Randy O. Says:
Which areas of Mexico are currently considered unsafe for Americans? Is there a website I can refer to in the future to get this information from time to time?
IL Latin America Correspondent Jason Holland Says:
Hi Randy,
There are more than 1 million Americans and a half million Canadians living in Mexico. Plus, folks from the rest of the world. And there are expat havens all over the country.
Generally, any place where expats and tourists go is pretty safe, with people mostly worried about petty crime like pickpockets or car break-ins. Of course, as with anywhere you go, you should always stay cautious.
There are places in Mexico that I would advise against going to. It’s a little tricky because some states have a bad reputation, but there are cities and areas in those states that are actually totally fine.
For example, where I live in San Miguel de Allende is in the state of Guanajuato, which is considered one of the most dangerous. But SMA, the state capital Guanajuato City, and other areas are fine. Mazatlán is a popular beach city in Sinaloa, also considered one of the most dangerous states, and again the city is safe.
It’s with that caveat that I recommend avoiding parts of these states: Guanajuato, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Guerrero, and Colima. Also, best to not linger in the border areas with the U.S., although the border area around Tijuana / Southern California is quite popular with expats.
You can get some guidance on safety in Mexico from the U.S. Department of State here. Just keep in mind this paints a pretty broad brush. As I indicated, entire states have been “blacklisted” even though there are some areas that are perfectly safe.
Other online resources to gauge safety in specific areas would be expat Facebook groups. Each place generally has one or multiple groups, and they will provide you with the on-the-ground opinions of expats living in those areas.
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