Mazatlán Travel Forum

We are taking our family on a vacation to Mazatlan in Febuary 2009. My mother in law informed me that there is a lot of bad things going on in Mazatlan. We are American and I heard that Americans are being kidnapped? Should I be concerned for our safety?

Wow! I hope not. I visit Mazatlan about once a year and plan to be there in April of 2009 as well. I have not been informed of the kidnappings. Check with the US Govt for information on travel to Mazatlan for safety..

I've posted several responses lately about Mexico as I live close to the Mexican boarder in San Diego. Most of my posts have been about the boarder areas and were in response to a group of young students want to do an article on street kids there.

Here is a US travel "ALERT" for Mexico in general by the U.S. Government. Any on interested in Mexico at all, please read it all the way thru: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html

I believe that it is generally safe if you are not in the boarder areas, keep a low profile, and are not ostentatious with your dress or jewelery. The "ALERT" spells it out better than I ever could.

I have lived here for more than 19 years full time and have never been afraid of being here in all that time and not even now, sure there is an escalated drug violence problem but it is not in the city and as long as you are not involved in that business you are completely safe here. You would take the same precautions you use anywhere you travel in the world and apply them. The news reports that reach the US are extremely exagerated and particularly badly reported using second hand information and I have tired of reading most of it. You should come down and enjoy yourself and you will have a wonderful time in our fair city. The warm weather and beach awaits....

We have family members that live full time in Mazatlan and they feel perfectly safe. As posted above, most violence occurs with the drug trade and if you're the average tourist (ie not looking for drugs or anything illegal) they have no interest in you.

Just take the usual precautions that you would normally travelling, and use some some street smarts.

Have fun!

We live her full time and feel perfectly safe. As long as you stay out of the narco business, you'll be fine!

We live here full time and feel perfectly safe. As long as you stay out of the narco business, you'll be fine!