Perry Vandell,Abigail BeckArizona Republic
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As thousands of U.S. citizens embark on trips to the southern border this spring, Mexico’s U.S. Embassy issued a list of guidelines for travelers to follow to ensure a safe visit.
The U.S. Department of State has issued Mexico an advisory that is categorized as “other” and is not included in the levels that the department uses to rate the safety levels of countries and regions. The advisory remains in place, and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico doubled down on these precautions as spring break season continues to approach.
One of the primary concerns of the State Department is crime, citing “homicide, kidnapping, carjacking and robbery” as “widespread and common in Mexico.”
In the U.S. Embassy’s notice, the consumption of drugs, unregulated alcohol and possibly counterfeit pharmaceuticals could be dangerous for travelers. The use of these substances could lead to further crime or danger for tourists, including sexual assault, drowning and possible arrests, the Embassy said.
More: Is it safe to visit Cancun or Puerto Peñasco for spring break? What travelers need to know
“The U.S. government has limited availability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Mexico,” the State Department noted. Prices for medical treatment could be steeper than in the U.S. and hospitals may require payment prior to providing any kind of treatment or before allowing a patient to leave, according to the U.S. Embassy.
What are the State Department's travel advisories?
The agency's travel advisories rank from level one, which recommends exercising "normal precautions" and includes countries such as Japan, Switzerland and Portugal, to level 4, which is listed as "Do Not Travel."
The State Department's level 2 rating recommends "increased precaution," but it doesn't go so far as to recommend avoiding travel to the country altogether as it does for countries with level 3 and 4 ratings.
These Mexican states are under travel advisories
These are the states that have the level 4 "Do Not Travel" and level 3 "Reconsider Travel" ratings:
Level 4:
- Colima
- Guerrero
- Michoacan
- Sinaloa
- Tamaulipas
- Zacatecas
Level 3:
- Baja California
- Chihuahua
- Durango
- Guanajuato
- Jalisco
- Morelos
- Sonora
Countries with a level 4 'Do Not Travel' rating
These are the countries that have the level 4 "Do Not Travel" rating:
- Burma (Myanmar)
- Iran
- Yemen
- Afghanistan
- Iraq
- Russia
- South Sudan
- Somalia
- Mali
- Central African Republic
- Burkina Faso
- Haiti
- Belarus
- North Korea
- Venezuela
- Syria
- Libya
- Ukraine
- Sudan
Countries with a level 3 'Reconsider Travel' rating
These are the countries that have a level 3 "Reconsider Travel" rating:
- Lebanon
- Saudi Arabia
- Jamaica
- Papua New Guinea
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Colombia
- Uganda
- Guinea
- Nigeria
- Mauritania
- Guinea-Bissau
- Ethiopia
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Chad
- Burundi
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Honduras
- Guyana
- Guatemala
- El Salvador
- Egypt
- Macau
- Pakistan
How to stay safe when planning a trip, traveling
Arizona's former Director of Homeland Security, Tim Roemer, said he believes it's important to exercise caution now more than ever before and when traveling abroad, which includes always paying attention to your surroundings, having a heightened sense of alertness, and regularly communicating with friends and family back home. He also said it is imperative to pay attention to the news.
"Watch what's happening. You don't want to get stuck somewhere by being unaware of what's going on in the world," said Roemer.
Roemer advised Americans traveling internationally to remain vigilant, especially if they witness any unusual or suspicious activity.
"If you see something that seems out of the ordinary, say something. Don't just keep it to yourself," Roemer said. "Report it (to local law enforcement). It could actually be really important and make a huge difference."
Roemer also encouraged travelers to be more organized and have contingency plans when traveling internationally, especially for those who may already be abroad. This includes knowing all of the airports in your region and being prepared for the unexpected.
Republic reporter Coleby Phillips contributed to this article.
Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at perry.vandell@gannett.com or 602-444-2474. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @PerryVandell.
