Review OSAC’s Mexico-specific webpage for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password.

The U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara covers the states of Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Nayarit, and Colima. The U.S. private sector has a significant presence in Guadalajara, Aguascalientes, Puerto Vallarta, and Manzanillo (Mexico’s largest containerized cargo port). Guadalajara is the capital of Jalisco, and is home to over 200 American companies.

Crime Threats

There is considerable risk from crime in Guadalajara. Homicides and missing person statistics have increased over the past two years, largely due to fighting between rival drug trafficking organizations (DTOs). Robbery, auto-part theft, and telephonic extortion are the most frequently reported non-violent crimes in the consular district. Crimes of opportunity are common. Thieves often operate in heavily congested areas to steal bags, electronics, and jewelry; they occasionally use motorcycles to escape. In the weeks leading up to the winter holiday season, the Guadalajara metropolitan area typically experiences an increase in crime.

Auto-part theft is very prevalent in the Guadalajara Metropolitan zone. Thieves usually target easy-to-remove parts (e.g. spare tires, side mirrors, side moulding, and grilles). These thefts usually occur after dark from cars parked on the street. Parking in pay lots is the easiest way to reduce the risk of auto-part theft.

Carjacking commonly involves the threat of force. Thieves often (although not exclusively) target late-model trucks and SUVs. Thieves rarely harm victims who do not resist.

Residential break-ins usually occur at middle-class to moderately wealthy homes where thieves have conducted surveillance. Some investigations reveal complicit domestic staff. Burglars are less likely to target homes with extra security measures. Vet domestic staff, and never keep large quantities of cash at home.

Reports of sexual assault against U.S. citizens mostly occur in popular tourist destinations. Often, perpetrators target intoxicated tourists in bars and nightclubs. For additional information, see the OSAC report Shaken: The Don’ts of Alcohol Abroad.

Post-Specific Concerns

The states of Colima and Nayarit have received recent attention due to drastic increases in homicide rates. While the violence largely transpires between rival drug trafficking organizations, there is potential for collateral casualties.

Aguascalientes continues to be one of Mexico’s safest states.

Regarding cartel violence, wrong-place/wrong-time incidents present the greatest threat to personal safety. The best ways to reduce the risk is to practice good personal security habits, especially by maintaining high situational awareness and departing promptly from potentially dangerous situations.

Transportation-Safety Situation

For more information, review OSAC’s Report, Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights.

Road Safety and Road Conditions

A variety of road conditions exists throughout the region. Toll (cuota) highways are comparable to U.S. interstate highway standards, with multiple traffic lanes and broad paved shoulders. Cuotas generally have better lighting, frequent police patrols, fewer access points (on/off-ramps), and are a safer way to transit overland.

Non-toll (libre) highways are usually in poorer condition. They are usually two-lane roads with no shoulder. There are more reported incidents of carjackings and shootouts between rival criminal groups, particularly after dark, on the libre highways. Reduce the risk of carjacking by limiting travel in rural areas, limiting intercity travel to daylight hours, and limiting use of libre highways, especially after dark.

Road conditions in urban areas vary considerably. In upscale or tourist neighborhoods of major cities, the roads are in good condition, whereas they often are not in marginalized areas. There are large speed bumps installed around major cities, including on some highways; these are often poorly marked. Stay alert for changing road conditions. Drivers routinely disobey even the most fundamental traffic laws, and commonly treat red lights like stop signs, crossing as soon as they have checked for opposing traffic. For more information on self-driving, review OSAC’s Report Driving Overseas: Best Practices.

During the rainy season (July-August), major thoroughfares, including tunnels and underpasses, often become flooded and seriously disrupt traffic. Heavy rain also frequently causes traffic lights to stop working. Puerto Vallarta and other cities in the consular district experience similar problems.

Public Transportation Conditions

Uber and taxi services in major cities are generally reliable and safe. For more information on ride sharing, review OSAC’s Report Safety and Security in the Share Economy. Take taxis only from registered taxi stands (sitios) instead of hailing them from the street. Restaurant and hotel staff can help summon a registered taxi.

In Guadalajara, mass transit is generally a higher-risk option. Pickpocketing, bag snatching, and armed robberies are not uncommon on buses. However, the most dangerous aspect of taking a bus is often the operators’ reckless driving.

Generally, charter buses are safe, except in those areas where the State Department Travel Advisory warns against non-essential travel. U.S. government personnel often use charter buses to move between Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.

Aviation/Airport Conditions

Uber and Taxi service from the airports is also safe. Arriving passengers should look for a sitio taxi kiosk in the arrival terminal of the airport and pay the fare at the kiosk before exiting the airport and boarding a taxi.

Terrorism Threat

There is minimal risk from terrorism in Guadalajara.

Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence

Civil Unrest

There is serious risk from civil unrest in Guadalajara. Non-violent demonstrations routinely occur in Guadalajara and other cities in the consular district. Political parties, students, labor-rights, or indigenous-rights groups organize most demonstrations, and most conclude peacefully. Demonstrations have blocked roads or obstructed access to businesses. The Consulate is not aware of any protests targeting U.S. private-sector interests in recent years.

Post-specific Concerns

Environmental Hazards

Pacific hurricanes are a threat to coastal areas.

Personal Identity Concerns

Same-sex sexual relations are legal in Mexico. The law provides for protections against discrimination based on gender identity. Travelers will find more openness and acceptance in urban areas, and conservative stances in rural areas.

Drug-related Crimes

Drug trafficking continues to be a significant issue throughout Mexico, affecting the security climate and influencing local politics. Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) is the most powerful DTO in Consulate General Guadalajara’s area of operation. While cartel-related violence is on the rise, it largely targets rival cartels, and does not often affect civilian populations.

Nayarit, western Jalisco, and Colima are major marijuana cultivation zones. The region is also a significant methamphetamine production area. The port in Manzanillo (Colima state) is a major gateway for precursor chemicals. Cartel fighting over control of the port has been a major contributing factor to the increase in Colima’s homicide rates.

Kidnapping Threat

Kidnapping for ransom and virtual kidnapping are not uncommon in western Mexico. Virtual kidnapping is a term that describes a variety of scams in which a caller uses a ruse to convince the victim to transfer money. In many cases, a caller claiming to be a member of a DTO will contact a family member of an alleged victim to demand ransom for their release. Other types of virtual kidnappings include communicating via text message only from stolen/lost cell phones or convincing individuals to isolate themselves in an effort to extort money from their families. Criminals may obtain information from social networking websites. Report kidnapping-related incidents to the police and the U.S. Consulate. For more information, review OSAC’s Report, Kidnapping: The Basics.

Police Response

The Mexican government’s response to the DTO threat has been to increase military and police operations targeting cartel leadership. The Jalisco State Police have dedicated resources to under-equipped municipalities. Police are typically more responsive to active threats or violent crime.

The Aguascalientes State Police are extremely effective in limiting criminal activity, and benefit from the latest technology and training. The police force is a national example that other jurisdictions seek to duplicate.

Not all uniformed police perform investigative functions or can take official complaints (denuncias). In some cases, their roles are to patrol and prevent crimes. Tourism Police patrol tourist areas, and are commonly the only units that speak English. Their main purpose is to enhance the safety of tourist areas by deterring crime and responding to accidents. Tourist police are not able to take denuncias, but can assist travelers in contacting authorities who can.

Rural areas are often under-policed, as Mexican authorities concentrate their limited police resources on urban areas. Municipal police in rural areas are often not well funded, trained, or equipped.

How to Handle Incidents of Police Detention or Harassment

If you feel you are the victim of harassment, mistreatment, or extortion due to Mexican law enforcement, note the officer’s name, badge number, or patrol car number. Mexican authorities will cooperate in investigating such cases, but require this information to pursue a complaint effectively.

Crime Victim Assistance

Reporting crimes can be a long, frustrating experience. You must file a denuncia with police or the local branch of the State Prosecutor’s Office (Ministerio Publico). When making a denuncia, the burden of proof is on the individual to substantiate that a crime occurred. Even when a victim files a denuncia properly, the complainant must ratify it several days later. Satisfying this requirement is not practical for many visitors on short stays.

Even in cases when a victim properly files and ratifies a denuncia, police rarely investigate non-violent or minor property crimes. Crimes against foreigners are likely to get more attention from the authorities than crimes against Mexican citizens. Despite the substantial obstacles to reporting a crime, the U.S. Consulate encourages all U.S. citizen victims of crime to report the crime to the Ministerio Publico and the American Citizen Services office of the Consulate.

Ministerio Publico

Jalisco:                        (33) 3837-6000

Aguascalientes:          http://www.aguascalientes.gob.mx/pgj/(449) 478-2800

Colima:                        (312) 312-7910

Nayarit:                       (311) 129-6000

Medical Emergencies

There are public and private medical systems in Mexico. Mexican citizens receive free emergency and non-emergency medical care through the public system. In rural areas, public health facilities are often the only option, and the level of care can be substantially lower than that in major cities. Contact public emergency medical service by dialing 911. In major cities, ambulance response time is typically 10-15 minutes, depending on the location.

Most visitors and relatively wealthy Mexicans choose private health care services. All major cities have private hospitals and private ambulance services.

For medical assistance, refer to the Consulate’s Medical Assistance page.

Available Air Ambulance Services

Airlink, 3629-8700 (in Puerta de Hierro), 01-800-024-8600, http://www.airlinkambulance.com

Most private hospitals and emergency services require payment or adequate guarantee of payment before providing services.

Country-specific Vaccination and Health Guidance

The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and health guidance for Mexico.

OSAC Country Council Information

The Guadalajara Country Council meets quarterly during the year. Interested private-sector security managers should contact OSAC’s Western Hemisphere team with any questions.

U.S. Consulate Location and Contact Information

Consulate Address and Hours of Operation

The U.S. Consulate is located at Progreso 175, Colonia Americana, Guadalajara, Jalisco.

Consulate Contact Numbers

Consulate main number: (33) 3268-2100 or (33) 3268-2200

Consulate after-hours: (33) 3137-2833

Consular officers are available for emergency assistance 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.

Regional Security Office Duty Agent: (33) 31895-7414

Website: http://guadalajara.usconsulate.gov/

U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico

Embassy Mexico City: https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/embassy/

Consulate Ciudad Juárez: https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/ciudad-juarez/

Consulate Hermosillo: https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/hermosillo/

Consulate Matamoros: https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/matamoros/

Consulate Mérida: https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/merida/

Consulate Monterrey: https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/monterrey/

Consulate Nogales: https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/nogales-2/

Consulate Nuevo Laredo: https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/nuevo-laredo/

Consulate Tijuana: https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/tijuana/

Consulate Guidance

All U.S. citizen travelers should register with the nearest U.S. Consulate through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

Additional Resource: Mexico Country Information Sheet