The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) does not advise against travel to Playa del Carmen. The UK FCDO does name the city as a place where criminals have physically and sexually assaulted British travellers. The panel above shows today’s level from each government for Mexico.
At Safe to Go, we review these travel advisories daily so travelers understand where regional hazards lie. The US State Department says to exercise increased caution in Mexico because of terrorism, crime, and kidnapping, and the UK FCDO advises being very cautious after dark in downtown Playa del Carmen.
What Official Advisories Say About Playa del Carmen and Quintana Roo
Playa del Carmen is specifically named in foreign government guidance regarding personal safety threats. The UK FCDO explicitly warns that criminals have physically and sexually assaulted British travellers in Playa del Carmen and Puerto Vallarta. In some cases, hotel employees, taxi drivers, and security personnel were involved. The advisory also cautions that hotel staff have sometimes been unhelpful and attempted to convince victims not to contact the police.
The US State Department advisory for Mexico does not name Playa del Carmen. The UK government advises travellers to be very cautious after dark in downtown areas of Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen. Their guidance instructs visitors to stay on well-lit pedestrian streets and stick to tourist zones. The UK FCDO also advises following advice from the local authorities and your tour operator.
The broader baseline advisories apply to Quintana Roo as well. The Canadian government maintains a countrywide warning advising travellers to exercise a high degree of caution. The US State Department notes that many violent crimes take place across Mexico, including homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, sexual assault, and robbery.
How Playa del Carmen Compares with High-Risk Areas in Mexico
Playa del Carmen is not in any of the areas where the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel. You can see how it compares with other places using compare destinations side by side.
The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to multiple states, none of which include Quintana Roo. The list below covers several of them. The full list, which also includes parts of Chihuahua, Guanajuato, and Jalisco, is in the UK FCDO Mexico travel advice.
Travellers visiting other parts of the country or arranging connecting road trips must review the broader national guidance in our guide on whether Mexico is safe.
- State of Zacatecas: FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the entire state.
- State of Colima: Avoid all but essential travel, except the city of Manzanillo accessed by sea or air via Manzanillo-Costalegre International Airport and direct travel via road 200.
- State of Guerrero: Avoid all but essential travel, except the town of Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa accessed by air.
- State of Tamaulipas: Avoid all but essential travel, except the Nuevo Laredo border crossing reached by toll road 85D from Monterrey, federal highways 80, 81, and 85 between Tampico, Ciudad de Victoria, and Magueyes, and the area south of those highways.
- State of Sinaloa: Avoid all but essential travel, except Los Mochis, Mazatlán, road 32, toll road 15D, and the Copper Canyon rail route.
- State of Michoacán: Avoid all but essential travel, except Morelia, Pátzcuaro via designated toll roads, and Federal Highway 15D.
- State of Baja California: Avoid all but essential travel to Tijuana and Tecate, except airside airport transit, the Cross Border Xpress, and toll road 1D.
- State of Chiapas: Avoid all but essential travel within 40km of the Guatemalan border between the Pacific Coast and Gracias a Dio.
Risks Visitors Face in Playa del Carmen and Recommended Precautions
The UK FCDO says crime is a risk to foreign nationals in Mexico, particularly in major cities and tourist resort areas, and that street crime is a serious issue there. To mitigate these risks, travelers should research destinations thoroughly, travel only during daylight hours when possible, monitor local media, and share itineraries with trusted contacts.
The UK FCDO says criminals have targeted people using automated teller machines (ATMs) and exchange offices (bureau de change), and advises taking care when using them. Use ATMs during daylight hours inside shops or malls, avoid withdrawing large amounts of cash, and watch who is around you while at an ATM.
Download our free travel safety checklist before you go, and follow these UK FCDO precautions for each risk.
- Pickpocketing and theft: Avoid wearing expensive-looking clothing, jewellery, or watches. Limit the amount of cash and credit or debit cards you carry, and watch your luggage closely even inside apparently secure hotel lobbies.
- Drink and food spiking: Never leave food and drinks unattended in bars and restaurants. Criminals have drugged travellers to rob or assault them.
- Tainted alcohol and methanol poisoning: Tainted alcoholic drinks have caused illness or blackouts, and alcoholic drinks containing methanol have caused deaths and serious illness in Mexico. If you have any concerns, get advice from your tour operator or the local authorities.
- Extortion by police: Some genuine police officers have extorted money from tourists over alleged traffic violations or minor offences. If this happens, do not hand over money or your passport. Ask for a copy of the fine, which is payable later, ask for ID, and try to note the officer’s name, badge number, and patrol car number.
- Imposter police scams: Criminals posing as police officers target visitors driving rental cars, attempting to impose false fines or make arbitrary arrests.
- Virtual kidnapping and phone scams: Criminals may call demanding money for the release of an alleged kidnapped family member or employee. If you receive a threatening demand over the phone, hang up immediately and verify your family member’s safety directly.
Taxis and Night Travel Around Playa del Carmen
The US State Department restricts its government employees from hailing street taxis anywhere in Mexico. The US State Department strongly advises US citizens to follow the same rule and use dispatched vehicles from regulated taxi stands or app-based ride services instead.
US government personnel may not travel between cities after dark and are advised to avoid traveling alone, especially in remote areas.
Driving independently also requires knowing how to handle official checkpoints. The US State Department instructs drivers to comply fully whenever encountering a road checkpoint. Fleeing or ignoring checkpoint instructions can lead to serious injury or death. Emergency services are limited or unavailable in remote or rural areas.
Reporting a Crime and Avoiding Protests in Mexico
If you become a victim of a crime in Playa del Carmen, you must report it in person before departing the country. The UK FCDO notes that a criminal investigation is impossible without filing a formal complaint to the Mexican authorities. Reports must be made immediately at the nearest branch of the state prosecutor’s office, known as the Agencia del Ministerio Público.
Political demonstrations represent an additional legal and physical risk for foreign travelers in Mexico. Demonstrations can be tense, confrontational, and potentially violent, and onlookers can be quickly drawn in. Mexican law explicitly prohibits foreign nationals from participating in political activities. Joining protests can result in detention and deportation by local authorities, so travellers must monitor local media and immediately move away from any gathering.
Terrorism risks also exist globally and within Mexico. The US State Department notes a risk of terrorist violence and activity, while the UK FCDO states that terrorist attacks in Mexico cannot be ruled out. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
How to Check Whether Playa del Carmen Is Safe Right Now
Before booking excursions, check each government’s current advice. United States citizens can register travel plans through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Review the latest updates on our latest advisory changes page.
Compare regional advisories before taking day trips away from Quintana Roo. If you plan side trips to the capital or regional hubs, check our dedicated guides on whether Mexico City is safe, whether Cancún is safe, and whether Tulum is safe. The UK FCDO says your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against its advice, so check your policy before any side trip to an area on its list.
Our verdict would change if the UK FCDO added Playa del Carmen or Quintana Roo to its list of areas to avoid. Playa del Carmen is a poor fit for a trip built around late nights downtown, because the UK FCDO advises being very cautious there after dark. Check the live advisory panel at the top for today’s levels, and use the maps of restricted areas on the US State Department Mexico advisory page.