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Mexico's safest destinations
Crime in Mexico has kept travelers away from some parts of the country that are riddled with the results of drug cartel operations. Everything from murder to mass graves and the acts of brutal drug lords has caused the U.S. Department of State to issue warnings against travel south of the border. Still, there are a number of places deemed safe by a variety of sources that are worth a look if not a trip to visit.Our first five safe places to visit come from the San Francisco Chronicle's Five Safest Places in Mexico. At only 1.1 deaths per 100,000, the agricultural state of Tlaxcala is rated as Mexico's safest state followed by the Yucatán at 1.3 that has a well-developed tourist infrastructure and thousands of archaeological sites.
Up next is Puebla at 1.85 with 2,600 historic buildings, a wealth of archaeological sites, and virtually nonstop festivals originating in five distinct pre-hispanic cultures ahead of the small state of Querétaro with just 2.02 deaths per 100,000. Best-known for its role in ending Spanish rule, the state also claims three of Mexico's major wineries and maintains a Cheese and Wine Museum.
Gallery: 10 safe places to visit in Mexico
Renewed Baja California Sur, sfgate tells us, was the first flash point when President Calderón upset the drug cartels' equilibrium and has been barely touched by drug violence. Adventure travelers will find hiking, kayaking, surfing and windsurfing, zip-lines, cave paintings and hot springs here.
Tapping Lonely Planet for more safe places to visit in Mexico we find Mexico City, now cleaned up to be a 'Disney version' of its former gritty self, Todos Santos where "well-heeled New Mexico artists, organic farmers and even some Hollywood types have snapped up property and put down roots" and San Miguel de Allende where regular festivals, fireworks and parades dominate the local scene.
"If it's resorts you want," says Lonely Planet, Huatulco is a rare success story in recent resort development. This former fishing village has become the Oaxacan beach resort of choice lately, benefiting from its gentle development plan that keeps much of the 12 miles of sandy shoreline completely unspoiled and the town under six-stories high."
Finally, rapidly growing Playa Del Carmen comes in to round out our list of ten safe places to visit in Mexico. More than a day trip for cruise passengers, visitors come from all over the world in what looks to be a very safe destination, just one of the many we found in Mexico.
"If it's resorts you want," says Lonely Planet, Huatulco is a rare success story in recent resort development. This former fishing village has become the Oaxacan beach resort of choice lately, benefiting from its gentle development plan that keeps much of the 12 miles of sandy shoreline completely unspoiled and the town under six-stories high."
Finally, rapidly growing Playa Del Carmen comes in to round out our list of ten safe places to visit in Mexico. More than a day trip for cruise passengers, visitors come from all over the world in what looks to be a very safe destination, just one of the many we found in Mexico.
Flickr photo by RussBowling
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, Surfing, Festivals and Events, Mexico, Travel Health, Central America, Travel Security
Reader Comments (Page 6 of 9)
Arthur Jan 22nd 2012 6:34PM
I have to agree with the pro travelers on going to Mexico. Stay away from the Border towns! Mexico City is as safe a place as you can find anywhere. It's propably safer than New orleans. So keep to the recommended areas if you travel south. But most of all go someplace comfortable. The undertow is more deangerous than anything else in some pleasant resort spots. The well advised travellor is the happiest travellor
Friedwman Jan 22nd 2012 6:42PM
Playa del Carmen is one of the most beautiful vacation spots I've ever seen, and the resort community there is very safe. I'm partial to the Riu Palace, but there are lots of all-inclusive resorts there, so if you're wimpy you don't even have to leave the hotel grounds.
Paul McGibboney Jan 22nd 2012 6:42PM
Safest place to visit in Mexico---Texas...Safest place to visit in Texas---Mexico.
RUCRAZEE Jan 22nd 2012 6:52PM
I would think the safest place in Mexico now is Hmmmm Maybe South Carolina.
KheSahn068 Jan 22nd 2012 6:59PM
Well, now that the drug cartels know where to find the tourists and how "safe" a place is according to the news, they will want to take part in this celebration of life, too. This will be an untapped market and as greedy as the cartels are, will want a large piece of it. So, how safe will these area's be in 6 months? Let's wait and see.
newport Jan 22nd 2012 7:15PM
IT'S A JOKE! THERE'S NO SAFE PLACE IN MEXICO ANYMORE. THIS ARTICLE IS LUDICROUS.
chanek Jan 22nd 2012 7:34PM
Its All Smoke & Mirrors: Watch your luggage contents disappear in the airport, visiting on a Mexico street my mexican aunt had her chain\ ripped from her neck, by auto my uncle was followed across the border & forced by police via a team shakedown who make more from tourist wallets than they do in a pay week. Young Spring Breakers will find pure Hell: with falsely planted drugs, imprisonment> Corruption is the main agenda and is overwhelming this dangerous country. Alas even the Young children are Desperados. My Aunt says...Stay Away.
Marsha Jan 22nd 2012 7:29PM
WHY would AMERICANS want to go to mexico to spend OUR money, and most likely get killed while spening OUR MONEY in their crappy country? Isn't it bad enough that odumbo is alllowing mexicans to come into OUR COUNTRY and take what few jobs there are here away from AMERICANS? Now ILLEGAL ALIENS can not only come into AMERICA when they please thanks to odumbo, but they can now also draw SS checks because they have worked here under the table and PAID NOTHING into OUR SS System. Do you still wonder why SS is going broke???? It is not only our SS system, but EVERYTHING that odumbo has laid his hands on. WE THE PEOPLE really must WAKE UP and STOP odumbo now. IF ever there was a "President" that needs to be IMPEACHED and arrested for being a TRAITOR, or A TERRORIST it IS odumbo. He is taking OUR COUNTRY and giving it away to ILLEGAL ALIENS piece by piece, or selling us out to the chinese. ALL the new bridges he was up giving a campaign speach about jobs for AMERICANS, well guess what, ALL THE CONTRACTS went to the chinese and they are being allowed to bring in workers from china to do the work. UNDERSTAND EVERY WORD I AM SAYING, IT IS THE chinese CONTRACTORS AND THE chinese WORKERS MAKING THE MONEY FROM THE BUILDING OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN AMERICA, NOT AMERICANS. WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH???????
mike Jan 22nd 2012 8:12PM
your just a redneck!!
miguel Jan 22nd 2012 8:34PM
Marsha, you are a RETARD!!!
Heather Robles Jan 23rd 2012 12:16PM
Marsh get a life really! And get educated while you are at it :)
billy Jan 22nd 2012 7:34PM
there is no place safe for the white man in mexico
billy Jan 22nd 2012 7:37PM
there is no safe place for the white man in messico
Ron Jan 22nd 2012 7:43PM
I was watching a show about the Mafia & they said the most dangerious cut throat killers are the Mexican Mafia. There are into anything & you'd Kill you & your family with out hesitation . The said that they are the Hannibal Lector of the Mafia!
Wayne Jan 22nd 2012 7:58PM
Anyone ever been in a Mexican Jail?
Some friends and I took a wrong turn one night and found ourselves in an industrial area in Laredo one night. When we turned around, a VW bug police car with one headlight out pulled us over, and took us to jail. We didn't ever find out why because no-one could speak english anymore.
They stole almost all of our money and let us go the next morning. We were all US Navy, and they knew the government would be looking for us. There's no telling what would have happened if we were just common tourists.
ANY American that goes ANYWHERE in Mexico is taking a BIG chance.
Sammy Jan 22nd 2012 7:59PM
Commerce drives many things and lack thereof is the motivation that drives everything. The media is playing it down so when the drug wars present to America we will be active acceptants. I love Mexico and lived in Mexico City for a few months. The people are absolutely wonderful and when you consider 21 million plus inhabitants it is not like a New York city. The citizens were genuine, non-combative and "down to earth". I hope that Mexico is restored. Drugs are the cash crops that drive many mexican "black ops" that exist in every government today. I wish them well. I will not travel to Mexico until that day arrives.
Jack11 Jan 22nd 2012 8:16PM
The only safe place in Mexico is called New Mexico,USA
Skip Motes Jan 22nd 2012 8:40PM
I want to go to Club Desire, but My girlfriend is afraid to go to Mexico and flat out refuses!
Laura Brown Jan 22nd 2012 8:26PM
Let me see, what country has the biggest drug consumption problem in the planet? The U.S.
What country has over 100 gun manufacturers that sell their goods to anyone, so they can pay for their mortgages? The U.S.
Who is the most hated and least respected country in the world, including those countries in Europa and Asia that are supposed to be alies? The U.S.
Americans bad economy makes its government and media piss on Mexico by creating more negativity for Mexico than what the thuth is, so that hotels on Orlando, California, Vegas, Atlantic City and othe destinations within the U.S. can fill out rooms instead of traveling to by far the most beautiful beaches and tourist attractions in the Western Hemisphere (Mexico).
The whole world knows how hipocratic Americans are.
richard Jan 22nd 2012 8:30PM
Don't know where this writer has been recently. Sure hasn't been in Mexico City. The news has been full of stories of the "rich" Americans kidnapped and robbed around there.