Is Oaxaca a dangerous place to go?
It depends on who you are, where you are, what you do for a living, and what your purpose for being in a certain place or time is. This is also pertinent to any place in the world, except, I would say, Finland or Norway, which can be dangerous if you are climbing a rock face or faced with an angry reindeer. It is the same in Mexico.
Since Mexico is predominantly dependent on tourism, Mexicans shoot themselves in the foot when a tourist is killed or kidnapped. The criminals, for the most part, do not want to raise any eyebrows with Donald Trump and be involved in a vengeance scheme. El Chapo is one thing, so is Maduro and the Ayatollah Komene, but they don’t want their business to halt because a tourist was compromised. Believe me. But, statistically, according to national reports, Oaxaca is one of the safest places in Mexico today. The indigenous community is very tight in rural Oaxaca, and they have not given in to narco or human trafficking. In as much, they are very dependent on the tourist for their living, so they watch out for your safety constantly (apart from the fact, that there is no homelessness, drug-addicts looking for a quick fix, or the plethora of gun ownership.)
But, in Oaxaca, as in all Mexico, safety is a logical thing. You just have to walk smart, look empty and open your eyes to stay safe, and know what to do if you feel unsafe. That is what we will exercise in our wonderful trip to Oaxaca in June. Come join and see for yourself!!! Oaxaca is rated one of the best vacationing places in the world for a reason!
If you have questions about the safety of traveling in Oaxaca, you can contact us, or reach out to Teresa directly at terediazdiez@gmail.com