Register for Vista, the Free Mexico Newsletter
Keep updated with opportunities and experiences in Mexico for leisure and living with our free Mexico Newsletter. Sign-up now and get the best Mexico Newsletter free every month!
Safety in Mexico
Your Guide to Safety in Mexico. Keep abreast with safety issues in Mexico. Our guide offers practical and sensible advice based on currently-reported situations.
Latest Update January 14, 2012.
See Also: Travel Health in Mexico
Safety in Mexico-Current Situations
Drug Related Violence
Turf wars between major Mexican drug cartels vying for control of lucrative trade routes to the U.S. as well Mexican narcotic retail markets have sparked a wave of drug-related violence in Mexico and is creating a near-constant flow of dramatic news headlines at this time. Government consulates are advising against all but essential travel to Ciudad Juarez, and alerting travelers to exercise caution when traveling in northern states of Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Sonora, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Tampico, Durango, Baja California (Norte) as well as Michoacan and Guerrero further south. See Drug-related violence, below, for more details.
Visitors in 2010
According to statistics released by the Bank of Mexico, in 2010, over 22 million foreigners visited Mexico. The majority of visits to Mexico remain trouble-free and the violence brought about by the ongoing drug-war situation has left tourists, foreign business visitors, foreign expatriates, and most Mexicans largely unaffected.
Violent Crime in Mexico
Violent crime committed against visitors is rare in Mexico. Petty crime, e.g. pick-pocketing and bag grabbing, can be an issue in some areas; see section below on Petty Crime in Mexico for details. Common sense and being alert to your surroundings will minimize any risks
Published Statistics
Notwithstanding the near-constant media headlines which are currently serving to portray Mexico in a less-than-ideal light, published statistics reveal that most of Mexico remains a safe place for tourists, visitors, business travelers, and foreign expatriates.
Latest Blog Article Related to Mexico Safety
Here are the latest articles related to safety and security in Mexico, published on our Mexico Living Blog:
Drug-Related Violence in Mexico
The drug-related violence that began to flare up a few years ago continues to dominate news headlines nationally and internationally.
It is estimated that 9 out of every 10 homicides committed in Mexico at present comprise of gang members killing each other in the violent drug turf wars taking place (Figures Source: British Consulate).
Most of the violence currently taking place in Mexico is concentrated in small areas of the country. Although news stories have a tendency to present drug-violence as a "Mexico wide" issue, statistics show that the majority of homicides take place in just 3.5% of the country's 2,438 municipalities (Figures Source: British Consulate).
Places Affected
Due to the drug-related violence, consulates are advising that travelers avoid all-but-essential travel to Ciudad Juarez at this time.
Of late, the drug-related violence flare-ups have been most prominent in the states of Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Sonora, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Durango, Baja California (Norte) in the north of the country and in Michoacan and Guerrero in the south. Not all areas in all states are affected, but caution should be exercised on your travels in these states to minimize any risks.
Sensible Safety Precautions
Taxi Travel - Only use authorized "Sitio" (taxi ranks) in Mexico City— avoid hailing a taxi from the street in the capital. See the complete guide to Traveling by Taxi Mexico for full details.
Dress Down - Don't walk around dripping gold or wearing clothes and jewelry which might bring undue attention to you or others with you.
Beware of Scammers - Scams and scammers targeted at tourists and foreign residents appear to be on the increase. See "Avoiding Scams" below.
Cash Machines (ATMs) - Avoid withdrawing cash from ATMs at night; be vigilant when you are withdrawing cash, use ATMs in well-populated areas. See "Cash and Valuables" below.
Mexico City's Bus Terminals - Mexico City's bus terminals are situated in less than ideal neighborhoods of the capital; however, the terminals themselves are safe, you just have to look out for pick-pockets and potential scams. See Also: Traveling by Bus in Mexico
Pickpockets - Every city in the world has its organized gangs of pickpockets; be alert especially in crowded areas like bus stations, on the Mexico City Metro, airports, busy shopping precincts, etc.
Sports and Aquatic Equipment - Take extra care when hiring local services involving sports aquatic equipment in Mexico, especially SCUBA diving, parasailing and jet skis. With SCUBA Diving, ensure that the firm your are dealing with is fully qualified, established and has a good reputation locally. Some parasailing units move from beach to beach, selling services to people sunbathing and relaxing on the sands. Beware, as they may not be safe. Some hotels are beginning to warn their guests off these services due to previous accidents; ask locally for advice—also ask locally if you are unsure about any jet ski rental outfits.
Mexico Business Traveler's Safety
Despite the recent media coverage of drug-related violence, businesses continue to operate as normal in Mexico and thousands of foreign business travelers arrive to and depart from Mexico safely every day. Here are some sensible precautions if you are traveling on business in Mexico:
Business Equipment: Don't leave expensive business equipment (e.g. laptops, smart phones, cameras, etc.) unattended at any time.
Briefcases are sometimes targeted by opportunist thieves as they know they may port valuable equipment, wallets, etc. Be extra vigilant when you are traveling with a briefcase or consider using instead a satchel or other bag that is less obviously a "business accessory".
Taxi Cab Travel: We recommend that you always use taxi cab ranks or hotel cabs when using taxis in Mexico. See Traveling by Taxi Mexico.
Backup Data: Backup your important data online or keep it on a separate disc/chip left at your hotel. This is salient advice whether you are traveling in Mexico or anywhere else with your laptop.
Keeping Cash and Valuables Safe in Mexico
Here are some key tips to keep your money and valuables safe in Mexico:
Withdrawing Cash: Use ATMs in daylight hours and choose ATMs located in areas where there are plenty of other people around.
Carrying Cash: Don't carry large amounts of cash on your person. If you see something you want to buy and you don't have the cash, a small deposit will always secure the item. Leave excess cash credit/debit cards you don't expect to need at the hotel.
Valuable Documents: Keep your valuable travel documents (especially your passport) safe; passport theft is one the rise in Mexico. Store cash and other valuables in your hotel room's safe or at the hotel's safety deposit box.
Dress Down: avoid walking around dripping jewelry, showing-off expensive watches, and other expensive fashion items.
ATM Refills: When ATMs are being refilled, you will see armed guards surrounding it. We recommend you find another ATM instead of waiting around for it to be filled: it can take 30-40 minutes to be refilled, tested, and re-opened for public use.
See Also: Money Safety in Mexico
Petty Crime in Mexico
Pick-pockets, bag-snatchers and opportunist thieves operate everywhere, and especially in crowded places. Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim of petty crime in Mexico:
Transport Terminals: Bus stations and airports always have pick-pockets operating. Be alert and keep your valuables close to you. Additional security personnel have been deployed at bus stations and airports, but pick-pockets continue to cause upset, nonetheless.
Pick-Pockets: Pick-pockets and bag snatchers also operate on local buses and microbuses, and at some tourist sites and museums, as well as busy local markets. Keep personal items to a minimum when your are touring, and carry only small amounts of cash.
Long Distance Buses: If you are traveling by bus over long distances, we recommend your use only first and executive class buses as second class buses are more susceptible to petty crime. Read our extensive guide to Bus Travel in Mexico for more details.
Metro Trains: If you are traveling on the Metro in Mexico City or Monterrey, keep your wallet, mobile phone, etc. out of sight and well secured, especially when the trains are crowded.
Passport Safety: There appears to have been a rise in passport thefts of late. Don't carry your passport on your person when you're visiting or touring unless you have specific reason for doing so, e.g. identification for money exchange.
Money Exchange: Exchange money and use ATMs only in daylight hours and in areas frequented by others.
Scam Artists
Scam artists operate worldwide and Mexico is not immune from them. There have been reports of some scams aimed at foreigners; we've detailed these below. Exercise caution if someone unexpectedly approaches you.
Fake Surveys: Some scammers pose as survey agents, and proceed to ask you personal questions, including your name, address and phone numbers. The questions are posed in such a way that you don't necessarily realize what you are revealing. They may try to use this information to compromise your identity or wrongly inform your family back home that you are in trouble (extortion). Never divulge any personal information to strangers.
Fake Personas: Be wary of any "official" that approaches you unexpectedly and asks you to pay fines, or insisting that you must go somewhere you had not planned. Also be wary of strangers approaching you for "financial help", however convincing their story may be.
Food & Drink: Don't accept any food or drink from strangers (not even "samples") and if you are out at busy bars and night clubs, always keep your beverage with you--leave it with a trusted friend if you have to leave it unattended, e.g. when you use the restroom.
Fake Rides: Only use official taxis in Mexico City. When you phone a cab in Mexico, the receptionist will quote you the license plate number of the vehicle going to fetch you--check it matches. NEVER accept a ride from unofficial operators at airports or bus stations. When you arrive from your flight, buy a taxi ticket from one of the official kiosks or book your airport transfer in advance and follow the meet and greet instructions they give you.
Money Transfer Scams: Foreign residents and some tourists might get encouraged to transfer funds to Mexican bank accounts to fund local "investment opportunities". Exercise extreme caution. If you are purchasing real estate in Mexico do so only using a qualified lawyer and a Notary Public.
Safety on Mexico's Roads
Driving a car is a great way to see Mexico. Mexico has an extensive and well-developed road network and traveling by road in Mexico is generally safe. Read our extensive Guide to Driving in Mexico for full details including safety advice.
Government Travel Advice Web Sites
In addition to our local contacts, we monitor government web sites, as local consulates have extensive local intelligence networks and first-hand reports of safety and crime issues experienced by foreign nationals in Mexico. Here are the links to the U.S., Canadian, British and Australian travel advisory sites: