Mexico

Recommended Vaccinations For Mexico

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis A Vaccine

There is a significant risk of exposure to hepatitis A in this country, therefore, vaccination is recommended.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

There is a risk of exposure to hepatitis B, therefore, vaccination is recommended.

For Some Travellers

Typhoid Fever Vaccine

There is a risk of exposure to typhoid fever in this country through consumption of unsafe food and water. Since exposure to unsafe sources is variable within this country, vaccination against typhoid fever is generally recommended, especially when visiting smaller cities or rural areas, where food and water sources may be contaminated.

Rabies Vaccine

Vaccination against rabies is recommended for travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) who may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk and should be vaccinated.

Recommended Medications For Mexico

For Some Travellers

Anti-malarial Drugs

WHO does not recommend anti-malaria medication. The U.S. CDC recommends anti-malaria medication for the states of Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Nayarit, and Sinaloa. The recommended anti-malaria medications are atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, and mefloquine. NaTHNaC recommends chloroquine for the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas only.

Diseases To Be Aware of for Mexico

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B

The risk of acquiring hepatitis B in Mexico is low.

Hepatitis A

There is a significant risk for hepatitis A virus exposure in Mexico through contaminated food or water. Infection can still occur at tourist destinations and resorts.

Chikungunya Fever

Chikungunya fever has occurred in this country.

Dengue Fever

Dengue fever outbreaks are common in Mexico, particularly along the coastal areas and during the rainy season (July to October). There is no risk of dengue in the high altitude areas of central Mexico.

For Some Travellers

Typhoid Fever

Unvaccinated people can become infected through contaminated food and water in Mexico, especially when visiting smaller cities, villages, where food and water sources may be contaminated.

Chagas Disease

American trypanosomiasis occurs in rural areas of Mexico. The risk of travellers acquiring this disease is extremely low unless staying in very poor quality housing or camping.

Malaria

There is a risk of malaria in Chiapas and southern parts of Chihuahua. Sporadic cases may occur in Campeche, Durango, Nayarit, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa, Sonora, and Tabasco No malaria cases have been reported along the US–Mexico border.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis occurs in this country. Travellers to this country are at risk for tuberculosis if visiting sick friends or family, working in the health care field, or having close prolonged contact with the general population.

Zika Fever

There is transmission of the Zika virus in this country.

Rabies

Rabies occurs in this country. Travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk.

Safety & Security in Mexico

Personal Safety

Crime rates remain elevated across Mexico, with a national homicide rate of 23 to 25 per 100,000 inhabitants as of 2024. You face risks from petty theft, street crime, and more serious incidents in urban centers and tourist areas. Express kidnapping occurs in cities where criminals force victims to withdraw cash from ATMs. Virtual kidnapping scams target travelers through phone calls demanding ransom payments. Organized crime groups control significant territory and engage in extortion, fuel theft, and other activities that create a climate of fear in affected regions. Violent confrontations between rival cartels and security forces can happen without warning. While most homicides target individuals involved in criminal activities, bystanders occasionally get caught in crossfire. Journalists, human rights defenders, and political figures face particularly high risks. More than 115,000 people were considered missing as of September 2024, with many believed killed and buried in clandestine graves. Impunity runs high, with roughly 93 percent of crimes going unreported or uninvestigated. Police corruption exists at multiple levels, and some genuine officers have extorted tourists for alleged violations. Mexico has the highest consumption of bottled water globally because locals themselves avoid tap water. Drug spiking and tainted alcohol incidents occur in bars and nightclubs. Counterfeit prescription pills sold at pharmacies near borders and tourist areas may contain deadly doses of fentanyl.

Extreme Violence

Mexico registered more than 30,000 murders annually for six consecutive years through 2023, marking the most violent period in the country’s modern history. The homicide rate increased by 54.7 percent between 2015 and 2024, with firearms involved in two-thirds of all homicides. Six cities registered homicide rates higher than 100 per 100,000 residents in 2022, and roughly 11 percent of municipalities had rates of at least 50 deaths per 100,000 people in 2023. Security analysts estimate that around two-thirds of homicides are committed by organized crime groups. Cartels use violence as a tool to assert control, punish rivals, and intimidate populations. The Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel are responsible for the vast majority of drug trafficking to the United States, and territorial disputes between these groups have driven significant increases in violence in states like Colima, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, and Jalisco. Cartels have expanded operations to include extortion, kidnapping, fuel theft, human trafficking, and illegal logging. Armed groups maintain roadblocks and use violence towards travelers in some states. Internal power struggles within cartels add to the violence. Between January 2019 and March 2023, at least 70 people were killed in clashes between Sinaloa Cartel factions. Torture complaints numbered at least 15,904 between January 2018 and March 2023. The year 2024 was the deadliest on record for political figures in Mexico, with at least 201 politically motivated killings.

Political Unrest

Judicial reform protests erupted in 2024 when workers across 29 states began an indefinite strike opposing proposed changes to how judges are selected. Protesters stormed the Senate building in September 2024 and clashed with police outside legislative buildings in multiple states including Yucatan, Baja California, and Puebla. Demonstrations against gentrification began in Mexico City in July 2025, with some protesters vandalizing property and throwing rocks at people perceived as foreigners. Previous demonstrations saw windows smashed at businesses and messages like Get out of Mexico spray-painted on damaged storefronts. Mexican law prohibits political activities by foreign citizens, and participation may result in detention or deportation. Tens of thousands demonstrated in February 2024 in what they called a march for democracy targeting the ruling party ahead of elections. More than 350,000 people gathered in Mexico City in March 2025 in response to threats from the United States. Demonstrations can be unpredictable, and traffic congestion occurs around protest sites. Monitor local media for updates on planned actions. Avoid all demonstrations and move away from the area if you encounter protests. Police presence increases during demonstrations, and security measures intensify in affected areas.

Areas To Avoid

The US State Department issued do not travel advisories for six states as of August 2025: Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas due to crime and terrorism. The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to Zacatecas, portions of Guerrero, sections of Tamaulipas, parts of Chiapas near the Guatemala border, and specific areas within Tijuana and Tecate. Colima recorded the country’s worst homicide rate on record in 2023 at 111 deaths per 100,000 people. Tijuana is described as extremely violent, with many businesses following an unofficial curfew and only opening during daylight hours. Guerrero’s interior is dangerous, with organized crime groups and local self-defense groups exerting control over territory. After Hurricane Otis, crime increased in Acapulco including robbery and looting across the city. Armed groups maintain illegal toll booths at roadblocks throughout Guerrero. The border between Chiapas and Guatemala is dangerous due to organized crime groups fighting for control of drug and human trafficking routes. Zacatecas is extremely dangerous due to battles between organized crime groups for control of drug trafficking routes. States like Nuevo Leon, Sinaloa, Veracruz, and Morelos registered homicide rates between 28 and 38 per 100,000 people in 2024. Beach resorts like Tulum and Acapulco see murder rates well above the national average due to cartels warring for control. Rural areas in Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Chiapas pose significant threats to women’s safety.