Latest Mexico travel warning excludes most tourism destinations
The Mexico travel warning issued by the U.S. State Department on Jan. 9 contained no essential changes or surprises from the last one that was issued on July 15.
Still exempt are Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, San Miguel de Allende, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, Riviera Nayarit, Oaxaca, Huatulco, Puerto Escondido, Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Tulum, Merida and Chichen Itza.
The latest warning said there is escalated cartel violence in the northern border regions and in areas of the Mexican state of Michoacan. Tourists are not targets but are advised to defer travel to those areas and exercise caution if traveling there.
"Millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year. The Mexican government makes a considerable effort to protect U.S. citizens and other visitors to major tourist attractions, and there is no evidence that Transnational Criminal Organizations [cartels] have targeted U.S. visitors and residents based on their nationality," the advisory said.
Resort areas and tourist destinations generally do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime reported in the border region and in areas along major trafficking routes, according to the warning.
The Mexican government has deployed federal police and military personnel throughout the country as part of its efforts to combat the TCOs.
The Pacific coast state of Guerrero continues to deal with problems on its northern and southern borders and travelers are warned to stay away from those areas. The warning cautions visitors to remain within the tourist areas in Acapulco, Ixtapa, Taxco and Zihuatanejo.
The same holds true for Mazatlan in the state of Sinaloa. As in the previous warning, travelers are advised to stay within the Zona Dorada and the historic town center, but to defer nonessential travel to the rest of the state.
Likewise, the State Department said travelers should "exercise caution" in Monterrey and defer nonessential travel to the rest of the state of Nuevo Leon.
Cities and areas that U.S. citizens should avoid or be particularly vigilant in include Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana, Ensenada, Chihuahua City, Torreon, Saltillo, Piedras Negras, Ciudad Acuna, towns in the eastern portions of the state of Mexico, the eastern edge of Sonora, Veracruz and Zacatecas.
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Still exempt are Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, San Miguel de Allende, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, Riviera Nayarit, Oaxaca, Huatulco, Puerto Escondido, Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Tulum, Merida and Chichen Itza.
The latest warning said there is escalated cartel violence in the northern border regions and in areas of the Mexican state of Michoacan. Tourists are not targets but are advised to defer travel to those areas and exercise caution if traveling there.
"Millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year. The Mexican government makes a considerable effort to protect U.S. citizens and other visitors to major tourist attractions, and there is no evidence that Transnational Criminal Organizations [cartels] have targeted U.S. visitors and residents based on their nationality," the advisory said.
Resort areas and tourist destinations generally do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime reported in the border region and in areas along major trafficking routes, according to the warning.
The Mexican government has deployed federal police and military personnel throughout the country as part of its efforts to combat the TCOs.
The Pacific coast state of Guerrero continues to deal with problems on its northern and southern borders and travelers are warned to stay away from those areas. The warning cautions visitors to remain within the tourist areas in Acapulco, Ixtapa, Taxco and Zihuatanejo.
The same holds true for Mazatlan in the state of Sinaloa. As in the previous warning, travelers are advised to stay within the Zona Dorada and the historic town center, but to defer nonessential travel to the rest of the state.
Likewise, the State Department said travelers should "exercise caution" in Monterrey and defer nonessential travel to the rest of the state of Nuevo Leon.
Cities and areas that U.S. citizens should avoid or be particularly vigilant in include Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana, Ensenada, Chihuahua City, Torreon, Saltillo, Piedras Negras, Ciudad Acuna, towns in the eastern portions of the state of Mexico, the eastern edge of Sonora, Veracruz and Zacatecas.
Follow Gay Nagle Myers on Twitter @gnmtravelweekly.
