Safety in Cuilican, Hermosillo, Cananea
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Safety in Cuilican, Hermosillo, Cananea
My husband and brother are hoping to do some ancestry research in Mexico (Mexican born parents, sons born in USA).
I'm a little concerned about the safety of the trip they are planning. They would like to visit Culiacan (where their mother was born) and travel to Hermosillo (where records are kept for Cananea where they think their father was born).
Are there still fake cops, carjackings, etc...all that worrisome stuff going on? These areas (at least Culiacan) have suffered from the cartels in recent years, and Hermosillo and Cananea are not exactly tourist hot spots. They would need to drive or take a bus between these cities.
I hate to be alarmist and I myself went to Prague when there were Russian tanks still circling the city...but I was young and foolish back then!
Our relatives are not in these cities anymore, so we don't have anyone local to ask. My husband is also going to call the US consulate in Hermosillo at my request, but I've gotten great advice from local experts on Fodors in the past on a whole variety of issues.
Muchas gracias.
I'm a little concerned about the safety of the trip they are planning. They would like to visit Culiacan (where their mother was born) and travel to Hermosillo (where records are kept for Cananea where they think their father was born).
Are there still fake cops, carjackings, etc...all that worrisome stuff going on? These areas (at least Culiacan) have suffered from the cartels in recent years, and Hermosillo and Cananea are not exactly tourist hot spots. They would need to drive or take a bus between these cities.
I hate to be alarmist and I myself went to Prague when there were Russian tanks still circling the city...but I was young and foolish back then!
Our relatives are not in these cities anymore, so we don't have anyone local to ask. My husband is also going to call the US consulate in Hermosillo at my request, but I've gotten great advice from local experts on Fodors in the past on a whole variety of issues.
Muchas gracias.
#2
You might want to sign up to Lonely Planet's "Thorntree" and post your question in their Mexico forum. The participants there are more widely traveled than most on Fodor's.
FWIW, I've driven extensively in other so-called hotspots in Michoacan, Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon, without incident except for a ticket outside Nuevo Laredo. The only reason I even mention this is because the travel advisories in those states sound similarly dire to that of Sonora, but the reality is that as bad as the advisories sound, 'bandidos' are not waiting around every bend in the road in Mexico waiting to kidnap you. You will probably encounter some military checkpoints, however.
FWIW, I've driven extensively in other so-called hotspots in Michoacan, Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon, without incident except for a ticket outside Nuevo Laredo. The only reason I even mention this is because the travel advisories in those states sound similarly dire to that of Sonora, but the reality is that as bad as the advisories sound, 'bandidos' are not waiting around every bend in the road in Mexico waiting to kidnap you. You will probably encounter some military checkpoints, however.
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suze and baldone,
I got a really detailed response on Thorntree...thanks so much for the advice!!!
WoinParis...guess our politics are similar, but this is a totally different issue.
Thanks, all
I got a really detailed response on Thorntree...thanks so much for the advice!!!
WoinParis...guess our politics are similar, but this is a totally different issue.
Thanks, all
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Good to read !
I'm quite busy with Mexicans at work and I call my colleague the drug dealer and he calls me the guy from the hellhole...
This being said, I have never felt unsafe in Mexico but have not been where OP mentions. Of course I avoid places where cartel gangs might gather.. Like I do when in Chicago : each time I've been there I heard on the radio that some shootings did 5-10-15 deads but in a remote neighbourhood where no tourist would ever set foot in.
I'm quite busy with Mexicans at work and I call my colleague the drug dealer and he calls me the guy from the hellhole...
This being said, I have never felt unsafe in Mexico but have not been where OP mentions. Of course I avoid places where cartel gangs might gather.. Like I do when in Chicago : each time I've been there I heard on the radio that some shootings did 5-10-15 deads but in a remote neighbourhood where no tourist would ever set foot in.