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Americans Told Not Travel To Some Areas Of Mexico, Here’s Where

Allison Godlove
Aug.23.2022
Government buildings in Mexico City
Government buildings in Mexico City, one of many Mexican cities the State Department has noted to exercise increased caution when traveling to due to crime.
Photo credit: Ulrike Stein / Shutterstock.com
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    • Allison Godlove
    Aug.23.2022

    The U.S. Department of State has reissued a travel advisory for Mexico because of an increased risk of crime and kidnapping. It’s also warning Americans about cartel-related crimes.

    The State Department warns of violent crime such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery as widespread and common in Mexico. According to the website, “The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Mexico because travel by U.S. government employees to certain areas is prohibited or restricted.”

    As part of the travel advisory, the State Department has listed Mexican states where travel is not recommended and where people should exercise caution. 

    Do Not Travel To:

    Reconsider Travel To:

    Exercise Increased Caution When Traveling To:

    Exercise Normal Precautions When Traveling To:

    If You Decide To Travel To Mexico 

    If you travel to Mexico, despite this travel advisory, the State Department has the following recommendations to help keep you safe. 

    • Review the U.S. Embassy’s webpage on COVID-19.
    • Visit the CDC’s web page on travel and COVID-19.
    • Keep traveling companions and family back home informed of your travel plans. If separating from your travel group, send a friend your GPS location. If taking a taxi alone, take a photo of the taxi number and/or license plate and text it to a friend.
    • Use toll roads when possible and avoid driving alone or at night. In many states, a police presence and emergency services are extremely limited outside the state capital or major cities.
    • Exercise increased caution when visiting local bars, nightclubs, and casinos.
    • Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry.
    • Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs.
    • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make yourself easier to locate in an emergency.
    • Follow the U.S. Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
    • Follow the U.S. Embassy on Facebook and Twitter.
    • Review the Country Security Report for Mexico.
    • Mariners planning travel to Mexico should check for U.S. maritime advisories and alerts, which include instructions on reporting suspicious activities and attacks on Mexican naval authorities.
    • Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.

    U.S. Government Employee Warning

    Aside from the warning to U.S. citizens, U.S. government employees may not travel between cities after dark, may not hail taxis on the street, and must rely on dispatched vehicles. This includes app-based services like Uber, and regulated taxi stands. 

    U.S. government employees should not travel alone, especially in remote areas and may not drive from the U.S.-Mexico border to or from the interior of Mexico, with a few exceptions. 

    You can visit the country information page to get more information about travel to Mexico. 

    You can stay up to date on the latest travel information by following our travel news.

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    • Image of Allison Godlove Allison Godlove View Full Profile

      Allison loves learning about new people and places and always jumps at the chance to take a trip. Whether it's visiting a town in her area or traveling across the country, she's up to explore!

      She has traveled outside the U.S. several times including trips to London, Switzerland, and a cruise through the Western Caribbean. Her favorite travel memory is visiting Sundsvall, Sweden, her great grandfather's birthplace. Growing up, she spent a lot of time with him, so it was special to see where he was born. It looked very similar to the town where she grew up in New York. Within the U.S., she continues to check states off the list, most recently making a trip to Alaska for her honeymoon.

      Allison spent almost 20 years of her career as a TV news anchor. She’s covered everything from political conventions to Super Bowl LV to hurricanes and, most recently, the pandemic. She is a two-time Emmy award-winning journalist. She's been recognized for her work nationally and regionally by organizations including the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists.

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