Is Travel to Mexico Safe?

By Suzanne Barbezat, About.com Guide

Question: Is Travel to Mexico Safe?

In view of headlines about crime and violence along the border, and the State Department's travel warning¹ concerning travel to Mexico, many people are wondering about the safety of visiting Mexico.

Answer: Crime, violence, and protests can put a damper on your vacation, but you don't have to cancel your vacation or travel somewhere else just because the headlines are nasty. Mexico is a big country² and it's incredibly diverse, so violence along the US border won't have any effect on your vacation in, for example, the Riviera Maya³ any more than an earthquake in California would affect people in Chicago. Most of the violence that has taken place recently is due to conflicts between drug cartels and the Mexican authorities. As a tourist, you are in little danger of having trouble as long as you follow common sense safety precautions⁴ and don't get involved with drugs.
 
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