The safest destinations in Mexico? There are more than you might think By Jayne Clark, USA TODAY

The safest destinations in Mexico? There are more than you might think

By Jayne Clark, USA TODAY

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By Jayne Clark, USA TODAY

Poor Mexico. The country is almost three times the size of Texas, but given the bad press, you'd think you're guaranteed to get caught in drug cartel crossfire just about anywhere.

Which, of course, isn't the case. The San Francisco Chronicle recently named the five safest Mexican states for travelers, based on per-capita drug-related homicides. The stats are from the Mexican government's official database of drug-related deaths, which it released in January. The states are Tlaxcala, Yucatán, Puebla, Queretaro, and Baja California Sur.

Drug-related violence has, for the most part, been concentrated along the U.S.-Mexico border in decidedly non-touristy areas. As SFGate's Mexico Mix columnist Christine Delsol writes in a recent column: "Stay away from the trouble spots and exhibit some common sense, and you're more likely to perish in a tequila-fueled Jet Ski mishap than at a homicidal drug trafficker's hands."

However, she adds, "What makes this concept more complicated today is that you can no longer rely on the common wisdom about sticking with established tourist destinations."

In fact, in April, the U.S. State Department expanded its Mexico travel warning to include tourist spots such as Acapulco, parts of the west coast states of Jalisco and Nayarit, and Rocky Point on the Gulf of California.

RELATED: Mexico tourism on defense after expanded U.S. travel warning

Now, Lonely Planet U.S. travel editor Robert Reid has weighed in with his own
recommendations on the eight safest tourist haunts in Mexico.

They are:
-- Mexico City: loads of cultural diversions (and a drug-related murder rate last year of just 2.2 per 100,000 compared to 24 per 100,000 in Washington in 2009).

-- Merida: Colonial charm and archaeological wonders just four hours from Cancun.

-- Todos Santos: A quiet and quaint town in Baja California Sur (one of Mexico's safest states) and beyond the hustle of Cabo San Lucas.

-- San Miguel de Allende: an American ex-pat enclave with great hotels and restaurants.

-- Huatulco: 12 miles of some of Mexico's most pristine (and uncrowded) beach front.

-- Playa del Carmen: the Mayan Rivera's pedestrian-friendly party central town.

--Guanajuato: A 16th-century hill town with a bohemian vibe, about 30 minutes from the Leon airport.

-- Puebla: A "mini Mexico City" brimming with arts and culture.

What do you think? Are there places that should be on this list but aren't? Conversely, are there spots included here that shouldn't be?