Monika D. Says:
We are very interested in Playa del Carmen, but how do we deal with the issue of Cartels?
IL Mexico Correspondent Bel Woodhouse Says:
Hi Monika,
Thanks for reaching out and I’m happy to answer this question about Playa del Carmen.
I spend a lot of time there as I live across the strait on Cozumel so I’m always popping over and have friends who live there. It’s a gorgeous part of Mexico and I understand why you’re interested.
But you’re also correct to consider less pleasant aspects of life, such as the Cartels.
The misconception is that, when people think of Mexico and the Cartels, they think of shootouts on the street, explosions, and the kinds of dangerous situations you see in Hollywood crime movies.
But that’s not the reality on the ground.
Mexico’s Cartels are organized crime. And organized crime exists in every part of the world.
So, like in most major tourism hubs, there is an underbelly where criminals extort some business owners for money made from the lucrative tourism industry.
But the criminals tend to be careful not to upset things too much. Otherwise the tourists will stop coming, and the golden goose stops laying its eggs.
So the reality is that, if you’re a tourist or expat minding your own business in Playa, you’ll almost certainly never encounter them.
I’ve lived in the Riviera Maya for eight years, and I’ve never had any bad experiences. Playa del Carmen is a beautiful, fun place and I’ve always felt safe there walking around by myself as a single lady.
Plus, Playa has a high level of law enforcement to keep public safety up.
There are suburban police, state police, federal police, even a special branch of police Tourismo’s, who are there just to assist and help foreigners and tourists with anything they may need.
I hope this helps put your mind at ease and if you have any other questions please reach out, I’m happy to answer them.
Read our guide to safety in Mexico on the IL website.
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