In a startling turn of events, several of Mexico’s most beloved tourist destinations—including Tulum, Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, and San Miguel de Allende—have found themselves listed among the nation’s 50 most violent municipalities, according to official homicide data compiled between September 2024 and August 2025. This development comes amid heightened concerns about organized crime and a recent wave of threatening messages reportedly left by the Sinaloa cartel, targeting Americans living or vacationing in areas under cartel influence.
For many, Mexico conjures images of sun-drenched beaches, vibrant towns, and a thriving expat community. But beneath the surface, a more troubling reality is emerging—one that both locals and visitors are being urged to acknowledge. According to Mexico News Daily, the crime data website elcri.men has ranked these popular tourism hotspots among the most dangerous in the country based on per capita homicide rates over the past year. While violence is rarely directed at tourists or foreign residents, the numbers are nonetheless sobering and underscore the importance of remaining vigilant.
Huajicori, a small municipality in Nayarit with just over 12,000 residents, topped the grim list with a staggering homicide rate of 278 per 100,000 people, logging 34 murders in the 12-month period. While Huajicori is far from a tourist magnet, its position at the top of the list highlights the reach of organized crime into even Mexico’s most remote corners.
Tulum, Quintana Roo—a destination famed for its turquoise waters and ancient ruins—ranked 20th, with a homicide rate of 83.9 per 100,000 residents. The municipality, home to just under 55,000 people, recorded 46 homicides in the period. Among the victims were two individuals killed during an armed attack at a bar in August 2025, as well as previous attacks involving foreigners at a beach club in February 2024 and a shooting in October 2021. These incidents, though rare for tourists, serve as stark reminders that violence can spill into even the most idyllic settings.
Acapulco, once the playground of Hollywood royalty, has struggled to shed its reputation as a hotbed for violence. Ranking 34th with 71 homicides per 100,000 residents, the city recorded a staggering 560 homicides between September 2024 and August 2025—more than twelve times the number reported in Tulum. In one particularly harrowing 24-hour stretch in early September, eight people were killed, underscoring the persistent challenges facing local authorities and residents alike.
Zihuatanejo de Azueta, another Pacific coast favorite with an active expat community, ranked 41st with 61.3 homicides per 100,000 people. The municipality saw 79 murders in the past year, including the son of a business leader from Michoacán, whose body was found near El Posquelite in late August. The incident rattled the local community, highlighting the unpredictable nature of violence in regions once considered safe havens.
San Miguel de Allende, nestled in the Bajío region and long cherished for its colonial charm and sizable foreign population, ranked 50th with 49.3 homicides per 100,000 people. The city recorded 88 homicides in the year leading up to August 30, 2025. In a particularly shocking event in August, three people were shot during a religious gathering. Mayor Mauricio Trejo Pureco stated that the attack targeted three individuals with significant criminal records, while 19 people were wounded—16 of whom he described as “good people.” San Miguel is just one of nine municipalities in Guanajuato to make the “most violent” list, cementing the state’s reputation as Mexico’s deadliest based on total homicides.
The violence is not confined to these high-profile destinations. The ten most violent municipalities, based on per capita homicide rates, include Huajicori (Nayarit), Santiago Jamiltepec, Manzanillo (Colima), Huitzilac (Morelos), Tarimoro (Guanajuato), Salvatierra (Guanajuato), Puente de Ixtla (Morelos), San Luis Río Colorado (Sonora), Elota (Sinaloa), and Matías Romero Avedaño (Oaxaca). Each reported rates above 100 homicides per 100,000 people, painting a grim picture of the challenges facing local governments and law enforcement.
On a state level, Colima emerged as the most violent, with 89.2 homicides per 100,000 people between September 2024 and August 2025. Morelos, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, and Guanajuato followed closely behind. Guanajuato, in particular, recorded 2,084 homicides between January and September 2025—accounting for a staggering 11.3% of all murders nationwide. Despite these alarming figures, there is a glimmer of hope: homicides across Mexico declined by nearly 25% in the first nine months of 2025, according to data presented by Marcela Figueroa Franco, head of the National Public Security System.
Yet, even as officials tout progress, new threats loom. On Sunday, October 5, 2025, two banners reportedly left by the Sinaloa cartel appeared in Los Cabos, warning of violence against Americans living or visiting areas controlled by the cartel. The banners, signed by the “La Chapiza” faction and addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel and DEA Administrator Terry Cole, stated: “You will be the ones to blame. We’ll show how we’ll make this war starting 5/10/2025 on all Americans residing in areas where we have a presence … especially those living in San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.” The message continued, “We are the ones who rule here and we’ll demonstrate what we are capable of if you don’t stop arresting our people and decommissioning our loads and weapons.”
Christian Agúndez Gómez, mayor of San Jose del Cabo, was quick to push back against the reports, stating, “It’s not true. We have investigated the information and determined the banners were never placed.” The state attorney general’s ongoing investigation has yet to locate any evidence of the threatening messages, and officials have urged the public to verify information with official sources before spreading it on social media. “Unfortunately, social media sometimes plays a role against people’s peace of mind, that’s why it’s important to verify the information with official sources before distributing it,” Agúndez Gómez emphasized.
According to Border Report, Mexican authorities noted that between April and July 2025, 46 similar narco-banners appeared in Baja California Sur, many of which were later determined to be “false and unsubstantiated meant to infuse fear into residents.” Nevertheless, the threat of cartel violence remains a potent force, with banners naming not only U.S. officials but also high-profile Mexican leaders such as President Claudia Sheinbaum and public safety chief Omar García Harfuch.
For travelers and residents alike, the message is clear: while the vast majority of visitors to Mexico’s top destinations remain unaffected by violence, the risk is real and cannot be ignored. Official homicide data and the specter of cartel threats serve as a sobering reminder of the complex security landscape in Mexico today. As authorities continue to grapple with these challenges, vigilance and accurate information remain the best defenses for those seeking to enjoy all that Mexico has to offer.