Mexico is a favorite destination for Americans, with 35 million having visited in 2016, most from the U.S. But the U.S. Department of State issued a security alert for Mexico in March that has left travelers wondering if Mexico is a safe place to travel this year.
The travel advisory issued was mostly ‘Level 2,’ which says that travelers should exercise caution in Mexico because of an increase in violent crimes like kidnapping, robbery, carjacking, and homicide.
The advisory warned Americans to avoid the states of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, and Tamaulipas, home to popular resort towns like Acapulco, Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa, and Mazatlán.
In spite of this, Acapulco’s hotels are reportedly full. Others are choosing Los Cabos, Cancun, and Tulum, where crime is not as bad. Due to the importance of the tourism industry, Mexican authorities seem to be taking measures against the violence that has racked some areas of the country.
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So, should you go to Mexico? Put it this way: Level 2 advisories have been issued for other countries that you probably wouldn’t hesitate to visit. These include the U.K., Italy, Belgium, Brazil, Belize, Anguilla, and the Dominican Republic.
So if you do choose Mexico, stick to level 2 places such as Baja California Sur, Quintana Roo, and Mexico City, and make sure you exercise caution due to crime.