San Miguel de Allende enjoys being within 8-10 hours driving time to many of Mexico’s most popular beach destinations like Puerto Vallarta and Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, or to the USA, however, because we are not close to any border crossing, port of entry, prohibited plant cultivation area, or along any of the corresponding transit routes, we have a sort of geographical immunity from the terrible consequences of the “war on drugs” afflicting other parts of the country.

Of course we have crime here like just about anywhere in the world , but there is nowhere my family and I would rather live or feel safer, every day we are joined by more Mexicans and foreigners who feel the same, and having served as an instructor at our local police academy, as well as a first responder with the Red Cross here, I have a bit more than just statistical insight in this regard.

The number of U.S. visitors to Mexico who arrived by plane increased by 14% in the first half of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016, despite the negative news and official warnings about crime in some locations. And the number of flights between Mexico and the U.S. has increased by 7.5% during the same period. “We are very optimistic despite the situation . . .  We will maintain frequencies because we believe in the Mexican market,” said American Airlines’ Mexican head Antonia Gutiérrez.