Is travel to Mazanillo safe?

In view of headlines about crime and violence along the Mexican border, and the State Department's updated travel alert concerning travel to Mexico, many people are wondering about the safety of visiting Mexico.

Crime, protests and violence can put a damper on your vacation, but just because the headlines are nasty, you don't have to cancel your vacation or travel somewhere else.

Mexico is a big country and it's incredibly diverse, so violence along the US border won't have any effect on your vacation in Mazanillo any more than an earthquake in California would affect people in Chicago. Most of the violence that has taken place recently is due to conflicts between drug cartels and the Mexican authorities. As a tourist, you are in little danger of having trouble as long as you follow common sense safety precautions and don't get involved with drugs.

A recently reported survey cited Manzanillo and the state of Colima as having the lowest crime rates--1.1%--in all of Mexico.

Manzanillo is a tourist town; its citizens and businesses depend on you having a great and safe time while you're here. Not only is the Mexican army and navy based in Manzanillo, but so is PFP. Crime is virtually nonexistent here, especially violent crime. This is not Guadalajara, Acapulco or Mexico City. You can feel safe driving on any road in the state of Colima. On some back roads, such as this one, you might get caught up in some heavy traffic, but even then, it can be a very "moo-ving" experience!

There are some areas of major Canadian and American cities that you wouldn't dare walk down the street in broad daylight, much less at night. In Manzanillo and the state of Colima, you can go anywhere, and never have to worry, even the "red light district." This small, 2-block-long area, is also called the "zona tolerancia," or tolerance zone. There are a couple of bawdy houses, where women do the Mexican version of bump and grind to pulsating loud music.

Naturally, since Manzanillo is a port town, the sailors and merchant marines frequent this area for their night on the town. The section is interspersed with adjoining homes, and at night you'll often see families sitting out in front of their houses on the sidewalk, while the kids ride their trikes and push-cars in the street.

This is not to say that you want to go to the red light district, get rip-roaring drunk, and stumble down a dark alley at 2 a.m. with money falling out of your pocket. You wouldn't do that at home, either, would you? Don't look for trouble, and you won't find any.

What about drugs? Possession of any illegal substance is a life sentence here in Mexico. Try and make the most of your vacation without being under the influence. A Mexican jail is no vacation!

Manzanillo isn't Mexico City, nor is it Los Angeles, New York, Detroit or Toronto. Every city in the world has its plusses and minuses, but Manzanillo is, for all practical purposes, one of the safest and most friendly places on earth.

Don't be afraid, and don't pass us by because some overpaid elected official in your country makes a blanket statement about Mexico before he has all his facts straight.

You can check Susan Dearing Guidebook for more information about Manzanillo and Colima area.