But at the same time it has become a major hub for drug distribution. As a tourist destination, Playa del Carmen in the resort area of Tulum is booming, but so too is cartel violence.
People Also Ask
In general, cartels do not target tourists and the authorities have a huge incentive to keep visitors as safe as possible so that they keep coming back to the area. However, when it comes to steering clear of crime, your safety in Tulum will largely depend on what you do and where you go.
The crime rate in Tulum is rated as moderate with a slight uptick in recent years. Still, most tourists shouldn't have any issues. You can safely travel to Tulum as a solo or solo female traveler.
Still, experts agree tourists are not the preferred target. “Most tourists will never meet the cartels. In other words, violence is often generic. The violence tourists face is much more local,” Hope said.
Stay away from drugs and drug-related activities.But when violent crime does happen here, it's usually related to drugs. If you're traveling solo, avoid going to secluded places at night. Bicycling is pretty tempting when you're in Tulum, but avoid bicycling around at night. Take a taxi if you're alone.
Is Tulum safer than Cancun? Not really. They're both generally safe. The key difference is that Cancun's mainstream holidaymakers tend to stick more to their hotels, especially the all-inclusives.
Be cautious at night if you're traveling alone – Tulum isn't the most dangerous place at night, but in some places, it's not as well lit as it should be. Don't walk around alone late at night if you can avoid it — especially between the center of town and the beachfront hotel zone.
While Tulum is trendy, note that most of the best hotels offer eco-chic luxury (if you're looking for a large resort experience, look elsewhere) and are located along the 6-mile-long stretch of beachfront from the Tulum Ruins to the soft sand beach in the south end.
You should not drink the tap water in Tulum. To avoid unnecessary illness, always make sure your bottled water is sealed, your ice has been tested for purity and your food has been prepared with bottled water.
The decision to increase police presence in Tulum is partly due to the events of August 12th, where the bodies of four individuals were found inside the Hotel Zone. Experts deduced that the bodies were dumped on the site as a result of a drug-related feud.
You could choose to walk from the hotel areas to the beaches, the ruins and even Tulum Pueblo, depending on where you're located. However, you may find taxis are a more comfortable option, given the heat. And you should always exercise common sense and not walk long distances alone at night.
Experts NewsNation spoke to said that some resorts, which have long been considered safe areas, may actually be controlled by Mexican drug cartels. “There is a cartel presence in these resorts,” said Robert Almonte, a former U.S. marshal in the western district of Texas.
Some nightclubs, bars, might be run by cartel members or people connected with them. Some cartel connected have legitimate businesses but the big money is in drugs and now with the border open, human trafficking. Do cartels own resorts in Mexico? They do.