Yearly Mexico attracts roughly 42 million worldwide vacationers, with many selecting the Mexican Caribbean—extensively thought to be one of many most secure locations within the nation.
The USA stays the main supply market, accounting for over 13.5 million air vacationers yearly, adopted by Canada with round 2.5 million. Different rising markets embrace Colombia, the UK and Spain.
Official U.S. Journey Advisory
The U.S. State Division up to date its travel advisories for all the Mexican states in September 2024. Listed here are the states that it is best to keep away from or rethink visiting attributable to excessive ranges of violent crime.
Don’t journey to:
Rethink journey to:
Most Widespread Crimes Witnessed in Mexico (Newest Stats by statista.com
10 Most Harmful Cities in Mexico In line with Murder Fee (Primarily based on Final 12 months’s Statistics)
Methodology Defined
The information assortment and choice course of is predicated on a national heat map by Mexican information scientist Diego Valle-Jones. This map visualizes murder charges throughout particular person cities primarily based on statistics from the Mexican Justice System over the previous twelve months. The dataset was filtered to incorporate solely cities with populations exceeding 100,000, as smaller populations can produce outliers attributable to restricted pattern sizes.
10. Tijuana, Baja California
Only a 30-minute drive separates San Diego from the gorgeous Tijuana seashores. Up to now, this vacation spot was a favourite amongst People, however vacationer numbers have been reducing attributable to a major improve in drug trafficking actions.
In consequence, the murder price has surged to 80.8 deaths per 100,000 residents.
9. Zamora, Michoacán
Since 2021, Zamora within the state of Michoacán has constantly ranked among the many most violent cities in Mexico, with a murder price of 91.6 per 100,000 inhabitants in a inhabitants of 108,000.
This alarming degree of violence is primarily pushed by conflicts amongst native drug cartels, notably the Jalisco New Era Cartel, which controls the area.
8. Tecate, Baja California
With a inhabitants of roughly 112,000, Tecate, Baja California—one other border metropolis—has skilled a staggering 146.9% rise in intentional homicides, in response to official data.
This sharp rise is linked to violent clashes between drug cartels, together with the Jalisco New Era Cartel and the lethal Sinaloa Cartel.
Vacationers are strongly suggested to train warning and keep up to date on native situations earlier than crossing the border.
7. Yautepec de Zaragoza, Morelos
Yautepec de Zaragoza is a well-liked vacation spot situated only a quick drive from Mexico Metropolis. Sadly, the town presently has a murder price of 97.2 per 100,000 residents.
As soon as once more, this degree of violence is the results of clashes amongst felony teams working within the space.
American and different worldwide guests ought to stay vigilant and hold knowledgeable about native information each earlier than touring and through their journey.
6. Cuatla, Morelos
Cuautla, one other metropolis in Morelos, ranks among the many most harmful locations within the nation, with its 192,000 residents going through a murder price of 113.1 per 100,000 individuals.
This variety of deaths has been attributed to conflicts amongst felony organizations working within the area. Latest studies of kidnappings and violent crimes have additional heightened security considerations, prompting worldwide companies to advocate warning.
To scale back dangers, steer clear of distant or high-risk areas and prioritize touring throughout daytime, which might considerably cut back potential kidnappings.
5. Villa de Álvarez, Colima
Positioned within the Mexican state of Colima, this metropolis has a murder price of 114 per 100,000 inhabitants inside a inhabitants of 158,000.
This determine locations Villa de Álvarez among the many most harmful locations within the nation. As in lots of different Mexican cities, organized crime is the main driver of violence.
Guests are strongly suggested to extend warning, keep away from unfamiliar areas after darkish and keep up-to-date about native advisories to make sure a safer journey.
4. Temixco, Morelos
This municipality, comparatively near Mexico Metropolis, struggles with a murder price of 115 per 100,000 residents, reflecting the dangers vacationers could encounter when visiting this municipality.
A lot of the violence stems from territorial disputes amongst felony organizations. Guests are suggested to keep away from secluded areas and restrict pointless outings at evening.
Needless to say crimes corresponding to armed robberies and random shootings can occur on this metropolis with out discover. To attenuate dangers, guests ought to keep on with well-populated areas and plan their journey fastidiously earlier than touring.
3. Apatzingán, Michoacán
Apatzingán, within the state of Michoacán, faces a regarding murder price of 128.3 per 100,000 residents, making the town the third most harmful place within the nation.
In recent times, the vacation spot has grow to be the house of lethal drug cartels and a key hub for methamphetamine manufacturing, which fuels violence and instability.
Authorities presently work on methods to curb cartel affect, however security challenges nonetheless persist. This forces vacationers to maintain their guard up always.
2. San Luis, Sonora
San Luis, Sonora, situated simply south of Yuma, Arizona, typically attracts American guests who could overlook security considerations attributable to its proximity.
Regardless of this, with a inhabitants of 209,000, this metropolis has a murder price of 128.5 per 100,000 inhabitants, making it the second most harmful metropolis for worldwide vacationers in Mexico.
Its quick access to the US facilitates smuggling and drug trafficking by felony teams, growing dangers for guests.
1. Manzanillo, Colima
This time round, Manzanillo, within the state of Colima, has earned the grim distinction of turning into Mexico’s most harmful metropolis for vacationers in 2025, with a staggering murder price of 134 per 100,000 residents.
Opposite to what one would possibly assume, Manzanillo is much from deserted. The truth is, it serves as a significant transport port and home air journey hub, and that’s precisely what makes it a crucial hotspot for cartel exercise.
That being stated, Manzanillo is the worst place in Mexico to go to by information, however surprisingly, it stays pretty visited by vacationers.
Newest Alerts from U.S. Embassy in Mexico:
October 9: Tropical Storm Raymond developed quickly and is predicted to maneuver alongside an analogous path to Hurricane Priscilla by October 12, bringing extra heavy rainfall to already saturated areas in Baja California Sur, Baja California, Sonora, and Sinaloa. The mixture of earlier and new rainfall will increase the chance of landslides, flooding, and street washouts. Coastal areas may expertise massive waves and harmful riptides, which have prompted fatalities up to now.
October 7: Climate Alert: Hurricane Priscilla Intensifying – The Nationwide Hurricane Heart warns that Hurricane Priscilla may attain Class 3 energy by tonight, October 7, because it tracks northwest parallel to Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. Heavy rains are anticipated throughout southern Baja California, northern Baja California Sur, and Sonora from Wednesday by Sunday morning. Harmful ocean situations will persist, with massive waves and highly effective riptides posing life-threatening dangers alongside the Pacific coast. Officers urge vacationers to remain out of the water and heed native warnings.
