Is It Safe to Travel to Mexico in 2026?

Q: Is it safe to travel to Mexico right now?

Mexico is generally considered safe with a Level 2 advisory. Standard precautions apply.

Mexico Travel Advisory - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

↓ Deteriorating

Last updated: August 12, 2025 · Source: U.S. Department of State

Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundaries with the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Caribbean Sea to the southeast, and the Gulf of Mexico to the east.

Is It Safe to Travel to Mexico in 2026?

Mexico is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Mexico due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. Many violent crimes take place in Mexico, including homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery.

Key concerns cited in the advisory:

terrorism
crime
kidnapping

The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Many violent crimes take place in Mexico, including homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery., The U.S. government has limited ability to help in many parts of Mexico..

Active restrictions in Mexico:

Movement restrictions in effect

May not travel between cities after dark.

Traveler Impact

Solo Travelershigh

Solo travelers face significant risks of violent crime, including robbery and kidnapping, particularly in areas like Guerrero and Michoacán where travel is strongly discouraged.

Business Travelersmoderate

Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to crime and kidnapping risks, but major urban areas like Mexico City have better infrastructure and security measures in place.

Familieshigh

Families with children should be cautious as healthcare access is limited outside major cities, and the risk of violent crime is heightened in many regions, particularly those with travel advisories.

Remote Workersmoderate

Remote workers may find reliable WiFi in urban centers, but must navigate safety concerns and restrictions on movement, especially in less populated areas.

Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Mexico.

Regional Safety Breakdown

Do Not Travel Zones

The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to the following areas due to extreme risk:

State of Colima
State of Guerrero
State of Michoacan
State of Sinaloa
State of Tamaulipas
State of Zacatecas

▶

Level 4 — Do Not Travel

6 regions

▶State of Colima

Do not travel due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. Most homicides are targeted assassinations against members of criminal organizations. Shooting incidents between criminal groups have injured or killed bystanders. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents have been victims of kidnapping. U.S. government employees may travel to the following areas with the below restrictions: Manzani

▶State of Guerrero

Do not travel due to terrorism and crime. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. Armed groups are active independently of the government in many areas of Guerrero. Members of these groups frequently maintain roadblocks and may use violence towards travelers. U.S. government employees may not travel to any area in the state of Guerrero, including tourist areas Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, Taxco, and Ixtapa. Review a map of restricted a

▶State of Michoacan

Do not travel due to terrorism and crime. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. Crime and violence are widespread in Michoacan state. U.S. government employees may travel to the following areas with the below restrictions: May travel on Federal Highway 15D to transit the state between Mexico City and Guadalajara. May travel to Morelia only by air or by land using Federal Highways 43 or 48D from Federal Highway 15D. Travel betwe

▶State of Sinaloa

Do not travel due to terrorism and crime. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. U.S. government employees may travel to: Mazatlan by air or sea only: Travel is limited to the historic town center from Avenida Gutierrez Najera to the ocean. Travel along the coast (Malecon) from the historic center until Route 503 is permitted. Travel must be via direct routes between these destinations and the airport or sea terminal. Los Mochis

▶State of Tamaulipas

Do not travel due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. Organized crime activity is common along the northern border and in Ciudad Victoria. It includes gun battles, murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, forced disappearances, extortion, and sexual assault. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents have been victims of kidnapping. Criminal groups target public and private buses,

▶State of Zacatecas

Do not travel due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. Violent crime, extortion, and gang activity are widespread in Zacatecas state. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents have been victims of kidnapping. U.S. government employees may travel to Zacatecas city by air only. The permitted areas of Zacatecas City include the city limits and the airport, and Highway 45 between the 2 locat

▶

Level 3 — Reconsider Travel

7 regions

▶State of Baja California

Reconsider travel due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. Criminal groups fight for control in border areas. They want to set up routes for narco-trafficking and human smuggling. Travelers should remain on main highways and avoid remote locations. There are high homicide numbers in the non-tourist areas of Tijuana. Most homicides appear to be targeted. However, assassinations and territori

▶State of Chiapas

Reconsider travel due to terrorism and crime. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. U.S. government employees may travel to Tapachula within the city limits and to the south and west of Highway 200. U.S. government employees may not travel to the municipality of Ocozocoautla. U.S. government employees may not travel to the following areas in Southeastern Chiapas within the below boundaries: East-Northeast boundary: The Mexico-G

▶State of Chihuahua

Reconsider travel due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. Most homicides are targeted assassinations against members of criminal organizations. Territory battles between these groups have led to violent crime in places like restaurants and malls where U.S. citizens and government employees go. Shootings have hurt or killed bystanders. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents have been

▶State of Guanajuato

Reconsider travel due to terrorism and crime. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. Gang violence in Guanajuato mostly happens in the southern and central areas. It is often connected to the theft of oil and natural gas from the state oil company and other suppliers. There is a high number of murders in the southern region due to cartel-related violence. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents have been victims of kidnappi

▶State of Jalisco

Reconsider travel due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. In Guadalajara, battles between criminal groups have happened in tourist areas. Shootings between these groups have injured or killed innocent bystanders. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents have been kidnapped. There are no restrictions on travel in the Guadalajara Metropolitan area, Puerto Vallarta (including neighboring

▶State of Morelos

Reconsider travel due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents have been victims of kidnapping. There are no specific restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Morelos state. Review a map of restricted areas.

▶State of Sonora

Reconsider travel due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents have been victims of kidnapping. Travelers should stay alert and aware of their surroundings while traveling in Sonora. Criminal activity and violence may occur in any area of Sonora. U.S. government employees may travel to: Hermosillo, Bahia de Kino, San Carlos-Nuevo Guaymas, Alamos, and

▶

Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution

17 regions

▶Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico)

Exercise increased caution due to terrorism and crime. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. Both violent and non-violent crimes occur throughout Mexico City. Exercise extra caution, especially at night, outside of popular tourist areas where police patrol more frequently. Petty crime occurs frequently in both tourist and non-tourist areas. There are no specific restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Mexico Cit

▶State of Aguascalientes

Exercise increased caution due to terrorism and crime. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. There are no specific restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Aguascalientes state. Review a map of restricted areas.

▶State of Baja California Sur

Exercise increased caution due to terrorism and crime. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. There are no specific restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Baja California Sur state. Review a map of restricted areas.

▶State of Coahuila

Reconsider travel due to terrorism and crime. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. U.S. government employees may not travel to the following area: Northern Coahuila: Travel north of Highway 53 and Highway 23, from Boquillas del Carmen to the Coahuila border. The eastern and western boundaries follow the Coahuila state borders north to the U.S. border. U.S. government employees may travel to the following areas: Piedras Negras

▶State of Durango

Exercise increased caution due to terrorism and crime. There is a risk of violence inthe state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. U.S. government employees may not travel west or south of Federal Highway 45. Review a map of restricted areas.

▶State of Hidalgo

▶State of Mexico (Estado de Mexico)

Exercise increased caution due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents have been victims of kidnapping. Use additional caution in remote areas. There are no specific restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Mexico State. Review a map of restricted areas.

▶State of Nayarit

Exercise increased caution due to terrorism and crime. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. There are no specific restrictions on travel for U.S government employees in Nayarit state. Review a map of restricted areas.

▶State of Nuevo Leon

Exercise increased caution due to terrorism and crime. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. There are no specific restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Nuevo Leon state. Review a map of restricted areas.

▶State of Oaxaca

Exercise increased caution due to terrorism and crime. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. There are no restrictions on travel for Oaxaca City, Monte Alban, Puerto Escondido, or Huatulco. U.S. government may not use Federal Highway 200 between Pinotepa and the Oaxaca-Guerrero border. U.S. government employees may not travel to the Isthmus region within the below boundaries: Western boundary: Federal Highway 185D. Northern bou

▶State of Puebla

Exercise increased caution due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. Cartels that are designated as terrorist organizations are present in this state. Criminal activity and violence occur throughout the state. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents have been victims of kidnapping. There are no specific restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Puebla state. Review a map of restricted areas.

▶State of Queretaro

▶State of Quintana Roo

Exercise increased caution due to terrorism and crime. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. Shootings between rival gangs have injured and killed innocent bystanders. U.S. citizens have been the victims of both non-violent and violent crimes in tourist and non-tourist area Pay attention to your surroundings after dark in downtown areas of Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen. Remain in well-lit pedestrian streets and tourist zo

▶State of San Luis Potosi

Exercise increased caution due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents have been victims of kidnapping. There are no specific restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in San Luis Potosi state. Review a map of restricted areas.

▶State of Tabasco

▶State of Tlaxcala

Exercise increased caution due to terrorism and crime. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. Review a map of restricted areas.

▶State of Veracruz

Exercise increased caution due to terrorism and crime. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. While most gang-related violence is targeted, bystanders can become victims. There are no specific restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Veracruz state. Review a map of restricted areas.

▶

Level 1 — Exercise Normal Precautions

2 regions

▶State of Campeche

Exercise normal precautions. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. There are no specific restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Campeche state. Review a map of restricted areas.

▶State of Yucatan

Exercise normal precautions. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations. There are no specific travel restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Yucatan state. Review a map of restricted areas.

Mexico has 32 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.

▶Safety and Stability Ratings

Threat Severity (0-10 scale)

Overall

Crime

Terrorism

Kidnapping

Mexico has an overall threat severity of 4.5 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 5.0/10, and kidnapping risk 6.0/10.

Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)

Political Stability▶

Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.

14%

Rule of Law▶

Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.

16%

Control of Corruption▶

Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.

Government Effectiveness▶

Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.

29%

Regulatory Quality▶

Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.

32%

Voice & Accountability▶

Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.

38%

Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).

Freedom Status: Partly Free — scored 60/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →

▶Entry Requirements and Health

Entry Information

Visa

Check embassy for details

Currency

Mexican Peso (MXN)

Language

Spanish

Notable restrictions:

drug possession illegal including medical marijuana
e-cigarettes prohibited

Vaccinations

Recommended:

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis B

COVID-19

Typhoid

⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate

Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine, primaquine, tafenoquine

Active health notices:

watch
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Mexico: Illness and death due to Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) have been reported in the northern region of Mexico along the U.S. border, particularly in Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Nuevo León.
alert
Global Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
info
Salmonella Newport in Mexico: Some travelers who have spent time in Mexico have been infected with multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella Newport.

Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.

Common Questions About Traveling to Mexico

▶What is the current travel advisory level for Mexico?

Mexico is rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State as of 2026. Key concerns include terrorism, crime, kidnapping.

▶Is it safe to travel to Mexico right now?

Mexico is generally considered safe for travelers, with a Level 2 advisory. Standard precautions apply. However, avoid these areas: State of Colima, State of Guerrero, State of Michoacan.

▶Do I need a visa to visit Mexico?

Visa requirements for Mexico vary by nationality and purpose of travel. Check with the embassy for current entry requirements.

▶What vaccines do I need for Mexico?

Recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, COVID-19, Typhoid. Consult a travel health professional at least 4-6 weeks before departure.

▶Is Mexico safe for solo travelers?

high

▶How bad is crime in Mexico?

Mexico has a crime severity rating of 6.0 out of 10. Petty crime and theft are common in tourist areas. Take standard precautions.