Exercise Increased Caution
“Exercise increased caution in Mexico due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. Advisory summary Many violent crimes take place in Mexico.”
Updated Tue, 12 Aug 2025
Full advisory →Mexico · Safety report last updated
As of July 2026, Mozambique scores 46/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: caution advised. Mozambique is a moderately safe destination for travelers, but requires a high degree of caution and awareness. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (moderate risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Mexico · Assessed 28 July 2026
46
/ 100
Safer than ~35% of countries
Score capped at 46 — Homicide rate 25/100k. No other indicator can raise the score above this.
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
Exercise Increased Caution
“Exercise increased caution in Mexico due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. Advisory summary Many violent crimes take place in Mexico.”
Updated Tue, 12 Aug 2025
Full advisory →Advises against all-but-essential travel to parts
“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 2026-07-23T16:13:10Z
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 2026-07-27T09:23:27.0298079-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
ModerateMuggings and robberies occur, with women advised to avoid walking alone on beaches due to increased attacks.
Pickpocketing
ModerateOpportunistic theft is a risk, particularly at airports where security personnel have been implicated.
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Cautiously optimistic
65/100
While the dossier indicates general friendliness, traveler reports suggest a need for vigilance, particularly concerning police interactions and safety on beaches.
Mozambique is a moderately safe destination for travelers, but requires a high degree of caution and awareness.
While the country generally experiences less hassle than some neighbors, visitors should be aware of risks including petty crime, corruption, and the impact of recent natural disasters. Police interactions can be problematic, and women should exercise particular caution on beaches.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Mozambique presents a mixed safety profile for travelers, warranting a verdict of "moderately safe" with a strong emphasis on caution. While the country is known for its warm and friendly people, and generally experiences less hassle than some of its neighbors, significant risks exist that visitors must be aware of. The composite safety index of 46/100, coupled with a homicide rate of 24.9/100k, indicates a level of crime that requires vigilance.
On the ground, travelers should be particularly mindful of petty crime and potential corruption. The dossier highlights that police may attempt to extort money, and advises against trusting them implicitly. It is recommended to always ask for receipts and mention contacting one's embassy. Opportunistic theft, especially at airports, is also a concern, with reports of security personnel pilfering belongings. Women, in particular, should exercise extreme caution on beaches, as attacks have increased in tourist areas, and it is strongly advised never to walk alone.
Recent developments underscore the need for situational awareness. As of July 2026, Mozambique is still recovering from severe flooding that occurred during the 2025/26 rainy season, which caused widespread damage to infrastructure and temporary access disruptions in several provinces. While emergency response has stabilized the situation, recovery is ongoing. Furthermore, there have been reports of Mozambique actively fighting drugs and cartels, with police thwarting attempts by groups like the Sinaloa Cartel to establish a presence. These factors suggest a complex security environment that requires travelers to stay informed about local conditions.
To stay safe in Mozambique, travelers should adopt a cautious approach. This includes minimizing cash on hand, utilizing travel cards, and being prepared for potential police encounters by knowing how to respond assertively and politely. Staying informed about local news and advisories, especially regarding areas affected by recent natural disasters or any reported cartel activity, is crucial. Finally, heeding specific advice, such as avoiding walking alone on beaches, is essential for personal safety.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 6 Mozambique districts for visitors: 1 safer, 3 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Mozambique safety map.
TijuanaavoidOfficial advisories recommend against all but essential travel due to high levels of violence and organized crime.
Chiapas (State, excluding Palenque, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, San Cristóbal)avoidOfficial advisories recommend avoiding non-essential travel due to high levels of violence and organized crime.
Cancun (Hotel Zone)cautionGenerally safe for tourists, but be aware of petty crime and scams, especially at night.
Mexico City (Centro Histórico)cautionHigh tourist traffic means increased risk of pickpocketing and scams; exercise vigilance.
Guanajuato (State)cautionOfficial advisories recommend increased caution due to organized crime, with specific areas to avoid.
Yucatán (State)saferGenerally considered safe with 'Exercise Normal Precautions' advisory level.
07 · After Dark
41% of people in Mexico say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2024).
Muggings and robberies occur, with women advised to avoid walking alone on beaches due to increased attacks.
After dark, be most careful around Tijuana, Chiapas (State, excluding Palenque, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, San Cristóbal), Cancun (Hotel Zone), Mexico City (Centro Histórico). Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Trip Profiles
Who's travelling changes which risks matter. These re-weight Mozambique's category data for common trip types — same data, different emphasis. Run your own profile from the interactive checker.
09 · Questions
Mozambique is a moderately safe destination for travelers, but requires a high degree of caution and awareness. While the country generally experiences less hassle than some neighbors, visitors should be aware of risks including petty crime, corruption, and the impact of recent natural disasters. Police interactions can be problematic, and women should exercise particular caution on beaches. (Assessed 28 July 2026.)
Field research flags Tijuana, Chiapas (State, excluding Palenque, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, San Cristóbal) as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
Mozambique ranks #1 of 9 Mexico destinations we've assessed, scoring 46/100. See the Mexico safety overview for the full list.
The score blends 12+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry 82% of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries 18%. Full methodology.
Browse the Mexico safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: mozambique.json (CC BY 4.0).