{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/mexico/puerto-vallarta","updatedAt":"2026-07-28T01:44:19.850Z","place":{"city":"Puerto Vallarta","country":"Mexico","countryCode":"MX","lat":20.6407176,"lon":-105.220306},"safety":{"score":46,"level":"CAUTION","answer":"Caution advised","saferThanPctOfCountries":35,"confidence":0.97,"caps":[{"max":46,"reason":"Homicide rate 25/100k"}],"databaseScore":46,"travellerSentiment":{"score":63,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Recent traveler reports indicate most visitors feel safe during daylight hours in tourist areas, though some express unease after dark or when venturing beyond the Zona Hotelera due to sporadic crime reports.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":68,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":58,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":47,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":63,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":57,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":76,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":3,"label":"Advises against all-but-essential travel to parts","updated":"2026-07-23T16:13:10Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mexico"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-07-27T09:23:27.0298079-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/mexico"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":24.8589948436701,"display":"24.9 / 100k","year":"2023","score":21,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":12.3,"display":"12.3%","year":"2010","score":69,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0.09094567587415847,"display":"0.09 / million","year":"2021","score":93,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":12,"display":"12.0 / 100k","year":"2021","score":60,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":53.6732923,"display":"54/100","year":"2024","score":54,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":37.1058908,"display":"37/100","year":"2024","score":37,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":28.8100291,"display":"29/100","year":"2024","score":29,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":47.0640988,"display":"47/100","year":"2024","score":47,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":51.7749322,"display":"52/100","year":"2024","score":52,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":50.9282349,"display":"51/100","year":"2024","score":51,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":34.21,"display":"34.2 / 100 · city-level","year":null,"score":73,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":41.3,"display":"41.3%","year":"2024","score":37,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"violence_victimization","label":"Physical assault (past year)","value":6.1,"display":"6.1%","year":"2024","score":72,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"sexual_violence","label":"Sexual violence (past year)","value":1.6,"display":"1.6%","year":"2024","score":81,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.06,"display":"0.06 / 100k","year":"2024","score":91,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":13.96,"display":"14.0%","year":"2023","score":69,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":1,"display":"1 notice · max Watch","year":null,"score":84,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":16,"display":"16 within 15 km · nearest ~0.6 km","year":null,"score":95,"source":"OpenStreetMap"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":35,"display":"July: highs ~35°C · high heat, wet spell","year":null,"score":72,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · 3 quakes ≥M4.5 past yr","year":null,"score":86,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)","year":null,"score":72,"source":"Government of Canada"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Watch","title":"Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Mexico","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/rmsf-mexico"},{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — Puerto Vallarta remains generally safe for visitors who exercise caution, though petty crime and isolated cartel-related incidents require vigilance.","summary":"The city's safety profile reflects moderate crime risks balanced by strong healthcare access and low terrorism threat. While the homicide rate is elevated nationally, most violence is cartel-on-cartel and not directed at tourists. Visitors report feeling safe in tourist zones, but petty theft and scams persist in crowded areas.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Armed robbery risk is low in tourist zones but increases after dark in isolated areas; avoid walking alone on beaches or side streets at night."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"High","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are common on the Malecón, in Old Town crowds, and on public buses; keep bags zipped and front-facing."},"safeAreas":["Marina Vallarta","Zona Romántica"],"avoidAreas":["Playa de Oro (outskirts)","Barrio Nuevo (port vicinity after dark)"],"scams":["Timeshare pressure sales in hotel zones and beaches","Fake taxi drivers overcharging or taking tourists to isolated areas","Bar tab inflation and drink spiking in Zona Romantica nightlife"],"zones":[{"name":"Zona Romántica","level":"caution","note":"Popular nightlife area; generally safe in daylight but pickpocketing and opportunistic theft increase after dark"},{"name":"Marina Vallarta","level":"safe","note":"Quiet resort zone with low foot traffic at night; minimal petty crime and strong hotel security presence"},{"name":"El Centro","level":"caution","note":"Historic downtown; safe during daytime commerce but avoid poorly lit streets after sunset"},{"name":"Barrio Nuevo","level":"caution","note":"Residential area near port; safe for locals but tourists should stay alert to petty theft near markets"},{"name":"Playa de Oro","level":"avoid","note":"Outskirts with limited services and sparse police presence; avoid after dark due to isolated theft reports"}]}}