Is Cancun Safe? Mexico Travel Warnings in 2023 (2024)

BY JARED DILLINGHAM

TRAVEL ADVICE: IS CANCUN SAFE?

If you’re thinking about a vacation and wondering, “Is Cancun Safe?” … the short answer is: the Yucatán Peninsula, including Cancun, Tulum, and the Riviera, is the safest area of Mexico in 2023, according to the US State Department.

You’re advised to “Exercise Increased Caution” in Cancun’s home state of Quintana Roo, which is generally good advice to follow no matter where you travel.

As a comparison, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, and Spain all fall under the same travel advisory category from the US State Department.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Each year, a violent event seems to take place somewhere in Mexico, which draws a lot of our attention. It often prompts the US State Department to reiterate its travel advisories for Americans heading south of the border.

Of Mexico’s 32 states, the US State Department maintains its “Do Not Travel” advisory for six of them. They include the states of Sinaloa and Tamaulipas, where the kidnappings of four Americans occurred in March of 2023. They’re marked in red on the State Department map below:

Is it Safe to Travel to Mexico?

The kidnapping of four Americans south of the border near Brownsville, Texas, in early 2023 again raised concerns about whether it’s safe to travel into Mexico.

The US State Department’s travel advisories for much of Mexico remain heightened for Americans heading south of the border.

This is nothing new.

In addition to the six states listed as “Do Not Travel” by the State Department, seven states are categorized as “Reconsider Travel.” They’re color-coded orange on the map, and include the state of Sonora, which is south of Arizona and home to Rocky Point on the Sea of Cortez.

What it’s Like to Drive Across the Mexican Border

You can check out this video we made, showing exactly what a border crossing is like, if you’ve been thinking about driving south from Arizona to Rocky Point, Mexico:

Is Cancun Safe?

The Yucatán Peninsula is the safest region in Mexico for Americans to visit in 2023, according to the US State Department.

According to the US State Department, Americans should “Exercise Increased Caution” in the state of Quintana Roo, which is good advice for any destination.

The State Department also indicates: the Yucatán is a safe area for Americans to drive across, especially during daylight hours, as long as we take reasonable precautions.

That gives us the “green light” to leave the resorts on the beaches to explore the area’s other natural wonders, like the sinkhole swimming holes known as cenotes:

I’m always interested to read the government’s warnings, and they’re really designed with safety in mind. Still, I find them overly broad.

For many areas in Mexico, the advisories come with a warning, reminding us that crime and violence can occur anywhere, at any time, even in the resort areas. But the idea applies if you were going to New York City.

The bottom line for travelers: read the advisories, learn the facts, and make a personal decision that’s right for you and your comfort level. If you only feel safe at an all-inclusive resort, that’s great! There are plenty to choose from 😀

As for the official (yet broad) advice offered by the US State Department for Cancun:

“Exercise increased caution, especially after dark” and “remain in well-lit pedestrian streets and tourist zones.”

Violence in Cancun

December of 2021 brought a string of violence to a couple of the resorts around Cancun.

In 2022, Mexican authorities started off the year by installing a new security force designed to protect and comfort tourists. It’s somewhat jarring to see the patrols on the beach, but again: it’s all in the name of safety.

With tourism accounting for 9% of Mexico’s GDP before the pandemic, the safety of tourists is top-of-mind for the government.

Americans are flying to Cancun in huge numbers, despite ongoing safety concerns and a spike in flight prices.

Nearly five-million international tourists flew to Mexico in the first month of 2023, which is 32% higher than January of 2022, and 13% higher than January of 2019 (before the pandemic).

Tourists Killed in Cancun

Whenever tourists are killed in Mexico, it makes headlines here in the US.

In 2021 and 2022 a small number of American and Canadian tourists were killed when they were caught in the crossfire between Mexican drug cartels, after rival, competing dealers showed up to deliver drugs at results.

In 2021, a shootout in a resort lobby, which killed a German tourist and a Canadian tourist, made international headlines. They were, tragically, caught in cartel crossfire.

The details of the murders of two Canadians on the Riviera in early 2022 remain murky.

The Canadians were killed in a seaside hotel, south of Playa del Carmen. Mexican officials say the victims, in their 30s, were targeted because of cartel-related debts. They made a series of arrests, linked to the murders.

Two more Canadians were found murdered in an apartment in Playa del Carmen in the summer of 2022. Mexican authorities said one victim was wanted for fraud.

They used the circ*mstances as further evidence that tourists who aren’t involved in trafficking or any kind of criminal activity, have nothing to worry about.

A Safety Warning for Americans in Cancun

American (and Canadian) tourists become victims of crime in Mexico when they get caught up in cartel activity.

The cartels are active around the popular resort areas along the Mexican Riviera, because they have clients at the resorts.

Hotel staff will tell you: they often have guests who ask for drugs, and expect the staff to help them get cocaine or any number of drugs.

It can be a lucrative side hustle for hotel workers to assist in illicit trades. That said, I have to say: the overwhelming majority of hotel staff are beyond friendly and helpful, and not interested in any kind of criminal activity whatsoever.

Crime in Cancun

The crime in Cancun is usually, or actually almost always, drug-related.

Otherwise, you should protect yourself from pickpockets and other scams you can expect to encounter in Barcelona, Rome, and other cities around the world.

I also consider bribery a crime, and it’s a sad reality that some Mexican police are prone to making false arrests to bribe tourists out of their cash. My direct experience with this is down below.

With that in mind, if you rent a car and venture off on your own, you should take extra precautions to avoid prolonged contact with Mexican Police.

What Mexico is Doing to Keep Cancun Safe

Mexican authorities created Operation “Safe Beach,” or “Playa Segura” in 2022.

The Mexican government sent thousands of special forces to the resort areas along the Mexican Riviera, including Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum.

After several shootings, including two at beach resorts in Tulum and Cancun, Mexico’s National Guard deployed nearly 1,500 troops to patrol the region as part of something they labeled a “Tourist Security Battalion.”

The mayor of Cancun, who seems genuinely interested in boosting security, helped roll out a splashy PR campaign, including dramatic videos set to music.

It included officers on the beach, a high-tech command center, and new tactical gear being distributed to law enforcement.

Mexico’s National Guard began an indefinite deployment down the Riviera, from Cancun to Tulum.

Government officials say the mission and its focus will evolve with changing security needs, and serve as a model for deployments to other parts of the country.

Is Cancun Dangerous?

The locals say: NO!

The “Quality of Life Association” in Mexico regularly asks people who live in different regions how they feel about crime.

In the summer of 2022, the people of Quintana Roo (Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Cozumel) said affordable rent was their main concern.

Truth be told: robberies by common thieves (not cartel-related) ranked second, and concerned 92% of respondents.

Potholes and other problems with the bad streets and sidewalks rounded out the list.

So, at least among the people who live in Cancun, cartel kidnappings and executions aren’t a concern.

Wasn’t There a Cancun Airport Shooting?

In March of 2022, videos posted online showed passengers at Cancun International Airport panicking and running through the terminal, following reports of ‘shots fired.’

No one was hit.

In fact, Mexican authorities say they found no evidence of gunfire or any kind of explosion.

Members of Mexico’s National Guard, seen on video running upstairs, said they found no evidence of anything nefarious.

In fact, the National Guard said: Their investigation found the “gun shots” were actually three signs falling to the ground after a tourist knocked the over.

How to Stay Safe in Cancun

To be the safest possible, take a hotel shuttle from the Cancun airport directly to your all-inclusive resort, and don’t leave the property for the entirety of your visit.

Again, it’s your own personal choice, and you should do whatever you feel comfortable with. If you have safety anxiety, just enjoy the resort and the beach! There’s absolutely NOTHING wrong with that.

If you venture out, go with someone else, or better yet- in a group.

If you’re driving, obey all stop signs and speed limits. In fact, driver slower than the limit.

If possible, travel with someone who speaks Spanish!

Is Mexico City Safe for Americans?

Mexico City also falls in the “Exercise Increased Caution” travel category, according to the State Department. They cite “crime and violence,” which you’ll find in any large city in the world.

Again with Mexico City, the full advisory indicates: most of the crime, aside from petty crime, occurs outside the touristy areas.

Frankly, the major police presence in Mexico City took me by surprise. The police cruisers, armored trucks, and officers with long-guns were everywhere, especially around the major tourist sites.

As a comparison, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom all fall in the same category of “Exercise Increased Caution.” In fact, if you look at the map below, most of Europe is yellow for the same travel advisory given to places like Mexico City and Cancun.

By the way, for Europe, the US State Department cites “terrorist plots and civil unrest,” which are the same risks you’ll run into in any city in the United States.

Is it Safe to Drive to Puerto Peñasco?

The State Department lists “criminal activity and kidnapping” as reasons to “Reconsider Travel” to Rocky Point, or Puerto Peñasco. The state of Sonora is orange, so a color-coded stage more concerning than Quintana Roo’s yellow.

At the same time, their advisory also indicates: the crime happens away from the beachy touristy areas. Americans are advised to drive the highway between Sonoyta and Rocky Point during daylight hours.

I still think Rocky Point is a great destination for families in Arizona, who can easily drive the 3.5 hours south to the beach! It’s home to a growing number of resorts, right along the Sea of Cortez.

Is Puerto Vallarta Safe?

The Mexican state of Jalisco, which is home to Puerto Vallarta, is another state where the US State Department advises Americans to “Reconsider Travel.”

But again, reading deeper into their advisory, most of the concerning crime takes place away from the tourist destinations on the coast.

With that said, it’s not advised to venture east into the rural mountains of Jalisco, or take a road trip 275 miles north up the coast to Mazatlan, which is in Sinaloa. The state of Sinaloa is currently “red” for “Do Not Travel,” according to the US State Department.

Is it Safe to Drive in Mexico in 2023?

In general, if you’re driving in a touristy area and in daylight, it’s safe for Americans to drive in Mexico.

The Yucatán Peninsula is the safest place for Americans to drive in 2023, according to the US State Department. In addition to Cancun and Tulum, it’s also home to Merida, Valladolid, and other beautiful destinations.

It is not safe, according to the US State Department, to drive in other parts of Mexico.

In general, if you rent a car in Mexico, it’s best to follow this advice:

• Have someone with you who speaks Spanish.
• Take cash, but don’t store it all in one spot.
• Never drive with any kind of drugs, including marijuana.
• Never drive with a gun.
• Never drive with any kind of ammunition.
• Drive slowly, and obey speed limits.
• Try to travel during daylight hours.
• Expect to have to drive through police checkpoints.

Oddly, my scariest driving experience in Mexico involved the federal police.

Getting Stopped by Mexican Police

Mexican police pulled us over for driving this “suspicious vehicle” (above) on a highway outside of Cancun. We were driving from Playa del Carmen up to Valladolid, and surrounded by armed officers for nearly an hour.

They concocted three charges: speeding, not stopping at a checkpoint (at which I was literally stopped), and driving a suspicious vehicle (which I had the rental papers for).

At one point, they were taking steps to detain us at the nearby police station and confiscate the “suspicious” Kia we’d rented the day before. They wouldn’t allow us to show them the rental documents or call the rental company. Evidence and information were not what they were after, of course.

I’m not sure why it took so long, but eventually, the officers came up with an idea: We could pay the fine right there on the spot! How convenient.

The officer talking to me said two words in English: “discreet” and “camera.”

He pointed to a surveillance camera behind him, which he clearly did not want to catch our cash exchange.

We settled on 4,000 Pesos (around $200). It wiped our cash reserves out. We counted out a stack of cash to place on the back seat. Another officer “discreetly” walked around, opened the back door away from the camera, and took the cash.

I was relieved not to have to waste our time at a police station, and run the risk of them stealing any of our equipment.

And from there we happily went on to stunning destinations, like the Suytun Cenote:

Wrap: Is it Safe to Travel to Cancun, Mexico, in 2023?

The bottom line is: there’s always a risk in any kind of travel. All we can do is arm ourselves with up-to-date information on anything from violence to Covid, and make well-informed decisions for our own individual travel plans.

Based on the tourist loads in Cancun right now, Americans are not scared off by cartel violence: International tourist numbers are up more than 10% over 2019’s numbers!

Check out our other blogs and videos about Mexico: