Foreign Office issues warning for Scottish holidaymakers visiting 11 Mexican destinations

Scottish holidaymakers have been given safety advice if they are visiting 11 destinations in Mexico. Those planning a trip to the popular North American getaway spot have been cautioned about visiting certain areas as security risks intensify.

The destinations flagged include Baja California, Chiapas and Chihuahua, as well as Colima and Guerrero. Jalisco, Michoacan and Sinaloa are also on the list, along with Tamaulipas and Zacatecas.

This warning follows the tragic incident where two Australian brothers and their American mate were killed during a surfing expedition in the Baja California peninsula.

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The Foreign Office has advised: “Take care when withdrawing money from ATMS or exchanging money at an exchange shop (bureau de change). It’s generally safer to use ATMs during daylight hours and inside shops or malls.”

They further warned that “People withdrawing money from airport money exchange shops and ATMs in various locations have later been targeted by criminals. Avoid withdrawing large amounts of money and be careful of your surroundings and who is around you while you are using the ATM.”, reports Birmingham Live.

The FCDO added: “You should remain vigilant at all times. Pickpocketing and theft are common, including on public transport. Avoid wearing expensive clothing jewellery or watches. Limit the amount of cash or credit/debit cards you carry with you.”

“Watch your briefcases and luggage, even in apparently secure places like the lobby of your hotel.”

As per the UK Embassy in Mexico, nearly 15,000 British nationals were residing in Mexico. Their expenditure on holidays in the country last year totalled a whopping £345 million.

In 2023, overseas trips made by Brits skyrocketed to an impressive 86.2 million – a surge of 21% from the 71.8 million voyages recorded in 2022. However, this figure is still a tad lower than the peak of 93.1 million visits in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic stepped in.

Their advice is as follows:

State of Baja California

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the city of Tijuana, except:

• airside transit through Tijuana airport
• the Cross Border Xpress bridge from the airport linking terminals across the Mexican-US border
• the federal toll road 1D and Via Rápida through Tijuana to the border

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the city of Tecate in Baja California (including roads between Tijuana and Tecate)

Note: FCDO does not advise against all travel or all but essential travel to any part of the state of Baja California Sur.

State of Chiapas

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to within 40km of the Guatemalan border between the Pacific Coast up to and including the border crossing at Gracias a Dio

FCDO advises against all but essential travel on Federal Highway 199 (Carretera Federal 199) between Rancho Nuevo (just outside San Cristobal de las Casas) and the Chancalá junction just outside Palenque (where Federal Highway 199 meets Federal Highway 307).

State of Chihuahua

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the state of Chihuahua, except:

• the city of Chihuahua
• the border crossing in Ciudad Juárez (accessed by federal toll road 45)
• federal toll road 45D connecting the cities of Chihuahua and Ciudad Juárez
• the Copper Canyon rail route to and from Chihuahua and towns immediately on this route including Creel
• the road from Creel via San Juanito to San Pedro
• state highway 16 from San Pedro to Chihuahua

State of Colima

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the state of Colima, except:

• the city of Manzanillo accessed by sea or air via the Manzanillo-Costalegre International Airport

State of Guanajuato

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the areas southwest of road 45D.

State of Guerrero

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the state of Guerrero, except:

• the town of Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa accessed by air.

State of Jalisco

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the areas south and southwest of Lake Chapala to the border with the state of Colima.

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the northern municipalities of:

• Bolaños
• Chimaltitán
• Colotlán
• Hostotipaquillo
• Huejúcar
• Huequilla el Alto
• Mezquitic
• San Martin de Bolaños
• Santa Maria de los Ángeles
• Totatiche
• Villa Guerrero

State of Michoacán

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the state of Michoacán, except:

• the city of Morelia accessed by federal toll roads 15D, 126 and 43; and the federal toll road 48D between the city of Morelia and the General Francisco Mujica airport
• the town of Pátzcuaro accessed by federal toll roads 14D and 15 from Morelia, and boat trips out to islands on Lake Pátzcuaro
• the Federal Highway 15D

State of Sinaloa

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the state of Sinaloa, except:

• the cities of Los Mochis and Mazatlán
• road 32 that runs between El Fuerte and Los Mochis
• the 15D federal toll road that runs the length of the state
• the Copper Canyon rail route to and from Los Mochis, El Fuerte and the towns immediately on this route

State of Tamaulipas

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the state of Tamaulipas, except:

• the border crossing at Nuevo Laredo accessed by federal toll road 85D from Monterrey
• Federal highways 80, 81 and 85 between Tampico, Ciudad de Victoria and Magueyes, and the entire area of Tamaulipas south of these highways.

State of Zacatecas

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the state of Zacatecas.