Is Mexico Safe? 2024 Travel Safety Guide

Welcome to our Mexico safety guide designed for backpackers and travelers.

By far one of the most popular countries for travel on the planet (let alone just Latin America), Mexico is an absolute must-visit in our opinion.

Here we can explore ancient ruins within the dense jungle, whilst also spotting exotic and rare animals. We can also relax on picturesque beaches on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, whilst also diving head-first into the vibrant and fun culture here.

Safety is a really popular topic here, and as a whole Mexico tends to get painted with a much worse picture than what reality is actually like here.

Mexico Quick Summary:

📍 Where Is It: North America
🗺 Difficulty Getting There: Very Easy
⏱ Time Needed: 4-8 Weeks
☀️ Best Time to Visit: December-April

Is Mexico Safe?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you’ll need to know about Safety in Mexico as a backpacker or traveler.

We’ll look at all the different factors, our top safety tips, other useful information as well as an FAQ section where we answer your key questions.

Is Mexico Safe Right Now?

Quick Answer: As a whole Mexico is safe to travel to, although this depends on where you go as well as what you plan to do.

For example in various regions like Oaxaca, Puebla and the Riviera Maya, you’ll find it to be really safe. Of course you’ll still need to use common sense and follow general safety tips, however the overall risk is pretty low.

March 2024 Update:There have been increases in danger in certain areas too, mostly along the US-Mexico border as well as in non-touristy cities like Culiacán, Irapuato and Celaya. In these areas there is a high risk of homicides and gang-related violence. We would advise any travelers who are thinking of heading to Mexico to prepare properly before arriving and to get in touch with us so we can offer more guidance.

Mexico Travel Warnings

A good way of assessing the safety situation is by comparing data collected by Numbeo. Known as the Crime Index, we can see how different countries ranked this year (with 100 being the unsafest).

Mexico scored 53.76, which we can compare with other Latin American countries such as Costa Rica (also 53.76) as well as Chile (59.32).

Here’s some other interesting statistics regarding safety in Mexico. As well as reading these, be sure to do your own extra research to get a more realistic picture.

Levels of Crime (60.74)
Crime increasing in Past 3 Years (68.54)
Corruption and Bribery (74.33)
Worries of Being Mugged or Robbed (56.49)

Where to Stay in Mexico

In Mexico we’ll find all kinds of unique and exotic places, and as such it’s worth taking time to really plan out your own custom itinerary according to what you want to see.

Below we’ll cover some of the best places you can stay in the more popular destinations.

Heading to Mexico City? Then we highly recommend staying at the Hostel RF Roma Condesa. Here you’ll have breakfast included in the room rate, and also be located in one of the safest neighborhoods in the capital.

Playa del Carmen is another popular spot you’ll want to visit along the Caribbean coast. We suggest staying at the Why Not Rooftop Party Hostel, which has a great atmosphere as well as an on-site swimming pool.

Here you’ll be right on the legendary Quinta Avenida, and can choose between comfortable dorm rooms and private rooms.

Thinking of adding Oaxaca City to your itinerary? The historic center is by far the best area to base yourself, and we recommend lodging up at the Hostal de Las Américas.

Here you’ll be staying in a beautiful colonial building with free breakfast included, and will also be just a few blocks from the main zócalo.

Is Mexico City Safe to Visit?

It’s difficult to leave Mexico City out of a trip around the country. The capital has tonnes going for it, and you could easily stay for weeks at a time here.

There are many neighborhoods that are safe for a stay or visit, including Roma, Polanco and the Historic Center. As well as having heightened police presence, these areas also have lots of nice amenities, restaurants and a variety of accommodation options.

You’ll still want to follow our safety tips when here, given isolated incidents can happen (especially pickpocketing in the more crowded areas).

Of course there are also popular destinations you’ll want to take extra care in (or when heading to if going independently). These include when heading to gems further south such as to the Xochimilco Canals as well as the Estadio Azteca.

Be extra careful when heading to markets such as Mercado La Lagunilla and Mercado La Ciudadela, where theft is a common occurrence (leave all valuables in your apartment before heading to these).

Things to do in Mexico

Mexico is a really rich and diverse country, and we could be here for hours talking about everything you can see and do here.

Getting to know the local culture is a must, and trying out different Mexican foods is by far one of the best ways. When in Mexico City we highly recommend heading on this memorable street food tour, where you’ll get to try various street dishes such as Carnitas Tacos as well as Tlacoyos.

Of course the landscapes are another highlight, which can differ depending where you are. This includes the northern region of the Copper Canyon (which is four times larger than the Grand Canyon), as well as seeing wild animals in the lush jungle of Chiapas.

The Caribbean beaches are a must-see too, and when in Cancún we recommend booking your spot on this memorable island hopping tour. Here you’ll visit the world-class beaches of Isla Mujeres, and also see the protected national reserve of Isla Contoy.

You can check out our Mexico Bucket List for more awesome places and activities to add to your trip!

Got travel insurance for Mexico?

Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

7 Safety Tips for Mexico

Below we will list 7 of our top safety tips for when traveling to Mexico.

Dress Down

This is a really easy way to stand out less as a target for theft, and especially so by not wearing expensive jewelry. If you must (such as having a nice dinner or going clubbing), then take an Uber to get to and from your accommodation.

Don’t Drink the Tap Water

We’ve covered the risks of drinking water in Mexico extensively already, however, to summarize, you don’t want to touch tap water. This is because the water systems are not treated, meaning you can easily pick up a nasty infection if you drink from it.

Use Ubers instead of Taxis

In many areas (such as the Riviera Maya), taxis are generally pretty safe. However Uber is still better, since you’ll always get a true rate and not be ripped off. In certain cities in Mexico, using Uber is also much safer since all vehicles and drivers are registered.

Take out Solid Insurance before your Trip

You never know what might happen when traveling, and having that peace of mind will really help you to relax.

World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world.

Do Your Research before Going Off-The-Grid

Mexico is full of awesome destinations, and we also love getting off the beaten path when possible. However you’ll want to do your homework before, since some areas may have issues with cartels or other local dangers.

Always Padlock your Bags When Traveling

There’s a good chance you’ll be using buses to get around Mexico, so we highly recommend investing in a high quality padlock and always using it to keep your belongings safe during transport. As a personal tip, you’ll also want to keep your backpack close to you (for example by your feet) for that extra peace of mind.

Leave Valuables in your Accommodation

This is especially important on tours to markets and other busy public places, where pickpocketing can sometimes be an issue. This means leaving things like credit cards, expensive accessories and your passport locked up safe during your tour.

Travel Safety in Mexico FAQs

Is Mexico Safe for American Tourists??

Yes, Americans (and any other nationalities on the planet) can easily visit Mexico safely and have a memorable time. Most of this comes down to preparing properly and knowing how to carry yourself when walking around, which are things that we’ve covered throughout this article. As well as this, it’s important to stay within the more touristy areas (unless you know good Spanish and can communicate with ease).

Is Mexico Safe to Travel Alone?

Hundreds (if not thousands) of solo travelers are heading around Mexico every month, and it’s by far one of the most popular countries to do so in Latin America. We have both done it multiple times in the past and have not had issues. Again it comes down to preparing properly, and also taking 100% responsibility for your own safety.

Is Mexico City Safe?

One of the largest cities on the planet, Mexico City is definitely quite intimidating when you first arrive. There are many safe parts to stay in, which include Polanco, Roma and the Centro Histórico (you’ll need to follow general safety tips anyhow). There are also areas of Mexico City that can be dangerous and are best avoided, such as Doctores, Tepito and Iztapalapa (these aren’t touristy so there’s no need to even visit these).

Best Time to Visit Mexico?

The dry season remains the most popular time to visit Mexico, which runs from December until April. Here rainfall levels remain low all around the country, allowing for more clear blue skies and nicer weather. Temperatures are also less hot than they are in the wet season, which can sometimes be quite uncomfortable (especially along the Caribbean Coast).

Is Mexico Safe?

And that’s all for this guide on whether Mexico is safe to visit.

Known for its world-class beaches and festive culture, Mexico is a true bucket-list country that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetimes.

You’ll also find the majority of the country really safe for travel, although there are of course still certain parts which you’ll need to prepare for (or avoid entirely).

In this guide we’ve explored how to stay safe in Mexico, looking at some of our top tips.

We’ve also answered some of your biggest questions in our FAQ section.
Be sure to read our Mexico Itinerary to learn more about what to do in this memorable country.

👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.

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Is Mexico Safe? 2024 Travel Guide