This Tuesday, the U.S. State Department updated the travel warning for Mexico and withdrew the warning for the crime of kidnapping in Quintana Roo. It also placed the state at level 2 of the travel warning due to crime.
According to the warning, criminal activity and violence can occur anywhere and at any time in the state, including popular tourist destinations.
Therefore, travelers must maintain a high level of situational awareness, avoid areas where illegal activity is occurring, and move quickly away from potentially dangerous situations.
It is also noted that while shootings between rival gangs, while not directed at tourists, they have injured innocent bystanders, and that U.S. citizens have been victims of violent and nonviolent crimes in tourist and non-tourist areas.
Finally, it is recommended to be more cautious after dark in the central areas of Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen and to stay in well-lit pedestrian and tourist areas.
U.S. warns against travel in six states
U.S. authorities strongly advise against travel to Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas due to recent crime and kidnappings.
It was also recommended that travel to the states of Baja California, Chihuahua, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos, and Sonora be reconsidered, also due to kidnappings and crime.
It also advised increased caution when traveling to the states of Aguascalientes, Baja California Sur, Chiapas, Coahuila, Hidalgo, Mexico City, Mexico State, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Tabasco, Tlaxcala and Veracruz.
Finally, it is requested to take normal precautions in the states of Campeche and Yucatán.
Recommendations
The warning issued by the United States government includes a number of recommendations for citizens who decide to travel to Mexico
- Keep your travel companions and family informed about your travel plans
- Send a friend your GPS location in case you become separated from your travel group.
- If you take a cab alone, take a photo of the cab number and/or license plate and send it to a friend
- Use toll roads whenever possible and avoid driving alone or at night
- Be careful when visiting local bars, clubs and casinos
- Do not show signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry
- Be alert when visiting banks or ATMs
- Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations