Mexico Safety: Is Vacationing in Mexico Dangerous?

Is Vacation in Mexico Dangerous?

Whether Mexico is safe really depends on where you’re headed. We personally felt very safe in Mexico — though we only explored the southern part of the country.

The classic tourist destinations like the Yucatán Peninsula with Cancún and Tulum, as well as Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido, are safe. Honestly, we were genuinely surprised by just how safe they felt.

That said, some parts of Mexico are significantly more dangerous — mainly because of gang crime and drug trafficking. As a tourist, you’re better off steering clear of those areas entirely.

Which Places in Mexico Are the Most Dangerous?

Here’s a quick overview of the cities and regions worth avoiding.

The most dangerous cities in Mexico

• Colima (named the most dangerous city in the world in 2022)
• Zamora
• Ciudad Obregón
• Zacatecas
• Tijuana
• Celaya
• Juárez
• Uruapan
• Acapulco

The most dangerous regions in Mexico

• Guanajuato
• Edomex
• Baja California
• Chihuahua
• Michoacán

How Safe Are Tourist Destinations in Mexico?

Compared to the places above, tourist destinations are considerably safer. We also haven’t met a single traveler who had anything happen to them on their Mexico road trip.

Regions like Quintana Roo, Yucatán and Oaxaca are among the safest states in the country. Mérida in Yucatán and Oaxaca de Juárez consistently rank among the safest cities.

Keep in mind, though, that even in major Mexican cities there are safe and unsafe neighborhoods. Your best move is to ask locals — or the staff at your accommodation — which areas are fine to explore and which to avoid. This is especially important in cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Cancún.

By the way: Just starting to plan your trip? Check out our travel tips for Mexico for everything you need to know!

How Does Crime Show Up in Mexico?

The biggest issue in Mexico is gang crime and drug trafficking. As a tourist, you’re unlikely to come across any of it — as long as you stick to safer areas.

Crime that does affect tourists usually comes down to muggings or theft. To keep that from happening to you, here are some practical tips on how to stay safe in Mexico.

Safety Rules for Mexico

You can do a lot to protect yourself from risky situations in Mexico. These tips won’t guarantee nothing ever happens, but they’ll seriously reduce the chances.

#1 Take an Uber or Taxi at Night

The risk of being robbed is highest after dark. So it’s best not to walk through the streets at night — take a taxi or Uber instead. This is especially true in larger cities.

Always ask at your accommodation how safe the surrounding area is and at what time you should stop getting around on foot.

#2 Don’t Walk Through Deserted Streets in Poorer Neighborhoods

After a short time in Mexico, you’ll quickly develop a feel for where you can walk around without a problem and where you can’t. In any area where tourists and lots of people are out and about, you’re generally fine.

Deserted streets in poorer parts of town are a different story — the risk of being robbed is significantly higher there, so it’s best to avoid them.

#3 Always Keep Your Valuables Close and Don’t Let Your Bags Out of Your Sight

Things can get stolen faster than you’d think. Carry your valuables close to your body — a fanny pack is much safer than a backpack or pants pocket.

Also keep a close eye on your belongings at all times: this matters most in restaurants, at the beaches of Mexico, and on public transportation. Never leave your bag unattended.

#4 Never Bring All Your Valuables When Sightseeing

If something does get stolen, you don’t want to lose everything at once. We always leave some valuables at the accommodation and only take what we need for the day.

For example, we leave our passports at the hotel. We also travel with two credit cards and only ever take one out with us.

Are Overnight Buses or Driving in Mexico Dangerous?

We’ve often heard that long overland trips in Mexico are dangerous. We can only partially agree with that.

There are some highways you should avoid — especially if you’re driving alone. Robberies do happen regularly on certain roads. Personally, we wouldn’t recommend long distances or night drives in your own car in Mexico.

For getting around within a region, though, a rental car works great. This is especially true for safe areas like Oaxaca, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo. Well-traveled routes like Mexico City – Puebla are also fine.

Compare rental car deals for Mexico on Discovercars

For long trips, we recommend taking overnight buses or flying. We’ve personally only had good experiences with long-distance buses — though we only traveled routes considered safe.

We did some research and found a ranking of the most dangerous roads in Mexico. It’s best to avoid these on overnight buses too.

• Puebla – Córdoba
• Autopista Matehuala – Monterrey
• Ciudad de Morelia – Puerto de Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán
• Autopista México – Cuernavaca
• Urracas – Matamoros – Reynosa
• Querétaro – Irapuato
• Carretera Toluca – México

You should also avoid the highway between San Cristóbal de las Casas and Palenque in the Chiapas region. Robberies are not uncommon there either — bus company ADO no longer operates this route at all.

Is Yucatán a Safe Travel Destination?

Yes — Yucatán is one of the safest regions in Mexico. The peninsula is very tourist-oriented overall, and a lot of effort goes into keeping visitor areas secure.

You can absolutely do an independent road trip through Yucatán and get around by rental car without any worries. That said, our safety tips still apply in Yucatán — because Mexico is Mexico.

The key things to remember: don’t drive at night and avoid walking around deserted areas after dark.

Yucatán is also a fantastic choice for a family vacation with kids in Mexico!

How Dangerous Is a Vacation in Mexico for Women Traveling Alone?

Mexico isn’t dramatically more dangerous for women than it is for men. You can travel to Mexico solo as a woman without any major issues.

Traveling alone does mean being a bit more alert than if you were in a group. Above all, avoid deserted alleys in sketchy areas. At night, take a taxi or Uber rather than walking.

Be prepared to get stared at and approached by men more often than you might be used to back home. In our experience, though, it rarely crosses into anything pushy or aggressive.

Since Mexico — especially the tourist areas — sees a huge number of visitors including American women, locals in those areas are well used to solo female travelers.

Natural Disasters in Mexico

Mexico sits in a seismically active zone, so earthquakes are possible — though major ones are relatively unlikely.

The country also has several volcanoes, 12 of which are active. The most dangerous is Popocatépetl, located near Mexico City and Puebla.

Coastal areas face a risk from hurricanes. The official hurricane season runs from June to November. Worth knowing: most hurricanes don’t actually make landfall — on land, you usually only feel the effects, like severe storms and heavy rain.

You can find more details about hurricane season in our article on the best time to visit Mexico.

Dangerous Animals and Diseases in Mexico

Mexico is home to plenty of dangerous animals — but as a tourist, you’re unlikely to run into most of them.

The thing to watch out for most is mosquitoes. They can transmit a range of diseases, so protect yourself as well as you can with insect repellent and long clothing.

Malaria risk in Mexico is low. Far more common is dengue fever, which is mainly spread by mosquitoes that are active during the day — so daytime protection matters just as much as evening coverage.

Other dangerous animals in Mexico

• Venomous snakes: There are quite a few venomous snake species in Mexico, but bites are rare — especially among tourists.
• Spiders and scorpions: Most aren’t dangerous. If you’re sleeping outdoors, check your shoes before putting them on and use a flashlight when heading out at night.
• Sharks: There are sharks off the Mexican coast, but attacks are very rare. There’s usually an early warning system when a shark is spotted near a beach or bay.
• Bears, wolves, and predators: Various predators live in Mexico’s mountains, forests, and jungles. Most are shy around humans, so attacks are uncommon.