With three recent Canadian fatalities in Mexico, precautions should be taken when travelling south.

Winters in North America can be tough. Our days are made up of twelve hours of darkness and bouts of seemingly never-ending freezing temperatures. It is little wonder that many people plan for a mid-winter break from the cold and head down to Mexico for the warm weather, sunny skys and sandy beaches.

Mexico is a picturesque destination for a relaxing getaway, however the current political climate makes some areas of the country less than ideal and possibly very dangerous.

The country is embattled in a drug war, with organized crime vying for territory which often results in violence and fatalities at the hands of members of drug cartels.

Narcotics related deaths in Mexico is at an all-time high with an average of 51 people killed each day over 2010-2011, and a total of 18,600 deaths for 2011. Six of those deaths were Canadians.

These statistics, along with the alarmingly violent deaths of three Canadians during the first week of 2012, leave many people wondering if their winter trips to Mexico are worth taking.

In an interview with CBC, former Vancouver police detective and current security consultant living in Mexico, Walter McKay outlined and clarified some of the risks associated with travelling south:

When it comes to visiting family-friendly destinations like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta or Merida, if you stick to the tourist areas you will have no problems. The states of Campeche and the Yucatan are very safe.

You should, however, avoid the states of Ciudad Juarez, Mazatlan and Veracruz. These areas are known to be violent. Acapulco has also had growing levels of violence over the last eight months. Meanwhile, the US State Department warns about travel to Mexican border towns such Juarez, Tijuana and Matamoras.

Some activities should be avoided in Mexico. McKay recommends not backpacking through the country. In areas off the beaten path with high violence rates, tourist are seen as a source for money.

Instance where people are likely to jeopardize themselves is by frequenting bars, looking for drugs or getting involved in any illicit activity. These activities increase your chances of coming into contact with violence dramatically.

As McKay notes, violence is not usually targeted at tourists. The violence in Mexico is among organized crime groups fighting over territory and money. The fighting factions have little interest in tourist destinations.

For those looking to enjoy a beer on the beach and have family fun then there is very little to worry about.

Here are some safety precautions, care of ontheroadin.com:

• Limit travelling at night
  
• Never walk on a beach late at night
  
• If there are drugs present, leave immediately
  
• Only carry the money that is needed for the day
  
• Travel in pairs or groups whenever possible
• If you find yourself in any situation where you feel uncomfortable for whatever reasons, trust your judgment and leave.

For the latest information on Mexican Travel recommendations, check the US State Department’s Travel Warning for Mexico and the Government of Canada’s Travel Report for Mexico.

If you would like to know more information and maps on current violence rates, check out Walter McKay’s website policereform.org

References:

“How safe is Mexico for Tourist?” [CBC News]
“Play it safe, use common sense while in Mexico: expert” [Vancouver Sun] 
“Travelling Safe in Mexico” [ontheroadin.org]