Is Mexico Safe ?

By emma | April 2, 2010

After events over the last few weeks, anyone contemplating travel to Mexico is probably asking themselves the same question – is it safe to visit Mexico?

The answer is a qualified yes.

Yes, in general, Mexico remains a safe country for tourists.

Most tourist cities and sites are far from the majority of the carnage. Yes, it is safe, as long as you take reasonable precautions. And yes, it is very much worth visiting!

The majority of the violence remains centered along the US border. Border towns such as Cuidad Juarez should certainly be avoided. Now might not be a good time to drive to Mexico either, as there are reports of violence along many of the main highways of northern Mexico.

That said, it should be noted that many of Mexico’s most popular tourist sites and tours are in the south, several thousand miles from the US border. My family and I (including our 2 children) spent a wonderful week in the Yucatan, with no trouble at all. At this point, tourist areas in southern Mexico can be considered as safe as ever.

Now, having said all that, no place is 100% safe. In any country, you should always take reasonable precautions. A few basic guidelines include:

1. Don’t buy, or use, illegal drugs in Mexico.
The majority of the violence in Mexico is associated with the drug trade.
Stay as far away from it as you can.

2. Avoid excessive drinking.
Not only are drunks an obvious target for thieves, drinking impairs judgment.
Poor judgment leads to all kinds of trouble.

3. On that same note, use good judgment.
If you wouldn’t walk down a dark alley, alone, at 3am in the US, why on earth would you do it in Mexico? Deep inside, you know what’s the smart thing and what’s the dumb thing – listen to what your instincts tell you.

4. Avoid the area around the US border.
It’s a shame, as these are actually very interesting, diverse cities, but at this point they really are dangerous and should be avoided.

5. Don’t be ruled by fear.
Take basic good precautions, then relax and have fun!

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