Jalisco is Mexico's cultural heartland, birthplace of tequila, mariachi music, and the Mexican hat dance. Home to the vibrant metropolis of Guadalajara and the Pacific resort city of Puerto Vallarta, it offers a stunning blend of colonial heritage, indigenous traditions, and natural beauty.
Jalisco's major tourist areas — Guadalajara's city center, Puerto Vallarta, and Lake Chapala — are generally safe and welcoming for tourists. Exercise normal urban precautions: be aware of your surroundings, avoid displaying valuables, and use reputable transport.
Current safety advisory
Moderate
The US State Department rates Jalisco at Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) due to crime and kidnapping concerns in certain areas. However, the major tourist destinations — Guadalajara metropolitan area, Puerto Vallarta, and Lake Chapala — have no current travel restrictions and are visited by millions of tourists annually without incident. Avoid border areas with Michoacán and certain rural highways.
Last updated: 2025-01
Official advisories
Guidance from national travel-advisory services.
Level 3 - Reconsider Travel
Crime and kidnapping are concerns in parts of Jalisco. The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in certain areas. Tourist areas including Guadalajara metro, Puerto Vallarta, and Lake Chapala have no travel restrictions.
Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased caution in Jalisco due to the threat of organized crime and violent crime in some areas. Exercise normal precautions in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and Lake Chapala.
Essential safety tips
Practical advice that applies everywhere.
Stay within tourist-designated safe zones: Guadalajara's historic center, Colonia Americana, Tlaquepaque, Tonalá; Puerto Vallarta's Malecón, Zona Romántica, Marina; and Lake Chapala's Chapala and Ajijic towns
Use Uber or Didi exclusively instead of hailing taxis on the street — share your ride details with someone you trust
Do not travel at night on rural highways in Jalisco, especially near the Michoacán border or in the Sierra Madre Occidental
Avoid Federal Highway 110 near the Jalisco-Michoacán border and Highway 80 south of Cocula as per US State Department advisories
Keep a low profile with valuables — leave expensive jewelry, watches, and electronics at your hotel when sightseeing
Use ATMs inside bank branches during daylight hours; avoid standalone ATMs on the street, especially at night
Book accommodation in verified establishments through reputable platforms — check reviews and location carefully
Drink only bottled or purified water — tap water is not potable in most of Jalisco
Use sunscreen and stay hydrated, especially during April-September when temperatures and UV levels are extreme
Keep copies of your passport, travel insurance policy, and emergency contacts in a separate location from originals
Register with your country's embassy or consulate before traveling — US travelers use the STEP program at step.state.gov
Be aware of common tourist scams: distraction theft in crowded markets, fake police officers requesting ID checks, inflated menus at tourist restaurants
Puerto Vallarta's Zona Romántica is LGBTQ+ friendly and generally very safe; same-sex displays of affection are well-accepted
In Guadalajara, stick to Uber at night and travel in groups after 11PM; certain peripheral areas should be avoided after dark
Do not purchase or consume illegal drugs — drug trafficking organizations operate in Jalisco and tourist involvement in drug activity creates serious safety risks
Purchase comprehensive travel insurance covering medical evacuation before arriving in Jalisco
Common scams to avoid
Recognise and sidestep tourist-targeted scams.
Fake Police Officers
Individuals posing as plain-clothes police officers who ask to 'check' your wallet or ID and then steal your cash
How to avoid: Always ask for official identification and insist on going to the nearest police station. Call 911 if confronted.
Taxi Overcharging
Unlicensed or opportunistic taxi drivers charging tourists 3-5x normal fares, especially from airports and tourist areas
How to avoid: Use Uber or Didi exclusively. If using a taxi, always agree on the fare before entering or request a metered taxi.
Market Distraction Theft
Working in pairs, one person distracts you (spills something, asks for directions) while the other picks your pocket in crowded markets like Mercado Libertad
How to avoid: Keep your bag in front of you and be extra vigilant in crowded market areas.
ATM Skimming
Card-skimming devices attached to ATMs in tourist areas capture card details and PINs
How to avoid: Use ATMs inside bank branches during business hours. Cover the keypad when entering your PIN. Monitor your accounts.
Inflated Tourist Restaurant Bills
Some restaurants near major attractions on the Malecón or Cathedral add unauthorized charges to bills
How to avoid: Review your bill carefully. Ask for an itemized receipt. Know typical prices before dining.
Timeshare Pressure Sales
Free breakfast or tour offers in Puerto Vallarta that lead to high-pressure timeshare presentations lasting several hours
How to avoid: Politely decline 'free gift' offers from promoters on the Malecón and beach areas.
Health considerations
Staying healthy on your trip.
- Vaccinations
- No mandatory vaccinations for Jalisco. Recommended: Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus. Consider Hepatitis B for longer stays. Malaria risk is low in tourist areas but consult a travel medicine clinic for remote destinations.
- Water
- Tap water is NOT safe to drink in Jalisco. Use only bottled or purified water for drinking, brushing teeth, and making ice. Hotels provide purified water dispensers. Street ice at reputable restaurants is generally made from purified water.
- Food
- Street food from busy, high-turnover stalls is generally safe. Peel fruit yourself. Avoid raw vegetables washed in tap water at budget restaurants. Cooked food served hot is safest.
- Facilities
- Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta have excellent private hospitals (Hospital Civil de Guadalajara, Hospital del Carmen, Amerimed Puerto Vallarta) with English-speaking staff. Travel insurance with evacuation coverage essential for remote areas.
Safety for specific travellers
Tailored advice for different groups.
Solo travellers
Solo travelers, including solo women, visit Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta regularly without serious incident. Stay in well-reviewed hostels or hotels, use Uber at night, join group tours for outlying areas, and share your itinerary with someone at home. Puerto Vallarta's Zona Romántica is particularly safe and welcoming for solo travelers.
Female travellers
Women traveling solo in Jalisco's tourist areas can generally do so safely with standard precautions. Avoid walking alone at night in unfamiliar areas, use Uber instead of street taxis, dress modestly outside beach resort areas to avoid unwanted attention, and trust your instincts. The LGBTQ+-friendly Zona Romántica in Puerto Vallarta is particularly safe for solo women.
Families
Jalisco is a very family-friendly destination. Guadalajara's parks, zoo, and markets are excellent for children. Puerto Vallarta's protected bay waters are safe for swimming. Lake Chapala is calm and peaceful. Keep children close in crowded markets. Medical facilities in both cities are good.
LGBTQ+ travellers
Same-sex marriage is legal in Jalisco and Mexico City. Puerto Vallarta is one of Latin America's most LGBTQ+-friendly destinations with a dedicated Zona Romántica neighborhood, Pride events, and open acceptance. Guadalajara has a smaller but growing gay scene in Colonia Americana. Exercise more discretion in smaller Jalisco towns and rural areas.
Emergency contacts
Numbers to know before you go.
- Police
- 911
- Medical
- 911 or IMSS/ISSSTE for public hospitals; private hospital emergency lines
- Embassy
- US Embassy Mexico City: +52 55 5080-2000; US Consulate Guadalajara: +52 33 3268-2100; Canadian Embassy Mexico City: +52 55 5724-7900
- Tourist Police
- Guadalajara Tourist Police (Policía Turística): 33 3668-0800; Puerto Vallarta Tourist Police: 322 224-0000