Are PV and Mazatlan safe to take your Kids?

We are veteran cruisers from Texas, been to Cozumel, Belize, etc. many times.

Do you think the west coast ports are more dangerous than say Cozumel?

I see there seems to be more cartel violence on the west coast in general. Just wondering how it is in the ports.

A simple answer, yes kids are as safe as in any other place. My grandkids come at least once - often twice - a year to Puerto Vallarta without any problems, they love it here.

Just wonder why you think kids wouldnot be safe.

In general tourists here (and in Mazatlan and Cabo etc.) have no problems since you are not involved in the drugsworld. Just be alert like you would be in e.g. places like Miami, Houston, New York etc.

We stay here for a few month every winter, drive around in our car, shop, dine and meet many friends from the USA and Canada who do exactly the same and we all enjoy our time here.

Not sure what makes a destination safe for adult cruise ship passengers and ship's crew but is unsafe for children.

If conditions in a port are deemed as unsafe for passengers and crew, the cruise industry drops the port. This happened several years ago in Mazatlan. The local government has re-asserted control, beefed up security and cruise ships have started to return. Acapulco, on the other hand has been off regular itineraries for some time.

Like Ine, we spend quite a bit of time in Puerto Vallarta every year and haven't encountered anything that would be a cause for concern (other than drunken tourists and timeshare salesmen). Having said this, I don't think we would rent a 4-wheeler and head into the back country on our own.

Now, "feeling safe" is a personal state of mind and nothing any of us say will influence you if you are already afraid when you get off the ship.

Enjoy!

PV and Mazatlan are both very safe unless you are involved in narco trafficking. I have found that both places are far more safe than some cities in your state, like Houston.

We took our then 11 month granddaughter to both ports last April. We felt very safe, although we were on ship sponsored tours.

I don't believe the cruise lines would take us there if it were dangerous.

Patti

As others have said ... stay in the populated, "tourist" areas and you'll be perfectly safe. Don't head off and explore on your own. We have been to those ports many times and have never felt uncomfortable walking around, shopping, dining, etc. in the main parts of town.

Mazatlan did have some trouble that involved cruise passengers and the cruise lines stopped calling on that port. Which, as you can imagine, hurt their economy. The government stepped in to "clean" it up ... and once again the ships are starting to include Mazatlan on their itineraries.

As others have said ... stay in the populated, "tourist" areas and you'll be perfectly safe. Don't head off and explore on your own. We have been to those ports many times and have never felt uncomfortable walking around, shopping, dining, etc. in the main parts of town.

 

Mazatlan did have some trouble that involved cruise passengers and the cruise lines stopped calling on that port. Which, as you can imagine, hurt their economy. The government stepped in to "clean" it up ... and once again the ships are starting to include Mazatlan on their itineraries.

When you say "stay in the populated, tourist areas", does that include walking the couple of blocks to the little water taxi dock near the cruise ship area and taking it over to Stone Island. We did that 5 years ago when our ship stopped in Mazatlán and that was a great economical way to enjoy some beach time. Still a good, safe option? Thanks!

When you say "stay in the populated, tourist areas", does that include walking the couple of blocks to the little water taxi dock near the cruise ship area and taking it over to Stone Island. We did that 5 years ago when our ship stopped in Mazatlán and that was a great economical way to enjoy some beach time. Still a good, safe option? Thanks!

Sorry ... can't comment on that since I haven't been back to Mazatlan since the cruise line's "boycott". Will be going there this December for the first time since they started calling on the port again.

When you say "stay in the populated, tourist areas", does that include walking the couple of blocks to the little water taxi dock near the cruise ship area and taking it over to Stone Island. We did that 5 years ago when our ship stopped in Mazatlán and that was a great economical way to enjoy some beach time. Still a good, safe option? Thanks!

Yes, the water taxi to Stone Island is very safe.

Yes, the water taxi to Stone Island is very safe.

Thanks for the feedback. Will be stopping there in March on the Ruby Princess and was hoping this was still a good option.

Snow birds from the USA and Canada have been coming to Mazatlan even during the time that the cruise ships stopped arriving there! None of them have reported trouble! In fact they have organized a volunteer group that meets every cruise ship and helps answer questions for the passengers at the port.

You might not want to rent a car and drive yourself into the interior but walking ,taking a pulmonia(sort of golf cart taxi) etc. within the city and water taxi to Stone Island etc. is perfectly fine.