Cape Town and Marrakech named most dangerous cities for teenagers to visit in Africa. Mexico tops globally

A June 2026 report on teen travel safety found that Mexico is the most dangerous summer destination for young tourists right now.

A new study by iSharing, a family location tracking app, analyzed crime levels, emergency care, and summer heat across 30 popular teen destinations.

Mexico is the least safe travel destination for teens, with one of the highest homicide rates at 25.6.

In Africa, it is only Cape Town of South Africa and Marrakech in Morocco that made it into the global top ten urban precincts that are not safe for Gen Zs and Gen Alphas.

The risk of human trafficking is highest in the United Kingdom at 46.4 victims per 100,000 people, roughly 90 times higher than Mexico’s, thus making London a no-go area for teens.

Beyond crime, climate and hot weather are common concerns, and 8 out of 10 most dangerous cities face extreme summer heat.

The research examined 30 cities around the world to find where teenagers face the highest safety risks during summer travel.

The study looked at safety, with the crime index measuring everyday theft, assaults, and scams, and homicide rate tracking violent death risks.

Human trafficking was also taken into account as a reflection of the danger of organized exploitation.

Healthcare was measured through emergency care quality, while the political stability index reflects overall peacefulness.

The summer heat category accounts for extreme temperatures that can make travel dangerous for health.

The Final Safety Score reflects all seven categories measured, such as healthcare quality and summer heat, and isn’t based on crime alone.

Mexico

Mexico City is the highest‑risk city for young travelers this summer.

For every 100,000 residents, 25.6 people lose their lives to homicide, one of the highest in the study.

Human trafficking reports are relatively low at 0.5 per 100,000, but summer heat adds physical stress for young travelers not used to the climate.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro ranks second with a crime index of 75.3, the highest in the top ten, and the city records 18.69 homicides for every 100K people.

The healthcare index sits at just 59, meaning medical facilities are below world standards.

Together, these factors create a dangerous cycle: high rates of violent crime increase the likelihood of injury, while limited access to quality emergency care reduces the chances of fast recovery.

Marrakech, Morocco

Marrakech ranks third, where summer heat and low healthcare quality pose the greatest danger to young travelers.

Extreme temperatures put young travelers at risk of heat exhaustion and dehydration, and a minor illness or injury that would be a routine clinic visit in other cities becomes a serious problem here.

Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town ranks fourth with the highest homicide rate in the study at 39.7 deaths per 100K people.

The crime index is also very high at 73.5, meaning theft and assault are common.

Plus, the healthcare is below the level of major Western cities, with an index of 64, so a victim of violence may not receive the same standard of emergency care.

London, United Kingdom

London rounds out the top five with an unusual risk profile.

Despite its reputation, it stands out with human trafficking problems.

The United Kingdom (UK) reports 46.4 victims per 100,000 residents, which is 90 times higher than in Mexico.

Other cities in the top ten list of dangerous destinations for the youth include, New York, in the United States, Athens of Greece, Los Angeles in the U.S again, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and the romantic Paris of France.

The crime index is average, but still higher than in Marrakech or New York, which includes thefts, scams, and assaults.

A family safety expert from iSharing commented on the topic saying a city can have low average crime but dangerous neighborhoods.

“A city can have high average crime but safe streets where tourists stay. Statistics flatten those differences. A parent needs to know where their teenager actually is, not where the average visitor goes. A simple check on a phone screen, seeing a dot move across a map in real time, turns a citywide risk number into a personal safety alert.”