Cozumel Tourist Safety

[Mark Duddridge]

My wife and I will be joining her parents on an all-inclusive holiday in January 2009. I'm hoping to make Cozumel our destination so I can enjoy great diving while they develop skin cancer on the beach. My mother-in-law has heard lots of horror stories of how unsafe Mexico has become for tourists. Can anyone recommend any websites/statistics/sources that provide an indication of how safe Cozumel is for tourists relative to other Caribbean destinations?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[charlesml3]

Cozumel is about as safe as it gets. There's practically zero crime on the island. You will be fine.

Just don't rent scooters. Those things are dangerous.

-Charles

 

[mississippidiver]

Make sure that your mother-in-law knows that the past tourist advisories for Mexico were related to the territories adjacecnt to the US border and were due to the ongoing drug enterdiction efforts ongoing there.

I don't recall EVER seeing or hearing of ANY tourist advisory for the island of Cozumel. Remind her that Cozumel is first and foremost a tourist destination and the citizens and authorities on the island go out of their way to make sure that ALL tourists on the island are safe, happy and most of all are willing to return year after year after year. (AS so many of us have done....)

I feel much, much safer walking the streets of Cozumel on any given night than I do walking the streets of Memphis TN during the broad daylight!!!

don't worry....be happy...

 

[Divedoggie]

There might be some concern if you were going to the Oaxaca Huatulco area on the South West coast or camping in the Baja area.
Cozumel is probably safer than ANY US city.

 

[ggunn]

My wife and I will be joining her parents on an all-inclusive holiday in January 2009. I'm doing my best to convince my in-laws to make Cozumel our destination so I can enjoy great diving while they are developing skin cancer on the beach. Unfortunately, my mother-in-law has heard lots of (probably groundless) horror stories of how unsafe Mexico has become for tourists. Can anyone recommend any websites/statistics/sources that provide an indication of how safe Cozumel is for tourists relative to other Caribbean destinations?

Thanks in advance for any help!

I have only anecdotal evidence, but I have been going to Cozumel since 1978 and I feel very safe there. A couple of years ago, there was a very big deal made about a murder on Cozumel (which did not involve any tourists) because it was the first murder on the island in 20 years or so. I bring my mom, my wife, and my daughter.

Cozumel is very safe.

 

[scubawife]

Cozumel is a safe place. I have never felt uncomfortable walking around town alone or being anywhere on the island. I can't say the same for several Caribbean islands I've been to. Like anyplace, including your own hometown, pay attention to where you are and what you do. Just use common sense.

As long as you aren't a criminal, a drug dealer or out looking to associate with them, all of Quintana Roo is pretty safe. When you do hear and read about stuff it's petty crime that happens everywhere in the world, or it's drug or organized crime related.

 

[krbailey]

From TripAdvisor:
Cozumel: Health & Safety - TripAdvisor

Travel and Tourism Info:
Cozumel tourism, Cozumel travel guide, Mexico tourism and attractions.

Crime in Cozumel:
Cozumel Info: Health & Safety

All indications (and my personal opinion) is that crime is almost non-existent in Cozumel. Most crimes are property crimes due to carelessness on the part of the victim (i.e. leaving purses unattended, vehicles unlocked, etc.)

The main complaint of tourists are the "Tourist Advisors" who are located at the airport that are salespeople for the condos/time shares. Just walk on by to your bus/shuttle/taxi and ignore them.

Best wishes on your trip!

 

[OSUcowboyinSPFD]

I live in a town of 8,000 in a very rural area. I still will not go for a jog at 5:00 AM by myself. I do it all the time in Cozumel, if that tells you anything.

 

[HammerHead05]

I've been going to Cozumel at least twice a year for the last 10 and NEVER a problem. The ONLY crime is the number of cruise ships and cruise people on the island. Best way to avoid them is to dive from 0800-1800 and will you will miss them completely!!!!

 

[Sue Sue]

My wife and I will be joining her parents on an all-inclusive holiday in January 2009. I'm hoping to make Cozumel our destination so I can enjoy great diving while they develop skin cancer on the beach. My mother-in-law has heard lots of horror stories of how unsafe Mexico has become for tourists. Can anyone recommend any websites/statistics/sources that provide an indication of how safe Cozumel is for tourists relative to other Caribbean destinations?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Yes , there are areas of Mexico that are having very serious problems. However there are areas in the US and all over the world for that matter that also have serious problems. I live in a very nice area outside of Austin. Street Lights, sidewalks, police....I am Not comfortable walking around alone at night here, however, I will walk out at night in Cozumel. I would be more concerned with the Sun exposure issue you mention in your post. Really, the only thing to watch out for in Cozumel is your normal stuff you would watch out for in general ie: watch your bags, belongings, wallets, etc. Most hotels have safes in the room, use it for extra cash, passports, cell phones, valuables, etc. Better yet, leave valuables at home, then you do not have that to think about. Have a great time. SueB