In recent months the safety of certain Mexican vacation destinations has been questioned by officials in various other countries, namely the United States, but despite the talk, tourists who visit the Mexican Caribbean, including Playa del Carmen, are rarely victims of crime.
Security is actually an issue always being addressed in most of these places, as the safety of tourists is essential to the country’s tourism industry. The most recent example of officials protecting tourists and locals was in the form of getting four drug dealers being taken off of a popular beach in Playa del Carmen, where they were attempting to sell drugs to beachgoers.
The four men were allegedly attempting to sell drugs to a man on Xcalacoco Beach in Playa del Carmen, and the man called 911 to report the incident. At the time that officers arrived at the location, the alleged drug dealers were in the process of exchanging bags of illegal substances. In addition to marijuana, officers also found five bags of crack cocaine and 13 bags of ecstasy pills.
The majority of crime that takes place in popular Mexican Caribbean vacation destinations is drug-related, but often crimes between competing dealers or gangs are more common than crimes against tourists. The Mexican government has mentioned the possibility of tourism fueling the drug trade, as there are tourists who visit the country that seek out drugs upon arrival. Because of this, officials have asked for tourist help in reducing drug sales by not purchasing drugs from these dealers.
In this case, not only did the man not purchase drugs from the individuals trying to sell them on the beach but even went so far as to turn them in, and they were apprehended. Although they did try to flee when authorities arrived, they were able to be captured and taken into custody. They have since been made available to the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office in Crimes Against Health, where their crimes will be analyzed, and they will be dealt with.
Despite stories of crime and a lack of safety, millions of tourists visit the Mexican Caribbean every year, and Playa del Carmen is a very popular destination, particularly among U.S. travelers. It was recently named one of the top Mexican cities to rent a vacation home, along with Tulum. In fact, between the two popular cities, more than 800,000 tourists visited between the months of June and August, compared to only 625,000 during the same timeframe in 2019.
Now the tourism industry is expected to continue to flourish as the next busy season is just around the corner. Many seats have already been booked on flights to Cancun International Airport for the coming winter months. The airport is the main hub in the Mexican Caribbean and is generally the airport used for tourists visiting not only Cancun but for those visiting many of the area’s other popular cities, including Tulum and Playa del Carmen.
Winter is the perfect time to visit the Mexican Caribbean because the weather stays beautiful year-round, even when it’s cold in the U.S. and Canada. Add to that the fact that the entire coast is dotted with beautiful white sand beaches with turquoise water and a laid-back vibe, and it’s easy to see why so many people vacation in the region. Fortunately, it’s not too late to plan a winter vacation.
To be sure, Playa del Carmen and the other vacation hotspots in the Mexican Caribbean are not without their problems. But as with any vacation destination, as long as you stay vigilant and out of dangerous situations, you can have an incident-free, enjoyable Mexican Caribbean vacation.