Is It Safe To Travel To Cancun Mexico?

Many people will probably know the area as a tropical paradise with Caribbean coast lined with beaches, ancient Mayan ruins, colourful nightlife, and fantastic resorts, which makes it one of the most sought after tourist destinations in Mexico. More than 5 million tourists come to this tourism destination every year. However, due to constant coverage of Mexico’s fight against the drug cartel, many people are left to ask, is Cancun safe for tourists?

Safety Reality in Cancun

This is the truth – the overwhelming number of visitors who come to Cancun does so without experiencing any accidents. There are millions of tourists going to and within Cancun every year during spring break, family vacations, honeymoons, and as individual travelers who do not fall prey to criminals. Much of the industry and economy of Cancun relies with tourist hence their safety has to be guaranteed.

With this being said, the security and safety of a particular destination is never entirely guaranteed – not even in Cancun. There is crime like pick pocketing and theft which can happen from time to time especially when people leave their valuable things on the beach and go swimming. However, there have been some occurrences of more grave offences over the years in Cancun as well.

However, it is noteworthy that the general crime rate in Cancun is lower than in many other resorts in Latin America. The hotels, resorts, beaches, downtown touristic areas and the ruins sites have measures to attempt control crime against the tourist.

Where Safety Hazards May Be Present

The prevalence of criminal offenses is generally not concentrated in areas within Cancun that are considered as the main hotel zone, it is a 23 kilometer strip of beach hotels and resorts. Neglecting to take these precautions does raise safety levels when going to other parts of Cancun or other areas that are not heavily filled with tourist attractions. Hiring a car also exposes you to carjackings or robbery when you park the car on secluded roads.

Other related incidents have also been reported in bars, night clubs with either compromised alcohol being sold or drinks laced with rapists’ substances. It remains very important to avoid taking any kind of drink from strangers at all costs. Public buses and collective vans used in transportation have also contributed to attacks and armed robbery in remote regions.

Safe Travel Practices in Cancun

Here are some tips for having a safe, secure, and fun time exploring Cancun

• It is better to be within the main hotel zone area and other tourist attractions such as the beach, ruins, malls, etc. Do not get into the non-tourist residential areas.
• Do not carry around flashy jewelry, watches, or cash with you to not attract the attention of robbers.
• In case you find yourself on the wrong side of robbers, do not fight, and instead surrender your property. This is about your safety most of the time.
• Always hire taxi services from the official taxi ranks available at your hotel or the airport. Check prices before the trip and use the GPS on your phone to monitor the driver’s location.
• Stay away from buying or using drugs. Not only is it unlawful, but it makes you a prime candidate for becoming a victim of a crime, significantly.
• Do not take any drink from someone else or leave your drink in any place where you are dancing in clubs. Order your drink from bartenders.
• Have company/family members when going out at night to dance or drinking places. It is also important to avoid taking a walk around with an unfamiliar person.
• For side trips, book tours and excursions only from legitimate, recommended tour operators.
• You should always consult the government websites travel advisory before you embark on your journey to check for any security concerns.
• Ensure you buy travel insurance to cater for trip interferences, accidents, or acts of God.

The Bottom Line

Nevertheless, Cancun is considered to be quite safe for tourists as long as they employ certain amount of common sense. People come here in millions every year and they have some fantastic holidays without any problem. Nonetheless, there are occasional cases of petty crime. As for the violent incidents, tourists too have been affected by such incidences in the past. It is important to stay out of harm’s way by avoiding risky actions and situations.

Stay alert and avoid becoming an easy target for criminals, and you will most probably enjoy a safe trip in Cancun. It is just as with any other foreign country, do not make crazy mistakes you would not make anywhere else.

Therefore, do not be scared of crimes when you are touring Cancun because you will always meet incredible sandy beaches, ruins, and culture, as well as sea creatures. Be safe, choose your hotel/tour company wisely and then just let the Cancun charm work their magic on you! All in all, this place is completely safe if you take necessary precautions and stay cautious at every time.

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