Travelling to Mexico? Keep These In Mind

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Mexico. Drug Hit Victim

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uploaded by Fripouille

Large numbers of Canadians head south during winter for some cheap sun.  The situation has been deteriorating in Mexico for quite some time.  The Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and Inernational Trade has warned that more than the normal degree of caution is necessary for travelling there.

"Canadians travelling to Mexico should exercise a high degree of caution due to occasional demonstrations and protests, high levels of criminal activity and violence throughout the country.

Canadians should be particularly vigilant in northern Mexico and all cities bordering the United States, particularly when travelling to the cities of Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez, as firefights between the military and drug cartels can occur without warning at any time. Travellers should monitor local news before travelling to areas affected by turf wars."   Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

Tourists to Mexico are warned:

• keep to the toll roads if driving, as they are safer
• around Oaxaca expect incidents, roadblocks, clashes
• armed robbery, purse snatching, pick-pocketing is frequent and rarely prosecuted
• in urban areas expect and avoid demonstrations and protests
• be careful of crossfire between armed clashes between law enforcement and drug groups, also turf wars
• be careful changing money.  Try to avoid changing money at the airport
• assaults are common, sometimes with the collusion of hotel employees, taxi drivers, security personnel.
• kidnapping is frequent in urban areas, sometimes with the help of taxi drivers.  People are forced to withdraw money from ATM machines.
• avoid releasing personal information to friendly strangers.  A scam exists whereby the scammer learns of the contact number of friend/family at home.  They then phone to say the tourist is in trouble -- jail, hospital -- and needs money wired.
• dress down and avoid wearing any expensive jewellery
• when going to bars and nightclubs, go with a known group and stay with them.

You can have a good holiday in Mexico, but in order to stay safe, you must exercise a high degree of caution.

The US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs also has detailed travel information for US Citizens.

A related article by a NP contributor is Spring Break in Mexico: Alcohol, Drugs, Beaches and Bloodshed