Is It Safe to Travel to Mexico in 2026?
Mexico Travel Advisory - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · 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, bordering the United States of America 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. Many violent crimes take place in Mexico, including homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery. Emergency services are limited or unavailable in remote or rural areas. U.S. government employees are not allowed to travel to certain high-risk areas.
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., U.S. government employees are not allowed to travel to certain high-risk areas..
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks from violent crime, particularly in urban areas where robbery and assault are prevalent; avoiding travel alone, especially in remote regions, is crucial.
Business travelers may find reliable accommodations and services in major cities, but should remain cautious of crime and avoid high-risk areas, especially at night.
Families with children should be wary of limited healthcare access in rural areas and the high risk of violent crime, making travel planning essential.
Remote workers may enjoy good connectivity in urban centers, but should avoid rural areas with limited internet access and be cautious of safety risks.
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 Travel6 regions
▶State of Colima
Do not travel due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping.
▶State of Guerrero
Do not travel due to terrorism and crime.
▶State of Michoacan
Do not travel due to terrorism and crime.
▶State of Sinaloa
Do not travel due to terrorism and crime.
▶State of Tamaulipas
Do not travel due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping.
▶State of Zacatecas
Do not travel due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping.
▶Level 3 — Reconsider Travel4 regions
▶Mexicali Valley
U.S. government employees must follow travel restrictions in Mexicali Valley.
▶State of Baja California
Reconsider travel due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping.
▶State of Chiapas
Reconsider travel due to terrorism and crime.
▶State of Chihuahua
Reconsider travel due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping.
Mexico has 10 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
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▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine, primaquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- watchRocky 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.
- watchGlobal 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.
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?
▶Is it safe to travel to Mexico right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Mexico?
▶What vaccines do I need for Mexico?
▶Is Mexico safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Mexico?
More Mexico Data
Partly Free — 60/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.