How dangerous is it for Americans to travel to Nuevo Vallarta Mexico?

Question

Dan Rather had a disturbing program about the out of control drugs in Acapulco and the consequences including American and other tourist deaths.

Answer 1

It's not dangerous at all

Answer 2

I'm Mexican and I've lived in Mexico City almost all my life, and I've never had any kind of problems related with crime. I don't really know why the US goverment prevents its citizens from comming to Mexico as if we were a total mess. This annoys me pretty much since this causes my country's reputation to go down; therefore tourists become affraid to come to Mexico even though we're one of the leading nations in Latin America and we're making an exellent job fighting drug traffic and organized crime.

Believe me, It's as safe to come to Mexico as staying in the US and I can assure you that you won't have any kind of problems here, besides, Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta, are beautiful. Both cities are together but separated by a river which makes the border between the mexican states of Jalisco and Nayarit. Puerto Vallarta is the name of the city in the side of Jalisco, and Nuevo Vallarta is the name of the city in the side of Nayarit.

If you go over there, I would also recomend you to visit the towns nearby. I would specially recomend you to go to San Sebastián de Oeste in Jalisco, about an hour from Nuevo Vallarta. It's a typical mexican town "lost in time" since it's been practically unchanged sice the 16th century. All that region of the Sierra Madre Occidental is really amazing.

If you have time, you should also visit more towns such as Mascota and Tapalpa, both of them in the state of Jalisco not too far away from Puerto and Nuevo Vallarta. Then you will start knowing the real mexico, and its culture because those coastal resorts such as Vallarta, Acapulco, Los Cabos and Cancún are only made for tourists and full of them and in any way they resamble to the real Mexico.

Answer 3

OK..........that's odd. I never got attacked when I was in Mexico. Or even ambushed?

Answer 4

been there its the new part of puerto vallarta  its pefectly safe and its not near acapulco,, we stayeed at the allegro hotel very nice,, water is much prettier bu the cancun area tho,, neuvo vallarta has 18 rivers running into the ocean water isnt as clear or clean

Answer 5

every tourist I know who has been, has been robbed in some manner or other.

Answer 6

Isn't the city called Puerta Vallarta? I've heard it's mostly a quiet resort city (never been there personally).

Lived in Mexico City for over 10 years, never been mugged and this city has one of the highest kidnapping rates in the world. Note to all, I'm a tiny white female to boot.

They make those shows to get ratings from viewers that don't know better. Do the cops in your neighborhood arrest major serial killers every week? I'm quite sure the answer is no.

If you use common sense (like don't be walking in a dark alley in a major city at night flashing a bunch of money), you probably won't be shot or mugged or anything. It's highly unlikely you will be kidnapped. Most kidnappings are done by someone the victim knew and the victims are usually relatives of millionaire businessmen.

You'd be surprised how safe rural Mexico is. The key though in rural places is to respect the sometimes very strange customs and cultures of the locals, don't act like an arrogant gringo and the locals will always be very friendly.

I'd personally advocate aainst visiting Acapulco alltogether. There's far more prettier, cheaper and far more interesting beach cities in Mexico. Acapulco is overrated, you can't swim in the water because the tide is too dangerous and there isn't a lot of tourist attractions (unless the city became far more interesting in the past 5 years I seriously doubt thngs have changed much from my last visit).

Answer 7

Believe me, Dan Rather, nor any other broadcaster, will ever have a program showing that 99.99% of all tourists that go to (Fill in the blank) Mexico, will NEVER see any of the violence reported in the Mexican drug trade. If they did, you would'nt watch it. The "Tourists" they talk about are all people who are A.) Involved in the drug trade. B.) Hanging out in clubs and areas where drugs are bought and sold. C.) In clubs where the trafficers hang out.

I have lived in Mexio 20 years, and there is one thing common to all these reports. The "Tourists" are where they should not be, when they should not be there and are almost allways Spanish surnamed folks living in the US who have come back making contacts to bring drugs north and have deep ties with the local community where they are killed and robbed. There are about 8,000 Gringo residents of Mazatlan alon. Plus thousands and thousands of weekly tourists and several thousand day tourists from the 26 cruise ships a month in our port. If it was even close to what they tell you on TV, there would be body's everywhere.

If you go anywhere, US or Mexico, and hang out at 4 a.m. in disco's where people are snorting coke at their table, making drug deals, etc. yea, you can see and become a victem. Try it in New Your, Chicago, New Orleans, L.A. Let me know how it goes.

Answer 8

stay away from illegal drugs, and  back  streets and you will be o k

Answer 9

That is so crazy, we drove the whole way and it was fine, not one problem, you stay on the toll roads and you are with a million other americans driving also, it is very expensive driving down here the toll roads are super expensive, we saved by flying this time. About $1500.

If you are not dealing in drugs then why would you be involved.

Answer 10

I have been to Mexico many times and I would say it's as safe as any big city in the USA. You have to know the rules of traveling. Stay under the radar, don't get drunk and pick fights with the locals, don't flash your money or jewelry. Most of all be respectful. You don't travel to areas alone at night. Stay with the crowds.

If you do drugs in third world countries you will be putting yourself at risk. It's simple. You don't need Dan Rather telling you that drugs are out of control in Mexico. You have money you can get drugs anywhere)