Mexico Travel Advice

Hurricane Bud, a Cat 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, is moving north-north eastward and is currently forecast to be near or just offshore the south western coast of Mexico late Friday and Saturday.  A tropical storm warning is in effect for the coast of Mexico from Punta San Telmo westward to Cabo Corrientes.  A hurricane watch is in effect for the coast of Mexico from Punta San Telmo westward to Cabo Corrientes.  You should monitor the local media and follow the advice of the Mexican authorities.  Further information can be found on the National Hurricane Centre website

The hurricane season in Mexico normally runs from June to November and can affect both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.  See Natural Disasters - Hurricanes. 

Authorities in Mexico have raised the alert level for the Popocatépetl volcano which lies about 65 km southeast of Mexico City, due to increasing activity. It is now at the fifth step on a seven-level warning scale. The volcano continues to have elevated levels of seismicity, and produces frequent steam and ash emissions rising about 1 km above the crater.  No one has been evacuated yet, but the alert level has been raised as a precaution.

An earthquake, reported to be 5.7 on the Richter scale, was felt on Friday 13 April in Mexico City. The epicentre is reported as being 9km Southwest of Pinotepa Nacional, in the state of Oaxaca. There are no reports of any damage or casualties.

Most visits to Mexico are trouble-free but crime and kidnappings can be a problem, particularly in urban areas. See Safety and Security - General and Safety and Security - Crime.

We advise against all but essential travel to Ciudad Juarez, where there is a high level of drug-related violence and criminal activity.  There has been an increase in violent incidents in the northern states of Chihuahua, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas, including in and around Monterrey and the border areas of Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, and in Tampico. We advise against all but essential land crossings between the US and Mexico in Ciudad Juarez following an alert issued by the US Consulate in Ciudad Juarez on 15 July 2011. See Safety and Security – General, Safety and Security – Crime, Safety and Security - State-specific Information (Chihuahua, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas) and Safety and Security – Road Travel.

There has been a significant rise in bus hijackings, car-jackings, abductions, robberies and illegal roadblocks in the Monterrey metropolitan area and on highways leading from Monterrey to the US border areas across the states of Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon. You should exercise extreme caution when travelling on the highways between Monterrey, Nuevo Laredo and Reynosa, as there have been reports of disappearances. See Safety and Security – General, Safety and Security - Crime, Safety and Security - State-specific Information (Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas), and Safety and Security - Road Travel.

There have been a number of violent car-jackings and robberies along the Pacific Highway. You should exercise particular caution along this route, travel in convoy where possible, and avoid travel at night. See Safety and Security - General, Safety and Security - Crime, Safety and Security - State-specific Information (Sinaloa), and Safety and Security - Road Travel.

295,831 British Nationals visited Mexico in 2010 (Source: Instituto Nacional de Migración). See General - Consular Assistance Statistics.

There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See Safety and Security - Terrorism.

You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General - Insurance.

Source: Foreign & Commonwealth Office