Sonora, Mexico Travel Warnings and Advisories
The most recent two years have been marked with widespread violence and crime in Sonora. The most recent U.S. State Department advisory continues the “Reconsider Travel to Sonora” admonition but provides more details regarding the potential dangers of traveling in Sonora. As always, the State Department identifies the most dangerous areas as those where federal employees are not allowed to visit. The text of the travel advisory is provided below.
August 22, 2023
Sonora state – Reconsider Travel
Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping.
Sonora is a key location used by the international drug trade and human trafficking networks. Violent crime is widespread. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. Travelers should maintain a heightened level of awareness of their surroundings in all their travels in Sonora. Security incidents may occur in any area of Sonora.
U.S. government employees must adhere to the following travel restrictions:
- Travel between Hermosillo and Nogales: U.S. government employees may travel between the U.S. Ports of Entry in Nogales and Hermosillo during daylight hours via Federal Highway 15 only. U.S. government employees may not use ANY taxi services, public buses, nor ride-share applications due to a lack of secure vetting and/or dispatching procedures. Travelers should exercise caution and avoid unnecessary stops as security incidents, including sporadic, armed carjackings, and shootings have been reported along this highway during daylight hours. Travelers should have a full tank of gas and inform friends or family members of their planned travel.
- Nogales: U.S. government employees may not travel in the triangular area north of Avenida Tecnologico, west of Bulevar Luis Donaldo Colosio (Periferico), nor east of Federal Highway 15D (Corredor Fiscal). U.S. government employees also may not travel in the residential and business areas to east of the railroad tracks along Plutarco Elias Calle (HWY 15) and Calle Ruiz Cortino, including the business area around the Morley pedestrian gate port-of-entry. U.S. government employees may not use ANY taxi services, public buses, nor ride-share applications in Nogales due to a lack of secure vetting and/or dispatching procedures and the danger of kidnapping and other violent crimes.
- Puerto Peñasco: U.S. government employees may travel between Puerto Peñasco and the Lukeville-Sonoyta U.S. Port of Entry during daylight hours via Federal Highway 8 only. They may not travel on any other route to Puerto Peñasco. U.S. government employees may not use ANY taxi services, public buses, nor ride-share applications in Puerto Peñasco. due to a lack of secure vetting and/or dispatching procedures and the danger of kidnapping and other violent crimes.
- Triangular region near Mariposa U.S. Port of Entry: U.S. government employees may not travel into or through the triangular region west of the Mariposa U.S. Port of Entry, east of Sonoyta, and north of Altar municipality.
- San Luis Rio Colorado, Cananea, and Agua Prieta: U.S. government employees may travel directly from the nearest U.S. Port of Entry to San Luis Rio Colorado, Cananea (via Douglas Port of Entry), and Agua Prieta, but may not go beyond the city limits. Travel is limited to daylight hours only. Travel between Nogales and Cananea via Imuris is not permitted. U.S. government employees may not use ANY taxi services, public buses, nor ride-share applications in these cities due to a lack of secure vetting and/or dispatching procedures and the danger of kidnapping and other violent crimes.
- Eastern and southern Sonora (including San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas and Alamos): U.S. government employees may not travel to areas of Sonora east of Federal Highway 17, the road between Moctezuma and Sahuaripa, and State Highway 20 between Sahuaripa and the intersection with Federal Highway 16. U.S. government employees may travel to San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas and Alamos; travel to Alamos is only permitted by air and within city limits. U.S. government employees may not travel to areas of Sonora south of Federal Highway 16 and east of Federal Highway 15 (south of Hermosillo), as well as all points south of Guaymas, including Empalme, Guaymas, Obregon, and Navojoa. U.S. government employees may not use ANY taxi services, public buses, nor ride-share applications in these areas due to a lack of secure vetting and/or dispatching procedures and the danger of kidnapping and other violent crimes.
U.S. government employees may travel to other parts of Sonora state in compliance with the above restrictions, including tourist areas in: Hermosillo, Bahia de Kino, and Puerto Penasco.
Previous travel advisories
June 21, 2020
COVID-19
The U.S. State Department has advised anyone living in Mexico to return to the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, and advises Americans to not travel internationally during this time.
This is especially applicable for Sonora, where new cases of the novel coronavirus continue to grow in the state, along with the rate of violent crimes.
Currently, there is no part of Sonora that is advised as safe for extended travel. If you plan to spend more than a day visiting Sonora, we advise that make plans for evacuation in case you are infected with the coronavirus (you do not want to be hospitalized in Sonora), including the appropriate travel evacuation insurance.
The border is still open for visitors, although at least two major border crossing areas have COVID-19 outbreaks – in the San Luis Rio Colorado / Yuma region and Ambos Nogales.
Reconsider Travel to Sonora because of Crime
This State Department advisory was initially issued in August, 2018 and continues to be in effect.
Despite coronavirus travel restrictions, violent crimes have continued to grow in 2020, especially in the municipalities of Guaymas (including San Carlos), Empalme, Cajeme (Ciudad Obregon) and Hermosillo.
As the police and federal government armed forces response has evolved, more police officers and other city officials were murdered. Read more.
Map of Sonora Safety and Risk Zones for Visitors
Due to the deteriorating security situation in many areas of Sonora, we have created a map to provide a general overview of the relative safety and risk in visiting various areas of Sonora, Mexico. Read more.
U.S. State Department Travel Advisory for Sonora, Mexico
The State Department advises that Americans do not travel internationally due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional travel advisories (posted prior to the pandemic) follow.
Sonora state – Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Reconsider travel due to crime.
Sonora is a key location used by the international drug trade and human trafficking networks.
U.S. government employees traveling to and from Hermosillo may travel between the border crossing points of DeConcini and Mariposa in Nogales only during daylight hours and only on Highway 15, including stops at restaurant/restroom facilities along Highway 15.
U.S. government employees may travel to Puerto Peñasco via the Lukeville/Sonoyta crossing during daylight hours on Federal Highway 8, or by using Federal Highway 15 south from Nogales and east via Federal Highway 2 and State Highway 37 through Caborca during daylight hours. U.S. government employees may also travel directly from the nearest U.S. Ports of Entry to San Luis Rio Colorado, Cananea, and Agua Prieta but may not go beyond the city limits without official Consulate Nogales clearance.
U.S. government employees may not travel to:
- The triangular region west of the Mariposa Port of Entry, east of Sonoyta, and north of Altar
- The district within Nogales that lies to the north of Avenida Instituto Tecnologico and between Periferico (Bulevar Luis Donaldo Colosio) and Corredor Fiscal (Federal Highway 15D), and the residential areas to the east of Plutarco Elias Calles.
- The eastern edge of the state of Sonora, which borders the state of Chihuahua: all points along that border east of Federal Highway 17, the road between Moctezuma and Sahuaripa, and State Highway 20 between Sahuaripa and the intersection with Federal Highway 16.
- All points south of Federal Highway 16 and east of Highway 15 (south of Hermosillo), as well as Empalme, Guaymas, and all points south, including Obregon and Navojoa. U.S. government employees may travel to Alamos by air only and may not go beyond the city limits.
In addition, U.S. government employees may not use taxi services in Nogales.
