The United Kingdom (UK) government’s list of areas to avoid in Mexico does not include Cozumel or its state, Quintana Roo, so a Cozumel trip falls under the country-wide advice the panel above shows. The UK does name Cozumel among tourist destinations where criminals have physically and sexually assaulted British travellers, sometimes with hotel employees, taxi drivers or security staff involved. At Safe to Go, we re-check the United States (US), UK and Canadian advisories every day and turn them into decisions you can act on before you book.
The risks the advisories describe for visitors include assault, theft, scams, drink spiking and taxi problems, plus a hurricane season the FCDO says normally runs from June to November in Mexico.
What the UK, US and Canada Say About Cozumel and Quintana Roo
The UK names Cozumel directly in its Mexico advice, in a passage on major tourist destinations. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) says on its Mexico travel advice page that the Mexican government makes efforts to protect Cancun, Tulum, Cozumel, Los Cabos, Nuevo Vallarta, Playa del Carmen and Puerto Vallarta. In those same places, criminals have physically and sexually assaulted British travellers.
The FCDO adds that in some cases hotel employees, taxi drivers and security personnel were involved, and that hotel staff have sometimes been unhelpful and tried to convince victims not to contact police. If you are the victim of a crime, report it immediately and in person at the nearest branch of the state prosecutor’s office, the Agencia del Ministerio Público. The FCDO says no criminal investigation is possible without that formal complaint, and you must make it before you leave Mexico.
The FCDO’s list of areas where it advises against all but essential travel does not include Cozumel or any part of Quintana Roo. One Quintana Roo rule does apply to every visitor: the FCDO says you must pay a state entry tax, online before or during your stay, and show proof of payment at the airport before leaving.
The US State Department’s Mexico advisory gives terrorism, crime and kidnapping as its reasons for caution across the country. It says conditions can vary widely from state to state and even within a state. It also says the US government has limited ability to help in many parts of Mexico.
The State Department publishes maps of the high-risk areas US government employees may not visit, and it says US citizens should follow the same restrictions. Its summary does not name Quintana Roo either way, so look up Cozumel’s state on the restricted-area maps linked from the State Department advisory before you book.
The Government of Canada’s Mexico advisory pairs a country-wide level with regional advisories. Its latest change removed an advisory to avoid non-essential travel to Mexico’s west-central coast and dropped information on Hurricane Trudy. Read the regional list on the Canada Mexico page to see whether any entry covers Quintana Roo.
| Government | What it says for Cozumel or Quintana Roo | Country-wide guidance a Cozumel visitor follows |
|---|---|---|
| UK FCDO | Names Cozumel among protected tourist destinations where British travellers have been assaulted. Quintana Roo is not on its avoid list. The Quintana Roo entry tax applies. | Street crime in tourist resort areas, drink spiking, fake police, sitio or hotel-ordered taxis, daylight travel where possible |
| US State Department | Summary does not name Quintana Roo. Restricted-area maps sit on its advisory page. | No travel between cities after dark, dispatched taxis or apps only, avoid travelling alone (rules for US staff that citizens are advised to follow) |
| Government of Canada | Regional advisories on its Mexico page. Latest change removed the west-central coast warning. | Country-wide advisory shown in the panel above |
Is Cozumel Safe Compared with the Rest of Mexico
Cozumel sits outside every area on the UK’s avoid list. The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the areas below and warns that travelling against its advice could invalidate your travel insurance.
- Baja California: the cities of Tijuana and Tecate, with exceptions for airport transit and listed border routes
- Chihuahua: the whole state except the city of Chihuahua, the Ciudad Juárez crossing, the Copper Canyon rail route and listed roads
- Sinaloa: the whole state except Los Mochis, Mazatlán and listed routes
- Tamaulipas: the whole state except the Nuevo Laredo crossing via toll road 85D and the area on and south of highways 80, 81 and 85
- Zacatecas: the whole state
- Guanajuato: areas south-west of road 45D, including Celaya and Irapuato
- Michoacán: the whole state except Morelia, Pátzcuaro and Federal Highway 15D
- Jalisco: municipalities south and south-west of Lake Chapala, plus 11 northern municipalities
- Colima: the whole state except Manzanillo reached by sea, by air or by road 200 from the airport
- Guerrero: the whole state, including Acapulco, except Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa reached by air
- Chiapas: within 40 kilometres of the Guatemalan border from the Pacific Coast to Gracias a Dio, and Federal Highway 199 between Rancho Nuevo and the Chancalá junction near Palenque
UK Warnings for Cancun, Tulum and Playa del Carmen
The UK’s warnings about gang clashes and shootings name Cancun, its after-dark warning names Cancun, Tulum and Playa del Carmen, and none of them name Cozumel. If your trip also includes Cancun, the FCDO says rival gangs have clashed in popular tourist destinations there and in surrounding areas, and several shootings have affected tourists since 2021. The FCDO adds that gangs have not targeted tourists, but violent incidents could affect anyone nearby.
The FCDO asks visitors to be very cautious after dark in downtown Cancun, Tulum and Playa del Carmen, and to stay in well-lit pedestrian streets and tourist zones. It also reports that licensed taxi drivers protesting about Uber have blocked roads near Cancun’s hotels, pulled tourists from Uber cars and caused some to miss flights. If you pass through Cancun, follow your hotel’s advice on avoiding those protests.
If your route crosses a state on the UK list, or you plan to drive between cities after dark, which US government employees may not do, plan each leg against the Mexico country guide. The US also says emergency services are limited or unavailable in remote or rural areas.
Theft, Spiking and Scam Risks for Cozumel Visitors
The FCDO says crime is a risk to foreign nationals in Mexico, particularly in major cities and tourist resort areas, where street crime is a serious issue. The FCDO country-wide crime warnings and their precautions:
- Pickpocketing and theft: leave expensive-looking clothing, jewellery and watches at home, carry limited cash and cards, and watch your luggage even in a hotel lobby.
- ATM and exchange-office crime: withdraw money in daylight from ATMs inside shops or malls, take out small amounts, and watch who is around you.
- Drink spiking: never leave food or drinks unattended in bars and restaurants, because criminals have robbed or assaulted travellers after drugging them.
- Tainted alcohol and methanol: methanol in drinks has caused deaths in Mexico and cannot be identified by taste or smell, so get urgent medical help if anyone shows signs of poisoning after drinking.
- Sexual assault: offences have been reported in tourist areas, so take care even close to your hotel, especially after dark.
- Fake and extorting police: do not hand over money or your passport, ask for ID and a copy of the fine to pay later, and note the officer’s name, badge number and patrol car number.
- Phone kidnapping scams: if a caller claims a relative has been kidnapped or detained, hang up and check on that person directly, and agree a contact plan with family before you travel.
Express Kidnapping, Drug Laws and Ceremony Risks
The FCDO says express kidnapping, where victims are forced to withdraw cash at an ATM, can happen in urban areas, although tourists are not usually targeted. It advises staying alert and being discreet about your finances where others can overhear you.
Drug convictions carry sentences of up to 25 years, and bringing e-cigarettes or vaping devices into Mexico is illegal, with customs officials confiscating them and able to fine or detain you. Smoking or vaping in a public place can bring a fine of up to 3,000 Mexican pesos.
Ceremonies marketed to tourists as spiritual cleansing, such as Ayahuasca, Yagé and Bufo, carry their own UK warning. Intoxicated travellers have been assaulted and robbed, sexual assaults have been reported during these ceremonies, and some people have suffered serious illness or died after taking the drugs.
Sea, Diving and Hotel Hazards for Families in Cozumel
The FCDO says sea conditions can be unpredictable and some beaches are unpatrolled, so follow coastguard and local authority guidance on whether it is safe to swim. In some hotels, balcony railings are low and there is a risk of falling.
If you plan scuba diving, jet-skiing, paragliding or another adventure sport, the FCDO says equipment may not meet UK safety and insurance standards, and British nationals have been injured and killed. Confirm your travel insurance covers every planned activity, and book only with a company that meets the FCDO’s four tests:
- It is reputable.
- It takes safety precautions.
- It uses up-to-date equipment.
- It is fully licensed and insured.
Crocodile, Shark and Hurricane Warnings Along the Coast
The FCDO says crocodiles normally live in lagoons and coastal areas, including Cancun and Pacific coast resorts, and have seriously injured tourists. Respect warning signs around lagoons and do not walk close to the water. Shark attacks are rare in Mexico, but the FCDO asks surfers in particular to research the area and follow local advice.
The FCDO says hurricane season in Mexico normally runs from June to November and can affect both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Storms cause floods, landslides and disruption to local services, including transport networks, and flooding and high winds can continue after a hurricane passes. During those months, monitor the US National Hurricane Center and follow local authority and tour operator advice, including evacuation orders.
Taxis, Airports, Passports and Night Travel in Cozumel
Both the US and the UK advise booked or regulated transport over hailing a car on the street. US government employees must use dispatched vehicles from regulated taxi stands or app-based services such as Uber or Cabify and may not wave down taxis, and the State Department says US citizens should follow the same rules. The FCDO recommends sitio taxis from authorised ranks or a taxi ordered by your hotel, and at airports it recommends only authorised pre-paid airport taxi services.
For travel between cities, US government employees may not travel after dark and should avoid travelling alone, especially in remote areas, and US citizens are advised to follow both rules. The FCDO asks visitors to travel during daylight hours when possible and to tell trusted contacts their travel plans.
If you rent a car, the FCDO warns that criminals posing as police have targeted travellers driving rental cars. It advises toll roads (cuotas), locked doors and closed windows at traffic lights, and surrendering the vehicle if you are carjacked. The US says to comply at any road checkpoint, because fleeing or ignoring instructions can get you hurt or killed.
Mexican authorities can ask for your passport and entry stamp and do not accept copies or photos. Fake immigration officers can operate in international airports, so refuse offers of help and go directly to the immigration office. If you lose your passport, replacing the entry stamp costs about 700 Mexican pesos, paid at the immigration office by card or in a bank with cash.
How to Check Whether Cozumel Is Safe Right Now
The panel above shows today’s level from each government for Mexico, and we re-check the three advisories every day. What we see travelers misread most often is the national level, when the warning is about specific regions.
Our reading of Cozumel would change if the UK added Quintana Roo or Cozumel to its list of areas to avoid, if the US restricted staff travel there, or if Canada’s regional list came to cover it. The UK change would also put your travel insurance at risk, since the FCDO says travelling against its advice could invalidate cover. Latest advisory changes lists updates as the governments publish them.
Before you fly, open the panel above, then download the free travel safety checklist and add the FCDO’s ATM, drink and taxi precautions for Cozumel to it.