US asks Spring Breakers to reconsider traveling to Mexico for safety (again)

Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) – After the kidnapping of four Americans in Matamoros and the murder of two of them, alerts were issued for the spring breakers that fill the Mexican beaches this season.

For this year, the most common spring break dates for young American students will be between March 11 and April 1.

However, in view of the security situation, border officials, for example in Texas, are advising students not to travel to Mexico, or at least reconsider.

Six states are at alert level four from the State Department, the maximum, which means not to travel: Tamaulipas -where the kidnapping occurred-, Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, and Zacatecas.

Seven other states have alert level three, which means reconsider travel, due to violence and the high risk of kidnapping or being caught in the crossfire between criminal gangs.

Those seven states are Baja California, Chihuahua, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos, and Sonora. Only two states: Campeche and Yucatán, have the lowest level of alert, which indicates taking normal precautions.

Mexico is one of the favorite destinations for spring breakers. Last year, more than 30 million Americans traveled to Mexico from January to November.

And several of the favorite destinations are in states that are at the maximum alert level, such as Puerto Vallarta -Jalisco-, Cabo San Lucas, Playa Rosarito -both in Baja California-, and Acapulco -in Guerrero-.

Richard Sindelar, a professor at the University of St. Thomas, lamented that spring breakers generally do not review travel alerts or precautions to take when traveling to a place. In an interview, he asked young people to “take seriously” the State Department alert, especially those considering traveling to Matamoros. “That city is particularly dangerous because there are two cartels involved in what can be considered a war between cartels. Their first instinct will be to kill you, rather than negotiate.”

Although, there are zero American students who have chosen Matamoros as their Spring Break destination.

For those who decide to travel despite the warnings, Sindelar recommended “remain vigilant of what is happening around you.”

It should be noted that the city where Sindelar teaches, Minneapolis, is one of America’s most dangerous cities with a 58 per 1,000 crime rate.

US travel warnings aren’t without merit. Miami is the top Spring Break vacation spot in the United States and reported 47 homicides last year. Cancun, the top Spring Break destination in Mexico closed last year with 421 homicides. But not all destinations are equal, take Puerto Vallarta for instance.

Puerto Vallarta has an extremely low crime rate compared to any Spring Break destination in the United State. Puerto Vallarta scores 37.01 on the crime index (0 being the lowest and 100 being the highest), while Miami scores 58.45.

Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) - US travel warnings aren't without merit. Miami is the top Spring Break vacation spot in the United States and reported 47 . . .

Follow Us On Google News | Get Our Newsletter



Trending News on PVDN

  • Where do foreigners come from and where do they live in MexicoMexico City Protest on July 5 Challenges Gentrification and Airbnb’s Impact on Housing Residents of Roma and Condesa will gather at Parque México on July 5 to protest gentrification, rising rents, and Airbnb’s effect on local housing. This Saturday, July 5, Mexico City will witness its first organized citizen protest against gentrification—a peaceful but urgent gathering taking place at 3:30 p.m. at the Lindbergh Forum in Parque México,…
  • protests3Mexico City Protests: There is a fine line between anti-gentrification and xenophobia The line between anti-gentrification and racism is clear if you choose to see it: genuine activism targets policy and practice, not nationality or ethnicity. I have lived in Mexico for two decades, and I have never witnessed the level of anti-American sentiment that exists today. All of it is tied to the buzzword "gentrification," a…
  • puerto vallarta lettersPuerto Vallarta needs a new image to create meaningful reasons for travelers to visit Business leaders at Jalisco Tourism Secretariat forums stressed the need for renewing Puerto Vallarta image and diversifying attractions to appeal to national and international markets. Local business leaders and tourism specialists agreed this week that Puerto Vallarta needs a fresh look and a broader range of attractions to compete at home and abroad. In a…
  • puerto-vallarta-police-chase-bahia-de-banderasPuerto Vallarta police chase ends in deadly collision in Bahía de Banderas A Puerto Vallarta police chase along Highway 200 ended in a deadly collision in Bahía de Banderas, leaving two people dead. A high-speed chase that began in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, and ended in Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, left at least two people dead and raised new questions about police engagement and road safety in the…
  • puerto-vallarta-rainfall-hurricane-flossie-july-2025Puerto Vallarta braces for torrential rains as Hurricane Flossie gains strength Puerto Vallarta faces a high risk of flooding as Hurricane Flossie intensifies in the Pacific. Torrential rains and overwhelmed drainage systems pose major challenges for the city. Puerto Vallarta, a city wedged between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific Ocean, is no stranger to dramatic weather shifts—but this summer, the skies are testing the…
  • protestProtest graffiti and smashed windows mars anti-gentrification rally in Mexico City Residents and activists joined an anti-gentrification rally in Mexico Park, but the anti-gentrification rally Mexico Park turned destructive as masked youths defaced local shops and broke windows. A rally against gentrification held yesterday in Mexico City’s Parque México drew residents from Juárez, Roma, Condesa and Hipódromo alongside local activists. Organizers billed it as the city’s…
  • mexico city real estateGentrification in Mexico City is not the reason for the high cost of housing City housing shortage, not gentrification, drives prices skyward as planning lags behind demand and foreigner influence remains minimal. High real estate costs in Mexico City stem from a deep and persistent housing shortage—exacerbated by land constraints, tangled regulations and speculative investment—rather than by the presence of foreign residents. Despite headlines blaming “gentrification,” foreign-born residents make…
  • Body with signs of crocodile attack found in Ameca River, a leg was found last monthPurple Flag Warns Beachgoers after Crocodile at Los Muertos Beach Authorities raised a purple flag after a crocodile at Los Muertos Beach was spotted swimming near shore, advising visitors to avoid entering the water until safety checks ended. Local authorities recorded a crocodile swimming in the vicinity of Los Muertos Beach, one of Puerto Vallarta’s busiest tourist spots. Lifeguards spotted the reptile in shallow water…
  • José Luis Velázquez RodríguezSEAPAL Official Reported Missing in Puerto Vallarta Authorities in Puerto Vallarta have launched a search for José Luis Velázquez Rodríguez, SEAPAL's head of transparency, who has been missing since June 30. Family and officials are urging the public to report any information. Local authorities and civil protection units have launched a search operation for José Luis Velázquez Rodríguez, head of the Transparency…
  • puerto vallarta loses three blue flag beachesPuerto Vallarta retains four Blue Flag Beaches, down from eight Puerto Vallarta will enter the 2025–2026 season with four international Blue Flag distinctions in Puerto Vallarta, even after tourism-driven environmental damage cost it half of its previous honors. The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) in Mexico confirmed that three resort flags will be revalidated at Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, The Westin Resort &…
Scroll to Top