How was it:
Travel advice:
I sat in blind panic for an entire 20 minutes in a street taxi coming home from a bar one night. Although the driver didn’t do anything bad (apart from over charge me), it was a pretty nerve-wracking ride and not one I will repeat soon.
Travel tips:
- Baja California: Tijuana
- Baja Sur: Cabo San Lucas, San Juan de Cabo, La Paz (road trip from San Diego to Cabo)
- Chiapas: San Cristobal, Palenque
- Chihuahua: Chihuahua City and Copper Canyon
- Colima: Colima City and Manzanillo beach
- Jalisco: Guadalajara, Tequila
- Mexico: Mexico City, Teotihuacan
- Sinaloa: Los Mochis and Copper Canyon
- Oaxaca: Oaxaca, Puerto Escondido
- Quintana Roo: Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Tulum, Isla Holbox, Akumal
- Yucatán: Mérida
Travel tips:
Travel advice:
USA: Exercise caution in traveling to the business and shopping districts in the northeast section of Ciudad Juarez and its major industrial parks, and the central downtown section and major industrial parks in Chihuahua City. U.S. citizens should defer non-essential travel to other areas of these cities and anywhere else in the state of Chihuahua and travel during daylight hours between cities.
And…there was…errr…a bit of an armed robbery at my hostel while I was there. Ok, calm down (mum). I wasn’t even aware of it until the next day. The hostel was having “tequila” night. Meanwhile, someone forgot to properly close the door. In walked an armed guy. He demanded money. The staff gave it to him. He left. Nobody was any the wiser.
Travel advice:
Where I went: Tijuana & and road trip from San Diego to Baja Sur
Related Articles
Travel advice:
Where I went: San Cristóbal and Palenque
10 Times You’ll Realise the Importance of Travel Insurance
Well, two reasons. First, the USA, being that bit closer and more heavily invested in the safety related to it’s bordering country, tends to give more detailed advice about Mexico i.e. on a state by state basis compared to the UK.
Oh, and the taxi drivers are as criminal here as in Chihuahua. After negotiating a MXN ride in a shared taxi, the driver later changed the price to MXN and swore blind I’d misunderstood him. I know my numbers in Spanish and he only decided to up the price when I handed over a MXN note.
UK Gov Travel advice on drug-related violence and tourist resorts
Tijuana & Ensenada – Baja California Norte
La Paz is largely a family holiday/vacation destination for Mexicans. At night the beachfront (malecón) was filled with families strolling and couples rollerblading. I felt completely safe walking along the beachfront alone every night after dinner and overall La Paz turned out to be one of my favourite places in all of Mexico – I went for 3 days and stayed for more than a week.
USA: Defer non-essential travel to the state of Sinaloa except the city of Mazatlan, where you should exercise caution, particularly late at night and in the early morning. One of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations is based in the state of Sinaloa, and violent crime rates remain high in many parts of the state. Travel off the toll roads in remote areas of Sinaloa is especially dangerous and should be avoided. We recommend that any travel in Mazatlan be limited to Zona Dorada and the historic town center, as well as direct routes to/from these locations and the airport.
USA: Defer non-essential travel to the state of Sinaloa except the city of Mazatlan, where you should exercise caution, particularly late at night and in the early morning. One of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations is based in the state of Sinaloa, and violent crime rates remain high in many parts of the state. Travel off the toll roads in remote areas of Sinaloa is especially dangerous and should be avoided. We recommend that any travel in Mazatlan be limited to Zona Dorada and the historic town center, as well as direct routes to/from these locations and the airport.
USA: Defer non-essential travel to the state of Sinaloa except the city of Mazatlan, where you should exercise caution, particularly late at night and in the early morning. One of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations is based in the state of Sinaloa, and violent crime rates remain high in many parts of the state. Travel off the toll roads in remote areas of Sinaloa is especially dangerous and should be avoided. We recommend that any travel in Mazatlan be limited to Zona Dorada and the historic town center, as well as direct routes to/from these locations and the airport.
USA: Defer non-essential travel to the state of Sinaloa except the city of Mazatlan, where you should exercise caution, particularly late at night and in the early morning. One of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations is based in the state of Sinaloa, and violent crime rates remain high in many parts of the state. Travel off the toll roads in remote areas of Sinaloa is especially dangerous and should be avoided. We recommend that any travel in Mazatlan be limited to Zona Dorada and the historic town center, as well as direct routes to/from these locations and the airport.
USA: Defer non-essential travel to the state of Sinaloa except the city of Mazatlan, where you should exercise caution, particularly late at night and in the early morning. One of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations is based in the state of Sinaloa, and violent crime rates remain high in many parts of the state. Travel off the toll roads in remote areas of Sinaloa is especially dangerous and should be avoided. We recommend that any travel in Mazatlan be limited to Zona Dorada and the historic town center, as well as direct routes to/from these locations and the airport.
USA: Defer non-essential travel to the state of Sinaloa except the city of Mazatlan, where you should exercise caution, particularly late at night and in the early morning. One of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations is based in the state of Sinaloa, and violent crime rates remain high in many parts of the state. Travel off the toll roads in remote areas of Sinaloa is especially dangerous and should be avoided. We recommend that any travel in Mazatlan be limited to Zona Dorada and the historic town center, as well as direct routes to/from these locations and the airport.
USA: Defer non-essential travel to the state of Sinaloa except the city of Mazatlan, where you should exercise caution, particularly late at night and in the early morning. One of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations is based in the state of Sinaloa, and violent crime rates remain high in many parts of the state. Travel off the toll roads in remote areas of Sinaloa is especially dangerous and should be avoided. We recommend that any travel in Mazatlan be limited to Zona Dorada and the historic town center, as well as direct routes to/from these locations and the airport.
USA: Defer non-essential travel to the state of Sinaloa except the city of Mazatlan, where you should exercise caution, particularly late at night and in the early morning. One of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations is based in the state of Sinaloa, and violent crime rates remain high in many parts of the state. Travel off the toll roads in remote areas of Sinaloa is especially dangerous and should be avoided. We recommend that any travel in Mazatlan be limited to Zona Dorada and the historic town center, as well as direct routes to/from these locations and the airport.
USA: Defer non-essential travel to the state of Sinaloa except the city of Mazatlan, where you should exercise caution, particularly late at night and in the early morning. One of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations is based in the state of Sinaloa, and violent crime rates remain high in many parts of the state. Travel off the toll roads in remote areas of Sinaloa is especially dangerous and should be avoided. We recommend that any travel in Mazatlan be limited to Zona Dorada and the historic town center, as well as direct routes to/from these locations and the airport.
USA: Defer non-essential travel to the state of Sinaloa except the city of Mazatlan, where you should exercise caution, particularly late at night and in the early morning. One of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations is based in the state of Sinaloa, and violent crime rates remain high in many parts of the state. Travel off the toll roads in remote areas of Sinaloa is especially dangerous and should be avoided. We recommend that any travel in Mazatlan be limited to Zona Dorada and the historic town center, as well as direct routes to/from these locations and the airport.
USA: Defer non-essential travel to the state of Sinaloa except the city of Mazatlan, where you should exercise caution, particularly late at night and in the early morning. One of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations is based in the state of Sinaloa, and violent crime rates remain high in many parts of the state. Travel off the toll roads in remote areas of Sinaloa is especially dangerous and should be avoided. We recommend that any travel in Mazatlan be limited to Zona Dorada and the historic town center, as well as direct routes to/from these locations and the airport.
Mérida is a hard-working town and there’s nothing particularly sparkly about it…until you start to chat to the locals, eat the food and take in the live music in the square each night. I felt safe wielding my camera and walking alone at night around the main square. I didn’t and wouldn’t head to the market area alone after dark…but there’d be no reason to unless you’re looking for trouble.
Instead of listing this advice under each state, I’ll list it just once here. The UK Government offers the following advice on the topic of drug-related violence:
I was in Chihuahua to catch the Copper Canyon train but instead of breezing through, I took a few days to explore the city. There were not many tourists in Chihuahua – I didn’t see a single other gringo during my stay – and that seemed to make the locals all the more welcoming rather than suspicious, which flew in the face of my expectations.
- Stick to the historic centre at night.
As the safest state in Mexico, I wasn’t expecting much by way of trouble in Baja Sur and I’m pleased to say that my experience was entirely trouble-free.
Why?
Where I went: Colima City and Manzanillo beach
I had no problems in either Colima or Manzanillo. However, I was the only gringo for miles around and I was with a local, so it’s hard to give an objective view. That said, there wasn’t a huge amount of tourist attractions in Colima – the city has a nice centre and a cute park with a lake but otherwise operates on a functional grid system that reminded me a lot of Phoenix.
Travel insurance for Mexico
How was it:
USA: Although homicide rates in Ciudad Juarez have decreased markedly from a peak several years ago, the city still has one of the highest homicide rates in Mexico.
Travel advice:
UK: Drug related violence is a particular problem in this state.
USA: No advisory is in effect.
Where I went: I’ve visited most of the main areas that tourists will want to visit – the historic centre, Chapultapec, Coyoacán, Condesa and Roma, and Tiotihucan
