The issue of security in Mexico It is one of the factors that most worries the traveler who arrives in Riviera Maya. Many visitors ask about the safety of the area, is it a safe destination, can I travel by free, what should I worry about?
Cancun and Riviera Maya is a very small area of all of Mexico, but it is very important because it receives a large number of visitors throughout the year. One of the great doubts of the foreigner to visit Mexico is to know about security.
SECURITY IN MEXICO
The news in the media about violence in Mexico are not the most encouraging for the traveler, and it is usual that many tourists who come to Riviera Maya The security issue worries them.
From the outset to say that Mexico is a huge country with a very wide range of situations, being the area of the Yucatan Peninsula, where is Riviera Maya, an estimated destination as safe, something that interests those involved in tourism businesses and is agreed.
This entry is just trying to see the reality that can affect you as a tourist in the Riviera Maya area, in Quintana Roo. The states of Yucatan and Campeche are much safer than neighboring Quintana Roo. These three states form the Yucatan peninsula.
The destination of Riviera Maya and its characteristics:
Riviera Maya it is prepared to receive and treat tourism with care, it is a destination for large hotel complexes, where interests turn in favor of powerful tourism companies. Much of the Mexican Caribbean is organized to package tourism with plane + hotel, the famous all inclusive. The striking offer of archaeological sites, cenotes, parks and activities makes most want to leave the hotel to get to know the area, at least it is estimated that they will make one excursion per family. The trips are an important niche of money for the tourism industry.
Once the visitor reaches the international aeropureto of Cancún, they pick you up on departure, transfer you to the hotel and the next day you have a presentation by your tourist agent where they will tell you about the excursions you can do. Well, in the transfer from the airport to the hotel several have commented to me that the driver or companion emphasizes that it is much better for your safety That you do the excursions with them from the hotel, they say that renting a car is very dangerous, they recommend not taking street taxis (they are demons that they will rob you).
In short, they scare the newly arrived visitor so that they will not do anything outside their circle of economic interests. That is a good and comfortable formula for many, but not very ethical on their part.
Personally I do not like this policy of fear that inculcate in tourists just get off the plane, the one that I encourage you to move on your own or give you other alternatives is not to the taste of some, but I am a tiny insect within the great tourist infrastructure.
Security in Riviera Maya, Mexico:
In addition to these unfounded fears generated by the tourism industry itself, What is true about the security issue? I do not consider the area a dangerous place for tourists, the possibility of moving and travel by free It is easy, safe and simple.
UPDATED NOTE: In the year 2017 there have been internal conflicts between drug cartels and Government in Quintana Roo that have affected security in this area. It would be very imprudent of me to ignore them. As a tourist you probably won't even find out, but here they are in a territorial war.
That said, keep in mind that you're in a Touristic area, and as in all human jungles there are dangers. There are dangers such as theft in distractions, scammers, the smart taxi driver, inflating prices with the bills. So in addition to take basic precautions, here put a little more attention because the tourist is always a walking dollar, and between the sun, the constant smiles and the daisies one goes too relaxed.
Practical tips: Take a photocopy of your passport in a sealed bag, and store it in a different place than the originals. What's in the waterproof bag is very backpacking, but it has saved me from dipping the photocopies of my documents on occasion. Losing the documents is a roll, and the photocopy can accelerate the resolution of the problem. In the hotels there are usually security boxes.
Health hazards in Riviera Maya:
Sun and insects, Yes, you read it right. We come to the Caribbean lands wanting the sun, and some manage to get like lobsters and skins falling in strips. Protect yourself with a good hat and drink water to hydrate constantly, in addition to putting sun protection all over your body, a much better biodegradable type.
And above all, traveler, do not forget protect yourself from bites of insects like the mosquito, that transmit diseases like dengue, chikungunya and zika. Surely this does not tell you much, but there are cases in the Yucatan Peninsula of these diseases, so protect yourself with repellent. The mosquito hour Fierce is at sunset and at dawn, at that hour better try to be in a closed place.
The aim is to propagate a conscience education in the population to prevent it, which is the best way to get vaccinated. In the hotels and in the towns they go to fumigate (personally I do not know which is worse the pesticide or the mosquito).
Warning if you rent a car in Riviera Maya:
Some friends who have rented car they have explained to me the tricks that are spent police to get money from them. The sad reality is that they see easy prey for fine to foreigners in rental car. What should you never do? One is to skip the Speed limitsOn federal highway 307, the one that runs through the Riviera Maya, there are several checkpoints. Do not drive talking on the phone, and be careful to skip the semaphore in red, from amber to red changes very fast. Here are some tips for driving through the Yucatan Peninsula and as a dessert the anecdote that Cesar explained to me, a traveler with whom I became friends thanks to the blog:
Good way,
- Offers on flights international and national ..
- Find the accommodation with the best offers from Booking.com.
- Stay with airbnb and get 25 € discount.
- Contract activities, tours and excursions organized.
- Rent a car with the indispensable and necessary best discounts.
- Secure your transfers of arrival or departure to the airport.
- Travel safely with IATI and take advantage of 5% off.
If you prefer, you tell us your idea of the trip and together we organize it.
Hello,
I'm thinking of going to Tulum in Easter with my husband and son of 8 years, and looking for info x internet I found your blog that I find interesting. In the security issue I think like you, but since you live there you affirm it, if this topic did not worry me much, now less. My idea is not to go to a ti, but to a cabin on the beach of Tulum. Now my question is ... Can you tell me more or less how much food / dine goes out that area? I have already read you about bus prices, since it would be the option we would choose to move, but when buying the plane and separate accommodation I would like to get an idea of the price of "living" x that area. (Food / drinks ....)
Thank you very much x everything
Hi Monica, what a good plan yours 🙂
Tulum, the beach area, as you can imagine is more expensive than the town, where you find more options: from eating tacos in the street by 30 pesos or 150 or 200 pesos per person restaurants. In the beach area you will find from 200 pesos per person upwards. Prices that come to mind as a pizza from 100 pesos, a good cut of meat on 200 weights, shrimp to taste the same on 200, sodas at 30 pesos ...
If I can help you in something else, we continue with it.
Regards,
Thank you very much!!
Hello ... the best page I found on the Mayan Riviera, congratulations, I want to ask you: where to buy cheaper in Argentina is it common that you bring gifts to your neighbors, they told me about the 28 fair in Cancun? It's like that and there are supermarkets economicos that the walmar to buy tequila for example, which? includes Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum is to buy T-shirts, masks, chocolates, tequila and things like that .. others told me that Chichenitza to buy masks crafts that you recommend me .. thank you very much for your contribution
Hello Jorge, you are well informed with what you know. As you say the 28 Market is a good option because there is everything. Supermarkets you have the WallMart, Chedraui or the Mexican Commercial, the most popular is WallMart and is where you will find more souvenir products (some products a few pesos above, others below). A supermarket of delicatessen products called La Europea, tend to have tequilas a little better in price, at least some brands. The most central are usually more expensive, but if you do not come a peso, I would not go crazy going to the periphery of Cancun or Playa. Inside Chichén Itzá (not the stores that take you on commission excursions) there are dozens of artisans selling their products, including masks. My advice is to look for prices in Cancun, Playa or wherever you are, to take a reference to Chcihén.
I leave the reference to go to the 28 market, here is everything: https://www.elcaminomascorto.es/mercado-28-souvenirs-en-cancun/
Have a nice holiday, best regards.