The location also makes it convenient to take your car over the border to drive down the peninsula. Besides, acting like a gringo wont help with bargaining in shops, getting decent service, or keeping you safe. Areas frequented by tourists are generally safe in Tijuana, but visitors should be aware of their surroundings at all times and avoid walking in bad neighborhoods at night. These include the downtown area, the Zona Rio, Zona Centro, Zona Norte, and the beaches. I was walking down the street with two police officers walking a head of me. Zona Norte is a party district, and its most well known as being Tijuanas red-light district. At 7.7 times more than Detroit, the end of 2019 recorded 2,100 total murders in Tijuana. The former director of Tijuanas Tourism and Conventions Committee even pushes to remove the taboo of prostitution and brothels and promote them as a way to bring tourists south from the United States. Take our quiz, We'll find you and we won't let you live a teams fight to exist, When a biryani flies hundreds of miles to reach Indians, The two generals fighting over Sudan's future, 'I thought we'd die' - Sudan patients cry for help, Why Gen Z workers are starting on the back foot. Often these freelancers work with others to drug and mug their victims. The fact of the matter, as of recently, the Tijuana police are mostly owned by the cartel. This is an interactive science museum which keeps kids entertained through games and exhibitions. Taxi drivers in Tijuana arent averse to scamming, so Uber might be your best bet for a haggle- and hassle-free ride. I got picked up a third time. Some travelers on a day trip to tijuana feel like San Diego however those not used to Mexican culture will find it very foreign. Roughly 8,000 prostitutes are working in Tijuana, and its said that close to 1,000 are working on any given night around the Zona Norte area. Graham McMillan was walking down a side street near Avenida Revolucion in Tijuana on a recent Sunday afternoon when he felt a vice-like grip on his elbow. Dont get caught with a taxi driver asking for extra money. The Zona Centro is home to many of the best bars and nightclubs, while the Zona Norte is known for its nightlife, cheap drinks, cheap accommodations, and well- its red-light district. Often a so-called tour guide or the like will attempt to befriend you. Tijuana Mexico: 2,177 . With an estimated population of 639,052 inhabitants, Celaya is the third most populous city situated in the south-central part of the Mexican state of Guanajuato. Either use cards for emergencies only, or take cash out at trusted atms either in shopping centers. The reality is, its more dangerous for prostitutes than Johns. Geographic Arbitrage: Tips to Making Money Overseas. In Zona Norte, the ladies there are checked monthly. After the city established itself as an agriculture hub, in the 1920s Tijuana exploded as a getaway for Americans looking to indulge in both drinking andgamblingduring prohibition times. Things like museums, lovely beaches or busy markets. To give you an idea, Tijuana closed out July 2021 with a whopping 190 murders. A Look at Crime Rates, Safety for Tourists, and More. A turf war between the Sinaloa cartel and the Nueva Generacin Jalisco has been the reason for an increase in violence. A closer, detailed look at the stats reveals not a city in a state of siege by organized crime, but, particularly in the east, a number of poor neighborhoods in the vise-grip of drugs: their sale, their consumption and their gang rivalries. Surprisingly, many larger clubs are a lot safer. People claiming to be lost or to have been robbed or raped, are rarely telling the truth or operating alone (pickpockets tend to be double acts). Try using a taxi booked through a hotel or Uber. Not only are the Tijuana police often corrupt, but youll likely get an unfair shake in the jail system there. Police arent helpful and can be extremely inappropriate. This zone is immediately south of San Diego and right against the border. Contact us for full details. And the main street of Zonas Centro, RevolucinAvenue, is lined with shops and restaurants. Its not going to set you back too much to hand out a few dollars. To your right, youll be able to probably spot traffic backed up at the San Ysidro Border checkpoint on the John J. Montgomery Freeway. Located in the usually safe state of Guanajuato, the high amount of violence here is due to the presence of the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel. This is where one leaves their drink unattended and someone puts a drug into the drink. Muggings, kidnappings and similar street crimes have been known to happen in Tijuana, but they aren't very common occurrences, according to the residents of the city. Earlier this week drug cartel gunmen burned vehicles and businesses in the western states of Jalisco and Guanajuato after authorities attempted to detain a leader of the Jalisco cartel. These taxis are regulated and should be using a meter. Mexican border towns have far more to offer than their reputation would lead you to believe. Youll eventually see the pharmacy marked, Farmacia El Pira. They will use some type of tactic to win your trust and lure you into a less busy area. Muggers target tourists that may be a bit drunk. More Americans living in the area have become targets of organized crime. I have just returned home in Los Angeles after walking across the border on Wednesday night. There is still an enormous amount of poverty through small towns and rural areas, and many neighborhoods of Tijuana are rife with poverty and crime. Petty crime like pickpocketing and theft is prevalent even in touristy areas, particularly in crowds. It is Mexicos most populous city with 2,181,000 people, and the 2nd largest city in the country after Mexico City. 2023 Copyright by Travel Safe - Abroad. With that said, you need to be careful there. If youre alone and drunk, youre definitely a prime target for thieves. But to describe it in a strictly Mexican context is to misrepresent it. 10-20 pesos is enough. Because Tijuana cops are straight-up corrupt. Though down on the previous two years, the figures are frightening, but as the writer Mark Twain put it, there are "lies, damned lies and statistics". Ive lived in Tijuana for 6 years and they where finding dead bodies all over Tijuana. Journalist Vicente Calderon with tijuanapress.com has been working the streets of Tijuana for more than three decades. This will lead you up to a walkway to cross the river. Tijuana is a city, and it experiences crime like all cities. On the other side, hiring a prostitute is dangerous. If youre new to Tijuana or traveling alone, its recommended not to walk. Theres a LOT to see here so this is a must-visit if you have kids. Dont go wandering around this neighborhood, because trouble will find you. Unless youre a Tijuana local, you probably shouldnt cross the border at night. Accept no invitations to house parties in Snchez Taboada, Reforma, Camino Verde and, farther out, Mariano Matamoros. This is quite common in tourist areas down there, so watch out. US travel advisories have recently warned against traveling to Tijuana and they have had their own motives for doing so (keeping tourism in-country, for one). You will need to catch the blue line from any station traveling South toward San Ysidro. Stratfor WorldView paints a different picture for both tourists and expats traveling to Tijuana. Im not saying there arent thousands of tourists that go there without incident, but things do unfortunately happen to tourists there every year. Are you interested in testing our business solutions? 3 Reasons Why Retiring to the Philippines is better than in the U.S. How to become a graphic designer in 2023: A Comprehensive Guide. The quick answer: Yes! Youre going to see them lining many streets in Zona Norte. I do not represent World Nomads. And Juarez has long been known as the place El Chapo and many other infamous drug kingpins reside. A Tijuana jail is the last place you want to end up. The Tijuana Cartel, also known as the Arellano Felix Organization, is based in one of the most strategically important Mexico border cities for trafficking drugs into the United States. Even if you prefer solo travel, it is best to travel in a group if you are female. In this article, Im going to go over some important notes to help you stay safe while in Tijuana. The metro and greyhound station is within walking distance of the border. Drunks are what thieves are looking for. Violent crime in Tijuana Tijuana closed out 2020 with approximately 2,000 murders. Overview and forecasts on trending topics, Industry and market insights and forecasts, Key figures and rankings about companies and products, Consumer and brand insights and preferences in various industries, Detailed information about political and social topics, All key figures about countries and regions, Market forecast and expert KPIs for 600+ segments in 150+ countries, Insights on consumer attitudes and behavior worldwide, Business information on 70m+ public and private companies, Detailed information for 35,000+ online stores and marketplaces. Weekend of cartel threats exposes unnerving realities of crime and power in Tijuana The Mexican National Guard waits for the arrival of more than 300 Special Forces from the Mexican Secretariat. Right after the crossing Av. Seriously. And if you dispute it and refuse to pay, they will call the cops. At the same time, record numbers of U.S. citizens are either visiting Mexico as tourists or residing in the country, yet the number of Americans murdered in Mexico remains remarkably low. One of the great advantages of driving into Tijuana is that the entire Baja California peninsula is included in the Mexican Free Zone, meaning you dont have to stump up for a Temporary Vehicle Importation Permit and you can drive unimpeded from the city all the way down to Cabo San Luis in Baja California Sur. The accomplice will either stomp your foot or literally strike you. Statista. Even knowing the basics will get you quite far. Almost there. 2019 was an especially violent year for the city. On Saturday, few people ventured out on the streets in Tijuana, with shops remaining closed and university classes cancelled. For example, the Hotel Coahuila sits next to the Adelita Bar. Tijuana prides itself on being an anything goes city but, despite its twin streaks of Catholic conservatism and machismo culture, Mexico, in toto, has got behind LGBTQ+ rights. For some time in Tijuana, Uber drivers were attacked. You will take the line to its last stop, the San Ysidro/International Border. Riding a moped in Phuket, Cebu City, Mumbai, and more. Youll find all sorts of interesting fruits and vegetables, some of which you might not know about. 2.1 Crime. Outside of the tourist district of Zona Centro, Zona Norte is probably one of the main reasons many travel to Tijuana. A wave of car burnings in the Mexican border city of Tijuana prompted residents to stay home. And never use your ATM and/or debit card. The fact of the matter is, Tijuana has a long history with party-goers. Thrillest ranked Tijuana as the 6th best red light district in the world. Don't drink water from the tap here! We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Avenida Revolucin is a pretty safe area, and its well-trafficked by local police officers. There is so much good food down there, and you kinda just want to let your guard down and try everything. You cant run around like a gringo making demands. What to Declare in 2023: Can You Travel Internationally with Valuable Jewelry? Facts and Myths Explained, The Best Countries to Visit in the Caribbean. If you must travel to Tijuana right now, it may be best to go on a well-protected tour. These data are based on perceptions of visitors of this website in the past 3 years. They will use some type of tactic to win your trust and lure you into a less busy area. And the third type is the most dangerous. Cartels frequently traffic drugs throughout the region. The San Diego/Tijuana transborder conglomeration is the fourth biggest in the world! Country Summary: Violent crime - such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery - is widespread and common in Mexico. In one case, a man was killed even though his son left a $25,000 ransom payment in . The end of 2021 has shown little improvement, and Tijuana has an average of about 164 murders a month now (source - Border Report ). To get there, use the train ride on the Imperial Way blue line (bright-red Tijuana Trolley) from San Diego. Next, youll cross Av. The minute you come over, youll see begging. You can arrive at the border by either car, train, or bus. Click here to get an offer for travel insurance. Caballero issued a public appeal to "organized crime," the term used in Mexico for . Might not be so bad if we go for just one day and we are in a large group. Is Jamaica safe to visit? There are 134 murders per 100,000 people, and Tijuana has been ranked the most violent city in the world. Im so glad I got out of that crappy country. TIJUANA, Mexico Moses Zazueta Ramirez was at home last Friday when he started getting messages from his mom and seeing the chaos unfold on social media. It is dangerous. Unfortunately, it's most known for its high crime rate. Yes. The town was nothing but farmland until the early 20th century. However, the best strategy for most visitors (especially day trippers) is to visit several exchange vendors and choose one that gives the best rate. Lastly, its very common for these women to drug and rob their victims. When I think of Tijuana, Ive always had images of young kids making a run to the border to blow off some steam. You can still be a victim in a tourist zone if you are not being careful. This is a cartel-operated area. A couple of basic phrases will help you navigate the city. I know why youre most likely going there. Tijuana closed out 2020 with approximately 2,000 murders. 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