The Canadian federal government issued a travel advisory for 13 Mexican states as a recommendation for its citizens, following an update to its Travel Advisory on November 13, 2025. The document adds criteria for increased risk related to criminal activity and security situations that affect the internal mobility of foreign visitors.
Canadian immigration authorities explained that the decision was made to prevent tourists from being exposed to incidents related to kidnapping, violent crimes, and coercive behavior.
The government provided some safety tips for any traveler in Mexico: avoid traveling at night, use verified transportation, do not display large sums of money, and stay informed through official sources. Furthermore, it suggests that all foreign nationals contact consular authorities in the event of an emergency, due to the presence of armed groups operating in urban and rural areas.
The Government of Canada issued a travel alert for 13 Mexican states, advising against non-essential travel in: Chiapas, Chihuahua, Colima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas. The alert also included Lagunas de Zempoala National Park in Morelos due to its vulnerability to the virus.
Within these states, the advisory recognizes tourist and urban areas with lower exposure, establishing the following exceptions:
Chiapas: Palenque (urban and archaeological zone), Tuxtla Gutiérrez, and San Cristóbal de las Casas.
Guerrero: Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, provided access is by air.
Michoacán: Morelia and Pátzcuaro.
Nuevo León: Monterrey.
Sinaloa: Los Mochis and designated areas of Mazatlán. Sonora: Hermosillo, Guaymas/San Carlos, and Puerto Peñasco.
Tamaulipas: Tampico.
Zacatecas: Zacatecas City.
Canadian authorities maintain that criminal organizations, including drug trafficking networks, are constantly active in the country. They mention recurring clashes between rival groups and confrontations with security forces motivated by disputes over territorial control, smuggling routes, and drug trafficking. They emphasize that such events can erupt without warning and disrupt the movement of residents and visitors.
The report details other risk factors such as express kidnappings, armed robbery, extortion, police corruption, and road blockades, in addition to the burning of vehicles reported in states like Michoacán. While acknowledging that a large proportion of tourist trips conclude without incident, it warns that attacks on Canadian travelers have also been documented in beach destinations and hotel zones, some involving hotel staff, taxi drivers, or private security personnel. In some cases, it was reported that employees tried to persuade victims to omit reporting the incident to the police.
Source: debate
