Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs is warning travellers to exercise a "high degree of caution" before embarking on spring break trips to Mexico, due to a rise in violent criminal activity.

Friday's update on the Foreign Affairs website specifically addresses drug-related violence in a number of Mexican states.

"Crimes, murders and firefights linked to drug turf wars have risen substantially, especially in the states of Baja California, Chihuahua, Durango, Guerrero, Michoacan, Nuevo Leon and Sinaloa," it states.

"Armed clashes between security forces and drug groups are commonplace in certain areas and could occur at any time without warning," the travel report reads. "Travellers could get caught in the crossfire."

"Canadians travelling to Ciudad Juarez region should be particularly aware of their surroundings and monitor local news."

The cities in question, however, are not popular destinations for Canadian tourists such as the beaches of the Mayan Riviera, Puerto Vallarta, Hualtuco and other resort towns.

"You can see that certainly the conventional tourist spots, the major tourist locations, don't have any more risk involved than at normal times," Peter Kent, Canada's junior foreign minister, told The Canadian Press.

"But there are parts of Mexico off the beaten path . . . where there have been incidents lately, and they're itemized on the (departmental) website."

Kent said the advisory "really just a heads-up to remind folks there are situations in Mexico that can be risky, if not dangerous, and that people should think before they get into certain situations, certain locations."

Mexico is a popular destination for Canadian travellers seeking sunnier climes to beat the winter blues. About 1.4 million Canadians visited Mexico last year, a 20 per cent rise over 2007.

The warning arrives during the spring break season.

More than 100,000 high school and college-age students from both the U.S. and Canada travel to Mexican resorts each year during spring break.

While Canadians have not been specifically targeted, they risk "being in the wrong place at the wrong time" the website states, noting that law enforcement and police protection are often in short supply.

In the U.S., the State Department issued a warning about the rampant drug violence, and a number of universities around the country cautioned their students about choosing Mexico for their spring break getaway.

"We want to make sure they are as well-informed as possible," Patrick Day, vice-chancellor for student affairs at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, told The Associated Press.

"It's important to us that they are safe, that we provide them with as much information as we can so that they can be safe."

On Thursday, Mexico's President Felipe Calderon said drug violence killed 6,290 people last year in his country -- and more than 1,000 in the first eight weeks of 2009. He pledged to quell the bloodshed by the end of his term in 2012.

With files from The Canadian Press