Where in Mexico U.S. Officials are Advising Americans to Avoid

A new advisory from the U.S. State Department has some Americans rethinking their travel plans to Mexico. Travel alerts from this agency are routinely updated based on changing conditions within any particular destination. Here is what you need to know about the updated advisory for travel to Mexico.

Americans Urged Not to Travel to 6 Mexican States Due to Safety Concerns

There are now only two states in Mexico that are designated as places that Americans can visit while exercising normal precautions. Of the country's 32 states, only Campeche and Yucatan have not been downgraded.

The State Department is advising American citizens to either practice increased caution, reconsider travel, or to avoid travel completely to some of the states. Several of the states that have been deemed risky include tourist destinations frequented by Americans.

Officials are strongly discouraging travel for the Mexican states of Colima, Guerro, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas. The State Department is warning that increased amounts of crime and kidnapping reports in these states warrant the designation of "do not travel".

Of the 32 states in Mexico, seven are under the categorization of "reconsider travel." This includes the states of Jalisco, Baja California, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Morelos, Guanajuato, and Sonora. Crime and kidnapping highlight the reasons for the reconsideration. It should be noted that Jalisco is home to the popular tourist spots of: Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and Tequila.

Areas listed under the designation of "exercise increased caution" include Quintana Roo, Baja California Sur, Nayarit, and Mexico City. Quintana Roo is home to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Riviera Maya, Tulum, and Isla Mujeres while Baja California Sur is where you will find the travel hot spots of Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, and La Paz. Punta Mita and Sayulita are located in Nayarit.

The State Department is citing an increase in a variety of violent crimes for the heightened advisories. These crimes include homicide, robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking. In addition, the warning cited the limited availability of local emergency services in some of these areas for a reason to exercise caution.

The official notice also detailed that American civilians should adhere to the same instructions that have been put in place for U.S. government employees. These employees are prohibited from traveling after dark, using taxi services, and visiting some areas during specific times. Travelers should also reconsider traveling alone, particularly when visiting remote areas of Mexico.

Recommendations When Traveling to Mexico

The U.S. State Department also listed specific recommendations to stay safe while traveling to Mexico. Regardless of where you travel, it is always a good idea to keep family back home informed of your detailed travel plans. If your travel group breaks up at times for separate plans in Mexico, be sure to enable all GPS location sharing.

When getting into a taxi, take the time to snap a photo of the taxi number and text it to a trusted person outside of the travel group.

While traveling by road, using toll roads will provide better tracking if needed. It is also recommended to avoid driving at night or alone. Keep in mind that the availability of law enforcement is often limited in areas outside of major cities. You cannot count on finding assistance when traveling in rural areas.

Experts recommend to avoid displaying signs of wealth when out and about. This means leaving expensive jewelry and watches in a hotel safe when visiting restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. The State Department cautions that Americans should be extra cautious and aware of their surroundings when visiting banks or using ATMs.

You can stay informed of developing situations abroad by enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This enrollment will ensure that you receive alerts to keep you informed. Other good practices to keep abreast of any changes in State Department recommendations and warnings is to follow the agency on Facebook and X.

Lastly, it is a good idea to avoid large local gatherings and protests at destinations deemed to be risky.

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