Skip to content
  • Animals
  • Buildings
    • Airports
    • Bridges
    • Castles
    • Churches
    • Dams
    • Forts
    • Hospitals
    • Malls
    • Piers
    • Prisons
    • Stadiums
    • Statues
    • Temples
    • Universities
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Shows
  • Food
  • Nature
    • Canyons
    • Cliffs
    • Earthquakes
    • Flowers
    • Islands
    • Lakes
    • Mountains
    • National parks
    • Oceans
    • Rivers
    • Trees
    • Valleys
    • Volcanoes
    • Waterfalls
  • Things to do
    • Aquariums
    • Museums
    • Zoos
  • Travel
    • Accommodations
    • Bars
    • Beaches
    • Camping
    • Cities
    • Countries
    • Day trips
    • Gardens
    • Holidays
    • Hotels
    • Places
    • Products
    • Restaurants
    • Towns
    • Vans
  • World facts
Menu

Journeyz

  • Animals
  • Buildings
    • Airports
    • Bridges
    • Castles
    • Churches
    • Dams
    • Forts
    • Hospitals
    • Malls
    • Piers
    • Prisons
    • Stadiums
    • Statues
    • Temples
    • Universities
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Shows
  • Food
  • Nature
    • Canyons
    • Cliffs
    • Earthquakes
    • Flowers
    • Islands
    • Lakes
    • Mountains
    • National parks
    • Oceans
    • Rivers
    • Trees
    • Valleys
    • Volcanoes
    • Waterfalls
  • Things to do
    • Aquariums
    • Museums
    • Zoos
  • Travel
    • Accommodations
    • Bars
    • Beaches
    • Camping
    • Cities
    • Countries
    • Day trips
    • Gardens
    • Holidays
    • Hotels
    • Places
    • Products
    • Restaurants
    • Towns
    • Vans
  • World facts
Hit enter to search or esc to close
Home / Cities / The 12 Most Dangerous Places In Mexico

The 12 Most Dangerous Places In Mexico

Mexico is a pleasant country with friendly people. But it’s also a large country and this means not everybody has the best intentions. Furthermore, Mexico is the last state on the route of South Americans trying to get to the US which means some areas of the country are facing a rise in violent crime.

At the moment, your best bet is to avoid these areas completely and to follow the instructions of the US government on which cities and areas are safe to visit. Until then, you can inform yourself of the following cities which are known as unsafe.

Table of Contents

  • 10. Coahuila
  • 9. Celaya
  • 8. Acapulco
  • 7. Chihuahua
  • 6. Tamaulipas
  • 5. Tepic
  • 4. Tijuana
  • 3. Ciudad Juárez
  • 2. Nuevo León
  • 1. Guadalajara

10. Coahuila

The state of Coahuila is not a safe place in Mexico. While nature and other attractions here might make you think otherwise, it’s a Level 3 no-go area on the US travel advisory board list. You should stay clear of this area mostly because local law enforcement can’t get a grip on violent crime. Their inability to respond coupled with crime associated with gambling establishments where locals and foreigners are always caught in the crossfire means you should stay clear at all costs.

9. Celaya

The city of Celaya has been seen as a tourist hotspot over the past few years. However, the extra cash tourists brings into the city hasn’t been seen in how it’s organized as crime is on the rise. The city might still be a tourist attraction for locals, but you should stay clear as a foreigner if you don’t want to get in trouble.

8. Acapulco

You might be familiar with Acapulco as a tourist destination, especially with its luxurious all-inclusive hotels. But things can be a bit different once you get outside these resorts. Acapulco is still very poor. While you would expect locals working at these resorts to living a better life, most of them and other residents live below the poverty line. As a result, the struggles and crimes are frequent here.

7. Chihuahua

You might think this city sounds cute as it shares the name of a small dog breed but things are different than they first look. Authorities have struggled to keep it under control since 2013. It’s also on the list of many international organizations as a no-go area. So what’s the problem with this city? It lies on the route to the US border where kingpins try and smuggle illegal substances into New Mexico. If you traveling through the area to safer parts of the country make sure you don’t get out after nightfall.

6. Tamaulipas

Located close to the US border with Texas, Tamaulipas is a level 4 no-go area according to the US Department of State. This area has claimed the lives of police officers, civilians, and criminals. Cartels always fight for supremacy in this crucial route, mainly for smuggling substances into the US. Much of the state’s population lives in poverty as tourists never come here. Police officers also avoid working here as some of the world’s most notorious gangsters are frequently seen here.

5. Tepic

Tepic doesn’t look like a typical unsafe city. Its impressive Spanish colonial buildings make it look quite interesting. However, violent crime is very high in the city located in Western Mexico. State authorities recommend people not to go there as crime is out of control. Tepic is one of the new cities to be put on the bad reputation list in Mexico.

4. Tijuana

You might think that Tijuana’s proximity to San Diego would benefit its residents, but things are very different here. It’s a Level 2 no-go area in Mexico and while it does see tourists, it’s generally unsafe. Small crime is not as problematic as a large crime here since many kingpins see it as a gateway to drug smuggling into the US.

3. Ciudad Juárez

The city is located close to El Paso and it offers one of the most problematic areas to control by the Mexican government. The army has been sent several times over the past few years. Several high profile arrests among local corrupt politicians also shook the city. However, tourists are still found here as many travel to the city easily from the US.

It seems things aren’t going to be any easier for tourists who’d like to explore the city further. The murder rate is still high. Over 3,000 people were murdered here in 2010 alone. Since then, drug trafficking has remained a serious concern and it often involves both Mexicans and other nationals traveling from South America to the US.

2. Nuevo León

While the city is on the radar of outdoor sports fans, it’s about the only safe place in the region. Once outside city limits, you might not even know what you’re going to face. The border state is close to the US but it also attracts all types of violent crime with people from all over South America heading to the United States.

1. Guadalajara

Guadalajara and the entire state of Jalisco should be areas you should avoid in Mexico. It’s almost impossible not to get into trouble here, especially as a foreigner drawing in plenty of unwanted attention.

It’s believed over 40 drug cartels fight here over territorial supremacy. Most of these cartels are based on the outskirts of Guadalajara. But the rest of the state is not safe either. It was only recently that a group of students was killed trying to film a documentary here. New cartels are also reported in the area frequently and the massive shift of underground power makes it impossible to visit carefree.

While cartels don’t necessarily target tourists, this doesn’t mean you should visit the Level 3 no-go state. Cartels such as Jalisco New Generation are based here. These are not the types of criminals you want to face. The cartel operates as a semi-militarized organization. It declared war on most other cartels. Eventually, the Jalisco New Generation cartel aims to control the entire city of Guadalajara for profits and territorial influence.

Tags: Dangerous mexico place places
Previous Article The 10 Safest Cities In Mexico
Next Article The 10 Best Places for Snorkeling in Florida

Related Posts

How Much Coastline Does Mexico Have?

The total ocean shoreline of Mexico is about 5,797 miles. Of that total, about 4,560 miles border the Pacific and the Gulf of California, and about 1,743 miles face the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. At roughly 20 percent

Read More about How Much Coastline Does Mexico Have?

What Are the Most Dangerous Beaches in Florida?

Whether you prefer the glistening white-sand beaches of Florida’s Gulf Coast or the shiny golden beaches of the state’s Atlantic Coast, the Sunshine State has a whole lot to offer for every kind of beachgoer out there. In fact, Florida

Read More about What Are the Most Dangerous Beaches in Florida?

Why Are Pukka Fish Dangerous?

Beauty comes with a price, whether it’s money or health risks. Fish, in particular, aren’t considered just food anymore as many people use various forms of fish for pedicures. No, you read it correctly! The Garra rufa fish, commonly called

Read More about Why Are Pukka Fish Dangerous?

Does Juarez (Mexico) Have an Airport?

The city of Juarez, Mexico, does indeed have an airport. The Abraham González International Airport has IATA designation “CJS” and ICAO designation “MMCS.” Let’s take a look at this airport to discover how many passengers use it, what its terminals

Read More about Does Juarez (Mexico) Have an Airport?

The 10 Biggest Cities in North America

The largest cities in North America house some of the best attractions for tourists and attract millions of people from around the world. These large cities also have an impressive past as they all gained popularity in just a few

Read More about The 10 Biggest Cities in North America

What is the Legal Drinking Age in Mexico?

If you’re planning to hang out with friends in Merida or travel to Cancun for spring break, you may be looking forward to some tropical drinks and beer. Everyone in your group needs to understand the Mexican laws regarding the

Read More about What is the Legal Drinking Age in Mexico?

Table of Contents

  • 10. Coahuila
  • 9. Celaya
  • 8. Acapulco
  • 7. Chihuahua
  • 6. Tamaulipas
  • 5. Tepic
  • 4. Tijuana
  • 3. Ciudad Juárez
  • 2. Nuevo León
  • 1. Guadalajara
  • What Is the Correct Order of Metric Units in Order from Small to Large?
    May 24, 2022
  • The World’s 13 Largest Bauxite Producing Countries
    May 24, 2022
  • How Many Mountain Lions Are in New York?
    May 23, 2022
  • What Is the Biggest Lake in Idaho?
    May 22, 2022
  • What Is the Richest City in Arkansas?
    May 22, 2022
  • Which Beaches in California Have Sharks?
    May 22, 2022
  • How Long Can a Person Focus on a Task?
    May 21, 2022
  • The 30 Largest Lakes in the United States
    May 20, 2022
  • Do Wind Turbines Increase Global Warming?
    May 19, 2022
  • How Much Coastline Does Mexico Have?
    May 18, 2022
  • What Are Living and Non-Living Natural Resources?
    May 17, 2022
  • How Are People from Hamburg Called?
    May 17, 2022
© Journeyz
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • About us
  • Contact