14 of the Safest Places in Mexico to Visit in 2026

Last updated on February 22, 2026

Safety is a top concern for many travelers wanting to visit Mexico—understandably so. Cartel-related activity makes certain areas unsafe to visit.

It’s especially understandable that travelers are increasingly worried about safety after the recent incident in Puerto Vallarta. Mexican officials killed one of the country’s top cartel leaders, “El Mencho” on February 22, 2026 which led to a revolt and a complete lock-down of the city.

While safety is a valid concern in parts of Mexico, it isn’t as widespread a problem as travelers may think. In fact, there are loads of safe places to visit in Mexico! If you have concerns about crime, here’s a list of the 14 safest places in Mexico to visit in 2026, with helpful safety tips to have a better trip.

Is Mexico safe?

When people ask me, “Is Mexico safe to visit?”, I almost always answer yes. It doesn’t matter if you’re a family, a solo traveler, or a couple looking for a beach getaway or a foodie trip to Mexico City. Mexico is generally a safe country to visit.

However, not everywhere in Mexico is safe to visit. Mexico is a big country. While there are unsafe cities you should definitely avoid, they are rarely the top tourist destinations most travelers go to.

We’ve driven across 25 Mexican states in a year and a half and firmly believe most of Mexico is safe to visit. But we always stayed up to date on current politics, news, and safety warnings. But don’t just take our word for it.

Below is the safety data and crime statistics for Mexico from 2025 to give you a better idea of what places in Mexico are safe to visit right now.

The latest Mexico safety data

Safety across the board has improved in Mexico over the last year. Since their new president, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, took over, homicides and other serious crimes have decreased by 30%, according to recent news reports.

According to Numbeo, a safety rating index for cities and countries across the globe, in 2026, Mexico’s safety rating is 47.1.

That’s roughly a 3.7 points difference from the United States ranking of 50.8. Of the 150 countries tracked in Numbeo, Mexico falls in the 107th position for safety, while the United States is in the 94th position.

The US Department of State issues travel advisories about Mexican states advising for or against travel. As of 2026, the US Department of State says travelers to Mexico should have increased caution and specifically, should reconsider or avoid traveling to:

Level 4: Do Not Travel To	Level 3: Reconsider Traveling To	Level 2: Increased Caution	Level 1: Normal Precautions “aka safe”
Colima, Guerrero, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas	Baja California, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos, and Sinaloa.	Aguas Calientes, Baja California Sur, Coahuila, Durango, Hidalgo, Mexico City, Mexico State, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Tabasco, Tlaxcala, and Veracruz.	Campeche and Yucatán

These ratings are helpful to understand higher risk areas, but they only issue warnings at a state level, which isn’t always a good measure of safety risk.

Baja California is labeled “Level 3: reconsider travel to” according to the US Department of State’s advisory. If we listened, we wouldn’t have spent two and a half weeks in Valle de Guadalupe and Ensenada drinking wine and eating incredible food, a trip I highly encourage everyone to do at one point!

We’d never say an entire U.S. state was unsafe. We’d specify the cities, towns, or neighborhoods a traveler should avoid due to crime. The same goes for Mexico. Like anywhere in the world, certain places in Mexico are safer than others, and there are definitely “no-go” cities and neighborhoods.

➡ Read Next: The Perfect Travel Guide for Valle de Guadalupe Mexico ⬅

According to police reports tracking official homicides across the country, the following cities have the highest number of homicides in Mexico for all of 2025.

• Manzanillo, Colima
• Cajeme, Sonora
• Culicán, Sinaloa
• San Luis Río Colorado, Baja California
• Huitzilac, Morelos
• Tetecala, Morelos
• Apatzingán, Michoacán

The UK issues its own travel advisories for Mexico, which include more city-specific warnings and include exceptions to the state, which are often the more tourist destinations within the region. If I were determining where to avoid and what were the safest places in Mexico, the UK travel advisory for Mexico would be my top resource.

For example, it advises all but essential travel to Tijuana, Baja California in 2026, except airside transit through their airport, or the Federal toll road 1-D (something we’ve personally driven before with no issues).

It also says Chihuahua should be avoided, unless you are traveling to the city of Chihuahua, the border crossing in Ciudad Juárez (accessed by federal toll road 45), the Copper Canyon rail route to and from Chihuahua and towns immediately on this route, including Creel, among others.

Most common crimes in Mexico

The most common crimes to happen in Mexico are petty crimes (think pick-pocketing and minor theft without violence), extortion (police bribery), armed robbery (car hijacking, for example), kidnapping, and homicide.

Several of those crimes are very serious, but the most common threats to tourists are petty theft and extortion. We dealt with both petty theft and extortion during our year-and-a-half travel through Mexico.

Extortion, where a cop pulls you over and accuses you of committing a traffic error and then asks for a bribe, is more common in tourist areas. Lack of knowledge about handling the situation, increased tourists, and time restraints motivate corrupt police officers to seize the opportunity to be bribed.

We also had 500 pesos stolen from our wallet while swimming at a cenote because we didn’t rent a locker to store our things safely. It was an opportunistic crime, and 100% could have been avoided if we hadn’t left our things unattended in a public place.

Since we drove our RV across 25 states and logged over 10,000 miles across the country, it’s no surprise to hear our main incident was extortion. We were pulled over several times by police officers, and they attempted to receive a bribe.

We never dealt with any serious crimes other than those, and truly believe most tourists will not, as long as they are not participating in illicit drugs or activities and are staying out of high-risk areas.

Cartel activity in Mexico & it’s impact on safety

Cartel activity is a real threat for safety in Mexico. While it’s violence rarely impacts tourists, there are times political activity can lead to it being a bad time to visit Mexico. Both Sheinbaum and former president, Obredor, have captured or killed head leaders of the cartel.

These actions ultimately create a better, safer country, but in the interum, causes more short term violence as the groups retaliate or take over falling territories.

The most recent example of this was following the death of “El Mencho” in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. Puerto Vallarta shut down entirely entering a “code red” situation. There was reported gun shots and several cars burning in the street to block access from government officials to certain areas. There was also reported blockades in other states El Mencho controlled including, Veracruz, Guanajuato, Colima, Tamaulipas, Aguascalientes and Guerrero.

Situations like this have occurred in the past when government has tried to capture or successfully assisinated heads of various cartels. The last time, was in 2020 after they captured “El Marro” and the city following his capture was under “code red” for several days.

There really is no way to know when issues like this will happen, but following state or country advisements for safety can help you avoid being in a high-risk area for cartel activity. We were in Mexico when the El Marro capture happened, but did not personally feel any impacts from it.

Tourist areas known for having random issues related to cartel are:

• Tijuana, Baja California
• Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
• Guadalajara, Jalisco
• Tulum, Quintana Roo
• Acapulco, Guerrero

How to stay safe traveling in Mexico

Where you go and what you do while traveling in Mexico will impact the overall safety. If you partake in illegal activities, for example, seeking out drugs, you’re increasing your risk of having an unsafe experience even in some of the safest places in Mexico.

Of course, don’t venture into higher-crime neighborhoods, which in major tourist cities isn’t super common, but don’t be afraid to explore outside the resort walls.

Don’t put yourself in harm’s way by seeking out drugs or getting inebriated in a foreign place. Stay away from dangerous neighborhoods or cities, and be an aware traveler.

Don’t stay out late or walk the streets intoxicated. Be aware of your surroundings, keeping your bag and personal items close to your body. If you do partake in the fun nightlife scene, take a taxi or official ride-share back to your hotel.

It’s generally suggested not to wear flashy, expensive-looking clothing, jewelry, or equipment. If you look wealthy or flaunt your belongings and money, you could be targeted.

Tips for driving safely in Mexico

Car theft can be common on certain roads. That’s why we always drove on federal toll roads, which are generally safer. Again, the UK advisory specifically states which routes and roads are higher risk and should be avoided.

We traveled through several “do not travel to” zones in our RV without issue. We stuck to the recommended federal toll roads and only drove during the daytime.

We always informed our loved ones before we traveled through a high-risk zone with our estimated arrival time. If they didn’t hear from us, they could alert authorities. You can turn on your phone’s geo-location services and share your location with a loved one.

This can be extremely helpful if you run into a bad situation because they can pinpoint your vehicle’s last location or where you may be. It’s also advisable to avoid driving at night. Crime often increases after dark, but this safety rule is mostly for road hazards.

Cows, animals, motorbikes without proper lights, potholes, and topes (speed humps) are extremely common on Mexico’s roads. There aren’t many street lights, and no lights on the highway system, making it very difficult to see these hazards when they arise.

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Since extortion is the most common issue most travelers will experience, here are some tips on what to do if a cop pulls you over for a wrongful infraction and is looking for a bribe. We recommend a dash cam if you have one or have your phone handy to film.

1. Film the experience and let them know you are filming. Normally, all bribery attempts stop when they see that something is filming them.
2. Never hand them your physical license. We hand them a photocopy and show them we have the original. A common scheme is to hold your license and say you cannot have it back until after the ticket is processed, which could be “days”. This puts time pressure on the tourist who may have somewhere they need to be, like the airport.
3. Ask them to write you a ticket and tell them you will go to the station to pay for it. This normally stops them if you aren’t pulled over for a true infraction.

➡ Read Next: Driving in Mexico: Everything You Need to Know ⬅

The safest places in Mexico right now

Now that we’ve covered what parts of Mexico are unsafe and some of the general safety concerns to be aware of, let’s dive into the 14 safest places in Mexico right now. Remember, things can change, but generally speaking, these areas consistently remain among the safest places in Mexico because they are some of the top tourist destinations.

1. Mérida, Yucatán

Merida is proudly revered for being not just the safest city in Mexico, but one of the safest cities in all of North America. It’s a haven for wealthy Mexican nationals who could be at risk of being targeted for kidnapping or extortion in other parts of Mexico, and it has a thriving expat community.

You’ll notice police officers all across the city, and there is so much to do here. According to Numbeo’s safety index, Merida is 76.3 in 2026, with the highest possible rating being 88.9 in Abu Dhabi. The only other North American city outranking Merida in terms of safety is Quebec City, Canada.

We’ve visited three times now and always love it. Below are a few of our blog posts to help you plan a trip to Mexico’s safest city.

• Is Merida, Mexico Safe to Visit? Yes! Here’s Why.
• The Perfect 2 Days in Merida, Mexico (Itinerary with Map)
• 17 Best Restaurants in Merida You Can’t Miss
• 18 Essential Merida, Mexico Things To Do
• Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Merida, Mexico
• 11 Amazing Merida Day Trips You Don’t Want To Miss
• 17 Delicious Yucatan Dishes to Try on Your Next Trip

2. Campeche, Campeche

A close second behind Merida for the safest places in Mexico is Campeche City. The state as a whole is considered a Level 1: Normal caution by the US Department of State.

This colonial town, which serves as the capital city for Campeche state, is much smaller than Merida and is right along the water. It’s best known for being a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Mexico’s only walled city.

The historic center is so colorful and filled with fascinating history, which dates back to Spanish colonization days when they fortified the area to protect it from pirate attacks. While it’s a small town, it’s a great compliment to a Yucatan Peninsula travel itinerary.

3. Oaxaca de Juárez (Oaxaca City)

Another wonderful and safe city to visit in Mexico is Oaxaca de Juárez, commonly referred to as Oaxaca City. This is the capital of Oaxaca and the state’s largest city. Located high in the Sierra Madre mountains, it’s considered the heart and soul of Mexican culture.

This region, which is home to several indigenous tribes, celebrates and preserves ancient techniques for things like pottery making, weaving, cooking, and the art of making Mezcal. Its food scene is unparalleled and is just a vibrant place to be. We absolutely love Oaxaca City and feel it’s one of the safest places in Mexico to visit.

Oaxaca has become a popular digital nomad hot spot and is battling overtourism, so if you do visit, please make sure to do so responsibly!

4. Huatulco, Oaxaca

Huatulco is one of Mexico’s most underrated beach towns. Its popularity is increasing as of late, but it’s no secret for expats looking for a beautiful, safe place to call home near Mexico’s coast. Huatulco wasn’t on our radar at all when planning our RV trip to Mexico, but after visiting, it’s probably our favorite beach in the entire country!

It’s extremely safe and is next to a national park popular for snorkeling, whale watching, and delicious seafood. As a bonus, it has a brand new international airport, making getting to and from Huatulco, Oaxaca, a breeze.

5. Valladolid, Yucatán

Valladolid is considered the heart and soul of the Yucatán. This area has a thriving Mayan population, amazing traditional markets, delicious food, and beautiful colonial buildings. On top of the wonderful cenotes, culture, and history here, Valladolid is one of the safest places in Mexico.

Its proximity to Chichen Itza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, makes it a popular tourist destination. We stayed over a week there and still had more we could have done and seen!

6. Cancun, Quintana Roo

Cancun is Mexico’s most famous beach town and its most popular tourist destination. The city literally exists to serve tourists and was only developed four decades ago. Its beaches are lined with hotels and all-inclusive resorts along its gorgeous Caribbean waters.

Cancun is one of the safest places in Mexico to visit. Crime incidents are very low here, and there are special police forces to help keep the citizens and tourists safe. According to Numbeo’s safety index rating, Cancun sits at 45.2, the same safety level as Jacksonville, Florida and Kamloops, Canada.

7. Puebla, Puebla

Puebla is another cultural hub for Mexico. Its food scene rivals Oaxaca with famous dishes like Chiles en Nogada and mole. It is home to one of Mexico’s largest Universities with a lot to do, including walking inside one of the largest pyramids in the world, enjoying the views of the active volcano Popocatépetl, or grabbing a cocktail in one of the city’s many jazz bars.

According to Numbeo’s safety index rating, Puebla City sits at 41.9, just 0.1 difference from Paris, France. We’ve visited Puebla three times, and every time we have a blast. There is so much to do and see here. You can take a cooking class, visit one of the city’s 365 churches, or learn the art of Talavera tiles.

➡ Read Next: Your Guide to Puebla Mexico Food (13 Dishes You Shouldn’t Miss) ⬅

8. Loreto, Baja California Sur

Loreto is a pueblo magico and expat hot spot along the coast of Baja California Sur. It’s a small town that at first glance may not seem like it’s worth visiting. But there is a lot to enjoy here! We spent over a week and a half here on two separate trips and were constantly finding new, fun things to do.

It’s an extremely safe town filled with loads of history, charm, and good food. If you want to see some of our top recommendations for things to do and places to eat in Loreto, check out our guides below.

• The 10 Best Things to Do in Loreto Mexico
• The 10 Best Restaurants in Loreto Mexico (Right Now)
• A Complete Guide To Visiting San Javier Mission in Loreto Mexico

9. San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato

San Miguel de Allende is an expat hotspot and a popular destination for wealthy Mexican Nationals. It’s consistently voted one of the top places to visit in the world – and it’s easy to see why. It’s charming, colorful, historic, and has loads of luxury activities like soaking in a hot spring or wine tasting nearby.

According to Numbeo’s safety index rating, San Miguel de Allende sits at 41.9, not far off from the safety level in Bari, Italy, or Bordeaux, France. We’ve visited San Miguel de Allende twice and cannot wait to return. It’s a beautiful, safe destination worth visiting!

• 3 Days in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico: A Perfect Itinerary
• Is San Miguel de Allende Worth Visiting? Yes! Here’s Why

10. Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City is the capital of Mexico, and it’s own Federal District. Considering it’s the eighth-largest city in the world, crime is something to be concerned about in parts of the city. However, most tourists stay in popular areas like Condessa, Roma Norte, or Juarez, which are incredibly safe areas to visit.

According to Numbeo’s safety index rating, Mexico City is ranked 33.2, indicating more crime than the other cities on the list. However, popular U.S. cities like Detroit, Saint Louis, New Orleans, and Albuquerque have higher crime rates.

We’ve visited Mexico City three times now and never had an issue, but we are aware of what neighborhoods to avoid. Mexico City is one of the best places to visit in Mexico, and safety for aware travelers should not be a concern.

• The Chinampas of Xochimilco: Mexico City’s Floating Gardens
• Where to Eat in Mexico City: 25 Restaurants You Can’t Miss
• Teotihuacan Pyramids: Must-Do Day Trip From Mexico City
• 3 Days in Mexico City: The Best First-Time Itinerary

11. La Paz, Baja California Sur

La Paz is the capital city of Baja California Sur. It’s got a distinct vibe to it with murals, brightly colored colonial homes, and a very busy city center that reminded me of the larger cities in mainland Mexico.

It’s also home to some of Mexico’s most beautiful beaches and a National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can snorkel with sea lions. There’s no shortage of awesome things to do here and it’s a very safe and tourist-friendly city.

Side note: If you do RV here, read reviews for Playa Tecolote. Petty theft and break-ins are super common on this popular RV camping beach. We didn’t see issues elsewhere (likely opportunistic theft).

• 10 Amazing Things To Do in La Paz, Mexico
• Is Visiting Balandra Beach Worth It?
• How to Swim with Sea Lions in La Paz, Baja Mexico

12. Los Cabos and Todos Santos, Baja California Sur

Los Cabos is the Cancun of the Baja California peninsula. Its beautiful cliff-lined beaches are packed with fancy all-inclusive resorts and hotels. It’s a very popular destination for people who live on the West Coast and rightfully so – it’s stunning.

It’s become a bit of a party scene, meaning drugs (and the cartel) can be found there, but it’s still incredibly safe. The goal of this region is tourism, and the area works hard to protect its safety. Todos Santos, about an hour north of there, is another fantastic place to visit. It’s also considered one of the safest places in Mexico and is a charming pueblo magico.

• 7 Unmissable Day Trips from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
• Is Todos Santos Mexico Worth Visiting? (Yes! Here’s Why)

13. San Blas and Sayulita, Nayarit

San Blas and Sayulita are the only places on this list that we haven’t personally visited. Not because we don’t want to or don’t feel it’s safe. Quite the contrary, it’s revered as one of the safest places in Mexico along the Pacific Coast. Unfortunately, we just haven’t made it there in our travels.

Sayulita is a chic beach town packed with cute cafes, yoga studios, and surf shops. San Blas is a bit more authentic than Sayulita, which has become quite touristy. However, San Blas and Sayulita are supposed to be awesome, safe, and fun to visit.

14. Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo

Cozumel and Isla Mujeres are two islands located about a 45-minute to 1-hour boat ride off the shores of Quintana Roo. Both are very popular tourist destinations. Cozumel is the larger of the two and is even home to a cruise port. We experienced both on a day trip, from Playa del Carmen and Cancun, and enjoyed our stay.

Many people choose to book accommodations on the islands and truly embrace the island life. The islands are fairly small and extremely safe. You certainly don’t need to worry about safety here!

Other safe cities in Mexico

While these 14 destinations are some of the safest places to visit in Mexico, they aren’t the only safe areas. They are simply some of the most popular destinations for tourists to visit with safe ratings.

Some of our favorite places we visited in our year and a half in Mexico were tiny towns that tourists don’t always frequent, but remain incredibly safe.

Pueblo Magicos like Xiltla in San Luis Potosí, Tepoztlán in Morelos, Valle de Bravo in Estado de Mexico (where we saw the monarch migration), and countless towns like Coatepe, Xico, or Orizaba in the state of Veracruz.

➡ Read Next: A Guide to Mexico Pueblos Magicos + 10 Magic Towns to Visit ⬅

Hopefully, this guide has shown you that there are countless safe places in Mexico available for you to visit. The list goes well beyond these 15 safest places to visit in Mexico and includes many beautiful, smaller cities that might not be as popular with tourists.

FAQ’s about the Safest Places in Mexico