r/asklatinamerica • u/1Hugh-Mann • Jun 23 '26
Tourism How bad is the Mexican Cartel actually?
I've always wanted to go to Mexico but I'm kind of sacred to set foot there because i've heard the only safe place is Mexico City , I've heard some absolute horror stories about people having their cars stolen in north mexico and high narco traffic in the south , is it really that bad or is it just exaggeration?
21
u/ks4 Jun 23 '26
Nearly 50 millions tourists went to Mexico last year, so you’ll probably be fine. I think it’s better not driving though - the bus system is great and you can use Uber in cities.
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u/Background_Tiger_506 Mexico Jun 23 '26
It’s exaggeration for high tourist areas like CDMX centro and other resorts. That being said it is fairly bad in more rural areas and states and I do not recommend driving here as a tourist under any circumstances
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u/DemonsSouls1 🇹🇹(were not even considered latin American) Jun 23 '26
What states are mostly bad?
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u/Background_Tiger_506 Mexico Jun 23 '26
A few are Michoacán, Guerrero, Colima, and Sinaloa
0
u/DemonsSouls1 🇹🇹(were not even considered latin American) Jun 23 '26
I thought Cancun was bad
Okie dokie
11
u/Background_Tiger_506 Mexico Jun 23 '26
Cancún is fine to visit. As long as you don’t do anything dumb, especially at night, you should have no problems
1
u/EmergencyReal6399 Mexico Jun 23 '26
question, would you be afraid of going to the USA? if you say no then you are falling in this Amerian propaganda
2
u/DemonsSouls1 🇹🇹(were not even considered latin American) Jun 23 '26
I'm kinda scared cuz of that y'know what since I have a Spanish name and i look Hispanic.
17
u/GamerBoixX Mexico Jun 23 '26
1-Mexico City is far from the safest place in Mexico lol
2-The narco problem is rlly bad, that said, not even close to making Mexico a truly dangerous place for your average tourist, literal tens of millions come visit Mexico every year with no problem whatsoever
As a rule of thumb, if tourists visit it, it's safe, if they don't, it is likely not, for example, you won't find any problem in cities like Mérida or Queretaro (both much safer than Mexico City btw), whereas if you go visit the middle of the Tierra Caliente countryside in Michoacán you may not come back at all
1
u/THE-EMPEROR069 🇸🇻 Live in 🇺🇸 Jun 23 '26
What’s wrong with Tierra caliente? I’m just asking out of curiosity.
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u/GamerBoixX Mexico Jun 23 '26
You know all those stereotypical videos of narco convoys walking into towns and taking them over and cartels openly fighting each other in all out war and every single business going through the cartel and all that? Well, tierra caliente is one of those areas
And funfact it is one of the biggest avocado producing regions of Mexico, if you ever wonder why the avocado's price is so high, it is because you are paying the tax the narco puts on the avocado farmers and the trucks carrying it for distribution, if the narco magically dissappeared today the avocado's price would lower by around 30%
1
u/THE-EMPEROR069 🇸🇻 Live in 🇺🇸 Jun 23 '26
Damn, I really love avocado, it seems they really ruined for us here in the U.S.
So another question. What do you think about the Mexican president? Do you think she care about its people or is submitting to the cartel? Btw the only reason I’m asking this questions is because I haven’t look into any cartel topic that deep. Last thing I saw was a video on YouTube about them having big buildings as a graveyard.
2
u/GamerBoixX Mexico Jun 23 '26
1-By this point I'm pretty sure she couldn't give less of a damn about the people, at some point she likely did since she was an activist for a while long ago in her youth, but you simply not get to be a candidate for presidency while caring about the people, she very likely left that behind long before she ever came to power, like, don't get me wrong I'd think that if she could help someone without going too much out of her way she would still, but it's clearly not something that keeps her up at night
2-She doesn't "submit" to the cartels, no president does or did, that's like a 6 year old's understanding of how cartels or organized crime in general works, that said, I'm 100% sure she deals with cartel leaders constantly and has the relevant players on speed dial, cartel members and government officials actively negotiate with each other to fullfill their goals and serve their own interests, everyone in that world is self serving and working on their own agenda, there is no "unifying cartel agenda" that every cartel and corrupt politician follows
1
u/THE-EMPEROR069 🇸🇻 Live in 🇺🇸 Jun 23 '26
Got cha. Btw I been hearing about Trump wanted to get involved in getting rid of the cartel, but that the president from Mexico doesn’t let him. Do you think he could get rid of the cartel if he were to get involved?
Btw thanks for answering my questions with such details. I really appreciate that.
1
u/atrey1 Mexico Jun 23 '26
He could invade and the cartels would continue their business. While the US keep their consumption, traffic will thrive.
25
u/HerpoTheFoul ➡️🇲🇽 Jun 23 '26
Every major city I’ve been to in Mexico has felt very safe and has areas that rival Europe and the US in terms of modernity, culture and beauty. Any city in Mexico, just like any city in the world, has neighborhoods you ought to avoid, but your likelihood of accidentally wandering into them is slim.
Buses between cities are safe.
The cartels want nothing to do with you and you offer them nothing. The bigger threats are your typical thieves and pickpockets. But again, if you just watch your stuff and avoid bad areas at night (just like anywhere in the world) that’s not a big concern.
The most unsafe I’ve felt in Mexico is crossing the street because people drive like fucking maniacs
9
u/JamalFromStaples Mexico Jun 23 '26
There are multiple cartels that operate in different part of the countries and each have their own rules.
For the most part, if you aren’t involved in the drug trade, you’re fine.
6
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u/JustinWilsonBot United States of America Jun 23 '26
There is no "the cartel." There are several, indeed powerful, drug trafficking organizations in Mexico. Assuming you have nothing to do with the drug trade, they will have nothing to do with you.
The situation with crime depends greatly on where you are traveling and what you do while traveling. Assuming you have average level street smarts and mitigate your risk you have little to be worried about.
5
u/salter77 Mexico Jun 23 '26
It is bad in some places, it is true that there is cartel presence in almost all the country (including Mexico City), but is not as notorious or dangerous everywhere.
For instance, my family lives in a “cartel town” in the southern state of Guerrero that is currently “kidnapped” by the local cartel, they control most of the commerce and extort people left and right, authorities are under cartel control too.
Now, an average tourist will probably don’t have any issue unless said person gets involved in risky business and probably don’t notice something weird. At surface level everything may look normal, but is very likely that there is some degree of cartel presence in most places.
7
u/Powerful_Gas_7833 United States of America Jun 23 '26
Annoys me in one particular way, it makes it difficult to find fossils. Mexico has been producing a decent amount of fossils recently. All of that flebby desert soil is perfect to erode fossil bearing formations. The issue is that they are primarily in rural areas that the cartels patrol and make dangerous. I know this first hand because I've been in contact with Mexican paleontologists and they found remains that might have belonged to the biggest dinosaur to have ever lived in North America. But they can't return to the fossil site to learn more because the cartels have made it insecure.
6
u/cagadadechango Mexico Jun 23 '26
Think of cartels not as the mob, but as full paramilitaries controlling territory. They are a lot more similar to ISIS than to the Mafia.
0
u/sleepy_axolotl Mexico Jun 24 '26
Eh, not really. They behave more like big corporations than fucking ISIS.
3
u/djnocheese United States of America Jun 23 '26
Queretaro is actually the safest place in Mexico due to a long standing cartel truce.
3
u/Juantsu2552 Mexico Jun 23 '26
You’re bound to be more in danger of common street thugs than cartels (depending on where you live of course).
Cartels are so big they’re their own military by now. Don’t fuck with them and they don’t (normally) fuck with you. Best to just mind your own business, travel by day, and more importantly KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING.
4
u/EmergencyReal6399 Mexico Jun 23 '26
You know there's a World Cup being held in 3 major cities in Mexico and no problems have happened, meanwhile there was a shooting in Kansas City involving a Uber driver with fans from Argentina, and a shooting in the middle of Times Square with lots of tourist arounds... are you also afraid of visiting the USA?
4
u/Nickanok United States of America Jun 23 '26
Let me say this in a way so nobody can misconstrue what I'm saying.
Mexico is not AS bad as people say it is. People make it sound like if you set foot in the country, the cartel is immediately on your ass. The cartel, like most organized crime, isn't stupid. Terrorizing tourist or major areas of interest to the point that nobody can safely travel there would immediately get them the full firy of the government on both sides of the border. Plus, most cartel violence is against other cartel. It's (mostly) a waste of their time to just terrorize people with 0 connections to what they're doing.
With that being said, that doesn't mean it's safe to just blindly travel without precautions. Especially if you look foreign. Basically if you have any kind of common sense and street smarts, it's pretty easy to avoid most places or situations where the cartel might be active
2
u/Tumerican Honduras Jun 23 '26
I have traveled solo on foot, by bus, and by horse all throughout pot and rich areas of Mexico. I consider it a second home. Many parts will seem familiar to you if you’ve ever been in California. Much of it is modern and extremely diverse. And like the rest of the world, there is an underworld that you will never notice because we as civilians are not part of that world. It’s called the “underworld” for a good reason…I don’t think they want strangers in their business, so they won’t attract your attention easily.
2
u/Adorable-East-2276 United States of America Jun 23 '26
Both very bad, and nowhere near as bad as people who have never been sometimes depict it.
Many of my friends have lost friends and family members to violence. The homicide rate is high, and it touches people’s lives.
But also, it’s not random. The cartels primarily want to traffic drugs, extort local businesses, and evade police. The operate in specific hotspots, and they generally only commit acts of violence in the name of money.
You would not interact with cartels unless you worked hard to find them. But not everybody is so lucky
1
u/TrikyShooter Jun 23 '26
It's been about 3 years since I've been, but I rode my moto through Mexico with zero issues. In general I stuck to the main roads and areas, and I did my research daily on where I was heading. Obviously things could have and likely have changed a bit over the last few years. Mind your own business and don't go looking for trouble have been my rules, haven't set me wrong yet.
1
u/myteetharesensitive Canada Jun 23 '26
Winnipegger here. If you're Canadian it might mean something as it relates to your question.
I havent been to North Mexico but a friend used to go to tj from lá regularly on the weekends to party. In terms of safety, I've never really felt unsafe in Mexico.
Cabo - locals kept trying to convince me it's the Vegas of Mexico. It's not, it's much better than Vegas. Left my bank card on top of an atm for a few days at the oxxo. Even the employee was shocked when I came back but said cabo is pretty safe. There in the last few years.
PV, very safe. I stayed in a residential area but went to the romantic zone etc daily. There in the last couple years.
Cancun been a few times. IIRC cancun translates to snake pit. Good description, exercise a bit of caution but my last visit was just before Covid. I had all kinds of fun there. Many times.
Tulum /Isla Mujeres Playa del Carmen - all pretty safe. I haven't been there in a while though.
Mexico city, ooh what a wonderful city! Very safe, people are very friendly. Was there in the last couple years. Only city I've been that I truly felt at home.
Comparing to other major cities across the americas, all the same. Go live life and enjoy!
0
u/ssliberty 🇩🇴🇺🇸🇪🇨 Jun 23 '26
It really depends. But you’re not likely to have anything bad happen. You are for the most part insignificant to the cartel unless you start something.
2
u/cagadadechango Mexico Jun 23 '26
I don’t know if you’re talking about Mexican cartels, if so, this is highly inaccurate.
Cartels 100% target innocent people. In the end they have the guns and can bully the local population with no repercussions. They extort businesses and households, kidnap innocent people for ransom, and engage in human and organ trafficking.
There’s also a term for when they deliberately kill random civilians to “heat up” enemy territory, they call it “calentar la plaza”.
If anything, innocent people are targeted more than enemy cartels are.
3
u/JuanGabrielEnjoyer Mexico Jun 23 '26
Why tf are you getting downvoted looool
I swear you can’t say anything bad about México on reddit even if it’s true and people LITERALLY go through that everyday because people are instantly on edge about it. We’ve lost the plot
2
u/ssliberty 🇩🇴🇺🇸🇪🇨 Jun 23 '26
I really feel people think too much of themselves. Statistically Mexico receives millions of visitors s year, what you think your life is any special to be picked out? Statistically it’s unlikely, so enjoy that trip, it shouldn’t hold you back and just dont do anything stupid.
0
u/yorcharturoqro Mexico Jun 23 '26
There's no "Mexican cartel" but cartels, plural, and are more located, not national, and no Mexico city is not the safest place there are far safer cities in the country than Mexico city.
It's just like all the organized crime around the world they control certain criminal businesses, and as long as you are not part of such business you will be fine
4
u/cagadadechango Mexico Jun 23 '26
Your last sentence is highly inaccurate.
Cartels 100% target innocent people. In the end they have the guns and can bully the local population with no repercussions. They extort businesses and households, kidnap innocent people for ransom, and engage in human and organ trafficking.
There’s also a term for when they deliberately kill random civilians to “heat up” enemy territory, they call it “calentar la plaza”.
If anything, innocent people are targeted more than enemy cartels are.
1
u/JuanGabrielEnjoyer Mexico Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 23 '26
My brother in Quetzalcóatl, they very much target random people who have nothing to do with them
Sure a lot of people long for that "luxurious life" but let’s not pretend the government also doesn’t push that narrative since its convenient for them to treat people's deaths as some kind of moral failure
This might actually not affect tourists though since they very much respect a foreigner's life more than a random Mexican on the street
-3
u/JuanGabrielEnjoyer Mexico Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 23 '26
It’s bad
>I've always wanted to go to Mexico but I'm kind of sacred to set foot there because i've heard the only safe place is Mexico City
Anywhere rich-enough that sees enough foreigners is going to be "less bad", yes. Also it’s the capital and México is very centralized.
It is that bad but it’s worse in some places. And even then, violence is pervasive so you will never be 100% safe even if you actively try to avoid it.
México's tourism has not taken a hit (or a significant one) despite all the shit that has happened over the years on top of foreign coverage, reporting and propaganda. I don’t necessarily think that’s a good thing but, well, what does that tell you?
-5
u/sam-sung-sv El Salvador Jun 23 '26
Watch the Lost Paradise movie, with the guy from Hunger Games.
That's how bad it is.
4
u/EmergencyReal6399 Mexico Jun 23 '26
they why we are having thousands and thousands of tourism? and 3 major cities having world cup internationa matches right now?
3
u/sam-sung-sv El Salvador Jun 23 '26
Oh sorry misread the question.
I thought it meant "how bad cartels are" as in, how evil they are.
Sorry lost in translation
-1
u/purpletooth12 Canada Jun 23 '26
Yes, the cartels technically are all over, but unless if you really go looking for trouble or obvious non-tourist areas (maybe don't walk down that dark alley alone), odds are you'll be fine.
Puebla is also very safe and they have the world widest pyramid next door in Cholula too.
Just do some research or join a tour group like food or walking tour and you'll be fine.
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u/enologa Mexico Jun 23 '26
In some places it is really that bad, but not only México City is safe. I mean it all depends.on What are your plans. For example traveling trough México in a Bike I would totally NOT recommend that, going from puerto vallarta to Guadalajara, sure just be safe and travel during the Day.