Organising an trip to mexico and want to know the areas to avoid and dangerous neighborhoods in Guadalajara.
Indeed, just as for Mexico City, Cancun, Tulum, Acapulco ou Puerto Vallarta, it is wiser to find out about the dangerous neighborhoods to avoid rather than choosing your hotel anywhere!
And it's true that this big Mexican city is home to areas that tourists should avoid for their safety. But, fortunately, if there are dangerous neighborhoods in Guadalajara, there are also areas where tourists can stay without risk.
That's why we are going to check for 2024 how dangerous Guadalajara is and which neighborhoods and places to avoid. And, to complete this article, we also tell you the best areas to stay safely in Guadalajara.
This guide to the neighborhoods of Guadalajara is the synthesis of many 2023 web publications (press articles, blogs, forums, statistics and rankings).

Guadalajara dangerous city in Mexico
Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city, has unfortunately gained a reputation for being a dangerous city with a high crime rate.
Although it is difficult to determine the exact level of crime, in recent years there has been an increase in violent crimes such as homicides, robberies and kidnappings, which has caused concern among residents.
See the newspaper's press article informator.mx : Guadalajara, among the 6 cities in Mexico with the greatest insecurity
One of the major contributing factors to Guadalajara's high crime rate is the presence of powerful drug cartels. The city serves as a key transit point for drug trafficking, making it a lucrative target for organized crime groups. These cartels engage in territorial disputes and turf wars, leading to an increase in violence and crime.
Watch the National Geographic video that explains why Mexican drug cartels have settled in the second largest city in Mexico: A Guadalajara.
What crime in Guadalaraja in 2024?
In 2024, we can say Guadalajara is still a city with a high crime rate.
Indeed, according to the classification Numbeo.com, Guadalarajo has a crime index of 62.26 which is quite high compared to other Mexican and American cities.
It is in fact, according to this ranking, the 4th most criminal city in Central America.

If we compare with other large cities, we see that Guadalajara is more criminal than Brasilia, Santiago de Chile ou Medellin en Colombia.
Is it safe to go to Guadalajara in 2024?
In 2024, the presence of drug cartels, poverty and corruption are all factors of insecurity in Guadalajara for tourists. Although the local government has made efforts to solve this problem, there is still a lot to be done to ensure the safety of locals and visitors.
Remember to stay informed of the latest security updates and follow travel advice issued by the relevant authorities.
On the other hand, it is important to understand the level of crime in Guadalajara in order to accurately assess the safety of different areas of the city. This is because crime rates can vary from neighborhood to neighborhood and from area to area of the city.
However, wherever they go, tourists visiting Guadalajara should exercise great caution, avoid traveling alone at night and use official transport services. It will be better to stay in the well-established tourist areas and avoid the dangerous areas and neighborhoods of Guadalajara.
Map of Guadalajara neighborhoods
To help you locate the areas to avoid in Guadalajara listed below, here is the map of the main areas of the city: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mg3PegFfoA7f8UDa6
Most dangerous neighborhoods in Guadalajara
According to many serious and reliable sources like ewestern.com.mx, udgtv.com ou debate.com, here is the list of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Guadalajara because they are those with the highest crime rates:
Other neighborhoods to avoid in Guadalajara
Without being as dangerous as the 5 neighborhoods mentioned above, here are other neighborhoods to avoid in Guadalajara due to their insecurity, particularly at night:
This list of dangerous neighborhoods to avoid in Guadalajara is neither exhaustive nor classified.
Safest areas to stay in Guadalajara
Considering traveler forums, professional sites, real estate agencies, the safest areas to stay in Guadalajara are:
- Providence
- Real
- Iron door
- Royal Country
- Solar
Best area to stay in Guadalajara
The best area where tourists can choose their accommodation is Providence.
Indeed, Providencia is an upscale residential area with offices, shops and trendy restaurants. It is one of the safest neighborhoods in the city, with a low crime rate and a heavy police presence.
The streets are well lit and security cameras are installed in many places, which reinforces the feeling of security for residents and visitors.
Additionally, Providencia is conveniently located near major shopping centers and attractions, making it an ideal location for both business and leisure travelers.
If you are looking for a nice hotel in the safe and friendly neighborhood of Providencia, then I recommend: NH Collection Guadalajara Providencia.
Indeed, this hotel is right next to the country club, the golf course, in the financial district and the shopping area with restaurants and shops.
