Is Tulum Safe: A Guide to Staying Safe in Mexico (2024)
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Your Guide to Staying Safe in Mexico
Is Mexico Safe?
This is a controversial topic, leaving people unsure whether they should book that vacation to Mexico or choose a different destination. To give some background, I have been to Mexico quite a few times throughout my life, from ages 10 to 28. I am currently living in Mexico (July 2024) and have spent most of my time in the Yucatan Peninsula, but I have also visited other areas outside of this region. One of my closest friends is originally from Mexico, and many of my friends are traveling through the country now.
While I cannot definitively say if Mexico is safe, I can share that I, myself, have never felt unsafe here as a female. Below is a comprehensive list of the best travel tips I follow for staying safe while in Mexico.
You should always stay up to date with local news and travel advisories according to your home country. American travel advisories can be found here. Travel insurance is also ESSENTIAL while traveling! By far, the best travel medical insurance is Safety Wing. Find out more on this below.
Here is a list of things NOT to do…
I Do Not Argue with the Cops or Local Authorities.
This might seem obvious to most people, but you would be surprised. As a foreigner in another country, we do not have as many rights as we would in our home country (or at least we are not regarded as such). If a cop or local authority pulls me over, I listen to what they are saying and if they ask for money, I pay them. In the end, my life and safety are more valuable than some money and they have more power over me at that moment.
May 2024: I was once pulled over for accidentally driving a motorbike in the bicycle lane (oops). The cops simply asked if I knew I was driving in the wrong lane, and when I told them I had no idea, they informed me that normally they would have to take my license to the local police station. I have no clue if this is actually what is supposed to happen, but who am I to question the police? They said I could instead pay 1,000 pesos to avoid this, which later dropped to 500 pesos (around 30 USD). I had heard of police bribery in Mexico prior and knew just to pay and get on with my day.
Do Not Argue With the Locals.
This is similar to the above; we are a foreigner, and this is their home country. I do not know who these people are or their background, and they could be involved in a larger gang or drug business. For our safety, I would not argue with them or raise your voice angrily. Try to avoid conflict in the first place.
Do Not Wander the Streets at Night.
This is a common rule in many countries. Many robberies and incidents occur in Mexico at night when people are more vulnerable and potentially intoxicated. You should especially avoid wandering at night as a female and if you need to pass through any isolated locations. Driving also becomes much more dangerous during the nighttime.
I Do Not Make Myself Stand Out.
Maybe leave that Hawaiian shirt at home and put your camera in a zip-up bag instead of wearing it around your neck. Anything that marks us as a tourist should be avoided if possible. This could make us less of a target for robberies and other potential threats.
Valuables:
I do not wave them around, walk around with them in my hand, hang a camera around my neck, or am inattentive to my surroundings because of them. I choose to leave most of them at home.
Do not leave them unattended, whether on a bus, in a taxi, at a restaurant, walking around, in a gym, etc.
Money:
I do not take out more money from my wallet than I need to pay for things. This would mark me as a target for robbery.
I do not carry around more money or cards than I need. This way, if I am robbed, the loss is less detrimental.
I am overly careful at ATMs and check the card slot before using it to ensure it has not been tampered with. I stick to ATMs inside buildings like banks or 7-Elevens.
Don’t Fight Back if Someone Robs You.
This one is hard to write and read because how can we not instinctively do this? One of my friends was robbed on the West Coast of Mexico, and they have confirmed this advice as well. If someone robs you, just let them. They could be armed, or the situation could become much more violent if you fight back. I know stories of people who have fought back and lost their lives for it.
Avoid Illegal Activities, Especially Those Involving Illegal Substances.
I do not think I need to expand on this one. You should avoid illegal activities anywhere in the world, but especially in Mexico. If you are wondering why, go watch any movie about drug trafficking in Mexico.
Don't Drink Tap Water and Be Careful with Street Food.
Tap water is unsafe and dirty in almost all of Mexico. Do not drink it, keep your mouth closed in the shower, and if you are susceptible to sickness, do not use tap water to brush your teeth or cook with it. I never cook with tap water, ever.
Here is a List of Thing We Should Do…
Learn Some Spanish!
This will help you in many ways, including reading signs, knowing rules and regulations, and communicating effectively with taxis and locals. Knowing some of the native language anywhere you travel is a valuable tool. Duolingo is always a great way to begin learning some basic phrases.
Be Cautious with Alcohol.
Avoid overconsumption to reduce your vulnerability to theft, kidnapping, and getting lost. This will also prevent us from doing anything reckless or being overly loud and obnoxious.
Watch your drink at all times to ensure it is not drugged.
Get home earlier than we normally would. Wandering the streets at night, especially if we are tipsy or drunk, puts us in a more dangerous predicament.
Follow Media, News, and Social Media Groups for Updates.
Many cities and towns have specific travel and expat groups that provide the latest information and updates. These resources can help us stay informed. Check Facebook for expat and travel groups to get the inside scoop on where you are heading.
Avoid Isolated or Unknown Locations.
Isolated locations make us an easier target, especially in unknown and potentially unsafe areas.
Watch Out for Scams.
Be aware of fake taxis, fake cops, airport scams, car rental damage scams, ATM scams, etc.
Know the colors taxis should be in each city or town and how to identify real and fake cop cars.
Do some research for each specific area of Mexico to be well equipped.
Always Be Aware of Your Surroundings.
This advice applies everywhere we travel. It helps us avoid wandering into unsafe areas, noticing if someone is following us, and avoiding pickpockets.
Get Vaccinated and Bring Strong Mosquito Spray.
I always vaccinate for common food-borne and waterborne illnesses, and bring strong mosquito spray for hiking and outdoor activities. I learned the importance of this the hard way when I was diagnosed with Typhoid Fever twice in Indonesia.
Diseases like dengue, malaria, Zika, typhoid fever, and salmonella are active here. Take the right precautions to keep yourself safe and healthy.
I never eat street food that is not freshly cooked or peeled before me.
Get Travel Insurance.
I cannot stress this enough. Petty theft is probably the most common crime travelers face in Mexico. If you have travel insurance, it becomes a little easier to let your valuables go when being robbed, knowing you can claim them through your insurance. Make sure to read through the claim information so you know what you need to do in case a robbery occurs. Travel insurance is also essential especially if you incur any doctor or hospital fees abroad. By far, the best travel medical insurance is Safety Wing. It has saved me so much money, even more so when I had Typhoid Fever.
Turn Location Services On for All Devices.
This will help people back home know where you are, allow those you are traveling with to track your location, and enable you to locate your items if something happens.
I know this list seems a bit intensive and over the top, but it is better to be safe than sorry and not be marked as a target. I want to emphasize that the likelihood of anything happening during your stay is very unlikely if you follow basic safety practices and some similar travel safety tips like mine above. It's better to know what to do should something occur rather than find out after the fact. If places like Tulum, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Bacalar, etc. were truly unsafe, people would not still travel to them as frequently as they do. Mexico relies highly on tourism as an income and is doing the best it can to provide safety to its tourists.
