Exercise Increased Caution
“Exercise increased cautionin Mexico due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk.”
Updated Fri, 29 May 2026
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Is Colima safe? 🇲🇽
Mexico · Safety report last updated
As of October 2026, Colima scores 53/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: mostly — take normal precautions. No. Colima city carries high robbery risk and moderate pickpocketing threat, requiring strict precautions for visitors. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (high risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Colima 🇲🇽
Mexico · Assessed 20 October 2026
53
/ 100
What drives this score
Crime51/100CautionCrime index 52.7 / 100
Sentiment45/100CautionMostly negative
Advisories75Good
Stability57Fair
Health75Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Good
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel State of Baja California FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the city of Tijuana, except: airside transit through Tijuana airport the Cross Border Xpress bridge from the airport linking terminals across the Mexican-US border the federal toll road 1D and Via Rápida through Tijuana to the border FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the city of Tecate in Baja California, including roads between Tijuana and Tecate.”
Updated 2026-10-16T15:29:42Z
Full advisory →Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)
“Canada's official risk level for Mexico: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).”
Updated 2026-10-19T10:54:39.6475223-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Caution
Urban scale factor
147k residents
85
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
24.9 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3Mexico24.9South Africa43.7
21
Robbery / mugging
HighArmed robbery and mugging risk is high, particularly in isolated areas and after dark; criminal groups contesting port routes increase violence.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in crowded areas like markets, bus stations, and tourist zones; remain vigilant with belongings.
▸ 4 more indicators▾ Hide extra indicators
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Fair
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Caution
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly negative
45/100
Reported feel41Mostly negative
Robbery risk34High risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk
Only 41.3% of residents feel safe walking alone after dark, indicating low day-to-day safety perception for visitors; recent violence contributes to traveler unease.
No. Colima city carries high robbery risk and moderate pickpocketing threat, requiring strict precautions for visitors.
Colima city has a homicide rate of 24.9 per 100k and official advisories warn of crime and kidnapping; the U.S. State Department rates Colima state Level 4 (Do Not Travel) with limited exceptions for Manzanillo tourist zones, while the city itself sees concentrated violence around criminal group activity. Visitors report feeling unsafe walking alone after dark, with only 41.3% feeling safe, and recent incidents include the February 2026 murder of two relatives of Mexico’s education secretary in Colima city.
Recent developments
- Feb 2026Two close relatives of Mexico’s education secretary were murdered in their home in Colima city— Mexico News Daily
- Feb 2026Mexico on alert after the fall of El Mencho, triggering unrest and violence in parts of the state— EL PAÍS English
Common scams
- Fake police officers demanding fines for minor infractions
- Unlicensed taxi drivers overcharging or taking passengers to isolated areas
Full briefing
Colima city faces significant safety challenges driven by organized crime and drug cartel activity, particularly around the Manzanillo port and rural corridors. The February 2026 murder of two relatives of Mexico’s education secretary in Colima city underscores the volatility, while unrest following the fall of El Mencho has heightened tensions. Visitors should avoid rural areas and night travel, sticking to approved tourist zones in Manzanillo and using official transport. Pickpocketing is a concern in crowded spots like markets, but armed robbery poses a greater threat, especially after dark. Only 41.3% of residents feel safe walking alone at night, reflecting widespread unease. Register with STEP, conceal valuables, and remain alert in transit hubs to reduce risk.
Was this Colima, Mexico report helpful?
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Colima districts for visitors: 3 safer, 3 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Colima safety map.
TecománavoidHigh crime and cartel activity; not recommended for travelers.
CoquimatlánavoidRural municipality with frequent violent incidents; avoid all non-essential travel.
Centro HistóricocautionPetty theft and pickpocketing common; avoid walking alone after dark.
Manzanillo (hotel zone and Malecón)cautionTourist area open but restricted to approved zones; avoid rural outskirts and night travel.
Villa de ÁlvarezcautionAdjacent to Colima City; exercise caution due to sporadic theft and assault reports.
Jardín LibertadsaferWell-patrolled central plaza; safe during day and early evening.
ComalasaferPueblo Mágico with low crime; popular with tourists and well-monitored.
Las Hadas/Santiago PeninsulasaferApproved tourist zone in Manzanillo; secure resorts and monitored access.
07 · After Dark
Is Colima safe at night?
41% of people in Mexico say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2024).
Armed robbery and mugging risk is high, particularly in isolated areas and after dark; criminal groups contesting port routes increase violence.
After dark, be most careful around Tecomán, Coquimatlán, Centro Histórico, Manzanillo (hotel zone and Malecón). Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Colima safety FAQ (2026)
Is Colima safe right now (2026)?
No. Colima city carries high robbery risk and moderate pickpocketing threat, requiring strict precautions for visitors. Colima city has a homicide rate of 24.9 per 100k and official advisories warn of crime and kidnapping; the U.S. State Department rates Colima state Level 4 (Do Not Travel) with limited exceptions for Manzanillo tourist zones, while the city itself sees concentrated violence around criminal group activity. Visitors report feeling unsafe walking alone after dark, with only 41.3% feeling safe, and recent incidents include the February 2026 murder of two relatives of Mexico’s education secretary in Colima city. (Assessed 20 October 2026.)
Is Colima safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Colima report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Which areas of Colima should tourists avoid?
Field research flags Tecomán, Coquimatlán as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Colima (2026)?
- Fake police officers demanding fines for minor infractions
- Unlicensed taxi drivers overcharging or taking passengers to isolated areas
How does Colima compare with other places in Mexico (2026)?
Colima ranks #9 of 9 Mexico destinations we've assessed, scoring 53/100. See the Mexico safety overview for the full list.
How is this colima safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 13+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
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Raw data: colima.json (CC BY 4.0).