Steven A. Says:
How can I stay safe from cartel violence in Mexico?
IL Executive Editor Jennifer Stevens Says:
Hi Steven,
Cartel violence in Mexico occurs mainly in the northern border states. The U.S. State Department regularly issues warnings about areas to avoid in Mexico; these tend to be the areas with cartel violence and a few towns and cities bordering the U.S.
You’ll want to steer clear of any area in cartel conflict zones. You can view the State Department list here, but it should be noted that this doesn’t tell the whole story.
Most violent crime occurs outside of tourist destinations, which is why places like Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and the Riviera Maya tend to be among the safest places in Mexico.
The State Department regularly warns about Guanajuato State, but the violence there is practically all outside of the expat havens of San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato City.
Michoacán is another state that the State Department regularly warns about, and as is the case with Guanajuato, there are only certain parts of the state that are cartel conflict zones. Michoacán State expat favorites, including Patzcuaro and Morelia, are considered quite safe.
Established expat havens throughout the country tend to be among the safest places in Mexico and have lower crime rates than many cities in the U.S.
By living in these tried and trusted expat havens, you can minimize any dangers that might exist.
Talk to foreigners living in these parts of Mexico and they’ll tell you that they feel completely safe here. They’ll likely say that they feel safer in Mexico than they did back home.
Of course, crime can occur anywhere, and Mexico is no exception. Using the same common sense in Mexico that you would normally use back home is your best approach.
Read our complete guide to safety in Mexico here.
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