March 20, 2023 / Riskline Newsroom

Riskline Insider Travel Tips: Cancun

Once a Mayan fishing town, Cancún is now the most popular holiday destination in Mexico, attracting nearly half of the 20 million annual visitors to the country. Located on the picturesque Caribbean coast in the eastern Yucatán peninsula, the city of 900,000 inhabitants boasts wonderful beach time and nightlife. Cancún is considered a safe city, especially compared to other cities in Mexico.

By Eeva Rusuka

Top three places to visit in Cancún

Spring Break in Cancún

Cancún offers superb partying and fabulous relaxation on white-sanded beaches. During the spring break period, people are in full-on party mode, with sun, fun and stunning surroundings guaranteed. Reserve in advance and anticipate higher prices and large crowds.

Stay in Hotel Zone, visit the Downtown

Cancún is divided into two parts: the Downtown where bustling markets and authentic street food joints are located and the Hotel Zone, a 19km (11.8 mile) stretch of land bordered by the Caribbean Sea and Nichupté Lagoon, which is home to many attractions, restaurants and shops, with nearly all hotels within walking distance of a beach.

The northern end of the Hotel Zone, Punta Cancún, provides the best nightlife in the region, with world-famous DJs making regular appearances in the many clubs and resorts, while the southern end, Punta Nizuc, boasts a beautiful coral reef.

Day trip to nearby sights

If the hustle and bustle of Cancún is too much, Chichén Itzá or Coba ruins, Valladolid or adventure parks are wonderful day trip options. Nearby Playa del Carmen provides fabulous shopping while bohemian Tulum offers nightly raves and visits to archeological sites and cenotes, natural groundwater sinkholes. Cozumel Island, and Puerto Morelos, Xpu-ha and Akumal in Riviera Maya, are known for stunning snorkelling and beach vistas.

If you would rather spend your time chilling on a hammock with a margarita, Isla Mujeres and Holbox are your perfect match. These locations can be reached by an excellent network of buses, shuttles, taxis and ferries. Driving is a good option to get around, offering convenience and flexibility.

Travel risk tips

Crime, including violent crime, can occur anywhere in Mexico. Violent crimes are mainly related to drug trafficking disputes that are unlikely to affect tourists, although the risk of bystander injury remains. Despite an upward trend in recent years, crime rates in Cancún remain lower than the national average. The United States (US) State Department urges travellers to “Exercise increased caution when travelling to Cancún and Riviera Maya”.

Maintain a high level of situational awareness and steer clear of suspicious situations and crime-ridden neighbourhoods, particularly in northern Cancún, and exercise increased caution in the Downtowns of Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, especially after dark. Do not flaunt your wealth and avoid withdrawing cash in isolated or unlit areas. Credit card fraud is common in the region; set daily limits and keep track of your transactions. With tourism the heartbeat of the economy, locals and government officials do their best to keep the area safe.

For transfers, pre-book taxis online or at arrivals halls at Cancún International Airport (CUN/MMUN) and opt for radio taxis and avoid flagging unlicensed taxis as many drivers may be associated with scams or organised crime.

Unlike in other parts of Mexico, ride-sharing services may not be the best option. Travellers have been caught in the middle of turf wars between taxi and ride-share drivers in Cancún. If self-driving, be wary of money scams at petrol stations, adhere to traffic rules and carry a copy of your documents as local police are known to extort cash from tourists.

In nightclubs and bars, particularly in Downtown Cancún, tourists have had their drinks spiked or been served adulterated or unregulated substances, sometimes leading to muggings and sexual assault. Drink responsibly and always watch your drink.

Stay with friends when partying, walking in poorly lit areas or in a taxi at night. The possession and use of drugs and disorderly behaviour, including drinking on the street or having open alcohol bottles in vehicles, is illegal and may result in fines or jail sentences.

The most common health-related risk in Cancún is sunburn. Come prepared with sun protection gear. As elsewhere in Mexico, the quality of tap water cannot be guaranteed. Opt for bottled water. Malaria, dengue fever and Zika virus, all spread by mosquitoes, are present but transmission is not common in most tourist areas. While Cancún is not at risk of a major earthquake, hurricanes pose a risk between May and November.

The risk of injury and death is low due to advanced warning systems and improved evacuation procedures. More of a nuisance, Sargassum seaweed regularly arrives at Cancún and nearby areas during the rainy season; it can pile up on the seashore and produce a foul stench where it is not removed.

Riptides can be deceptively dangerous in Cancún. Do not swim after drinking or when warning flags are up. Beaches may lack lifeguards or signs of unsafe conditions. The north shore of the Hotel Zone between Km 4 and Km 9, has some of the most swimmable waters.

Eeva Ruuska is our Mexico-based AMER Team Leader.

About Riskline
Riskline is a world-class travel risk intelligence company. We provide country and city risk assessments and real-time alert messaging to fulfil Duty of Care requirements before and during travel. Trusted by global travel management companies, small businesses and everyone in between, Riskline has been in operation since 2007 and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.

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