Is Playa Del Carmen Safe? What are the dangers and what type of crime is in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico that you should be on the lookout for on your vacation? What is the low down on Playa Del Carmen crime? Since we live in the area, we can tell you everything you need to know here so you can have a safe time vacationing Playa Del Carmen. We also update this article when new trends start to emerge, so our readers can be knowledgeable and safer on vacation.
Is Playa Del Carmen Safe to visit?
Playa Del Carmen, Mexico has been safe place especially compared to other tourist destinations or even where you might live. There are things however, to watch out for and know what are areas of concern. In general, tourists have few issues with safety in Playa Del Carmen. Below we mention some safety concerns and general things to look for and our top tips.
What is the current situation for crime in Playa Del Carmen?
We are looking at the winding down of the pandemic and the economic blows to the local economy. This is good news, because when more people are out of work, there is a rise in crime. Tourism has risen to levels not too different from before the pandemic. We have seen petty crime fall in recent months. However, Playa Del Carmen is a growing city. In fact in the past 10 years the city has grown 103%! So, this has had an impact on how often we hear about crime. It has also brought people from other larger cities in Mexico to Playa Del Carmen and they have brought some of the same scams/crime that is seen in larger cities.
Police stops in Playa Del Carmen
Patrols of police often can be seen in the downtown of Playa Del Carmen. This is a show of force and to make people feel better, however there have been some run ins with the police. Police do stop people and ask questions at times. Mainly issues arise when a single male is walking late in the evening or night. Sometimes the police are just checking IDs or for security, but there have been numerous reports of police asking for money. If this happens to your be sure to report it to your consulate.
Not only do police stop people and ask for ID and further questions, bad characters look for people walking home alone and especially intoxicated. To avoid increased chances of problems, it is better to not be out walking late at night by yourself or as a couple in remote areas. Be aware of your surroundings and try to avoid late night drinking and walking home. These situations heighten your chances of running into bad characters. as well as police stops.
All inclusive hotel safety in Playa Del Carmen
If you are coming to an all inclusive resort in or near Playa Del Carmen, these types of vacations are very safe. This also includes travel to and from the airport. This type of vacation travel is extremely safe and safer then most touristic destinations in the world. All hotels that are all inclusive have a security department, many cameras around the property and usually some sort of bracelet to identify guests to allow only access for them to the resort. See below for more information about hotel safety and easy things you can do to prevent issues.
How we inform our readers
We try to take a balanced approach to keeping visitors aware of what the situation is here with crime. Safety is the upmost concern on our mind. That is why we have written this guide. While the rise in crime is sad to see we also do not want to be alarmist. Most everyone that has recently came, has enjoyed themselves and has not been effected by crime. In the past decade, Playa Del Carmen has grown 103% in population. It is no surprise that crime has risen as well, although at a much slower pace.
But what about the news you hear? We will talk about this below.
But Playa Del Carmen is in Mexico?
Mexico in general gets a bad reputation for crime. The first thing to remember is, Mexico is a BIG country and what is actually the truth may be different from exaggerated or focused reporting.
For example, if something happens on the east coast of the United States do people cancel their trips to the west coast? Or if something happens in the north of Europe do people cancel their sunny vacations in Spain? No, not at all! That is because in both examples these places are large and localized events do not effect most other places that are so far a way.
Most of the violence you may have read about or seen on TV is in isolated pockets of Mexico, far away from the Yucatan Peninsula and Playa Del Carmen.
Mexican News and News Papers
The second thing we have to consider are the facts. Here in Mexico the news loves to publish gory stories about car crashes complete with photos and other shocking stories. This is called “yellow news” here. It grabs your attention and has shock value. How many people would read about a family that goes to Mexico on vacation and they had nice sunny days, amazing food and a good time with nothing bad happening? No one really would read it because it is “not news“.
Increasingly in other countries media outlets they report shocking news to grab attention. Reporters increasingly outsource writings or only jump on the band wagon to write about the current popular topic that sells just to make a profit.
With this being said, there are always people that will take advantage of other people and crime can happen anywhere. But with a little caution and knowledge, you can eliminate the risk of something happening to you that will distract from your vacation.
So what are the Playa Del Carmen safety issues?
Here are some things that can affect your safety in Playa Del Carmen.
ATM safety in Playa Del Carmen
We always tell readers not to use ATM machines on 5th Avenue. It is easier to install skimmers in these machines and thus allowing criminals to steal your data from your card. Going to a bank is best because there are cameras and more security.
A recent scam/crime is the follow people at an ATM and say you need to finish your transaction before the net person can use the machine. This is a pretty lame scam to get people to enter their card and security pin again. Often there are two people working this scam. Being alert and also going in a pair to the atm can eliminate this basic scam.
Pickpocketing at restaurants and supermarkets
Pickpocketing on 5th Avenue is hardly ever heard of and quite frankly surprising due to the thousands of tourist that walk that pedestrian street daily. You should be alert of your surroundings on 5th Avenue, but not anything more alert than when in a big city.. There are however two places to be a little more alert, restaurants and supermarkets.
This is something new we have had to add to the list. Starting around the second half of 2017 we have heard of a few reports of people getting things stolen out of purses at restaurants. It is easy to sit down and enjoy a meal and forget your open purse on the floor or back of your chair. Be especially cautious at tourists restaurants. It is very easy to be distracted while dinning. People are always moving around you and can lead to someone taking a bag.
Caution in supermarkets and big box stores
There have been some reports of pickpocketing at grocery stores. This happens while a purse in in a cart or someone bumps into you while someone else takes your wallet. This can happen to both men and women. This is not frequent, but we do hear of it happening. Men should have their wallet in their front pocket or not in a loose pocket. Women should not have an open purse and do not leave your purse in your cart while you are shopping. This is the number one time people target people for theft.
Parking lots at supermarkets are also a target. Parking below a store in a garage does raise your chances of a break in. Park in exterior parking with good views to eliminate any chances for someone to break in your car. When parking, make sure everything is out of view.
The crime of paying too much
This is not a major issue since everywhere tourist go, they often pay more for things even without knowing it. Here are some tips on how not to overpay in Playa Del Carmen. There are three aspects we will look at:
- Shopping and not paying too much.
- Restaurants.
- Taxis
How to prevent the crime of paying too much shopping
While shopping, look around. A good rule to have when traveling is, never buy anything the first day. It is good to see what is out there and what a good price is.
If you are shopping in Playa Del Carmen, bargaining is pretty much not done. But you will say “Hey Mr. Yucatan, I see it all the time”. Yes people pretend to give a discount but they are really just offering the real price. Prices are really fixed here, it is just a matter of knowing what the real price is. Most stores already offer the real price, you get into a little negotiation with smaller street sellers. If things are not marked with a price then often the seller will size up and come up with a price that they think they can ask. Then when you try to get a lower price they might come down. To avoid this just look for items to be priced.
How to prevent the crime of getting ripped off at a restaurant
5 things to do so you are not overcharged at a restaurant
- Some places will add in a tip and you might end up tipping twice which can add up if you have a large group or went out for a nice dinner. It is illegal to add a tip to the bill in Mexico. Even though it is, places sneak it on and can switch the printer to add it in at times.
- Add up the math, even if all the menu items looked to be charged correctly, the adding up can be more then it is supposed to be. Use your smart phone calculator to check the math. For example $120 peso plate of food plus a $40 peso drink should cost $160 peso. But an unscrupulous waiter might right it up and say $180 pesos.
- Check those two for one drink specials, did they charge you for two or one on the check?
- Always know the price of what you are getting before you order. There is a saying “if you have to ask the price you cannot afford it“, that certainly does not apply here. Those specials may sound good, but make sure it is not special just because they are charging you a special price for it when you get the bill.
- And last of all, if there is some question about the bill, ask. Even if your waiter does not speak English, someone should at a restaurant on 5th Avenue and it is probably an excuse not to correct it by playing dumb and not understanding what you are asking about. Of course there may be a rare instances where there is a communication problem and this does not excuse rude behavior or being belligerent. You may have to chalk it up to being in a foreign country and not knowing the language.
- Check out our article about the top 10 tips for eating at restaurants in Playa Del Carmen.
The Playa Del Carmen crime of charging too much in a taxi
The last aspect is taxis. Taxis in all countries get a reputation for their schemes and over charging people. Here in Playa there are no meters but a chart of rates based on the area you are going to and from. Check out our taxi information in the Tourist information here on our website for a chart. If you don’t know the price and ask, at least you can decide if you want to pay it before you get in.
At night when you might have been out drinking, taxi drivers can ask or say an even higher price. Not all taxi drivers do this and in general, just knowing the price helps to avoid paying more for the cab. Just for reference only about 12% of drivers speak good English. So be prepared with some Spanish. At least know your destination in Spanish or Hotel name. Taxi drivers usually do know numbers in English if that is the only English they know.
Taxis to Cancun Airport are safe but since there is no set price it can be more that what is normal. The best is booking a private transfer with a discount for a round trip rather than a taxi from the Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen. Alternatively, you can also see our guide on all transportation options from the Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen here.
Tip: Taxis hailed on the street are cheaper from taxi stands. They really are the same taxis, they are just more convienent at taxi stands. You can find this tip and other information in our Taxi Guide for Playa Del Carmen.
The Playa Del Carmen dangers of crossing the street
Yes, this can be a safety issue. We see tourist all the time jay walking and thinking they have the right away while crossing a busy street.
Not all intersections are four way stops and traffic flows at different speed and there are drivers with all levels of skills on the road. Taxi drivers are notorious for driving fast to get to the next fare and with an influx of people moving to Playa Del Carmen from other parts of Mexico, drivers here are sometimes just as unfamiliar with the local road rules as a tourist. Watch out and don’t count on cars to watch out for you.
There are raised crosswalks that can be found on 10th Avenue, Juarez, 30th Avenue and a few other streets. Technically if you are walking here, traffic has to stop for you. There are a lot of distractions while driving and you need to look out for traffic to make sure they are stopping.
Safety in Playa Del Carmen concerning drinking
As mentioned above in the taxi section, being tipsy can make you a target of someone wanting to take advantage of you. Here are some of the Playa Del Carmen dangers that lurk at night. This is important to read if you are going out. Also see our article concerning recent reports about alcohol at resorts and bars in Mexico.
Playa Del Carmen safety issues with prostitutes
Late at night and around clubs, sometimes there are women or transsexuals that are very charming and compliment you (mainly doing this to male tourist). Some are very touchy feely and while touching you they snag your wallet. They are less interested in having sex and more interested in earning a quick dollar even quicker. Just be more alert at night and buddy up with someone because walking around late at night (i.e. 12am-6am) after drinking can make you a target.
The police are aware of this problem and do patrol at night but the prostitutes walk away when the police come around and blend in. So this problem is not going away anytime soon. Don’t approach these “ladies” and don’t allow them to touch you. You can brush their hands ways if they get close. Be firm and just say no.
Safety issues with bringing people to your hotel
If you bring prostitutes or dates back to your hotel room, be careful about where you leave valuables. It might be a fun hookup but often there is theft involved. It is not often that tourists are going to the police report a prostitute or first name only person to report a theft.
Hotels try to balance registering guest who come but it can be hard to ask every person who comes through the door who they are. It really is up to you to use your judgement.
Is Playa Del Carmen safe concerning drugs?
Drugs are not a problem in Playa Del Carmen, it is the tourists that take them! If you plan on coming to Playa Del Carmen to party with drugs you should know that this is going to put you are risk for problems, mainly you doing something to harm yourself.
Remember if you decide to take drugs or buy them you are encouraging large organizations to provide them. This inevitably cause clashes between people fighting over the turf. Since January 2017 there have been drug related shootings in the downtown. This was not aimed at tourists, but these are the issues that arise when people want a supply of drugs.
What has happened to tourists in the past
There are several well known examples of tourist taking drugs and getting paranoid and running off into the woods. Only to be found days later practically dehydrated and thousands of dollars spent trying to find them. Some of the worst stories of tourist having problems is because drugs were involved. Club owners and authorities work hard to deal with partying people and are usually overly tolerant to make sure people have a good time but at the same time you will be removed from clubs if caught taking drugs or causing any problem. The moral of the story is have a good time but don’t take things you don’t know what it is or don’t do drugs.
Going clubbing? Take a friend
Also if you go out to enjoy the nightlife in Playa Del Carmen, it is good to be with friends. In very rare instances there have been allegations of being slipped some drugs. Usually this involves a single person and some romantic interest. This type of things can happen anywhere in the world where there are large clubs. It is not something to be paranoid about but just aware of.
You should note this article to know what happens in Mexico when you are arrested for drunken and disorderly behavior or worse, involved in drugs. This is an article about the U.S Consular Agency in Playa Del Carmen. this article talks about services for U.S. citizens but also talks about what happens when you get into trouble here.
Tip: It is good to go out with friends and take your cell phone with you so if you get separated you can contact each other. Have a plan to meet at a certain place and time if you get separated. Have at least enough cash to take a taxi home if you are alone. Or just plan on going to one club so even if you get separated you can find each other.
Is Playa Del Carmen safe for theft in your hotel room?
As with most tourist destinations, theft from rooms happens and there is not much you can do about it AFTER it happens. So here is what you can do about it BEFORE so it may not happen. Theft is not a big issue in Playa Del Carmen but it does not hurt to adhere to these tips.
- Keep organized, you may be missing things because you brought so much stuff and spread it all over the place that you cannot find anything.
- Check windows to see if they are locked when you check in. Often cleaning crews will open windows while cleaning and leave them unlocked.
- You can request maid service only when you need it. Having people come into your room everyday increases your risk. Do you really need your bed made or towels changed everyday? Not only are you saving energy and the environment, you are also saving work from people that work hard each day serving the tourist trade. Perhaps just catch the maid service in the hall and ask for new towels if you need them rather then have them come in and replace them. Use the do not disturb sign when you don’t want maid service or tell the maids in the hall.
- Use the safe. It is there for your valuables. If your room does not have one, lock your suitcases, this lowers your risk of having items taken.
- Be courteous and polite to staff. We should all do this anyways, but having a good relationship with people even if only for a few days, it can go a long way and gain you more respect. People are less likely to steal from you when you are know from being nice, not always, but it helps.
Security at large hotels for theft prevention
It should be noted that if you stay at a large resort, they are looking out for you. Many people don’t realize just how much security is going on while you are lounging by the pool. This is an advantage of staying at a large resort as opposed to a smaller hotel.
Often at employee entrances, everyone has to show ID, and when leaving go through metal detectors, open purses and no outside guest are allowed. Security cameras are all around even if you do not see them and resorts are very strict on outside guest or even staff in guest rooms or near them if their job does not entail it. All of this helps reduce issues, but still being alert helps go even further.
It is good to know that large resorts have this security in place and if something goes missing, you should report it as soon as you can, because security can see what they do. With decent security in place at resorts, larger items are very hard to steal. It is smaller things that you should keep on you or locked up in a safety box.
Safety in Playa Del Carmen while driving
Driving within Playa Del Carmen is safe but there are a few cautionary things to watch for. It can be hard to drive in a foreign country and have a lot of different distractions. Driving in the city of Playa Del Carmen can be more distracting then when you get on the highway and are in other locations. Here are some things to watch for to keep you more safe.
- Not all intersections are the same, some are two way stops and other are four way stops. Sometimes it is hard to see a stop sign. You have to make sure you know the traffic flow for you and watch out for other people coming from the other streets as well. Sometimes people run through intersections even though they have a stop sign.
- Watch for mopeds and motorcycles. A lot of accidents involve them. Usually they are not at fault. Because they are smaller and less visible, people often pull out or cross an intersection and an accident occurs. It is also the case that moped and motorcycles are less respected on the road and people in vehicles can be more aggressive.
- Watch for pedestrians and other tourist because people cross the street often not at designated crosswalks.
Usually most tourist do not need to drive much in town except when leaving for a day trip. Just be cautious and take your time so you can safely enjoy your drive.
Is it safe to walk around Playa Del Carmen?
The short answer is yes, it is safe. There are only a few concerns we wish to express to readers about walking around Playa Del Carmen. We have a full article here walking about the safely of walking around Playa here for more details.
We hope we answered the question of safety in Playa Del Carmen
So there you have it, the 5 common dangers in Playa Del Carmen that tourist encounter. With a little savvy you can avoid over paying, know with confidence how much to pay in the taxi, keep your belongings a little safer in your hotel, be cautious at night if you so choose to go out and be careful while driving on the streets.
We hope this article gives you piece of mind about Playa Del Carmen safety. Just to note, in all our time here in Playa Del Carmen, we have only had minor issues at restaurants and we have had it corrected, one taxi driver tried to charge double, which he did not get away with, and nothing else bad happen. So now, go enjoy your vacation!
If you are going to be staying in Playa Del Carmen for an extended period of time or as a resident, you will want to read our article on crime and issues that affect residents here.
If you have any questions or comments about safety in Playa Del Carmen let us know in the comment section below.
Make sure you see all our other Great Guides to Playa Del Carmen!!! We have over dozens of guides to help you find the best of Playa Del Carmen and have a great vacation! Also since you are coming to the areas soon you might want to know the best transportation option from the Cancun Airport to Playa Del Carmen or your hotel. For those that go to Cancun for vacation, we have a guide on safety there as well. We have you covered in the link so you can have the best vacation possible.
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Here is the truth…this article is 90% false. The taxis in Playa are the biggest rip off. The locals pay one price you pay another. The quote the tourists in dollars not peso. All the taxis that are hanging off of Quinta Avenida are going to rip you off. The merchants on Quinta Avenida especially the gift shops beware you will pay double or triple for something you can find in Walmart. The problem is that the people enjoy getting ripped of since only 2% might understand the exchange and and to be honest do not care. They are on vacation and act like stupid fools. So let them all get ripped off the deserve to be. If you live in Playa the way I do it upsets you to see how stupid tourists really are.
Thank you for your comments. It is always good to hear many angles and opinions. We are however confused with how you arrived at 90% incorrect in the article since we do warn people about scams and try to inform an educate tourist about the correct prices to pay so they can avoid being scammed by taxi drivers that want to overcharge. Also if you read our other articles about scams and safety we talk about the issue with taxis and in other articles we steer people to some of the better gift stores that sell authentic gifts with reasonable prices. We are always trying to promote the better things of Playa and educate visitors about Playa so they can make the best decisions on what they want to do and where they want to go.
I like the opnion of whoever writes these articles. I have lived in Mexico for the alst 38 years all over and have traveled a lot by land. I have lived on and off in Cancun and playa since 30 yesrs ago. I am a US born american. Do give credibilty to this info as I find it pretty true. Yes you can get ripped oof here, be smart. I do not feel it is super dangerous and have actually felt much more threatned at times in the USA where violence has gotten more rampant of late. A lot depends on what you come here to do, where you go, when you go and who you hang out with as is the case anywhere in the world I would guess.
Do you live 24-7 with such negativity and paranoia? If so, you probably bring on all the horrible things that happen to you. If you’re from US,you must be a trumper. Bring on the fear and paranoia.
Just tip the taxi drivers well and help them out. They’ll remember you next time.
Omg. People enjoy getting ripped off ? I guess if we all lived in Playa the way you do we would be as miserable and negative as you. The author went to great lengths to be as honest and open.
I went to Mexico a few weeks ago for over a week. During mt time there I left my resort several times and not once felt my safety at risk. While in a different country it is wise to use common sense and be more careful than when you are at home. The only negative experience I had was everyone assumed because I was from the United States I was rich. The locals were very nice and helpful and helped me with my Spanish because I don’t know a lot of the language. And as for the people who claim how dangerous it is down there, I have noticed nine out of ten of those people have never even been out of the United States. If you use common sense, and don’t intentionally break the law you be fine. Don’t believe me? Prove me wrong and go. Or believe everything the news says.
Playa del Carmen – here’s the truth, unless the locals are making money directly from tourists (especially white American “gringos”), the majority of locals do not like you. Trust me, I know from experience. Even the cops took advantage of me walking home alone at night (big mistake, even if your on the strip), the police took all of my money after searching me; I was only guilty of being drunk, American or a gringo, and vulnerable.
Drugs are sold openly in almost every major club or bar. Exclusively by cartels, and they do so with no fear of being caught. They own the drug trade, obviously. They openly yell all drug types they have, and usually post outside of the bathrooms or right in middle of establishment.
I got lost during NYE back in 2015, and had to walk home around 5am. From Blue Parrot! Cab drivers wouldn’t even bother with me. I was also targeted by most of the locals on the beach and in the streets, getting harassed and threatened. Thinking back now, it’s a miracle I made it back to where my cousin was staying! Took me over an hour!
Tell the true please! Your article is not the reallity and a lot of peoples know that now. Its verry dangerous. A lot of drugs, cartel, crime and violence.
They hate white peoples. They think that we are a cash machine. Its totaly crazy. I know that you gonna not publish my comment, cause it gonna be verry bad for the turista! 😉
Peoples know. Just saying.
We like hear from people and their opinion. We here at EverythingPlayaDelCarmen.com are not here to promote tourism, but to tell people about life here and what it is like. We think that most people reading your comments can take away what they need from it. We do say that we have to disagree with you on most of what you have said. Most people do know there are drugs and that goes hand in hand with tourist. Most of the issue is due to the simple fact that some tourist like to go on vacation and take drugs. We would venture and say that 90% of the drugs taken are by tourist. Most people would also agree that almost anywhere in the world there are drug cartels, so this is nothing our of the ordinary here. Is there a lot of crime and violence? We have to disagree with you there because we live her and know thousands of people here that would agree.
Your second point of Mexican hating white people, we have to say this is a blanket statement and generalization that simply is not true. Your statement that some Mexicans look at tourist as cash machines, well this is true to some degree. In some of the touristy areas like 5th Avenue, some will try to get money our of tourist, but, it is by lying about a product or price and just trying to make a quick peso. Yes, there are some slimy people, but the majority are not. At least some not so desirable people try to scam money out of people rather then use violence. We have never heard of pickpocketing or muggings on 5th Avenue, they most symbolic place for tourist coming to Playa Del Carmen. We are not here to promote tourism, we are here to write about what life is like here and what vacationing offers to people coming here. We do mention things that people should be mindful of, like the article above, and we also have articles about scams people should avoid. But over all we feel the above article states the true conditions of dangers and safety in Playa Del Camren. We update this also if there are any trends emerging.
What a ridiculous post by someone I can only presume is trying to cause panic. Having lived in playa for 8 years and as white as a milk bottle I can tell you that this comment is so far off the mark it’s cringing. The people are lovely in general and the only thing they are doing is selling goods for a bit more than that are worth like any tourist attraction in the world. Are you telling me that the stalls in Disneyland are not rippin people off, come on.
Taxis do charge more yes, but these are only the ones on fifth avenue and this is only because they have to pay more for a license to work in that area, but they are set prices. You will pay less if you walk up a few blocks but there is no scam
The further we get into your post the more I’m not sure you actually live here, ive never seen guys even fighting (although it must happen) outside a bar nevermind anything worse. Yes you will get asked if you want to buy drugs at some point, but it’s never forced upon you, and they are on fifth avenue only because guess what it’s only the tourists that want them. Don’t know a Mexican that takes any class A drugs.
I wish your childish comment had been deleted so I didn’t have to waste my time writing this.
I would love to live in mexico, provided i could provide for my family. There are some silly comments here, though we cant ignore what has happened on the news. The tourists are giving the cartels the appetite for supply and demand by consuming their product, that will bring violence indigenous with the trade. Its the tourists that bring with them big money and treat the place as a once in a lifetime holiday, but forget about the families after them, or just dont care. They should massively punish anyone (yes tourists too) to get rid of this possible epidemic. Atleast the north-west has an excuse as its a gateway into america and has been for decades, tourists brought the demand to the east coast, shame on them. Thailand come down on hard on anyone even caught taking drugs as it feeds the trade and gives it a place to dwell.
….I totally skipped past the point i had, (got distracted)i went on holiday with my family june this year up around where xelha is, wow. Amazing part of the country to go on a family holiday, we were 2 weeks all inclusive at the grande bahia principe. Kids loved it, i loved it. I never strayed off the beaten track as mexico is a big place and my spanish is dismal, though i did want to venture out and see more i didnt know enough about the local town. Mexican people are friendly normal human beings, if not abit more relaxed. All these people scare mongering obviously haven’t been to mexico.
If you want to be safe and not get sick on any food I highly recommend the only place on this planet ITALY. Best food and wonderful people. Stay away from Mexico unless you are a glutton for punishment.
Mexico is just as saf if not safer than most other tourist contries, including your beloved Italy. Get your facts straight. WHy are you on a website about Mexico if you hate it so much?
https://www.numbeo.com/crime/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Italy&country2=Mexico&city1=Rome&city2=Playa+del+Carmen
You go to Italy, and keep mouth shout about Mexico.you sound just like a Trump follower.
Stupid comment, insulting those of us who voted for our President just makes you look dumb and scared.
I have been to mexico for quite a few years now and always felt safe if you watch what you are doing and not going where you should’nt, like out after dark where you’r not sure about . I got sick once but that was from the ice ,food good deink’s good and people i met were good , so don’t say mexico is bad. You prob were only there once and had somethi g bad happen and now you hate it. Shame on you . I would go back all the time and we do every year for two week at a time and we love it .
Hello I am coming to Playa in March with my husband and 3 children,,, we have been so excite and now after the recent shooting we are so scared..how are things right now.
Hello Cora
If you have seen our article about the recent club shooting you might notice that this was not a random act of violence and not targeted at tourist. In our article on safety you will also notice that most of the issues with crime nd safety are related to going out, getting drunk, or clubbing. We doubt you will be doing that with your three kids. Most everyone is back to their daily life or vacations now. Most everyone realizes that this type of event happens in correlation with nightclubs anywhere in the world. This is the first such event to happen here in Playa Del Carmen in as many years as we remember. So overall Playa Del Carmen and the Riviera Maya remain much safer than many US or Canadian cities. We hope you feel comforted by what we have said. Yes there was initial shock over the violent crime, but as things are unfolding, we can see this was an isolated incident.
Alison,
Educate yourself!
Alison, first thing I would do Alison is learn the language you have chosen to use in your communication. Your spelling is horrible, the grammar is not much better. The plural of people is people not peoples. Please go take a class in the English language.
Playa del Carmen seems pretty safe. I guess the real dangers are at night then and the tourist that get drunk and use drugs. I tend to avoid that and stay safe when traveling. It eliminates a lot of problems.
I am going to be in playa del Carmen July 28th I am excited and as with any where you go you got to be vigilant. even here at home if you get drunk in public there will probably be some one there to take advantage. we enjoy the amenities at the hotel and really enjoy learning about the other cultures and are looking forward to a relaxing vacation that I am sure we will enjoy!!!
Yes Vickie you comments are very true about safety anywhere you go. About 80% of the dangers can be eliminated if you are not getting drunk or doing drugs. Unfortunately it is popular to do these on vacation for some and then people are surprised when they get out of control or in trouble. We just did an interview with the U.S. Consular Agency here in Playa Del Camren and they mentioned what happens when you get arrested for drunken public behavior. We feel sorry for he police that have to deal with drunk tourist often. We hope you have a great vacation coming down and are glad to report you should have a nice safe time here in Playa Del Carmen and you don’t have to worry any more then where you live.
interesting how one person sees things one way and another sees it totally different ….
Mr.Yucatan sees playa de carmen as a non violent place where as Alison sees it as a very dangerous place .
and even more interesting is you both live there …..I wonder who is correct?
You must be referring to the commenter below names Alison. We welcome people to express their views. If it was how Alison described then there would be a mass exodus from the city. The plain truth is that is not happening. If someone feel the way she does, they are welcome to move away or leave and search for where they feel it is safer or better. We are not the tourism board and would have not point to lie about the situation. We want people to enjoy visiting or living in Playa Del Carmen. It would be highly unethical if it really was a dangerous place to promote people to come on vacation or to live. The truth is there are thousands of foreigners living in Playa Del Carmen that enjoy it and deem it safe. Most of the foreigners have the means to live most places in the world and certainly can afford to leave it is bad. Hundreds of thousands of tourist come every year and many are return visitors and feel no need to avoid it. So the evidence speaks for itself.
I am commenting to say I was just in Playa Del Carmen and felt very safe. I was wondering what it would be like since it was my first time there. I felt better after reading your article and feel it gives an accurate description of how safe things are. I never want to let down my guard and things happen anywhere but I really enjoyed Playa del Carmen.
I like your review here. I have been to Playa Del Carmen and don’t find it to be dangerous at all. I guess when it is 5am and the clubs let our there are drunks around and sometimes people looking to take advantage of drunk people like pickpocketing. Most things can be avoided. Usually the ones that get in trouble were part of the party.
I definitely wanted to write down a simple note to be able to appreciate you for all the amazing guidelines you are posting at this website.
My daughter is going to Playa del Carmen this week by herself and I was worried about what dangers might be there. It is always hard for moms to let their children go to foreign counties by themselves. I reviewed your article with her and we talked about what to avoid.
Thanks again for all the details.
I really appreciate your honestly about safety in Playa Del Carmen. I did not know about the prostitutes at night. We have only stayed at al inclusive but realize it is just like anywhere in the world when you have bars and clubs.
For all of you who really wants to know whats going on in Playa, learn some spanish and check the truth on this page. http://noticaribe.com.mx/category/playa-del-carmen/ In spite of that, you shuld mostly be safe if you stay in the centre. But be aware that things also happen in safe places like hotel resorts involving employes and even so called securitys.
Thanks for your post. If you read our Residents Guide to Crime here: https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/playa-del-carmen-crime/ We do talk about home break ins. This is one of the more common things that residents need to be aware of. We did not include it in the tourist Dangers and Safety article because this does not really affect tourist. The area mentioned in the article from the paper, Villas del Sol is a large mostly local area on the edge of Playa Del Carmen. It does highlight the feeling that locals have toward theft, and the dislike of it. That is a good thing and a few people that do not have morals cause for concern to people living in Playa Del Carmen.
Thanks for your comments. I know villas del sol its far behind the federal and not the area where expats are gonna live unless they have just 150000 Pesos left for a shoebox house. This is just one article you read. Just check out what only happend in two months! So this is not the only case of muder or torture which tend to happen more and more trough all playa like in the colossio area, in the plaza las americas area, in the ejido or even luxury hotels in the center. Its shocking for me to see this beautiful place getting infiltrated next to common crimes by organized crime more and more every year. Not for no reason Quintana Roo is now on the top of the list in mexicos states ranking for the state with the most increase of crimes. Dont get me wrong i still like playa and i also go there every year to visit friends in many different areas of playa, tulum and cancun but im a person who likes to be aware whats going on around me to take precaution. So my saying is enjoy the paradise and stay safe!
We agree with you Peter that we do not want to see crime rise here. Thankfully some larger companies that profit greatly from the area are meeting with politicians to make sure that things will be looked after. Thankfully the economy is growing and this keeps most people happy and satisfied without turning to other means of trying get money or make money. We will update both of our articles on safety for both tourist and residents so people are aware of what the current situations are.
I have read so many articles concerning the safety of Playa Del Carmen I just want to say that I live here and have no issues. It is much safer then most places in the world and tourist really have nothing to worry about. Just be aware of your surroundings at night. Your assessment of dangers in Playa Del Carmen is about right and I encourage people to not worry about their vacations here. I don’t work in tourism or anything but like people to make good decisions.
We just wanted to say to other readers that we just got back from Playa Del Carmen and we felt totally safe and really like how helpful people are in the restaurants and hotels. I imagine it is safer then where we live.
Hello. I know it will vary from different peoples perspectives but we love the all inclusive hotels and have never had any problems in our hotel room with anything being taken. I feel the people in Mexico are very nice and that is why we come each year to the Rivera Maya. We always feel safe and I know there are issues anywhere but this part of the world sems to excape some of the more dangerous stuff.
I would like to thank for the efforts you’ve
put in writing this website. It is informative about what Playa Del Carmen is really like and I think people will really get a honest feel for the safety of the area.
Thank you for a great article and much thanks to others advice. I had a question about bringing cash to 5th avenue and if there is guidance on extortion/bribery? A friend said he was sitting at a restaurant and police officers accused him of something false. They wanted to know how much was in wallet and took all his money and left him alone after they took his cash.
We have to say we have never heard of this happening. It could be two options: a bad policeman or someone who was dressed as a cop that tried to scam tourist. Tourist should never give bribes and if there is ever an issue ask to talk to the tourist police. They will most likely speak English and are located in several places along 5th Avenue in Playa Del Carmen.
Since we have never heard of this happening this hopefully was an isolated incident. Thank you for commenting about it.
I just left the area in Cancun twice and that southern parts of Mexico are very safe.
I always wondered why in Mexico are all the houses with bars on the windows if it is so safe in Playa del Carmen? Is this a cultural thing? Can you tell me why?
Hello Jeanett
It is actually a cultural thing more then a high crime issue. It has to do with the climate and culture of the Spanish colonial architectural style. For one, it is warm year round and people like to leave the windows open. Before there were screens on windows people had bars. This way you could leave your windows open and walk away without having to think about a person or large animal getting in. Many Caribbean cultures to this day use bars over windows and doors to this day. It does add to the feeling of being secure in your home as well. It might seem unsightly at first but many that move to the area get used to it.
Not true about drugs. Everytime I visit Playa I go to Mandala and La Santanera. Every single time there is someone, in the bathrooms, hanging out for ours, offering cocaine.
What is not true about what we said? We mentioned drugs are here. It is the tourist that want them and buy them. We even mentioned what has happened to some tourist that have taken drugs in Playa Del Carmen. Almost anywhere in the world you can buy drugs. The part that is not as bad as some cities, is the fact that if you outside of the club area, drugs are not really seen, talked about or effect your vacation or living in Playa Del Carmen. Safety comes into play when your take drugs or do something while on drugs.
Thank you for your honest evaluation of the safety issues in Playa Del Carmen. I come every year and never have had any problems. It is nice to know you are keeping eye on things and alert people to things to look out for. I know many young people come to party at the clubs in Playa and then have trouble because of the parting atmosphere. I hope they read this and at safe as it is like many places in the world that have clubs and bars. Playa is a beautiful place and I hope it can grow but still remain a small town feeling and feel safe.
Reading your site, it gave me a lot of good details as to what Playa Del Carmen is like and how safe it is to visit. I like your honest approach to things.
Hi, what an insightful and wonderful article. I like your direct approach to telling it how it is on crime and safety in Playa Del Carmen. It makes me feel better about visiting and sounds like a lot of beach towns with tourist.
and watch your change at OXXO’S and everywhere, i am here since 10 days and three times i had to ask for a correction. The taxis have and i saw it two list of prices, one for the tourists and for the locals, none have the same price for the same place none.
Thank you for your comments Carol. Getting change is an issue here in Mexico. Part is petty crime and part is bad skills. We have found it to be about 65/35. There is the habit in Mexico to round up from the 50 cent mark. Many stores will ask if you want to round it off and the 50 cents goes to charity. With a tourist they often will not ask because many people do not speak enough Spanish to understand what is going on. Also many cash registers do not have space for all the change or businesses do not have enough change, so if people do not ask for the 50 cents they will just not give it to you or give you one peso back.
Of course you are probably talking about more then 50 cents. This is more common in the tourist areas. The new money can be hard to count quick and they often think they can short change you and pocket a few pesos. We tell people to calculate how much change you will be getting and then count it out when they hand it to you. Of course small change is often too slow to count and the two peso and one peso coins are very similar in size.
We are glad you caught this and asked for correct change. One time there was an Oxxo that we often visited and often had an issue with the change. After getting attitude and poor service we called the headquarters. Needless to say the cashier was removed. We did not feel bad because this person was a habitual thief. We work hard to keep people honest here and call out businesses with bad records. Thanks again for your comments.
My wife and I were at 5th Ave last week and were offered drugs (nose candy or weed) more than 10 times over a two hour period… My wife was uncomfortable and we left earlier than we had planned after eating at a terrible restaurant. Everything for sale is fake… silver, gold, cuban cigars and the vendors trying to sell the fake goods are very aggressive.
Locals told us that the cartels run 5th Ave now and that is the reason for the increase in drug pushers.
We were so disappointed.
Hello John
We are sorry to hear you had a bad experience in Playa Del Carmen. What restaurant did you eat at?
Because so many tourist come to take drugs here, they are offered to people that look like they even might remotely take them. Yes we get offered them as well. We work hard here at the website to push back with articles like the best places to shop just off 5th Avenue, best restaurants, and how to avoid scams on 5th Avenue. We try to highlight the good stuff. Unfortunately many tours buy the crap souvenirs, cigars and drugs. We will continue to work hard to promote the best things in Playa and hop that we can have some effect for the better.
My wife and I have been going to Playa for 12 years now and have never had anyone say a bad thing to us or about us. The town is wonderful, pleasant, safe, and the people are generous and hard working. You can meet scammers and idiots in any town or country, people who would take advantage of everyone and anyone. For the people who are saying Playa is full of drugs and crimes and violence, just look outside your own backyards and neighbourhoods and I bet the crime rate is double. Smarten up!!!!!!!!
When I first got here, as I walked up 5th checking it out for the first time I was harassed a lot by vendors & later at night offered drugs many many times even though I am fairly conservative looking. I just ignored them or shook my head no.
The next day to do my shopping, looking for the stores I wanted to see after reading about them here, especially the Talavera ceramics at Siete Detalles where I got some beautiful items. I also went to Rosalie. I am just staying off 5th on 2nd and I found it interesting that as I walked to Rosalie I was hassled, but when they saw me walking back to my hotel with big Rosalie bags stuffed with obviously a couple $100 worth of goods (which back home would cost me much much more) vendors realized that I was someone only looking for quality goods and didn’t catcall me as before.
If more tourists were willing to spend only on quality goods, the annoying people selling garbage would disappear.
We agree with you very much. If there is a market for cheap souvenirs or even drugs, there will be people selling them. in fact about 95% of drugs are all bought by tourist. We all have an impact on places we go and leave a footprint either for the better or worse. We try to steer people to good shopping options and even good tour options. We hope in some ways we are warming people like you about the scams some sellers and street hasslers say so that people can focus on their vacations and enjoy the best Playa has to offer.
My wife and I are fairly recent Playa residents – 5 months now. This is short enough that we are certainly not fully immersed in the local culture, but also long enough that we’re getting a pretty good idea of what’s real here.
Crime: Yeah, it happens here like anywhere else. Mostly, but not absolutely, it happens to those not using their heads. Just a few days ago I was sitting next to a turista on 5th who was saying he got mugged a few days before right there on 5th. Of course it was the wee hours of the morning when both the marks and perps have been partying when he got it. During the day something like that is really unlikely imo.
Taxis:
Just know the streets where you get in and where you get out. Every taxi is required by law to carry a chart of approved fares. The chart is broken into numbered zones which are shown in a map format above with a cross reference from Zone X to Zone Y in pesos below. If you are picked up in a place where taxis queue up they are allowed to add an additional 5 peso. It is against the law for them to charge anything more than the amount on the chart (plus 5p possibly.) There is a massive fine against the driver if they are reported and investigated for demanding too much. Most turista interests in Playa proper will be (currently) between 25 – 35 peso unless you are going into or out of the Playacar zone which will be 50 – 100 peso. Note Sam’s Club IS in the Playacar zone, but not in Playacar proper. Tip: DO NOT ask the fare before you arrive. If you are quoted anything more than what’s noted above ask to see the chart (remember +5p if you loaded from a queue spot though – look online for Playa del Carmen taxi fare chart). Anymore I don’t ever ask the fare nor do they tell me, I just hand the driver the right fare before exiting. Also, make an effort to be friendly with your driver. Ask their name, about kids, etc. Most speak a little English and it makes for a friendly exchange, it’s fun, and I’ve found they almost never question the amount I just hand them.
On 5th:
A common hook is something like “Hey you remember me from the hotel?” All they want is for you to stop and engage. At first this really bothered me as deceptive, but living just a stone’s throw from 5th it is an area I frequent. Over time I came to see this (and other pitches) as just the efforts of some folks with a lot less resources than me trying to make a living. This helped me relax and come to enjoy the area much more. One funny thing I found though was that the vendors pretty much assume white skin means American or Canadian gringos. If you are multi-lingual and know German (or whatever), you can play dumb that you don’t know English and watch the vendor fumble around for awhile before giving up. ?
I hope some find this helpful.
Regards, and enjoy the town!
My husband and I have been to Playa del Carmen approximately 8-9 times. Several times at all-inclusive and most recently in a condo just off of 5th Ave. I have never met more friendly, hard working people in any of my travels. Playa del Carmen is very safe. We walk around town in the evenings with no concerns at all. Of course, you have to mindful of your surroundings and use common sense. Only an idiot is going to walk alone at night. Bad things happen anywhere. With all of that being said, Playa del Carmen is a tourist town. Everyone is working hard and trying to make a living. I would like to remind any tourist to check your attitude! A smile and “por favor” goes a long way. You are in a foreign country. Be respectful of the Mexican culture and people. The only people I have seen get into trouble are the (usually drunk) loud mouthed people who treat the staff poorly. Have a good time! But use any common sense that you have. I can’t wait to get back to Playa in 32 days!!
Me and my wife have been going to playa del carmen for many years.
We just got back a few days ago.
We have never stay at any all inclusive hotels
Always rented a house or condo.
Always feel safe even when outside
The tourist area
We love it so much that we are
In the process of buying a house in playa
Miguel
Thanks for your comments and welcome to Playa Del Carmen. We hope you find a great home and enjoy your time here. We are sure you also saw our article on dangers and safety for residents. That article highlights the other aspects of living here and what to look out for.
We rented a condo in Playa last year (2016) for the month of March. We were at the north end of 5th avenue. Much quieter than the south end. I have to say that we have never felt threatened in any way. It is true that if you want to take a taxi, simply walk to 10th or 15th and hail a taxi. It will be much cheaper than getting a taxi at the stands on 5th avenue.
The restaurants on 5th can be expensive, a 5 minute walk off of 5th and you can get a great meal for half the price.
For those of you who want to go to Tulum or Akumal, you can take the Collectivo. It is the local bus transportation. It costs around 30 pesos, one way. Again, I never felt that we were in danger.
That being said, you should always be aware of your surroundings. Don’t do anything you wouldn’t do back home.
We’re back in PDC for 2 months (FEB & MAR). We’re so looking forward to our trip!!
This article was NOT 90% false as I am trying to make PLC my home so I stay there by myself( little blonde gringa) I walk everywhere and I can not begin to tell you how much I use the collectivo. NO DRIVING. Your in Mexico and the freeway is not safe in my opinion. I have been staying at a hostel since I have had two cars hit me in Texas. MY physical therapist is a miracle worker. I have gone down the last two times just so he could fix me! No one believes me but he fixed a torn ACL. And my dentist! I LOVE LOVE them! People dont get the facts. They think they can buy any narcotic.Nope, weed is everywhere but I dont smoke its no bother to me. dont go thinking you are going to get Vicodin or Ambien because legitimately the dr. has to do the form in triplicate. The government, the patient, and one for them to keep. Black market is the same as the states. But I have no experience in that area and I have been at the Blue Parrot until near sun-up and I am 50 and not high!! So, my hostel needs a buyer and I love it there so much-I would love to go in and buy the place. It’s beautiful and the manager there doesn’t care. Came home with extra friends-bed bugs!
I spent a lovely week in Playa del Carmen about four years ago. We were 8 adults and rented 2 condos. Went out for dinner every night and truly loved the town. However, we did rent a van to go to exploring one day and were pulled over by the police. We had to pay them $100.00 before they would agree to give us back our papers. It was a shakedown and a little frightening. But even though that happened, I am planning to go back however I will not rent a vehicle again.
This does happen in Mexico and we do tell people in our article about driving around the area to not give money to the police. Fortunately this does not happen as much in this part of Mexico. Almost 95% of the time when pulled over, the police will not give you a ticket and only a warning. We advise never to give money to the police. If you ask for a ticket they will either have to provide one but when you go to pay it you can report the situation and the police can be investigated. Unless of course if you actually did something wrong, you should get a ticket and pay at the police station. If the police hold your id until you pay, which is rare, you should report it to your consulate. If everyone does this, it will help reduce corruption. There is no legal way police can accept cash payment on the spot.
My wife and I love Playa del Carmen, and have visited dozens of times, with little or no problems so far. Here are some things we do that help:
1) Always pay your restaurant bill in pesos with a credit card if possible. You will receive the best exchange rate that way. Just make sure it’s added up properly.
2) Take 10th ave instead of 5th to avoid constantly being stopped. Although this may be part of the fun for you.
3) Don’t be afraid to venture off 5th avenue, there are some great places and better prices out there.
Hello Doug
Thanks for sharing this great tips.
How much should we expect to pay for a taxi from the bus station on 5th ave to the Meridian on Calle 40
thanks
Hello Craig
According to the taxi charts here in our article it should be 30 pesos. We will say that many times taxi drives ask for more. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/playa-del-carmen-taxis/
Please note – right after the first of this month Jan 2017 a relative of mine and her family were in this city at a very high end All Inclusive Resort – her life ended tragically after visiting the hotel bar – an investigation is going on but her young life ended mysteriously at the resort. This happened within days of the shooting at the night club in Playa del Carma. You decide is this town safe????
Hello Harold
We are sorry to hear that someone you know died here while on vacation. Any tragedy here is not good news to hear. We are not sure what country you are from or the people you know involved in this incident, but we are sure the consulate or consul of their country is involved in the investigation. This is something that is very good here about the hard working people that look out for the interest of traveling countrymen.
While it is not known at this time what happened in this case, we will say that in a recent interview we did with the US Consular Agency here in Playa Del Carmen, we did learn that more people then one might think die on vacation. Not due to malice but due to health reasons, or accidents like slip and falls. With millions of people coming to the Riviera Maya Yearly, the overwhelming majority have not issues.
We do take safety seriously. We have no vested interest in not being upfront to the public. We provide information to people because we like to do this. If we did not assist with one sale of a tour or hotel, we would still be writing about the area. We are not a front for a real estate company or other company for that matter.
Again we are sorry to hear your bad news. If you would like to keep us informed, please do so. Thank you for your comments.
Yes we saw this bar today. We noticed a policeman outside and a window broken. We imagine no one that lives here really heard anything about it. We had not. Which in truth, this did not really effect the day to day life of things here. That bar has been a problem for years and it is no surprise there were issues there.
This website really has all of the information and facts I wanted concerning this safety and didn’t know who to ask. Thanks for keeping us updated on things there.
My Family and I love the Riviera Maya and are planning our fifth trip to the area. We are Americans who have always felt safe vactioning here. However, due to recent political controversy we are somewhat apprehensive about coming back this summer. Do you feel this will affect American Tourists? Am I overreacting?. Thanks
We feel there is a distinction between the governments and the people. The policies and rhetoric are different then the actual people. Most every Mexican is very accepting of Americans and know that the government is not really the thoughts of the people coming. It really is a great time to visit Mexico with the exchange rate and value for what you get. Don’t let politicians ruin a good thing. Enjoy your time here in the Riviera Maya and explore more places. It gets better and better.
Thank you for your insight!
Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues of safety. Your website is very useful. Thanks for sharing.
Yes there are two prices in mexico. One for those who can show Mexico ID and one for the rest. We travel with a ,exchange friend aND she always pays less for ferries busses park entrances etc. Otherwise mexicans could not go to these places on Mexican wages
Also in Playa del carmen things get progressively cheaper the farther you get off 5th Ave. They go in 5s and if you head to 30th Ave or further you will find the big depth stores that are cheaper. You will also find better products food service etc. Go further and you will find where most of the crap sold on 5th is bought by the shop owners. Usually at a significant discount 50% or more. Restaurant service workers don’t expect tips in usd service is better as is the food. Taxis will overcharge particularly if hailed on 5th or if they see you carrying large load. Don’t leave cash in your room. It could go missing. I have only had it happen one time in 12 trips but one was enough.
Tourist areas are overpriced poor service and can grindo you for tips. If you speak English they assume you are American which is unfortunate so be sure they know you are not! Unless of course you are lol. Then don’t tell them you are.
Most tourist areas particularly Yosemite that cater to cruise ships have prices in usd. Be sure you know exchangel rate if you pay in pesos or other currency.
I believe playa del carmen and most Mexican tourist destinations to be safer than most American cities. At least the locals don’t carry handguns usually only police.
I always feel safe in Playa del Carmen. I don’t take taxis alone a night nor go out drinking and walk home late but that is the only things I avoid. I think it is more comfortable and safe than Toronto where I live.
Mexico is a big country but I have always felt safe in Playa Del Carmen and the Yucatan. I know there is some problems but still much less than many areas where I live.
Hey very informative article. We love coming to Playa del Carmen and have not really noticed anything changes as far a safety over the years even though Playa has grown.
We are planning a family vacation to Playa in December. We are of Mexican decent and speak spanish. We are not staying on a resort or 5th ave we rented an AirBnb on calle 106 nte and calle 15 nte about a 500 meters from the public beach. There is 6 of us so I figured it would be tons cheaper staying for a 8 days than paying for a resort for all of us. Is that a safe area? We would be shopping, eating at taquerias, and at food stalls, basically living like locals. Hopig we have a great experience.
Hello Ricardo
That area is on the far north end of Playa Del Carmen. As you might know the center kind of ends around 46th Street or as it is called CTM Avenue. The area you have rented in is pretty much all local and a super market will be far away. All of the local busses to the center run on 30th Avenue but a taxi on 10th Avenue run direct to the center. It is a poorer area but still relatively safe. We cannot sugar coat it, it is not a charming area. You can google street view it to get a real feel for it. You will have to access the beach around 112 St where there is a beach access. It is this beach: https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/the-secret-beach-in-playa-del-carmen-where-locals-have-fun-shhhhh/
Thanks for the quick response. The place I rented comes with a car with Mexican insurance so we will be mobile. I’m not worried about rich or poor just safe. I grew up going to Mexico to visit my grandmother when I was a kid. I love Mexico. The local food and small neighborhood store versus big box and big city. Is there another public beach?
There is also a beach access at near 80th Street. The Paradisus Hotel frowns on people going on the beach in front of the hotel but all beaches are public in Mexico. The center of Playa has some chain restaurants but there are also local places and good international cuisine. Compared to the rest of Mexico, the Riviera Maya is not wholly Mexican. The further inland you go, you can find more things that are all Mexican without influences.
I love Mexico, lo que es Mexico de verdad. We like the hole in the walls for food, taco stands, tortillerias y barbacoa, and all that stuff. We want to live like the locals and eat/live cheap. Again I thank you for your prompt response.
We love Playa Del Carmen and feel very safe there. The people are amazing and always will go the extra mile for a tourist. You know if you live in the US you deal with crime all of the time. Most US cities are much more dangerous than anything you will come across in Playa Del Carmen. You need to behave and be smart wherever you go. Playa is a great place and like many others we are building our house there and are going to call it home. Thank you for this site. It is amazing and very helpful.
I am getting concerned that there is more crime now both in break-ins and shootings in Playa del Carmen. This is disheartening. I hope this stops before the paradise is lost and it becomes another Acapulco.
I have a trip planed to an all inclusive resort in playa del Carmen coming up in 3 months. Today I read an article of people complaining that they were being drugged by the bartenders at the resorts. What do you know about this bc I know the media tends to blow this stuff up sometimes and make it worse than it actually is.
We think we know what article you are referring to but not sure if it is the same one where two young people had an accident or fell by the pool after drinking. If it was that one, the article we read was not written well and had inaccuracies. Many details were from one perspective. The truth is most people just drink at resorts and most of the time the alcohol is not full strength so people are not passing out all day on the lawn. If guest want drugs and ask around someone might be able to supply them. It is not standard not is there a big market to get drugs into resorts. We do not think any person would drug someone at a resort, bartender or staff. There is no reason for this. They cannot rob them or even go to the room to have sex. There are cameras everywhere and strict policies about where staff can go. So there is no reason to believe that. If guest ask for drugs, one never knows the quality and possible side effects. There is crime that involves drugs and it is caused by guest buying them. So the simple fact is, if you don’t look for it, you wont have any safety issues. We hope this helps clear it up and we hope you have a great time here on vacation.
I saw the article on the two young people, do you know what happen to them?
Well we do not knw all the details, which is important. We did read an article about it. It was not well written, from one perspective, and had inaccuracies in the article. Most of the time alcohol and or drugs are involved with incidents here. The article said the young people were doing shots and were with other people doing flips into the pool. It is tragic when these things happen anywhere, let alone on vacation. The notions floated that it was anything to do with a kidnapping or other exterior factors is very ridiculous. But without knowing all the details we cannot comment definitively and with much more. We have heard of several cases and they all involve drinking and or drugs taken by the visitor.
Hello,
I find this website great as I visit my a family condo every year in Playa I am always looking for new things to do (they also like this website a lot). I do have to point out two things out about danger and safety here.
1)I feel very safe being a Caucasian female in my twenties on the beach, on 5th ave, and walking around alone.
2)I do think that the strip on 5th ave is very pushy with their sales (silver and other) and with the drugs. I have come up with either putting headphones in when I walk alone or just engaging in conversation with whoever I’m with and ignoring them.
Playa del Carmen is like any place that you’d travel to where you don’t speak the language and you haven’t been. You probably shouldn’t bring large amounts of cash with you anywhere or important documents. You also probably shouldn’t get really drunk and wander into dark alleys, if you use common sense here you should be pretty good. It’s a beautiful place with lots to offer and like most countries with a language barrier I believe you can get taken for your money with some scam or another but again just use your head.
it is a shame that corruption, poverty and drugs somehow lead to predatory behavior. if we take 2 out of 3 out of the equation perhaps, the third would not be there . i love playa , has so much to offer. be safe , be smart and be aware. thank you for all the useful insight posted by not only yourself but other too.
I previously posted on this site on Dec 13, 2016. That post indicated my wife and I had lived in Playa for 5 months and overall was fairly positive for the area.
The suggestions written previously still apply, but after 13 months living in Playa just 1.5 blocks off 5th Ave in a luxury condo, my spouse and I have decided to move away from the tourist zone into the Ejidal (ir – west of the freeway) where we feel “safer” (note, I did NOT say “safe”.)
There is a lot of back and forth on this forum about whether Playa is “safe”, with people trying to indicate why their perspective is right. The truth is that there is some amount of Truth in both sides of this discussion and I don’t see either side of the discussion really acknowledging valid points of the other…
You will be _less_ likely to find trouble if you skip excessive drinking, drugs altogether, and get to where you are staying by around dusk.
That said, less likely is just that “less” not risk free. Over the last year+ I have made many friends that have lived here a long long time… The feedback I hearing from them is that the security of the city HAS changed for the worse, and recently, much much worse.
January, BPM 5 dead, and no they were not selling or buying, albeit they were in a place that facilitated it.
A couple months ago 2 shot with one (taxi driver) killed on the freeway in the north end of town. Around the same time another taxi driver shot (and killed) in her car taking her kid to school.
One comment I saw said something to the effect of “Chicago, 100 murders per week. Here 1 per month.” Two problems with that… The first is scale. If Chicago only had 150k people then apples to apples. Second, the person who said this simply has their _FACTS_ wrong.
Just this month (July 2017)…
– Another night club shooting (la vaqueta (sp?)). The target was an assistant manager, but when the gunmen were unable to get him, they just opened fire on the TOURISTS. This is not the “everything is wonderful here” story some are pushing. Multiple deaths.
– A week or so later, a shooting on 5th Ave near the Tequila Barrel restaurant.
– Also in July, a jewelry salesman fatally shot leaving his 5th Ave shop around 8:15pm.
– July 20 as I recall, another fatal shooting on 5th Ave just north of Constituyentes.
– Either July 28 or 29, another fatal shooting just off of 5th Ave and Calle (street) 26.
These last two were in the middle of the day in front of dozens of witnesses.
These are NOT late night boozing and drugging incidents. These are violent crimes that were carried out without any regard for highly likely collateral deaths (and some DID occur).
Mr. Yucatan… you are losing your beautiful innocent city. Saying it isn’t so does not make it true… ask the dead.
Hello Dan
You have very valid points. We have seen this violence increase and we are watching it closely. Many are not sure where things will go. We contemplate articles carefully that benefit people living here, looking to move here and also tourism. It can be hard because there are some media that put out shock statements that have a huge impact on tourism that we feel is not necessarily true nor helpful. We do however want to be honest and warn people about scams, scams at the gas stations, talk about the transvestite prostitutes, and time share issues. We also have a separate article for residents since many will not be living on 5th Avenue. We also communicate with many in the community and also respond to direct emails about safety related to peoples circumstances. All we can say right now is we are hoping for the best but will be here to change and update articles as necessary for a service to our readers.
Dan,
I have a trip coming up in an all inclusive resort in the next few months in PDC and would really appreciate the opportunity to speak with you regarding some of the recent news about what is happening in the big hotels. I would prefer brutal honesty about the situation from someone who lives there and could provide some legitimate insight. Thank you!
Hello John
We actually wrote an article about resorts and issues concerning alcohol. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/are-mexican-resorts-safe/ The basic facts are it is nothing to worry about. It is a hyped story and almost all locals here don’t give it much thought.
there was a report on American tv regarding the young lady who was drugged and drown in the swimming pool. what concerns me is that this happened in the middle of the day, infront of other guests and hotel workers. no one pulled her out of the pool? the brother went to the local hospital and was treated. the report stated that there is suspicion that the hotel and local hospitals are working together. so when these ppl are brought to the hospitals they can charge the tourists an arm and a leg for medical care. I am visiting the area in a few weeks with my family and have spoken to my children (who are not of drinking age) to not accept any drinks or food from anyone. and they are not to drink anything that has not been open by them (like a can of soda). I am extremely nervous.
We recently published an article on our website taking about this. First of all the article that you most likely was not written well and not 100% factual. There are really no issues with people offering people tainted drinks, let along children. Both the girl and boy were attended to and taken to the hospital. It was not like they were just left there after staff saw them. Hospitals here do require payment before services. This is standard practice. They don’t want to treat people and then have th chance of not getting paid. Some hospitals do charge a good amount but there are mutiple hospitals people can go to but often hotels, like in this case, sent them to what is considered the best one. In short you do. It really have anything to worry about. Millions of tourist come every year and stay at resorts and if one news article makes you nervous, you have to look at the facts.
Hello, my family and I will be traveling to Playa Del Carmen in March of 2018. As of 3 hours ago a travel warning was just issued in that area due to the ride in violence. We will have our 2 young children with us and I am not hesitant about going and risking something happening. We booked a condo off airbnb that is a block or 2 away from 5th ave. The description states that the condo has 24hr security and from the look of the pictures, it looks like a nice place. We also rented a car to travel to different ruins. My question is..is it dangerous to drive around on our own and is it safe for us to lodge away from resorts? I’m so nervous now and I’m thinking about cancelling our trip for the sake of my childrens safety ☹️
Hello Gina
We did see the new updated US message. We had already reworded our guide here two weeks ago to reflect the changes in what has happened here. As you might know there is always good dose of caution in the US State Department warnings. Meaning that it is better to alert people to a caution just in case. The truth is there has been some recent shootings which were drug related. The fact this surprised residents shows that it has been such a peaceful place. Violence toward tourist is nearly zero. Most everyone in the Riviera Maya knows the importance of tourism and treats guest with a warm welcome. We are sure resorts would love to make people feel they are only safe on the property and keep all your business. There are thousands of residents that feel unaffected by recent events and do not consider it to be much to worry about. We feel our guide reflects the true situation and people should feel good about visiting. We do update this guide and are honest about things here.
Often when people worry about the US State Departments warnings we would say what would the warnings be for the US? Maybe something like, caution terrorism alerts, violence in large cities like Chicago, the United States is currently at war in Afghanistan and involved in military conflicts around the world, caution should be used around political events etc. We say this to make a point, every place has things to look out for but we would not consider travel to the US or to Playa Del Carmen as dangerous and certainly not enough to cancel a vacation.
We will monitor things here and report back. You still have some time before your vacation, but as of now you should not be too concerned.
Thank you for your reply today to Gina. We also are planning travel next March with our 10 year old. We have also rented a condo within walking distance of Avenida Quinta and planned car rental for a day. Last night we talked about cancelling and our concern for safety especially traveling with our child. I really appreciate all of your posts and honesty. I think I will let our reservation stand for now but hold off on airfare to make sure things calm down. I’m sad for the people in the area living amidst the cartels. I hope they get it under control but sadly the appetite for drugs seems to be increasing in the states and that is a huge factor. 🙁
Hello Andrea
When many people here the word cartels, it is shocking. In other countries there are mobsters, gangs, and terrorist. Each country has people that are out for money and or control. So it even when the term cartel is used it should just be thought of as criminals. Most of the violence was away from tourist areas and not really mentioned in the media for years. Everyone was fine that visited and no one felt unsafe. Now that the media talks about it and it is more public, people are concerned. BUT a big thing to look at is that the violence is targeted at people within criminal organizations or freelance drug dealers. It is not aimed at tourist in any way. So in many ways while random violence in other countries can happen to anyone in the wrong place at the wrong time, here it is still mostly people involved with drugs.
There would be no problems here if tourist did not take drugs, but that is a reality.
us state dept has issued warnings about non essential travel to even cancun playa del Carmen and general Quintana roo. Am I safe taking apple vacations van from airport to my resort south of playa, have their been stops or kidnappings on the way to resorts in these vehicles, which obviously carry tourists?
Hello Joe
The US State Department has an advisory but they do not have warnings for this part of Mexico for non essential travel. There have been no kidnappings or issues like this. The warnings have to do with criminal organizations inter fighting. None of this has been targeted at tourist. You should have nothing to worry about your vacation.
Tainted alcohol and deaths at resorts around Playa. Killings within five miles of the Cancun airport. Raids by police of bars and restaurants in Playa for tainted alcohol in the past month. Taxi ripoffs. This is in the last year. I have been to Playa in the past couple of years, and won’t be returning until there is action to clean things up and provide tourists some degree of security.
Hello Beth
Sorry you feel that way. We know things have gotten worse in the past 6 months but still much safer than most other tourist destinations. The alcohol story is mostly made up and not something to worry about. Taxi rip offs, well that happens everywhere. We tell our readers how to take the bus or a private transfer service from the airport so they have a fixed price and while in town how to use the taxis and use the rate chart so they know how much to pay. We hope things improve as well but in the mean time we will still be enjoying the beaches, cenotes and magical places here.
Hi me and my husband are traveling to Playa next week
Should we cancel??
Hello Ofelia
We do not think you should cancel. There are issues now but are like many tourist destinations and cities in the United States, Canada or Europe. The violence has not been targeted at tourist. Most residents are surprised by it because there was very low levels of crime. We are just catching up to many places in the world. So basically things are probably like where you live and you should not be overly concerned about coming at this time.
Friends and I are thinking of visiting Playa del Carmen this winter. We saw the US State Department warning (we are from the US). But I am wondering if that warning is a result of tensions between the governments of the US and Mexico, and so I wonder what other countries such as Canada, Australia, France, and Germany are saying about traveling to the Maya Riveria. Have those countries also increased their warnings, or is it just the US that has issued such a warning?
We have not seen other warnings from other countries. Your thoughts are also shared by a few others on the timing of the warnings. The warnings due coincide with an uptick in violence but still at levels lower then most places tourist visit.
Just stayed at the Occidental at Xcaret during the last week of July. Have an 18 yr old son, 11 yr old daughter and were treated like Gods. Went off property once for dinner on the main strip for Brazilian BBq, (not disappointed) and walked about after, people watching. Time of our lives! Never felt in danger or sketchy at all. I’m a fat, balled white guy. Spent what I wanted to and had an amazing time. Can’t wait to go back.
Hello Sean
Glad you had a good time while here!
Come on people! Shit happens everywhere!! Wake up
I went to Playa del Carmen twice in the last 9 months. Rented a car both times. Stayed in Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel. Drove to Chichen Itza and went to Vallaloid. We had a great time. Ate some great foods. No problems. Lock my suitcases at hotel. Had a worse time at La Romana in the Dominican Republic. That place was sketchy.
We were in Playa last April for a week and just got back yesterday after a 9 day trip. We feel safer in Playa than we do when we visit our daughter and son-in-law in Chicago.
Hello, I am thinking of buying property there in PDC, but with all the news I am more confused than ever! I know that is impossible to predict the future but what if it becomes another Acapulco? If crime continues to increase there will be no one to rent to.
There are many factors to consider. Some being the level of tourism, the condition of the beaches, if other tourist destinations are gaining or loosing favor and of course if crime is a deterrent. One thing you can do is look at similar properties that are for rent either on VRBO or Airbnb and see what people are charging. Sites often suggest a price based on demand and popularity. This can give you a feeling of what you might make off a rental. Another factor you have to think about is the national and worldwide tourism market. Many Americans think about the US market but there is a large Mexican market for tourism as well as South American market. One of the reasons real estate prices are higher is the demand from investors from many locations. So far prices are not falling but condos are getting smaller ad maybe a lower price but sq ft prices are the same.
There are differences between many Acapulco and Playa Del Carmen but the analogy has been used often in conversation and no one wants that to come true here.
I’m thinking about booking either a room at the Royal or somewhere comparable within walking distance to all the action of PDC next month. I’m a 44 yr old guy traveling solo and looking to do some cenote dives, fishing and the bar scene. I’m from a not so safe town in New Jersey and live 2 miles from a real shit hole called Newark, NJ so I’m used to some level of crime and mafia. My main concern is bad cops in PDC. I had problems with corrupt cops in Cancun years ago and was robbed and almost shot by a couple of real scumbag cops in Tijuana. Any suggestions for a solo guy traveling there and also how far is the dive areas for the cenotes? Thanks – Scuba Steve.
Hello Steve
The police in Playa are better than Cancun and certainly Tijuana. The usual only issues with police here is at a checkpoint and some have said there was a problem and waited to see if you offer something to speed up letting you go. Of course 99% of the time there is no official wrongdoing and you should never give police cash. If there is anything wrong you take a ticket and go to the police station. This is however not an issue for most guest to the area. If you are going to be doing a road trip here you might encounter it but in the past 5 years we have only experienced it 2 times here.
Overall you should feel very comfortable here and little worry about crime.
The Royal is in the center of Playa and easy to access 5th Avenue. It is an all inclusive resort so you might not be tempted to leave to go to restaurants or bars since you are already paying for that. So you might want to stay at a smaller hotel still go out and still save money.
On first Avenue right behind the Royal is Tank-Ha Dive shop. They are a very good complete dive shop. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/here-is-a-recommended-dive-shop-in-playa-del-carmen/
Most of the cenotes for diving are south toward Tulum and about 45 minutes to get to.
Great! Thanks for the info. Are there fishing boats that will take you out for the day in Playa? I’m also looking into maybe a smaller boutique hotel non inclusive. Any with a beach you would recommend? And if I go that route then what restaurants in the area are good to check out? Mexican/seafood/steak. I’m not driving and plan on walking or taking a taxi around so that’s why I was thinking of staying somewhere in or near the center of Playa.
There are fishing boats from the center of Playa that take you our. Here is one that we have been with and it was good. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/playa-del-carmen-fishing-tour/
For restaurants you can see our whole guide here: https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/playa-del-carmen-restaurants/
Just seafood restaurants: https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/best-seafood-restaurants-in-playa-del-carmen/
Mexican food: https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/mexican-restaurants-in-playa-del-carmen/
There are a few boutique hotels on the waterfront. Thompson Beach house is one. Most are on 5th Avenue but that is only 2 blocks to the beach. Some of the cheaper end and older hotels are from 2nd to 6th Street.
Awesome! I wish every vacation spot had someone like you to get answers from.
I’ll give you my review of Playa Del Carmen when I get back.
Thanks a lot.
Well we just like to give good information based on our experiences here. We hope everything goes well for you and we look forward to hearing how things went.
Talking about restaurants, I am wondering if you have advice about safe eating/drinking (ice, water). I tend to have a sentitive stomach and I am also not big on immunization for heppatitis A. I keep reading I should avoid any fresh vegetables washed with local water and so on. At this point, I feel like there will nothing left for me to eat. What do you think?
Hello Dominique
Most people have no issues with eating here in Playa Del Carmen. Where there are a few issues are resorts and some salads in restaurants. From what we hear from people visiting, restaurants are more safe than resort buffets. Roughly 65% of stomach sickens comes from food at resorts. Resorts have good food standards, so eating out in Playa is even more safe. The water here is not so much about bacteria rather then high mineral count. If you are very sensitive the best is to avoid lettuce since that can retain more water from washing. See our article here about water in Playa Del Carmen. https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/drinking-water-in-mexico-what-is-the-truth/ For the most part it is not very much to worry about.
Having lived and travelled in many countries and am so impressed with your blog and with your honest and open articles. Please don’t let negative rude commenters change your style or content. One site in simply awesome and its obvious from reading through the articles how much you love playa and how much thought and effort goes into everything you post ! Your team rocks.
Thank you Vinyl
Putting things online means you have to have tough skin and be confident and ready to back up what you say. We try to be honest and give good advice to people so they can enjoy there time here or decide it is not for them. Thanks so much for reading the site.
As US Citizens coming to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, what hospitals would you suggest in case there is an issue? We have Geo Blue Travelers Insurance in addition to our health insurance.
You might find our article helpful n what hospitals are here in Playa Del Carmen and what basic care is available: https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/medical-care-in-playa-del-carmen/
Hi,congratulations for your excellent blog ! I make Vinyl’s words mine. We are from Rio, Brazil, and we plan for a weeklong stay in Playa in Feb. (10 to 17, Carnival time here). We are a big family of 12, and our plan is to rent a villa from Mayaluxe, which is situaded in Playacar Condominium, although I’m worried because the back of the house is directly on the beach, with only a wall and gate that seems easy to jump over (by the photos I’ve seen).Do you think we will be safe ?
Hello Luiz
Playacar is a very safe area and has patrols of the local security. We know what houses you are talking about near the beach. If you close your doors at night and keep things out of sight you should have no issues. We have not heard of any of our readers having issues in Playacar phase 1 with rentals. Just be aware of your doors being locked and have a good time here!
Thanks a lot !
If you look at the geography of areas of mexico hard hit by drug cartels its the north west, as well as bordering with the US the cartels also have turf borders aswell, they spoil this beautiful land and abuse it by claiming it as “turf” thereby turning it into no mans land for tourists and the area generates none of the revenue it deserves to. But, the east coast, its a gold mine, making close to $20 billion / year, trust me, with such an investment at risk the government will step in and spend big cash protecting that income. The tourists are the No.1 priority like any asset, it must be protected as any stories about tourists involved/caught up in this game will spread like wildfire and mexican authorities know this and wont give the cartels an inch, trust me, those mexican marines play hard.
Hello, my husband and I were married at Mahekal Beach Resort a few years back. We really want to take our kids to stay at Mahekal. We are a lot freaked out about the travel warning. My biggest concern is being extorted by police or hospitals if something were to befall us. Also, we love to take snorkeling trips and would like to know if we need to worry about the dudes who take you out on the boats.
Hello Carie
There are still thousands of people coming every day here. There is a warning because there is concern but many places have warnings which mean people should be more aware. You probably will not be driving so you will not be at any checkpoints. Even if you are, our article here gives you good advice on how to drive safely: https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/road-rules-driving-in-the-mexican-riviera/ The tour guides in general are very good here and we have not heard of any trying anything with any guest. There are some stories about hospitals but the main thing to think about is that they are for profit and need payment upfront. Many of the stories you read about in the news are hyped by lawyers trying to make it bigger so they can sue for more. We have read some of these stories and they are not 100% accurate and often do not stand up to smell test (meaning something smells funny about the story). If you are still nervous, select a destination you are comfortable with, there is not need to be worried on vacation. For almost everyone that comes here lately they feel fine.
Playa Del Carmen is the best. Period… This will be our 4th consecutive year there I can report from first hand experience that the local people are absolutely wonderful. They are polite, gracious and more than willing to assist you in any way they can. The streets are safe, the restaurants and bars are affordable and enjoyable. One must know the taxi rates as posted and always ask the price before entering the cab. Most give the accurate rate. Some don’t , you can either tell them the correct rate or walk away. Shopping at the Walmart or Sams club is a U.S. experience. Perfect winter weather day or night is the the rule. We never rent a car because the taxis and bus service is outstanding and quite affordable. We have been all over the Carribian , a month at a time for many years, and Playa is the best.
Thank you for the sensible critique. Me and my wife were looking into how things were there now. We feel pretty confident coming there. We know there is crime everywhere unfortunately. But we will not let this dentour us from visiting.
Hi I just got back from Playa del Carmen last night, and I’m happy to report it’s very safe. I stayed at an Airbnb in an area that appears to be getting gentrified (Calle 42, Avenida 25). There was an abarrote across the way where my boys cleaned the proprietress out of tostadas and tacos and candy daily. We rented a car and drove as far as Chichen Itza and Valladolid without any problems with police. Overall everyone was super nice and friendly! The only place I had an issue was with the police in Cancun in my way to the airport. Yes, we paid the $46.00 to get my husbands license back…. We had to make our flight.
Hola! Besides being frustrated with unfair taxis and aggressive vendors on quinta, Playa has my heart. I plan on coming again soon with my husband and trying to really get to know the downtown part of the city- mostly on foot. We’re not big into clubbing, but a late dinner followed by a drink is more our style… So my question is, both day and/or night, are there any areas or streets which we should try to avoid? I love to explore, but of course want to be safe and smart 🙂 gracias!
Hello Lisa
There are no really dangerous parts but rather places that offer nothing to see and if you are a single female maybe some cat calls. Colosio can have darker streets and not much to see, that is just north of center, the other side of the highway from the beach starting at 50th Avenue and from 20th street to 38th and 30th Avenue to the highway are areas with nothing to see or explor basically and not the most charming. So just general judgement will show you the path of where to go and what to see. We hope you have fun exploring!
Hi,
I’m planning to visit an all inclusive resort near playa later this year.
As a single female traveling with my 10year old son should I be concerned with the increase in crime?
We are also planning to visit chichen itza and Holbox with our tour operator.
Any advise would be great.
Hello
You should not be worried at all. Crime has gone down since this past year and it never was aimed at tourist. All inclusives and tours are very safe activities here. We have no advisory’s for you. We hope you enjoy your vacation here.
I am planning a trip in July with my husband my two children and two of their friends. I am beginning to get anxious about the crime I’m hearing about in Playa del Carmen and the surrounding area. We’re going to be staying at an all-inclusive and we’re planning on doing some excursions to Cozumel to go diving. I just read about a bomb that was found on one of the fairies that travels from Playa to Cozumel. We were also planning on doing some scuba diving. I am getting concerned about safety in this area. We have been there three other times and never felt unsafe. That is no longer the case
We understand your apprehension. First off if you are at an all inclusive hotel you are in a bubble and really nothing bothers people there. Currently there have been issues with the ferries. We personally would not take them now, but like many things, often the problem passes. Other crime that happened last year has subsided so that is good news.
Coming to playa in 11 days. Have been coming for the past 5 years. Any changes in travel that I should be concerned about
The only notable thing that just happened is the US Consulars Agency has closed until further notice. Why it has closed it not known. Most everything else will be the same except the seaweed.
Bringing my family down to Playa on the 24th of March. Staying in a condo in Playacar for 4 nights, and 4 nights in an all-inclusive. I have booked a fly-fishing trip in Cozumel, but am thinking of canceling due to the Ferry bombing. Do you recommend staying off the Ferry for now, or is it safe in your opinion?
Since there have been issues with the ferries we personally would not take them at this time. This is our opinion.
Has there been anymore information regarding the ‘security threat’ and what it may be? Supposed to be heading there in a couple months and was excited, now feel a bit anxious / nervous.
Hello Deborah
Things are being investigated with the ferries but we have not concrete information beyond that. It seems to be isolated to one ferry company and most locals are not too concerned about it. Like many things that are happening or under investigation, it is hard to know where it will go, but often these things are resolved sooner then later.
Hi I’m leaving from the US in the am. They just issued a warning to travels that they should avoid Playa Del Carmen. Is it safe to still come? I am planning on it… my husband and 2 kids are also coming. I figure as long as we don’t leave the resorts and only go on secure excursions we should be pretty safe? Am I right in thinking so?
Thanks four any input.
Hello Melissa
It is still a pretty safe area to come to. If you look at the recent announcement it is not for tourist to not visit. It is a notice that the Us Consular Agency will be closed and employees are not to travel to the area. Most everyone that is here now feels fine. Resorts are even more remove from daily life and are worlds to themselves. So there is not much for you to worry about.
We are in the same situation as Melissa heading out tomorrow morning for a long awaited vacation and feel scared with these warnings.But hear from our travel agent that it is “business as usual”. The articles in the news are very frightening. Any other precautions that we should be aware of? This site has been very helpful! Thank you!
We just posted this new security alert. It advises people that there are certain areas of Playa that are considered to be possible trouble areas. It is very specific. It does not refer to all the areas outside of Playa including parks, cenotes, ruins and resorts. Many have asked about current safety concerns in Playa Del Carmen. A new alert has come from the US Embassy in Mexico City. It is more specific to Playa Del Carmen and does not mention other towns or resorts in the area. While many wonder what exactly the alert is for, we want to share this message below. We will keep you alert to further messages and conditions.
Security Alert – U. S. Embassy Mexico City, Mexico (March 9, 2018)
Location: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Event: Due to an ongoing security threat, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City is revising its travel restrictions to Playa del Carmen for U.S. government personnel. U.S. government personnel are prohibited from travel to Centro, Calica, Gonzalo Guerrero, Quintas del Carmen, and Villas del Carmen neighborhoods of Playa del Carmen. These neighborhoods are bordered by Avenida Benito Juarez, 50 Avenida Sur (Highway 307), and Calle 34 Norte. U.S. citizens should avoid those neighborhoods until further notice. U.S. government personnel are authorized to travel to resort areas in Riviera Maya including those near Playa del Carmen that are outside the restricted neighborhoods of this Alert.
Absent additional changes in the security situation, the U.S. Consular Agency in Playa del Carmen will reopen for normal operations on Monday, March 12.
The circumstances surrounding the security threat affecting the above neighborhoods is separate from the threat against ferries operating between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel. U.S. government personnel are still prohibited from using ferry services between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel until further notice. U.S. citizens should not use ferry services operating between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel.
Actions to Take:
• U.S. citizens should avoid those neighborhoods in Playa del Carmen listed above until further notice.
• U.S. citizens should not use ferry services operating between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel.
• Be aware of your surroundings and exercise increased caution.
• Purchase travel insurance that specifically covers you in Mexico and includes medical evacuation insurance.
• Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate if you need assistance.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Mexico City, Mexico
(01-55) 5080-2000
[email protected]
https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/
State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
Wow been to Playa about 10 times never had a problem and most Mexican people are Great. Sure there is hustlers but what would you expect.I have eaten at the restaurants and drank at the bars and shopped with my wife and kids and never have had a problem. I would to recommend. That said l have not been in the City area after 11 so that might be a bit different. But if you staying at the resorts and go there for a bit of shopping and drinks during the day there are no problems.
Maybe it’s time for bomb sniffing dogs on the ferry docks 100% of the time(?). Where is the security; there was absolutely none when I was there in January 2018. Don’t lose this wonderful service!
I live in a “comfortable” community in a Midwestern US city that has escalating crime, including murder, occurring every day. After living in this owner occupied condo community for over 6 years, less than a year ago, I learned of a drug dealer living in my “owners only” condo complex. One of my bedroom windows was blown out, when explosive gunfire erupted at 2am, putting holes through 2 bedroom walls. The drug dealer survived the attempted “hit”; no one else was injured; but my security is gone. She, the drug dealer, moved out of the complex. In late December, about 9 weeks ago, another far more violent “hit” on a drug dealer that moved in occurred in the same building. No one was harmed; the building took substantial damage; one unit, on the first floor, had 35 holes in it as a result of the weapons used to break through the secure door to get to the drug dealers on the second floor. It was a nice community, until the drug dealers moved in. Now people who’ve lived her 20+ years are scared to be in their own homes.
In the past couple of weeks, children, ages 14 and 9 have been murdered in this city. I’ve lost track of all of the other murders; it seems they’re in the local news every day and usually it’s found to be drug related.
I’m scared to stay home; why not travel…
I believe the ferry bombing was against the ownership of the service that was bombed. Images of the explosion give a distinct impression that the device was left in the passenger compartment; whether by a drug traffic related traveler, disgruntled employee/former employee, who can say. The bomb found in CZM seems suspicious; was it just to scare people from using the ferries; what’s it all about? Are the cartels getting back at the owner who was connected to a rival… Is there a real threat, other than to the one ferry line?
I don’t want to see this valuable asset, the ferry service, be put out of business because this incident has caused such fear.
The ferries are a treasure that I hope to see secured for future travel; in January, I traveled with locals from CZM going to Playa del Carmen and vice versa, their transportation to work; this has to be a hardship for all. I enjoyed spending the time with the locals, but I understand that it was likely a local who left the explosive on board the ship. It is my understanding that there may be security measures in the works to segregate tourist traffic from locals; is this true? It may reduce the risk to some degree, but the disservice to the locals is unfortunate.
So sad stupid people insist on the drugs that cause this misery for all. People from around the world are going to these destinations for the easy drug purchases. Bring out the drug sniffing dogs at the ferries too; keep the druggies on their toes and keep telling it like it is; what it’s like to be caught with drugs in Mexico, not for those that are part of the cartel, but for the buyers/users.
With the need to crack down on the violence caused by the drug trade, the new mantra should be “Buy/use drugs in Mexico and never worry about going home again; you’ll be in a Mexican jail; or dead”.
Drug users beware; you are not welcome by your fellow travelers; only the Mexican jails are open to you… I won’t wish the kind of vacation you’ll get on anyone; even if you deserve it for spoiling things for everyone else.
Taking illegal drugs is a crime; drug users should be the only ones that need to be paranoid. “Yes, they’re looking for you; if they find residue of the drugs you use on you, you play “Monopoly” and go directly to jail; do not pass go, do not collect $$$; this may be your last “turn” when you take drugs in Mexico. Mexico now OWNS you, you have no rights when you break the laws that cause harm to others by your selfish need to escape reality in your drugs. Enjoy your new reality; you earned it by your antisocial behavior”.
We should punish users in America too; they’re choosing to do the things that harm themselves and others. It is illegal; they’re breaking the law. They should be in jail… Stop coddling those who use illicit drugs.
I love Cozumel and prefer to stay there on my vacation; but I also enjoy using the ferries to spend time in Playa del Carmen and that region. I’m still going to go; I just hope I can continue doing both destinations on the same trip.
Right now we’re in one of the busiest tourists seasons for this area; let’s hope it isn’t a bust that winds up hurting the locals; the good people of Cozumel and Playa del Carmen deserve a whole lot more than the misery these low lifes, drug buyers as well as sellers, are bringing to their area.
Are the ferries running hourly based upon what is likely a substantial reduction in ridership? I wouldn’t want to wind up stranded on one side of the channel with my hotel on the other. If it comes down to it; I’ll be on a CZM only trip; kind of a bummer.
I started this because I wanted to know if I could still plan a split stay between CZM and Playa del Carmen… Got a bit carried away.
I’m just saying, if YOU aren’t a doper, don’t stay away, the dopers are everywhere; it’s probably worse in your own neighborhood, even if you don’t know it. I hope you don’t learn about it the way I did…
Spent two weeks in Playa staying in a hotel on the 5th ave strip from Feb 17 to March 3rd, 2018. Have done so many times before and felt totally safe and had the usual fabulous time enjoying the beach sun food merchants and fabulous service from amazing Mexican people. I did notice an increased police presence on several corners but there were no incidences to make us feel afraid in any way. Only heard about the ferry explosion once home where the story was made into a hysteria by media.
Thank you for your recent experience and how your felt in a Playa Del Carmen. Most people that actually come feel the same.
I walk on the 5th ave every day the most important street in Playa del Carmen, I really do not understand why people are saying this is an nos secure place, we have around 5000 people walking this street every day! what people are doing is call slander we are good at coustomer service and our competition do not know waht to do abou it!
So much info, heh, have stopped at PDC on an occasion when Diving was too rough on Cozumel, took the ferry. Was assaulted by pistachio kid over the channel, needed said nuts for sea sickness. Arrived in Playa in the early afternoon looking for Cervesa during happy hour, dos dos equis resulted in 4 beers for two of us. Loved every minute of time there, pleasant shopping, jumbo margaritas, all in all Fun in the Sun. Ciao mi Amigos.
vacationed in Riviera maya from march 1 thru march 16 traveled all over area from cancun to Tulum. never had one issue. people of mexico are wonderful friendly people. been coming to area since 1995. Seen all the changes 99% positive. But one concern about area. Acapulco was once a great town to visit. Just like the Riviera maya. No one goes there now. Drug cartels have destroyed area. They chased all away including tourists. In your comments about playa del Carmen you say that cartels do not want to hurt tourists but they have destroyed major tourist destinations in mexico. Why, because drug dealers do not care what happens in 5 or 10 years to an area. They live day to day not knowing if they will be killed or spend the rest of their lives in prison. They do not have any long term plans. They will destroy playa eventually because the government allows them to. Mexican government did not care about all the tourist businesses that have closed in Acapulco and all the major hotel chains. If they allowed Acapulco to be destroyed, what makes you think they can save the Riviera maya. Such a wonderful and beautiful place. I hope i am wrong but the stories are becoming numerous about crime, cartels and police not helping. I have been to Mexico over 10 times and have never felt unsafe or afraid. Yes i have a better chance of being run over by a bus in NYC then being the victim of a crime in Riviera maya but i would have said the same 15 years ago about Acapulco and other areas dealing with the butchery of the cartels. Over the last 10 years every time i tell my family that me and my wife are going to Mexico, i get looked at funny and my family is worried for me. I always told them two things. One, the Mexican government guards the Yucatan like it is fort Knox and two that when i say i am visiting Mexico, i use an analogy. When people say they are visiting America, they are going to the grand canyon, not east st. louis. So i say i am going to the grand canyon of mexico, not the east st. louis of mexico. Now I am not so sure about the Mexican government is protecting the Riviera maya like fort knox and Acapulco turned into east st. louis. Can it happen to the Riviera maya. Only time will tell. Praying that it does not. Met too many great Mexicans to see there part of mexico overcome by the cartels. Mexico President please do something!!
Many look at what happened to Acapulco and don’t want that to repeat itself. There are many forces at work in the Riviera Maya. Both for good and bad. Where ever there is money, there is greed, corruption and people willing to fight over it. The best solution is our tourism dollars. If no one took drugs then there would be no drug cartels, If no one bought made in china souvenirs, it would keep alive local crafts and artisans if people bought them. We have a lot of responsibility when we travel but many people don’t think about that. They only want a week of paradise and what they want and they want it now.
A good sign is that many of the locals want Playa to be a place of peace and don’t want a few bad people to ruin it for everyone. We will see how things go in the next few years and we of course will update this article to reflect current situations.
Hello, I will be staying on calle 16 and Avenida 1 in June. Is that a safe area? I am nervous because I’m taking my two kids and wife. Are there areas we should stay away from?
This area is very safe. It is in the center of Playa. The areas that are far out of center are where tourist don’t go, so you don’t have to worry about walking to these areas. Once you arrive you will realize it is very safe feeling.
Hello, I will be going to PDC late April. Six of us are going to a bachelor party. Do you have any recommendations on where to go for nightlife? Also, can we trust the taxi drivers? The story about the Canadian getting almost beat to death and the 13 killings in 36hrs got my friends kind of worried. Is there any news outlet online where I can read about PDC latest News? Thanks.
You can check our bar guide and club guide for places and see what fits what you want. As far as the killings it was reported in Cancun and that is not Playa Del Carmen. It is also important to note that most of the violence and other things are not in tourist areas and usually involve people involved in crime. Taxis are fine in Playa although we say use common sense and if you get drunk or buy drugs you are more likely to get taken advantage of or get into bad situations. It is not much difference from visiting an unfamiliar city in the US. Some news stories that we see are not well presented or even have all the details. We are not saying there are problems but over all, our guide here stands for itself.
I am going to Playa Del Carmen next week. I stayed a week in Jan 2018. It is very safe at the all inclusive resorts. They check ID coming and going. No one is allowed from outside the resort and the food is good, the service is good, and the beach is pretty and serene. The restaurants on and around Avenida Fifth are nice. I never felt unsafe around the people there. There is even a church in between the shops that was having a service. I am a white female who goes with just my 21 year old daughter and we feel safe and have a good time. My husband is always worried about us and tells us not to leave the resort, but I do go to Avenida Fifth and shop and it’s fun. I am aware and alert, and I don’t drink alcohol, but that’s just me. I have not had any problems with anyone except the taxi drivers. Two times they tried to charge me more. I asked the front desk girl what the charge should be from Playa to my resort and she said $26.00 USD. He tried to charge me $40, I bargained him to $35 and thought I was getting a deal. Well, I only paid $26. Other time one tried to charge me $3 more. I didn’t pay it. I also am fluent in Spanish so that really helps as I can speak the language. It’s handy at the airport when I had liquid in my carry on and I asked them if they’d allow me to go check the entire carry on bag downstairs and come right back and they said sure, so I did. It saved me $$ from having to throw away the liquids. The airport people are way nicer than the staff at any American airport if you ask me!
Hello Kay
It sounds like you had a typical expereince in Playa Del Carmen. Most everyone feels safe and does not have issues. And the number one complaint is usually the taxi drivers.
Please Mr Yucatan can you contact me? I am thinking of moving to Mexico, possibly Playa del Carmen. I have some questions, mostly want to know how much do I need to move there? How much for living expenses etc…?
Hello Kelly. We have this article https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/cost-of-living-playa-del-carmen/. Let us know what questions you have there
When you next update this article, you may want to include information on the Uber/Taxi conflict. If it escalates again, this could become a scary situation. Even when not a safety issue in the sense of a direct threat, blockades can leave one separated from others in their party and/or lodging, or possibly missing a flight and having no place to stay.
Also, while the USA State Department did lift the elevated alert level for PDC, all of Mexico is under some level of State Department alert. PDC is currently rated as, “increased caution”. You might even want to include a link to the current advisory so readers can easily access current information: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/mexico-travel-advisory.html
As for me, we’re planning to move to the area soon (and thank you for all the real estate articles, too!), so that should give an indication of how much of a non-issue safety is here. We’re more concerned about hurricanes!
Hello Scott
We do keep an eye on the taxi situation and road blockages. It is a shame that they do this because it hurts tourism and irritates locals. It also does not win them any points or sympathy. For now things have died down but if there is a prolonged situation, we will certainly update this article.
I have been to P.D.C. about a dozen times. I ve stayed in tents and expensive hotels. I have never had a problems at all. I have know people to buy pot and smoke it on the beach at night. The same person that sells it to them turns around and tells the police who bust the tourists. The police then ask for a $100 or the person will go to jail. They then split the bribe with the dope selling con. I saw another scamp involving dope. Just don t do drugs or get overly drunk. Having said these negative things I would go back in a heart beat and might settled in around Akumal.
I have a question.
I’m going with a relatively rowdy group of guys to playa. Some of them smoke pot and some will do drugs up the nose.
If the police catch them, will they be caught in the Mexican prison system? Are they actively targeting the tourists? Lastly will the police set you up? Or plant stuff.
Do the police go to the resort areas? Or if the maid finds it, will she call the police and you’re arrested and jailed for years? This is the type of stuff that worries me.
Hello Tyson
You have raised aa lot of points here and the answers are complicated and with many opinions. Here are some answers. Police do not really enter or patrol resorts. If there are problems at a resort to the point police need to be called, it is usually handled discreetly. Mexico is a very live and let live society, so people don’t get in your business unless it is effecting others to a major degree. Maids do not normally mess with peoples stuff nor mention things. The police normally do not plant things on people but there can be some vigilante justice for expediated solutions to people that are already a problem. Police have stopped people in Playa and searched for drugs, usually late at night and on side streets.
It should be noted that if buying drugs on the street you are never sure of the quality. Some tourist have ended up high, confused and scared. They drove out to the jungle and were lost for days until the military found them dehydrated and in bad shape. It should also be noted that purchasing drugs supports the cartels that are currently in a turff battle in the Riviera Maya. Much of the crime is a result of this. To some extent tourist have stopped coming because of the crime, and to the most part it was because of tourist buying drugs and continueing the cycles. This not only effects other tourist from coming but the jobs of locals that get lost because of drops in tourism. It is a complex issue in any country but these are the current conditions here.
I’ve been once and it was one of the best holidays I’ve had and therefore we are going in a weeks time again. common sense prevails as is the case in most situations. You will be offered drugs etc your choice just don’t get mugged off.
Hola, I wanted to comment on the mugging and murder of a tourist from California earlier in November, 2018 (it was well documents online but with LOTS of misinformation). There was initially incorrect info put out by Mexican news outlets that the tourist was actually a Canadian living in Playa who was assaulted by someone that he was with. This was not true. He was mugged and stabbed with his wallet, watch, phone and sneakers stolen. What I want to point out is that this was an EXTREMELY isolated incident and I travel to Playa multiple times per year I am not deterred by this incident. For one thing this incident occurred at 3am in a park near Ave 30th and Calle 68. He was alone and as you know VERY far from the tourist area. The park where he was murdered was a 10 minute cab ride from where he was staying with a group of people celebrating a friends 30th birthday. It’s unclear why he was alone so far from where he was staying with his friends. While I am saddened by his death he clearly was somewhere that he should not have been at 3am, alone. Tourists just need to use common sense, don’t go out alone after midnight and in general don’t go above 30th ave or past calle 50 late at night.
Hi Mr. Yucatan, thank you very much for this detailed website. I have been reading it daily in preparation for my trip to PDC in less than two weeks (yay!) I am a woman in my 30s and I am traveling solo. I am not planning to go out at night, but I do want to spend as much time on the beach as possible. That brings me to the question — if I go alone to the public beach, will I be able to leave my things unattended when I go swimming? Granted I won’t have anything valuable, only most necessary thing like sunscreen or a book. How much of a gamble is it?
PS this website is a gold mine of information! Thank you!
Hello Kat
Thank you so much for reading the website! In answer to your question, things don’t get take from the beach often but no one wants that to happen to them. The most important thing you might have is your room key or some small cash. You can eliminate worries with a small waterproof bag that is on a chain. You can take it in the water and not worry about anything. You can find them in many stores here.
I know Playa del Carmen has problems and I wish there would be more consiquenses for the criminals. I think that would help keep levels of robbery lower especially at home invesions. With that said I still feel pretty safe in Playa.
I have been coming to Playa for years now. There is an increase in population and that brings more issues but Playa del Carmen still feels much safer than many places in the world especially touristic ones.
I think last year with the change in government the crime situation got elevated. It never was targeted at tourist though. Just more positioning for power. Home break ins are still the main problem in Playa.
I am so tired of people talking about how unsafe Mexico is. Yes it has it’s issues but many things in other places don’t get the same coverage on the news. Most of the people in Mexico are very welcoming and love their country. This is a good review of what things are good to look at for a trip to the area. Many thanks for sharing!
I was going out from the club with friends in playa del carmen and was walking down the 5 th avenue. I separted from them to take a piss in the alley and some transvestite walked behind me and stand next to me while I was pissing and started to touch me. At first I thought it is some desperate prostitute and I laughed it off and said, no, move, I have a girlfriend. I finished and started to walk but he continued to be close to me and put a hand in my pocket, I pushed him and said to fuck off, he again started to come close and I pushed him again, this time agresivly. I turned away and went for my friends when he punched me in the face from the side. I attacked him and was beating the shit out of him, my friends (4 girls) was runing and breaking us up, the bastards face was blodied up and he spit me. They separetad us and he was crying and was saying to call the police that I just attacked him for no reason. They said to me to go quickly that if police comes it can be bad for me. They said police is bankrupt there and they could put me into jail if I dont pay them and I could miss the flight until the thing is resolved.I was furius as it wasnt my fault and was just defending myself. And the worst part is that I need to go health check myself now as his blood was on my face and body. This is the first time in my life something like this happened to me and I traveled around a lot. So much for the safety…
We are sorry this happened to you. We do worn about them and most issues happen when people are out drinking a partying. This is no way for people to act and for the most part people don’t encounter this on their holidays.
Is it safe for Americans to live in Playa Del Carmen? What areas should be avoided. Obviously not going to live in hotel area.
Hello
It is very safe for Americans to live in Playa. There is no real hotel zone except the extreme center of Playa. Actually most areas are about equal, the poorer areas will have more problems but the main thing people living in Playa have is break ins. It almost does not matter where you live. Shoulder neighborhoods often have more issues. This is a poorer area butted up against a developed area with nicer places. The best thing to do is, just like out article mentions here:https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/playa-del-carmen-crime/ . Having your home secure and knowing your neighbors helps a lot. This is something that you have to deal with but most of the time the good things outweigh the bad.
Are there safety concerns if not staying on a resort but spending a month in Playa del Carmen by renting a apartment or condo?
Hello Michael
We address some of the issues that affect residents here: https://everythingplayadelcarmen.com/playa-del-carmen-crime/ In general it is safe. Petty theft is the biggest issue and renting somewhere with a gate or good security is good. Most places have no issues.
I hope Playa del Carmen is staying safe with the economic downturn. It has been hard for everyone.
Went to Playa del Carmen last year stayed at Xcaret ocidental it Was beautiful. Going again in two weeks It’s like.other people said . If you don’t do your homework like me you will get ripped off at the touristy shops and most places that cater to tourist . it’s that way in most places really . I live South Fl and that’s how it is here. So we asked the taxi driver where we could go shopping and he wanted to take us to Quintana Roo where they have lots Of shops and restaurants nice to visit but can get ripped off if not careful. Things I found annoying is that the Stores have people outside the store trying to lure you in to sell you stuff and they can get very pushy . I thought I blend in with the locals because I’m Hispanic but they know you are a tourist and what hotel you are staying in by the wristband the hotel provides when you register . So be mindful of that .I had one approach me saying he was my waiter at the hotel and provided the name of the hotel and would I enter his uncles shop as a favor. – All in all the people are welcoming and very nice . Just be clear of the value of the Dollar and pesos before you go . I felt very safe but I tend to stay away from sketchy places Like bars and nightclubs and I don’t wonder much out of the touristy areas . Just use common sense like you would in your own city and stay away from the bad neighborhoods and don’t be overly friendly with strangers. Mexico is very Beautiful and so is there people
Thank you Lucy for your comments. The wristbands do give away that people are staying at hotels and most locals don’t stroll down 5th Avenue looking at shops, so even without a wristband, they can figure out who is a tourist. In our opinion, taxi drivers do not necessarily know the best shops, many get commissions from places, especially jewelry stores. So doing a looking looking around yourself or research online like our shopping guide can help people find the better stores. We are glad to hear you had a good time.
If Playa Del Carmen is so safe, why do the police drive down the street with a loaded, belt-fed machine gun on their truck?
Each country shows force differently. This type of setting can be off-putting to tourist, but is fairly common. It is just like the checkpoints, these are to insure safety regulations. There are far fewer people stopped on the road by police in Mexico. Most of the time in Mexico trucks are used to pick up drunk people or misbehaving people. Cars are rarely used to pick up people.