Is Tulum Safe? Everything You need to know about Safety in Tulum
If you are traveling to Tulum and Concerned about safety, you have the right to be, but it shouldn’t let you stop from going. In this post I will tell you all about the crime situation in Tulum from valuable sources and share some safety tips to enjoy your stay, worry-free.
According to the US Governament Travel Advisory, “Violent crime, including homicides and assaults, has increased in Tulum.”
Also” There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Quintana Roo state. Exercise increased caution after dark in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum and remain in well-lit pedestrian streets and tourist zones.“
Tulum is one of the most renowned Mexican beach destinations, popular for its endless beach, the unique Mayan archeological site, but most of all for becoming the preferred destination for trendsetters, artists, entrepreneurs of all sorts, and digital nomads found in Tulum their perfect high-end beach getaway from the city life and workcation destination.
But is Tulum safe to travel to Tulum Right now? I I am sad and very sorry to say that due to the recent unpleasant events in Tulum where people have been harassed or wounded for robbery in daylight, I can’t say anymore that Tulum is a relative place to stay.
As always, though, safety comes first. Safety in Tulum and in Mexico, in general, has always been a concern for first-time travelers or for anyone who is reading not-very flattering news about safety in Mexico on the TV or the internet.
In this post, I will try to debunk the myth that traveling to Mexico is not safe, in the most unbiased way, considering the real safety issues and how to overcome them.
Is Tulum Safe?
It is undeniable that there has been an increase in cases of crime and although they normally don’t affect tourists, sometimes they do just because they happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Unfortunately, drug-related fights between narco gangs are a thing, and now more than ever they are affecting the peacefulness of what was before paradise on earth.
I sadly have to say that Tulum is not what it used to be and although I usually think that change is inevitable, this kind of change is unacceptable.
If you can read Spanish, local news is definitely not inviting when it comes to Tulum chronicles and it seems that it is now not enough to avoid hanging out with the wrong people.
The main road of the town (Avenida Tulum) is busy at all times of the day, even at night it has quite a lively party scene and there are street lights all along the road.
But the way things are now I wouldn’t feel safe to hang out at night and sometimes not even in the day.
A few weeks ago, somebody was robbed of his computers and personal belongings while working at one of the popular restaurants in the Tulum downtown in plain daylight. It’s unfortunate and scary.
If you do go out, just stay on the alert and keep in mind that the further away you get from the main road, the more careful you have to be at night.
Some of the deeper streets don’t have street lights, and you’ll have to walk nearer to the main road even to catch a taxi (Tulum doesn’t have Uber).
There’s the option of renting a bike, and it’s quite useful. A lot of people in Tulum use a bicycle to get around. I still wouldn’t recommend biking around at night, though.
I would choose to stay in one of the beautiful hotels on the beach and just enjoy the peace and tranquillity at night and the beach during the day.
Going around on tours and exploring during the day you should be safe and I hope that will still remain like that.
Also if you are concerned about renting a car, the way things are now, it is MUCH SAFER renting a car than getting a taxi.
15 Tulum Safety Tips
- First things first, follow the social distancing protocols so both you and the people around you can be safe. Wear a mask when you’re in crowded places.
- Health insurance is extremely important. You never know when you might get sick, and the hospitals in Mexico are very expensive for tourists. So get good health insurance before traveling. I normally use Safetywing Both are great but serve different kinds of needs. So make sure you read through what’s included and what’s not.
- Stay away from drugs and drug-related activities. Tulum is a safe town for tourists, and incidents of violent crime here are few and far between, especially compared to the rest of the country. 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.
- Try to stay in Tulum town or one of the resorts at the beach. The accommodations and hotels in town and the beach have plenty of tourists like yourself so you’ll have company.
- Avoid flaunting your wealth. Petty crime is an issue almost everywhere in the world, and Tulum is no different. Keep your valuables locked away in the safe in your hotel room.
- Try to avoid overdrinking as much as possible. When you do drink, try to do it in a group of people you trust, do so in moderation, and always keep an eye on your drinks to make sure no one spikes them.
- If you’ve been drinking, avoid swimming entirely, whether it’s at the swimming pool or at the beach.
- Tulum has a really good party scene, and it’s quite fun. However, try to be alert while you have fun at those parties, especially when you’re alone. (Avoid that in Covid time)
- Watch your surroundings when withdrawing cash from an ATM. Avoid doing so at night or in deserted areas (in the Chedraui supermarket, you have plenty of choice of ATM Machines, and it’s safe).
- Be mindful of whom you trust. A lot of the time scammers rely on your trust to con you out of your money.
- If you’re going to the beach at night, stay in front of a hotel with security.
- Keep your passport in your hotel room’s safe. But carry a photocopy of your passport everywhere you go; you never know when you might need it.
- Beware of the taxi drivers. The majority of them are real scammers charging you outrageous rates, just because you are a tourist, and “so rich” (in their mind) and so they think they have the right to rip you off. So make sure you negotiate the rate before getting in the taxi and if you don’t agree with the rate just say no and call another one. There are still a few honest drivers around.
Is Tulum Safe to Travel Alone?
Thousands of tourists travel to Tulum every year and it’s become a very popular tourist destination. A lot of these tourists travel alone and have a blast here.
In fact, because of its laidback nature, I’d say Tulum is even safer than Cancun. In fact, it made it to the top spot in the US News list of the best places to visit in Mexico.
You do have to take some extra precautions when you’re alone, though.
Be careful when going out at night. Avoid walking on deserted stretches of the beach or on deserted roads.
Always take a taxi to your destination and back to your hotel. Most importantly, don’t ride a bicycle at night. Biking at night means traveling alone, and some of the roads on Tulum have little to no street lights.
If you go to a restaurant as a solo traveler, you should be aware that almost all restaurants allow hawkers to come in and try to sell you stuff.
You’ll encounter this quite often. While this is not an issue in and of itself (they’ll go away if you tell them no), they’re often accompanied by their children. These children go around picking pockets and stealing unattended things.
What are the Safest Places to Visit in Tulum?
All of Tulum is safe for tourists. The town itself sees the most activity, and you’ll be safe here on the main roads because they’re all well-lit and have plenty of pedestrian traffic (most of them tourists).
Due to the partying scene, you’ll find people around at all hours of the day and night.
In case you want to visit the beach, or if you’re staying at the beach, you can easily go on a bike during the day.
There’s plenty of activity, the beach hotels are always thriving. Just avoid biking back at night and always take a taxi.
There are no areas to avoid as such, but be wary of going into the residential neighborhoods at night.
These neighborhoods can get quite deserted at night, and as the area is still being heavily developed, most of them lack streetlights.
It’s fine to visit them during the day. But if you’re staying in one of the accommodations here, opt for a taxi ride at night.
Is it Safe to Visit Outside the Hotels in Tulum?
It was relatively safe to visit outside the hotels in Tulum. However, the recent heartbreaking episodes make me think otherwise.
When tourists encountered any safety issues here, it was almost always a petty crime that can happen anywhere in the world.
Nowadays the situation has changed and I would just be more careful whether you are alone or with a group.
If you go out make sure you take some basic precautions. When in doubt, just ask the locals which areas you should look out for and at which times. They’re usually very helpful with safety tips.
The only thing I can point out in this regard is that if you’re staying at one of the hotels on the beach, the road between the beach and the town gets quite empty at night.
If, after dark, you feel like traveling to the town or back to your hotel, always take a cab.
Is Tulum Safe for Female Travelers?
The same advice applies to solo female travelers. As a female, just take standard precautions that you’d take anywhere else in the world.
You might face a few catcalls from the locals when walking around, but it never goes beyond that. I’m including some extra tips for female travelers below.
✔️ Keep your Bling in Your Room
If you have some flashy and expensive jewelry with you when you travel, keep it in your room, and don’t wear it when you’re exploring around the town.
✔️ Stay Near the Main Road in Town or at the Beach Resorts
While staying in the residential neighborhoods is fine, you’ll have trouble finding cabs in those areas. Cabs are absolutely essential for you if you want to go anywhere at night, and you’ll be able to find them pretty easily in town and near the beach resorts.
✔️ Keep an Eye on Your Drinks
Tulum has a great party scene, and you should partake in it. But if someone comes up to you and offers you a drink, don’t accept it. Get your drinks from the bar yourself and drink in moderation. Never get wasted if you’re not in a group you trust implicitly.
