Mexican marines have been deployed to Cancun beaches including but not limited to Playa del Carmen and Tulum to keep them safe during the spring break season.

The decision was made in response to a series of shootings that have claimed the lives of a number of tourists in the last three months.

In some cases, the tourists were involved in criminal activity in the area, in other cases they were just passing through.

How dangerous is Mexico for tourists right now?

The US Department has recently warned citizens against traveling to Baja California, Tijuana, Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa and Tamaulipas, due to increasing criminal activity. Americans and other foreign visitors, as well as local hospitality employees, have lost their lives in different attacks in the last few months.

If you still decide to head up to Mexico, please make sure to follow most of the following recommendations.

Be aware of your surroundings and take extra caution when visiting local bars, nightclubs, and casinos.
Do not wear expensive watches or jewelry.
Be especially cautious when visiting banks or ATMs.
Sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security alerts. It also makes it easier to locate you in case of an emergency.
Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
Avoid risky situations like walking or driving alone late at night.
Constantly update family and friends of your whereabouts.
Prepare a plan B for emergency situations.

Also read: US Issues Alert Against Traveling To Cancun As Violence Is On The Rise

Mexico’s Covid Traffic Light System

Mexico uses a “traffic light system” to categorize the epidemiology risk of each one of its states.

Green – all venues are open and there are not COVID restrictions.
Yellow – non-essential activities are allowed. Public spaces are open.
Orange – high incidence of coronavirus. Hotels, bars, restaurants, gyms and similar venues can operate at 50% capacity.
Red – the state is in complete lockdown.

This is the current situation (updated on March 26):

Mexico's traffic light Covid system — Source

FAQs

Is it safe to travel to Cancun right now?
Cancun is located in Quintana Roo, which means it is under “orange” restrictions. Hotels in the area may request guests to present vaccination proof. However, this is not mandatory according to the government.
Is it safe to travel to Puerto Vallarta right now?
Located in Jalisco, Puerto Vallarta has a “yellow” alert.

Some venues still operate at a limited capacity and now even require vaccination or testing. For the latest news regarding local restrictions, check here.
Is it safe to travel to Tulum right now?
Also located in the State of Quintana Roo, Tulum shares the same fate with Cancun. It’s now considered relatively safe and public spaces are open without any strict measures.
Is it safe to travel to Baja California right now?
Baja California is currently under “orange” alert, which means that bars, restaurants, other venues, and hotels operate at limited capacity. Also, they might require proof of vaccination or testing.

COVID-19 situation in Mexico – Confirmed cases of coronavirus as of March 26, 2022.

What are the COVID-19-related restrictions for tourists in Mexico now?

If you are coming to visit an orange, yellow or green state, you will be allowed to go out for dinners, go hiking in open-air parks, get great bargains at shopping malls, and even enjoy cultural events. The greener a state gets the bigger capacity it has.

The best news is that Mexico does NOT require visitors to quarantine or bring a COVID-19 test!

Related:
– Countries Opened To American Tourists
– Is it safe to Travel to Florida right now?

Latest updates

March 26 – Violence continues on the rise on Cancun resorts

Armed marines patrol Cancun’s beaches to safeguard local business owners, their establishments and tourists from organized crime and rising violence.

Robert Almonte, a retired deputy chief of the El Paso Police Department and former U.S. marshal for the Western District of Texas who is an expert on Mexican drug cartels, said that tourist resorts in Cancun are currently a war zone.

“It is not safe to go to the resorts right now.”

Almonte does not believe that visitors would be targeted directly, but he is concerned that they may become collateral damage.

“The cartels are not very careful about how they kill,” he said. “They just go in and spray bullets and if an innocent person gets killed, that’s collateral damage and the cartels don’t lose sleep over that.”

Mexico’s Health Care System and Response Capacity

Mexico has relatively good universal health coverage and physicians in Mexico receive almost the same amount of training as their peers in the United States.

Before COVID times, Mexico’s healthcare system was good enough and the hospitals did not struggle with medicine shortages or lack of UCI’s. Today, things may be different since Mexico has been one of the hardest-hit countries in the world.

Just to make sure your trip is gonna be smooth and you will not have to deal with unexpected health situations without proper Insurance Coverage, we strongly recommend you consider insurance that covers COVID.

Here we have gathered the best plans that can fit your needs considering your country of origin and travel purposes.

Best places to visit in Mexico in COVID times

Whether you are interested in spending your vacation at the sunny beach, trying new watersports, or just enjoying the cultural experience, Mexico has something to offer to everyone.

However, before booking your trip, you must consider reviewing the Mexican States that have made it to the orange, yellow, and green epidemiology lists. Aim for the yellow, and Green although orange ones can offer you plenty of fun too.

Hotspots to visit this summer in Mexico

1. Cancun and the Mayan Riviera

Blessed with sugar-white beaches and countless high-end resorts, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, the island of Cozumel, and beyond compose a magnificent area along the eastern edge of the Yucatán Peninsula. It’s a must-see for international travelers.

2. Puerto Vallarta

Known as America’s social elite hotspot, Vallarta has become incredibly popular among expats looking for second homes in a sunny, warmer climate.

3. Cabo San Lucas

Featuring luxurious spas, golf courses, and beautiful beaches, Cabo San Lucas is one of the luxury hotspot destinations in Mexico. This does not mean that people traveling on a budget will not enjoy it. The city offers all types of activities from swimming to diving, snorkeling, and fishing.

Traveling in Mexico during Covid: Updates Archives

February 2 – Current COVID-19 restrictions by state

Mexico has updated its epidemiological traffic light system.

Aguascalientes is now the only “red” state, which means that hotels can only accommodate visitors who are engaged in “critical activities.”

Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango, Zacatecas, Coahuila, Quintana Roo and Nuevo Leon are now “orange,” Meaning that entering indoor venues will be restricted.

Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Estado de México, Morelos, Yucatán and Mexico City are also “yellow,” meaning hotels, bars, and restaurants must operate at reduced capacity.

The rest of the states are “green,” so all activities are permitted.

January 15 – 3 Mexican hotspots to require vaccines or test to enter restaurants, bars, and clubs

As of yesterday, January 14, Jalisco restaurants, bars, clubs, concert halls, and other venues require their customers to provide proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test.

Two other Mexican regions followed the suit, including Tlaxcala and Baja California. However, in the State of Baja California, the proof of vaccination is rather a recommendation than a requirement.

For more information, check our full article on the topic here.

November 3 – U.S.-Mexican borders to reopen on November 8

19 months into the pandemic and the U.S. is finally reopening the border with Mexico for vaccinated tourists.

Non-citizen passengers should have their proof of vaccination ready. They should also be prepared to verbally state their reason for travel and vaccination status while boarding.

Vaccines approved by the CDC are Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. Vaccines listed for Emergency Use (EUL) by the World Health Organization will also be accepted.

Unvaccinated visitors who travel for essential reasons will be allowed this time. However, starting in January 2022, all incoming passengers will have to be vaccinated.

Source: Fox29 News

December 9 – Mexico City administers first COVID-19 booster shots

On Tuesday, December 7, the first COVID-19 booster shots became available for residents aged 60 and over in Mexico City. They are AstraZeneca doses and are first administered to residents of the southern Tlalpan neighborhood.

To become eligible, patients must have completed their vaccination at least six months ago regardless of the vaccine makers.

Apart from the capital city, booster shots also rolled out in Jalisco, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Sinaloa, and Yucatán.

Source: Reuters, Mexico News Daily

September 16 – COVID-19 cases drop in Mexico

Last month, Mexico registered some of the highest numbers of daily COVID-19 incidence since the beginning of the pandemic. Luckily, its third wave seems to be easing.

In the past 7 days, there were 11,374 daily new cases, on average. Whereas the week before, it was around 13,200 new infections daily.

On the other hand, on September 15, there were 83,834 active cases reported in Mexico, a 1% decrease compared to Tuesday, September 14.

The same day, Deputy Health Minister Hugo López-Gatell said at a morning press conference that the third wave was on the wane in all 32 states.

He also mentioned that most current cases were mild thanks to the high vaccination rate.

Source: Mexico News Daily, Worldometers

September 1 – Mexico to begin vaccinating youngsters

On September 3, Mexico will start vaccinating the 18 to 29 age group in five of its municipalities.

In Cuautitlán Izcalli, Cuautitlán, Huixquilucan, Metepec, and Zinacantepec, youngsters will be able to get their first dose from September 3 to September 7.

Also, pregnant women will have a chance to get their jab after their first trimester in the above mentioned municipalities.

To prevent people from waiting in front of the vaccination centers, local government officials stressed out again that vaccines are free and that everyone will get the jab in the following weeks.

Source: Infobae

August 18 – Mexico to receive 8.5 million vaccines as COVID figures break record

The United States will send Mexico 8.5 million more doses of COVID-19 vaccines as the delta variant spreads like wildfire across all Mexican states.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris informed Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the new vaccine batch on call Monday, said Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard.

On Tuesday, Mexican Federal health authorities reported another 7,172 new Covid-19 as the third wave of the coronavirus gathers pace.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has come under fire for its lack of action to contain the virus.

Total accumulated cases now come to 3.108 million and deaths, 248,652.

Source: AP

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