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| Recent photo taken at the Aventura Cove Palace |
- Is it safe in Cancun (or Playa del Carmen)?
- Will I be able to leave the resort?
- Will I be safe while traveling to and from my resort?
The answer to all of these questions is a resounding YES!
Allow me to point out that the Mexican government is fully aware of the value of the tourist industry on the Yucatan peninsula (which also happens to be more than 1000 miles away from the nearest "hotspot"). And, while there is the presence of armed police patrolling the main roads, they are there to ensure that the tourist areas remain safe.
I recently returned from a week in the Riviera Maya and did not at any time feel that I was in any type of danger. I visited Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel, Akumal, and Puerto Aventuras. There were many other tourists out and about shopping, eating, and enjoying themselves. My visits to Playa Del Carmen and Cozumel were made after dark, and while I generally avoided dark alleys and stuck to the main centers, at no time did I feel threatened.
There was an aggressive shopkeeper in Playa who insisted that I come visit his shop and didn't want to take "no gracias" for an answer. A nuisance? Perhaps. A threat or danger? Absolutely not.
I saw no drug dealers, no violence, and no scared tourists. I did see lots of people walking, talking, shopping, sun-bathing, swimming, and people-watching. The beaches, towns, and roads were all bustling with visitors.
The weather was gorgeous, the shopping was fun, and the food was great. We "discovered" a cenote on the road to Coba, we snorkeled with the turtles in Akumal, we poked around the shops and watched the dolphins in Puerto Aventuras, and we shopped 'till we dropped in Cozumel and Playa.
There is so much to do and see in the Riviera Maya that it's never the same trip twice. This was my fifth trip to the Riviera Maya and I have never felt safer. If I could go again tomorrow, I would!
Tell me, are you concerned about safety in Cancun and the Riviera Maya?
