Is Zapopan Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Updated On November 7, 2023
Zapopan, Mexico
Safety Index:
70
* Based on Research & Crime Data
User Sentiment:
60
* Rated 60 / 100 based on 1 user reviews.

Zapopan is a city and municipality located in the Mexican state of Jalisco.

The city is best known as being the home of the Virgin of Zapopan, an image of the Virgin Mary which was made in the 16th century.

This image has been credited with a number of miracles and has been recognized by popes and even visited by Pope John Paul II.

Tourists come here to see important religious points, museums, the largest show centers in Jalisco and so on.

Travelers also come here to join The Zapopum Festival – a major cultural event for the city.

It aims to spread culture and bring it to the public other types of shows.

The event has attracted as many as 800,000 people in past years.

Warnings & Dangers in Zapopan

Overall Risk

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

In general, the city is not so safe. Crimes are very spread in this area. You should take high-level precautions to protect yourself.

Transport & Taxis Risk

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Take a taxi are more preferable than public transportation. Taxi is safe when you sure to negotiate the price before starting a trip.

Pickpockets Risk

PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH

Criminals work in tourist places. Often some people can distract the traveler to chat with them, and at this time another one could rob you. In crowd and tourist areas it's necessary to keep an eye on your belongings.

Natural Disasters Risk

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

There is no natural hazard in this region. But Mexico is prone to earthquakes, hurricanes and active volcanoes so travelers should be informed about it when traveling to this country.

Mugging Risk

MUGGING RISK: HIGH

Robberies, kidnappings, and car thefts are the main problems in Zapopan. You must securely store your valuables and have insurance on the car. Especially beware of walking outside at night.

Terrorism Risk

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

In Zapopan, there are usually no showdowns of drug cartels, so the risk of terrorism is low here. However, you should always study the situation in the region before visiting it.

Scams Risk

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

There are many tourists in the city and criminals are operating in places of their congestion, as well as at festivals. They may try to sell you a fake ticket or simply engage in extortion.

Women Travelers Risk

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

A female, traveling alone, can feel safe in the city is they do not show up on the streets at late night and wear modest clothes. Also, it's better to avoid bars and nightclubs.

So... How Safe Is Zapopan Really?

Zapopan is not the safest city in Mexico.

As usual, in Mexico, you should be on the lookout and check the local news bulletins before your trip to Zapopan.

The level of crime increased greatly in the last three years.

Most crimes come from home robbery, things stolen, and street mugging.

Every traveler here should take more than the usual precautions measures.

The most common crime against tourists is purse snatching and pickpocketing.

In crowd and tourist areas it’s necessary to keep an eye on your belongings.

Often some people can distract the traveler to chat with them, and at this time another one could rob you.

So, just be alert and take precautions.

In the city, usually, there is no showdown of drug cartels.

The police work well and if something happens, you can ask for help.

Female traveling alone can be safe here if they provide a common sense of safety.

Getting around is safer by taxi or rented car.

Especially if you ride at night. But try to avoid nighttime rides cause it can be unsafe for you.

Check the safety information on official sources for visiting the city before your trip to Zapopan.

How Does Zapopan Compare?

CitySafety Index
Zapopan70
Guadalajara62
Mexico City45
Playa del Carmen69
Cabo San Lucas68
Acapulco63
Cancun71
Vienna (Austria)88
Hong Kong (China)70
Manama (Bahrain)54
Tianjin (China)67
Brussels (Belgium)60
Shanghai (China)66

Useful Information

Visas

Visas

No visas required for tourist proposals to enter Mexico for many countries of Europe, US citizens and so on. You should have a valid passport and a tourist permit. The maximum possible of stay is 180 days. For a longer stay or other options, you should visit the Mexican embassy.

Currency

Currency

The Mexican peso - is the official currency in Mexico. There are one hundred Mexican centavos to every peso. The symbol for the Mexican Peso is $, so you can see MX$ or MN$ in banks and exchange points.

Weather

Weather

The best time to visit Zapopan is from October to April. The average temperatures in Zapopan vary little and feel nice most of the year.

Airports

Airports

The nearest airport to Zapopan is located in Guadalajara, it's Guadalajara International Airport. It is located 23 km from Zapopan.

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance

The medical travel insurance is required for travelers in any country as well as Mexico. On the border, any traveler may be asked by a customs officer to show insurance.

Click here to get an offer for travel insurance

Zapopan Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Jan 15° C
Feb 17° C
Mar 19° C
Apr 21° C
May 23° C
Jun 23° C
Jul 22° C
Aug 22° C
Sep 21° C
Oct 20° C
Nov 17° C
Dec 16° C
Choose Temperature Unit

Average High/Low Temperature

Temperature / MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High
°C
252729323331282827272625
Low
°C
5681013151515151287
High
°F
778184909188828281817977
Low
°F
414346505559595959544645

Mexico - Safety by City

CitySafety Index
Acapulco63
Aguascalientes80
Cabo San Lucas68
Cancun71
Chichen Itza70
Chihuahua40
Cozumel85
Cuernavaca65
Culiacan55
Durango75
Ensenada90
Guadalajara62
Guanajuato53
Hermosillo90
Huatulco85
Isla Holbox85
Isla Mujeres80
Ixtapa68
Juarez32
Leon68
Los Cabos80
Manzanillo68
Matamoros40
Merida78
Mexicali42
Mexico City45
Monterrey55
Morelia46
Nogales50
Nuevo Laredo40
Oaxaca74
Piedras Negras67
Playa del Carmen69
Puebla80
Puerto Morelos85
Puerto Vallarta70
Queretaro City63
Reynosa35
Saltillo70
San Luis Potosi80
San Miguel de Allende75
Sayulita90
Tijuana41
Tulum80
Valladolid90
Veracruz70
Zacatecas70
Zapopan70
Zihuatanejo70

Where to Next?

1 Review on Zapopan

  1. R
    Rebecca says:

    Zapopan is an ok destination if you take some precautions

    Zapopan is an ok destination if you (just like it says in this article) take some precautions like:

    1. Never, ever go on a taxi ride without first negotiating the price! I’ve made this mistake and paid almost double! Never again.

    2. There are plenty of pickpockets here and some are very fast so make sure to not have valuables visible or lying around.

    3. Scams are rampant here, from what I’ve seen and I would say the risk is actually high for this. Don’t part with your money even if you’re presented with a “foolproof” opportunity.

Zapopan Rated 3 / 5 based on 1 user reviews.

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