Is Playa Del Carmen Safe? What You Need To Know

Playa del Carmen is a popular spot amongst tourists and expats in the Riviera Maya. If you’ve been wondering if Playa del Carmen is safe, keep reading because we will provide information on the current situation, and more importantly, how to stay safe while in the Riviera Maya.

In this guide, we’ll discuss safety in Playa del Carmen so that you can discover for yourself how safe it is. We’ll add some tips to help you remain safe during your holidays.

But first, let’s address the special measures in Playa del Carmen regarding the pandemic.

Playa Del Carmen Safety During The Pandemic

Overall, there are no extra measures when it comes to the pandemic in Playa del Carmen. 

You need to wear a mask inside, disinfect your hands before entering a big shop and some places will request your temperature before entering a shop (the temperature is taken via your wrist).

Some people wear a mask outside in busy spots like on 5th avenue, but it’s not mandatory. Although, in January 2022, the government suggests you wear a mask outside too.

Mexico has a traffic light system with different recommendations and rules. I’d suggest you keep an eye out for them while in Mexico because the positive cases have been rising. In fact, when in Playa del Carmen in January 2022, my partner and I got Covid.

How Safe Is Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Now, you may be wondering “is Playa del Carmen safe”? I wish I could give you a direct answer, but there are nuances to keep in mind.

Overall, yes, Playa del Carmen is safe and feels safe, but you’ll still need to be cautious as you would do in other destinations in Mexico.

This is why Playa del Carmen is popular amongst expats and digital nomads looking for a safe destination in Mexico. 

In January 2022, a shooting happened in a resort in Playa del Carmen. According to the news, tourists were targeted by another hotel guest after a dispute. The victims had criminal records.

With the recent events in the Riviera Maya where violent crimes have been committed in 2021, there’s been an increase in military and police officers in the region.

Good news? Unfortunately, the police have a pretty bad reputation in Mexico, and while you should feel safer, it opens up a new can of worms.

There have been several cases reported in expats Facebook groups and by friends suggesting that the police abuse their powers to charge fines* to tourists, bringing them to prison or worst. That said, when possible, simply avoid the police – especially at night.

Although I’m sure that are good police officers in the lot – we can’t put them all in the same dodgy boat.

* Fines, “propinas” or… bribes. If you find yourself in this situation, pay and forget about it. If you do speak Spanish, you may be able to get away with it, but for your safety, it’s recommended to avoid confrontation.

If you have a bad experience with the police, you can report the situation to the tourist police. Even better if you have names, car plates, or information that can identify the officers.

When we decided to move to Mexico for three months, we did a lot of research and we decided to base ourselves in Playa del Carmen for the following reasons:

• The city is walkable so you don’t need to take a taxi
• Playa del Carmen feels safe and has fewer violent crimes than other destinations in the Riviera Maya
• It’s a bit more affordable than places like Tulum
• The internet is good which is great for digital nomads
• Many of my friends lived in Tulum and there were often shootings when they lived there in 2020-2021

Regarding the recent shootings, you should know that the cartel wars or violent crimes are not directly directed towards tourists.

Usually, tourists are caught in the crossfire. Unfortunately, it’s usually a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

That said, as mentioned above, two tourists were killed in Playa del Carmen in January 2022. You can read more about this here.

In the following section, we’ll discuss things to avoid to remain safe in Playa del Carmen as well as tips or things to look for during your stay.

Tips To Stay Safe In Playa Del Carmen

If you want to remain safe during your trip, make sure to keep an eye out on the following:

• If you drink alcohol, make sure to keep an eye on your drink, stay respectful, and in control. This way, you’ll avoid trouble. Many people head to Playa del Carmen so they can make the most of the nightlife. But, you should know that the police can do checks at night too, so be on your best behavior to avoid any complications later.
• Pick well-rated restaurants to avoid any digestive issues. While you may not always be able to avoid it, be careful with what you eat!
• Negotiate the price of your taxi ride before entering the taxi to avoid being ripped off. If you’re taking the taxi alone, you can share the location with a friend, or take a photo of the taxi number. That said, make sure to have internet by getting a SIM card in Mexico.
• Avoid dodgy streets or areas where people offer you drugs especially at night. In fact, you shouldn’t be taking drugs in Mexico.
• Do not let your things unattended. Playa del Carmen is quite busy and chances are you won’t see your things again.
• Use an ATM inside a bank. You can use a Revolut travel card to block your card if needed.
• Keep photos of your passport and FMM form on your phone in case you get stopped by the police. Since 2021, there have been several cases where police officers do random checks to ensure you didn’t overstay in Mexico. Now many people say that you need to carry your passport and FMM on you and that photos are not good enough, but it’s not realistic in my opinion. I wouldn’t carry my passport at all times for safety reasons. Learn more about the FMM (tourist permit in Mexico).
• Make sure to choose an apartment that has security. Ideally, you’ll want to have an apartment, because many robberies have been reported in houses (mostly on the ground floor). Usually, it’s an “inside job” meaning the security or staff call their friends when you leave. To avoid this type of situation, make sure to read reviews before booking an apartment, and pick a bigger building if you can. Since January 2022, lots of robberies have been reported by expats.
• In January 2022, many expats have reported car robberies in the parking at Mega in Centro. So, you may want to avoid parking there even during the daytime.

Obviously, you should also purchase travel insurance for your trip to Mexico. We recommend using SafetyWing, but you can learn more about travel insurance here.

GET TRAVEL INSURANCE

Traveling Alone In Playa Del Carmen

Playa del Carmen feels safe, but you should still be careful and cautious especially at night. That said, we recommend you stay in a touristy area such as Centro or Playacar. 

If you are too far from the centre, you may end up having to walk through dodgy areas.

When it comes to walking alone at night, you should avoid areas where you feel uncomfortable like you would do in any city, really.

Traveling As A Woman In Playa Del Carmen

The same safety measures should be taken as a woman. Ideally, I’d recommend picking a hotel well-located where you can easily walk around without having to take a taxi alone. 

That said, do not trust strangers or display any expensive jewelry to remain safe.

As mentioned before, Playa del Carmen feels safe, but you should still be cautious.

As I’ve been traveling in Mexico with my partner, I felt safe, but I wouldn’t necessarily feel comfortable walking alone at night. 

So, make sure you feel confident and comfortable – we can all have different criteria when it comes to safety, and that’s okay.

Final Thoughts On Safety In Playa Del Carmen

As mentioned several times above, Playa del Carmen feels safe, but remember that the cartel exists, and beware of the police officers and the taxi drivers.

With the recent crimes in the Riviera Maya, you may want to avoid Tulum, and head to Playa del Carmen or Cozumel instead.

We stayed in Playa del Carmen for a few months, and we had no problems during our stay. We hope your stay is going to be as smooth as ours.

Thinking of moving to Playa del Carmen? Read about the pros and cons of living in Mexico.

Start planning your trip to Mexico and read the following blog posts:

• How to find an apartment in Playa del Carmen
• How to get to Cozumel
• Backpacking in Mexico
• Best cenotes in Playa del Carmen