Are Canadian tourists still safe in Mexico?

The recent murders of two Canadians in resort areas on Mexico's Pacific coast have once again raised questions about how safe the country is for Canadian tourists. While neither of these killings has been linked directly to the ongoing war among Mexico's powerful drug cartels, there can be no doubt that many Canadian snowbirds are thinking twice about visiting Mexico for fear of being swept up by the violence.

In an attempt to get some answers to the question of safety in Mexico, the CBC recently interviewed Walter McKay, a former Canadian police detective who is now a security consultant living in Mexico City. McKay has been keeping track of narco related violence in Mexico since 2006, and he maintains that Canadians who stick to tourist areas and stay away from the drug trade and other risky activities still have little to worry about. Included in the CBC interview is a useful list of some popular areas considered to be safe, not safe, and somewhere in between.

On a personal note, as someone has spent a lot of time in Mexico and who will continue to go there, I feel that much of the country remains secure for cautious and well informed travellers despite the daily grim reports. However, the current situation could deteriorate rapidly for Canadians if drug cartels start targeting foreign tourists and the Mexican tourism industry in general. But so far there is no real evidence of this happening (touch wood).

Traveler Safety in Mexico Map

Old Mazatlan Art Walk

This winter, Canadians heading down to Mazatlán in search of sun and sand can also explore this Mexican resort city's vibrant art scene. On the first Friday of every month up until May 2012, self-guided art walks will be offered in Mazatlan's Historical Center. There are 24 stops along the way including galleries, artists' studios, workshops, and gift boutiques. Balloons and banners mark the participating venues, and free maps are available around town. For more information, visit the Art Walk's official website.



Mazatlan's Historical Center or Centro Histórico is comprised of 180 city blocks of handsome 19th-century buildings, many of which have been lovingly restored. Action revolves around the Plazuela Machado, a pretty square ringed with lively outdoor restaurants and cafés. Culture aficionados can also take advantage of concerts held in the beautiful Teatro Angela Peralta or tour the nearby Museo Casa Machado, a restored mansion that gives glimpses of what life was like for Mazatlan's affluent class during the 1800's.

 

For additional information about Mazatlán, visit gomazatlan.com.

Traveler Safety in Mexico Map

Travel Weekly has published a useful map entitled Traveler Safety in Mexico (see map below) that shows specific places in Mexico to avoid or exercise caution in because of possible drug-cartel violence. I can't vouch for the accuracy of the travel warnings given on this map. However, it's interesting to note that most of the reported hot spots are in northern Mexico and on or near the Pacific coast, with the exclusion of tourist areas such as Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa, and Cabo San Lucas. Regions to the east and south of Mexico City -- Puebla, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Chiapas, the Yucatán Peninsula, etc. -- are all presumed to be safe.

Link to Traveler Safety in Mexico map (PDF file)

Are Canadians still safe in Mexico?

Why Mexico is Still a Safe Country to Visit

With all the gruesome news about drug cartel violence, Canadians are increasingly afraid to visit Mexico. Something to remember, though, is that Mexico is a very big country, and most of the current trouble occurs in specific areas. Personally, I still feel as secure in most parts of Mexico as I do in Canada. Here is an enlightening video that puts the safety issue into perspective.



Are Canadian tourists still safe in Mexico?

New Air Canada Flights to Mexico City

Air Canada has announced that beginning in November 2010, the airline will be offering daily nonstop flights from Vancouver and Montreal to Mexico City. There will also be increased service from Toronto to Mexico City. These moves are no doubt a result of the recent bankruptcy of Mexicana Airlines, which used to offer similar service from Vancouver and Montreal. Visit the Air Canada website for more information.

Revised Puerto Vallarta Website

The Pacific coast resort of Puerto Vallarta has long been a popular winter destination among Canadians. For many of us, Puerto Vallarta was the place where we got our first taste of Mexico. My initial visit in the early 1980's led to a 25-year-long addiction to exploring Mexico.

As part of recent campaigns to promote Puerto Vallarta, the local tourism board has revised its official website. The site now has a downloadable travel planner, news updates, plus other information for tourists. It's worth checking out if you're planning to vacation in PV.

Mexico limits the amount of US cash foreigners can exchange

It is not always possible to exchange Canadian dollars for pesos outside major tourist areas in Mexico, so I always advise Canadians to take mostly US funds with them. Consequently, a recent announcement by the Mexican government about modifications to the exchange rules for US dollars could affect Canadian travellers.

As of September 14, 2010, foreigners are not allowed to exchange more than US$1500 cash per month into pesos. Fortunately, this limit does not apply to purchases and ATM withdrawals made with credit and debit cards. This may seem like an odd move for Mexico to make given that the country relies so heavily on tourism. But the purpose behind it is to limit the number of US dollars entering the Mexican banking system.

So make sure to take credit and debit cards along on your next trip to Mexico. Also ensure that your PIN numbers are made up of four digits. ATM's in Mexico will not accept PIN numbers with more than four digits. It's also wise to avoid using letters in your PIN numbers as they will make transactions more cumbersome.

N.B. As yet there is no mention of whether or not traveller's cheques will be considered to be a form of cash. I will update this post when I have that information.

Mexicana Suspends All Flights

UPDATE TO MY EARLIER POST ABOUT MEXICANA AIRLINES SUSPENDING FLIGHTS TO CANADA

Grupo Mexicana has now officially suspended all flights on its three airlines: Mexicana Airlines, MexicanaClick and MexicanaLink. Canadians holding tickets can apply for refunds on the Mexicana website. Updated news is also available through Twitter.

Continental Airlines, which I flew on recently to Mexico City, has extensive service to Mexico from several Canadian cities. Their in-flight service is not nearly as enjoyable as Mexicana's was, but Continental offers some very good fares, especially if you book flights at least one month in advance. And of course Air Canada and WestJet still fly to Mexico. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Mexicana will be able to sort out its financial problems and resume service to Canada.

New Passport Rules for Canadians Visting Mexico

As of March 1, 2010, Canadians will need a valid passport to enter Mexico. Travellers without passports will be returned to Canada. These new passport rules are said to be a security measure rather than a response by Mexico to last year's decision by the Canadian government to impose a visa requirement on Mexicans visiting Canada. This controversial move, which was aimed at stemming the tide of Mexicans staying on illegally in Canada, has resulted in a sharp drop in the number of Mexican tourists vacationing in Canada.

H1N1 Influenza Mexico Updates

In response to the World Health Organization recently raising the H1N1 influenza virus or "swine flu" alert from level 5 to level 6 (pandemic status), the Mexico Tourism Board has posted comprehensive updates on its website. In addition to information about what the Mexican government is doing to curb the spread of the disease, there are links to frequently asked questions about H1N1 and to travel tips. Currently there are no travel restrictions in effect on Mexico, and the flu situation is under control according to Mexico's Minister of Health.

New Entry Requirements to Mexico

As of June 1, 2009, Canadians visiting Mexico through the United States will have to carry a valid Canadian passport or a NEXUS card. A passport is still not necessary for Canadians entering Mexico directly from Canada (e.g. on a nonstop flight), but personally I wouldn't dream of leaving home without one. For more information, visit the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs' website.

Mexico H1N1 Flu Alert Lifted

The following information is from a press release issued my the Mexico Tourism Board office in Montreal on May 19, 2009:

The Mexico Tourism Board is pleased to announce that the travel warning of the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ministry of Canada has been removed from the Mexican travel report. This announcement was made after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifted its travel warning against all nonessential travel to Mexico.

The International Health organizations congratulate and encourage the initiatives of the Mexican Federal Government. Just recently, the World Tourism Organization recognized the efforts of the Mexico Government for having confronted “the appearance of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus in a serious and responsible manner” and declared that Mexico’s response could be considered as a benchmark. As the well, the Public Health Agency of Canada will cease some measures such as distributing health alert notices to passengers on direct flights to Mexico and having quarantine officers meet every direct flight entering Canada from Mexico.

"Mexico’s government and tourism authorities are very satisfied with the decision taken by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ... to lift the H1N1 influenza alert against nonessential travel to Mexico. Our main priority continues to be the safety of our citizens and visitors, and with evidence that the flu appears to be less threatening than originally thought, Mexico is ready to welcome back all of its visitors and offer them the hospitality and services that have always distinguished us," said Rodolfo Elizondo, Mexico’s Minister of Tourism.

For more information on the precautions advised by the CDC and Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada, visit their website at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/ and http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/report_rapport-eng.asp?id=184000

Is Mexico still safe for Canadians?

A flaring up of the ongoing war between drug cartels and the Mexican military has once again raised the question of whether or not Mexico is a safe destination for Canadians. The Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs warns travellers to be extremely vigilant in Mexican cities such as Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez that border the United States. So far, no tourists have been injured or killed in these conflicts. My take on this situation, after years of safe travel throughout Mexico, is that the country as a whole is no more dangerous for visitors than it ever has been. As in any so-called "developing country," it pays to be careful at all times and to keep up-to-date on possible trouble spots. But, personally, I plan to continue visiting Mexico, a country that I usually feel as at home in and as secure in as I do in Canada.

Mexican Tax Refunds

If you think our Canadian GST is bad, then think again. Mexico slaps a whopping 15% value added tax called IVA onto most goods and services. At some major Mexican airports, tourists can reportedly now get this tax refunded (on goods only) upon leaving the country as long as they have receipts and can show officials their purchases. However, the application procedure is rumoured to be so tedious that most visitors aren't bothering to apply for reimbursement. The Mexican government has apparently vowed to make the process easier in the future.

Mexico's Legal System

The imprisonment in Mexico of Canadian citizen Brenda Martin for her supposed involvement in a money-laundering scheme highlights an important difference between Canada's and Mexico's legal systems: in Mexico (which follows the Napoleonic Code) you are "guilty until proven innocent," while in Canada you are "innocent until proven guilty." Hence Ms. Martin is considered a criminal in Mexico, and she has been sitting in jail for two years without a trial. The Mexican judge in the case claims that she signed a confession. However, Martin, who understands little Spanish, says that she was never provided with a proper translator and didn't know what she might have unwittingly signed.

The lesson to be learned from her experience with the Mexican justice system is that if you are arrested in Mexico, never sign anything unless it has been looked over by a trustworthy Spanish-speaking lawyer. The best thing, of course, is to not get into trouble in the first place. The Canadian Foreign Affairs website has a good summary of the Mexican criminal law system.

New Flights to Mexico

Several airlines have recently announced new flights to popular places in Mexico from various Canadian cities. Westjet now has seasonal service to Mazatlan from Edmonton and Calgary, plus flights to Los Cabos from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. Air Canada Vacations is offering new service to Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo and Los Cabos from Vancouver, as well as to Cancun from Ottawa. In addition, Mexicana recently announced a new nonstop flight from Calgary to Mexico City. Check the airlines' websites for more information.

Safety in Mexico

A spate of murders, traffic accidents, and shootings involving Canadians in Mexico have once again raised concerns about Mexico being a safe destination for tourists. Is traveling in Mexico risky? Yes and no. Over the past 25 years I have visited Mexico countless times without encountering serious problems. Having said that, Mexico’s annual murder rate is 10 times that of Canada, and petty crime is much more prevalent. It’s always possible to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. But, in my opinion, the rewards of exploring Mexico far outweigh the possible dangers. Here are a few simple things that I think anyone can do to minimize the chances of getting into trouble while in Mexico.

* Don’t flaunt cash or expensive possessions such as cameras and jewelry.
* Avoid loud and aggressive behaviour in public. Politeness is the norm in Mexico.
* Learn some Spanish before you go. Apart from helping you find your way around, knowing a few words of Spanish can sometimes get you out of tight situations.
* Be very careful crossing streets in cities. Drivers seldom yield for pedestrians.
* Take taxis after dark. Walking alone at night, especially in tourist zones, can be a good way to get mugged.
* Avoid large crowds and political demonstrations.
* Practice cultural sensitivity. A little understanding can go a long way in Mexico.

The Canadian Consular Affairs website has more information on Safety and Security in Mexico.