Is Acapulco Safe in January 2026?

Unregistered taxis and vehicles masquerading as official transport have been used to commit express kidnappings in Acapulco, where victims are driven between ATMs at gunpoint and forced to make repeated cash withdrawals until daily limits are exhausted. This is a documented, recurring crime pattern that has affected foreign visitors and Mexican nationals alike. The US State Department and UK FCDO both specifically reference this risk in Acapulco.

How to avoid: Use only app-based transport — Uber operates in Acapulco and provides a vehicle record and tracked route. Never hail a taxi from the street, accept a ride from an unmarked vehicle, or get into a vehicle whose driver approached you unsolicited. Book transfers from your hotel directly. If you must use a taxi, ask hotel staff to call a specific registered company.

Tourist-facing restaurants along La Costera boulevard use menus that omit prices or list prices lower than the final bill, which includes service charges and items placed on the table without being ordered. Currency confusion between pesos and dollars is used as a mechanism to inflate bills significantly.

How to avoid: Always confirm prices in Mexican pesos before ordering. Ask for an itemised receipt and verify each line. Confirm whether any item placed on your table carries a charge before consuming it.

Parasailing and jet-ski operators on Condesa Beach quote prices in pesos and then present bills in dollars, or add multiple surcharges for safety equipment, instructor time, and photography at the end. The difference between the initial price and the final bill can be 200-400 percent.

How to avoid: Confirm the total all-inclusive price in Mexican pesos before participating in any beach watersport activity. Ask specifically whether safety equipment, photography, and instructor time are included. Get the agreed price in writing if possible. Do not pay until you have received what was agreed.

Armed robbery at gunpoint targeting tourists at beaches in Acapulco has been documented by police, the US Embassy, and news organisations. The risk is highest on beaches south of the main tourist zone and on isolated beach areas. The Condesa and Papagayo beaches in the main tourist corridor are less affected but not risk-free, particularly at non-peak hours.

How to avoid: Stay on the most-frequented tourist beaches in the Condesa and Icacos zones during daylight hours. Do not visit beaches that are not clearly within the tourist corridor. Avoid beaches after dark entirely. Do not carry more cash or valuables than you need for the immediate outing. Know the location of your hotel and how to return to it quickly.

Beach vendors on Condesa Beach sell refreshments, coconuts, souvenirs, and sunscreen at prices significantly above those in shops just off the beach. Prices are quoted verbally and vary based on perceived tourist wealth. Once a product is accepted, vendors often state a different (higher) price than initially mentioned.

How to avoid: Agree the price of any beach vendor product before accepting it. Never take something and then negotiate — the price stated before you take the product is the minimum you will pay. Confirm the price is in pesos and not dollars.