It contains new information in the Summary and under Safety and security: Civil unrest / Political tension (Presidential elections will be held in Mexico on 1 July 2012). We continue to advise Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in Mexico overall because of high levels of violent crime and drug-related violence.
Since 2008, Mexico has experienced a dramatic increase in drug-related hawaii vacation rentals violence. Violent hawaii vacation rentals crimes related to the drug trade, including murders, hawaii vacation rentals kidnappings and carjackings, have become widespread. Shoot-outs, grenade attacks and car bombings have occurred in public places, and targeted attacks on military personnel, government officials and journalists have increased. Travellers may become victims of violence directed against hawaii vacation rentals others.
The areas most affected by drug-related violence are the northern border states (Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas), the states along the Pacific coast (Durango, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit and Sinaloa) and the state of Veracruz on the Gulf coast. Major cities hawaii vacation rentals along Mexico s border with the United States, including Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez (see below), Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros, Nogales, Monterrey, Piedras Negras and Reynosa, hawaii vacation rentals have been particularly affected.
The hurricane season is June to November when landslides, mudslides and flooding hawaii vacation rentals may occur. In the event of a hurricane, monitor local media reports and follow the instructions of local emergency officials. See the Natural disasters, severe weather and climate section for detailed advice.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate hawaii vacation rentals of Mexico for the most up-to-date information.
Children (under 18) travelling with one parent, regardless of their nationality, are required to present a notarised, written consent of the non-travelling parent to enter Mexico. Australians travelling with children are advised to contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Mexico for further hawaii vacation rentals information
If you are travelling to Mexico through the United States of America (USA), hawaii vacation rentals or if you are transiting in Honolulu or other USA points of entry, you are required to meet USA entry/transit requirements. Make sure you check with your nearest US Embassy or Consulate your visa requirements well in advance of your travel. You should also read our travel advice for the United States of America . For information about some recent changes to United States border entry procedures, including the use of Emergency hawaii vacation rentals Passports and Documents of Identity, please hawaii vacation rentals see our travel bulletin on entry into the United States .
Visitors crossing by land at the US/Mexico border should hawaii vacation rentals ensure they obtain a tourist card on arrival to Mexico from the closest National Institute of Migration (Instituto Nacional de Migracion) to the land border crossing. All tourists are required to have their passport stamped for entry into Mexico. This will help to avoid problems if the passport is checked by authorities at a later stage during travel in Mexico, and will also ensure that no fine is payable on departure.
Australians travelling to Mexico for work should ensure that they have a copy of all correspondence relating to work permits between their employer and Mexican immigration authorities. This is particularly important when the prospective employer is arranging the work permit.
Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. hawaii vacation rentals You should carry copies hawaii vacation rentals of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.
Protests, demonstrations hawaii vacation rentals and strikes hawaii vacation rentals are common in Mexico. They have the potential to cause major traffic congestion and restrict movement around hawaii vacation rentals the affected areas. You should avoid all large public gatherings, protests and demonstrations as they may turn violent. Participation in demonstrations by foreigners is prohibited. Travellers should monitor hawaii vacation rentals the local media for developments and follow the advice of local authorities.
Armed rebel and civilian groups are present hawaii vacation rentals in the state of Chiapas, particularly in remote areas, including jungle areas near the Guatemalan border. If you travel to Chiapas, you should remain in well-frequented tourist areas and familiarise yourself with the local security situation.
We advise you to exercise a high degree hawaii vacation rentals of caution in Mexico because of high levels of violent crime and drug-related violence. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
Violent crime, including murder, armed robbery, sexual assault and kidnapping, occurs in Mexico, including in popular tourist destinations and beach resorts, and the risks increase after dark. Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and bag snatching, is prevalent in popular tourist destinations, airports, hotels, bus stations and on the metro in Mexico City.
'Express kidnappings', where victims hawaii vacation rentals are forced to withdraw funds from ATMs to secure their release, continue to increase, particularly in urban areas. People travelling on the metro in Mexico City have been among those targeted. The use of ATMs located inside shopping malls during daylight hours may reduce the risk.
It is increasingly common for extortionists to call prospective victims by telephone, often posing as law enforcement hawaii vacation rentals or other officials, and demand payments in return for the release of an allegedly arrested family member. This is known as virtual kidnapping . Avoid divulging personal information to strangers over the phone and if you receive such calls you should contact local police.
Thieves often work in cooperation with or pose as taxi drivers. Travellers have been robbed when using taxis hailed from the street. You should only use radio-despatched taxis or taxis based at designated stands (sitios), particularly in Mexico hawaii vacation rentals City. Use only official taxis from airports after pre-paying the fare inside the terminal building. Official taxi company booths are located in the arrivals hall at airport terminals.
There have been a number of incidents involving travellers changing money at Mexico City airport. Gangs are known to have arranged attacks on travellers at the airport after they have changed money. You should avoid changing money at the airport if possible or change only small amounts to avoid attracting attention.
Crime levels on inter-city buses and on highways are high, and the risks increase after dark. It is recommended travellers use first class buses and travel during daylight hours. There have been a number of reported robberies of tourists travelling hawaii vacation rentals by bus along the Pacific Highway, including from Acapulco to Ixtapa and Huatulco.
Using toll (cuota) roads may reduce the risk of crime when driving, but you should remain vigilant, particularly when travelling on toll roads in Sonora, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and border regions as tourists have been attacked on highways in these areas. Avoid driving at night outside hawaii vacation rentals of major cities, including on major highways. Incidents of violent car-jackings have increased significantly, particularly in northern border areas, but also along the Pacific coast. On occasions these attacks have been carried out by heavily armed gangs posing as police officers.
hawaii vacation rentals Drug-related Violence : Since 2008, Mexico hawaii vacation rentals has experienced a dramatic increase in drug-related violence. Violent crimes related to the drug trade, including murders, kidnappings hawaii vacation rentals and carjackings, have become widespread. Shoot-outs, grenade attacks and car bombings have occurred in public places, and targeted attacks on military personnel, government officials and journalists have increased. Travellers may become victims of violence directed against others.
The areas most affected are the northern border states (Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas), the states along the Pacific coast (Durango, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit and Sinaloa) and the state of Veracruz on the Gulf coast. Major cities along Mexico s border with the United States, including Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez (see below), Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros, Nogales, Monterrey, Piedras Negras and Reynosa, have been particularly affected.
There has been a significant increase in drug-related violence in Monterrey (Nuevo Leon) in 2010 and 2011. Shoot-outs at busy intersections and in restaurants have taken place. hawaii vacation rentals Drug cartels have erected roadblocks without warning. Gunfire has been heard throughout the city at irregular intervals and grenade attacks, car-jacking and kidnappings have occurred in Monterrey and the surrounding areas. Violent incidents continue to occur on a regular basis, including shootings in bars and public places.
The level of drug-related violence in Acapulco (Guerrero) continues to grow. Incidents have included shoot-outs and murders in public places. While the violence has not been directed at foreigners, it has taken place in tourist areas, including in the beach and oceanfront boulevard zone, and on highways in and out of Acapulco.
Drug-related violence has increased in the state of Veracruz. In September 2011, 35 bodies were dumped on a highway in Veracruz near a tourist destination. Guadalajara has also experienced increased drug-related violence.
Increased levels hawaii vacation rentals of drug-related violence have been reported in Zacatecas, particularly in the remote north-western region of the state, where robberies, car-jackings and violent crime are occurring with increased frequency.
Other cities affected hawaii vacation rentals by drug-related violence include popular tourist destinations such as Zihuatenejo, Cuernavaca, Mazatlan and the area around the Copper Canyon. Violent attacks on public bars took place in Puerto Vallarta and Cancun in August 2010.
Travellers should be prepared for roadblocks and random vehicle checks by the police or military. Drug cartels also set up roadblocks on roads in the northern areas of Mexico
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