Chihuahua is Mexico's largest state, a vast expanse of high desert, pine-covered sierra, and one of the world's great canyon systems. It is home to the Copper Canyon (Barranca del Cobre), a network of gorges deeper and larger than the Grand Canyon, crossed by the legendary El Chepe railway. The state blends Rarámuri indigenous culture, Mennonite farming communities, and the ranching and revolutionary history of Pancho Villa's home city, Chihuahua City.
Chihuahua state carries a US State Department Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory (as of 2026) due to crime, kidnapping, and cartel activity, making it a materially higher-risk destination than most of central and southern Mexico. Risk is concentrated in Ciudad Juárez, rural highways, and areas near the Sinaloa border rather than evenly spread across the state. The established Copper Canyon tourist corridor - Chihuahua City, the El Chepe train, Creel, and Divisadero - sees regular international visitors with a good safety record when travelers stick to daylight travel, organized transport, and known routes, but this is not a low-risk destination and requires real precaution, not a checklist afterthought.
Current safety advisory
High_caution
Essential safety tips
Practical advice that applies everywhere.
The US State Department rates Chihuahua state at Level 3: Reconsider Travel (as of the 2026 Mexico Travel Advisory), citing crime and kidnapping; this is one notch below the Level 4 Do Not Travel rating applied to a handful of Mexican states, but well above the baseline Level 2 given to the country overall
Risk is highly uneven across the state: Chihuahua City's historic center, Divisadero, Creel, and the El Chepe rail corridor through the Copper Canyon (Barrancas del Cobre) see regular, largely trouble-free tourist traffic, while Ciudad Juárez, rural highways, and areas near the Sinaloa/Sonora border have significantly higher cartel-related violence
US government employees are restricted from traveling to large parts of Chihuahua state outside a handful of designated cities and the direct highway/rail corridors between them; travelers should treat this restricted-zone map as a strong proxy for areas to avoid
Stick to the established Copper Canyon tourist routes - the El Chepe train (Chihuahua Pacifico railway), Creel, Divisadero, and organized day tours - rather than independent driving into remote canyon settlements or Sinaloa-bordering backcountry
Avoid driving on rural Chihuahua highways after dark, including routes to Batopilas, Urique, and the Sinaloa border zone; cartel checkpoints and armed robbery of vehicles have been reported on isolated stretches
Ciudad Juárez carries materially higher risk than the rest of the state due to cartel turf conflicts and kidnapping of US citizens; travelers whose plans do not require crossing there should route through Chihuahua City instead
Register with the US Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) before visiting so the embassy/consulate can reach travelers in an emergency or evacuation scenario
Kidnapping (including express kidnapping for ATM withdrawals) and carjacking are the advisory's specific named risks; avoid displaying wealth, use hotel safes, and take only official taxis or app-based rides booked from inside a business
Turf battles between criminal groups have occasionally spilled into restaurants and shopping centers used by tourists; check current local conditions and avoid areas with recent reported incidents before visiting
Common scams to avoid
Recognise and sidestep tourist-targeted scams.
Fake or unofficial Copper Canyon tour operators
Unlicensed operators near the Chihuahua bus/train stations and in Creel offer canyon tours, transport, or lodging at attractive prices but deliver unsafe vehicles, unlicensed guides, or no service at all
How to avoid: Book El Chepe tickets directly through chepe.mx or authorized agents, and use tour operators recommended by established Creel or Chihuahua City hotels with a verifiable physical office
ATM/express kidnapping risk
In higher-risk areas, criminals have forced victims to withdraw cash from ATMs repeatedly over a short period (express kidnapping)
How to avoid: Use ATMs inside banks or hotels during daylight, avoid isolated street-side machines at night, and limit the cash carried at any one time
Overpriced or unofficial taxis at the Chihuahua airport and bus terminal
Unregistered drivers approach arriving travelers with inflated flat fares or unmarked vehicles
How to avoid: Use the airport's official taxi counter (sitio autorizado), pre-book through a hotel, or use a reputable app-based ride service where available
Currency exchange shortchanging
Informal money changers near the Ciudad Juárez border and bus stations sometimes shortchange travelers or use rigged calculations
How to avoid: Exchange money at a licensed casa de cambio or bank in Chihuahua City, and count change before walking away
Health considerations
Staying healthy on your trip.
- Vaccinations
- No special vaccinations are required; routine vaccines should be current, and hepatitis A/typhoid are sometimes recommended for travelers eating widely from markets and street stalls
- Water
- Tap water is not recommended for drinking; use bottled or purified water, including for brushing teeth, and avoid ice from unknown sources outside established hotels and restaurants
- Food
- Street food in Chihuahua City is generally safe from busy, high-turnover stalls; choose vendors with visible crowds and hot, freshly cooked food, and be more cautious with raw produce and unpasteurized dairy in rural areas
- Facilities
- Chihuahua City has good private hospitals (Hospital Star Médica, Hospital Angeles) with English-speaking staff at some facilities; medical care in Creel and rural Copper Canyon towns is very limited, so serious injuries there require evacuation to Chihuahua City
Safety for specific travellers
Tailored advice for different groups.
Emergency contacts
Numbers to know before you go.
- Police
- 911 (national emergency number) or 089 (anonymous crime reporting)
- Medical
- 911
- Fire
- 911
- Tourist Assistance
- 078 (Mexico tourist assistance hotline, some English support)
- General Emergency
- 911 (works nationwide from any phone)
- Main Hospital
- Hospital Star Médica Chihuahua, Av. Universidad 2701, Chihuahua City
- Embassy Us
- US Consulate General Ciudad Juárez: +52 (656) 227-3000; US Citizen Services: +52 656-344-3032 or 1-844-528-6611 from the US; email CDJSCS@state.gov
- Embassy Us Capital
- US Embassy Mexico City (main): +52 55 5080-2000