Do you want to take a trip to the land of the Mayans, but you wonder whether or not it is dangerous to go to Mexico currently in 2024?
With the sharp rise in violence in Mexico, many people are asking the same question: is it safe to travel to Mexico right now?
Indeed, when you see the reports of drug-related violence, kidnappings and murders, it's understandable that travelers worry about safety before getting their tickets to Mexico. However, despite the violence in some areas, most of the country remains safe for travellers.
By being aware of the risks you are willing to take, of the current crime situation, you will be able to make the right decisions regarding the destination you choose in Mexico.
So here is for 2024, a guide on the safety of travelers in Mexico City according to the regions and Mexican states. It is a summary of information from specialized sources: international press, statistics, studies and other rankings.
Mexico Country among the most dangerous countries in the world
- In 2017,, Mexico was ranked the second most dangerous country in the world after Syria, with an average of 28 homicides per 100 people.
- In 2021,, after the Covid19 crisis, homicide rates, mainly linked to organized crimes and political crimes, have continued to increase. This was confirmed by the article in the French newspaper Le Monde " Mexico under the sprawling grip of the Mafiocracy“. According to the Canadian newspaper lapresse.ca, in 2021 Mexico was one of the most dangerous countries in the world with an average of 91 murders per day.
- In 2022,, Mexico was still one of the most dangerous countries in the world. Indeed, it was the 4th most crime-ridden country in the world and the 2nd most dangerous in the Americas, according to the report of the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime. For more details on the reasons for this high crime rate in 2022, I recommend that you read the article on atalayar. com.
- This is also confirmed by the article on the Mexican newspaper in 2023: elfinanciero.com.mx or site statistics populationu.com where the 9 most dangerous cities in the world are Mexican.
But what about in 2024, is Mexico still as dangerous? This is what we will see below:
Is Mexico a dangerous country in 2024?
Over the past two decades, Mexico has been engaged in a bloody struggle against drug-related crime and violence.
Indeed, the Mexican government has launched a number of initiatives to combat drug-related violence, including increased police and military presence in high-risk areas, increased investigations, monetary rewards for information and murders, and the extradition of drug cartel leaders.
And if we study the figures of the Numbeo world ranking, unlike in Venezuela, Honduras,South Africa or the family Peru, Mexico is not among the 20 most criminal countries in the world in 2024.
With a crime index of 54.42, Mexico would be even less dangerous than the France which she has an index of 55.30!
However, this type of ranking is based solely on the feelings of Internet users who participate in the surveys.
Indeed, according to the statistics of the site macrotrends.net, the crime rate remains at its highest levels in Mexico until 2023 inclusive.
It's confirmed on the website. statista.com which ranks 7 Mexican cities among the 15 most dangerous in the world. In order, here are the Mexican cities at the top of the ranking: Tijuana, Acapulco, Ciudad Victoria, Ciudad Juarez, Irapuato, Cancun, Cuilican.
Is it safe to go to Mexico right now?
Many websites claim that tourists can travel to Mexico without fear, some even claim that the media and statistics lie.
But if you look closely, these are sites owned by travel agencies, tourist boards, or organizations that have an interest in keeping visitors coming to Mexico.
If I judge by all the articles I have read about the dangerousness of Mexico, then yes we can say that it is dangerous to go to Mexico at the moment.
But traveling to Mexico is not dangerous everywhere. In fact, it all depends on your destination because not all regions are dangerous and it also depends on the precautionary measures you will take there. See below which areas to avoid in Mexico.
Mexico dangerous for tourists?
Yes, many states and cities in Mexico are unsafe for tourists right now.
In 2024, the French Government on their website France Diplomacy gives the following recommendations to travelers to Mexico:
“Particular vigilance must be observed in all tourist and seaside areas, which are recurrently affected by petty crime, and increasingly by elements of organized crime. Acts of violence generally fall under common law delinquency (armed assaults, thefts, fraud) or can be linked to drug trafficking and organized crime. »
Indeed, over the past 3 years, violence has affected tourists, particularly at the seaside resort of Tulum where a German woman and an Indian woman were killed and Cancún where a shooting broke out on the beach of a luxury hotel.
2 years ago, a French couple disappeared (See article by Cnews or newspaper The Point) and shootings have affected tourists in Playa del Carmen (Figaro article ) and in a bar in Cancun (May 6, 2022 shooting).
Most dangerous areas of Mexico
In fact, in some areas of Mexico the security situation has improved, but unfortunately it has deteriorated in others. In fact, 6 states out of the 32 states of Mexico account for 50% of homicide victims.
In addition, the situation can change and evolve quickly, so it is important to keep up to date with the security conditions in each region.
In 2024, here are the areas where tourists should not go if they do not want to take risks:
- State of Tamaulipas
- State of Guerrero
- State of Colima (except Manzanillo provided you get there by plane)
- South of the State of Michoacán from the city of Uruapán to the coast,
- Cities of Tijuana and Tecate.
Areas to avoid in Mexico
According to the recommendations of the French governments, canadien, Belgian, British, Swiss, here are the areas and cities to avoid in Mexico in 2024:
- Baja California North
- Chihuahua
- Sinaloa
- Durango
- Nayarit
- Veracruz
- Southwest of the State of Michoacán
- Southwestern region of the state of Jalisco from the Sierra Madre del Sur to the Pacific coast
- East of Nuevo León, on the border with the State of Tamaulipas
- Nogales and Ciudad Obregon
- black stones
- Toluca
- Ecatepec
- Naucalpan
- nezahualcoyotl
Concerning Mexico City, if we refer ranking of crime in Central American cities, the city comes in 3rd position among the most criminal cities. See my post: Neighborhoods to avoid in Mexico City
If you decide to travel to Mexico, I recommend that you visit the site diplomatie.gouv.fr which gives more details on the areas of vigilance and whose information is updated regularly.
Map of dangerous areas in Mexico
For greater clarity, here is the map published on the France Diplomatie website which indicates in red and orange the areas most inadvisable to tourists:
Security measures for travelers to Mexico
While no travel destination is completely risk-free, prepared travelers can reduce their risk and increase their safety.
Before traveling to Mexico, travelers should research the current security situation in the destination(s) they plan to visit and familiarize themselves with the risks unique to each region.
- Research the current security situation in Mexico before you book your trip, learn about the current security situation by reading travel advisories, government reports, and local news articles.
- Establish an itinerary and keep it up to date. This will help you keep track of all your travel plans and make adjustments if needed.
- Stay informed once you're in Mexico: Keep up to date with the latest developments in the areas you're traveling to.
- Take the precautions recommended on France Diplomatie.
Mexico Travel Safety Resources
There are a number of ways to stay informed about travel safety in Mexico:
- Western governments issue travel advisories and advisories for every country in the world. These sites are updated regularly. They provide information on the current security situation in each region and are a good starting point for learning about the security situation in Mexico.
- Mexican government websites: The Mexican government regularly publishes security updates, which are a good source of information on the current situation in the country. See on: gob.mx
What do tourists risk in Mexico?
Travelers to Mexico should be aware of the risks they take if they are not careful:
Indeed, kidnappings and kidnappings for ransom are numerous. Attacks often with armed robbery in restaurants are frequent.
The most common scams are taxi scams. In fact, unlicensed taxi drivers often try to drive tourists to remote areas to rob them.
Hotels in Mexico are generally safe, but travelers should beware of scammers posing as hotel employees.
On the other hand, scammers also pose as government officials and pressure travelers to hand over money.
Crime and violence against women have risen sharply, especially in large cities.
Finally, tourists are the target of pickpockets, pick-pocketing and armed attacks on public roads and in public transport.
What to do in case of assault or robbery in Mexico?
The cities of Mexico and Cancun have a special police unit that patrols the city center. They are trained in assisting and informing tourists who have been attacked, robbed or who have a problem.
Here are the contact details of the 2 tourist assistance offices:
In Mexico City: ZonaRosa – Atención al turista
Calle Florencia 14 – Col. Juarez – Del. Cuauhtemoc
Tel: (+55) 4891 1166 XNUMX
In Cancún : Tourist Police – Blvd. Kukulcan, Zona Hotelera de Cancun – Tel: 998 885 2277
Here is the map showing where the police stations are located throughout Mexico: Map of police stations