Travel

Mexico Spring Break Safety

By Kathleen Crislip, About.com GuideMarch 18, 2010

Follow me on:

See More About:

With spring break fully fleshed out and happening on Mexico beaches, there could hardly be a worse time for Mexico's safety (or lack thereof) to hit the news: mid-March's spate of drug cartel-related murders in Mexico may give you (and your parents) the vexing notion that violence will make your spring break in Mexico unsafe. As usual, though, the mayhem is drug trafficker-related (as opposed to tourist-related) and confined to certain parts of Mexico, and it appears that although American citizens were indeed shot and killed in the Mexican border city of Juarez over the weekend in Juarez, they were not being targeted because of their American citizenship; we don't think there's any reason to overly worry that the drug thugs will affect you or your trip (trouble's especially unlikely if you're in Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, or other sweet seaside Mexico spring break spots).

We go to Mexico a lot (we're driving down to Mexico shortly, in fact), and though we respect the country and we take normal safety precautions (both at home and abroad), we're not worried at all -- and we're going to the border state of Sonora and crossing at Nogales, south of Tucson; we'll let you know what the border is like... we suspect it will be as calm as it always is because we never cross at Cuidad Juarez (neighbors El Paso, TX) -- Juarez is one city and border crossing we find generally worth avoiding. The facts so that you may decide for yourself:

March 14, 2010: U.S. Consular Aide and Husband Killed in Mexico (NY Times) - "Gunmen believed to be linked to drug traffickers shot an American consulate worker and her husband to death in the violence-racked border town of Ciudad Juarrez..."
March 18, 2010: Mistaken identity blamed for drugs hit on US staff (UK Independent) - "The murders of three people with ties to a US consulate in Mexico was probably a tragic case of mistaken identity rather than a deliberate attempt to launch an offensive against American officials, the FBI believes..."
March 14, 2010: In Mexico, 13 killed in Acapulco area, 11 others elsewhere in Guerrero (LA Times): "At least 13 people were killed Saturday, some of them beheaded, around the popular beach resort of Acapulco, just as foreign visitors have begun arriving for spring break. Elsewhere in the Guerrero state where Acapulco is located, 11 other people, including soldiers and suspected traffickers, were killed, authorities said..."

Heightened safety concerns due to battling between Mexican drug cartels and the US along the US/Mexico border (again, as in Juarez and border crossings south of Texas: the Mexican states of Coahuila and Chihuahua, plus Durango -- not as in, for instance, Cancun or Puerto Vallarta) are not something we're going to let keep us from traveling. However, the U.S. government has posted a travel warning regarding Mexico travel in general in Durango and the eastern border states of Coahuila and Chihuahua; the warning by no means indicates to us that we should stay away from Mexico during spring break. A government travel warning is nothing to sneeze at, though:

What is the Difference Between Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings?

Again, we'll let you know what we see in Mexico -- in the meantime, do read the US government's travel warning before you decide for yourself whether you feel safe in traveling to Mexico for spring break.

Related Spring Break in Mexico Reading:

More Mexico Travel Reading: Mexico on $25 a Day | Mexico Photos | About Mexico Buses | About Mexico Airlines | Driving in Mexico

From the US government ("Spring Break - Know Before You Go"): The following cities and areas are some traditional destinations in Mexico for travelers on Spring Break. While other resort areas may not be as well-known for this type of travel, the advice contained here still applies:
> Acapulco: Drug-related violence has been increasing in Acapulco. Although this violence is not targeted at foreign residents or tourists, U.S. citizens in these areas should be vigilant in their personal safety. Avoid swimming outside the bay area. Several American citizens have died while swimming in rough surf at the Revolcadero Beach near Acapulco.
Cabo San Lucas: Beaches on the Pacific side of the Baja California Peninsula at Cabo San Lucas are dangerous due to rip tides and rogue waves; hazardous beaches in this area are clearly marked in English and Spanish.
Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Cozumel: Cancun is a fairly large city, approaching 500,000 inhabitants, with increasing reports of crime. Crimes against the person, such as rape, commonly but not exclusively occur at night or in the early morning hours, and often involve alcohol and the nightclub environment. Therefore, it is important to travel in pairs or groups, be aware of surroundings, and take general precautions. To protect against property crimes, valuables should be left in a safe place or not brought at all. If you are a victim of a crime, immediately notify the U.S. Consular Agency in Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Cozumel or the U.S. Consulate in Merida... If you rent a moped or other vehicle in Cancun, it is advisable to purchase third-party insurance, as the insurance offered on some credit cards will not cover you in Mexico. Should you have an accident or cause damage to the vehicle, you may be required to pay the full amount of any repairs, in cash, as determined by the rental agency, or face arrest. In Cancun, there is often a very strong undertow along the beach from the Hyatt Regency all the way south to Club Med. Already this season, several U.S. citizens have drowned when overwhelmed by ocean conditions. In Cozumel, several drownings and near-drownings have been reported on the east coast, particularly in the Playa San Martin-Chen Rio area.
Matamoros/South Padre Island: The Mexican border cities of Matamoros and Nuevo Progresso are located 30 to 45 minutes south of the major Spring Break destination of South Padre Island, Texas. Travelers to the Mexican border should be especially aware of safety and security concerns due to increased violence in recent years between rival drug trafficking gangs competing for control of narcotics smuggling routes. While it is unlikely that American visitors would get caught up in this violence, travelers should exercise common-sense precautions such as visiting only the well-traveled business and tourism areas of border towns during daylight and early-evening hours.
Mazatlan: While the beach town of Mazatlan is a relatively safe place to visit, travelers should use common sense and exercise normal precautions when visiting an unfamiliar location. Avoid walking the streets alone after dark, when petty crimes are much more common. Beaches can have very strong undertows and rogue waves. Swimmers should obey warning signs placed along the beaches which indicate dangerous ocean conditions.
Nogales/Sonora: Puerto Peñasco, a.k.a. "Rocky Point," is located in northern Sonora, 60 miles from the U.S. border, and is accessible by car. The majority of accidents that occur at this Spring Break destination are caused by individuals driving under the influence of alcohol. Travelers should exercise particular caution on unpaved roads, especially in beach areas."