global affairs travel advisory mexico

• Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores

The Government of Mexico expresses its concern regarding the US warning against travel

Foreign affairs - tourism joint press release.

Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores | 21 de abril de 2021 | Comunicado

The Government of Mexico expresses its concern regarding the expansion of the U.S. State Department's Level 4 travel advisory to include 180 countries, among which are: Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Spain, and others. This action has a bilateral impact on the reactivation of tourism and connectivity with the North American region.

We are joined to the United States by an extensive and complex common border and a diversity of natural markets, which together with Canada make up one of the main supply chains in the world. In addition, we share communities that reside in both countries and families in both nations. 

In 2019, tourism between Mexico and the United States reached 173,364,000 international visitors between the two countries, with 92,094,000 visitors from the United States traveling to Mexico, and 81,270,000 traveling from Mexico to the United States. This volume of international tourism between the two countries represented a total expenditure of USD 26.873 billion, of which Americans spent USD 18.617 billion in Mexico, and Mexicans spent USD 8.256 billion in the United States.  Limiting tourism and productive and business activities by restricting the movement of travelers between the two countries would represent a loss for the two economies, within our countries, at the border and for the cruise industry.

In addition, in 2019, there were 10,775,249 flights from the U.S. to Mexico, a figure that attests to the increasing connectivity between our countries. This has implications for the intensive tourism and economic and social exchanges, and affects families and communities in both countries. For Mexico, this agenda represented 8.7 percent of GDP in 2018. 

At the global level, Mexico has emphasized the need for equitable and collective responses, since there can be no global solutions if there are countries lagging behind. To combat the pandemic, Mexico has promoted universal inoculation and international cooperation for access to vaccines. Proof of this are its biosafety and vaccination measures, which have placed it among the 15 countries that have received and administered the most Covid-19 vaccines, building international certainty and trust. 

Without denying the serious crisis that the pandemic represents for the world and the region, the Mexican authorities understand the impact that this decision has for both nations and will address the situation with their US counterparts, given that the measure is not directed solely at Mexico, but rather includes a large group of countries.  

Note: The figures used are from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), the Bank of Mexico and the National Migration Institute.

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• Beyond Local

Is it safe to visit Mexico? What Canadians need to know about the travel advisory update

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Canadians dreaming of visiting the sun-soaked beaches of Cancun or Acapulco may want to have a look at the updated Mexico travel advisory before they book a ticket. 

As the second-largest tourist destination for Canadians after the United States, Mexico sees upwards of three million visitors from the Great White North annually. However, there are some areas that have seen increasing rates of violence and crime over the past few years in popular vacation spots. 

The Government of Canada continues to advise travellers to exercise a  high degree of caution in Mexico  due to increased criminal activity and kidnapping.

While many cities across the country are mostly safe to travel to, Global Affairs has warned travellers of increased levels of violence for months, urging tourists to practice vigilance in areas and reconsider or completely avoid travel to particular areas.

As of November 2, 2023, Canada now warns against all travel -- even if it is considered "essential" -- to the Guerrero state due to impacts from Hurricane Otis , which caused the death of dozens of people. Damages to transportation and communications networks have isolated towns and the state is grappling with the threat of "armed violence, banditry, and looting in cities and on roads." 

Certain areas are particularly affected by banditry and violence, including:

• the highway between Acapulco and Zihuantanejo
• the highway between Acapulco to Chilpancingo

The Guerrero advisory excludes the popular tourist destinations of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo and Taxco, but you should exercise a high degree of caution in these areas.

Canada updates its Mexico travel advisory 

In 2022, Canada and its neighbours south of the border issued updated  advisories for parts of Mexico due to violent crime, including homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery. 

There continues to be high rates of these types of crime in popular tourist destinations such as the Mayan Riviera (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos, and Tulum), and Acapulco.

In January 2023, Canada issued a regional warning for the  Sinaloa state after widespread violence broke out following the capture of a prominent drug trafficker. At least two passenger airplanes were hit by gunfire, prompting officials to close three of the airports, including Mazatlán International Airport (MZT).

A regional warning urging Canadians to avoid all "non-essential travel" to the Sinaloa state remains intact, although the resort city of Mazatlan has been excluded from the list of regional advisories. 

Other cities the Canadian government warns against non-essential travel to include: 

• all Chihuahua
• all Colima, except the city of Manzanillo
• all Coahuila, except the southern part of the state at and below the Saltillo-Torreón highway corridor
• all Durango, except Durango City
• Highway 45 between León and Irapuato
• the area south of and including Highway 45D between Irapuato and Celaya
• all Michoacán, except the city of Morelia
• the Lagunas de Zempoala National Park and surrounding areas
• the municipality of Xoxocotla
• the area within 20 km of the border with Sinaloa and Durango
• the city of Tepic
• all Nuevo León, except the city of Monterrey
• all Sonora, except the cities of Hermosillo and Guaymas/San Carlos and Puerto Peñasco
• all Tamaulipas
• all Zacatecas

Travellers should always check the latest advice from the government before they book a ticket from Vancouver to Mexico. They should also purchase a  comprehensive travel insurance policy  when they book their ticket, which will cover the cost of your ticket in case you can't leave due to an unforeseeable medical or other emergency reason. It will also cover incidents like missed connections, baggage interruption and loss, and more. 

Canadian travel advisories that have a "level three" or "level four" warning may be claimed under a trip cancellation and interruption plan. However, travellers can't claim insurance if they booked the flights or accommodation after the advisory was issued. 

Further, Canadians should always register trips that they take  online  before they leave so that the government can contact them in an emergency.

What to do if you need help while you are in Mexico 

In case of an emergency in Mexico, dial 911. 

Contact roadside assistance if you run into an issue on a highway. The Angeles Verdes is a highway patrol service that provides free assistance on all major toll highways from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. 

To contact the Angeles Verdes, download their App  on your mobile device. In case of an emergency, you can also dial 078 or 800 006 8839 (toll-free in Mexico) to reach them.

Canadians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact Global Affairs Canada's Emergency Watch and Response Centre by calling 001-800-514-0129 (toll-free from Mexico only), +1 613 996 8885, by text message at +1 613-686-3658, via WhatsApp at +1 613-909-8881, via Telegram at Canada Emergency Abroad or by  e-mail . 

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Is it safe to visit Mexico? What Canadians need to know about the 2024 travel advisory

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The Mexico travel advisory has been updated several times over the past year and includes several warnings at the start of 2024.

The Canadian government continues to advise travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in the North American country. Additionally, there are several regions they should avoid all travel to. 

Mexico is the second-largest tourist destination for Canadians after the United States and travellers from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) can enjoy affordable flights to hot spots like Cancun throughout the year. However, violent crime and kidnapping have been rapidly increasing in the country over the past several years.

In November 2023, the United Nations stated that over 100,000 people are currently missing in Mexico , characterizing the mass disappearances as "alarming," according to Reuters.

What do I do if I get kidnapped?

Canada warns that Mexico has one of the highest kidnapping rates in the world; it is a "serious security risk" for people who travel to this country. Although many tourist areas are considered safe, this issue is widespread. 

Many contracted Canadians working for Mexican businesses have been kidnapped but "kidnappers target all classes." They often work in areas that aren't under the control of security forces or police.

If you're kidnapped:

• comply with the kidnappers’ requests
• don’t attempt to resist

A second kind of kidnapping, called express kidnapping, occurs in large urban areas. Criminals ask for a small and immediate ransom and often work with taxi drivers (or pose as them). They force victims to use their debit or credit card to withdraw money from ATMs in exchange for their release.

• Use only a reputable taxi company or a trusted ride-sharing app
• Book taxis through your hotel or an authorized taxi stand ( sitio )

Do not travel to the Guerrero State

Although Hurricane Otis made landfall in Mexico in October 2023, parts of the country are still grappling with damages left in its wake.

People should completely avoid travelling to the Guerrero State due to the precarious security situation. There continues to be a threat of "armed violence, banditry, and looting in cities and on roads."

 The cities of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo and Taxco are excluded from the advisory.

Updated Mexico travel advisory for Canada in 2024

In 2022, Canada and its neighbours south of the border issued updated  advisories for parts of Mexico  due to violent crime, including homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery. 

There continue to be high rates of these types of crime in popular tourist destinations such as the Mayan Riviera (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos, and Tulum), and Acapulco. Criminal groups and drug cartels are also present in tourist areas and bystanders can get caught in crossfire. 

Disputes between taxi and ridesharing application drivers may occur in these popular tourist destinations. Drivers generally don't target tourists but you "be caught up in these incidents and harassed or injured."

In Mexico City, government-authorized taxis have licence plates starting with “A” or “B." Other taxis at stands will have both the logo of their company and the plate number stamped on the side of the car. Official taxis in Mexico City are pink and white. Users can validate the pink and white taxis on the CDMX app.

Buses are relatively safe in the capital city but you should use VIP or executive class transportation when travelling to other cities.

Penalties for breaking the law in Mexico can be more severe than in Canada, even for similar offences. Travellers can be held in pre-trial detention with lengthy delays before a trial.

"Many petty crimes (such as public urination, failure to pay a bill or disorderly behaviour) can result in a 72-hour detention by police. Paying a fine can secure an early release from detention."

Smoking is prohibited in all public places except for clearly marked designated smoking areas. Some of the places tourists can no longer smoke in include beaches, parks, hotels, and restaurants. If you are caught smoking in public, you may be fined.

Avoid non-essential travel to these areas in Mexico

The Canadian government warns against non-essential travel to the following areas due to high levels of violence of violence and organized crime.

• all Chihuahua
• all Colima, except the city of Manzanillo
• all Coahuila, except the southern part of the state at and below the Saltillo-Torreón highway corridor
• all Durango, except Durango City
• Highway 45 between León and Irapuato
• the area south of and including Highway 45D between Irapuato and Celaya
• all Michoacán, except the city of Morelia
• the Lagunas de Zempoala National Park and surrounding areas
• the municipality of Xoxocotla
• the area within 20 km of the border with Sinaloa and Durango
• the city of Tepic
• all Nuevo León, except the city of Monterrey
• all Sinaloa, except the city of Mazatlán
• all Sonora, except the cities of Hermosillo and Guaymas/San Carlos and Puerto Peñasco
• all Tamaulipas
• all Zacatecas

What to do if you need help while you are in Mexico 

In case of an emergency in Mexico, dial 911. 

Contact roadside assistance if you run into an issue on a highway. The Angeles Verdes is a highway patrol service that provides free assistance on all major toll highways from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. 

To contact the Angeles Verdes,  download their App  on your mobile device. In case of an emergency, you can also dial 078 or 800 006 8839 (toll-free in Mexico) to reach them.

Canadians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact Global Affairs Canada's Emergency Watch and Response Centre by calling 001-800-514-0129 (toll-free from Mexico only), +1 613 996 8885, by text message at +1 613-686-3658, via WhatsApp at +1 613-909-8881, via Telegram at Canada Emergency Abroad or by  e-mail . 

What to do before you leave on your trip to Mexico 

Visit a travel medical clinic before you book a ticket. The healthcare professionals will inform you about what vaccinations you require and what you can expect on your trip. There are risks of contracting several viruses spread by mosquitoes including dengue, Zika, and chikungunya.

Travellers should always check the latest advice from the government before they book a ticket from Vancouver to Mexico. They should also purchase a  comprehensive travel insurance policy  when they book their ticket, which will cover the cost of your ticket in case you can't leave due to an unforeseeable medical or other emergency reason. It will also cover incidents like missed connections, baggage interruption and loss, and more. 

Canadian travel advisories that have a "level three" or "level four" warning may be claimed under a trip cancellation and interruption plan. However, travellers can't claim insurance if they booked the flights or accommodation after the advisory was issued. 

You must fill out a tourist card to enter Mexico unless you plan to stay under 72 hours within the northern border zone. 

If you don’t obtain a tourist card upon arrival , you may face:

Canadians should always register trips that they take  online  before they leave so that the government can contact them in an emergency.

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Safety tips from the US government for Americans traveling to Mexico

T he U.S. Department of State has been cautioning Americans to reconsider travel to Baja California, the region of Mexico, where four bodies were recently found .

The warning is part of a travel advisory for the country that has been in effect since late August 2023. According to the department’s website, “violent crime – such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking and robbery – is widespread and common in Mexico.”

It also adds that because U.S. government employees are restricted or prohibited from going to certain areas in Mexico, it makes it difficult for them to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens who might need it.

However, they shared tips for Americans who travel to the region against their warning:

• Keep friends and family informed of your travel plans. 
• If separating from a group, share your GPS location with a friend. 
• If taking a taxi alone, take a photo of the taxi’s number and/or plate and send it to a friend. 
• Use toll roads when you can and do not drive alone or at night. 
• Be extra cautious when visiting local bars, nightclubs or casinos. 
• Do not show any signs of wealth (i.e. jewelry, etc.)
• Be vigilant around banks and ATMs.

The department also suggests enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program .

For more information on the travel advisory, click here .

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• Expat in mexico

Canadian government issues Travel Advisory for thriteen Mexican states

Canadians heading to Mexico for the upcoming spring break can expect continued warnings from their government to “ exercise a high degree of caution ” in the southern vacation hotspot because of “high levels of criminal activity and kidnapping.”

The alarming Canadian travel advisory was issued after the January  arrest of Ovidio Guzmán-López , the son of the notorious former drug cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.

While the Canadian government has had travel advisories in place for Canadians travelling to various regions of Mexico for several years, the recent events related to Guzmán-López have escalated the situation.

“Criminal groups and drug cartels are present in tourist areas. Inter-gang and cartel fighting has taken place in restaurants, hotels and nightclubs frequented by tourists,” states the Government of Canada travel site.

Due to its tropical climate, Mexico has always been a popular tourist destination for Americans and Canadians, especially during the winter.

Brooke Simmons, a licensed travel agent with Centrum Travel in Ottawa, said demand for vacations to Mexico remains high despite the risks.

“This is the best year we have ever had. Travel this year is insane, and we have not seen anything like it”, said Simmons.

According to the  Government of Canada , despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the overseas country most visited by Canadians in 2022 was Mexico with over 1.8 million visitors.

“Canada continues to be Mexico’s second biggest source country for visitors after the United States,” said the government site.

Patricia Fortier is a retired Canadian diplomat who acted as the assistant deputy minister for Security, Consular, and Emergency Management with Global Affairs Canada — the federal department that oversees foreign relations.

“Our travel advisory for Mexico is more specific than many other travel advisories to other countries because millions of Canadians go to Mexico,” said Fortier.

The U.S. Department of State issued its own updated  travel advisory  on Oct. 5, 2022, but no further advisory was posted on the site after the Jan. 5 arrest of Guzmán-López. The American travel advisory advises U.S. citizens not to travel to the following regions in Mexico: Colima state, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas.

The Canadian travel advisory, meanwhile, warns travellers to avoid non-essential travel to a broader swath of Mexico, including Chihuahua, Colima, Coahuila, Durango, Guerrero, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo León (except the city of Monterrey), Sinaloa (except the city of Mazatlán), Sonora, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas.

“The U.S. travel advisory has a lot of specificity about where to go and about where U.S. employees should go,” Fortier explained. “Canadians don’t make a distinction between employees and regular Canadian citizens.”

Simmons said the Canadian government’s advice is based on a higher degree of transparency.

“I think we have a higher standard of what we call for safety,” she said. “We make sure that everything is out in the open and that we are not hiding anything from anyone.”

‘Crime and such can happen anywhere. You could go downtown Ottawa, and something could happen.’— Brooke Simmons, travel agent, Ottawa

Despite the Canadian government’s attempt to keep citizens informed about the Mexico travel advisory, some tourists were unaware of the warning until recently.

Samantha Savage, an articling student, said she had not heard of the heightened travel warning. Savage travelled to the Mayan Riviera region of Mexico for the first time at the end of April 2022.

However, she added: “I have seen articles on the increase of violence in Mexico and Canadians trapped at hotels in the country.”

According to the  Government of Canada , “kidnappers in Mexico target all classes; however Canadian citizens and contractors of Canadian businesses have been kidnapped in areas that are not under police control.”

Savage said she is not surprised about the stronger travel advisory considering the escalation of violence in certain regions in Mexico.

“However, since the most recent advisory only asks Canadians to avoid non-essential travel through particular regions — and none of which appear to be in the Mayan Riviera or Cancun region — I doubt it will deter many Canadians from continuing to travel to Mexico,” she added.

The government’s site also states that if you are kidnapped, “comply with the kidnappers’ requests” and “don’t attempt to resist.”

Simmons, unfazed by the warnings, said that “crime and such can happen anywhere. You could go downtown Ottawa, and something could happen.”

Jose Roberto Islas Telich, who heads the tourism promotion section at the Mexican Embassy in Ottawa, said the country’s diplomats are aware of Canada’s warnings to its citizens about travelling in Mexico.

With the March 13-17 spring break approaching, Fortier recommends that anyone thinking of visiting Mexico should look closely at the travel advisories issued by Canadian officials.

Source: Government of Canada

The Colima Post

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Mexico tightens travel rules on Peruvians in a show of visa diplomacy to slow migration to US

Peruvian Julia Paredes, left in white hat, listens to instructions from a Border Patrol agent with others seeking asylum as they wait to be processed after crossing the border with Mexico nearby, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Boulevard, Calif. Mexico has begun requiring visas for Peruvians in response to a major influx of migrants from the South American country. The move follows identical ones for Venezuelans, Ecuadorians and Brazilians, effectively eliminating the option of flying to a Mexican city near the U.S. border. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Julia Paredes, right, of Peru, gets a hug from volunteer Karen Parker, after crossing the border with Mexico nearby, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Boulevard, Calif. Mexico has begun requiring visas for Peruvians in response to a major influx of migrants from the South American country. The move follows identical ones for Venezuelans, Ecuadorians and Brazilians, effectively eliminating the option of flying to a Mexican city near the U.S. border. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

A Border Patrol agent instructs a group of people seeking asylum, including Peruvians, as they are transported for processing after crossing the border with Mexico nearby, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Boulevard, Calif. Mexico has begun requiring visas for Peruvians in response to a major influx of migrants from the South American country. The move follows identical ones for Venezuelans, Ecuadorians and Brazilians, effectively eliminating the option of flying to a Mexican city near the U.S. border. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

People seeking asylum walk through a field of wildflowers as they wait to be processed after crossing the border with Mexico nearby, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Boulevard, Calif. Mexico has begun requiring visas for Peruvians in response to a major influx of migrants from the South American country. The move follows identical ones for Venezuelans, Ecuadorians and Brazilians, effectively eliminating the option of flying to a Mexican city near the U.S. border. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Peruvian Julia Paredes, center in white hat, listens to instructions from a Border Patrol agent with others seeking asylum as they wait to be processed after crossing the border with Mexico nearby, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Boulevard, Calif. Mexico has begun requiring visas for Peruvians in response to a major influx of migrants from the South American country. The move follows identical ones for Venezuelans, Ecuadorians and Brazilians, effectively eliminating the option of flying to a Mexican city near the U.S. border. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Men seeking asylum, including Peruvians, line up as they wait to be processed after crossing the border with Mexico nearby, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Boulevard, Calif. Mexico has begun requiring visas for Peruvians in response to a major influx of migrants from the South American country. The move follows identical ones for Venezuelans, Ecuadorians and Brazilians, effectively eliminating the option of flying to a Mexican city near the U.S. border. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

People seeking asylum keep warm near a fire as they wait to be processed, after crossing the border with Mexico nearby, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Boulevard, Calif. Mexico has begun requiring visas for Peruvians in response to a major influx of migrants from the South American country. The move follows identical ones for Venezuelans, Ecuadorians and Brazilians, effectively eliminating the option of flying to a Mexican city near the U.S. border. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

People seeking asylum, including a group from Peru, walk behind a Border Patrol agent towards a van to be processed after crossing the border with Mexico nearby, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Boulevard, Calif. Mexico has begun requiring visas for Peruvians in response to a major influx of migrants from the South American country. The move follows identical ones for Venezuelans, Ecuadorians and Brazilians, effectively eliminating the option of flying to a Mexican city near the U.S. border. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

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BOULEVARD, Calif. (AP) — Julia Paredes believed her move to the United States might be now or never. Mexico was days from requiring visas for Peruvian visitors. If she didn’t act quickly, she would have to make a far more perilous, surreptitious journey over land to settle with her sister in Dallas.

Mexico began requiring visas for Peruvians on Monday in response to a major influx of migrants from the South American country, after identical moves for Venezuelans, Ecuadorians and Brazilians. It effectively eliminated the option of flying to a Mexican city near the U.S. border, as Paredes, 45, did just before it was too late.

“I had to treat it as a emergency,” said Paredes, who worked serving lunch to miners in Arequipa, Peru, and borrowed money to fly to Mexico’s Tijuana, across from San Diego. Last month smugglers guided her through a remote opening in the border wall to a dirt lot in California, where she and about 100 migrants from around the world shivered over campfires after a morning drizzle and waited for overwhelmed Border Patrol agents to drive them to a station for processing.

Senior U.S. officials, speaking to reporters ahead of a meeting of top diplomats from about 20 countries in the Western hemisphere this week in Guatemala, applauded Mexico’s crackdown on air travel from Peru and called visa requirements an important tool to jointly confront illegal migration.

For critics, shutting down air travel only encourages more dangerous choices. Illegal migration by Venezuelans plummeted after Mexico imposed visa requirements in January 2022, but the lull was short-lived. Last year Venezuelans made up nearly two-thirds of the record-high 520,000 migrants who walked through the Darien Gap, the notorious jungle spanning parts of Panama and Colombia.

More than 25,000 Chinese traversed the Darien last year. They generally fly to Ecuador, a country known for few travel restrictions, and cross the U.S. border illegally in San Diego to seek asylum. With an immigration court backlog topping 3 million cases, it takes years to decide such claims, during which time people can obtain work permits and establish roots.

“People are going to come no matter what,” said Miguel Yaranga, 22, who flew from Lima, Peru’s capital, to Tijuana and was released by the Border Patrol Sunday at a San Diego bus stop. He had orders to appear in immigration court in New York in February 2025, which puzzled him because he said he told agents he would settle with his sister on the other side of the country, in Bakersfield, California.

Jeremy MacGillivray, deputy chief of the Mexico mission of the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration, predicts that Peruvian migration will drop “at least at the beginning” and bounce back as people shift to walking through the Darien Gap and to Central America and Mexico.

Mexico said last month that it would require visas for Peruvians for the first time since 2012 in response to a “substantial increase” in illegal migration. Large-scale Peruvian migration to Mexico began in 2022; Peruvians were stopped in the country an average of 2,160 times a month from January to March of this year, up from a monthly average of 544 times for all of 2023.

Peruvians also began showing up at the U.S. border in 2022. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Peruvians an average of about 5,300 times a month last year before falling to a monthly average of 3,400 from January through March, amid a broad immigration crackdown by Mexico .

Peru immediately reciprocated Mexico’s visa requirement but changed course after a backlash from the country’s tourism industry. Peru noted in its reversal that it is part of a regional economic bloc that includes Mexico, Chile and Colombia.

Adam Isacson, an analyst at the Washington Office on Latin America, said Peru’s membership with Mexico in the Pacific Alliance allowed its citizens visa-free travel longer than other countries.

It is unclear if Colombia, also a major source of migration , will be next, but Isacson said Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is in a “lovefest” with his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, while his relations with Peru’s government are more strained.

Colombians are consistently near the top nationalities of migrants arriving at Tijuana’s airport. Many find hotels before a guide takes them to boulder-strewn mountains east of the city, where they cross through openings in the border wall and then walk toward dirt lots that the Border Patrol has identified as waiting stations.

Bryan Ramírez, 25, of Colombia, reached U.S. soil with his girlfriend last month, only two days after leaving Bogota for Cancun, Mexico, and continuing on another flight to Tijuana. He waited alongside others overnight for Border Patrol agents to pick him up as cold rain and high winds whipped over the crackle of high-voltage power lines.

The group waiting near Boulevard, a small, loosely defined rural town, included several Peruvians who said they came for economic opportunity and to escape violence and political crises.

Peruvians can still avoid the Darien jungle by flying to El Salvador, which introduced visa-free travel for them in December in reciprocation for a similar move by Peru’s government. But they would still have to travel over land through Mexico, where many are robbed or kidnapped.

Ecuadoreans, who have needed visas to enter Mexico since September 2021, can also fly to El Salvador, but not all do. Oscar Palacios, 42, said he walked through Darien because he couldn’t afford to fly.

Palacios, who left his wife and year-old child in Ecuador with plans to support them financially from the U.S., said it took him two weeks to travel from his home near the violent city of Esmeralda to Mexico’s border with Guatemala. It then took him two months to cross Mexico because immigration authorities turned him around three times and bused him back to the southern part of the country. He said he was robbed repeatedly.

Palacios finally reached Tijuana and, after three nights in a hotel, crossed into the U.S. A Border Patrol agent spotted him with migrants from Turkey and Brazil and drove them to the dirt lot to wait for a van or bus to take them to a station for processing. Looking back on the journey, Palacios said he would rather cross Darien Gap 100 times than Mexico even once.

Associated Press writer Christopher Sherman in Mexico City contributed.

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Registration of Canadians Abroad is a free service that allows the Government of Canada to notify you in case of an emergency abroad or a personal emergency at home. The service also enables you to receive important information before or during a natural disaster or civil unrest.

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Canada updated its Mexico travel advisory and here's what the latest safety advice says

Here's what to know if you'll be travelling to the country this summer. 🇲🇽

The Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico. Right: The Mexican flag.

Planning a trip to Mexico this summer? Before you get going, you'll want to take note of new travel advice issued by the Government of Canada.

Canada has updated its travel advisory for Mexico, warning residents of new safety and security risks and areas in the country they should avoid.

With the country considered a hot spot for Canadians, here's what to know about the travel advisory.

The Canadian government recently updated its Mexico travel advisory ahead of the country's general elections.

The elections, which are scheduled to take place on June 2, will be the biggest in Mexico's history, according to the Associated Press .

The country will vote to choose the president, the winners of 628 seats in Congress and thousands of local positions, says the AP.

The Government of Canada is warning residents travelling to the country around this period to exercise caution.

"General elections are scheduled to take place on June 2, 2024. Demonstrations and other political gatherings could occur before, during and after the elections," says the travel advisory.

The advisory notes that road closures and blockages may cause travel disruptions, and that a strong military and police presence is expected.

"You may face deportation if you participate in demonstrations as a foreigner," says the government.

Travellers are advised to avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place, follow the instructions of local authorities, and monitor local media for information on demonstrations.

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Is Mexico safe for tourists right now?

While overall, the Government of Canada advises that Canadians "exercise a high degree of caution" when travelling to Mexico, Canada also has regional advisories in place warning travellers to avoid non-essential travel to certain regions and avoid travel altogether in others.

Currently, the government advises residents to avoid all travel to Guerrero state due to "the precarious security situation following damage by Hurricane Otis."

In October 2023, Hurricane Otis made landfall near Acapulco, on Mexico’s southern Pacific coast. The hurricane caused "catastrophic damage" to the area, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .

According to Canada's travel advisory, there is a "threat of armed violence, banditry, and looting in cities and on roads," in the state.

The advisory, however, excludes the cities of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, where travellers should "exercise a high degree of caution."

The government also has several "avoid non-essential travel" advisories in place for several Mexican states, including Chihuahua, Colima, Durango, Michoacán, Morelos, Nuevo León, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas.

Canadians are told to avoid non-essential travel to these areas due to "high levels of violence and organized crime."

"Levels of crime, particularly violent crime, are high throughout Mexico. Arrest and detention rates are low and don’t deter criminal activity," says the government.

Those planning to travel to Mexico are advised to remain vigilant at all times, stay in tourist areas, be very cautious on major highways, avoid travelling at night and monitor local media for updates.

Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.

• 8 tips for Canadians travelling to Mexico in 2024, from entry rules to tipping etiquette ›
• ​Canada issued travel advisories for these 8 popular tourist spots and here's what to know ›

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Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries may be proving the Biden administration wrong, experts say

• Ukraine has been targeting Russian oil refineries in recent months.
• The Biden administration has criticized the strikes, warning of global energy price rises.
• However, some experts say Ukraine should continue the attacks. Here's why.

Ukraine has been ramping up attacks on Russian oil refineries in recent months as it seeks to hamper Russian export revenues and curtail fuel supplies to Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces.

In one of the latest attacks, Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in Russia's Kaluga region, setting it on fire, the RIA state news agency reported on Friday, per Reuters .

Ukraine also hit Gazprom's Neftekhim Salavat oil refinery, one of Russia's largest oil refineries, earlier this week, Radiy Khabirov, the head of Russia's Republic of Bashkortostan, said in a post on Telegram .

However, the Biden administration has previously slammed such tactics, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin saying in April that it risked impacting global energy markets and urging Ukraine to shift its focus onto military targets.

"Those attacks could have a knock-on effect in terms of the global energy situation," Austin said . "Quite frankly, I think Ukraine is better served by going after tactical and operational targets that can directly influence the current fight."

However, some experts believe such criticism is misguided.

Writing for Foreign Affairs magazine, Michael Liebreich, the founder of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, and Sam Winter-Levy, a doctoral candidate in political science at Princeton University, argued that Ukrainian strikes on Russian refining facilities would not lead to spikes in global energy prices.

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The experts said that Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries would only hinder Russia's ability to turn its oil into refined products such as gasoline and would not impact the volume of oil it can extract or export.

"In fact, with less domestic refining capacity, Russia will be forced to export more of its crude oil, not less, pushing global prices down rather than up," they added.

And such strikes will likely continue to affect those within Russia, where prices for refined products like gas or diesel are soaring — meaning Ukraine's attacks are achieving the aims of failed Western economic sanctions, they continued.

The West has attempted to impose a number of sanctions on Russia to limit its income from energy, with the US and the UK banning Russian oil and gas and G7 leaders agreeing to set a price cap on Russian crude oil at $60 per barrel.

But Russia has largely managed to get around such measures , with its Deputy Prime Minister, Alexander Novak, saying in December last year that Russia had shifted almost all of its oil exports to China and India.

Russia's oil revenue in April more than doubled year on year , Bloomberg reported, highlighting its success in rediverting operations.

Its total oil and gas revenue for the month hit 1.23 trillion rubles, up almost 90% from April last year, per the report.

Reuters reported in April that Russia also appeared to be able to quickly repair some of the key refining facilities affected by Ukrainian strikes, reducing impacted capacity to roughly 10% from nearly 14% at the end of March, per the agency's calculations.

Ukraine has since launched a series of new attacks on refining sites, however, and it is as yet unclear how these have affected Russia's repair efforts.

Watch: Russia launches mass strikes against Ukraine after Crimea bridge explosion

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