Safety Issues

Takn from Consular Affairs website www.voyage.gc.ca

Canadians should purchase supplementary travel health insurance prior to travelling to Mexico. Your provincial health plan should not be relied on to cover all expenses in case of illness or injury. Please see Section 16 below for details.

OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada offers a registration service for Canadians travelling or residing abroad. Canadians are encouraged to register with the responsible Canadian government office during the hurricane season, which runs from June 1st to November 30th. Registration can be done on-line or by calling the responsible Canadian government office abroad to request a registration form.

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3. SAFETY AND SECURITY

Caution and prudence should be exercised at all times while travelling throughout the country. Although they are not specifically targeted, Canadians have been victims of random shootings in areas notorious for drug trafficking. Other crimes occur, including armed robbery, purse snatching, and pickpocketing. You should dress down and avoid wearing expensive jewellery and designer clothing. Carry only the cash or credit cards that will be needed on each outing.

Canadians should exercise caution when travelling in areas where organized crime and urban violence have affected the region's security, such as in northern Mexico and border cities. Crimes and murders linked to drug turf wars have risen substantially throughout Mexico, but especially in the states of Guerrero, Michoacan and Sinaloa. Hundreds of people are killed every year across the country. While Canadians have not been specific targets of crime, they are urged to be aware of safety concerns when visiting these areas. Should you require consular assistance while in these regions, contact the Consulate of Canada in Tijuana, which has consular responsibility for the states of Baja California and Sonora. The Consulate of Canada in Monterrey provides consular assistance for the states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas, the Embassy of Canada in Mexico City is responsible for the state of Chihuahua, and the Consulate of Canada in Acapulco provides services for the states of Guerrero and Michoacan.

Travellers should be careful when accepting food or drinks from strangers, as there have been cases of drugging followed by robbery and assault, including sexual assault. Avoid walking after dark, especially if travelling alone. Unpatrolled beaches and unpopulated areas should be avoided, especially after dark. Check with local authorities to determine which beaches are safe, but always remain alert.

Long-term kidnappings occur, although foreigners are not specifically targeted. So called "express kidnappings"are frequent in urban areas. There have been many incidents, particularly in Mexico City, of passengers being assaulted and/or robbed and/or car jacked by thieves working in cooperation with, or posing as taxi drivers. A common practice is to force victims to withdraw money from various ATMs with their bank or credit cards in exchange for their release. You should be cautious and discreet about openly discussing your financial or business affairs.

Canadians should be cautious in general when withdrawing funds from ATMs or when exchanging money at a "casa de cambio". It is safer to withdraw only small sums for anticipated expenses and if possible to limit your withdrawals to daylight hours inside shops or malls, rather than at ATMs on the street. Be attentive when leaving an exchange bureau, as there are incidents of people being followed and attacked. If you are arriving at the airport in Mexico City and need to obtain pesos, use the exchange counters or ATMs in the arrival area, where public access is restricted.

Women should exercise caution in dealing with strangers or recent acquaintances, and be especially careful about accepting rides or invitations to go for a drink. There have been cases of drugging followed by robbery and assault, including sexual assault. Incidents of assault, rape and sexual aggression against foreigners have been reported at beach resorts in Mexico. Many of these have occurred at night or in the early morning hours. Attacks have also occurred on deserted beaches and in hotel rooms. Acquaintance rape is a serious problem. In some cases, hotel workers, taxi drivers, and others have been implicated. Anyone who is a victim of a sexual assault or other crime should report this immediately to the nearest Canadian Consulate and is also strongly advised to immediately file a report with Mexican authorities. Note that no criminal investigation is possible without a formal complaint to Mexican authorities.

Foreign Affairs Canada publishes a booklet, Her Own Way: Advice for the Woman Traveller, specifically targeted at female travellers. Its prime objective is to inform Canadian women and encourage them to travel safely.

If you are the victim of a crime, immediately file a report at the "Agencia del Ministerio Público" nearest to the scene of the crime. This is especially important if your ID is stolen or lost, in case it is subsequently found at the scene of a crime.

Unpatrolled beaches and unpopulated areas should be avoided, especially after dark. Check with local authorities to determine which beaches are safe.

Although public transportation is relatively safe, take precautions at public transportation facilities, including airports, bus stations, and the Mexico City metro, and avoid travelling during rush hour if you can.

Be wary of persons presenting themselves as police officers. There have been instances of tourists becoming victims of theft, extortion or sexual assault by persons who may or may not be police officers. Some criminals pose as plainclothes police officers and ask to see foreign currency and passports. In Cancun, there have been cases involving legitimate police officers extorting money from tourists and arresting tourists for minor offences. If approached, do not hand over your money or passport. Ask for identification, and if possible note the officer's name, badge number and patrol car number. Offer instead to go to the nearest Agencia del Ministerio Público.

Avoid divulging personal information to strangers. Scam artists have called parents of travelling Canadians (in the middle of the night) to report that their child has been detained or hospitalized and have requested that money be wired immediately via Western Union. Parents or friends should call Foreign Affairs Canada's 24-hour emergency line (toll-free number 001-800-514-0129).

Exercise caution when standing close to balcony railings, as deaths and injuries have resulted from falls. Height standards for balcony railings in Mexico differ from those in Canada, and railings can consequently be considerably lower.

If you visit Mexican beach resorts, carefully assess the potential risk of recreational activities. You should be aware that sports and aquatic equipment may not meet Canadian safety and supervision standards and may not be covered by accident insurance. This applies particularly to scuba diving, mopeds, parasailing, and jet-skis. In the case of mopeds, many operators carry no insurance, and some have been known to demand fees in excess of the damage caused to the vehicle in an accident. Check that your own travel insurance covers these activities if you decide to rent equipment or take classes. In addition, exercise caution when locals on the beach offer sightseeing or fishing tours by boat, as these are not always officially established tour operators. Before agreeing to any type of tour, ensure that both the boat and its operator are registered with the local port authority, that the boat is in good condition, and that it is well equipped with safety equipment.