These Are The 3 Safest Beach Destinations In Mexico According To New Report
Safety remains a big concern for Americans going abroad, especially Mexico, where they don’t speak the language and are much less used to how things are run.
Needless to say, many fall victim to scams or even petty crime.
America’s neighbor is absolutely gorgeous, but there’s no denying it has developed an infamous reputation for being, at least in part, a moderately risky destination for newbies who have never left their country and haven’t had a taste of life in the Global South.
That being said, there are a handful of cities where risks for tourists are less pronounced. The good news is that a triad of iconic vacation spots by the sea has made the list.
According to INEGI (National Institute of Statistics and Geography), these are the 3 safest beach destinations in Mexico based on the latest survey:
Puerto Vallarta
The leading destination in the Pacific state of Jalisco, Puerto Vallarta is the perfect marriage between Mexico’s long-standing Old World charm, evocative of the colonial period, and modern 21st-century coastal resort:
The ‘Romantic Zone’ is criss-crossed with cobbled streets, all lined with family-owned eateries and leading to a charming, Baroque Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe––adjacent to it, the Malecón is palm tree-strewn promenade unfolding along the ocean.
It is a 12-block walk linking Zona Romántica to the high-rise-dotted Hotel Zone, where many of the five-star listings are concentrated, peppered with sculptures and food stalls serving delicious $1 street tacos, so you get the gist of it.
Puerto Vallarta is the Mexico we love in a nutshell; however, how safe is it?
Looking at the U.S. travel advice for the state of Jalisco as a whole, chances are you won’t feel confident enough to visit on your own, what with the mention of higher levels of crime and kidnapping, but there is a side note that often gets ignored:
Washington clearly states there are ‘no other restrictions on travel‘ for U.S. employees in the tourist areas of Guadalajara, Chapala, Ajijic, and Puerto Vallarta (including the neighboring Riviera Nayarit).
Despite the violent crime and gang activity in select municipalities and areas across the state, PV is largely unaffected, as it is primarily a tourist town where turf wars do not typically take place.
That’s why only 30.5% of locals feel it’s dangerous to live in, against a clear majority of 69.5%.
La Paz
The capital of the Baja California Sur state and a laid-back Pacific city characterized by its long, seafront Malecón, running parallel to sandy beaches, lush municipal gardens, and picture-perfect historic center, it has become a safe haven of the sorts for crowd-wary tourists.
Pun intended.
27.9% of La Paz residents feel it is a safe place to live in––no wonder it’s literally called ‘Peace’––with low levels of crime observed, as noted by Numbeo, and a noticeable absence of gangs and other illicit organizations in the vicinity.
When visiting La Paz, Americans have very little to worry about. While we wouldn’t fully let our guard down and leave items unattended or walk the streets wearing shiny golden jewelry for no reason, very few tourists are approached violently or robbed when vacationing here.
Most return home with beautiful memories of cozy boutique hotels on the shoreline––Casa Bo, we’re looking at you––warm nights dining alfresco with views of the monumental, 19th century Nuestra Señora de La Paz Cathedral, and pure restfulness.
Pickpocketing in well-frequented areas, especially the main square and the promenade, is truly their biggest threat, and even then, it doesn’t occur at high enough rates to warrant a stronger travel warning on the U.S. part.
In fact, the State Department considers La Paz, as well as the wider state of Baja California Sur, a Level 2 destination, one level up from Jalisco.
Los Cabos
Including San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos forms a single resort strip at the southern end of Baja California Sur, hugged by the azure waters of the Pacific, and boasting sun-kissed, golden sands for miles on end.
It is primarily a leisure destination, with a plethora of luxurious spa hotels to its name, including Mexico’s most-awarded at that, the stately Grand Velas, which occupies a private stretch of beach and offers guests world-class amenities (if you have a spare $1,465-a-night).
Los Cabos is the preferred coastal hub in Mexico for peace-seeking travelers not only for the incredible service seen at resorts but for the impressive levels of safety:
Although the Baja California peninsula is ridden with gang activity, Los Cabos is essentially geographically isolated from crime hotspots to the north: the closest large settlement is the equally safe Todos Santos, whereas the more infamous Tijuana is a long 20-hour drive.
On top of that, highways leading to the Southern Capes are strictly-surveilled, and within municipality boundaries, it’s not uncommon to see army officers patrolling the restaurant-lined marina.
It’s hardly a surprise, in that case, that only 25.1% of Los Cabos residents consider the area ‘unsafe’ to live in, according to INEGI, making it the safest beach destination in Mexico based on first-hand accounts by locals themselves, who usually tend to be far more critical than tourists.
To further support that finding, the U.S. State Department has added the destination to their Level 2 Travel Advisory––in other words, Americans are not at all discouraged from visiting.
↓ Elevate Your Travel↓
Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No ads, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!
✈️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where travelers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel buddies!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.