Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – The latest National Urban Public Security Survey (ENSU) from Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) puts Puerto Vallarta in the national spotlight again—this time as the fourth‑ranked city in perceived safety, with only 23 percent of adults saying they feel unsafe living in Puerto Vallarta.
That figure is well below the national average: 61.9 percent of Mexicans in the 91 urban areas surveyed told interviewers they consider their city unsafe. Women continue to feel less secure than men, 67.5 percent versus 55 percent.
How the rest of the country looks
INEGI’s first‑quarter 2025 poll shows a sharp divide in perceptions across Mexico:
- Least‑worried cities:
- San Pedro Garza García, N.L. – 10.4 %
- Benito Juárez, CDMX – 20.4 %
- Piedras Negras, Coah. – 20.5 %
- Puerto Vallarta, Jal. – 23.0 %
- Saltillo, Coah. – 24.5 %
- Los Cabos, B.C.S. – 24.7 % N+
- Most‑worried cities:
- Villahermosa, Tab. – 90.6 %
- Culiacán Rosales, Sin. – 89.7 %
- Fresnillo, Zac. – 89.5 %
- Uruapan, Mich. – 88.7 %
- Irapuato, Gto. – 88.4 %
- Chimalhuacán, Edomex – 86.1 % N+
Perception ≠ Reality
It is crucial to understand what ENSU does—and does not—tell us:
- ENSU captures perceptions of insecurity, not actual crime incidents. INEGI’s own methodology states that the survey is designed to “obtain information on how the population perceives public safety in their city”.
- A low perception of danger does not automatically mean a low crime rate. Conversely, cities with high anxiety may have crime statistics that are average or even improving. Puerto Vallarta ranking in 4th place does not mean Puerto Vallarta is the 4th safest place in the country, it simple means the citizens say they feel safe.
- Official crime figures come from a separate source—the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System—and are not part of ENSU’s quarterly poll.
Why Vallartenses Feel Safer
According to the city government, local authorities credit stepped‑up patrols, motor‑vehicle checkpoints, and coordination with federal forces for a decline in reported robberies since late 2024. Tourism leaders add that renovated lighting along the Malecón and expanding the city’s surveillance‑camera network have improved both safety and the public mood.
Yet criminologists caution against complacency. “When visitors read rankings like these, they often assume Puerto Vallarta is virtually crime‑free,” says security analyst Laura Sánchez. “But perception can swing quickly with a single high‑profile incident. Real safety depends on sustained investment in policing, social programs, and transparent reporting.”
The bottom line
- Puerto Vallarta’s fourth‑place finish is good news for residents and the tourism sector.
- The ranking is about confidence, not crime counts. Travelers and residents alike should still follow basic safety practices and consult official crime data when making decisions.
- Policymakers should treat ENSU as a barometer of public sentiment—useful for guiding communication and prevention strategies—but not as a standalone measure of security performance.
As Puerto Vallarta celebrates its reputation for tranquility, city officials say they will keep pushing on the less visible—but far more telling—numbers that track crimes actually committed.
