Mexico, a vibrant country rich in culture and history, is a popular destination for tourists worldwide. However, like any international travel, it’s crucial to stay informed about safety conditions. The Mexico Travel Advisory 2024 from the U.S. Department of State provides essential guidance for ensuring a safe trip. This advisory highlights that while many parts of Mexico are safe for tourists, some areas carry significant risks due to crime and violence. Understanding these risks and taking appropriate precautions is key to a secure and enjoyable visit.
This guide breaks down the Mexico Travel Advisory 2024, offering a state-by-state overview to help you plan your travels with confidence. We’ll cover the different advisory levels, from “Do Not Travel” to “Exercise Normal Precautions,” and what they mean for your safety.
Understanding the Mexico Travel Advisory Levels
The U.S. Department of State uses a level system to advise travelers about safety risks in different countries and regions. Here’s a breakdown of what each level means for Mexico:
- Level 4: Do Not Travel: This is the highest advisory level, recommending that U.S. citizens should not travel to these areas due to extremely high safety risks, including crime and kidnapping.
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel: This level advises travelers to reconsider their plans to these areas due to serious risks. It suggests that travelers should carefully evaluate their safety and security before deciding to travel.
- Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution: This advisory level indicates that travelers should be more vigilant and aware of their surroundings due to increased risks of crime and violence.
- Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions: This is the lowest advisory level, suggesting that travelers should take the same safety precautions they would in their own country.
State-by-State Mexico Travel Advisory 2024
Below is a detailed look at the Mexico Travel Advisory 2024 for each state, categorized by advisory level. This information is crucial for planning your trip and understanding the specific risks in your chosen destination.
Level 4: Do Not Travel
The following states are under a “Do Not Travel” advisory due to extremely dangerous conditions:
Colima State
- Advisory: Do Not Travel due to crime and kidnapping.
- Summary: Violent crime and gang activity are widespread throughout Colima. Homicides, often targeted assassinations by criminal organizations, are common. Bystanders have been injured or killed in shooting incidents. Kidnapping is also a significant risk for U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs).
- U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: Travel is limited to tourist and port areas of Manzanillo, accessible via Federal Toll Road 54D during daylight hours from Guadalajara. All other areas of Colima state are off-limits for U.S. government employees.
Guerrero State
- Advisory: Do Not Travel due to crime.
- Summary: Crime and violence are widespread across Guerrero. Armed groups operate independently, frequently setting up roadblocks and using violence against travelers. Kidnapping of U.S. citizens and LPRs has occurred in previous years.
- U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling to any area in Guerrero, including major tourist destinations like Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, Taxco, and Ixtapa.
Michoacan State
- Advisory: Do Not Travel due to crime and kidnapping.
- Summary: Crime and violence are widespread in Michoacan.
- U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: Limited travel is permitted for U.S. government employees. They can use Federal Highway 15D to transit between Mexico City and Guadalajara, travel by air to Morelia, and by land using Federal Highways 43 or 48D from Federal Highway 15D to Morelia. Travel to Lazaro Cardenas is restricted to air travel and limited to the city center or port areas. All other areas, including the Monarch Butterfly Reserve portions in Michoacan, are off-limits.
Sinaloa State
- Advisory: Do Not Travel due to crime.
- Summary: Violent crime is widespread in Sinaloa, home to powerful criminal organizations.
- U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: U.S. government employees can only travel to Mazatlan (by air or sea, restricted to Zona Dorada and historic town center), and Los Mochis and Topolobampo (by air or sea, restricted to city and port areas). Travel must be via direct routes between these areas and airports/sea terminals. All other areas of Sinaloa are restricted.
Tamaulipas State
- Advisory: Do Not Travel due to crime and kidnapping.
- Summary: Organized crime is rampant in Tamaulipas, especially along the northern border and in Ciudad Victoria. Gun battles, murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, forced disappearances, extortion, and sexual assault are common. Criminal groups target buses and private vehicles, often kidnapping passengers for ransom.
- U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: Travel is highly restricted for U.S. government employees, limited to a small radius around U.S. Consulates in Matamoros and Nuevo Laredo, homes, U.S. Ports of Entry, and limited downtown areas, with an overnight curfew. Overland travel between cities is prohibited, except for daytime travel on Federal Highway 85D between Nuevo Laredo and Monterrey with prior authorization. All other areas of Tamaulipas are off-limits.
Zacatecas State
- Advisory: Do Not Travel due to crime and kidnapping.
- Summary: Violent crime, extortion, and gang activity are widespread in Zacatecas. Kidnapping is a significant risk.
- U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: U.S. government employee travel is limited to Zacatecas City proper, accessible only by air. Overland travel to Zacatecas City and travel to all other areas of Zacatecas state are prohibited.
Level 3: Reconsider Travel
The following states are advised for “Reconsider Travel” due to significant risks:
Baja California State
- Advisory: Reconsider Travel due to crime and kidnapping.
- Summary: Transnational criminal organizations are active, leading to violent crime and gang activity, particularly in non-tourist areas of Tijuana. Homicides are high, and bystanders can be caught in violence. Kidnapping is a risk for U.S. citizens and LPRs.
- U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: U.S. government employees should avoid the Mexicali Valley due to cartel violence. However, travel is permitted in major tourist areas like Tijuana, Ensenada, and Rosarito. Specific highway restrictions apply in the Mexicali Valley area.
Chiapas State
- Advisory: Reconsider Travel due to crime.
- Summary: Criminal activity and violence are present throughout Chiapas.
- U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: U.S. government employees cannot travel to the municipality of Ocozocoautla and certain southeastern regions. Travel to Tapachula city limits and Highway 225 from Port Chiapas to Tapachula (including the airport) is permitted.
Chihuahua State
- Advisory: Reconsider Travel due to crime and kidnapping.
- Summary: Violent crime and gang activity are common in Chihuahua. Battles between criminal groups result in violence in areas frequented by tourists, including daylight hours in restaurants and malls. Bystanders have been injured or killed. Kidnapping 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 like Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua, and to Nuevo Casas Grandes area. Copper Canyon and other areas are off-limits.
Guanajuato State
- Advisory: Reconsider Travel due to crime.
- Summary: Gang violence, often related to fuel theft, occurs in Guanajuato, especially in the south and central regions. High murder rates are linked to cartel violence. Kidnapping is a risk.
- U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: U.S. government employees cannot travel south of Federal Highway 45D, including Celaya, Salamanca, and Irapuato. Tourist areas like San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato City are not restricted.
Jalisco State
- Advisory: Reconsider Travel due to crime and kidnapping.
- Summary: Violent crime and gang activity are common, with territorial battles in tourist areas of Guadalajara. Bystanders have been injured or killed in shootings. Kidnapping is a risk.
- U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: U.S. government employees are restricted from the Jalisco-Michoacan border region and Federal Highway 110, and Federal Highway 80 south of Cocula. Tourist areas including Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, Puerto Vallarta (and Riviera Nayarit), Chapala, and Ajijic are not restricted.
Morelos State
- Advisory: Reconsider Travel due to crime and kidnapping.
- Summary: Violent crime and gang activity are common in parts of Morelos. Kidnapping is a risk for U.S. citizens and LPRs.
- U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees in Morelos state.
Sonora State
- Advisory: Reconsider Travel due to crime and kidnapping.
- Summary: Sonora is a key area for drug and human trafficking. Violent crime is widespread, and kidnapping is a risk. Travelers should be highly aware of their surroundings.
- U.S. Government Employee Restrictions: Numerous travel restrictions apply. Travel between Hermosillo and Nogales is permitted only during daylight on Federal Highway 15. Specific areas in Nogales, Puerto Peñasco, and regions near the Mariposa Port of Entry are off-limits. Travel to San Luis Rio Colorado, Cananea, and Agua Prieta is limited to city limits during daylight. Eastern and southern Sonora, including popular areas like San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas and Alamos (except air travel to Alamos city limits), are restricted.
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
The following states are under “Exercise Increased Caution” advisory, indicating elevated risks:
- Aguascalientes State
- Baja California Sur State
- Coahuila State
- Durango State
- Hidalgo State
- Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico)
- Mexico State (Estado de Mexico)
- Nayarit State
- Nuevo Leon State
- Oaxaca State
- Puebla State
- Queretaro State
- Quintana Roo State
- San Luis Potosi State
- Tabasco State
- Tlaxcala State
- Veracruz State
General Summary for Level 2 States: These states experience criminal activity and violence to varying degrees. While no specific travel restrictions are placed on U.S. government employees in most of these states, increased caution is advised for all travelers. This includes being vigilant in public areas, avoiding displays of wealth, and being extra cautious at night. In tourist hotspots like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum in Quintana Roo, increased caution is advised particularly after dark due to rising violent crime. Specific restrictions apply to certain areas within Coahuila, Durango, and Oaxaca states for U.S. government employees.
Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
The safest states, where normal precautions should be exercised, are:
- Campeche State
- Yucatan State
General Summary for Level 1 States: These states are considered relatively safe, where travelers should exercise the same precautions they would in their home country. Popular tourist destinations in Yucatan, such as Chichen Itza, Merida, Uxmal, and Valladolid, are included in this level.
General Safety Recommendations for Traveling in Mexico (2024)
Regardless of the specific advisory level for your destination in Mexico, the U.S. Department of State provides general safety guidelines for all travelers:
- Stay Informed: Keep travel companions and family informed of your plans. Share your GPS location if separating from your group, and if taking a taxi alone, send a photo of the taxi information to a friend.
- Road Travel: Use toll roads when possible and avoid driving alone or at night. Police and emergency services may be limited outside major cities.
- Public Behavior: Exercise increased caution in local bars, nightclubs, and casinos. Avoid displaying signs of wealth like expensive jewelry. Be vigilant at banks and ATMs.
- Enroll in STEP: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and facilitate location in emergencies.
- Stay Connected: Follow the Department of State and U.S. Embassy on social media for updates.
- Review Security Reports: Check the Country Security Report for Mexico for detailed information.
- Maritime Travel: Mariners should check for maritime advisories and alerts.
- Emergency Plans: Prepare a contingency plan for emergencies and review the Traveler’s Checklist.
- Health Information: Visit the CDC page for the latest travel health information.
Conclusion: Traveling Safely in Mexico in 2024
The Mexico Travel Advisory 2024 is an essential tool for planning safe travel to Mexico. By understanding the advisory levels and specific state-by-state information, travelers can make informed decisions and take necessary precautions. While some areas present significant risks and are best avoided, many parts of Mexico remain welcoming and safe for tourists. Staying informed, being vigilant, and following safety guidelines will contribute to a positive and secure travel experience in Mexico.
For the most up-to-date information and detailed maps of restricted areas, always refer to the official U.S. Embassy in Mexico website. Safe travels!
