Is the Riviera Maya safe?
Welcome to our Riviera Maya safety guide.
One of the most popular regions you can visit in Mexico, the Riviera Maya really has it all.
Here you can spend the early morning exploring ancient Mayan ruins, followed by chilling in a picturesque cenote, and then heading to the beach in the mid-afternoon.
And that’s all without mentioning the tasty food that’s waiting for you here too!
Riviera Maya Quick Summary:
- 📍 Where is it: Southern Mexico
- 🗺 Difficulty Getting There: Very Easy
- ⏱ Time needed: 5-8 Days
- ☀️ Best Time to Visit: November/February
Is the Riviera Maya safe?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you’ll need to know about Safety in the Riviera Maya as a backpacker or traveler.
We’ll look at all the different factors, our top safety tips, other useful information as well as an FAQ section where we answer your key questions.
As always, we would advise any travellers who are thinking of heading to the Riviera Maya to prepare properly before arriving, and to get in touch with us where we can offer more guidance.
Is the Riviera Maya Safe Right Now?
Quick Answer: The majority of the region remains very safe for travellers to head to, and will be a breath of fresh air for those who have been traveling through mainland Mexico for a while. The beaches are mostly safe during the day and night, although it’s wise not to leave belongings unattended given that theft can happen at any time.
There is of course the worries about drug cartels and organised crime in this area, especially after some more recent incidents made the news. However these rarely affect tourists, and as long as you don’t get involved in the drugs trade, or stay in any dodgy areas, then you’ll have a trouble-free stay.
Riviera Maya Travel Warnings
There are currently no increased travel warnings for this area of Mexico, unlike other parts further north which can be a little more challenging for a traveller.
Whilst most of the region is quite safe, there’s two areas you’ll want to be cautious of. The first is in Playa del Carmen, where you don’t want to head any more in-land than Avenida 45 Norte (where the overhead bridge is).
The other is in downtown Cancún, outside of the Hotel Zone or far from the ADO bus station. These areas are a little more dodgy, and incidents have happened here before.
Overall, staying safe in the Riviera Maya is really easy, and comes down to using your common sense. Most reported incidents either involved alcohol or carelessness, and with a bit of pre-planning you can avoid being part of the statistics too.
We’ll share our best tips for staying safe here later in this guide.
Where to Stay in the Riviera Maya
There’s plenty of worthwhile areas to stay in, with each town/city offering something slightly different. We’ll take a look at the main ones below for you, as well as a nice accommodation option for each too.
- Playa del Carmen – The best all-rounder, with great nightlife and many cool cenotes located close-by. It’s a good place to base yourself, using the local colectivos to visit towns and other sites as day trips from Playa. We suggest staying in the Hostel MXV, which is on Quinta Avenida and close to the beach.
- Bacalar – Known for its multi-coloured lagoon, this town is really chill and is great for getting away from all the noise and bustle. There’s also some really worthwhile ruins here that you can see without the crowds. Our top spot for a stay here has to be the Casa Eek Balam, which has comfortable dorm rooms as well as a continental breakfast included in the rate.
- Isla de Mujeres – By far the best choice for a tropical island experience, with many incredible beaches to explore. You can also rent a Golf Car to explore the wilder south and eastern parts of the island freely. Whilst here you can stay at Nomads Hotel & Beachclub, which is an incredible space built right onto the beach.
Things to do in the Riviera Maya
We think the question should be… what can’t you do when in the Riviera Maya?!
Those after tropical beaches will find the very best on Isla Mujeres (Playa Norte is often ranked in the top 10 on earth), as well as those north of Cancún and on Isla Holbox.
The Caribbean waters are also perfect for snorkelling and diving, where you’ll find many colourful species such as the Sergeant Major and Angelfish. Those who want to swim with Whales Sharks will also be in good luck here.
If you’re wanting more to see ancient ruins and get some really awesome photos, then Chichén Itzá of course is the big one you’ll want to see. You can head on this day tour to see the impressive site, nearby Valladolid as well as having lunch included.
There are others though which are just as picturesque, such as Kohunlich in the dense jungle as well as the giant pyramids in Coba.
Most of these tours also include visits to the infamous cenotes, which are great for a quick cooling off. Some of our personal favourites are Ik Kil and Dos Ojos.
Be sure to visit our comprehensive guide on visiting the Riviera Maya for more ideas.
Got travel insurance for the Riviera Maya?
Is the Riviera Maya Safe to visit?
Below we’ll take a look at the current safety situation in the Riviera Maya.
Crime in the Riviera Maya
Given these areas are some of the most touristy in Mexico, it does bring both extra pros and cons. The pros include increased police presence, which often guard more popular areas like the Quinta Avenida.
The cons are that these same police are often corrupt too (haha), so just don’t loiter around them too much more than what is needed.
The other disadvantage is that opportunistic thieves will try to prey on unsuspecting tourists. Given some areas have big party scenes, it does mean you’ll want to be careful with your valuables when in bars and on busy streets given criminals will be waiting for a moment to jump in.
We can use data collected by Numbeo to assess the safety situation in different hotspots along the Riviera Maya coast (100 being the most unsafe). Tulum scored 38.11, Cancún scored 55.85 whilst Playa del Carmen scored 47.41. For reference, Acapulco scored 60.52 whilst Mexico City scored 67.85.
We recommend that you learn some basic Spanish words for this travel phrase book before arriving here and you will find get local safety information from locals much easier.
What parts of the Riviera Maya are safe?
The islands are some of the safest areas you can visit in this Mexican region.
These include the popular places to stay such as Isla Mujeres and Cozumel. Isla Holbox is on a different level of safety by itself given how quiet and peaceful it is there.
You’ll still want to take care when heading to the beach (leaving valuables either at home or alone, or with friends if going in the sea). This also includes only swimming in the safe areas too, given some beaches can be unsafe.
There are also some really safe areas in the Riviera Maya mainland too. Some of the main towns include Akumal, Bacalar and Puerto Aventuras, where tourists can easily walk around during both the day and night with little issues.
The Riviera Maya Safety at Night
The nightlife in the Riviera Maya truly is on another level. There’s a reason why students on Spring Break, stag parties and others up for some chaos love coming here.
However it does mean you’ll want to prepare a little bit before, especially in the nightlife hubs of Cancún and Playa del Carmen.
We recommend taking taxis to and from the strip (or the same bar if you’re only going to one place), as some of the surrounding areas can be gritty. The main exception is the Quinta Avenida, which is safe pretty much 24/7.
Definitely let loose and enjoy yourselves, however just make sure you’ve got a plan to get back already planned out. Too many times we’ve seen stranded tourists after a few too many, and whilst usually resolved without problems, it has led to unfortunate cases of assault or robbery.
Places like Tulum and Bacalar are pretty safe for heading out at night, where you can walk along the main strips solo too without any issues.
7 Safety Tips for the Riviera Maya
Below we will list 7 of our top safety tips for when heading to the Riviera Maya.
1. Book Accommodation Close to the Beach
Seems like a no-brainer given you’ll want to be near the Caribbean Sea anyhow, however these areas tend to be the safest too.
In Playa del Carmen this is the most touristy part, and also where less issues happen. It’s similar in the Hotel Zone in Cancún too.
Just be wary about walking alone on the beach at night, and also not to get too drunk and do something explicit or stupid (George was fined once here. One day I’ll share the story for sure…)
2. Leave Valuables in your Accommodation when going to the Beach
When heading to the Riviera Maya there’s a good chance you’ll be beach-bound most of your days.
If in a group this is fine, since you can take turns going for a dip whilst others look after your things. However if going alone then you’ll want to be cautious since unattended things have a habit of not being there when you get back.
If you’re and are desperate to cool-down, you can always ask someone else near you to watch your things as a last resort.
3. Only head on Reputable Tours
We mostly like going independent to things, however a solid, well-organised tour is always great too. On the other hand, those knock-off tours can really be hit or miss.
Not only might the quality be worse, however you’re not guaranteed your safety either. Much better going with a knowledgeable local company instead.
One of our top suggestions is this tour to Chichén Itzá, which includes all transport, lunch and a visit to a nearby cenote.
4. Drinks lots of Bottled Water
The first couple of days this will be obvious given how the sun is going to hit you hard (especially if flying into Cancún from cooler climates).
However after a few days it’s easy to get complacent, so make sure to aim for 2 litres a day to avoid getting sunstroke.
You’ll want to double this amount if you’re a regular drinker, or get involved with any other extra recreational activities. This is sealed, bottled water by the way – never drink the tap water here! Alternatilvr just carry one of these ultrapress water filters to be 100% safe.
5. Wear a Secure Money Belt
In most areas this won’t be necessary, however we definitely recommend it in downtown Cancún, as well as when exploring further afield in Playa del Carmen.
Petty theft can be an issue in these parts, and it’s best to keep valuables such as your wallet, credit cards and other documents hidden from potential thieves. We highly recommend this Secure Money Belt, which is hidden underneath your clothes.
6. Don’t Wander around during a Hurricane
This sounds obvious, yet you’d be surprised what some tourists do. Hurricane season affects this region from July until October, which is often just heavy rains and nothing more.
However every few years a big hurricane can hit the coast, making it a little more dangerous to walk around (imagine flooded roads, falling coconuts etc).
Aside from this, all hotels and restaurants are already prepared to deal with these events, so it’s best just to stay there until things calm down a notch.
7. Be Firm with Street Hagglers
Anyone who’s walked the Quinta Avenida will know that the vendors here will swarm to tourists like bees do to honey.
The majority of times there’s actually no harm at all, and we’re putting this tip here to just minimise what you have to put up with. If you’re not interested, simply smile and keep walking.
I always say that if they persist after, then you have every right to ignore them (don’t respond to their conversation – they’ll bait you in any way they can).
The Riviera Maya FAQ Guide:
Here we’ll take a look at the most frequent questions we get asked by our readers about safety in the Riviera Maya.
Is the Riviera Maya Safe? Final Words
And that’s all for our guide on how to stay safe in the Riviera Maya.
We really love this area of Mexico, given there’s so much to see and do here. From lounging on Caribbean beaches and visiting Mayan sites to going full-out loco along the Quinta Avenida, there’s literally something for everyone here.
In this guide, we’ve explored the current safety situation in the Riviera Maya, which includes the areas to avoid, as well as any current travel advisories. As well as looking at the best things to do in the Riviera Maya, we’ve also included our FAQ which answers your most burning questions.
While you’re still here, be sure to read our Riviera Maya Itinerary for more tips and travel inspiration when it comes to exploring this region of Mexico.
👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.
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