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A Mexican Navy sailor stands guard as seized drug is burned in the port town of Progreso, Mexico, Thursday, June 25, 2009. At least a ton of cocaine found inside frozen sharks were incinerated by the Mexican Navy. As the Mexican government cracks down on the illegal drug trade, criminal gangs are turning to other means to obtain cash, including kidnapping, often resulting in violence. (AP Photo/Russell Chan)
This is the second in a three-part series of articles on the safety of travel to Mexico for Americans. To read Part One, click here.
Your odds of dying from other than natural causes on a trip to Mexico are pretty low -- around 1 in 100,000. But how does that compare to other popular destinations for Americans traveling abroad?
According to the latest information from the U.S. Department of Commerce, 20.3 millions visited Mexico in 2008, making it the most popular foreign destination for American travelers. In second place was Canada, with 12.5 million visitors. Of those, the U.S. State Department is aware of five deaths from non-natural causes. Thus, your odds of suffering such a demise on a trip to Canada is about 1 in 2.5 million.
Based on the 2008 data, your odds in the UK would be approximately 1 in 400,000, in France, about 1 in 700,000, in Italy, about 1 in 200,000.
“It is safe for Americans to travel to Mexico,” asserts Eduardo Chaillo, director of the Mexico Tourism Board for North America, “although there are some precautions that have to be taken when traveling to specific counties.”
He says the counties are all along the U.S. border with Mexico, where the Mexican government is trying to clamp down on illegal drug trafficking.
“They are five or six counties out of about 2,000,” he notes.
Murders
According to a U.S. State Department list of deaths of Americans abroad from non-natural causes, 56 Americans were murdered in Mexico in 2008. Of these, 16 died in Ciudad Juarez, just across the border from El Paso, and 12 were murdered in Tijuana, just across the border from San Diego.
“Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana, and Nogales are among the cities which have recently experienced public shootouts during daylight hours in shopping centers and other public venues,” a State Deparment Travel Alert advised Americans in February. “The situation in Ciudad Juarez is of special concern. Mexican authorities report that more than 1,800 people have been killed in the city since January 2008. Additionally, this city of 1.6 million people experienced more than 17,000 car thefts and 1,650 carjackings in 2008.”
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A Mexican Navy sailor stands guard as seized drug is burned in the port town of Progreso, Mexico, Thursday, June 25, 2009. At least a ton of cocaine found inside frozen sharks were incinerated by the Mexican Navy. As the Mexican government cracks down on the illegal drug trade, criminal gangs are turning to other means to obtain cash, including kidnapping, often resulting in violence. (AP Photo/Russell Chan)
There was one murder of an American in Acapulco in 2008 and another in Puerto Vallarta, but Chaillo says tourist resorts are safe.
What about the recent gunfight in Acapulco?
“That was an isolated incident,” Chaillo responds, adding that it was not near the tourism center of the city. “On the police side, it was very successful. They took away a lot of cocaine. They took away a lot of weapons.”
Maureen Webster, founder of Mexicovacationawareness.com, paints a less rosy picture of travel to Mexico.
“People are going down there blind,” she says. “Don’t ever be alone, even inside the resort.”
Drownings
Webster’s son, Nolan, drowned in a hotel pool in Cancun in 2007. Is this a common occurrence?
The State Department list includes 21 drowning in 2008 in Mexico. Only one was in Cancun, but there were several others elsewhere along the Riviera Maya in the state of Quintana Roo. There were four drownings in the Cabo San Lucas area.
Not all swimming deaths go into the books as a drowning. In March of this year, a 47-year-old Des Plaines man, Arnie Piechocki, went for a swim in the ocean near Cabo San Lucas alone and suffered a broken neck, perhaps from a powerful wave slamming his head against the ocean floor. He died after being transported to a San Diego hospital, meaning his death will not show up on the list of Americans dying abroad.
“Of course, we have accidents,” Chaillo says, when asked about such incidents.
For Webster, though, each accident is a personal story, like that of John, a 43-year-old Canadian citizen who drowned in Mexico in March. His mother suffers from dementia. His 80-year-old father is her primary caregiver. John was their only son. Webster says it was the seventh drowning in the same area within a couple of weeks.
“The ripple effect is just so many lives are destroyed,” she says. “[And] it’s not just people dying.”
Kidnappings
“In recent years, dozens of U.S. citizens have been kidnapped across Mexico,” the State Department Travel Alert warns. “Many of these cases remain unresolved.”
Mario Gonzalez Roman, a security advisor to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico for 28 years, says “well-organized criminal gangs,” often with connections to drug trafficking, are behind many kidnappings.
“Kidnappings are more frequently ending in tragic circumstances,” he wrote for solutions abroad.com. “In one instance a kidnapped girl was murdered, even after her father paid the negotiated ransom.”
One of the most recent stories on Webster’s website concerns Ron Scheepstra of Lufkin, Texas, who has been missing in Mexico since April 11. Scheepstra, 49, was fly fishing with three friends when he disappeared.
“All signs lead to the fact that he must have been abducted,” Webster says.
Rapes
Webster’s website has attracted the attention of a number of women who report they were raped while vacationing in Mexico.
A common theme running through the rape stories is a lack of concern on the part of Mexican authorities regarding the rape reports. Authoritative data comparing the incidence of rape in different nations is difficult to find. Definitions of rape differ from country to country, as does the willingness of women to report the crime. Available statistics, though, suggest that rape is far more prevalent in Mexico than most other countries.
In the third and final installment of this series, we'll examine how Mexico is working to address traveler safety issues.
Comments
First of all our thanks to The Examiner for this series of articles and the chance to comment.
With regard to 'drug war' violence, the press likes to sensationalize news, that's what sells newspapers afterall, and it has left the false impression that Mexico is a violent country all over.
There is violence in certain areas (as in the USA), but it is almost always between authorities and criminals, away from tourists. As a comparison: when there is a gang shooting in LA does it put you off visiting Miami?
We compared homicide rates in the US and Mexico to give an indication of how safe Mexican tourist zones are. We found that tourist zones in Mexico are SAFER than in the USA.
See: www.investmentpropertiesmexico.org/2009/04/tourist-zones-up-to-26-times-safer-in.html)
This website also offers a more balanced view of how safe Mexico is: www.thetruthaboutmexico.com
Mexico has so much to offer and is as safe as anywhere to visit on vacation, you're missing out if you believ
Mexico has so much to offer and is as safe as anywhere to visit on vacation, you're missing out if you believe otherwise!
RE/MAX~Are you kidding me? There is a State Department Travel Alert to Mexico. A shocking 32% of all non-natural deaths of U.S. citizens outside this country occur in Mexico. Their safety standards are far below our safety standards both inside and outside of the resorts. If you have a medical emergency in Mexico (even in the tourist resorts) you are in trouble, BIG trouble. There are plenty of websites that are pushing travel to Mexico and they all have one thing in common and it is $$$$. That is how they make their $$$$. The website that Dennis writes about has nothing to gain financially from telling the truth about travel to Mexico. It is about time that the truth be known.....Mexico is a dangerous country period!
Mexico's drug war and kidnappings only relate to people involved with the drug war. There have been more casualties in the Mexican Drug War than American casualties in Iraq, yet in the MDW there have been less than 10-15 (depending on the source) deaths/injuries from people NOT involved in the drug trade/arms trade in the border or coastal towns.
Mexico's EMS budget is extremely low and this results in a relatively tardy emergency response. (10-30 min vs ~5-10 min here in the US).
This is improving, but the fact is that you cannot expect a full intensive care unit to arrrive in 5 min like its the case in the US.
Carrying your medical insurance card with will ensure that EMS takes you the top notch private hospitals as opposed to the free low quality ones (if necessary this will ensure AirEvac ).
The Oasis hotel is the #1 party place, it's 4 ft pool is usually filled with 100s of drunk people that would greatly difficult finding out if a person is swimming or passed out
Articles such as this are very valuable and the dangers of vacationing in Mexico are real and need to be exposed. We all know that any data coming from any source in Mexico is not factual and/or documented. There is absolutely no justification for families being treated with disregard by resorts after being forced to deal with the senseless death of their loved one.
It is very important to be educated on places you are vacationing to and to respect the laws of that country. This is why the websites mentioned in the article are important, as they serve as really good starting point to learn from other’s experience and reflect on our own way of traveling. If you do not practice responsible tourism, you should not travel.
There is nothing more annoying than to deal with drunken fools and their provoked incidents or accidents while trying to take some time off on the beach.
As far as medical emergencies while in Mexico, I can say from personal experience, there is nothing wrong with private medical facilities in the country. Two years ago I had appendicitis while on a business trip and not only did I pay a third of what I would have paid in the US, but I was well taken care of. Just make sure you are not cheap and go to public facilities, you have to find good hospitals and doctors, most of the time found at private facilities.
Re/MAX is trying to sell property in Mexico. There is violence in the U.S., but there is still regard for human life... Criminals who commit crimes in the U.S. are arrested and brought to justice. In Mexico, the authorites and police are corrupt, and there is very little justice. Buy property in Mexico, and they will take your money and then take your home (probably after they kill you).
just amazing how DUMB realtor can get, are you getting your martinis ata PEMEX station? if so next time pick the green label, bone head!
Hello Remax investment... Sounds as if you are only protecting your investment....If you live there it is only a matter of time before you have a problem. Disaster always happens to others. Well at least in the states one is not driving down the highway with the road closed for 6 days by Peaceful protesting Natuahl indians to find ones self shot at with Ak'47's chased and kidnapped and released as a messenger to the Government. Which is very lucky as others had been kidnapped and killed in the same place. The non- profit Organizations are like you and want to make sure none of this is made public because it might hurt their investment and all the time hiding behind Human rights abuse for these people... What about my human rights?? $4000 damage to a car and traumatized for life was my profit for investing in Mexico...
do not travel to mexico please i just got my truck taken away from guess who it was yes it was a federal with his friends y you would ask because when that happened only about half a mile back fromwhere i was coming we were stoped by them supposely we looked suspicious and they asked me for 50 doallar to just forget of everything but i didnt do anything five min later we got stoped by a black tinted navigator wat r the odds of that so like i said make your self a favor dont travel to mexico
no, mexico cannot be compared to any american city.....the drug cartels are trying to take over the country and a country that is already corrupt....this has resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries, in a country that has horendous health care
If you travel to a city nearby in the US you put your guard up so why is it when us americans travel to mexico we feel that we have no guard to put up? Then when something bad happens we blame Mexico? I have traveled to Mexico 5 times now and I am always cautious. My friends and I never went alone anywhere we always traveled in a group. How many times have you gone somewhere and saw a sign no lifeguard on duty? why arent we bashing those places in the US? and yes i doh ahave sympathy for those abducted but however it can happen anywehre. I can be kidnapped in broad daylight here inteh US. My friend drowned in a lake in Michigan i can ban people from going on thelake and going to michigan? As with anywehre you go you have to stay ALERT!
Not all mexico is like everyone thinks there are cities like chihuahua monterrey los cabos and many many other cities that are safe but in this webpage and many other pages make mexico like the worst place and it isnt its a nice country but if you dont take the enough alerts something could happen to you like in france and enlgand and in all the countries you just have to be alert
Living in Texas, I've walked across the bridge many time to shop and/or have dinner in Mexico. I have never had a bad experience. Progresso is my personl favorite because of the short bridge and the abundance of shops and resturants. Because of all the stories I've heard, I would never think about driving;too much bad stuff about cars being stolen and people being "shook down" by the police.
Its easy to believe what you see and hear in the US media and hollywood, especially the media, because bad news sell. However, there is nothing like seen for yourself... as in everything in life. See for yourskef, you will be surprised.
I have been to Puerto Vallarta on vacation for the past 6 years, have many wonderful friends there and have never ever had a problem. Going back again in August.
Ihave been in many Mexican cities many times over the last 30 yrs and quite safe--it's the drunken American 16-30 yr olds drowning and buying drugs on the beach that starts a problem. Everyone avoids the American kids THAT HAVE THE SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT and feel they can go anywhere and behave like fools--no respect for anyone. If you have a sense of decorum in Mexico you do not have incidents. The woman from Massachusetts doesn't give all the details on what her son was doing---always one-sided when iot comes to Mexico.We are relocating there to live so keep the drunken loud-mouths home
i go to mexico every month sometimes me and my sister or just me. im always alert of my surrounding. i go see my husband and until he can come legally i will continue to go.my trips going over there have been good, thank god, i will pray they continue.
I have an ex-husband who was deported to Mexico and lives in Mexico City. We have a daughter together and I VERY MUCH want to visit him, but am afraid. Could you provide more details about your visits? For example, do you think you are safer because you are with a Mexican man? Do you live near the border? Do you drive or fly? I am considering moving near the border so that my daughter and I can visit frequently. (Currently I live in NC). Thank you for responding!
While traveling in mexico my girlfriend was shopping in town. The men closed the door to the jewlery store and tried to rape her. While rapes can happen in any country often the local police are corrupt and they don't care what happens to Americans in Mexico. The police even help the time share scammers in the airports by assisting in their shake down of Americans. There are wonderful people in Mexico just be smart about what you do there.
My wife and I just spent two weeks driving in California Baja Sur (lower CBS), as far north as La Paz. Never felt threatened or even uncomfortable. The weather was great, roads ok and the people were wonderful. EVERYONE BEGS you not to swim in the Cabos San Lucas area unless it is one of the designated safe beaches, but some people do swim anyway. Might as well take up drunk driving too if you do swim. It is just as dangerous.
My wife and I just spent two weeks driving in California Baja Sur (lower CBS), as far north as La Paz. Never felt threatened or even uncomfortable. The weather was great, roads ok and the people were wonderful. EVERYONE BEGS you not to swim in the Cabos San Lucas area unless it is one of the designated safe beaches, but some people do swim anyway. Might as well take up drunk driving too if you do swim. It is just as dangerous.
I've been to Mexico City, Zihua, Guadalajara, and many places in the interior....never had a problem. I carry no wallet, but a paper copy of my passport and minimal cash tight in my front pocket and in Mexico City, the same between my foot and sock. I never go where there are no people, and use common sense.
Unfortunately....especially in resorts, college kids and teens who don't know their limit (i.e. don't know how to drink) take stupid risks, act like uncivilized disrespectful jerks, and that behavior leads directly to incidents that can be extremely serious.
Behave, use common sense, realize know you are a GUEST in a foreign country, and you get double the great experience.
NO THANKS TO MEXICO............MONTEZUMA'S REVENGE, UNCLEAN WATER, STREET CRIME, KIDNAPPING, ROBBERIES, RAMPANT RAPE, ETC. DOESN'T APPEAL TO ME. AND I'LL SPEND MY U.S. DOLLARS RIGHT HERE AT HOME AND GIVE OUR ECONOMY A BOOST.
Is it safe to cross the border in Mexicali? We are planning on taking a group of 35 teen agers and several adults on a mission trip there. We will be taking vans and trailers with supplies in. Should we be concerned for our safety?
I think Mexico is as safe as anywhere else you might visit on vacation and safer that other places like Florida. I have been several times over the past twenty five years and what struck me is the propensity of tourists to expect bargains at every turn. I watched rich german and French tourists at restaurants leave no tip, and discovered that the most generous tippers were Mexicans themselves. Embarrassing watching little American Caesars treat Mexicans like shit!
Also watching middle and upper class Mexicans act like despots with their Mexican servant/slaves. I was advised by other Mexicans not to talk to mexican workers and treat them with respect as they are not used to this treatment. I love Mexico and have respect for the poor workers who subsidize these cheap vacations and middle class lifestyles that others enjoy. This will not last forever as Mexican workers get their act together and start demanding a living wage and dignity. Viva Mexico Lindo!
i travelled to puerta vallarta in August 2010. It was 5 of us girls going from Canada and it was great. We didn't leave the resort though, even at night. Every night we went to the disco on the resort. I think if you stay on the resort and don't venture into the downtown clubs at night you're more safe. But even on the resort be cautious because anyone can come to the resort. One night this weird guy asked us to leave the resort and come with him to a party in downtown and that they needed 5 canadian girls. We of course didn't go, but if we did who knows what would have happened. He was like "its a fun party, we have contests like best dressed, best sex positions, etc). When we refused he just walked away. And every night a security guard would walk us 5 back to our rooms to make sure we got back safe. Mexico is a nice place, just be smart about it.
Do not swim in the Ocean in Cancun when the red flags are on the beach! There is an incredibly strong undertow that can easily prevent you from making it back to shore. The week we were there my girlfriend and I almost drowned but luckily were saved by lifeguards (just barely). There were daily insidents of people almost drowning and there were two people who died! There are many people so alot of them are not aware of this. Please use caution and do not go swimming in the ocean when the red flags are up. If you insist on going swimming, swim where there are large groups of people swimming, directly in front of a lifeguard, and don't go out too far and always make sure your feet can touch the ocean floor. The waves can quickly push you to an area where your feet don't touch the ground and by then it maybe too late, even if you are a strong swimmer.
I am a single female who has lived and worked in Mazatlan, Sinaloa going on 7 years now. One of my jobs is crewing on boat deliveries up and down the coast, so I have been on numerous bus trips, at all hours of the day, in different parts of the country, by myself. I am alert and pay attention to my surroundings, but never once in 7 years have I ever been a victim of crime, witnessed a crime or even felt ill at ease. Quite the opposite, in fact I have been shown many, many impromptu acts of kindness for no reason other than I was a gringa traveling by herself. Mexico has my heart, and I really hate the generalizations that are thrown at her, especially by self professed experts whom have never even placed a toe inside her borders. It is a beautiful and diverse country, with excellent food, but the people may be her best asset. They are warm and inviting, and readily accept you as family. Viva mexico!
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