Canadians warned to avoid non-essential travel to parts of Mexico in new advisory

Canada just updated its Mexico travel advisory, and you might want to give it a read before you head on your upcoming beach vacation.

On Friday, Sept. 12, the Government of Canada added regional advisories in Mexico, warning Canadians to "avoid non-essential travel" in certain areas due to "high levels of violence and organized crime."

This is on top of the government’s advice to "exercise a high degree of caution" in the country due to "criminal activity and kidnapping."

Regional advisories have been issued for the following states:

• Chiapas, excluding:
  • The city and ruins of Palenque (and highway 186 leading there)
  • The city of Tuxtla Gutiérrez (and its airport and the main road leading there)
  • The city of San Cristobal de las Casas (and toll highway 190D between this city and Tuxtla Gutiérrez)
• Chihuahua, excluding Chihuahua City
• Colima, excluding the city of Manzanillo, if accessed by air
• Guanajuato, in all areas south of and including highways 43D and 45D
• Guerrero, excluding the cities of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo if accessed by air
• Jalisco, within 50 km of the border with Michoacán state
• The Lagunas de Zempoala National Park in Morelos
• Michoacán, excluding the cities of Morelia and Patzcuaro
• Nayarit, within 20 km of the border with the states of Sinaloa and Durango
• Nuevo León, excluding the city of Monterrey
• Sinaloa, excluding the city of Los Mochis
• Sonora, excluding the cities of Hermosillo, Guaymas/San Carlos and Puerto Peñasco
• Tamaulipas, excluding the city of Tampico
• Zacatecas, excluding Zacatecas City

Ottawa is also warning travellers of violent clashes in Culiacán and the popular resort town of Mazatlán.

"In recent weeks, there have been violent clashes between rival armed groups in Culiacán, Mazatlán and their surrounding areas," reads the advisory. "Armed groups have stopped vehicles on the highway from Culiácan to Mazatlán and other major roads."

The Canadian government suggests exercising extreme caution, limiting your movements, monitoring local media for the latest information, and following the instructions of local authorities if you're in these towns or their surrounding areas.

The Government of Canada states that authorities in Mexico have made efforts to protect popular tourist destinations, resulting in lower levels of gang-related violence in those areas.

However, it notes that incidents of violent crime still occur in major tourist areas, with fighting between criminal gangs and cartels taking place in restaurants, hotels and nightclubs.

Canada recently issued a serious travel advisory for Indonesia, including the popular beach destination of Bali.

Canadians travelling internationally can sign up for the Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA), a free and confidential service that notifies citizens outside the country of an emergency abroad or a personal emergency at home.

With files from Irish Mae Silvestre