Top 7 Safest Cities in Mexico

Safest Cities in Mexico For Family Travel 

You might also like this article on the most unique places to visit in Mexico – 7 Unique Places to Visit in Mexico

While Mexico still gets targeted as a dangerous place, it’s actually a lot safer than you think. Consider putting it back on your list of places to travel to.

Safe traveling tips

Before we get into the safest cities in Mexico I thought it would be a perfect time to share some safe traveling tips. 

We always have to remember that no place is 100% safe and a big part of being safe is using common sense. Some things you may freely do back in your home city might be totally unsafe to do while traveling. 

Here is a small list of safe traveling tips and while some of these may seem like common knowledge, we often let our guards down when we’re traveling and forget about safety.

• Never leave your purse unattended
• Never leave a drink unattended
• Never leave your child unattended
• Don’t’ get into cars with strangers (if they say they are a taxi look for certificates or sigs on windows to indicate they are a taxi)
• Be extra careful with your wallet when taking it out and putting it away
• Don’t walk the streets at night alone (male or female)
• Be sure to lock up all valuables, especially your passport

If you happen to be traveling alone, please make sure you have at least one contact person who has all your information and knows where you are. 

Staying safe while traveling should be your top priority always. There’s nothing worse than a ruined vacation because you overlooked a safety measure or assumed things would be “ok”. 

7 Safest Cities in Mexico

In no particular order of importance here are the 7 safest cities in Mexico. Remember that you should always be aware of your surroundings, and keep an eye on your personal items.

Puebla 

Close to Mexico City, it has recently become a popular tourist destination known for its pristine beauty and colonial architect. Though it’s hours from the beach, there are still plenty of things to do in Pueblo. 

As far as safety goes, you will be hard pressed to find a friendlier or more inviting atmosphere than Puebla. The people are genuinely happy to have tourists come through and harming you is the farthest thing from their mind.

Tulum

If it’s white sandy beaches you are looking for, look no further than Tulum. Known for its beautiful beaches and Mayan ruins, Tulum is a favourite spot for sun worshippers and family travelers. 

Much like so many other cities, traveling at night alone is not recommended but there’s a certain level of comfort knowing that most of the crime is done against the locals, not tourists.

Puerto Vallarta

With 5 different zones to choose from, you can’t go wrong in Puerto Vallarta. Family friendly beaches and areas to shop and explore are aplenty. The only zone you may rethink taking kids to is the Romantic zone. 

Because Puerta Vallarta is a very popular spot for many tourists, there is a bit of a drug culture but nothing that warrants danger or anything that would ruin your family vacation. At all! There is a comfortable police presence that makes you feel that much safer. 

San Miguel de Allende

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Miguel has been rated one of the best cities in the world to visit. Known for it’s small town charm and colourful streets, there is plenty to see and do even though there are no beaches for the kids. 

As far as safety goes, the city relies mostly on tourism to supply their economy so you will definitely always feel safe and welcomed in this exquisite unique town. 

Huatulco

A charming beach town in the southwest area of Mexico, not only does Huatulco offer stunning beaches, fun water sports, pyramids and waterfalls (and really so much more) it’s also pretty safe.

Many of the beach towns in Mexico (or anywhere in the world for that matter) rely heavily on tourism so harming a tourist is the last thing on their minds. 

Bacalar

This place should have been placed first on the list of safest cities in Mexico to be honest. It’s still a relatively untapped tourist destination and is as beautiful as paradise. 

Bacalar is a magical, tiny and tranquil tourist city with travelers coming from around the world. It is highly regarded as one of the safest cities in Mexico to travel to as a family. 

Isla Mujeres

A very kid friendly beach town, Isla Mujeres offers a ton of exciting things to see and do including a visit to the turtle sanctuary and the great reefs. Renting a golf cart and driving around the island should be one of the first things you do!

Besides being known as a fun and exciting little island, you rarely have to worry about your safety there as most of the habitants on the island are tourists and local workers. 

Safe big cities in Mexico

While I covered mostly tourist towns/areas/cities, if you’re thinking big city, Mexico City, Merida and Guanajuato City are all reasonably safe as long as you follow all the safety travel tips mentioned earlier in this article. 

While no one ever anticipates trouble or danger while traveling, you also can’t overlook these things. If safety is your top priority, the two places you should avoid traveling to in Mexico are Acapulco and Los Cabos. 

If you happen to be traveling by land, always drive during daylight hours only. The roadways hold a danger all of their own and it’s best to only drive while the sun is out. 

If you follow the tips and use common sense, your family vacation will be one of delight that will hold special memories for years to come. Do you have another safe city in Mexico you’d like to add to the list? Drop it in the comments below!