Travel and Security Risks over Spring Break in Mexico

Over the past 12 months, following the eruption of large-scale hostilities between the Gulf cartel and its former enforcer arm Los Zetas, violence has spread throughout Mexico. Cartel rifts and shifting alliances have resulted in violent cartel turf wars in parts of the country previously considered quiet, and these deteriorating security conditions in Mexico present significant concerns for the upcoming spring-break season, when American college students flock to warmer coastal climes. While some areas in Mexico are still worse than others, none of the coastal tourism hot spots is without real risk.