Is Mexico Safe to Travel to Right Now? (The Answer Might Shock You)
Is safe Mexico travel on your mind?
That’s great! Keeping your personal safety top of mind is one of the key ways to stay safe while traveling.
As Is it safe to travel to Mexico? and Is Mexico safe? are the two most asked questions in the Mexico travel-sphere — we’ll unpack the complex topic of safe travel in Mexico in this article.
The answers to the questions above are tricky, because no place on Earth is 100% safe.
⚠️ For peace of mind on your Mexico trip, you need a policy with SafetyWing Insurance. This is the company I use, and you can get your FREE quote here. Policies start at $56.28 for a month of coverage!
Beyond that, safety is a feeling not a fact; meaning we may “feel” safe, but we’re never truly safe based on any quantifiable certainty.
However, from personal experience, I have felt safe during my Mexico travels, and I’ve been living and doing solo travel in Mexico since 2018!
For me, safe travel in Mexico comes down to two main things: making your personal safety your top priority and trusting your intuition.
If you follow the same travel safety measures and common sense just as you would anywhere on Earth, you’re well on your way to being safe in Mexico while traveling.
Is Mexico Safe: Statistics & Expert Opinions
When attempting to put your mind at ease regarding solo travel safety in Mexico, experts are great sources.
One of the most helpful articles on the subject of safe travels to Mexico comes from Forbes.
In it, they interview Carlos Barron, a 25-year FBI veteran, and this quote from him offers incredible perspective:
Millions of Americans go to Mexico on vacation every year, so if we play the numbers game, the number of incidents is very small… When I’m asked if Mexico is a safe place to go travel on vacation, my response is yes.
—Carlos Barren, 25-year FBI veteran (source: Forbes)
The key here is when he says “the numbers game.”
There’s no denying bad things occur in Mexico — and everywhere; however, they are isolated incidents.
Though bad things happen every single day in the U.S., many conveniently write them off isolated incidents, rather than labeling the entire country as unsafe.
In fact, check out this site that compares U.S. and Mexico crime statistics, and you might be shocked!
It’s hard to believe, given the media’s demonization of Mexico, but in most categories, the U.S. has higher crime rates than Mexico.
This is especially true of violent crime, and crimes committed with guns.
0.0002% of Crimes are Tourist-Related
One of the sad realities of living in Mexico is that there are two Mexicos.
There is a safe Mexico (ie. the most popular tourist destinations, and several other places), and a frankly, unsafe Mexico.
As this article is about safe travel to Mexico, let’s look at some numbers to help paint a clear picture about Mexico travel.
- According to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Travel and Tourism Office, Mexico was the most popular 2019 travel destination for Americans — with nearly 40 million visits 😳
- Further, the World Tourism Organization declared Mexico the most visited country in Latin America in 2019, and the seventh most visited country in the world.
In this article from Statfor, the U.S. State Department reports that 35 million Americans visited Mexico from June 2017-June 2018, and 76 homicide deaths occurred — which amounts to 0.0002%.
Chicago has a population of 2.7 million — about the same as the number of Americans that live in Mexico. Last year, 561 people died in homicides in the Windy City, more than seven times the number of Americans who were murdered in Mexico.
source: Statfor
While undeniably tragic, statistically speaking, there’s a very low probability for tourist violence in Mexico.
Mexico travel scams
As with most places you’ll travel, the vast majority of Mexicans are really nice people with good intentions.
However, as is common in any tourist town in any city on Earth, tourist scams are common. Some of these include:
🚗 Mexico car rental scam: This deceptive practice is not exclusive to Mexico, but something car rental companies all over the world do by trying to upsell you things you don’t need. Read about it here.
🏧 Fake ATMs: Use only ATMs inside reputable banks; never a random ATM on the street, convenience store ATMs or gas station ATMs.
🚕 Fake Taxis: To combat this, use Uber in Mexico or only take authorized taxis from official stations, called sitios (taxi sites or taxi ransk), instead of hailing a cab on the street. Better yet, just use Uber.
🍽️ Restaurant Scams: Always double check your bill to make sure everything adds up correctly, you were charged only for what you ordered, etc.
Drug Cartel Violence in Mexico
Don’t get me wrong, bad things happen in Mexico — and every country on Earth, including the one you live in.
However, the fact remains that violence anywhere is sensationalized in the media.
In Mexico, the vast majority of crime is cartel-on-cartel violence. While this is tragic, it also means that if you’re not in a cartel, you’re likely far away from it.
On the rare occasion when there’s a tourist crime in Mexico, it is generally over-reported by the U.S. media, because, well, violence sells.
I actually have a degree in journalism, and while in college getting said degree, I was taught this saying: “If it bleeds, it leads.“
This means people are more apt to pay attention — and pay money — to see and read news stories with elements of blood, violence and death.
KIDNAPPINGS IN MEXICO
Are there kidnappings in Mexico? Yes.
Is this happening every 12 seconds on every street corner in every city? Of course not.
Mexico in real life is much different than the yellow-colored Mexico you’ve seen in movies and shows.
As with most crime in Mexico, tourist kidnappings are few and far between.
Safe Places in Mexico to Vacation
Questions like Is travel in Mexico safe? and Is Mexico travel safe? are tricky because there are safe places to travel to in Mexico, less safe places, and frankly, dangerous places in Mexico.
Mexico is a large country, and although travelers want to analyze it as a monolith for convenience, it’s just not.
Below, we’ll take an in-depth look at some of the top Mexico travel destinations, and evaluate them for safety — ie. Cancun, Mexico City, Tulum, Cabo and Puerto Vallarta.
For those wanting to do some Mexico off the beaten path travel, here are 11 of the lesser-known safest places in Mexico to vacation:
- Merida, Yucatan state — Which is where I live, and widely considered the most safe city in Mexico
- San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato state
- Oaxaca City, Oaxaca state
- Holbox Island, Quintana Roo state
- Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo state
- La Paz, Baja California Sur state
- Valladolid, Yucatan state
- Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo state
- San Cristóbal de las Casa, Chiapas state
- Todos Santos, Baja California Sur state
- Laguna Bacalar, Quintana Roo state
Is Cancun Safe?
If you ask someone who’s been, Is Cancun Mexico safe?, they will likely say that it was.
National and local government employees, politicians and police, as well as large corporate hotel chains that have places there, work hard to keep it safe for visitors.
Cancun is one of the top Mexico travel destinations, with millions visiting each year.
With numbers that high, yes, there are incidents of crime, though in general, Cancun is quite safe for families, solo travelers, groups and couples.
As there are plenty of gorgeous beaches on Earth, if Cancun wasn’t safe, people would stop coming! However, just the opposite is true.
According to the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office, Mexico was the most popular 2019 travel destination for Americans, with nearly 40 million visits — many to Cancun!
🏝 General beach safety in mexico
They say the biggest dangers in Mexico beach towns are sunburns, drinking too much and hurricanes.
While this is true for many, you’ll also want to stay hydrated, stay aware of your surroundings, and don’t drink the water in Cancun (make sure to travel with this filtered water bottle).
Is Mexico City Safe?
Wondering, Is it safe to travel to Mexico City?, or How safe is Mexico City?
For the vast majority of visitors, Mexico City is safe as long as you make your safety a priority.
For example, like all big cities, there are many safe neighborhoods in Mexico City, and unsafe ones, and you have to know which is which.
The safest neighborhoods in Mexico City include Roma, Condesa and Polanco, and neighborhoods to avoid in Mexico City include Tepito and Doctores.
If you stick to these safe places in Mexico City, you’ll enjoy this amazing city.
As tourism is Mexico’s largest industry, anywhere marketed to visitors is protected by Mexican federal and state police.
Some very popular tourism areas, like Centro Historico in Mexico City, even have a special unit of Mexico Tourist Police.
🎧 Check out this Mexico podcast from travel blogger Leigh. In it, she discusses how she felt safe in Mexico City on both of her two solo trips there.
Is Tulum Safe?
Also located in the Yucatan Peninsula, like Cancun, those wondering Is Tulum Mexico safe? can rest assured this bohemian beach town is a safe Mexico travel destination.
In fact, the entire Yucatan Peninsula is considered one of the safest parts of Mexico, and Tulum ranks as the safest place in Mexico by U.S. News and World Report.
Their rating system uses six metrics, including how cheap it is to buy Mexico travel insurance for that destination, because a lower premium means less risk of crime.
Is Puerto Vallarta Safe?
Puerto Vallarta, located on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, is very visitor-friendly and home to large communities of expats.
As one of the best beach towns in Mexico, those wondering How safe is Puerto Vallarta, Mexico? can expect a peaceful vacation.
With a noticeable police presence in the main areas of Puerto Vallarta, petty criminals are kept at bay.
As with most big Mexico tourism destinations, the biggest risk is petty theft, so be aware of your belongings.
Is Mexico LGBTQ+ friendly?
While the safe parts of Mexico tend to be safe for all types of travelers, some cities are known to be more LGBTQIA+ friendly than others.
These include Mexico City (specifically the Zona Rosa neighborhood), Mérida, Mexico, and Puerto Vallarta, which is the most gay friendly city in Mexico.
Is Sayulita Safe?
Located only about an hour west of Puerto Vallarta, many will make their way to the boho beach towns of Sayulita, Mexico.
This once-sleepy town is fast becoming a Mexico tourism hot spot — known for it’s great surf waves, colorful flags flying all over town, and of course, travel safety.
Check out this article from Sayulita blogger Trisha, who says the small town she calls home has virtually no crime at all.
Is Los Cabos Safe?
Baja California Mexico, consists of two states that make up the Baja Peninsula on the country’s west coast — Baja California Sur (South) State and Baja California State.
Baja Sur is widely considered the safer of the two, with top destinations like Los Cabos, La Paz, Todos Santos, Loreto and more.
The famous area called Los Cabos refers to two towns with the word cabo (meaning “cape”) in their name — Cabo San Lucas, the more famous of the two, and San Jose del Cabo.
While most stay in Cabo San Lucas, the airport is in San Jose del Cabo, and it is a destination in its own right, albeit a more relaxed one.
Cabo San Lucas is generally considered quite safe. However, it’s also one of the top party towns in Mexico, and safety starts going down the more you drink.
If you watch your alcohol consumption, and don’t forget your sunscreen, you’ll likely have a safe Cabo vacation.
Safest City in Mexico: Merida
For those wondering, Is Mexico safe to live? — Meet Merida, Mexico!
This is the 13th largest city in Mexico, and located in the Yucatan Peninsula, about 3.5 hours from Cancun and Tulum.
It is known as the safest city in Mexico, the second safest city in North America, and considered as safe as Europe.
It also happens to be where I’ve lived since 2019, so I know firsthand it feels safe.
In general, the Yucatan Peninsula is one of the most safe places to travel in Mexico — if not the safest place to travel in Mexico!
Of course, Merida isn’t a utopia. It does have some criminal activity, though incidents are rare.
Places to Avoid in Mexico
For those wondering where to travel in Mexico, it’s quite easy to avoid the most unsafe places in Mexico because more tourists aren’t headed to any of them.
This places include the states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Chihuahua and Durango, whcih aren’t generally on the main tourist trail.
For a guide, consult the U.S. State Department site, but know they evaluate state-by-state not city-by-city, which would make more sense for tourism.
Here are two examples of what I mean:
- Sinaloa is one of the least safe states in Mexico, though the city of Mazatlan in Sinaloa is one of the top beach destinations in Mexico.
- The famed Copper Canyon El Chepe Train goes through Chihuahua state, and while the train is safe and popular with tourists, other parts of the state are not.
Is Mexico Safe for Americans?
The U.S. State Department site is updated all the time to outline safety considerations in each of the 32 Mexico states.
They have a levels system, with Level 1 being “Exercise Normal Precautions,” and Level 4, which is “Do Not Travel.”
I advise you to take the list with a grain of salt for two reasons:
- It evaluates state-by-state not city-by-city, and most tourists will travel to a specific city, not the entire state. Oftentimes the more touristic cities are perfectly safe, though every part of the state may not be.
- It doesn’t specifically evaluate for crimes against tourists. Most crimes in Mexico aren’t committed against tourists (only about 0.0002% actually), and the statistics factor in all crimes.
…though this is still a great guide, especially for those who have never been to Mexico.
For about the last decade, the Level 4 “Do Not Travel” states have remained the same — and they are the states that border the U.S.
As these aren’t the main Mexico tourism hubs, most weren’t planning to visit them anyway.
✍️ Register for the STEP Program
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP Program, is a FREE service the U.S. government offers to citizens traveling abroad.
You can read all about it and register here, but in short, it lets the government know where you’ll be and when, should you need assistance while in the country.
🇺🇸 U.S. Embassy in Mexico City
The main U.S. Embassy in Mexico is located in Mexico City, though there are Consulates and Consular Agencies in big cities throughout the country.
If you need to contact to contact the Embassy, their info is below:
- U.S. Embassy Mexico City Address: Avenida Paseo de la Reforma 305
- U.S. Embassy Mexico City Phone Numbers:
- from the U.S. 1-800-681-9374
- from Mexico +55-5080-2000
- after hours emergency number from the U.S. 1-844-528-6611
- after hours emergency number from the Mexico +55-8526-2561
- U.S. Embassy Mexico City Website: U.S. Embassy in Mexico City
- U.S. Embassy Mexico Email: acsmexicocity@state.gov
Is Mexico safe to travel for families?
Mexico is actually a very family oriented country — and kids, grandparents and parents often all travel together.
For the most part kids are welcomed in most places, even places like casual cantinas and bars.
You will, however, want to check policies at upscale resorts, as some are adults only.
Is Mexico Safe to Travel Alone?
I personally traveled solo in Mexico for about a year, to half the states in the country, before deciding to move to Mexico permanently.
While this is just my anecdotal experience — I felt very safe everywhere I went in Mexico.
While some may say that I just got lucky with my safety, I personally believe I stayed safe because I made my own safety my top priority.
I list my Top 25 Mexico Safety Tips here on what I mean by this, and I hope they will help clear up a lot of the Is Mexico safe to visit? FAQs.
Is Mexico safe for solo female travelers?
If you’re asking me, I’ll say yes. However, someone else might say no.
The thing with safety is, it’s a feeling, not a fact — which is why one person can feel safe somewhere, and another will feel totally unsafe in that same place.
We’re only “safe” when nothing bad happens, but “bad” things can happen anywhere.
If you look around online, there are plenty of solo female travelers who rave about Mexico (check out Adventurous Kate, Be My Travel Muse, and The Blonde Abroad).
In fact, I’ve found most people who say solo travel isn’t safe, have never done it — go figure 🤷♀️
Do Americans Need A Visa for Mexico?
NO — U.S. Passport holders don’t need a visa to travel to anywhere in Mexico.
When you arrive in Mexico at the airport or cruise port and go through Immigration, you’ll receive a 180-day (6 month) FMM tourist card.
If you drive in, there the Forma Migratoria Multiple (FMM) costs about $600 pesos ($35 USD) per person.
The FMM is a small piece of paper that you need to keep on you at all times, as it proves your legal status in Mexico.
It’s rare, but if an officer stops you, they can ask to see your FMM.
When leaving Mexico, you’ll have to give it back to an Immigration officer in the airport, cruise port or at the land border.
If you lose your FMM, there’s a fine of about $600 pesos ($35 USD) and some paperwork to fill out in order to replace it. In short: Don’t lose your FMM!
Is it Safe to Rent a Car in Mexico?
Renting a car in Mexico gives you freedom — both to the freedom to explore at your own pace and the ability to venture off the beaten path to all the Mexico hidden gems.
With many tours, you only have a limited amount of time to explore, but with your own rental, you set the schedule.
Many will rent a car for a Mexico road trip in places like the Yucatan Peninsula or Baja California Peninsula (especially a Baja Sur road trip).
However, some parts of the country are safer for this than others, but those are both safe areas Mexico has for those who want to drive around the country.
Is it safe to drive in Mexico?
Short answer: Yes, it is for the majority of visitors.
Longer answer: As a general rule, driving in Mexico is considered safe, however, there’s the obvious caveat to that — you’ll be driving in a foreign country you’re not used to.
Given that, you should take the time to familiarize yourself with these 10 Mexico Driving Tips.
Do I Need Mexico Travel Insurance?
You don’t legally have to have travel insurance in Mexico, but you really should have it because it offers peace of mind for all the things you’d rather not think about during Mexico travel.
In the wise words of Anthony Bourdain (RIP), “Travel isn’t always pretty.”
Since Mexico travel safety is on your mind, or you wouldn’t have read this, you’ll certainly want to have Mexican travel insurance.
Plans come in all shapes and sizes, for coverage to insure everything from your luggage, belongings and health while traveling.
The two companies linked below offer a free quote:
- Safety Wing offers affordable, basic coverage, that covers general travel
- World Nomads is one of the biggest names in adventure travel insurance
Final Thoughts: Is Mexico Safe to Visit Right Now?
Even though I have traveled extensively in Mexico, and live in Mexico, you may have noticed I never said that Yes, Mexico is safe.
That’s because it’s not — and that’s because nowhere is.
In short: Is travel safe in Mexico? is an unanswerable question, though everyone wants a yes/no answer to it. I can’t give you this answer; no one can.
The fact is that if you travel to Mexico and nothing you consider bad happens to you, then you were safe in Mexico.
If you travel to Mexico and something you consider bad happens to you, then you were not safe in Mexico.
I can say I’ve been safe in Mexico, though many don’t consider it safe.
Millions of Americans go to Mexico on vacation every year, so if we play the numbers game, the number of incidents is very small. When I’m asked if Mexico is a safe place to go travel on vacation, my response is yes.
—Carlos Barren, 25-year FBI veteran (source: Forbes)
What I also know is that for many, this is not the case — and, sadly, Mexicans seem to be less safe in Mexico than tourists.
While that’s another topic for another day, travelers are statistically quite safe when visiting Mexico.