With the current war on Mexico’s drug traffickers erupting into violence in certain border towns, some folks with travel plans to Mexico are confused about whether to keep them. Here are some tips on how to study up on the current situation and the likelihood of events affecting you on your travels.
- Check travel warnings from the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs. The most current one, issued on March 14, advises delaying unnecessary travel to parts of Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua states (with details on which towns and why). Even if vagabonders may not be traveling for Spring Break, read the “Spring Break in Mexico—Know Before You Go” post on the site. It lists specific issues in some destination cities, as well as overall safety tips.
- Balance the above travel warnings with those of another country, such as the travel advice from the U.K.’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (its most recent update is listed for March 18). The advice given can only add to your understanding, and help you determine whether you should delay or adjust your trip … or continue with your plans. Even though government agencies may be interested in looking out for citizens when they travel abroad, remember that they are government agencies, and may have political agendas as to how issues may be worded.
- Review other sources, especially those that regularly update lists of worldwide safety concerns, such as World Travel Watch.
- I often do an online search of news articles on the area. Looking at the situation from all angles gives me a better perspective on whether I’m likely to be affected as a traveler.
- Standard travel safety tips (such as not being showy with money and gear, being wary about walking alone at night, etc.) apply in places around the world. It’s always good to remember them.
I traveled to Honduras in August and September 2009, when the U.S. State Department advised against “non-essential travel” to the country. I follow news in Honduras daily and went anyway, and happened to be in country when former President “Mel” Zelaya returned. Aside from a 12-hour curfew, which was not observed in my area, my travel was unaffected.
Above all, it’s your vacation and your decision. If you have plans to visit Mexico, by all means go. Just read up on the destinations you’ll be visiting so you don’t overreact and you know what to expect. It’ll also help you put the worries of relatives and friends to rest when they ask about your trip.
Do you have a great source you consult for travel safety information? Please share it in the comments section.
@Backpack Foodie & Kim:...
March 19th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Good, solid advice, not just for Mexico, but all around…
Travel advisories are an excellent starting point to get informed on a region, but they err on the side of caution and cast a wide net. I’ve been to numerous parts of the world for which reading the travel advisory was pretty damning, but when you research the precise details of the advisory, it’s obvious it’s either overblown, or pretty specific and avoidable.
I’m not saying you should disregard them… Just that it’s better to read more, and then get a clear idea of what’s going on in the country. This post is a great example of doing just that!
March 19th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Exactly, The Backpack Foodie. In case of Mexico right now, I’m glad that the warning is more specific than advising to avoid the entire country–which would be a major overreaction. Mexico is a large country, just like the United States, with places to visit and places to be cautious about. It’s encouraging when advisories take that into consideration.
March 19th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
My wife and I are currently living in city of Comitan in the southernmost Mexican state of Chiapas. We have driven all around the state in the last few months and have experienced nothing but friendly people. As always in a new area and especially in Chiapas, people need to be aware that not everyone want their picture taken. If someone was to find themselves in trouble here, my guess is that would be a far more likely reason than the drug wars. We recently drove from Comitan to the ruins at Tonina off of the main highway and had a great time. We got lost at one point and were helped by nothing but smiling people in the heart of Zapatista country. I have some tips on safe photography in the Mayan world on my new blog at http://www.mayantrip.com thanks for your great site
March 20th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
i just got back from a short trip to Mexico and had a great time! Before I went I contacted some people from Couchsurfing who lived in the towns I was going to visit. They wrote back with hotels to stay at, local information, etc. And i made some new friends!
March 20th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
I’ve gotten similar “are you sure it’s safe?” questions from people before trips to Morocco, China, and Haiti. Advisories are good information, but would they stop me from traveling to Afghanistan, Senegal, or Honduras? No. Everywhere is dangerous in its way, even New York and Paris.
Using some common sense, keeping your wits about you, a confident presence, and treating locals with respect will get one thru many of the world’s “riskiest” places.
March 21st, 2010 at 5:59 pm
[...] Demystifying Mexico Travel Warning [...]
July 11th, 2010 at 6:23 am
Great advice dude. Am going to Mexico shortly and was a little sketchy about it.