The U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory for Mexico on Tuesday, Aug. 12, urging American travelers to "exercise increased caution" when visiting the popular Caribbean destination.

The North American country is issued a Level 2 designation "due to terrorism, crime and kidnapping," with a travel advisory summary to reflect those risks.

"Many violent crimes take place in Mexico. They include homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery," the updated summary states. "There is a risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Mexico."

Under the update, the U.S. is advising travelers to cooperate if stopped at a road checkpoint, and risk being hurt or killed if they try to flee, push back on, or ignore instructions. They should also avoid traveling after dark or alone, especially in remote areas.

It warns that if travelers get in trouble, U.S. government assistance and emergency services are limited in many parts of Mexico, especially those that are remote, rural or high-risk.

Although Mexico has long been a popular vacation spot for Americans, it's seen a string of warnings by the U.S. government this year. In March, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico posted a warning for those visiting spring break hotspots, including Cancun and Puerto Penasco. Most recently, in June, it cautioned travelers of kidnappings tied to dating apps.

Is it safe to travel to Mexico?

It varies based on where travelers are going in Mexico, with some states identified by the State Department to have a higher safety risk than others. The State Department breaks down advisories into four levels, from Level 1 warning people "exercise normal precautions" down to Level 4, meaning "do not travel" there.

The two states with a Level 1 advisory, indicating the lowest safety risk, are Campeche and Yucatán, home to the famous Chichén Itzá archaeological site. Some of the most popular Mexican destinations have a Level 2 advisory – telling travelers to "exercise increased caution" – such as Mexico City and Quintana Roo, where Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum are located.

Several states are under a Level 4 advisory due to "a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations." Homicides and shooting incidents in which U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents have been victims have taken place. These states are Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: State Department updates Mexico travel advisory for Americans

Reporting by Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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