The US Department of State has recently updated their travel warning to Mexico. The warning explains that “resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico generally do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime reported in the border region and in areas along major trafficking routes. Nevertheless, crime and violence are serious problems and can occur anywhere.”
When we last polled readers on this topic, we were met with mixed sentiments. Many felt the country was generally safe so long as travel was restricted to resort areas. Others felt that while the violence was generally restricted to border areas and remote regions, the potential for violent flare-ups loomed large over the state.
Here are some thoughts on the situation today.
First of all, this is a big country. Mexico consists of more than 758,774 square miles of land. That makes it the world’s 14th largest country. That’s a lot of space. An article posted by Royal Resort News puts things in perspective, “one of the cities often mentioned in crime reports is Tijuana in Baja California, 2,012 miles from Cancun, the equivalent of the distance between Los Angeles to Chicago.” Would you avoid travel to Los Angeles if Chicago were experiencing problems? I think not. And as the travel warning indicates, the violence has overwhelmingly been restricted to remote mountain areas, border areas, and areas around known trafficking routes.
If you are going to travel, the San Francisco Chronicle recently released a list of the 5 safest places to Travel in Mexico. According to the report, these cities boast homicide rates on par with the ever-so safe and cozy Green Mountain State, that’s right people, Vermont. That’s as safe as it gets. Included in the list were Tlaxcala, Yucatan, Puebla, Queretaro, and Baja California Sur. In addition to the cities listed above, “the areas of Campeche, Veracruz, Hidalgo, Chiapas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico City, Tabasco, Zacatecas and Guanajuato are all considered safe to travel to, all of which recorded single digit homicide rates.”
Additionally, a report by the Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau indicates that no tourists have been killed or injured in cartel-related violence.
So, as of today, all signs would seem to indicate that for those who exercise good judgement, travel in Mexico today is as safe as ever.
Weigh in? What are your thoughts? Is it safe to travel to Mexico? Can the trouble be avoided or is it still too early to travel?
