Understanding U.S. Travel Advisories: What They Really Mean for Ixtapa & Zihuatanejo

The common question: "It appears that the US government lists the entire state of Guerrero including Zihuatanejo as a Level 4 safety risk.  Some in our group are a little nervous.

What information do you have on this topic that might help?"

“That’s a very fair question” is often how conversations about travel advisories begin—and for good reason. U.S. travel advisories can be confusing, especially when they appear to contradict the real-world experiences of travelers on the ground. To understand what these advisories actually mean for destinations like Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, it helps to look at how the system works and how it has changed over time.

How the U.S. Travel Advisory System Changed

Until several years ago, Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo were specifically listed as exempt within U.S. travel advisories due to their long history as safe, well-established resort destinations. These exemptions recognized that tourism-focused coastal communities operate very differently from other areas within the same state.

That structure later changed. Today, the U.S. State Department generally issues advisories by country and, in Mexico’s case, applies them at the state level rather than distinguishing between individual cities or regions. Because Mexico is geographically large and diverse, this approach groups very different places under a single label—even when conditions vary dramatically within one state.

What a Level 4 Advisory for Guerrero Really Means

The Level 4 “Do Not Travel” designation for Guerrero is a broad, policy-driven classification. It is based on overall crime statistics, regional instability concerns, and limitations on U.S. government operations—not on the daily experience of visitors in long-standing resort towns like Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.

Importantly, the advisory does not distinguish between rural inland areas and coastal, tourism-centered communities. Resort towns such as Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo have dedicated tourism infrastructure, visible security, and local economies that depend directly on visitor safety. These factors significantly shape the on-the-ground reality for travelers but are not reflected in a state-wide advisory label.

Why Advisories Don’t Equal Daily Risk

Travel advisories are not crime comparisons. They are risk-management tools shaped by policy, diplomacy, and jurisdictional boundaries. To put this into relatable terms, there are many locations within the United States where violent crime rates, gun violence, or emergency response limitations exceed those found in coastal tourist areas of Guerrero—yet no “Do Not Travel” advisories are issued for entire U.S. states or cities.

This disconnect can understandably feel unsettling, particularly for travelers accustomed to seeing advisories framed as direct measures of personal safety.

How Other Countries Approach Travel Guidance

Adding to the confusion, other governments handle travel advisories differently. Countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and much of Europe distinguish between tourist zones and broader regional conditions. As a result, Canadians and Europeans continue to travel to Ixtapa–Zihuatanejo in large numbers every year, guided by more localized assessments rather than state-wide classifications.

Canada (Government of Canada Travel Advisory)

Overall country guidance

• Canada advises travellers to exercise a high degree of caution across Mexico due to violent crime and risks such as kidnapping.

Regional specifics

• Canada lists several states where it recommends avoiding non-essential travel because of organized crime and high violence levels — including Guerrero.

• Importantly, the advisory excludes Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo when accessed by air. In other words, flights directly into Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa are considered safer and not part of the “avoid” designation.

Key takeaway

• Canadians are told to use heightened caution generally, but popular beach destinations like Ixtapa–Zihuatanejo are not part of the “avoid non-essential travel” trigger if arriving by air.

United Kingdom (UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — FCDO)

State-level guidance

• The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the state of Guerrero.

Exceptions

• The FCDO’s advisory specifically excludes the town of Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa when accessed by air, meaning direct flights into the region do not fall under the “avoid all but essential travel” guidance.

Key takeaway

• For UK travellers, Guerrero as a whole has strong caution; however, Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo are recognized as exceptions if reached by air travel.

European Union (EU Member States’ Travel Advice)

General structure

• The EU does not publish a single unified EU-wide travel advisory. Instead, each EU member state’s foreign ministry issues its own travel guidance for citizens. The European Commission provides a portal listing those national advisories, but does not itself issue a consolidated EU country-level advisory. 

Practical implications

• Countries like France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and others typically mirror guidance similar to the UK and Canada — emphasizing caution for Guerrero while offering localized nuance for major resort areas.

Points to Understand When Reading These Advisories

1. Advisory levels differ by country — terms like “avoid non-essential travel” (Canada) and “all but essential travel” (UK) reflect each government’s own risk frameworks, not a global standard.

2. Exceptions often apply to major tourist arrivals — direct air travel into resort hubs like Ixtapa–Zihuatanejo is commonly noted as excluded from broader warnings, provided travellers stay within tourism-oriented areas.

3. Advisories are risk management tools, not predictions of everyday visitor experiences. They are deliberately broad and rooted in crime statistics, not tailored to the nuance of specific municipalities.

The Reality on the Ground in Zihuatanejo

In practical terms, Zihuatanejo is calm, welcoming, and firmly centered around tourism. The area has hosted international travelers for decades and maintains a strong safety record. Many guests comment that it feels quieter, more relaxed, and more community-oriented than many major U.S. cities—which is precisely why visitors return year after year.

Context Matters More Than Headlines

No destination is entirely risk-free, including the United States. Travel ultimately comes down to personal comfort level. What matters most is context—not headlines, labels, or broad classifications that fail to capture local realities.

Understanding how travel advisories are structured allows travelers to make informed decisions based on facts, lived experiences, and their own sense of comfort—rather than fear-driven assumptions.

Is Ixtapa safe to travel to right now?

Yes. Ixtapa is a well-established resort destination with a long history of international tourism. Daily life in Ixtapa is calm, tourism-focused, and centered around resorts, beaches, and golf courses. The U.S. travel advisory for Guerrero is state-wide and does not reflect conditions specific to Ixtapa’s resort zone.

Is Zihuatanejo safe for tourists in 2026?

Yes. Zihuatanejo remains a popular destination for international travelers in 2026. The town has decades of tourism experience, visible security in tourist areas, and a strong safety record. Most visitors report feeling comfortable walking around town, dining out, and exploring beaches.

Why is Guerrero under a Level 4 travel advisory?

Guerrero is under a Level 4 advisory due to state-wide crime statistics and U.S. government operational limitations. The designation applies broadly and does not distinguish between rural inland regions and coastal resort towns like Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.

Does the U.S. travel advisory apply to Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo?

Formally, yes—because the advisory is issued at the state level. Practically, however, the advisory does not reflect the on-the-ground reality in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, which are tourism-centered communities with different conditions than other parts of Guerrero.

What does a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory really mean?

A Level 4 advisory is a policy and risk-management classification. It is based on crime data, regional instability, and limitations on U.S. government assistance—not on a direct assessment of day-to-day tourist safety in specific resort towns.

Are U.S. travel advisories based on tourist safety?

Not entirely. U.S. travel advisories consider diplomatic, legal, and operational factors in addition to crime data. They are not designed to compare destinations or measure the typical experience of travelers staying in established tourist areas.

What is Canada’s travel advisory for Ixtapa Zihuatanejo?

Canada advises travelers to exercise a high degree of caution in Mexico overall. However, its guidance excludes Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo when accessed by air, recognizing them as established resort destinations.

Can Canadians travel safely to Zihuatanejo?

Yes. Canadians continue to travel to Zihuatanejo in large numbers every year. Canadian travel guidance distinguishes resort areas from broader regional conditions, and Zihuatanejo remains a popular winter destination for Canadian travelers.

Does the UK travel advisory include Ixtapa?

The United Kingdom advises against all but essential travel to Guerrero as a state, but its official guidance explicitly excludes Ixtapa–Zihuatanejo when reached by air, separating the resort area from broader warnings.

Why does the UK exclude Ixtapa Zihuatanejo from Guerrero warnings?

The UK recognizes that Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo function as tourism-specific zones with established infrastructure, direct air access, and safety conditions that differ from other parts of Guerrero.

What do European countries say about travel to Zihuatanejo?

European countries issue travel advice individually rather than as a single EU advisory. Most European guidance mirrors Canada and the UK by emphasizing caution in Guerrero while recognizing major resort areas like Zihuatanejo as distinct from inland regions.

Is Zihuatanejo safe according to EU travel advisories?

Yes. While advisory language varies by country, European travelers continue to visit Zihuatanejo regularly. The destination is widely viewed as calm, welcoming, and suitable for leisure travel when normal precautions are followed.

Is Zihuatanejo safer than Cancun?

Zihuatanejo is generally quieter and less densely populated than Cancun. Many travelers find it feels more relaxed and less hectic, with fewer nightlife-related incidents common in larger resort cities.

Is Zihuatanejo / Ixtapa safer than other parts of Guerrero?

Yes. Ixtapa is a planned resort community with controlled access areas, visible security, and a tourism-dependent economy, making it very different from inland or rural parts of the state.

Why do Canadians and Europeans still travel to Zihuatanejo?

Because their governments provide more localized guidance that distinguishes tourist zones from broader regional conditions. Travelers also rely heavily on firsthand experiences and repeat visits.

Is Zihuatanejo safer than many U.S. cities?

Many visitors report that Zihuatanejo feels calmer and more relaxed than large U.S. cities, particularly in tourist areas where walking, dining, and evening outings are common.

Should I cancel my trip to Ixtapa because of travel advisories?

Most travelers do not. Many visitors choose to rely on firsthand reports, international advisory nuance, and the long safety record of Ixtapa rather than state-wide labels.

Is it safe to fly into Zihuatanejo airport?

Yes. The airport serves international and domestic flights daily and is a standard entry point for tourists visiting the region.

Why does Zihuatanejo feel safer than expected?

Because it is smaller, community-oriented, tourism-focused, and not representative of the broader conditions used to classify the entire state of Guerrero.