber or other app-based services and regulated taxi stands, particularly in urban areas. Avoid hailing taxis directly on the street.
   • U.S. Government Employee Transportation Rules: Adhere to the U.S. government employee guidelines, which prohibit street-hailed taxis and encourage dispatched services.

3. Situational Awareness and Avoiding Risky Behaviors:

   • Exercise Caution at Nightlife Venues: Be extra cautious when visiting local bars, nightclubs, and casinos, as these can sometimes be hotspots for crime.
   • Minimize Displays of Wealth: Avoid wearing expensive jewelry, watches, or overtly displaying cash, which can make you a target for petty theft or more serious crime.
   • Vigilance at Banks and ATMs: Be highly vigilant when using banks or ATMs, as these are common locations for robberies. Use ATMs in secure, well-lit locations, preferably during daylight hours and inside banks when possible.

4. Enroll in STEP and Stay Connected:

   • Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): Enroll in STEP to receive alerts and make it easier for the U.S. embassy to locate you in case of emergency.
   • Follow Official Channels: Stay updated by following the Department of State’s social media (Facebook and X/Twitter) and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico’s social media for real-time updates and alerts.

5. Prepare for Emergencies:

   • Contingency Plan: Develop a contingency plan for emergency situations, including communication protocols and evacuation strategies if necessary.
   • Traveler’s Checklist: Review the State Department’s Traveler’s Checklist for comprehensive pre-trip preparation.
   • Health Information: Consult the CDC page for the latest travel health information and recommendations for Mexico.

6. Maritime Travel Considerations:

   • Mariners’ Advisories: Mariners should check for U.S. maritime advisories and alerts for specific instructions on reporting suspicious activities to Mexican naval authorities.

By taking these precautions and staying informed about the travel advisory to Mexico, you can significantly enhance your safety and enjoy a more secure and fulfilling travel experience in this fascinating country. Remember, knowledge and preparation are your best defenses when traveling in regions with safety concerns.

This travel advisory to Mexico is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the safety situation as of 2024. However, situations can change rapidly, and it is always advisable to consult official government sources and local authorities for the most up-to-date information before and during your travels. Enjoy your trip to Mexico responsibly and safely!