Mexico has a high risk of violent crime, such as murder, armed robbery, sexual assault and kidnapping. Don't travel at night outside major cities. Kidnapping and extortion are serious risks. Don't draw attention to your money or business affairs.
No surprise, the U.S. State Department recently issued a chilling warning about travel to Mexico with a level 3 on a scale of 1 to 4, meaning “reconsider travel.” And some parts of Mexico where drug cartel violence is at its worst have long on a no-go list, with a level 4 no-go advisory.
There are high rates of violent crime, such as homicides, kidnappings, carjacking and assaults, including in popular tourist destinations such as the Mayan Riviera (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos and Tulum), and Acapulco. Criminal groups and drug cartels are present in tourist areas.
2022 Update: That's still the best advice for travel to Mexico. The State Department has a long list of travel advisories and cautions for Mexico, some related to COVID and others related to crime, and while most resort areas are explicitly noted as safe, Mexico is not a country made for carefree wandering.
Mexico all inclusive-resorts are a safe option for any traveler looking for a clean and luxurious experience. Offering amenities such as; multiple restaurants and bars, swimming pools and parks, live performances, and kid friendly or adult only options. These resorts are meticulously sanitized and looked after 24/7.
Short answer: Yes! Cancun is a safe place for tourists to visit. We know the media has showcased recent events happening at this Mexican beach destination, however, as long as you know which places to avoid and the safest spots in the city, you will be just fine!
Mexico may be more dangerous than the US overall, but not for Americans. According to FBI crime statistics, 4.8 Americans per 100,000 were murdered in the US in 2010.
Cancun is a safe town to visit – locals are friendly and crime rates are very low compared to other cities in Mexico. While most people never run into any trouble, there are several troublesome areas close to Cancun.
Although Cancun is still considered safe, the U.S. State Department issued a warning in March of 2022 that increased the travel warning to a level 3 for Mexico. This is due to the increased rates of drug cartel violence. However, that warning is for Mexico as a whole, not Cancun specifically.
1. Iceland. According to the Global Peace Index, Iceland is the safest country globally for the 13th year in a row. Iceland is a Nordic nation with a relatively small population of 340,000.
Medical and security specialist International SOS has identified Afghanistan as potentially the most dangerous country in the world to visit in 2022. The organisation's recently published Risk Outlook 2022 named Syria the second-most dangerous destination to visit, followed by Libya, Central African Republic and Iraq.
The seven most violent Mexican states are: Guanajuato (2,823 murders in 2021), Baja California (2,656), Mexico State (2,346), Michoacán (2,234), Chihuahua (2,056), Jalisco (1,826) and Sonora (1,600).
He estimates that between 250 and 400 Americans are kidnapped in Mexico every year.
The most dangerous countries to visit in 2022 are Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen according to the latest Travel Risk Map, an interactive tool produced by security specialists at International SOS.
“Cancún is a place where criminal groups frequently meet,” Felbab-Brown says. A significant amount of drugs, including cocaine, pass through the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, and OCGs in the Cancún area often supplement their incomes with extortion or protect their interests through corruption.
✅ Downtown Cancun
In short DownTown, Cancun is not an attractive place to walk around, like Puerto Vallarta or Oaxaca for example. It is generally a safe area to visit during the day. However, during the night, I would avoid it unless you have your own car and you go straight where you need to go.
Even so, tourist areas are generally safe during the daytime, as is most of the country. If you stay at a resort in a tourist area, your risk is very low. If you are out at night by yourself in a city, your risk increases dramatically, just as it would in the United States.
Expats tend to flock to the capital, Mexico City (Ciudad de México). With a metropolitan population of over 20 million people, this is not only the most populous city in North America, but also the largest city in the Spanish-speaking world and the sixth-largest city worldwide.
Worst Areas in Cabo to Avoid: Los Cabos Municipality
Cabo San Lucas is located within the Municipality of Los Cabos Mexico. This municipality isn't known to be the safest place, largely due to cartel violence that has nothing to do with tourists or even locals for that matter.