Mexico for the wary: A guide to safe, popular travel spots – USATODAY.com
Scared of narco-terrorists? So are we.
But that doesn’t mean we’ve written off all of Mexico, where the ramped-up war against and between violent drug cartels has spooked many would-be visitors.
Border areas notwithstanding, “most of the country has a pretty low crime rate,” and tourists usually aren’t targets, notes international security expert Bruce McIndoe of iJET Travel Intelligence. “Yes, there’s room for collateral damage, but you can get struck by lightning, too.”
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Even the U.S. State Department, whose recently expanded warning cautions against non-essential travelto parts or all of 14 (out of 31) Mexican states, exempts most of the country’s marquee tourist spots — including this:
Riviera Nayarit
Stretching 100 miles along Mexico’s Pacific coast from Nuevo Vallarta north to San Blas, this region packs a lot of stylistic variety. Prefer all-inclusive chain hotels? Try Nuevo Vallarta. If money’s no object, slip inside the gated enclaves of Punta Mita. If you like water sports by day and watering holes by night, the town of Sayulita is your spot. If you’re seeking peace and quiet in an artsy village, check into one of San Francisco’s (aka San Pancho’s) small hotels. Beach options range from secluded, rocky coves to palm-fringed expanses flanked by the Sierra Madres.
Sayulita is a family-orientated town; children are well taken care of and kept safe. Almost all of the residents know one another making it easy to spot those from out-of-town or displaying suspicious behaviour in our quiet, residential neighbourhoods. Located on the Pacific coast just 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta, the lazy beach town of Sayulita is a world away from the U.S. border and the northern part of Mexico where violence is undoubtedly more evident in day-to-day life.
As in any locale around the world, there is petty theft and other minor crime; however, the community of Sayulita has come together to help reduce these types of crimes and to increase security in general by forming neighbourhood watch programs and stipulating a midnight closing time for all bars and nightlife in Sayulita. Take precaution and use common sense while visiting. Don’t travel with unnecessary valuables. Use provided safes in your vacation rental home. Close and lock all windows and doors when going out. Do not leave any valuable visible in parked cars.
