2024 Mexico Travel Advisory: Is It Safe for Travellers?
Marissa Ling
February 2, 2024 09:55
Travel Tips
When planning a vacation or work trip, it is always worth checking a Mexico travel advisory page before visiting the country. This is true of anywhere, as recent events might affect where you can travel or whether you can travel at all.
Below, we’ll examine some travel advisories for Mexico to determine whether it’s safe to visit in 2024. Remember that many travel warnings or advisories don’t cover whole countries, so use them to decide which parts to visit.
Is it Safe for Travelers to Go to Mexico Now? #
The first step is to consider Mexico's general safety level for tourists and business travelers. This typically means considering crime levels and natural disasters because these are the two most significant factors determining safety. There aren’t any prominent disaster warnings, so let’s focus on notable crime stats instead.
In early January of this year, gunfire broke out in Culiacan, where police arrested Ovidio Guzman-Lopez, son of drug kingpin El Chapo. The event resulted in deadly rioting in the city and a commercial airliner being hit by stray gunfire.
Later in January, a protest by taxi drivers in the resort town of Cancun resulted in tourists being kicked out of their Ubers. It’s worth noting that the protest was explicitly against Uber’s takeover of local taxi services rather than against tourists. Luckily, no one was harmed in the demonstrations.
Very recently, 4 Americans were kidnapped after crossing the border from Texas to Matamoros for a medical procedure. The kidnap, unfortunately, results in 2 Americans being killed. However, the others have returned home and are doing as well as expected.
But what does this mean for travel to Mexico more generally? If you visit as a tourist, you’ll quickly find a safe place. The general advice is to stick to beach resorts and popular tourist destinations.
While crime still happens, it’s a petty crime you can expect in any other tourist destination. The vast majority of cartel-related violence happens in pretty specific areas and is rarely aimed at tourists.
What are the Travel Warnings for Mexico? #
Whether you’re from the US or not, the Mexico US travel advisory is one of the best sources for information. Here, you’ll find relevant information about passport restrictions, notable events, and more. Your country will likely have its own Mexico travel advisory, but the US is one of the clearest.
Some current travel advisories in Mexico include:
The US State Department advises tourists to not travel 6 Mexican states due to increased crime rates and instances of kidnapping. These are:
· Colima
· Guerrero
· Michoacan
· Sinaloa
· Tamaulipas
· Zacatecas
Also, there’s a list of 7 states where visitors should reconsider travel, which are:
· Baja California
· Chihuahua
· Durango
· Guanajuato
· Jalisco
· Morelos
· Sonora
Again, this is due to increased crime rates and instances of kidnapping. Finally, the US State Department advises increased caution to many remaining Mexican states. You can find the complete list at the link above.
Does Cancun, Mexico, Have Travel Warnings? #
Cancun is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico. With all the potential crime happening in the country, it’s understandable that you might ask, are there travel warnings for Cancun, Mexico?
The short answer is yes, there are travel warnings for Cancun, Mexico. It’s located in Quintana Roo state, on the US government’s list of states where you should exercise increased caution.
However, it’s not as straightforward as that. Cancun is arguably one of the safest areas for travel in Mexico because it has a more significant and better-trained police force than elsewhere. It’s mainly because it’s such a tourist-focused area, so the local government is entirely committed to keeping it safe and popular.
The bottom line is that, as far as travel advisories in Mexico go, Cancun is a safe place to visit. You should follow the standard rules for traveling in a foreign country, as it’s always best not to invite trouble, regardless of where you’re traveling!
Is Mexico Safe for Female Travelers? #
As all women will know, there’s a difference between a country being marked as safe and considered safe for women. So, whether traveling as a couple, in a group, or alone, is Mexico safe for female travelers?
As a female traveler in Mexico, there are a few reasons to be concerned, provided you follow standard travel advisories. Specifically, stay away from states where you don’t travel and be careful in states where caution is recommended.
Aside from this, there are a few things you can do to make your trip that much safer:
Be Aware of Clothing Etiquette #
Mexico is hot, and you’ll probably want to wear shorts. This is fine at beach resorts, but be aware that locals generally wear long pants and skirts in cities. Wearing shorts isn’t against the rules, but you’ll blend in more quickly if you follow local clothing customs.
Similarly, be careful with your jewelry, although this tip applies to any tourist destination. Reducing your risk of a mugging is one thing, but Mexicans generally don’t wear flashy jewelry in their daily lives anyway.
Know What You’re Doing #
This might sound like quite a general tip for female travelers, and it is. In short, you should act like an experienced local rather than a naïve tourist. Make sure you walk purposefully when possible, and don’t make it evident that you’re looking at a map.
Also, know what travel options are available in the area you’re visiting. Public transport can often be worth using, and be sure you know the difference between a licensed and unlicensed taxi.
What are Mexico Travel Safety Tips for Travelers? #
Along with knowing the latest Mexico travel advisory, make sure you know some general tips for staying safe in Mexico. These include:
Be Conscious of Your Cash #
This is a pretty obvious place to start. Be careful where you flash cash (ideally, as little as possible), and always use an ATM inside a bank or store. Keep your wallet or purse on your person rather than in a bag, and keep it in a front pocket or fanny pack.
Personal theft, as is pickpocketing, is a common crime in any tourist-focused area. Ensure you’re always aware of your wallet’s location, and consider stashing some emergency cash in your sock or phone case. Also, think about keeping your bank card and cash separate.
Traveling at Night #
At beach resorts, there should be little issue walking around at night. However, you should always be aware of your surroundings at night, regardless of where you are. Always stick to the main streets and well-lit areas if visiting a city.
Equally, avoid traveling at night by car. Short journeys should be refined (from a local restaurant to your hotel), but avoid longer journeys. There’s generally no reason why you should have to drive long distances at night, so plan your trip accordingly.
Get Travel Insurance #
This is a no-brainer: get travel insurance to protect your belongings. One of the most important things to watch is your passport. Make sure you know where your nation’s embassy is so you can arrange an emergency evacuation if anything happens.
Another prominent part is not to keep all your valuables in one place. Ideally, find a hotel with room safes and store your passport there. Always have a reserve of cash separate from your main wallet or purse.
Stay Away from Drugs #
Not getting involved in drugs on vacation should also be a no-brainer, but it’s even more important in Mexico. The last thing you want to do is accidentally buy off a cartel member because that’s just asking for trouble.
Equally, if someone offers you drugs on the street, politely decline. This happens quite often in tourist areas, especially at night. Don’t report it to the police – you’re better off denying it and walking away.
Roamify eSIM: Stay Safe, Stay Connected #
Check a Mexico travel advisory before planning your trip, and think about your cellphone connection options. Get a Roamify eSIM to stay connected with family while on your trip without worrying about roaming charges from your domestic carrier.
Roamify's eSIM means you don’t need to worry about buying a physical SIM card from a local carrier once you arrive in Mexico. Moreover, you can set everything up in your home country and finalize it once your plane lands. You get minimal downtime and access to the fastest networks in the country.
Better yet, there’s no shipping fee because you buy online. It’s easy to set up and top up at any time and considerably cheaper than options from the major carriers.
Download the Roamify eSIM app today and shop for the Roamify eSIM Mexico Data Plan to ensure your trip goes smoothly.
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Frequently asked questions
- What will I learn in 2024 Mexico Travel Advisory: Is It Safe for Travellers??
- You will learn how eSIM activation works, how to compare data plans, and which setup steps matter most before and during your trip.
- How do I choose the right eSIM plan for Mexico?
- Match your plan to trip length, expected daily data use, hotspot needs, and network quality in your destination. Short stays usually need less data, while remote work and video calls need more.
- Where can I buy travel eSIM plans for Mexico and Japan?
- Use the destination links in this guide to go directly to Roamify country pages, compare plan options, and complete checkout before departure.