Mexico travelling dangers - received Jan 13th, 2014
The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens about the risk of traveling in Mexico due to threats to safety and security posed by Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) in the country. U.S. citizens have been the target of violent crimes, such as kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery by TCOs in various Mexican states. For information on security conditions in specific regions of Mexico, which can vary, travelers should reference the state-by-state assessments further below.
This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning for Mexico, issued July 12,
2013, to update information about the security situation and to advise the
public of additional restrictions on the travel of U.S. government (USG)
personnel.
General Conditions:
Millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year for study, tourism, and
business, including more than 150,000 who cross the border every day. The
Mexican government dedicates substantial resources to protect visitors to major
tourist destinations, and there is no evidence that Transnational Criminal
Organizations (TCOs) have targeted U.S. visitors or residents based on their
nationality. Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico generally do not
see the levels of drug-related violence and crime that are reported in the
border region or in areas along major trafficking routes.
Nevertheless, U.S. travelers should be aware that the Mexican government has
been engaged in an extensive effort to counter TCOs which engage in narcotics
trafficking and other unlawful activities throughout Mexico. The TCOs themselves
are engaged in a violent struggle to control drug trafficking routes and other
criminal activity. Crime and violence are serious problems and can occur
anywhere. U.S. citizens have fallen victim to criminal activity, including
homicide, gun battles, kidnapping, carjacking and highway robbery. While most of
those killed in narcotics-related violence have been members of TCOs, innocent
persons have also been killed. The number of U.S. citizens reported to the
Department of State as murdered in Mexico was 71 in 2012 and 81 in 2013.
Gun battles between rival TCOs or with Mexican authorities have taken place in
towns and cities in many parts of Mexico, especially in the border region. Gun
battles have occurred in broad daylight on streets and in other public venues,
such as restaurants and clubs. During some of these incidents, U.S. citizens
have been trapped and temporarily prevented from leaving the area. TCOs have
used stolen cars, buses and trucks to create roadblocks on major thoroughfares,
preventing the military and police from responding to criminal activity. The
location and timing of future armed engagements is unpredictable. We recommend
that you defer travel to the areas indicated in this Travel Warning and exercise
extreme caution when traveling throughout the northern border region.
The number of kidnappings and disappearances throughout Mexico is of particular
concern and appears to be on the rise. According to statistics published by the
Mexican Secretaria de Gobernacion (SEGOB), during the first 11 months of 2013
kidnappings nationwide increased 32 percent over the same period in 2012. While
kidnappings can occur anywhere, according to SEGOB during this timeframe, the
states with the highest numbers of kidnappings were Guerrero, Tamaulipas,
Michoacán, Estado de Mexico, and Morelos. Additionally, according to a widely
publicized study by the agency responsible for national statistics (INEGI, the
National Institute of Statistics and Geography), Mexico suffered an estimated
105,682 kidnappings in 2012; only 1,317 were reported to the police. Police have
been implicated in some of these incidents. Both local and expatriate
communities have been victimized. Almost 90 kidnappings of U.S. citizens were
reported to the U.S. Embassy and consulates in Mexico between April and November
of 2013.
U.S. citizens are encouraged to lower their personal profiles and toavoid
wearing conspicuous jewelry or clothing bearing logos of U.S. sports teams or
military themed apparel which that may identify them as U.S. citizens. U.S.
citizens are encouraged to maintain awareness of their surroundings and avoid
situations in which they may be isolated.
Kidnappings in Mexico have included traditional, “express” and
"virtual" kidnappings. Victims of traditional kidnappings are
physically abducted and held captive until a ransom is paid for release.
“Express” kidnappings are those in which a victim is abducted for a short
time and forced to withdraw money, usually from an ATM, then released. A
"virtual" kidnapping is an extortion by deception scheme wherein a
victim is contacted by phone and convinced to isolate themselves from family and
friends until a ransom is paid. The victim is coerced (by threat of violence) to
remain isolated and to provide phone numbers for the victim's family or loved
ones. The victim's family is then contacted and a ransom for the “kidnapped”
extracted. Recently, some travelers to Mexico staying at hotels as guests have
been targets of such "virtual" kidnapping schemes.
Carjacking and highway robbery are serious problems in many parts of the border
region, and U.S. citizens have been murdered in such incidents. Most victims who
complied with carjackers’ demands have reported that they were not physically
harmed. Carjackers have shot at vehicles that have attempted to flee. Incidents
have occurred during the day and at night, and carjackers have used a variety of
techniques, including roadblocks, bumping/moving vehicles to force them to stop,
and running vehicles off the road at high speeds. There are indications that
criminals target newer and larger vehicles, especially dark-colored SUVs.
However, even drivers of old sedans and buses coming from the United States have
been targeted. While violent incidents can occur anywhere and at any time, they
most frequently occur at night and on isolated roads. To reduce risk when
traveling by road, we strongly urge you to travel between cities throughout
Mexico only during daylight hours, to avoid isolated roads, and to use toll
roads (“cuotas”) whenever possible.
The Mexican government has deployed federal police and military personnel
throughout the country as part of its efforts to combat the TCOs. U.S. citizens
traveling on Mexican roads and highways by car or bus may encounter government
checkpoints, staffed by military or law enforcement personnel. TCOs have erected
their own unauthorized checkpoints, at times wearing police and military
uniforms, and killed or abducted motorists who have failed to stop at them. You
should cooperate at all checkpoints.
The Department imposes restrictions on U.S. government employees' travel in
Mexico. Since July 2010, USG employees are prohibited from driving on
non-official travel from the U.S.-Mexico border to or from the interior of
Mexico or Central America. One exception is that personal travel by motor
vehicle is permitted on Highway 15 toll road between Hermosillo and Nogales
during daylight hours.
USG personnel and their families are prohibited from personal travel to all areas to which it is advised to “defer non-essential travel”. When travel for official purposes is essential, it is conducted with extensive security precautions. USG personnel and their families are allowed to travel for personal reasons to the areas where no advisory is in effect or where the advisory is to exercise caution. While the general public is not forbidden from visiting places categorized under “defer non-essential travel,” USG personnel will not be able to respond quickly to an emergency situation in those areas due to security precautions that must be taken by USG personnel to travel to those areas.
For more information on road safety and crime along Mexico's roadways, see the
Department of State's Country
Specific Information.
State-by-State Assessment:
Below is a state-by-state assessment of security conditions throughout Mexico.
Travelers should be mindful that even if no advisories are in effect for a given
state, crime and violence can occur anywhere. For general information about
travel and other conditions in Mexico, see our Country
Specific Information.
Aguascalientes: You should exercise caution when traveling to
the areas of the state that border the state of Zacatecas, as TCO activity in
that region continues. There is no advisory in effect for daytime travel to the
areas of the state that do not border Zacatecas; however, intercity travel at
night is not recommended.
Baja California: Tijuana, Ensenada and Mexicali are major
cities/travel destinations in the state of Baja California - Exercise caution in
the northern state of Baja California, particularly at night. There were 458
homicides in Tijuana from October 2012 through September 2013, compared with 324
for the same period a year earlier. Murders in Mexicali declined in the same
period from 166 to 132. In the majority of these cases, the killings appeared to
be targeted TCO assassinations. Turf battles between criminal groups resulted in
assassinations in areas of Tijuana and Mexicali frequented by U.S. citizens.
Shooting incidents, in which innocent bystanders have been injured, have
occurred during daylight hours.
Baja California (Sur): Cabo San Lucas and La Paz are major
cities/travel destinations in the state of Southern Baja California - No
advisory is in effect.
Campeche: No advisory is in effect.
Chiapas: San Cristobal de las Casas is a major city/travel
destination in Chiapas - No advisory is in effect.
Chihuahua: Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua City, and Copper Canyon are major
cities/travel destinations in Chihuahua - Exercise caution in traveling to the
business and shopping districts in the northeast section of Ciudad Juarez and
its major industrial parks, and the central downtown section and major
industrial parks in Chihuahua City. U.S. citizens should defer non-essential
travel to other areas of these cities and anywhere else in the state of
Chihuahua and travel during daylight hours between cities. In Ciudad Juarez,
personal travel by USG employees outside the north/central and northeast portion
of the city near the Consulate General is restricted and private U.S. citizens
should defer non-essential travel to those areas as well. In Chihuahua City, USG
personnel and their family members are permitted to travel only to the central
business districts and the city’s airport. Personal vehicular travel during
daylight hours by USG personnel and family members is authorized between Ciudad
Juarez and Chihuahua using the Highway 45 toll road. Although homicide rates in
Ciudad Juarez have decreased markedly from a peak several years ago, the city
still has one of the highest homicide rates in Mexico. Crime and violence remain
serious problems throughout the state of Chihuahua, particularly in the southern
portion of the state and in the Sierra Mountains, including Copper Canyon. U.S.
citizens do not, however, appear to be targeted based on their nationality.
Coahuila: Defer non-essential travel to the state of Coahuila.
The State of Coahuila continues to experience high rates of violent crimes and
narcotics-related murders. TCOs continue to compete for territory and coveted
border crossings to the United States. Violent crime, including murder,
kidnapping, and armed carjacking, continues to be a major concern in the cities
of Torreón, Saltillo, Piedras Negras, Ciudad Acuña, and Monclova. Of
particular safety concern are casinos, sportsbooks, or other gambling
establishments and adult entertainment establishments, which USG personnel are
not permitted to patronize.
Colima: Manzanillo is a major city/travel destination in Colima
- Defer non-essential travel to the areas of the state of Colima that border the
state of Michoacán, including the city of Tecoman. Exercise caution when
travelling to other parts of the state, including Colima City and Manzanillo.
The security situation along the Michoacán border continues to be the most
unstable in the state with gun battles occurring between rival criminal groups
and with Mexican authorities. Homicides throughout the state totaled 179 in 2012
and 147 for the first ten months of 2013, according to figures from the Colima
state government.
Durango: Defer non-essential travel to the state of Durango,
except the city of Durango where you should exercise caution. TCO violence and
criminal activity along the highway are continuing security concerns. Several
areas in the state continue to experience high rates of violence and remain
volatile and unpredictable. The Mexican government deployed troops in March 2013
to quell TCO violence in the La Laguna area, which is comprised of the cities of
Gomez Palacio and Lerdo in the state of Durango and the city of Torreon in the
state of Coahuila. Of particular safety concern are casinos, sportsbooks, or
other gambling establishments and adult entertainment establishments, which USG
personnel are not permitted to patronize. USG personnel may not travel outside
the city of Durango and must abide by a curfew of 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. within a
secured venue.
Estado de Mexico: Toluca and Teotihuacan are major travel destinations in Estado de Mexico - Defer non-essential travel to the municipalities of Coacalco, Ecatepec, Nezahualcoyotl, La Paz, Valle del Chalco, Solidaridad, Chalco, and Ixtapaluca, which are eastern portions of the greater Mexico City metropolitan area, located just to the east of the Federal District of Mexico and Benito Juarez airport, unless traveling directly through the areas on major thoroughfares. These areas have seen high rates of crime and insecurity. You should also defer non-essential travel on any roads between Santa Marta in the southeast portion of the state and Huitzilac in the state of Morelos, including the Lagunas de Zempoala National Park and surrounding areas.
Guanajuato: San Miguel de Allende and Leon are major
cities/travel destinations in Guanajuato - No advisory is in effect.
Guerrero: Acapulco, Ixtapa, Taxco and Zihuatanejo are major
cities/travel destinations in Guerrero - Defer non-essential travel to the
northwestern and southern portions of the state (the area west and south of the
town of Arcelia on the border with Estado de Mexico in the north and west and
south of the town of Tlapa near the border with Oaxaca), except for the cities
of Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, and Ixtapa. In those cities, you should exercise
caution and stay within tourist areas. You should also exercise caution and
travel only during daylight hours on toll highway ("cuota") 95D
between Mexico City and Acapulco. Use the toll road towards the Playa Diamante
area and avoid the highway running through the city of Acapulco for travel to
and from Acapulco. In Acapulco, defer non-essential travel to areas further than
2 blocks inland of the Costera Miguel Aleman Boulevard, which parallels the
popular beach areas. Lodging for USG personnel is limited to the “Hotel
Zone” of Acapulco, beginning from the Hotel Avalon Excalibur Acapulco in the
north and going south through Puerto Marquez including the Playa Diamante area.
Any activity outside the Hotel Zone for USG personnel is limited to the coastal
area from La Quebrada to the beginning of the Hotel Zone and only during
daylight hours. In general, the popular tourist area of Diamante, just south of
the city, has been less affected by violence. Flying into the coastal cities in
southern Guerrero remains the preferred method of travel. You should defer
non-essential travel by land between Acapulco and Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, travel to
Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa only by air, and exercise caution while in Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa.
If traveling by land, use toll highway 200 between Acapulco and Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa.
You should also exercise caution in the northern region of Guerrero (the area
north of the town of Arcelia on the border with Estado de Mexico in the north
and north and east of the town of Tlapa near the border with Oaxaca). The state
of Guerrero was the most violent state in Mexico through the first 10 months of
2013, with 1,718 homicides and 205 reported cases of kidnapping, according to
the Mexican Secretariado Ejecutivo Nacional de Seguridad Publica. Self-defense
groups operate independently of the government in many areas of Guerrero. Armed
members of these groups frequently maintain roadblocks, and although not
considered hostile to foreigners or tourists, are suspicious of outsiders and
should be considered volatile and unpredictable.
Hidalgo: No advisory is in effect.
Jalisco: Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and Lake Chapala are
major cities/travel destinations in Jalisco - Defer non-essential travel to
areas of the state that borders the state of Michoacán and Zacatecas. The
security situation along the Michoacán and Zacatecas borders continues to be
unstable and gun battles between criminal groups and authorities occur. Concerns
include roadblocks placed by individuals posing as police or military personnel
and recent gun battles between rival TCOs involving automatic weapons. You
should exercise caution in rural areas and when using secondary highways,
particularly along the northern border of the state. Except for the areas of the
state that border Michoacán, there is no advisory in effect for daytime travel
within major population centers or major highways in the state of Jalisco.
Intercity travel at night is not recommended. There is no recommendation against
travel to Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. There is also no recommendation
against travel on principal highways in Jalisco between Guadalajara including
the portions that cross into the southern portions of the state of Nayarit.
Mexico City (also known as the Federal District): No advisory is in effect. See also the discussion in the section on Estado de Mexico for areas within the greater Mexico City metropolitan area.
Michoacán: Morelia is a major city/travel destination in
Michoacán - Defer non-essential travel to the state of Michoacán except the
cities of Morelia and Lázaro Cardenas where you should exercise caution. Flying
into Morelia and Lázaro Cardenas is the recommended method of travel. Attacks
on Mexican government officials, law enforcement and military personnel, and
other incidents of TCO-related violence, have occurred throughout Michoacán.
Due to criminal activity in Lazaro Cardenas, in late 2013 the Mexican military
assumed direct control of the port. In many areas of the state, self-defense
groups operate independently of the government. Armed members of the groups
frequently maintain roadblocks, and although not considered hostile to
foreigners or tourists, are suspicious of outsiders and should be considered
volatile and unpredictable. Groups in Michoacán are reputed to be linked to
TCOs.
Morelos: Cuernavaca is a major city/travel destination in
Morelos - Exercise caution in the state of Morelos due to the unpredictable
nature of TCO violence. You should also defer non-essential travel on any roads
between Huitzilac in the northwest corner of the state and Santa Marta in the
state of Mexico, including the Lagunas de Zempoala National Park and surrounding
areas. On August 24, 2012 two USG employees were injured after being fired upon
by Federal Police officers on a non-toll road north of Tres Marias, Morelos.
Numerous incidents of narcotics-related violence have also occurred in the city
of Cuernavaca.
Nayarit: Defer non-essential travel to areas of the state of
Nayarit that border the states of Sinaloa or Durango, as well as all rural areas
and secondary highways. Exercise caution when traveling to the cities of Tepic,
Xalisco, or San Blas. There is no recommendation against travel to the
Vallarta-Nayarit area in the southern portion of the state also known as the
Riviera Nayarit or to principal highways in the southern portion of the state
used to travel from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta.
Nuevo Leon: Monterrey is a major city/travel destination in
Nuevo Leon - Defer non-essential travel to the state of Nuevo Leon, except the
metropolitan area of Monterrey where you should exercise caution. Although the
level of TCO violence and general insecurity in Monterrey has decreased within
the last 12 months, sporadic gun battles continue to occur in the greater
Monterrey area. Adult entertainment establishments and casinos continue to be
targets of TCO activity. TCOs have kidnapped, and in some cases murdered U.S.
citizens, even when ransom demands are met. TCOs have been known to attack
prisons and police stations, and have engaged in public shootouts with the
military and between themselves. Pedestrians and innocent bystanders have been
killed in these incidents. As a result of a Department of State assessment of
the overall security situation, the Consulate General in Monterrey is a
partially unaccompanied post with no minor dependents of USG personnel permitted
except for visits of less than two weeks. USG personnel serving at the U.S.
Consulate General in Monterrey and their dependents may not frequent casinos,
sportsbooks, or other gambling establishments. USG personnel and their
dependents may not travel outside the San Pedro Garza Garcia municipal
boundaries between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., except for travel to the airport after 5
a.m.
Oaxaca: Oaxaca, Huatulco and Puerto Escondido are major
cities/travel destinations in Oaxaca - No advisory is in effect.
Puebla: No advisory is in effect.
Queretaro: No advisory is in effect.
Quintana Roo: Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya
and Tulum are major cities/travel destinations in Quintana Roo - No advisory is
in effect.
San Luis Potosi: Defer non-essential travel to the state of San
Luis Potosi, except the city of San Luis Potosi where you should exercise
caution. Travel throughout the state remains a concern. TCO violence and
criminal activity along highways are continuing security concerns. USG personnel
may not frequent casinos, sportsbooks, or other gambling establishments and
adult entertainment establishments. USG personnel may not travel outside the
City of San Luis Potosi and must abide by a curfew of 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. within a
secured venue.
Sinaloa: Mazatlan is a major city/travel destination in Sinaloa
- Defer non-essential travel to the state of Sinaloa except the city of Mazatlan
where you should exercise caution, particularly late at night and in the early
morning. One of Mexico's most powerful TCOs is based in the state of Sinaloa,
and violent crime rates remain high in many parts of the state. Travel off the
toll roads in remote areas of Sinaloa is especially dangerous and should be
avoided. We recommend that any travel in Mazatlan be limited to Zona Dorada and
the historic town center, as well as direct routes to/from these locations and
the airport.
Sonora: Nogales, Puerto Peñasco, Hermosillo, and San Carlos
are major cities/travel destinations in Sonora - Sonorais a key region in the
international drug and human trafficking trades, and can be extremely dangerous
for travelers. Travelers throughout Sonora are encouraged to limit travel to
main roads during daylight hours. The region west of Nogales, east of Sonoyta,
and from Caborca north, including the towns of Saric, Tubutama and Altar, and
the eastern edge of Sonora bordering Chihuahua, are known centers of illegal
activity and non-essential travel between these cities should be avoided.
Travelers should also defer non-essential travel to the eastern edge of the
State of Sonora which borders the State of Chihuahua (all points along that
border east of the northern city of Agua Prieta and the southern town of
Alamos), and defer non-essential travel within the city of Ciudad Obregon and
south of the city of Navojoa. You should exercise caution while transiting Vicam
in southern Sonora due to a roadblock instituted by local indigenous and
environmental groups. In December 2013, a gun battle involving Mexican
authorities and TCOs occurred in Puerto Penasco. U.S. citizens visiting Puerto
Peñasco should remain vigilant, exercise caution and use the Lukeville,
Arizona/Sonoyta, Sonora border crossing, in order to limit driving through
Mexico.
Tabasco: Villahermosa is a major city/travel destination in
Tabasco - No advisory is in effect.
Tamaulipas: Matamoros, Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, and Tampico are
major cities/travel destinations in Tamaulipas - Defer non-essential travel to
the state of Tamaulipas. All USG employees are prohibited from personal travel
on Tamaulipas highways outside of Matamoros, Reynosa, and Nuevo Laredo due to
the tenuous security situation. In Matamoros, USG employees are subject to
further movement restrictions between midnight and 6 a.m. USG employees may not
frequent casinos and adult entertainment establishments. Matamoros, Reynosa,
Nuevo Laredo, and Ciudad Victoria have experienced grenade attacks in the past
year, as well as numerous reported gun battles. Violent gun battles between
rival TCO elements and/or the Mexican military can occur in all parts of the
region, and at all times of the day. The kidnapping rate for Tamaulipas, the
highest for all states in Mexico, more than doubled in 2012 over 2011, and the
number of U.S. citizens reported to the consulate as kidnapped in 2013 increased
by 75% over 2012. In February 2013, four masked and armed individuals attempted
to kidnap a USG employee in Matamoros during daylight hours. All travelers
should be aware of the risks posed by armed robbery and carjacking on state
highways throughout Tamaulipas, particularly on highways and roads outside of
urban areas along the northern border. Traveling outside of cities after dark is
particularly dangerous. While no highway routes through Tamaulipas are
considered safe, the highways between Matamoros-Tampico, Monterrey-Nuevo Laredo,
and Matamoros-Ciudad Victoria are particularly prone to criminal activity. In
the past year there have been several instances of U.S. citizens being kidnapped
from hotels while attending family or social events (e.g. weddings and
funerals). In at least one incident, a member of the traveling party was
summoned to the front desk by hotel staff whereupon he was kidnapped. Travelers
should consider selecting hotels with adequate security and reputability as well
as exercising caution when responding to phone calls or knocks at the door while
resident in a hotel. Travelers should stay low-key and refrain from flashing
around cash or wearing expensive jewelry.
Tlaxcala: No advisory is in effect.
Veracruz: Exercise caution when traveling in the state of
Veracruz. The state of Veracruz continues to experience violence among rival
criminal organizations. Mexican federal security forces continue to assist state
and local security forces in providing security and combating organized crime.
Yucatan: Merida and Chichen Itza are major cities/travel
destinations in Yucatan - No advisory is in effect.
Zacatecas: Defer non-essential travel to areas of Zacatecas near the border with
other Mexican states. Exercise caution in the interior of the state including
the city of Zacatecas. The regions bordering Durango and Coahuila as well as the
cities of Fresnillo and Fresnillo-Sombrete and surrounding area are particularly
dangerous. Robberies, carjackings, and TCO activity remain a concern. Gun
battles between criminal groups and authorities have occurred in the area of the
state bordering the state of Jalisco. The city of Fresnillo, the area extending
northwest from Fresnillo through Durango and into Chihuahua is considered
dangerous. Extreme caution should be taken when traveling in the remainder of
the state. Of particular safety concern are casinos, sportsbooks, or other
gambling establishments and adult entertainment establishments, which USG
personnel may not frequent. USG personnel may not travel outside the City of
Zacatecas after dark and must abide by a curfew of 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. within a
secured venue.
Further Information
For more detailed information on staying safe in Mexico, please see the State
Department's Country
Specific Information for Mexico.
For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should
regularly monitor the State Department's
internet web site, where the current Worldwide
Caution, Travel
Warnings, and Travel
Alerts can be found. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular
Affairs page on Facebook as well. Up-to-date information on security can
also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and
Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line
at 001-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). U.S.
citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to enroll with the State
Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment
Program. For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens in Mexico, please
contact the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate with responsibility for that
person’s location in Mexico. For information on the ten U.S. consular
districts in Mexico, complete with links to Embassy and Consulate websites,
please consult the Mexico U.S. Consular District map.
The numbers provided below for the Embassy and Consulates are available around
the clock. The U.S. Embassy is located in Mexico City at Paseo de la Reforma
305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, telephone from the United States: 011-52-55-5080-2000;
telephone within Mexico City: 5080-2000; telephone long distance within Mexico
01-55-5080-2000. U.S. citizens may also contact the Embassy by e-mail at ACSMexicoCity@state.gov.
Consulates (with consular districts):
• Ciudad Juarez (Chihuahua): Paseo de la Victoria 3650, tel.
(011)(52)(656) 227-3000.
• Guadalajara (Nayarit, Jalisco, Aguas Calientes, and Colima): Progreso
175, telephone (011)(52)(333) 268-2100.
• Hermosillo (Sinaloa and the southern part of the state of Sonora):
Avenida Monterrey 141, telephone (011)(52)(662) 289-3500.
• Matamoros (the southern part of Tamaulipas with the exception of the
city of Tampico): Avenida Primera 2002, telephone (011)(52)(868) 812-4402.
• Merida (Campeche, Yucatan, and Quintana Roo): Calle 60 no. 338-K x 29 y
31, Col. Alcala Martin, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico 97050, telephone (011)(52)(999)
942-5700 or 202-250-3711 (U.S. number).
• Monterrey (Nuevo Leon, Durango, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi, and the
southern part of Coahuila): Avenida Constitucion 411 Poniente, telephone
(011)(52)(818) 047-3100.
• Nogales (the northern part of Sonora): Calle San Jose, Nogales, Sonora,
telephone (011)(52)(631) 311-8150.
• Nuevo Laredo (the northern part of Coahuila and the northwestern part
of Tamaulipas): Calle Allende 3330, col. Jardin, telephone (011)(52)(867)
714-0512.
• Tijuana (Baja California Norte and Baja California Sur): Paseo de Las
Culturas s/n Mesa de Otay, telephone (011) (52) (664) 977-2000.
All other Mexican states, the Federal District of Mexico City, and the city of
Tampico, Tamaulipas, are part of the Embassy's consular district.
Consular Agencies:
• Acapulco: Hotel Emporio, Costera Miguel Aleman 121 – Suite 14,
telephone (011)(52)(744) 481-0100 or (011)(52)(744) 484-0300.
• Cancún: Blvd. Kukulcan Km 13 ZH Torre La Europea, Despacho 301 Cancun,
Quintana Roo, Mexico C.P. 77500; telephone (011)(52)(998) 883-0272.
• Cozumel: Plaza Villa Mar en el Centro, Plaza Principal, (Parque Juárez
between Melgar and 5th Ave.) 2nd floor, locales #8 and 9, telephone
(011)(52)(987) 872-4574 or, 202-459-4661 (a U.S. number).
• Los Cabos: Las Tiendas de Palmilla Local B221, Carretera
Transpeninsular Km. 27.5, San José del Cabo, BCS, Mexico 23406 Telephone: (624)
143-3566 Fax: (624) 143-6750.
• Mazatlán: Playa Gaviotas #202, Zona Dorada, telephone (011)(52)(669)
916-5889.
• Oaxaca: Macedonio Alcalá no. 407, interior 20, telephone
(011)(52)(951) 514-3054, (011) (52)(951) 516-2853.
• Piedras Negras: Abasolo #211, Zona Centro, Piedras Negras, Coah., Tel.
(011)(52)(878) 782-5586.
• Playa del Carmen: "The Palapa," Calle 1 Sur, between Avenida
15 and Avenida 20, telephone (011)(52)(984) 873-0303 or 202-370-6708(a U.S.
number).
• Puerto Vallarta: Paradise Plaza, Paseo de los Cocoteros #1, Local #4,
Interior #17, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, telephone (011)(52)(322) 222-0069.
• San Miguel de Allende: Centro Comercial La Luciernaga, Libramiento
Manuel Zavala (Pepe KBZON), telephone (011)(52)(415) 152-2357.