Is Piedras Negras Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Piedras Negras is a city and seat of the surrounding municipality of the same name in the Mexican state of Coahuila.

It stands at the northeastern edge of Coahuila on the U.S.-Mexico border, across the Rio Grande from Eagle Pass in the U.S. state of Texas.

In Spanish, Piedras Negras translates to “black stones” – a reference to coal deposits in the area.

Usually, tourists come here to have a nice shopping.

If you’re a golfer, get to Eagle Pass Golf Course.

It’s the perfect place to work on your game while you enjoy the fine weather.

And for nature seekers, there is a Maverick County Lake, where you can just relax and watch the scenery.

Warnings & Dangers in Piedras Negras

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

The city is considered safe enough for tourists, but increased vigilance should be present. There is an increased risk of mugging and hijacking in the city, but the police react quickly enough to this.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Taxis are safe enough if you have agreed in advance on the price of the trip or there is a taximeter in the car. Public transport is best avoided due to its inadequate security.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

In public transport, there is a possibility of pickpocketing and being robbed. Also, it's unsafe to be in crowded places. Do not wear jewelry and other valuables to avoid the risk of being mugged.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

There is a risk of flooding in the city, but this does not happen often. Check natural disaster information risk before your trip.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

The risk of robbery is quite high, travelers are not recommended to carry large amounts of money with them. You must keep your valuables in a safe at the hotel. In public transport or in public stores, it is easy to become a victim of a robbery.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

There is a minimal risk of terrorism in Piedras Negras. But due to border location and a bad criminal situation in the region, you must always be on the alert.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

Financial scams, vehicle thefts, petty drug crimes are serious problems in the city. To avoid these problems you should be extremely cautioned.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Single women travelers should pay particular attention to their safety in this city. In general, it is quite safe. Wear modest clothing, don’t wear jewelry, and don’t appear on the streets late at night.

So... How Safe Is Piedras Negras Really?

Since every Mexican border city is quite unsafe, Piedras Negras isn’t an exception.

The level of crime is high enough here.

But police regulation lasts years are getting stronger in the region.

Piedras Negras is considered one of the safest of all the border cities of Mexico.

This region generates a large amount of national coal production, one of the most economically important non-metallic minerals in the state.

Thus, the economy is strong and local people are provided with jobs.

The city is increasingly attracting tourists due to its nature and safety.

Crimes in the city are mainly related to armed robberies, carjacking, and robbery of apartments.

Sometimes a showdown involving drug trafficking occurs.

A better way to avoid being a part of this situation is to check US gov warnings in the Piedras Negras area before your trip.

Tourists at Piedras Negras are advised to exercise extreme caution while walks on the streets in the evening.

It is better not to get drunk in bars and store valuables in the hotel safes.

It is best to travel here by car.

But park your vehicle only in secure parking lots.

Avoid crowds and keep valuables to yourself.

How Does Piedras Negras Compare?

Useful Information

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

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

The best times to visit Piedras Negras for ideal weather are in late January to mid of April and from October to December. The average temperatures in Piedras Negras vary greatly. Temperatures feel hot for about half of the year. The chance of precipitation is low.

Airports

Piedras Negras has an International Airport near the U.S.-Mexico border. It handles national air traffic for the bi-national metropolitan zone Piedras Negras–Eagle Pass, Texas.

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.

Piedras Negras Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Mexico - Safety by City