Which Parts of Mexico Are on ‘Do Not Travel’ List and Why

General view of the area where hidden graves were found in Tlajomulco de Zuñiga, Jalisco state, Mexico, on Feb. 17, 2023. Ulises Ruiz/AFP/Getty Images

The U.S. State Department has been warning Americans to avoid traveling to parts of Mexico due to threats like violent crime and being kidnapped for ransom, with the advisories coming into sharper focus as more people make travel plans for spring break.

In recent weeks, the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has issued a series of security alerts, ranging from reports of gunfire and roadblocks in multiple cities in Sinaloa to warning tourists against taking app-based transportation services like Uber in the state of Quintana Roo.

The State Department also recently updated its travel advisories for Mexico, warning that violent crime like homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery are “widespread and common” in many parts of Mexico.

Mexico’s murder rate has tripled since 2006.

A bus that was burned during attacks by armed groups operating in the area, in Celaya, Guanajuato state, Mexico, on Jan. 31, 2023. Jesus Valencia/AFP/Getty Images

Six States On ‘Do Not Travel’ List

Six Mexican states have received the highest “do not travel” warning due to crime, and in some cases, an elevated threat of kidnapping. These are: Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas.

Colima, located on the western coast of Mexico and known for its picturesque beaches, has been plagued by high levels of violent crime and gang activity. While most murders in Colima are described by the State Department as “targeted assassinations against members of criminal organizations,” innocent bystanders have been caught in the crossfire and injured or killed. The travel advisory includes a warning about potential kidnappings.

Guerrero, which is on the southern coast of Mexico and features popular tourist destinations like Acapulco, has faced a number of security challenges. Armed groups operate in many areas of Guerrero, the State Department said in the advisory, warning that members of these groups often block roads and may use violence toward tourists. There are known instances of American citizens having been kidnapped in Guerrero.

Michoacan, located in western Mexico, attracts tourists with natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. The state has been struggling with high levels of violent crime and drug-related activity, with the U.S. State Department also warning of the risk of kidnapping.

Sinaloa, which is on the western coast of Mexico, has a reputation as a hub for drug trafficking and organized crime. The State Department says violent crime is widespread in Sinaloa and that U.S. citizens have been kidnapped there.

At the beginning of January, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico said it had received reports of gunfire, roadblocks, and fires in three cities in the state—Culiacan, Los Mochis, and Guasave—with the Sinaloa governor even issuing a call to members of the public to not leave their homes due to the violence.

Cars burnt and destroyed during an operation to arrest Ovidio Guzman, son of jailed drug trafficker Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, in Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on Jan. 7, 2023. Juan Carlos Cruz/AFP/Getty Images

Tamaulipas, located in northeastern Mexico and bordering the United States, has been plagued by organized crime and violence. The State Department warned in the advisory that organized crime activity there is common, including gun battles, murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, forced disappearances, extortion, and sexual assault.

“Criminal groups target public and private passenger buses, as well as private automobiles traveling through Tamaulipas, often taking passengers and demanding ransom payments,” the State Department warned, adding that heavily armed gang members often patrol the state and operate with impunity.

Zacatecas, located in central Mexico and known for scenic landscapes, has been experiencing an increase in violent crime. The State Department warned that violent crime, extortion, and gang activity are widespread in the state of Zacatecas, and that U.S. citizens have been kidnapped there.

A Mexican soldier stands guard against a backdrop of graffiti linked to the criminal group "Cartel de Sinaloa" (CDS), in Palmas Altas, Zacatecas state, Mexico, on March 14, 2022. Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images

Mexican States With ‘Reconsider Travel’ Advisories

Seven states in Mexico have received a “reconsider travel” warning by the State Department due to crime and kidnapping. They are: Baja California, Chihuahua, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos, and Sonora.

Jalisco, which is controlled by the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel, is where 31 bodies were recently exhumed from two clandestine graves.

Mexican authorities have struggled for years to devote adequate resources to finding hidden graves where gangs have buried their victims. In many cases, civilians get caught up in the killings.

The remaining states in Mexico have an “exercise increased caution” designation when traveling with the exception of two—Campeche and Yucatan—which carry the “exercise normal precautions” label.

While violent crime rates vary in Mexico, its murder rate in 2022 stood at around 25 per 100,000 residents, which is around four times higher than in the United States.