Don’t Take Spring Break in Tijuana – New Travel Alert for Mexico

Other posts by MudslideMama

The US Department of State has released another travel alert, warning Americans that travel in Mexico is growing increasingly dangerous. It’s becoming one of the kidnapping capitals of the world, and the government’s crackdown on drug cartels has made those criminals increasingly desperate and dangerous. This alert from the Bureau of Consular Affairs delineates that most serious crimes, like armed robberies, carjackings and worst, are escalating.

Violence isn’t exclusive to Mexico, of course; there are plenty of places here in the USA where we shouldn’t walk alone late at night either. However, the dangers of Mexico – particularly in the border states areas of Chihuahua, Tijuana and Juarez – cannot be understated at this time. Drug traffickers have the local police outgunned, and those policemen may be corrupt anyway (local governments are also suspect). One of the worries that I, as a Southern Californian, have is that Tijuana is a very, very popular vacation destination for spring break. It’s an easy hop from San Diego, and college students love to go to TJ for binge drinking and other…shall we say, incautious behaviors of young adults. Tijuana especially, right across the US border, is not a place I’d want any young person I know to spend their spring break. With all the fun things to do in safer destinations, spring break shouldn’t be a cause for alarm.

Now, Mexico is a large country; many beautiful states therein are still safe for spring break. Except for the Mayan Riviera and the Yucatan Peninsula, however, they’re just not hugely popular tourism draws. Drug cartels are effective at corrupting local governments and police officers, and their supply of guns and other weapons is scary. Young adults from the USA are not exempt from planned kidnappings, either. They may even be targeted. This spring break, take your vacation somewhere other than a Mexican border state. These vacations are supposed to be fun and frivolous, not frightening and possibly violent.

USA-Mexico Border (wiki commons)
USA-Mexico Border (wiki commons)
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March 6, 2009 | Filed Under Adventure Travel, Destinations, Travel News 

Comments

12 Responses to “Don’t Take Spring Break in Tijuana – New Travel Alert for Mexico”

  1. Don’t Take Spring Break in Tijuana - New Travel Alert for Mexico … says:
    March 6, 2009 at

    [...] Don’t Take Spring Break in Tijuana – New Travel Alert for Mexico … [...]

  2. Steven Roll says:
    March 6, 2009 at

    I agree that it would be unwise to visit Tijuana and other places along the U.S./Mexico border.

    But traditional vacation spots to the south are still safe–and they are well worth visiting because the exchange rate is about 15 pesos to the dollar now. Frommer’s did an interesting blog post about this a few days ago: http://tinyurl.com/cw5qxn

    I think it’s great that–unlike many major news outlets–you took care to note that:

    “Now, Mexico is a large country; many beautiful states therein are still safe for Spring Break.”

    Overall, I’d say your post is consistent with what most colleges have advised: Stay away from the border towns, and exercise caution in general when visiting Mexico.

  3. Jon says:
    March 6, 2009 at

    Phoenix Arizona has the second highest kidnapping rate in the WORLD. By this logic, no one should travel there. New Orleans had a higher per capita murder rate than Tijuana in 2008, and Youngstown, Ohio higher yet. So please do not travel to either of those locations.

    You listed Tijuana, Juarez, and Chihuahua as states. You were one for three.

    Please do better research.

  4. CajunMama says:
    March 6, 2009 at

    Jon – Thanks for catching the typo :)

  5. jen says:
    March 6, 2009 at

    That picture is awesome! The border’s not just some line on a map somewhere.

    I had a great vacation with my son in Oaxaca and on the beach in Southern Oaxaca not too long ago, so am glad you pointed out that there are plenty of places one can travel to without concern.

    @jon, the info you give surprizes me (I visited a cousin in Mesa last summer, didn’t hear see anything about this problem). Can you tell us where to find out more?

  6. jen says:
    March 6, 2009 at

    I answered my own question with a quick google–according to a Reuters piece and an LA times article, Phoenix is the kidnap capital of the US (which is not the world). I didn’t see anything comparing it to localities in other countries, other than that Mexico City has a higher rate. The LA times piece is cited by a lot of other articles, and the following quote showed up several places.

    ‘More ransom kidnappings happen here than in any other town in America, according to local and federal law enforcement authorities. Most every victim and suspect is connected to the drug-smuggling world, usually tracing back to the western Mexican state of Sinaloa, Phoenix police report.’

    That use of the word “world” might be confusing if you’re just skimming quickly.

  7. Bijan C. Bayne says:
    March 10, 2009 at

    TJ- perhaps no. Cancun, a resounding yes. Was there last week, and saw no sign of violence or anit-tourist sentiment from the hotel zone, to sites as far and rural a drive from it as Tulum, Coba, and tiny Nuevo Durango (100 KM from the city). Spring breakers will be safe- as long as they moderate the booze and hotel stunts.

  8. scared indio says:
    March 12, 2009 at

    Give me a break. Remember the discovery of 1610 by Galileo, “The world does not revolve around you.”

    If you have a coke nose – stay away
    If you can’t handle your liquor – stay away
    If you think that ending the night with “a little fight” is cool – stay away
    IF you like to cause drama scenes (guys and girls) – stay away

    If you like to have a good time dancing, drinking, eating, sucking, and well… It’s all here.

    TJ flaunts what other cities hide.

    If you are in the wrong state of mind, trouble will find you anywhere.

    Saludos,
    Luis

  9. Luis says:
    March 12, 2009 at

    1610 Galileo discovers that the world does not revolve around us / we are not the center of the universe.

    TJ flaunts what American cities hide and there are consequences in Mexico.

    If you have a cocaine nose – stay away
    If you have a habit of ending the night with a fight – stay away.
    If you are rude (and do not understand Galileo’s discovery), and cannot handle your liquor – definitely stay away.

    If you are into drinking, eating, dancing, sucking, and well you know….it’s all here.

    Stop feeding your addiction to fear.

    Saludos,

    Luis

  10. RC says:
    March 12, 2009 at

    You said that “Young adults from the USA are not exempt from planned kidnappings, either. They may even be targeted.” What is the evidence? The drug cartels have targeted Mexican citizens or those with dual citizenship. Yes there are dangerous areas, but you must be smart. If you’re looking to get drunk or do things that are illegal in the US, you will get in trouble in Mexico as well.

    Travel smart.

  11. RIP cousin says:
    March 27, 2009 at

    My cousin was murdered this past Monday night in Tijuana. Unfortunately he didn’t listen to the warnings to not go into the border cities either. Please do not take these warnings lightly.

  12. duane says:
    April 7, 2009 at

    the dude who posted the comment bout his cousin i suspect, is full of shit. fear mongers.

    id like some evidence to his identity, and a link to an article, and proof of relation.i feel if it were true, someone would be more inclined to produce things that would help inform other ppl. not a simple unexplained statement. go to tijuana. have fun. keep it to DAY TRIPS ONLY tho, roll with a group, and dont take any shit from anyone and you’ll be fine. much respect to everyone.l8ter.

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