US Issues Travel Advisory for Mexico, Urges Caution Amid Crime, Kidnapping Risks

The Level 2 advisory is dated Aug. 12 and notes that violent crimes such as homicide, carjacking, and armed robbery occur throughout the country, and that the U.S. government’s ability to assist citizens in many areas is limited.

Officials are recommending that travelers follow the same restrictions placed on U.S. government employees, including avoiding inter-city travel after dark, refraining from hailing taxis on the street, and steering clear of remote areas. In some regions, travel is permitted only on specific highways or by air.

Seven states in Mexico—Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, and parts of Baja California—remain under a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” designation because of high risks from organized crime, kidnappings, and terrorist group activity.

In these states, U.S. officials cite frequent armed confrontations between cartels and gangs, targeted killings, and incidents that have injured or killed bystanders. For example, in Colima, there is highly restricted travel as only government personnel may travel to certain tourist zones of Manzanillo, while in Tamaulipas, an armored vehicle is required for trips to and from the Matamoros airport.

Another nine states, including Baja California, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Sonora, and Chihuahua, are listed at Level 3, “Reconsider Travel,” due to similar risks. Officials caution that violence between rival groups has occurred in tourist destinations, including Guadalajara and Tijuana, and that kidnappings of U.S. citizens have been reported in several of these states.

Mexico’s major tourist areas such as Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, and Mexico City remain under the broader Level 2 designation, but the advisory urges visitors to remain alert, particularly after dark, and to stick to well-lit pedestrian areas. In Quintana Roo, shootings between rival gangs have at times harmed tourists.