Urgent Mexico Summer Travel Warnings!

Know before you go

May 26, 2025

Many popular tourist destinations on Mexico’s Pacific Coast are in the US State Department's “No Go” Zones. (Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash)

If travel to Mexico is part of your summer vacation plans, you need to be aware of the latest US State Department Travel Advisories - some of which could literally save your life.

"NO GO" ZONES FOR US RESIDENTS:

Official US State Department Travel Advisory Levels for US Citizens traveling internationally. (US State Dept. Graphic)

First, you should be aware that the US State Department has placed six Mexican States under "Do Not Travel" advisories for US Residents, mainly due to the threat of violent crime by the Cartels there.

Do Not Travel To:

Colima state due to crime and kidnapping.
Guerrero state due to crime.
Michoacan state due to crime.
Sinaloa state due to crime.
Tamaulipas state due to crime and kidnapping.
Zacatecas state due to crime and kidnapping.

One of those states (Tamaulipas) borders the United States, which means the State Department is advising US residents NOT to cross from Texas into Mexico via the International Crossing Points from:

Brownsville
Los Indios
Donna
Pharr
McAllen
Hidalgo
Mission
Los Ebanos (Ferry Crossing)
Rio Grande City
Roma
Falcon Heights (Lake Falcon Dam)
Laredo

(Unless otherwise indicated, these crossings are all via International Bridges)

The State Department warns that "criminal groups target public and private passenger buses, as well as private automobiles traveling through Tamaulipas, often taking passengers and demanding ransom payments.

Heavily armed members of criminal groups often patrol areas of the state and operate with impunity particularly along the border region from Reynosa to Nuevo Laredo. In these areas, local law enforcement has limited capacity to respond to incidents of crime."

Mazatlan is among the Pacific Coast destinations under a State Department "Do Not Travel" advisory. (Photo by Miguel Ramírez on Unsplash)

This "Do Not Travel" advisory covers many Pacific Coast tourist destinations including Manzanillo, Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa, Mazatlan, and Los Mochis.

"RECONSIDER TRAVEL" TO:

Puerto Vallarta is among the destinations to which US residents are advised by the State Department to "reconsider travel." (Photo by Nicole Herrero on Unsplash)

Baja California state due to crime and kidnapping.
Chiapas state due to crime.
Chihuahua state due to crime and kidnapping.
Guanajuato state due to crime.
Jalisco state due to crime and kidnapping.
Morelos state due to crime and kidnapping.
Sonora state due to crime and kidnapping.

Among the areas covered by this designation are the popular Pacific Coast tourist destinations of Ensenada, Rosarito, San Felipe, Puerto Vallarta, and Puerto Peñasco on the Sea of Cortez.

"EXERCISE INCREASED CAUTION" IN:

Cancun, Tulum & "The Riviera Maya" are among the destinations where US residents are advised to "Excercise Increased Caution" (Photo by David Vives on Unsplash)

Aguascalientes state due to crime.
Baja California Sur state due to crime.
Coahuila state due to crime.
Durango state due to crime.
Hidalgo state due to crime.
Mexico City due to crime.
Mexico State due to crime and kidnapping.
Nayarit state due to crime.
Nuevo Leon state due to crime.
Oaxaca state due to crime.
Puebla state due to crime and kidnapping.
Queretaro state due to crime.
Quintana Roo state due to crime.
San Luis Potosi state due to crime and kidnapping.
Tabasco state due to crime.
Tlaxcala state due to crime.
Veracruz state due to crime.

Among the areas covered by this designation are popular Caribbean tourist destinations of Cancun, the "Riviera Maya," Tulum, and Cozumel. As well as Pacific Coast destinations such as Los Cabos, and the "Riviera Nayarit."

The State Department warns that "while not directed at tourists, shootings between rival gangs have injured and killed innocent bystanders, including U.S. citizens. Violent crime, including homicides and assaults, has increased in Tulum. Exercise increased caution after dark in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, and remain in well-lit pedestrian streets and tourist zones."