Is it safe for tourists in cozumel?

Question

I am going on my honeymoon there to a resort in November, and I wanted to know maybe some safety tips and helpful hints about what to stay away from specific to the area.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi - the folks there will be certain to cater to you to be sure you have a good time. Don't get trapped into Time Share deals (free breakfast, free car rental, blah, blah, blah) just say no! Bottled water is safe and can be purchased just about anywhere - many hotels have filtered water in their rooms. Check the price of a taxi for where you want to go (the front desk will know the going rates) but most are straight up. Sunscreen and mosquito spary may be helpful. November may have squalls, so toss in a rain poncho if that bothers you. Depending on where your hotel is, plan on taking taxis to get to anywhere. There aren't any specific areas to stay away from - the island is safe. We drive around dit almost every time we visit (every year). Bring ones - exchange some money at the airport (or your bank, if they do that) before leaving, pick up an international calling card if you don't have a cell phone that is international (although AT&T gives international minutes at a higher fee on their cards). Investigate tours and side-trips before you go - you might be able to come up with more reasonable ones that the hotel will offer. Rent a car and drive around the island with a tour book one day. Many weekends there is a little show in the plaza - which can be entertaining - Because it is an island, things can be expensive, so bring your film, camera, sunscreen, etc with you. If you do end up with Montazuma's revenge, Pepto helps. Have a great trip!

Answer 2

Cozumel is completly safe. I have never felt threatened there, and I go quite often. I have been there a total of at least five times. Just follow your basic insticts as you would anywhere. It is not like you are going to Mexico City or somewhere where kidnapping is something to worry about. They depend on tourism and have a reputation to protect. Look at Aruba. One bad thing happened there and they got a lot of bad press. They were falling over themselves to get tourists there for a while. Cozumel doesn't want that!

Answer 3

Cozumel is very safe. My husband and I have vacationed there five times over the last three years. One time we had a rental car that stalled on us. A nice elderly man stopped and offered to give us a ride which we accepted without worry. He drove us all the way back to the rental place and wouldn't take any money for gas or anything.

If you want to connect with a local who can help you out, we met a restaurant owner named Tony Rome. He said if we ever got in a pinch or had law trouble to give his name and he would help. He is American but has lived in Cozumel for 11 years. We always feel secure knowing we have a local backup just in case. Check out this link if you want to contact him: http://www.cozumel-hotels.net/webcam4/

My husband and I have stayed in all-inclusives there as well as rented a home for two weeks. The home was located in the middle of a poor residential neighborhood but I never felt in any danger. Everyone was very friendly, always smiling and waving when we took our regular daily walks into downtown (about eight blocks or so).

Be sure to check out the Cozumel bulletin board at: http://www.cozumel-hotels.net/yabbse/ That is how we met Tony, found our rental home and a lot of other great information. We always check it out again before we go back for another trip to see what is new.

We also enjoy to local nightlife and bars. We have never experienced any 'bad locals' even when we were unwise to walk home like two miles one evening after clubbing. But the smartest thing is to use common sense just like you do in your local home area but you are probably safer in Cozumel than anywhere.

Answer 4

...I'd be more concerned about hurricanes. Cozumel is a highly "Northernized" tourist area. The next thing to be careful about is your pocket book and jewelry. Don't leave anything of value in your hotel room. If you value it, check it in the safe, or don't wear it. Watch for "charlatans" looking to make a buck off of you. Other that that, bargain your purchases down a bit if you are in a mercado. If the price is fixed, then it's better. You may want to take a couple of day trips to see Chichen Itza and Tulum...beautiful Mayan ruins. The people of Quintana Roo state of Mexico are mostly hospitable people. Have fun! Congratulations.

Answer 5

your chances of having a problem in Cozumel are probably much less than you having a safety problem on trip from your home to the corner store. Tourism is how they make a living. They want you safe so you will spend money My country US leads the world in murders second largest prison population crime out of hand but I continue with day to chores so if you are worried about safety don't be GO AND HAVE FUN

Answer 6

I agree completely with the first two responses you received. I consider Cozumel to be very safe in general. I have traveled to many places in Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean and Cozumel is actually my favorite of all these places (you contact me if you want my opinion or information). I was last in Cozumel about a year and a half ago for two weeks. As the other responders have said- first, you probably should be far more concerned about a potential hurricaine hitting the island during November than you should be about crime on the island. My last time there I felt comfortable walking the entire stretch from the old cruise ship pier to the new one downtown (probably a couple/few miles)- I even walked from my resort (where are you staying?) to downtown over a mile away a couple times by myself around midnight without the slightest concern or fear of crime; maybe it helps that I'm from the Detroit area. Anyway, the whole stretch along the "inhabited"/Western side of the island is very well lit from downtown for miles. You also have large groups of tourists and local residents walking, working, etc. pretty much everywhere along this stretch and pretty much any time of day or night- making it difficult for anyone to even think they had a remote chance of going unnoticed if they commit a criminal act. The economy on the island is quite strong and healthy as compared to other places in Mexico- so there is less "need" for crime. The island's economy is largely based on tourism so they do a very good job of preventing any potential crime threat in order to protect their tourist industry- no way any tourist destination wants crime scaring away tourists (just look what happened to Aruba after the Natalee Holloway incident). Of course, you have to display some common sense and take some measure to protect yourself from crime- I can argue that I'm just as likely (maybe more) to be a victim of crime in small-town Michigan or in any other place in the US too. My advice would be: travel in groups (the larger the possible); don't drink so much that it affects your decision making (if you do drink/party to that point, I suggest having at least one person in your group not get "wasted" to act as the eyes and sense for your party; I would suggest staying/walking/visiting only well-lit areas of town (like the main stretch along the coas) after dark; most resorts are going to provide plenty of recreational/partying opportunities so you never even have to leave your resort in order to "party hearty;" taxis are available everywhere and pretty much at any time. Cozumel really is one of the safest, most hospitable places to visit anywhere in my opinion- just use the same common sense you display when visiting any other place you would visit either at home or abroad and you'll be fine. You really don't need to be too concerned about safety on Cozumel and I'd be more concerned about focusing on your wedding; I can pretty much guarantee you'll have a good time visiting Cozumel for your honeymoon. Congrats and again feel free to message me if you think I can be of any more help to you.

Answer 7

Yes. It is safer than most areas of the US. The violence is in cities and towns on the US border. My wife and I are going to Tulum in June for a week and spending a day in Cozumel.