{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/mexico/puerto-vallarta","updatedAt":"2026-09-30T12:53:32.003Z","place":{"city":"Puerto Vallarta","country":"Mexico","countryCode":"MX","lat":20.617,"lon":-105.23018},"safety":{"score":51,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":42,"confidence":0.66,"caps":[],"databaseScore":48,"travellerSentiment":{"score":67,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Recent visitor reports and local surveys indicate most tourists feel safe during the day in tourist zones, though nighttime caution is advised; 32% of residents perceive insecurity, well below Mexico’s national average of 63.8%.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":68,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":44,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":67,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":57,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":74,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":2,"label":"Exercise Increased Caution","updated":"Tue, 12 Aug 2025","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/mexico-travel-advisory.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":3,"label":"Advises against all travel to parts of the country","updated":"2026-09-28T19:33:06Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mexico"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-09-29T14:42:49.2744798-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/mexico"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":24.8589948436701,"display":"24.9 / 100k","year":"2023","score":21,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":12.3,"display":"12.3%","year":"2010","score":69,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0.09094567587415847,"display":"0.09 / million","year":"2021","score":93,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":12,"display":"12.0 / 100k","year":"2021","score":60,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":53.6732923,"display":"54/100","year":"2024","score":54,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":37.1058908,"display":"37/100","year":"2024","score":37,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":28.8100291,"display":"29/100","year":"2024","score":29,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":47.0640988,"display":"47/100","year":"2024","score":47,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":51.7749322,"display":"52/100","year":"2024","score":52,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":50.9282349,"display":"51/100","year":"2024","score":51,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":224166,"display":"224k residents","year":null,"score":82,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":41.3,"display":"41.3%","year":"2024","score":37,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"violence_victimization","label":"Physical assault (past year)","value":6.1,"display":"6.1%","year":"2024","score":72,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"sexual_violence","label":"Sexual violence (past year)","value":1.6,"display":"1.6%","year":"2024","score":81,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.06,"display":"0.06 / 100k","year":"2024","score":91,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":13.96,"display":"14.0%","year":"2023","score":69,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":38,"display":"US AQI 38 · Good","year":null,"score":92,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":1,"display":"1 notice · max Watch","year":null,"score":84,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":16,"display":"16 within 15 km · nearest ~1 km","year":null,"score":95,"source":"OpenStreetMap"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":32,"display":"September: highs ~32°C · strong winds, heavy rain / flooding","year":null,"score":64,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":2,"display":"2 active alerts · Tropical cyclone (green)","year":null,"score":78,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution · 2 govts","year":null,"score":50,"source":"CA / US"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Watch","title":"Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Mexico","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/rmsf-mexico"},{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[{"kind":"Tropical cyclone","severity":"green","title":"notification for tropical cyclone RACHEL-26. Population affected by Category 1 (120 km/h) wind speeds or higher is 0  (0 in Tropical Storm).","distanceKm":394},{"kind":"Flood","severity":"green","title":"flood alert in Mexico","distanceKm":471}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — Puerto Vallarta remains generally safe for visitors who exercise increased caution, particularly in tourist zones, despite recent cartel-related unrest and moderate crime levels.","summary":"Puerto Vallarta scores 56/100 on safety indices, reflecting moderate overall risk driven by crime (51/100) and weak institutions (40/100), but offset by strong health/environment (90/100) and low terrorism risk. Tourist zones benefit from visible security, while petty crime and occasional violence persist, especially after dark.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Mugging and armed robbery occur occasionally, particularly at night in Centro and along isolated beach paths; tourist zones see fewer incidents due to police presence."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are common in crowded tourist areas such as the Malecón, markets, and public buses, especially during peak hours."},"safeAreas":["Zona Romántica","Marina Vallarta","Zona Hotelera"],"avoidAreas":["Las Juntas y Los Veranos (cartel-related violence and looting reported Feb 2026)","Colonia Pitillal (high robbery and assault risk, especially at night)"],"scams":["Fake taxi drivers overcharging or taking tourists to unsafe areas","Mustard distraction scam where a substance is sprayed on clothing to distract while belongings are stolen","ATM skimming and fake police officers demanding fines for minor infractions"],"zones":[{"name":"Zona Romántica","level":"safe","note":"Tourist-friendly area with strong police presence and low violent crime; petty theft possible after dark."},{"name":"Marina Vallarta","level":"safe","note":"Well-patrolled marina district with resorts and low incidence of serious crime; watch for petty scams."},{"name":"Zona Hotelera","level":"safe","note":"Main tourist zone with 24/7 hotel security and tourist police; minimal violent crime, but pickpocketing reported on beaches."},{"name":"Centro (El Centro)","level":"caution","note":"Historic downtown with moderate petty theft and scams; avoid poorly lit side streets after 10 PM."},{"name":"Versalles","level":"caution","note":"Residential area near Centro; increased risk of opportunistic theft at night, especially near bars."},{"name":"Ixtapa","level":"caution","note":"Industrial and lower-income zone; higher reports of robbery and gang activity; avoid after dark unless necessary."},{"name":"Las Juntas y Los Veranos","level":"avoid","note":"Eastern outskirts with documented cartel-related violence in Feb 2026; looting and arson reported during security operations."},{"name":"Colonia Pitillal","level":"avoid","note":"Western district with frequent robbery and assault incidents; avoid nighttime travel and isolated areas."}]}}