Safety in Mexico

Mexico has 31 states and security varies

Mexico has a reputation as a dangerous country. And indeed, you won’t always feel safe here. But it depends on what area of Mexico you’re in. Mexico is a very diverse country with different levels of security in different regions.

Are you coming to Cancun?

As a typical European tourist, you will probably arrive in Cancun. I recommend not staying there at all. It’s a tourist town without much history (it’s foundations date back to 1970) and the main reason it was created was to make it easier for tourists to enter the country, especially the wealthy ones from Florida and Europe. So as well as the rich tourists, it attracts the elements. Even Cancún offers its charms, such as a really interesting underwater museums, but if you want to skip that, you can board a bus to Playa del Carmen right at the airport and after an hour’s drive start your holiday there.

No need to fear the Caribbean

However, overall the Yucatán and Quintana Roo area is safe and you should feel safe here. Mexico is well aware that this area is quite possibly the most attractive to tourists and they have consistently tried to address safety. If there’s one area I should recommend to someone who hasn’t been to Mexico, it’s the Yucatán and Quintana Roo.

Map of Mexico with states marked by safety

On the map of Mexico below, the states of Mexico are color coded according to how dangerous they are. The black and green parts are safe. The red ones should be avoided. The northern states on the border with the US are said to be especially dangerous. However, all Mexicans agree that the danger there is due to fighting between drug cartels. If you don’t plan to deal drugs and don’t mind the noise of firearms, you should survive there too 🙂

• Red States (maybe even orange) Some states are considered dangerous because of high levels of violence associated with organized crime, corruption and poverty. These states could be labeled as “not recommended for travel” or “travel only under necessary circumstances.”
• Yellow states (possibly even orange) Other states are considered relatively safe for tourists, as long as they take basic precautions and avoid risky situations. These states can be labeled as “use extra caution” or “travel with normal care.”
• Black states and green states generally, tourist destinations such as Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, or Mexico City are considered safe for tourists as long as they stick to the main attractions and hotel zones. However, even here, caution should be exercised and local news and recommendations should be followed.