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U.S. Issues Travel Warning for Mexico Ahead of Spring Break

The warning is asking travelers to “travel smart” and “be informed."

us travel ban to mexico

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The United States is warning travelers heading to Mexico to be aware of their surroundings ahead of the spring break holiday season.

The warning , which was issued this week by the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico, reminds travelers to “travel smart” and “be informed” as “thousands of U.S. citizens visit Mexico during spring break” each year. The embassy continued that “while the vast majority travel safely,” visitors should be aware of issues with crime, drugs, unregulated alcohol, drownings, and more. 

“Crime, including violent crime, can occur anywhere in Mexico, including in popular tourist destinations. Travelers should maintain a high level of situational awareness, avoid areas where illicit activities occur, and promptly depart from potentially dangerous situations,” the embassy warned. “U.S. citizens should exercise increased caution in the downtown areas of popular spring break locations including Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, and Tulum, especially after dark.”

The warning also reminded American travelers that drug possession and use is illegal in Mexico, including medical marijuana. It also advised that unregulated alcohol may be contaminated, that counterfeit medication is common, and that guns are illegal in Mexico.

When it comes to the country’s popular beaches, the embassy reminded travelers some beaches may have strong rip tides and “may lack lifeguards, warnings, or signs of unsafe conditions.”

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico issued a similar spring break warning last year .

The U.S. Department of State classifies different states in Mexico under different warning levels. While travelers can “exercise normal precautions” when traveling to the Campeche and Yucatan states, the State Department warns them to “exercise increased caution” when heading to places like Baja California Sur (where Los Cabos is), Mexico City, and Quintana Roo (where Cancun is) due to crime.

The State Department also asks American travelers to “reconsider” going to the state of Jalisco, which is home to popular destination Puerto Vallarta , due to the danger of crime and kidnapping.

The State Department recommends Americans who do travel to Mexico keep people at home informed of their travel plans and enroll in the department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to both receive alerts and make it easier to locate them if an emergency occurs.

Travelers heading to international destinations can view all current travel advisories on the State Department's website at  travel.state.gov .

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The novel coronavirus, first detected at the end of 2019, has caused a global pandemic.

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The u.s. lifts the pandemic travel ban and opens the doors to international visitors.

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us travel ban to mexico

Passengers walk through Salt Lake City International Airport, Oct. 27, 2020. More than a year and a half after COVID-19 concerns prompted the U.S. to close its borders to international travelers from countries including Brazil, China, India, South Africa, the U.K. and much of Europe, restrictions are shifting to focus on vaccine status. Rick Bowmer/AP hide caption

Passengers walk through Salt Lake City International Airport, Oct. 27, 2020. More than a year and a half after COVID-19 concerns prompted the U.S. to close its borders to international travelers from countries including Brazil, China, India, South Africa, the U.K. and much of Europe, restrictions are shifting to focus on vaccine status.

The U.S. lifted restrictions Monday on travel from a long list of countries including Mexico, Canada and most of Europe, allowing tourists to make long-delayed trips and family members to reconnect with loved ones after more than a year and a half apart because of the pandemic.

Starting Monday, the U.S. is accepting fully vaccinated travelers at airports and land borders, doing away with a COVID-19 restriction that dates back to the Trump administration. The new rules allow air travel from previously restricted countries as long as the traveler has proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test. Land travel from Mexico and Canada will require proof of vaccination but no test.

Airlines are expecting more travelers from Europe and elsewhere. Data from travel and analytics firm Cirium showed airlines are increasing flights between the United Kingdom and the U.S. by 21% this month over last month.

The change will have a profound effect on the borders with Mexico and Canada, where traveling back and forth was a way of life until the pandemic hit and the U.S. shut down nonessential travel.

Malls, restaurants and Main Street shops in U.S. border towns have been devastated by the lack of visitors from Mexico. On the boundary with Canada, cross-border hockey rivalries were community traditions until being upended by the pandemic. Churches that had members on both sides of the border are hoping to welcome parishioners they haven't seen during COVID-19 shutdown.

Loved ones have missed holidays, birthdays and funerals while nonessential air travel was barred, and they are now eager to reconnect.

River Robinson's American partner wasn't able to be in Canada for the birth of their baby boy 17 months ago because of pandemic-related border closures. She was thrilled to hear the U.S. is reopening its land crossings to vaccinated travelers.

"I'm planning to take my baby down for the American Thanksgiving," said Robinson, who lives in St. Thomas, Ontario. "If all goes smoothly at the border I'll plan on taking him down as much as I can. Is crazy to think he has a whole other side of the family he hasn't even met yet."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. will accept travelers who have been fully vaccinated with any of the vaccines approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization, not just those in use in the U.S. That means that the AstraZeneca vaccine, widely used in Canada, will be accepted.

For air travelers, the airlines are required to verify vaccine records and match them against ID, and if they don't, they could face fines of up to nearly $35,000 per violation. Airlines will also collect information about passengers for contact tracing efforts. There will be CDC workers spot-checking travelers for compliance in the U.S. At land borders, Customs and Border Protection agents will check vaccine proof.

The moves come as the U.S. has seen its COVID-19 outlook improve dramatically in recent weeks since the summer delta surge that pushed hospitals to the brink in many locations.

US issues Mexico 'increased caution' warning for spring break travelers

Portrait of Nathan Diller

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico has issued a spring break travel warning for Americans planning to visit the country. The message posted on Monday highlighted a range of potential safety threats in the popular destination like crime.

“U.S. citizens should exercise increased caution in the downtown areas of popular spring break locations including Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, especially after dark,” the advisory said, though it noted that crime can occur anywhere in Mexico. The U.S. State Department's travel advisory for the country notes various warning levels for different states, ranging from Level 1 (“exercise normal precautions") through 4 (“do not travel”).

The message also warned of other potential hazards like unregulated alcohol and pharmaceuticals. “Unregulated alcohol may be contaminated, and U.S. citizens have reported losing consciousness or becoming injured after consuming alcohol that was possibly tainted,” the advisory said. 

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates noted that counterfeit medication is “common” and could be ineffective or an incorrect strength. Those products may also have dangerous ingredients. “Medication should be purchased in consultation with a medical professional and from reputable establishments,” the message said.

Why some travelers are skipping the US: 'You guys are not afraid of this?'

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The advisory warned of drowning and high private hospital prices, as well, among other risks. The message urged travelers to take precautions like keeping an eye on their drinks; staying with a group of friends in bars and clubs, while walking in dark areas or in taxis at night; and letting family and friends know about their travel plans.

Despite the warning, however, it noted that “the vast majority” of U.S. citizens visiting Mexico at spring break each year do so safely.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

Travel | Mexico danger map: Six states under ‘do not…

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Travel | the us is mailing americans covid tests again. here’s how to get them, travel | mexico danger map: six states under ‘do not travel’ warning.

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Amid announcements of new safety concerns in Mexico at the start of 2023, the official U.S. State Department travel advisories remained as they had been for several months, with six states in the “do not travel” classification.

The map above shows the advisory level for each Mexican state.

Level 4 : The six states with the “do not travel” advisory, because of kidnappings and other crimes, are the northern border state of Tamaulipas, the central state of Zacatecas and the Pacific coast states of Sinaloa, Colima, Michoacán and Guerrero.

Level 3 : The seven states for which visitors are advised to “reconsider travel” because of crime are Baja California (Norte), Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco and Morelos.

Level 2 : Except for the two Level 1 states, travelers to all the rest are advised to “exercise increased caution.” They are: Aguascalientes, Baja California Sur, Chiapas, Coahuila, Hidalgo, state of Mexico, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretara, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Tabasco, Tlaxcala and Veracruz. Mexico City (Distrito Federal) is Level 2.

Level 1: The State Department advises “normal precautions” when traveling to Campeche or Yucatán, shown in green.

In addition to the general tourist warnings, specific prohibitions are issued to U.S. government employees staying or traveling in Mexico. The State Department advises that all U.S. travelers adhere to those rules.

On Jan. 12, 2023, Mexico City’s mayor announced that more than 6,000 National Guard officers would be posted in the city’s subway system after a series of accidents that officials said could be due to sabotage. The previous week, in-person services were suspended at the U.S. Consular Agency in Mazatlán because of violence across Sinaloa .

Click here for the full document on the warnings.

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Heading to Mexico? These Are the COVID Restrictions in Place

Mexico Restrictions Guide Tulum Mayan Ruins

Considering a getaway south of the border? As we all inch back out there, Mexico certainly has appeal, thanks to its proximity to the United States and familiarity for American travelers—especially at a time when traveling abroad is still nebulous.

In fact, with most of Europe and many other destinations off the table as of late, some parts of Mexico saw an increase in American arrivals late last year when compared to the same time in 2019. According to the Washington Post , the state of Quintana Roo, which is home to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, saw a 23 percent rise in U.S. visitors. (The proof is in most of our Instagram feeds, as well.)

The government of Mexico is asking visitors to come, too. The country declared its tourism sector reopened on June 1, 2020. “Mexico has maintained its borders open through air travel to North American visitors with no need to quarantine,” according to the Mexican Embassy in the United States . “It is encouraged that people continue respecting social distancing measures, washing their hands, and coughing or sneezing in the inner part of the elbow to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

But there are some minor entry requirements in place for visitors, and a system for COVID-19 health restrictions on the ground that could greatly impact what you are able to enjoy on your trip. We've spelled them out below so you know what to expect. Remember, wherever you're headed, make sure to also do your homework on the wider situation on the ground—local case counts and hospital capacities, the sentiment towards visitors during the ongoing pandemic, if particular restaurants or site you want to visit are open—before you book a flight. 

Read on for our full list of Mexico COVID travel restrictions, by state. 

Mexico COVID travel: Entry and exit restrictions

Since March 21, 2020, Mexico’s northern border with the United States has been closed to all nonessential land crossings—and the closure has been renewed every month since. This means you cannot drive across the border to Mexico as a traveler; you will have to fly. Although air travel to tourism-dependent Mexico remains open to leisure travelers, who are permitted to visit without quarantining or testing negative for COVID-19, health checks have been implemented at Mexican airports. As always, Americans do not need a visa for stays of under 180 days. Air travelers are required to submit a mobile health questionnaire before they arrive in Mexico, and once it is completed travelers receive a QR code to be scanned by officials at their arrival airport for entry. Health measures at the airport may also include temperature checks. Public transportation in Mexico and public spaces where crowds may gather, including hotels and restaurants, require masks and social distancing (except when eating).

All travelers must test negative for COVID-19 to re-enter the United States. The U.S. Mission Mexico offers a list of private testing providers travelers can utilize if their hotel or resort does not offer on-site testing.

It’s also worth noting that the U.S. Department of State updated the travel advisory for Mexico to its highest, “Do Not Travel,” level on April 20 due to COVID-19. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also advises Americans to avoid international travel to Mexico due to COVID-19 levels. Data from the World Health Organization shows that the country has seen over 2.3 million confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 219,000 deaths, and about 20 million vaccine doses have been distributed in Mexico as of May 7.

What's open?

Varying levels of health restrictions, which are dependent on COVID-19 case rates in a given state, have been in place to varying degrees throughout Mexico since the beginning of the pandemic. The nation has implemented a stoplight-style alert system for its 32 states, assigning color-coded epidemiological statuses of green, yellow, orange, and red—with red carrying the highest restrictions. As of mid-May the most tourist-frequented states are yellow or orange, with less-visited areas in the green, or least-restrictive phase. The governor of the state of Quintana Roo, however, is warning that the area, which is home to Cancun, Tulum, Cozumel, and Playa del Carmen, is in danger of returning to red status, which implements stay-at-home orders and strict capacity limits on hotels and tourism sites. You can check the color assigned to each state on this interactive map , and read more about the country’s sanitary measures for reopening tourism here .

Here’s what each phase generally mandates:

Green: States in the green phase are largely open, with only social distancing and mask requirements in place for public places and at businesses.

Yellow: States designated as yellow have some reduced capacity requirements in place for public spaces that may become crowded: Hotel lobbies, restaurants, beaches, theaters, shops, and tourist attractions must operate at about 70 percent capacity or less (exact limits depend on the state case count), and bars and clubs are closed.

Orange: States categorized as orange have a tighter capacity limits. Hotel lobbies, restaurants, and tourist attractions are limited to 50 percent capacity, while beaches, theaters, and stores are limited to 30 to 40 percent or less , depending on the case count.

Red: States in red alert status are subject to stay-at-home orders and curfews, and public beaches and parks are closed. Hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions operate at 20 percent capacity or less, while shops, theaters, gyms, bars, and clubs are closed.

Stop-light colors are assessed on a weekly basis and can change at any time. Here are the current colors assigned to some of the most tourist-frequented areas in Mexico, and where to find updates on their restrictions.

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Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Cozumel: Quintana Roo is currently in the second-highest orange phase and implementing 50 percent capacity limits on hotel spaces, restaurants, and tourist sites. Beaches, theaters, shops, and casinos are limited to 30 percent capacity. Updates can be found here .

Mexico City and Puebla’s Magic Towns: The states of Mexico City and Puebla are currently designated as yellow, with 70 percent capacity limits widely in place. Mexico City plans to return to allowing theater and other indoor events at 30 percent capacity starting on May 17. Updates can be found here for Mexico City and here for Puebla .

Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos, and the Los Cabos Corridor: The states of Baja California & Baja California Sur are also yellow-designated states, with 70 percent capacity limits widely in place.  More health information on Los Cabos can be found here .

Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita: Jalisco and Nayarit states are among Mexico’s green-designated areas, with most businesses operating at socially distanced capacities and with masks required. Online updates for Riviera Nayarit can be found here , and Puerto Vallarta updates can be found here .

Merida, Chichen Itza, and Valladolid: The state of Yucatan, home to the ancient ruins of Chichen Itza and the bustling city of Merida, is in the yellow phase and enforcing capacity limits of about 70 percent. More information can be found here . Chichen Itza briefly closed due to bad tourist behavior in April, but has since reopened with masking, social distancing, and health checks required.

Oaxaca City and Puerto Escondido: The state of Oaxaca and its resort towns are currently in the green phase, with most businesses open but social distancing and masking requirements still in place. More information can be found here .

Central Mexico and San Miguel de Allende: The states of Guanajuato and Querétaro are currently yellow with 70 percent capacity limits widely in place. Updates can be found here for Guanajuato , which is home to historic San Miguel de Allende, and here for Queretaro .

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U.S. State Department Renews Warning About Travel To Mexico — Where It Says Visitors Can Travel This Spring

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Mexico is one of the most popular international destinations for American travelers. Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen particularly draw high numbers of tourists from the U.S.

However, as the spring break and Easter travel season approaches, anyone planning a trip to Mexico this spring must reckon with the sobering news of four Americans who were recently attacked by gunmen while traveling in Mexico.

The four individuals had traveled to Mexico so one could have a medical procedure. Then, in the city of Matamoros in Tamaulipas state, just south of Brownsville, Texas, the four were shot at and kidnapped. Two of them were killed in the gunfire. The other two, one of whom was also shot, have now been returned to the U.S., according to NBC News .

The U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Mexico issued a statement reminding U.S. citizens that it previously issued a travel advisory listing Tamaulipas state as a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” area in Mexico.

The natural inclination for anyone planning to travel to Mexico, as well as for family and friends of those prospective travelers, is now to question whether or not it’s safe to visit Mexico.

Zachary Rabinor, founder and CEO of the travel company Journey Mexico, says it’s important to remember that the Americans were killed and kidnapped a long distance from popular tourist destinations in Mexico.

“To put things in perspective, Matamoros is about 1,360 miles away from Cancun,” Rabinor said, according to CNN . “That’s about the equivalent distance from the Texas side of the border to Chicago, Illinois.”

Jaime Lopez-Aranda, a senior security manager at travel risk management firm International SOS, agrees that popular resort areas are still fairly safe.

“It is relatively safe for travelers to head to tourist destinations and major urban centers such as Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey,” Lopez-Aranda told CNN Travel.

Importantly, the U.S. State Department has issued a number of advisories for U.S. citizens traveling to various Mexican states in recent weeks. Now, as violent crime and kidnapping rates increase across Mexico, Americans considering travel to all but two of the states in Mexico should be aware of renewed and increased warnings, the State Department cautions.

“Violent crime — such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery — is widespread and common in Mexico,” the State Department explains .

“The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Mexico, as travel by U.S. government employees to certain areas is prohibited or restricted,” the State Department continues. “In many states, local emergency services are limited outside the state capital or major cities.”

Here are the State Department’s travel advisories for each of Mexico’s states.

Do Not Travel To

The State Department advises U.S. citizens to not travel to five states in Mexico due to increasing levels of crime and kidnapping.

Those states are Colima (where Manzanillo is located), Michoacan, Sinaloa (where Mazatlán is located), Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas (home to Zacatecas City).

Guerrero — where Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, and Ixtapa are located — is also on the State Department’s “Do Not Travel” list because crime is widespread in those areas.

Reconsider Travel To

The State Department advises U.S. citizens to “reconsider travel” to five states in Mexico due to crime and kidnapping.

Those states are Baja California (where Tijuana is located), Chihuahua, Guanajuato (where Guanajuato City is located), Jalisco (home to Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta), and Sonora.

The states of Durango and Morelos are also on the State Department’s “Reconsider Travel To” list due to high crime rates.

Exercise Increased Caution When Traveling To

The State Department advises U.S. citizens to “exercise increased caution when traveling to” 17 areas of Mexico, primarily due to crime rates but also due to the threat of kidnapping in some places.

Those states are Aguascalientes, Baja California Sur (where Cabo San Lucas , San Jose del Cabo, and La Paz are located), Chiapas, Coahuila, Hidalgo, Mexico State, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca (home of Oaxaca City and Huatulco), Puebla, Queretaro, Quintana Roo (where Cancun , Cozumel, Tulum, and Riviera Maya are located), San Luis Potosi, Tabasco, Tlaxcala, and Veracruz.

Mexico City is also on the list due to high crime rates.

Exercise Normal Precautions When Traveling To

The State Department advises U.S. citizens to “exercise normal precautions when traveling to” Campeche and Yucatan, where Chichen Itza and Merida are located.

Know Before You Go

If you decide to travel to Mexico, the State Department offers some guidance.

“Exercise increased caution when visiting local bars, nightclubs, and casinos,” the State Department recommends. “Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry. Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs.”

U.S. citizens with an emergency are also reminded that they can call the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Mexico for help.

U.S. citizens on their way to Mexico are also advised to make a note of U.S. Embassy & Consulates emergency contacts in the area where they will be traveling.

Finally, the State Department recommends international travelers enroll in STEP, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program .

Doing so enables U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate. That way travelers can receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in their destination country, make it easy for the U.S. Embassy to contact travelers in the event of an emergency, and also make it easier for family and friends to contact travelers in case of an emergency.

For more about changing travel conditions in countries around the world, be sure to read our Travel News content, including:

  • New Cost To Travel To Europe Delayed Until 2024 — What Visitors Need To Know
  • Traveling To Europe This Spring? 5 Countries Where Strikes Could Affect Your Trip
  • TSA Is Asking Travelers With Pets To Stop Doing This One Thing — Here’s What It Is

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Jim Fulcher has been a writer and editor his entire career. In addition to writing, he also enjoys traveling--particularly in an RV. Over the course of numerous trips, Jim has driven an RV through West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. His favorite national park is Yellowstone, which he has visited three times.

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Americans Have Traveled to Mexico Throughout COVID

Technically, there’s a ban on nonessential travel across the border through january 21. then how are people on vacation in cabo and cancun right now.

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Americans Have Traveled to Mexico Throughout COVID

While the U.S.-Mexico land border is currently restricted to essential travel, air travel between the United States and Mexico is permitted.

Photo by Shutterstock

We’ve heard stories throughout the COVID pandemic of American travelers wading in nearly empty pools in Puerto Vallarta and enjoying rare stretches of solitude at major resorts in Cancun and Los Cabos that are only at 30 percent capacity. We’ve seen tales on social media of travelers at Mexico resorts experiencing socially distanced buffets. Gibran Chapur, vice president of the Palace resort chain, said his company welcomed about 300 tourists on the first day the hotels reopened in June—and 70 percent of the guests were from the United States.

Despite global bans on travel and ongoing border closures , travel between the United States and Mexico has continued relatively unchecked through 2020. A ban on nonessential land travel across the border between the two countries went into effect on March 21, 2020, and continues to get extended—the latest deadline to reopen the U.S.-Mexico border was pushed to May 21, 2021. (How exactly nonessential travel is defined is problematic in and of itself—in short, there is no set-in-stone definition.)

So with the ban, how are Americans getting to Cancun, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta? Are they all rule-breaking desperados? Hardly.

Air travel has been allowed (if not severely limited), and conversations with hoteliers and tourism reps from Los Cabos to Quintana Roo reveal that U.S. travelers still comprise a majority of the guests. “Our domestic market is the United States,” said Rodrigo Esponda, managing director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board, on a call in mid-December. Some 80 percent of guests usually come from America, he noted, and Los Cabos had recovered 80 percent of all travel activity since reopening.

In November, more than half a million Americans visited Mexico, according to The New York Times. By November 18, Mexico had just over 1 million confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 99,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University . The country then experienced record highs in December, confirming 1,401,529 positive cases of COVID-19 on December 29.

The United States experienced a major spike in cases after the holiday travel season. On January 4, the U.S. had recorded 20,636,600 coronavirus cases (up from 11 million in November) and 351,580 deaths, Johns Hopkins University reported. As the numbers fluctuate in both countries, citizens have been encouraged to stay home. The CDC explicitly advises against all travel to Mexico right now .

Given the mixed messages—travel to Mexico has been allowed, then encouraged (to support local businesses), then discouraged as the crisis escalated—it can be hard to decipher the rules and restrictions. We worked with our peers at Travesías Media , a top magazine, book, and city guide publisher in Mexico, to find out what the Mexican government is telling its people and to compare that to what we’re hearing in the United States. Let’s break it down.

What the governments say about Mexico travel restrictions

International flights are still arriving in popular tourist states such as Quintana Roo.

International flights are still arriving in popular tourist states such as Quintana Roo.

Courtesy of Puerto Morelos Press Office

Travel to Mexico, According to the U.S.

“The United States will temporarily limit inbound land border crossings from Canada and Mexico to ‘essential travel.’ This action does not prevent U.S. citizens from returning home. These restrictions are temporary and went into effect on March 21, 2020. They will remain in effect through 11:59 p.m. on April 21, 2021. This decision has been coordinated with the Governments of Mexico and Canada.” — U.S. Embassy in Mexico

Translation: Technically, air travel has been allowed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, along with train and sea travel; driving across the border, commuter rail, and ferry travel have been prohibited. International flights have still been arriving in popular tourist states such as Quintana Roo (albeit on a limited schedule and some nearly empty ).

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico confirm that U.S. citizens can enter Mexico ; they do not need to show a negative COVID-19 test result or quarantine on arrival. (The website for the embassy is regularly updated with entry and exit information.) Upon arrival in Mexico, travelers face health screenings like temperature checks—Cancun’s airport has thermographic cameras that register travelers with fevers (you might not even notice they’re taking your temperature).

Travel to Mexico, According to Mexico

Per Travesías, “Mexico’s federal government has never closed its borders despite COVID-19. In fact, it’s one of the few countries that currently welcomes travelers from all over the world, without any kind of restriction or mandatory quarantine upon arrival.” Some states in Mexico have called on their federal government to tighten border restrictions as the U.S. case count has risen, reports the Washington Post .

Mexico’s states have each had different phased reopenings, depending on the number of cases and hospital occupation, among other metrics. On June 1, the government introduced a national “stoplight” system to phase in the return of nonessential activities. Red states are essentially in lockdown, with just essential activities allowed; oranges states allow restaurants, hotels, and stores to open with limited capacity. Daily updates are posted here .

What we’re hearing from hotels in Mexico

When Nobu Hotel Los Cabos opened on July 1, Americans made up the bulk of the guests.

When Nobu Hotel Los Cabos opened on July 1, Americans made up the bulk of the guests.

Courtesy of Nobu Hotel Los Cabos

When hotels started reopening in Mexico, capacity was capped at 30 percent occupancy to avoid overcrowding. Before the pandemic, occupancy rates of 85 percent were not uncommon. As in the United States, many resorts are welcoming domestic travelers who are staying close to home. At Chablé Yucatan , the majority of guests are national—“This is normal, nothing new,” says general manager Rocco Bova. “Our market was always Mexico, now just slightly higher. We also got some people from the U.S., including guests flying private .”

In interviews with two Leading Hotels of the World properties, Travesias confirmed that hotels have reopened with new safety protocols and global sanitation standards—and that Americans are most definitely visiting. At Nobu Hotel Los Cabos , which opened its doors on July 1, Americans (mostly from California) were the bulk of reservations, says sales director Sofía De la Rosa. Meanwhile, the Chablé Maroma on the Riviera Maya , which reopened on June 8, has seen “50/50 national and American guests,” says general manager Gerardo Ortiz. “We tend to have a lot of American guests, but surprisingly, we have experienced an increase in Mexican travelers—especially honeymooners that needed a sudden change of plans due to COVID-19.”

Ortiz added: “Since the U.S. government has recommended avoiding all nonessential international travel due to COVID-19, many American guests have asked us if they are allowed to enter the country. The answer has always been yes. When arriving into Cancun’s International Airport, they will probably be asked about any current symptoms or other travels in the past 15 days and that’s it. Another question we’ve been asked is whether the beach is open or not. Fortunately, due to our location and privacy, the beach is open and ready to welcome travelers.”

Thanks to a mask mandate and required safety certification for businesses to reopen, Los Cabos has been attracting travelers “interested in relaxing in a controlled, stable environement,” said Rodrigo Esponda of the Los Cabos Tourism Board. “People are spending more and staying longer.”

So . . . what should you do?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises against traveling to areas where transmission levels are high. Please be sure to check the CDC’s latest guidance for traveling, including wearing a face mask in public settings. Do not travel if you are sick or have likely been exposed to COVID-19, the agency reminds would-be travelers.

The Associated Press contributed reporting. This story originally appeared on August 14, 2020, and was updated on September 15, November 18, 2020, January 4, 2021, and April 1, 2021 to include current information.

>>Next: The Top 10 Pyramids in Mexico

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US issues 'do not travel' warning for Mexico

2 americans kidnapped in mexico found dead, 2 found alive.

Two of the four Americans kidnapped in Mexico have been found dead, while the other two have been found alive.

LOS ANGELES - The U.S. State Department is reminding American citizens it has issued its highest-level warning advising against travel to parts of Mexico. 

This comes after the FBI announced four U.S. citizens were kidnapped after gunmen opened fire on their vehicle in the northern Mexico border city of Matamoros. Two of the Americans were killed and the other two found alive after the violent shootout and abduction that was captured on video. 

A relative of one of the victims said the four had traveled together from the Carolinas, entering from Brownsville, Texas , so one of them could get a tummy tuck from a doctor in Matamoros, where Friday’s kidnapping took place. The FBI said that the vehicle came under fire shortly after it entered Mexico.

RELATED: 2 missing Americans kidnapped in Mexico found dead and 2 alive, official says

"All four Americans were placed in a vehicle and taken from the scene by armed men," the office said.

Doctor says OC public defender killed in Mexico was victim of homicide

A doctor now says the death of Elliot Blair could be a homicide and his wife said the police in Rosarito tried to extort them before his death.

SUGGESTED: California family of 6 killed in cartel-style execution: Sheriff

Matamoros is located in the northeastern Mexican state of Tamaulipas, which is included in the travel warning along with Guerrero, Colima, Michoacan, Sinaloa, and Zacatecas.

However, officials said because Matamoros is a border city, U.S. citizens who live in Brownsville or elsewhere in Texas frequently cross the border to visit family, go to medical appointments, or shop. It also serves as a crossing point for people traveling deeper into Mexico, according to officials. 

The Gateway International Bridge between Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Mexico, as seen through the border wall. Viewed from Texas side of the wall. (Photo by: Jon G. Fuller/VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Matamoros is notorious for warring factions of the Gulf drug cartel , and the violence has become so bad that the U.S. Consulate issued an alert following the kidnapping. 

For years, a night out in Matamoros was also part of the "two-nation vacation" for spring breakers flocking to Texas’ South Padre Island. But increased violence there over the past 10 to 15 years frightened away much of that business.

FOX 11 has reported on several incidents of kidnappings and crimes against American tourists in Mexico. Just last year, an American tourist had his foot hacked by a machete after being kidnapped by his taxi driver. 

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 

  • Tourist kidnapped in Mexico had foot hacked with machete before being left for dead
  • Orange County public defender killed in Mexico celebrating first wedding anniversary

In January, 33-year-old Orange County public defender Elliot Blair was found dead in Rosarito during a one-year wedding celebration with his wife. A Mexican prosecutor described Blair's death as an unfortunate accident, saying he fell off the hotel's balcony after ingesting a significant amount of alcohol.  Blair's family, however, does not believe he was intoxicated and fell. They believe he was the victim of a brutal crime. Blair's autopsy report performed in Mexico showed the lawyer sustained 40 fractures to the back of his skull as well as "road rash" on his knees and a toe injury, which indicated he was dragged. The results contradict statement from authorities indicating Blair died from a fall from a balcony at the Rosarito Beach resort where the couple was staying, the family's lawyer said.

If you must travel to Mexico, officials strongly recommend the following: 

  • Review the  U.S. Embassy's webpage  on COVID-19.
  • Visit the CDC’s web page on  Travel and COVID-19 .
  • Keep traveling companions and family back home informed of your travel plans. If separating from your travel group, send a friend your GPS location. If taking a taxi alone, take a photo of the taxi number and/or license plate and text it to a friend.
  • Use toll roads when possible and avoid driving alone or at night. In many states, police presence and emergency services are extremely limited outside the state capital or major cities.
  • Exercise increased caution when visiting local bars, nightclubs, and casinos.
  • Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry.
  • Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs.
  • Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
  • Follow the U.S. Embassy on Facebook and Twitter.
  • Review the  Country Security Report  for Mexico.
  • Mariners planning travel to Mexico should check for U.S. maritime  advisories  and  alerts , which include instructions on reporting suspicious activities and attacks to Mexican naval authorities.
  • Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

The Associated Press and FOX News contributed to this report.

US issues 'do not travel' warning for Mexico

As spring break travel gets underway, U.S. authorities have issued its highest-level warning against traveling to parts of Mexico. 

This comes after the FBI announced four U.S. citizens were kidnapped after gunmen opened fire on their vehicle in the northern Mexico border city of Matamoros. Two of the Americans were killed and the other two found alive after the violent shootout and abduction that was captured on video. 

A relative of one of the victims said the four had traveled together from the Carolinas, entering from Brownsville, Texas , so one of them could get a tummy tuck from a doctor in Matamoros, where Friday’s kidnapping took place. The FBI said that the vehicle came under fire shortly after it entered Mexico.

RELATED: 2 missing Americans kidnapped in Mexico found dead and 2 alive, official says

"All four Americans were placed in a vehicle and taken from the scene by armed men," the office said.

Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal said the four were found in a wooden shack, where they were being guarded by a man who was arrested. Villarreal said the captive Americans had been moved around by their captors, and at one point were taken to a medical clinic "to create confusion and avoid efforts to rescue them."

Villareal said the wounded American, Eric Williams, had been shot in the left leg and the wound was not life threatening. The survivors were taken to Valley Regional Medical Center with an FBI escort, the Brownsville Herald reported . A spokesperson for the hospital referred all inquiries to the FBI.

The U.S. citizens were found in a rural area east of Matamoros called Ejido Tecolote on the way to the Gulf coast known as "Bagdad Beach," according to Tamaulipas state chief prosecutor Irving Barrios.

READ MORE: Cause of death released for Arlington firefighter who died in Cancun

Matamoros is located in the northeastern Mexican state of Tamaulipas, which is included in the travel warning along with Guerrero, Colima, Michoacan, Sinaloa, and Zacatecas.

However, officials said because Matamoros is a border city, U.S. citizens who live in Brownsville or elsewhere in Texas frequently cross the border to visit family, go to medical appointments, or shop. It also serves as a crossing point for people traveling deeper into Mexico, according to officials. 

Matamoros is notorious for warring factions of the Gulf drug cartel , and the violence has become so bad that the U.S. Consulate issued an alert following the kidnapping. 

For years, a night out in Matamoros was also part of the "two-nation vacation" for spring breakers flocking to Texas’ South Padre Island. But increased violence there over the past 10 to 15 years frightened away much of that business.

In January, 33-year-old California public defender Elliot Blair was found dead in Rosarito during a one-year wedding celebration with his wife. A Mexican prosecutor described Blair's death as an unfortunate accident, saying he fell off the hotel's balcony after ingesting a significant amount of alcohol.  Blair's family, however, does not believe he was intoxicated and fell. They believe he was the victim of a brutal crime. Blair's autopsy report performed in Mexico showed the lawyer sustained 40 fractures to the back of his skull as well as "road rash" on his knees and a toe injury, which indicated he was dragged. The results contradict statement from authorities indicating Blair died from a fall from a balcony at the Rosarito Beach resort where the couple was staying, the family's lawyer said.

If you must travel to Mexico, officials strongly recommend the following: 

  • Review the  U.S. Embassy's webpage  on COVID-19.
  • Visit the CDC’s web page on  Travel and COVID-19 .
  • Keep traveling companions and family back home informed of your travel plans. If separating from your travel group, send a friend your GPS location. If taking a taxi alone, take a photo of the taxi number and/or license plate and text it to a friend.
  • Use toll roads when possible and avoid driving alone or at night. In many states, police presence and emergency services are extremely limited outside the state capital or major cities.
  • Exercise increased caution when visiting local bars, nightclubs, and casinos.
  • Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry.
  • Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs.
  • Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
  • Follow the U.S. Embassy on Facebook and Twitter.
  • Review the  Country Security Report  for Mexico.
  • Mariners planning travel to Mexico should check for U.S. maritime  advisories  and  alerts , which include instructions on reporting suspicious activities and attacks to Mexican naval authorities.
  • Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

The Associated Press, FOX News, FOX 11 Los Angeles and FOX 10 Phoenix contributed to this report.

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Find the best country for you: », places the u.s. government warns not to travel right now.

You may want to reconsider traveling to these countries right now.

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Do Not Travel to These Countries

Man walking through an airport with his suitcase

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Crime, civil unrest and terrorism are common risk factors for countries that end up on the State Department's "Do Not Travel" advisory list.

In 2024, tourism across the globe is “well on track” to return to pre-pandemic levels, according to projections by UN Tourism.

Global conflicts and natural disasters , ranging from a series of coups across Africa to catastrophic earthquakes in the Middle East affected international travel patterns throughout 2023. Still, international tourist arrivals reached 87% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023, according to estimates by UN Tourism .

In January 2024 alone, about 4.6 million U.S. citizens left the country for international destinations, 17% higher than the same month in 2019, according to the International Trade Administration . But some destinations warrant more caution than others.

On Oct. 19, 2023, following the outbreak of war between Israel and Gaza and flaring tensions in the region, the U.S. State Department issued a worldwide caution advisory due to “increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests.” Prior to this update, the most recent worldwide caution advisory was issued in 2022 after a U.S. strike killed Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden’s successor as leader of Al Qaeda, causing “a higher potential for anti-American violence.” The worldwide caution advisory remains in effect.

The U.S. State Department also issues individual travel advisory levels for more than 200 countries globally, continually updating them based on a variety of risk indicators such as health, terrorism and civil unrest. Travel advisory levels range from Level 1, which means exercise normal precautions, to Level 4, which means do not travel there.

About 10% of countries – 19 total – have a Level 4: “Do Not Travel” advisory as of Mar. 4. In Level 4 countries, the U.S. government may have “very limited ability” to step in should travelers’ safety or security be at risk, according to the State Department. Crime, civil unrest, kidnapping and terrorism are common risk factors associated with Level 4 countries.

So far in 2024, the State Department made changes to the existing Level 4 advisories for Myanmar, Iran and Gaza, and moved Niger and Lebanon off of the Level 4 list.

Places With a Level 4 Travel Advisory

These are the primary areas the U.S. government says not to travel to right now, in alphabetical order:

Jump to Place: Afghanistan Belarus Burkina Faso Central African Republic Myanmar (formerly Burma) Gaza Haiti Iran Iraq Libya Mali Mexico North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) Russia Somalia South Sudan Sudan Syria Ukraine Venezuela Yemen

Afghanistan: The Central Asian country is wrestling with “terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping and crime,” according to the State Department. U.S. citizens are specifically at risk for wrongful detention and kidnapping. In 2022, the government reinstituted public floggings and executions, and women’s rights are disappearing under Taliban control. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul halted operations in August 2021. Since the Taliban took control , many forms of international aid have been halted . Meanwhile, in 2023, some of the year’s deadliest earthquakes killed more than 2,400 in Afghanistan while the country continues to face a years-long extreme drought.

Belarus: Belarus, which shares a western border with Russia and a southern border with Ukraine, has been flagged for “Belarusian authorities’ continued facilitation of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the buildup of Russian military forces in Belarus, the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the potential of civil unrest, the risk of detention, and the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Belarus.” The U.S. Embassy in Minsk halted operations in February 2022.

Burkina Faso: Terrorism, crime and kidnapping are plaguing this West African nation. Terrorist attacks may target hotels, restaurants and schools with little to no warning, and the East and Sahel regions of the country are under a state of emergency. In late November 2023, hundreds died in clashes between state security forces and rebels near the country’s border with Mali. In June, more than 2 million people in Burkina Faso were displaced due to “violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.”

Central African Republic: While there have not been specific incidents of U.S. citizens targeted with violence or crime, violent crime and sudden closure of roads and borders is common. The advisory states that “Embassy Bangui’s limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens, crime, civil unrest, and kidnapping” is a factor in its assessment. Recent data from UNICEF suggests the country has the worst drinking water accessibility of all countries in 2022.

Myanmar (Formerly Burma): Armed conflict and civil unrest are the primary reasons to not travel to this Southeast Asian country, which experienced a military coup in early 2021. Limited health care resources, wrongful detentions and “areas with land mines and unexploded ordnance” are also listed as risk factors. After Ukraine and Israel, Myanmar had the highest conflict-related death toll in 2023.

Gaza : Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization as designated by the State Department, controls much of the Gaza Strip, which shares borders with both Israel and Egypt. On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas fighters broke across the border into Israel, killing hundreds of civilians and soldiers in a brazen attack that stunned Israelis. On Oct. 10, Israel hit the Gaza Strip with “the fiercest air strikes in its 75-year conflict” according to Reuters . The conflict has since escalated into war between Israel and Hamas, with regular Israeli airstrikes leading to extensive civilian casualties in Gaza. As of mid-December, nearly 85% of Gaza’s population were displaced from their homes, according to UN estimates . The region continues to face shortages of food , water, electricity and medical supplies , with conditions deemed “far beyond a humanitarian crisis.” The State Department warns of terrorism and armed conflict within Gaza’s borders.

Haiti: In July 2023, the Department of State ordered all non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members to leave the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince in response to the increased risk of kidnapping and violent crime in the country , as well as armed conflict between gangs and police. The travel advisory states that cases of kidnapping “often involve ransom negotiations and U.S. citizen victims have been physically harmed during kidnappings.” The travel advisory also states that “U.S. citizens in Haiti should depart Haiti as soon as possible” given “the current security situation and infrastructure challenges.” A series of gang attacks in late September 2023 caused thousands to flee their homes, and many aid groups have been forced to cut or suspend operations amid escalating violence in recent months.

Iran: Terrorism, kidnapping and civil unrest are risk factors for all travelers to Iran, while U.S. citizens are specifically at risk for “arbitrary arrest.” U.S.-Iranian nationals such as students, journalists and business travelers have been arrested on charges of espionage and threatening national security. Executions in Iran rose sharply between 2021 and 2022, bringing the country’s total to nearly 580 people over the year, according to a report by Amnesty International released in May 2023.

Iraq: The State Department cites “terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict [and] civil unrest” as cause for the country’s Level 4 distinction. Iraq’s northern borders, and its border with Syria, are especially dangerous. Since the escalation of conflict in neighboring Israel in October, there has been an increase in attacks against Iraqi military bases, which host U.S. troops and other international forces. In October 2023, non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members were ordered to leave the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

Libya: Following the end of its dictatorship over a decade ago, Libya has been wrought with internal conflict between armed groups in the East and West. Armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, kidnapping and terrorism are all risk factors. U.S. citizens have been targets of kidnapping for ransom, with terrorists targeting hotels and airports frequented by Westerners. The U.S. Embassy in Tripoli halted operations in 2014. In mid-September 2023, floods, which some say were intensified by climate change , killed thousands in eastern Libya. Clashes between armed factions escalated across the country in the latter half of 2023, including in the capital city of Tripoli and in Benghazi.

Mali: After experiencing military coups in 2020 and 2021, crime, terrorism and kidnapping are all prevalent threats in this West African landlocked nation. In July 2022, non-emergency U.S. government employees and their families were ordered to leave the country due to higher risk of terrorist activity. A U.N. report in August 2023 said that military groups in the country, including both Mali security forces and possibly Russian Wagner mercenaries, were spreading terror through the use of violence against women and human rights abuses. Democratic elections were supposed to occur in February 2024, but Mali’s military junta postponed the plans indefinitely. In December, the U.N. officially ended a decade-long peacekeeping presence in the country, which had been among the agency’s deadliest missions, with hundreds of the mission personnel killed since 2013.

Mexico: Each state in Mexico is assessed separately for travel advisory levels. Six of the 32 states in Mexico are designated as Level 4: Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas. Crime and kidnapping are listed as the primary risk factors throughout the country. Nearly 112,000 people were missing across the country as of October, a number the U.N. has called “alarming.”

North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea): U.S. passports are not valid for travel “to, in, or through” this country, home to one of the world's longest-running dynastic dictatorships. The travel advisory states that the Level 4 distinction is due to “the continuing serious risk of arrest and long-term detention of U.S. nationals.” In July 2023, a U.S. soldier fled across the border into North Korea, where he is believed to be in North Korean custody, the first American detained in the North in nearly five years. He was returned to U.S. custody in September 2023.

Russia: The travel advisory for Russia cites its invasion of Ukraine , harassment of U.S. citizens by Russian government officials and arbitrary law enforcement as a few of the reasons for the Level 4 designation. Chechnya and Mount Elbrus are specifically listed as Level 4 regions. Terrorism, civil unrest, health, kidnapping and wrongful detention are all noted as risks.

Russia Invades Ukraine: A Timeline

TOPSHOT - Black smoke rises from a military airport in Chuguyev near Kharkiv  on February 24, 2022. - Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine today with explosions heard soon after across the country and its foreign minister warning a "full-scale invasion" was underway. (Photo by Aris Messinis / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Somalia: A severe drought resulting from five failed rainy seasons in a row killed 43,000 people in 2022, and caused a famine amid conflict with Islamist insurgents . Violent crime is common throughout Somalia , pirates frequent its coast off the Horn of Africa, and medical facilities, where they exist, have limited capacity. Crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health and kidnapping are all risk factors. In January 2024, some passengers aboard a U.N.-contracted helicopter were taken hostage by al-Shabaab militants after the vehicle crashed in central Somalia.

South Sudan: Crime, kidnapping and armed conflict are the primary risk factors for South Sudan, which separated from Sudan in 2011, making it the world’s newest country . Weapons are readily available, and travelers have been victims of sexual assault and armed robbery.

Sudan: The U.S. evacuated its embassy in Khartoum in April 2023, and the country closed its airspace due to the ongoing conflict in the country, only permitting humanitarian aid and evacuation efforts. Fighting has escalated in the region between two warring generals seeking to gain control after a military coup in 2021 ousted the country’s prime minister. Civil unrest is the primary risk factor for Africa’s third largest country by area. Crime, terrorism, kidnapping and armed conflict are also noted. The International Criminal Court began investigating alleged war crimes and violence against African ethnic groups in the country in 2023. Millions have fled their homes due to conflict, and the U.N. has said its efforts to provide aid have been hindered by a lack of support, safety and resources. As recently as December 2023, the United Nations warned of catastrophic famine , with millions of children at-risk for malnutrition .

Syria: The advisory states that “No part of Syria is safe from violence,” with terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict and risk of unjust detention all potential risk factors. U.S. citizens are often a target for kidnappings and detention. The U.S. Embassy in Damascus halted operations in 2012. Fighting in neighboring Israel has escalated since October, and the conflict has spilled over into Syria, where the U.S. has carried out air strikes following drone and rocket attacks against American troops in Syria and Iraq, triggered by the Israel-Hamas war.

Ukraine: Russian setbacks in their invasion of Ukraine buoyed hopes in Ukraine in 2023. However, Ukraine is a Level 4 country due to Russia’s invasion, with crime and civil unrest also noted as risk factors. The country’s forces shot down two Russian fighter jets on Christmas Eve 2023, in a move Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said “sets the right mood for the entire year ahead.”

Venezuela: Human rights abuses and lack of health care plague this South American nation, which has been in a political crisis since 2014. In 2019, diplomatic personnel were withdrawn from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas. Threats in the country include crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, wrongful detention and poor health infrastructure.

Yemen: Six of the nine risk factors defined by the State Department – terrorism, civil unrest, health risks, kidnapping, armed conflict and landmines – are all present in Yemen. Despite private companies offering tourist visits to the Yemeni island of Socotra, the U.S. government argues those arranging such visits “are putting tourists in danger.” Civil war and cholera are also both present throughout the country. The U.S. Embassy in Sanaa halted operations in 2015. The country has experienced a relative lull in the civil war fighting, but as peace negotiations have gotten traction, flare ups in the fighting have jeopardized progress. Most recently, the U.S. and U.K. have carried out a series of airstrikes in the country, targeting Iran-backed Houthi sites.

Other Countries to Watch

Since Jan. 1, the State Department has updated travel advisories for 17 different countries as well as for the West Bank and Gaza, adding information about specific regions or risk factors, or simply renewing an existing advisory. Travel advisory levels can change based on several factors in a nation, such as increased civil unrest, policies that affect human rights or higher risks of unlawful detention.

The State Department has given about 25 countries an assessment of Level 3, meaning it recommends people “reconsider travel” to those destinations.

On Oct. 14, one week after the deadly Hamas attack on Israel, Israel and the West Bank were both moved from Level 2 to Level 3, while Gaza remains at Level 4. The region’s travel advisory was updated in November to reflect travel restrictions for certain government employees who have not already left the area, and it was updated again on Jan. 3.

Following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in early October, the U.S. State Department raised Lebanon ’s travel advisory level from a Level 3 to a Level 4 level due to “the unpredictable security situation related to rocket, missile, and artillery exchanges” between Israel and Hezbollah or other militant groups. In December, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut returned to normal staffing and presence, and on Jan. 29, the country was moved back to Level 3. Crime, terrorism, armed conflict, civil unrest, kidnapping and unexploded landmines are listed as the country’s primary risk factors. However, the country’s borders with Syria and with Israel, as well as refugee settlements within Lebanon, are specifically noted as Level 4 regions.

China became a Level 3 country in late 2020, with an update in December 2022 citing “the surge in COVID-19 cases, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, and COVID-19-related restrictions” as the reason for the advisory. In June 2023, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) was moved from the Level 3 to the Level 2 list, but travelers are still advised to be cautious in the area due to “arbitrary enforcement of local laws.” Meanwhile, Macau remains at Level 3.

Following an attempted coup in August 2023, Niger was elevated to Level 4 in August and the Department of State ordered all non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members to leave the U.S. Embassy in Niamey. In early January 2024, the overall risk level for the country was lowered back to Level 3. Despite the new classification, the State Department still asks non-emergency government personnel and eligible family members to depart the country.

In mid-December 2023 there was an explosion at Guinea’s main fuel depot which has since affected access to health care and basic goods and services. The country was subsequently designated a Level 3 nation after having previously been Level 2. Concerns about civil unrest, health, crime and fuel shortages impacting local infrastructure were listed as the primary risk factors contributing to the change.

Several Level 3 countries are among the worst countries for human trafficking, as designated by the State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report . Level 3 countries on this list include Papua New Guinea, Guinea Bissau, China and Chad. There are also nine Level 4 countries designated as among the worst for human trafficking: Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, Syria, South Sudan and Venezuela.

Over 70 countries are currently at Level 2, meaning the State Department recommends travelers “exercise increased caution” when traveling to those destinations.

Botswana became the newest Level 2 country on Feb. 26 after having previously been Level 1, with crime noted as the primary risk factor.

France, which saw nationwide protests throughout 2023, has civil unrest and terrorism noted as risk factors for its Level 2 status, and Sweden’s Level 2 status is associated with risks of terrorism.

The Level 2 travel advisory for the Bahamas was updated in January to reflect water safety concerns. The advisory warns that “activities involving commercial recreational watercraft, including water tours, are not consistently regulated” and notes that government personnel are “not permitted to use independently operated jet-ski rentals on New Providence and Paradise Islands.” It also warns visitors to be mindful of sharks, weather and water conditions. The advisory also says that crime is a primary risk factor with gang-on-gang violence contributing to high homicide rates in some areas. Visitors are asked to “be vigilant” and to not physically resist robbery attempts.

Bangladesh 's Level 2 travel advisory was updated in October 2023 to add a note about the country’s general election , which took place Jan. 7, 2024. The advisory states “demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.” The U.S. has since claimed the country’s election was not free nor fair.

In November 2023, several Level 2 travel advisories were updated with new cautionary information. The advisory for Ghana was updated to reflect threats against LGBTQI+ travelers specifically, noting “anti-LGBTQI+ rhetoric and violence have increased in recent years.” Meanwhile, the advisory for South Africa was updated in February to note that routes recommended by GPS may be unsafe with higher risk for crime.

Turkmenistan was moved off of the Level 2 list to become the newest addition to the Level 1 list on Jan. 22, meaning normal precautions are recommended but there are no risk factors causing travelers to practice increased caution.

The State Department asks travelers to pay attention to travel advisory levels and alerts , review country information pages for their destinations and read related country security reports before going abroad.

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Another new warning on travel to Mexico just ahead of spring break

Clint Henderson

As tens of thousands of Americans prepare to spend spring break in Mexico, there is yet another new warning for tourists.

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico issued a travel alert warning Americans about high levels of crime and the dangers of spiked alcohol, illicit drugs, fake prescription drugs and more.

The alert reads, in part:

Crime, including violent crime, can occur anywhere in Mexico, including in popular tourist destinations. Travelers should maintain a high level of situational awareness, avoid areas where illicit activities occur, and promptly depart from potentially dangerous situations. ... U.S. citizens should exercise increased caution in the downtown areas of popular spring break locations, including Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, and Tulum, especially after dark.

Additionally, the bulletin cautions people to be aware that U.S. citizens have been the victims of rape and sexual assault: "Perpetrators may target inebriated or isolated individuals or may employ drugs that alter the victim's physical or mental state."

The new alert also warns tourists about the danger of illegal drug use in Mexico, "U.S. citizens have become seriously ill or died in Mexico after using synthetic drugs or adulterated prescription pills."

According to the embassy, counterfeit medication is common and could contain dangerous unregulated ingredients.

It comes just days after the state of Texas issued an unusual travel warning for Mexico , saying it's too dangerous to visit for spring break this year. That warning came on the heels of the U.S. Department of State reiterating its calls for caution on travel to Mexico.

The Texas Department of Public Safety urges residents to avoid the country because of drug cartel violence and other crime.

"Based on the volatile nature of cartel activity and the violence we are seeing there, we are urging individuals to avoid travel to Mexico at this time," DPS director Steven McCraw said in a statement.

The State Department also recently renewed its warning to Americans on travel to Mexico. The U.S. government advises Americans to either skip Mexico trips, reconsider travel or at least use extra caution when traveling to parts of the country because of the potential for violence.

"Violent crime — such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery — is widespread and common in Mexico," reads the advisory from the U.S. Department of State. Currently, a travel advisory is in place for 30 of Mexico's 32 states.

Related: Cancun travel advisory over taxis

The advisories come as we learn of violence that involved Americans in Matamoros, a town in Mexico near the Texas border.

Current US State Department advisories

The State Department breaks down its Mexican risk assessment on a detailed, state-by-state basis.

us travel ban to mexico

Six Mexican states have a "Do not travel" warning: Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas.

Related: The difference between CDC and State Department travel warnings

Seven states are under a "Reconsider travel" advisory, including Baja and Jalisco – home to the popular destination of Puerto Vallarta .

Another 17 states get an "Exercise increased caution" advisory, including Baja California Sur – home to the popular resorts of Cabo San Lucas — and Nayarit, where you'll find Riviera Nayarit. Mexico City is also included in that category.

The state of Quintana Roo on the Caribbean side of Mexico is also in the "Exercise increased caution" category due to crime and the potential for kidnapping. Quintana Roo includes Cancun , Playa del Carmen and Tulum . It's a region that's generally considered safe for foreigners and is certainly popular for leisure travel.

Campeche and Yucatan are the only states that aren't under any special advisory for U.S. travel.

Mexico travel safety tips

The State Department suggests visitors review personal security plans, be aware of their surroundings, pay attention to local media and immediately call Mexican 911 in case of any issues.

The government also suggests Americans should register with a local Mexican consulate or embassy before they travel to Mexico through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.

For its part, the Mexican government insists Mexico is safe for travelers.

"There is no problem in traveling safely in Mexico," President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said in a news conference this week .

Bottom line

us travel ban to mexico

While headlines like travel warnings can be scary, remember that millions of tourists visit Mexico every year without ever encountering problems.

In this environment, however, it is probably best to be prepared and use common sense. Of course, that remains true when traveling to any foreign destination.

  • How to stay in Cancun on points and miles
  • Everything you need to plan the perfect Mexico getaway
  • 14 of TPG's favorite Mexico points hotels
  • Best times to visit Mexico
  • 13 things to know about Global Entry

Hurricane Helene: Category 1 storm intensifies as it takes aim at Florida

This liveblog has now ended. Follow the latest updates here .

Tallahassee working to keep its 70,000 students safe

Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey said that the city is making preparations to secure everyone’s safety, including its large population of students from Florida State University, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee State College.

"We have a student population of about 70,000" and have been working with those institutions, Dailey said. "Yesterday, they shut down the college campuses. We have encouraged the students to go home to be safe. Those students that will be remaining, we have great shelters in place where they can also go to be safe.”

Dailey said he had been in touch with both the governor's office and the White House ahead of the storm.

Florida Sen. Rick Scott says storm surge isn't survivable

us travel ban to mexico

Phil Helsel

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida issued a dire warning about the expected storm surge from Helene, which could be a Category 4 hurricane before it makes landfall, saying it won’t be survivable.

“In the Big Bend, they’re talking about possibly 18-foot of storm surge,” Scott said in Taylor County. “I’m a little over 6 feet — that’s three times my height. None of us are living that.”

Other parts of the coast are forecast to get 10 or 12 feet of storm surge, he said. Scott told people to evacuate and said no homes or possessions are worth dying for.

“You’re not going to survive. I mean, you’re not going to live through this stuff,” Scott said.

FEMA prepares for 'multi-state event'

Helene is expected to make landfall in Florida tomorrow as a major hurricane. FEMA Administrator Deanna Criswell joined José Díaz-Balart to discuss how the agency is preparing for the storm.

Apalachee Bay, Florida, could see ‘nightmare surge scenario,’ NWS says

The storm surge that will hit Apalachee Bay, Florida, could be “catastrophic and unsurvivable,” the National Weather Service warned today.

“This forecast, if realized, is a nightmare surge scenario for Apalachee Bay,” the weather service for the Tallahassee region said in a local impact statement. “Please, please, please take any evacuation orders seriously!”

Storm surge may begin arriving in the area, in Florida’s Big Bend region, as early as late today.

Apalachee Bay is south of Tallahassee.

Tropical storm-force winds extend 345 miles from Helene's center

The size of Hurricane Helene prompted national forecasters to issue tropical storm warnings for a huge swath of the Southeast.

Tropical storm-force winds extended 345 miles from the hurricane’s center this evening as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico and toward Florida, the National Hurricane Center said.

Tropical storm warnings covered almost all of Florida, all of Georgia and all of South Carolina, and they extended into Western North Carolina. Parts of Alabama were also under the warning.

“Look how far inland the tropical storm warnings extend. We don’t normally issue tropical storm warnings this far inland or for this part of the country,” National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome said in a briefing.

Helene developments ‘increasingly dire’ for people in storm’s path, NHC official says

National Hurricane Center Deputy Director Jamie Rhome said today that updated information about Hurricane Helene “is increasingly dire for the people in the path of this storm” as it moves toward Florida.

Rhome said the agency is now forecasting Helene to be a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale before it makes landfall sometime late tomorrow.

"Tallahassee, unfortunately, you’re going to be right in the path of these catastrophic winds,” Rhome said.

“Valdosta, Georgia, Albany, even all the way going up to Warner Robins in southern Georgia — you get a sense of just how far inland those hurricane-force winds are going to extend,” he said.

Catastrophic wind impacts mean people need to prepare for unsafe conditions, extended power outages and a significant number of downed trees and blocked roads, Rhome said.

A surprising hurricane season – and lots of activity in the Gulf Coast

This Atlantic hurricane season hasn’t shaped up like experts predicted. 

In May, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters predicted eight to 13 hurricanes and 17 to 25 named storms in 2024 — its highest-ever forecast . 

Hurricane season begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30. The season typically peaks in mid-September.

So far, there have been just eight named storms this season, and forecasters were surprised — and confused — when the season hit a lull in August and September. 

Most Americans will remember not the number of storms but how many of them strike U.S. coastlines.

The Gulf Coast has taken an outsized battering this season. If Helene strikes Florida's Big Bend, as expected, it would be only the fifth time since 1851 that four or more hurricanes have hit the Gulf Coast region in a single season. 

Some Florida theme parks closing their doors in anticipation of Helene

Antonio Planas

Hurricane Helene has prompted several theme parks in Florida to shut down for a day in anticipation of Hurricane Helene.

Universal Volcano Bay in Orlando will be closed tomorrow, Universal Orlando Resort said. The water theme park is expected to reopen Friday, the resort said in a statement.

Other theme parks and attractions, including Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Halloween Horror Nights and hotels affiliated with the parks, remain open and are monitoring weather conditions, officials said.

Helene also prompted Walt Disney World to close some of its parks and cancel events, including Disney Typhoon Lagoon water park, miniature golf courses and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, it s aid in a s tatement .

In other theme park closings, Aquatica Orlando and Discovery Cove will shutter tomorrow, United Parks & Resorts said in a statement . Both parks are expected to reopen Friday.

Parks in Tampa, including Busch Gardens and Adventure Island, will close tomorrow and are expected to reopen Friday, officials said.

Storm chasers prepare to measure Hurricane Helene

When Hurricane Helene makes landfall, researchers Karen Kosiba and Josh Wurman plan to be at the center of it. 

“We’re trying to position ourselves right where the eye is going to come on shore,” said Wurman, a University of Illinois research scientist.

The researchers are among the world’s top academic storm chasers. This afternoon, they were driving around Florida’s Big Bend region with six others, searching for locations safe enough to deploy pods that contain scientific instruments and Doppler-on-wheels radar trucks.

Once the storm arrives, they’ll hunker down, hoping to capture data about its wind speeds and structure. Such information will help researchers better understand what makes hurricanes tick. 

“We can understand better how these storms intensify, how they weaken and how they evolve,” Wurman said. 

The goal of such research is to learn about the inner dynamics of hurricanes and why some rapidly intensify as they near shore — a trend that research suggests is increasingly common because of climate change . 

Earlier this year, Wurman and Kosiba intercepted a tornado whose winds briefly exceeded 300 mph . 

It's tough work. 

“We’re getting ready to hunker down and be in the storm for sometimes 12 or 18 hours. We’re sleeping in a truck. There’s no bathrooms. It’s dark,” Wurman said, adding that for a few hours during the eyewall, no one will be allowed out of their vehicles as debris batters the trucks. “I had a snake blow by me once.”

Virginia's governor declares state of emergency ahead of Helene's impacts

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency today in anticipation of heavy rainfall and flooding from Hurricane Helene.

While the current path of the hurricane is west of Virginia, forecasters predict the western part of the state could “experience significant rainfall and flooding Friday into Saturday, combined with pre-cursor rainfall events predicted in the next few days,” a statement from Youngkin's office said.

Youngkin said Virginians are not in the clear.

“Even though the largest impacts of Helene are predicted to the south and west of us, we cannot ignore the fact that we have had significant flooding events arise from pre-cursory rain events and outer bands from tropical systems that drop locally heavy rainfall leading to flooding, especially in our southwestern region,” he said.

Youngkin urged residents to stay vigilant and informed through "trusted resources" on the latest from Helene, as well as to follow the direction of their local officials.

Atlanta Braves games are postponed tonight and tomorrow

us travel ban to mexico

Denise Chow

The baseball games scheduled for tonight and tomorrow between the Atlanta Braves and the visiting New York Mets have been postponed because of Hurricane Helene, Major League Baseball announced.

MLB officials said the two games will be made up in a doubleheader Monday at Truist Park near Atlanta. The first game will begin at 1:10 p.m. ET, and the second will start 40 minutes after the last out of the first game.

Helene is strengthening, National Hurricane Center says

Hurricane Helene is strengthening and expected to be a “major” hurricane — at least Category 3 or potentially Category 4 — when it reaches Florida’s Big Bend tomorrow, the National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory .

Parts of the Florida coast could get storm surge of up to 20 feet.

Helene is about 460 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida, and moving north at around 12 mph. The storm is expected to cross the eastern Gulf of Mexico tonight and make landfall tomorrow evening, according to the NHC.

The hurricane has maximum sustained winds near 85 mph, with higher gusts, the advisory said. Significant rain, high winds and dangerous storm surge are all expected as Helene approaches the Gulf Coast.

Helene is expected to dump 4 to 8 inches of rain over western Cuba, the Cayman Islands and the northeast Yucatán Peninsula before it reaches the U.S. Across the Southeast, the storm could produce 6 to 12 inches of rain, with isolated totals around 18 inches, causing “catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding,” the NHC said.

After it makes landfall, the storm is expected to turn northwest and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday, according to the advisory.

Though the storm is expected to weaken after landfall, its strong, damaging winds are expected to “penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians,” the NHC said.

Get electric vehicles to higher ground, DeSantis advises

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis offered a reminder to owners of electric vehicles as they prepare for Hurricane Helene: “If you have an EV, you need to get that to higher land,” he said. “Be careful about that getting inundated. It can cause fires.”

At a news briefing this afternoon, he said such fires have become more common in Florida in recent years.

“You’re in an area that is in the eye of where there can be storm surge, you have an electric vehicle — just know that when you have saltwater intrusion on that, those can catch on fire,” DeSantis said. “Those are very difficult to put out.”

Indeed, electric vehicles are powered with banks of lithium-ion batteries that, if they catch fire, can burn for a long time and are very hard to extinguish . Saltwater is highly conductive, which adds extra risk during periods of high storm surge and coastal flooding.

In 2022, after Hurricane Ian hit southwestern Florida, firefighters near Naples responded to six EV fires that burned for “hours and hours” and required “thousands upon thousands” of gallons of water to put out, E&E News reported .

Atlanta public schools will close tomorrow and Friday

All Atlanta public schools will be closed tomorrow and Friday as a result of “expected severe weather from the impact of Hurricane Helene,” officials said in a statement.

District office employees will work remotely, and an update will be issued Friday afternoon about any activities over the weekend, officials said.

Watch hurricane hunters fly into the eye of Helene

Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration flew into the center of Hurricane Helene earlier today, capturing video of the storm’s immensity and its expansive clouds.

The researchers, known as “hurricane hunters,” fly through storms to gather data that can improve forecasts and help scientists better understand tropical storms and hurricanes as they develop.

NOAA maintains a fleet of three WP-3D turboprop aircraft — nicknamed Miss Piggy, Kermit and Gonzo — for the bumpy missions.

Atlanta's mayor describes preparations for heavy wind and rain

Mayor Andre Dickens said Atlanta is preparing for impacts from Hurricane Helene, including significant wind, heavy rain and flooding.

In a news conference this afternoon, Dickens said agencies are clearing drain systems to prepare for the rain, given that the city’s topography can put it at risk for serious flooding.

“We’re a city of 1,000 hills, as it’s been called before,” he said. “And those low-lying areas are bowls.”

Crews are also ready to deal with downed trees, Dickens added, and shelters are open for people who need housing.

DeSantis: 'The eye of the storm is coming'

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said people in the state should anticipate widespread power outages, heavy rain and high winds as Hurricane Helene approaches.

The fast-moving storm is expected to bring 12 inches of rain over parts of the state, DeSantis said at a news briefing, and storm surge could reach up to 15 feet in some areas.

“Just know these effects are coming to the state of Florida, and it’s not a matter of whether we’re going to get effects, it’s just a question of how significant those effects will be,” he said.

A state of emergency is in effect as Florida braces for the hurricane to make landfall tomorrow in the Big Bend region, potentially as a Category 3 storm.

“The eye of the storm is coming in this region,” DeSantis said.

State officials emphasized that it’s not too late to evacuate or make preparations, but they warned that people shouldn’t wait any longer.

“You should be finalizing your plans now, executing on your plans,” said Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “Tomorrow midday will be way too late.”

South Carolina declares state of emergency

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency today ahead of potential impacts from Hurricane Helene.

McMaster said people in the state should monitor local forecasts and begin taking precautions now.

“Although South Carolina will likely avoid the brunt of Hurricane Helene’s impacts, the storm is still expected to bring dangerous flooding, high winds and isolated tornadoes to many parts of the state,” McMaster said in a statement.

The storm is expected to make landfall in Florida's Big Bend, then bring strong winds, major rainfall, flash flooding and other risks to other southeastern states including South Carolina.

Helene could undergo 'rapid intensification.' Here's what that means.

Early forecasts suggest Hurricane Helene could become a major Category 3 storm before it reaches Florida's Big Bend. That intensification is expected to happen quickly as the hurricane moves over warmer-than-usual waters in the Gulf of Mexico.

Warm water is a key ingredient in the formation and development of storms, and warm conditions in the ocean and in the atmosphere can jumpstart the process known as rapid intensification.

The term describes an increase in sustained wind speeds of at least 35 mph over 24 hours, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Many recent storms have undergone rapid intensification before making landfall, including Hurricane Ian in 2022, which strengthened into a Category 3 storm as it neared Florida’s coast. A year before that, Hurricane Ida’s maximum sustained winds increased by 65 mph over a span of just 24 hours. And in 2019, Hurricane Dorian underwent rapid intensification twice before it made landfall in the Bahamas.

Climate change is increasing ocean temperatures, but teasing out what role — if any — that global warming plays in the rapid intensification of storms has been complicated so far. Overall, studies have shown that climate change may not be increasing the total number of hurricanes that form, but it can make the storms that do occur more intense.

Helene moves into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico

Marlene Lenthang

Helene is 110 miles north-northeast of Cozumel, Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said in a 2 p.m. advisory. 

It’s expected to take a turn toward the northeast and increase its forward speed later today and tomorrow. That will likely bring Helene’s center across the eastern Gulf of Mexico to Florida's Big Bend coast by tomorrow evening. 

Helene is still forecast to strengthen and become a major hurricane by the time it reaches Florida. 

"Preparations to protect life and property from storm surge and damaging winds along the Florida Big Bend Coast should be rushed to completion today," the NHC warned.

High-speed winds anticipated in Florida as Hurricane Helene closes in

Nearly every Florida county is under a state of emergency as Hurricane Helene moves through the Gulf of Mexico. NBC News’ Jesse Kirsch reports on how Gov. Ron DeSantis is preparing the state ahead of the expected winds.

Tallahassee mayor says Helene could bring 'unprecedented damage'

Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey said that if the trajectory of Helene holds, the area will see “unprecedented damage like nothing we have ever experienced before as a community.”

Tallahassee, in the Big Bend area, is inland within the projected path of Helene’s landfall. 

“If the city of Tallahassee is hit directly by a Category 3 hurricane, it’ll be the strongest hurricane in recorded history ever to hit our community. Current forecast continues to position us squarely within the cone of Hurricane Helene,” Dailey said in a news conference.

Locals should plan for a possible direct hit with winds in excess of 100 mph and flooding, he warned, adding that the city could see downed trees, structural damage and loss of power.

“Now is the time to prepare. We have no more time left to wait. Today is the day. We urge you to stay weather aware as we’re on the verge of what could be … a historic event,” Dailey added.

Aid resources from nine states — Missouri, Louisiana, Ohio, North Carolina, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Michigan and Florida — are arriving in the area later today.

“By the sun setting this evening, we will have tripled our electric utility workforce,” he said, adding that when restoration begins, the goal is to increase it five-fold.

Tampa International Airport to suspend operations Thursday

Tampa International Airport will suspend all commercial and cargo operations at 2 a.m. Thursday, ahead of Helene's arrival.

The airport will remain closed to the public until damage assessments are completed, but it is anticipated to reopen Friday.  

Three other public airports managed by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority — Peter O. Knight, Tampa Executive and Plant City Airports — will also close at 2 a.m. Thursday, the airport said in a statement . 

North Carolina declares state of emergency

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency today ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Helene. 

In his announcement, Cooper said Helene is forecast to trigger flash flooding, landslides, debris flows and river flooding across portions of the western and central part of the state. Tropical-storm-force winds are possible in the western part of the state late Thursday into Friday. 

“Flooding may occur in areas that do not typically flood. All North Carolinians should be weather aware and prepared,” the statement said.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also declared a state of emergency yesterday, as the southern part of the state was put under a tropical storm watch.

How unusually warm waters could fuel Hurricane Helene

Helene will pass over unusually warm waters as it charges up from the Caribbean, which forecasters say will likely help the storm build intensity.

Sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico have been as hot as 88 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of the eastern Gulf Coast, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .

Brian McNoldy, a senior research associate at the University of Miami, posted on X earlier this month that the amount of heat energy stored in the Gulf of Mexico is “obliterating” previous records.

“It’s almost as if this matters...” McNoldy said in a follow-up post this morning.

Warm water acts like fuel for hurricanes, feeding storms energy and heat to gather strength at a rapid pace. Studies have shown that climate change is increasing ocean temperatures, which in turn is making storms stronger and increasing their intensity and destructiveness.

Florida universities close due to storm

The University of Florida in Gainesville said its campus will close and classes will be cancelled tomorrow due to Helene. The University of Central Florida in Orlando also suspended campus operations and classes tomorrow.

Florida A&M University , Tallahassee State College and Florida State University had already called off classes and closed campuses.

Helene lashes Mexico with fierce winds and flooding

Mara Lezama Espinosa, the governor of Quintana Roo, Mexico, shared videos and photos of severe flooding and damage from Helene as the hurricane passes the Yucatán Peninsula. 

She shared video of high tides at San Miguel Pier in Cozumel and cars submerged in flooded streets. Other posts showed downed trees, workers sweeping debris and intense rain.

“There are streets with fallen trees, power outages, strong gusts of wind and high waves,” she wrote on X . "Let’s take precautions! All emergency teams are in the territory and active on 911."

NASA delays SpaceX launch ahead of storm's arrival

NASA has delayed an upcoming SpaceX launch as Helene gathers strength and threatens Florida’s east coast.

SpaceX was scheduled to launch NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov tomorrow to the International Space Station. But the space agency opted to stand down, saying “the storm system is large enough that high winds and heavy rain are expected in the Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island regions on Florida’s east coast.”

The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule, which were out at the launch pad, were also rolled back to a hangar at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Tuesday evening, NASA officials wrote in a blog post .

The upcoming mission, known as Crew-9 , will now launch no earlier than Saturday at 1:17 p.m. ET.

Helene becomes a Category 1 hurricane

Helene has become a hurricane, with 80 mph maximum sustained winds, the National Hurricane Center said in its 11 a.m. advisory.

It’s now about 85 miles north-northeast of Cozumel, Mexico, moving at 10 mph.  

Helene's outer bands already hitting parts of southern Florida

Some outer bands from Helene are already hitting the Florida Keys and Collier, Miami-Dade and Broward counties, Kevin Guthrie, the director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said in a news conference Wednesday.

“Sixty-four out of 67 counties need to pay attention to their alerts,” he warned as the state braces for what's forecast to become a major hurricane.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said northern Florida will most likely be hit by Helene’s landfall, but impacts will be felt inland as well. 

The governor had declared an emergency for 61 counties in the state. On Wednesday, he said FEMA partially approved the state’s pre-landfall emergency declaration, “but we didn’t get approved for what we think we need to get approved for.” He said the state will ask again for “more robust” approval. 

The governor urged locals to familiarize themselves with their evacuation zones and be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. The state is bracing for power outages, with 18,000 linemen already in Florida to restore power and more on the way. DeSantis said the National Guard is on standby and Starlink internet will be deployed as needed. 

Helene's forecast impacts

us travel ban to mexico

Kathryn Prociv

Wind: Tropical storm-force winds already extend 350 miles in diameter across the storm. Tropical storm conditions are expected in southern Florida later today, spreading northward through Thursday. Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane warning area late Thursday. 

Helene is expected to be a massive hurricane with a wind swath of over 400 miles wide — that’s twice the size of Debby and Idalia, the last two hurricanes to slam the Big Bend. 

Surge: Rivers across Florida will see significant surge, with the highest forecast to be 10 to 15 feet from the Ochlockonee River to Chassahowitzka. Tampa Bay will see 5 to 8 feet surge.

Rain: 32 million people are already under flood watches from South Florida to southern Virginia. Highest rainfall totals of up to 15 inches will be near landfall and in the southern Appalachians over Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. 

Tornadoes: 12 million people are under risk for tornadoes Thursday from central Florida to central South Carolina. Tornado threat will be maximized across the Georgia coast. On Friday, the tornado threat shifts to eastern North Carolina and Southern Virginia.

Helene forecast to make landfall tomorrow night

Helene is forecast to make landfall along the Big Bend of Florida tomorrow night between 6 and 10 p.m. as a major hurricane. 

Helene’s outer rain bands will bring on-and-off tropical downpours to South Florida and the Keys by this afternoon. Tropical storm-force winds will begin for Key West to Miami by later this evening. 

Tomorrow, wind gusts 60 mph and higher, tornadoes, and storm surge flooding are expected along the west coast of Florida, including the Tampa area. Conditions will then quickly go downhill for the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend area by tomorrow afternoon. 

Tomorrow night, Helene is forecast to make landfall and hurricane-force wind gusts are likely for the I-10 corridor across Florida and into southern Georgia. Major wind damage and power outages are likely along with significant urban and river flooding.

On Friday, Helene is forecast to remain strong as it pushes inland. It could maintain hurricane strength into southern Georgia. Major wind and rain impacts from north Georgia into the western Carolinas are forecast. Life-threatening flash flooding is expected for parts of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. 

NHC: Helene nears hurricane strength

Tropical Storm Helene is nearing hurricane strength with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph. A Category 1 hurricane has winds of 74 to 95 mph under the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. 

It’s forecast to become a hurricane later today and rapidly strengthen into a major hurricane on Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said in its 8 a.m. advisory . 

Swirling about 60 miles east-northeast of Cozumel, Mexico, Helene is moving northwest at almost 9 mph. Helene is forecast to pass near the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula this morning, and move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico later today and Thursday, and reach the Big Bend coast of Florida late Thursday.  

A tropical storm warning, already in effect for all of the Florida Keys, the Florida west coast from Flamingo to Anclote River, including the Tampa Bay, has been extended to include the Florida east coast from Flamingo northward to Altamaha Sound, Georgia. 

Evacuations ordered across Florida's coastline

  • Pinellas County : Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for health care and long-term care facilities in Zone A, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said Tuesday.
  • Levy County — Mandatory evacuation orders for coastal communities, low-lying areas, mobile and manufactured homes. 
  • Taylor County — Mandatory evacuation orders for all of the county, with shelters in Alachua County. 
  • Charlotte County — Evacuations orders for barrier islands, low-lying and flood-prone areas, and manufactured homes.
  • Citrus County — Mandatory Evacuation orders for nursing facilities and assisted living facilities in Zone A.
  • Hernando County — Mandatory evacuations starting Wednesday at 8 a.m. for all areas west of US 19. 

View the full list of evacuation orders here . 

Tropical Storm Helene expected to grow to Category 3 hurricane

us travel ban to mexico

Emergency evacuations are underway in Florida as Tropical Storm Helene is expected to grow into a massive and destructive Category 3 hurricane. "TODAY’s" Al Roker tracks the projected path of the storm.

Biden approves Florida's emergency declaration

President Joe Biden last night declared an emergency in Florida and authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate disaster relief efforts as Helene approaches. 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had requested the disaster declaration on Monday and he declared a state of emergency in 61 counties in the state.

The president’s authorization will see federal assistance and reimbursement for “mass care including evacuation and shelter support.”

University of South Florida cancels all classes ahead of Helene's arrival

us travel ban to mexico

Patrick Smith Patrick Smith is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News Digital.

The University of South Florida ia taking no chances as the state braces for the impact of Tropical Storm Helene tomorrow, likely as a hurricane.

The college has canceled all classes through Monday and closed access to its campuses until at least Friday.

"The University of South Florida continues to monitor Tropical Storm Helene. The safety of our students, faculty and staff is our highest priority as we track the storm and the possible impacts to the Tampa Bay region," the college said in a statement this morning.

Tropical storm and storm surge warnings extended across Florida

Florida is set to be hit hard by Tropical Storm Helene, forecasters said today, ahead of its likely arrival as a hurricane late tomorrow.

The National Hurricane Center said in a 5 a.m. ET update that its list of warnings and watches had grown overnight, with a hurricane warning already in place for Florida's west coast, from Mexico Beach to the Anclote River.

A hurricane watch is in place for a stretch of coastline from the river down to Englewood.

"Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion," the NHC said.

A storm surge warning, meaning there is danger of life-threatening inundation in the next 36 hours, is in place for almost the entirety of Florida's west coast from Indian Pass, south-east of Panama City, down to Flamingo in the Everglades National Park on the tip of the peninsular. This warning includes Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor.

Across the upper portion of the west coast, the storm surge could reach between 10 and 15 feet.

And a tropical storm warning is in place for Florida's west coast, much of the east coast, and all the Florida Keys.

Cancun’s beaches empty as Helene heads toward Mexico

A few visitors at the tourist hotspot Cancun were still on the beach on Tuesday, despite warnings that Helene was approaching Mexico’s Caribbean coast.

Florida braces for Helene to hit, potentially as a Category 3 hurricane

Angie Lassman

NBC News meteorologist Angie Lassman on Early Today forecasts the direction, size and strength of Helene as it heads toward Florida.  

IMAGES

  1. Mexico travel warning: U.S. urges citizens to avoid 5 Mexican states

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  2. Thousands crossing US-Mexico border despite travel ban

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  3. Mexico Travel Restrictions from USA

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  4. US updates travel advisory for Mexico

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  5. Mexico Under a Travel Warning From U.S. State Department

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  6. Travel Restrictions to Mexico

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COMMENTS

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  2. U.S. Issues Travel Warning for Mexico Ahead of Spring Break

    The United States is warning travelers heading to Mexico to be aware of their surroundings ahead of the spring break holiday season. The warning, which was issued this week by the U.S. Embassy and ...

  3. Is it safe to travel to Mexico? Here's what you need to know

    The U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Mexico put out an alert for spring break travelers on March 13 outlining crime and other potential security issues and actions to take to help ensure safer travel ...

  4. Travel Restrictions

    The United States will temporarily limit inbound land border crossings from Canada and Mexico to "essential travel". This action does not prevent U.S. citizens from returning home. These restrictions are temporary and went into effect on March 21, 2020. They will remain in effect through 11:59 pm on October 21, 2021.

  5. Travel Advisory Updates

    Office of the Spokesperson. April 19, 2021. State Department Travel Advisory Updates. In order to provide U.S. travelers detailed and actionable information to make informed travel decisions, the Department of State regularly assesses and updates our Travel Advisories, based primarily on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC ...

  6. Travel Advisories

    Mexico Travel Advisory: Other: August 22, 2023: Micronesia Travel Advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions: July 24, 2023: Moldova Travel Advisory: ... Subscribe to get up-to-date safety and security information and help us reach you in an emergency abroad. Recommended Web Browsers: Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome. ...

  7. Is It Safe to Travel to Mexico? Here's What You Need to Know

    Mr. de Hail recommends researching the resort and news from the area you're visiting. The U.S. State Department provides state-by-state information about travel risks in Mexico. As of early ...

  8. The U.S. lifts the pandemic travel ban and opens the doors to

    The U.S. lifted restrictions Monday on travel from a long list of countries including Mexico, Canada and most of Europe, allowing tourists to make long-delayed trips and family members to ...

  9. US shares Mexico travel warning ahead of spring break

    0:34. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico has issued a spring break travel warning for Americans planning to visit the country. The message posted on Monday highlighted a range of potential ...

  10. Mexico danger map: Six states under 'do not travel' warning

    Amid announcements of new safety concerns in Mexico at the start of 2023, the official U.S. State Department travel advisories remained as they had been for several months, with six states in the ...

  11. Mexico COVID Travel Restrictions: A State-By-State Guide

    Read on for our full list of Mexico COVID travel restrictions, by state. Mexico COVID travel: Entry and exit restrictions. Since March 21, 2020, Mexico's northern border with the United States ...

  12. Travel to Mexico during Covid-19: What you need to know before you go

    Mexico has had more than 7.07 million cases of Covid-19 and almost 330,000 deaths as of September 20. Mexico had administered roughly 209.7 million doses of vaccine, or 165 doses per 100 people as ...

  13. U.S. State Department Renews Warning About Travel To Mexico

    The U.S. State Department has issued travel advisories for Americans planning to visit Mexico, citing widespread and common violent crime and kidnapping. The advisories vary by state, from "do not travel" to "exercise normal precautions", and include popular tourist destinations like Cancun, Tulum, and Guadalajara.

  14. Coronavirus: Covid News: U.S.-Mexico Border Reopens to Vaccinated

    Vaccinated visitors from Mexico lined up to enter the U.S. after the pandemic travel ban was lifted. For the past 18 months, only U.S. citizens and permanent residents have been able to cross the ...

  15. Mexico International Travel Information

    Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). See the State Department's travel website for the Worldwide Caution and Travel Advisories.

  16. Americans Can Travel to Mexico with Restrictions—Here's How

    A ban on nonessential land travel across the border between the two countries went into effect on March 21, 2020, and continues to get extended—the latest deadline to reopen the U.S.-Mexico border was pushed to May 21, 2021. (How exactly nonessential travel is defined is problematic in and of itself—in short, there is no set-in-stone ...

  17. US issues 'do not travel' warning for Mexico

    LOS ANGELES - The U.S. State Department is reminding American citizens it has issued its highest-level warning advising against travel to parts of Mexico. This comes after the FBI announced four U ...

  18. US issues 'do not travel' warning for Mexico

    FOX 4. As spring break travel gets underway, U.S. authorities have issued its highest-level warning against traveling to parts of Mexico. This comes after the FBI announced four U.S. citizens were ...

  19. Places the U.S. Government Warns Not to Travel Right Now

    So far in 2024, the State Department made changes to the existing Level 4 advisories for Myanmar, Iran and Gaza, and moved Niger and Lebanon off of the Level 4 list. Places With a Level 4 Travel ...

  20. Mexico Travel Advisory Updates Issued by US State Department

    The State Department Just Issued an Updated Mexico Travel Warning The US government is still advising against travel to many Mexican states. By Serena Tara. Updated on Aug 25, 2023 at 12:40 PM.

  21. Spring break travel warnings for Mexico: What you need to know

    The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico issued a travel alert warning Americans about high levels of crime and the dangers of spiked alcohol, illicit drugs, fake prescription drugs and more. The alert reads, in part: Crime, including violent crime, can occur anywhere in Mexico, including in popular tourist destinations.

  22. Mexico Travel Advisory

    Reissued after periodic review with general security updates, and the removal of obsolete COVID-19 page links. Country Summary: Violent crime - such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery - is widespread and common in Mexico.The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Mexico, as travel by U.S. government employees to ...

  23. Spring break: What to know about Mexico's 'do not travel' warnings

    Last month, the State Department issued a Level 4 "do not travel" warning for many parts of Mexico. As of March 9, many of those warnings remain in place. That includes the Guerrero state due ...

  24. Hurricane Helene: Category 1 storm intensifies as it takes aim at Florida

    Hurricane Helene is strengthening as it moves toward the U.S. Gulf Coast. Now a Category 1 storm, it is expected to hit Florida's Big Bend on Thursday.