U.S. State Department Issues Travel Warnings for Mexico

If you plan to travel to Mexico during winter or spring break, it’s important to exercise caution, or in some cases, consider canceling your trip. The U.S. State Department has issued travel advisories for all but two Mexican states, with six states being subject to the most severe “do not travel” advisory at level 4.

According to the State Department’s warning, homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery is currently widespread in Mexico. There have been recent incidents in Mexico, such as violent clashes in Sinaloa and an escalating conflict between Uber and taxi drivers in Cancun. Although violence and kidnappings are not typically directed towards tourists, innocent bystanders have been harmed or killed in altercations.

Americans are advised to:

• Avoid travel between cities after dark
• Avoid hailing taxis on the street
• Do not travel alone, especially in remote areas
• Do not drive from the U.S. – Mexico border to interior parts of the country, with a few exceptions

Campeche and Yucatan are the only two regions in Mexico without current advisories, indicating that the majority of the country’s popular tourist destinations are currently under advisory.

In view of this scenario, every traveler should evaluate their own susceptibility and level of comfort before determining whether or not to travel to Mexico at present.