Acapulco Mexico - No Go Zone, as the city continues its spiral

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UPDATE - 05 November 2019 - We have updated our guidance re Acapulco with a new post → Acapulco remains an unsafe destination.

Acapulco, Mexico, in the state of Guerrero is no longer the luxury haven of rest and recuperation made famous in films and by its famous residents. The level of crime and corruption has reached a new level, which necessitated the Attorney General of the Mexico state of Guerrero, along with the Mexican armed forces, working jointly with the federal police, and the Guerrero state police to take over the law enforcement for the municipality of Acapulco on 25 September, until further notice. The warnings are explicit, it is not safe to travel to Acapulco.

In doing so, the Acapulco municipal police, have been disarmed.

Tourism in Acapulco

That said, it should come as no surprise that the Secretariat of Tourism for Guerrero, is highlighting Acapulco as a destination of choice.

A new Mexican cruise brand, Cruceros Maritimos Vacacionales, Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV), owned by parent company Global Maritime Group, has decided to homeport it’s ship, the Magellan, in Acapulco for cruises along the Pacific coast of Mexico beginning in February 2019, offering 7- and 10-day itineraries.

A review of cruise ship schedules for the 2018-19 winter cruise season indicates that NCL’s Norwegian Star and Hapag Lloyd’s HL Europa are both scheduled to make port of call in Acapulco. If you are booked on one of these cruises, you may wish to keep yourself informed about the situation in Acapulco when planning any shore excursions. The likelihood that an untoward event occurring, is low, but it is not zero, and the state of flux within the law enforcement community in Acapulco may make obtaining police or armed forces assistance problematic should the need exist.

The Department of State and Embassy remind U.S. citizens to NOT travel to the state of Guerrero, including Acapulco due to crime.

Guerrero state – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Do not travel due to crime. Armed groups operate independently of the government in many areas of Guerrero. Members of these groups frequently maintain roadblocks and may use violence towards travelers.

U.S. government employees are prohibited from travel to the entire state of Guerrero, including Acapulco.

Those who need assistance in Acapulco, may contact the U.S. Consular Agency in Acapulco or the Embassy in Mexico City

U.S. Consular Agency in Acapulco
From Mexico: 01-55-8526-2561
From the United States:1-844-528-6611
[email protected]

U.S. Embassy in Mexico City
From Mexico: 01-800-681-9374
From the United States: 1-844-528-6611
[email protected]

#Mexico Security Alert: On Sept 25, the State AG for Guerrero announced an operation with Mexican armed forces, federal police, state police in #Acapulco. The armed forces have taken over law enforcement for the municipality until further notice. https://t.co/DeaB4R3jwM pic.twitter.com/siA4oiVjFn
— Travel - State Dept (@TravelGov) September 25, 2018