The honest picture
Mexico has both extremely safe regions (Yucatán, Mexico City tourist neighborhoods, Baja California Sur) and genuinely dangerous ones (parts of Sinaloa, Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Michoacán). Tourists rarely encounter cartel violence — but petty crime exists.
Safer than people think
- Yucatán Peninsula — among the safest in all of North America
- Mexico City tourist neighborhoods — Roma, Condesa, Polanco, Coyoacán
- Oaxaca city
- Mérida
- La Paz, Baja California Sur
States to avoid
The US State Department lists six states under "Do Not Travel": Sinaloa, Colima, Michoacán, Tamaulipas, Guerrero (rural), Zacatecas. Avoid these for now.
Common scams
- Taxi scams — use Uber/DiDi instead
- ATM skimmers — use ATMs inside banks
- Distraction theft on the metro
- Fake police asking for bribes — ask for ID and a receipt
Practical safety
- Don't drive at night
- Take Uber, not street taxis
- Don't flash valuables
- Drink bottled water
- Buy travel insurance