Mexico has gained a reputation in recent years as one of the most violent countries in the Americas.
Crime and violence along the US border is completely out of control and the State Department has even issued a travel warning for the country.
So does this mean that Mexico is dangerous for tourists? The answer is: it depends.
There is a big gap between what foreigners believe about Mexico and what is really happening.
Without really understanding how big Mexico is and what the violence is really about, many people think that the country is one big war zone.
While this is far from the truth, it is hard to get a real sense of how bad things are.
There is very little reliable information coming out of the areas where violence is at its worst.
Many Mexican journalists have stopped reporting on drug-related murders because they are afraid of the cartels.
The few reports that do get out clearly state that violent crimes are increasing rapidly in border cities such as Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez and Nogales.
Drug cartels are constantly fighting each other for control of the drug business.
In addition to this they also fight government forces who try to stop their activities.
This constant fighting is the main cause of the increase in violence in northern Mexico.
While there IS a lot of violence and crime in Mexico, this does not mean you have to cancel your vacation or be scared.
The country is so big that violence in one area will not effect you if you are far away.
Most extreme violence in Mexico is drug related and occurs along the US border.
If you go to the Rivera Maya or Yucatan you won't even notice it.
Also, most of the violence is between Mexican police and drug dealers and almost never involves tourists.
As long you avoid drugs yourself and take precautions you will be fine.
Precautions should include avoiding displaying money of signs of wealth, traveling only during the day and sticking to the main roads.
The episodes of violence happen in very specific places.
According to statistics less than 5 percent of Mexican counties have been affected by the drug war.
Even Mexico's cities are a lot safer than you may think.
Mexico City for instance, only has 8.
3 homicides per 100,000 people, compared to Miami's 14.
1 and Chicago's 16.
1.
Compared to other countries in the region, Mexico is also much safer.
Honduras and El Salvador, for example, have homicide rates of 60.
9 and 51.
8 respectively.
This does not mean that there are no dangerous areas in Mexico.
The US Department of State's travel warnings mainly focus on these areas, where the drug war is raging.
While travelers rarely become victims, the number of US citizens that have been killed has increased during the past years.
US authorities mainly issue warnings regarding certain states, but they also recommend caution everywhere in Mexico because of the increase in kidnappings and robberies.
Around 245,000 square miles of Mexican territory are not included in the State Department's warning list.
Most popular tourist destinations, including the state of Quintana Roo with places like Cancun, Cozumel and Playa del Carmen, are not considered dangerous.
Puerto Vallarta, another hotspot, is also considered to be very safe.
Before you leave you should do some research on your destination.
There are lots of places in Mexico that are unaffected by the violence that grips other parts of the country.
You can still have a completely relaxing vacation in these locations.
Below you can find a brief list of just a few of the many popular tourist destinations that are still safe to visit.
1.
Mexico City - The country's fascinating capital, with its population of over 21 million, has a crime rate lower than Washington DC.
The city has recently been completely renovated and many of its famous landmarks look better than ever.
2.
Mérida - Just four hours from Cancun, this city is located near several Mayan sites and has a beautiful historic center.
3.
San Miguel de Allende - This famous city located in the highlands north of Mexico DF is absolutely gorgeous and quite safe, with drug related violence far away.
San Miguel de Allende truly is a beautiful place with amazing 17th-century architecture, botanic gardens and many lovely guesthouses.
4.
Playa del Carmen - This resort town, reachable by bus from Cancun airport, has everything you could ask for a great beach vacation.
Its Fifth Avenue (La Quinta in Spanish) has everything from bars to taco stands and souvenir shops and is located right by the water.
If you prefer something less touristy you can just go north to the more remote beaches.
5.
Puebla - A smaller city of just 1.
5 million people, Puebla is another great colonial city.
It has many beautiful cathedrals as well as an interesting museum full of ancient artifacts.
Puebla is located just two hours from the capital.
6.
Cozumel - This beautiful island is far enough away from the US border to be completely free from drug violence.
Cozumel is a popular cruise destination and has great scuba diving and snorkeling.
7.
Cancún - While some top city officials of this famous tourist destination have been tied to drug gangs, visitors have nothing to be afraid of here.
Cancún still offers all of the beaches,sun and fun it always has and if you are not looking for a quiet, unspoiled destination it is a great place to visit.
8.
Los Cabos - This coastal resort city is located in one of the safest states in Mexico.
Los Cabos has great golfing and amazing beaches for you to enjoy worry-free.
These are not the only places that are safe to travel in Mexico.
States like Tlaxcala and Veracruz are also relatively crime-free and most of the crime they do experience is related to drugs.
The advice is always the same: do your research and avoid those few places where there is a lot of violence.
Mexico is an amazing country that has a lot to offer foreign tourists, including amazing value for money, a rich and fascinating culture and gorgeous scenery.
If you are worried about the drug violence, just avoid those areas where most of the fighting is happening (mostly the border cities like Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez and Nogales).
In addition you should take basic precautions and be alert of your surroundings.
If you take all of this into account you will have a great and safe trip in the beautiful country that is Mexico.
There really is very little to be afraid of as long as you do your research and avoid those few places where most of the drug violence is going on.