Considering visiting Mexico but concerned about safety?
Fortunately, Mexico is much safer than the media would have you believe. Though the country has its troubles, much of the crime and violence here is limited to specific areas, such as large cities and border towns.
In the name of safety, you’ll find overwhelming advice to stick to the well trodden tourist trail or inside the walls of an all-inclusive resort. However, we couldn’t disagree more.
Some of the most popular areas to visit such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, actually have a larger number of petty criminals that target tourists.
This doesn’t mean you have to avoid these places on your vacation, as with a little extra precaution, you’ll likely have a trouble-free stay. However, we challenge you to get off the beaten track and discover more of Mexico.
The magic of Mexico happens outside of its resorts. From gorgeous white beaches, lush green mountains and epic waterfalls to colourful cities, historic sites and vibrant culture, there is so much to explore in this extraordinary country.
To help you make the most of your trip while staying safe, we’ve curated a list of the 12 safest places to visit in Mexico.
Why trust our Mexico recommendations?
I’m Megan, Moonsand writer and author of this post. So why should you trust me?
As a traveller myself I’ve never appreciated generic blogs that are clearly written by people who’ve never stepped foot into a country, especially when it comes to talking about safety.
I spent over two months backpacking Mexico with my partner Dan. We made it our mission to discover the road less travelled, see as much of the country as possible, and really get to know each region and its locals. To test the safety even further we even did a lot of hitchhiking!
Though we had no issues throughout our trip (apart from some unfortunate food poisoning), some places felt safer than others.
Using my own experiences, and the experiences of fellow backpackers, holiday-makers and solo travellers we met along the way, I’m sharing a list of the safest places to visit in Mexico that you know you can trust.
With that said, let’s get into it!
Read more: Fancy flying in style? Check out our expert tips on finding cheap business class flights.
12 Safe Tourist Destinations in Mexico
1. Merida
Situated in the Yucatan Peninsula, is the picturesque, colonial city of Merida. Though this is the largest city in the region, it’s considered the safest city to visit in Mexico. Not only this, but it’s actually been voted the second safest city in all of North America after Quebec according to CEOWorld Magazine.
Its extremely low crime rates can be accredited somewhat to the large number of surveillance cameras spread throughout the city. They’re pretty much on all street corners pointing in every direction, which makes any serious crime practically unheard of.
Having said that, it’s still best to keep your valuables safe, particularly in busy areas, as pickpockets can operate here.
Carrying digital currency cards instead of cash here could be one way to protect yourself from pickpockets. To help, we wrote about the 4 best digit currency cards when travelling abroad. You can read more here.
One other thing to watch out for are common scams. While out in the city, you may be approached by a seemingly friendly local pointing you in the direction of an amazing shop that’s ‘only open today’.
These shops will try to sell you authentic Panama hats and hammocks made of a special material called ‘sisal’ or ‘hennequen’. These items are fake, but they charge extortionate prices and aren’t too happy if you decide not to buy from them. To save yourself the hassle, don’t take any shopping advice from people on the street.
Aside from this you’ll have nothing to worry about in Merida. This beautiful, lively city is a great place to spend a few days or a perfect base to visit the rest of the region from. It’s also the best place to spend the Day of the Dead in the Yucatan, with a three day celebration full of dancing and parades.
2. Valladolid
Not far from Merida, is the hidden gem of Valladolid. This city is often missed by tourists, or only visited as a stop-off on a tour to wonder of the world, Chichen Itza.
Valladolid has a safe, chilled out and welcoming atmosphere, with friendly locals and delicious food. Crime rates are very low, meaning you’re unlikely to have any issues here.
The colourful, cobblestone streets of the old town are a photographer's heaven, and at night the town's vibrant cultural scene comes to life. The parks and plazas are bustling, with street vendors selling different kinds of regional foods, and locals performing traditional dances.
Though the city lacks beaches, it’s instead surrounded by hundreds of cenotes with inviting, crystal clear water. You’ll find many tours that visit cenotes, but you can also rent a bike and visit them yourself. A favourite is Cenote Oxman which has a rope swing for an added bit of fun, or the beautiful cave cenotes of Xkeken and Samula.
Another draw is its proximity to the famous Chichen Itza, and the less popular ancient ruins of Ek Balam.
Planning a trip to Valladolid? You can find more things to do here!
3. Isla Holbox
If a beach holiday is what you’re looking for, the small island of Holbox off the coast of the Yucatan is the perfect place to go.
In recent years, Holbox has become a popular island destination, but has managed to avoid major developments and the rising crime rates that often follow.
Though the island has great tourist infrastructure, it still remains rustic and charming. Here you’ll find gorgeous white beaches with clear turquoise waters, colourful streets painted with impressive murals, great food and lively bars.
Whether you want to relax at a beach bar, swim with whale sharks, kayak the mangroves or walk along the sand banks of Punta Mosquito, you won’t be short of things to do here.
It’s a perfect alternative to the popular beach resorts of Cancun and Tulum. As tourism has grown here, these places have become more seedy and less safe, particularly due to the rising demand for drugs that has invited in small drug gangs.
In Tulum, tourists have even been caught in the crossfire of rival drug gangs, while enjoying food in popular restaurants or staying at hostels. For this reason, we highly recommend heading to Holbox instead.
However, it’s best not to visit in the rainy season or after periods of intense rainfall as the streets here flood easily. But since it’s a walkable island with no cars and only golf carts to get around, it shouldn’t be a problem if you don’t mind getting your feet wet.
4. Bacalar
This small town, built along the shores of Bacalar Lagoon in Quintana Roo, is another great beach resort alternative.
Though it’s not a coastal location, the bright blue waters of the lagoon have earnt Bacalar the nickname of the ‘Maldives of Mexico’. This coupled with a fun, laid back vibe, affordable, yet comfortable boutique hotels and hostels, and a great food scene, makes it a must-visit destination.
This once quiet, hidden gem has become more and more popular over the years. However, it’s still not nearly as busy as the likes of Cancun.
With the rising number of tourists, Mexico has added some additional safety measures, such as deploying units of bilingual, land-based tourism police to protect visitors from petty criminals and organised crime.
With these extra efforts, Bacalar should remain one of the safest destinations in Mexico.
5. Oaxaca City
Moving away from the Caribbean coast, another popular state to visit is Oaxaca. In this writer's opinion, it is one of the most beautiful states in Mexico, offering vibrant, lively cities, quaint towns hidden in lush green mountains, and incredible beaches.
Oaxaca City is the capital of this region and a cultural hub with some of Mexico’s best food.
Discovering the colonial streets, taking a cooking class or visiting the nearby petrified waterfall of Hierve el Agua are among the best things to do here. Not to mention that it’s the best city in all of Mexico to experience the Day of the Dead celebrations.
Oaxaca City is a safe city to visit, however muggings and petty crime are not unheard of. This means you should take some extra precautions such as not walking alone at night through quiet parts of town, and watching your alcohol consumption to stay alert.
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6. Puerto Escondido
Oaxaca’s most popular beach destination is Puerto Escondido.
This lively surf town has something for everyone. Whether you want to party along Zicatela beach, enjoy good food and hippy island vibes in La Punta, or learn to surf on the most beautiful beach of Playa Carrizalillo, it’s hard not to love.
With a recent rise in popularity, safety here has decreased slightly due to petty crime. Despite this, it’s still a safe destination to visit and an amazing alternative to Cancun or Tulum.
Make sure to take normal precautions here, such as not walking alone at night and keeping your valuables secure and safe, not leaving them unattended at the beach.
7. Mexico City
You might be surprised to see Mexico City on this list as it doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to safety.
While there are some areas that you should definitely avoid such as Iztapalapa, Tepito, Neza, Ecatepec, and Doctores, this huge capital city has plenty of neighbourhoods that are perfectly safe to visit.
One of the most beautiful and safe neighbourhoods is Roma Norte. This neighbourhood boasts tree lined streets, stunning architecture, a laid back cafe culture, and vibrant night-life.
Other great areas not to miss are La Condesa, Zona Rosa and Polanco. Don’t forget to visit the city's Historic Centre, but be a little more vigilant here as the bustling streets make a great playground for pickpockets.
As long as you take normal precautions and don’t wander into any neighbourhoods that you shouldn’t be in, you’ll have a perfectly safe stay in Mexico City.
8. San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende is a truly stunning city located in the colonial highlands of Mexico. This city is popular with American, Canadian and European expats that make up 10% of the population here.
Its UNESCO World Heritage status has meant that all buildings here have maintained their original, historic appearance. Its photogenic, narrow, cobblestone streets, alongside a vibrant culture, thriving arts scene, leafy parks, and relaxing thermal spring spas, make it a city not to be missed.
San Miguel de Allende has a low crime rate making it safe for tourists to visit. As it’s a city, you still need to exercise caution, keeping your valuables secured and avoiding isolated areas after dark.
9. Guanajuato City
Neighbouring San Miguel de Allende is this writer's favourite Mexican city, Guanajuato City.
This bustling student city is situated in the mountains, with colourful, cobblestone streets stretching up into the hillsides.
Through the day you can visit the famous El Callejon del Beso (Alley of the Kiss), ride the funicular for a panoramic view of the city, or head to one of the many museums, including Museo de las Momias (Museum of the Mummies) that houses the smallest mummy in the world.
But at night is when the city really comes alive, with locals eating and dancing on the streets to the sound of talented musicians playing traditional live music.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, make sure to take the same precautions here as we’ve recommended in the rest of the cities. Keep your valuables secure, especially in busier areas, and don’t walk alone through quiet streets at night.
10. Huasteca Potosina
Next on our list of safest places to visit in Mexico, is the region of Huasteca Potosina. Located in the state of San Luis Potosi, is a region blessed with a unique topography, home to arguably some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world.
Due to naturally occurring minerals in the area, the waterfalls here come in the most incredible shades of blue. From deep blue, to turquoise, to a milky blue and everything in between. This, surrounded by lush jungle, canyons and caves, make it an alluring destination to visit.
The reason we have named the full region rather than one city, is because the natural attractions here are spread across all of Huasteca Potosina, close to a number of little towns.
The city of Ciudad Valles is a great place to base yourself due to its transport connections. But you can also opt to stay in multiple locations such as Tamasopo, El Naranjo or Xilitla.
This region is generally safe for tourists and we have not heard of or experienced any issues here. As long as you take the same precautions as you would anywhere, you can enjoy a trouble-free visit to this awe-inspiring region.
11. La Paz
Moving further north to the state of Baja California Sur, we highly recommend visiting the city of La Paz.
This small city is situated amongst pristine nature, surrounded by desert mountains and the pacific ocean. Just up the road, you can find one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, Playa Balandra.
Being less popular than the bustling city of Los Cabos, you can integrate better into local life, rather than feeling like just another tourist. Here you’ll find friendly locals that make you feel very welcome in their city.
If that’s not enough, you can also experience unique wildlife encounters, such as swimming with whale sharks in the bay of La Paz, or taking a trip to Magdalena Bay to get up close to curious and friendly grey whales. Make sure to visit in the correct seasons if you want to ensure interactions with these friendly giants.
The most beautiful and safest part of the city is the Malecon (waterfront promenade). However the whole city is generally safe, with dedicated tourist police always around to make you feel extra comfortable. While violent or drug-related crime doesn’t occur here, it’s still best to stay vigilant of petty crime.
12. Loreto
Last but not least is Loreto. This small fishing town with a population of just 20,000 people, is one of the safest places to visit in Mexico.
It’s one of just two pueblo magicos (magic towns) in Baja California Sur, but is often missed by tourists in favour of the more popular Cabo San Lucas. Despite this, it does have a number of expats that keep very quiet about its beauty.
This charming, historic town is surrounded by the desert mountains of the Sierra de la Giganta and the clear blue waters of the Sea of Cortez, making it a heaven for hikers and nature lovers.
Loreto isn’t short of its own wildlife interactions either, with the possibility of spotting blue whales off its shores.
In regards to safety, it’s unlikely that you’ll have any issues in this laidback, quaint little town.
Final thoughts on the safest places to visit in Mexico
We hope that this guide has helped to ease your mind when it comes to staying safe in Mexico. There are endless places in this enchanting country that you can visit worry free.
With a little bit of caution, and an itinerary that stays away from the drug-related violence that’s seen in parts of Mexico, you’ll have an epic holiday to be remembered.
Where next? Check out our guide on the safest countries to travel in South America.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Moonsand receives a commission if you decide to make a purchase through one of our trusted affiliate partners, at no extra cost to yourself.
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