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The U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory for Mexico in August of last year. In it, they warned that travelers visiting the state of Quintana Roo, where Cancun is located, should exercise increased caution while visiting.
Despite the warning, millions of travelers from around the globe who feel that Cancun is a safe vacation destination have visited since, many of which were American tourists.
Now a new report shows that perceptions of safety have increased even more in Cancun, so is it okay to visit the popular destination?
![Police Vehicle Near a Crowd of People on a Street in Cancun, Mexico](https://thecancunsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Police-Pickup-Truck-on-a-Street-in-Cancun-Mexico.jpg.webp)
New Report Shows More People Think Cancun Is Safe
According to data released by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography from the National Survey of Urban Public Security, 4.6 percent more people perceive Cancun as being safe.
The decrease in perceptions of insecurity occurred between the months of March and June.
The number went from 82.4 percent of people perceiving certain parts of Cancun as dangerous down to 77.8 percent.
![Police Officer on an ATV on a Cancun Beach](https://thecancunsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cancun-Police-Receive-New-Training-From-U.S.-To-Ensure-Safety-Of-Travelers-800x800-1.jpg.webp)
Why Such High Percentages Of Perceptions Of Insecurity?
Despite the decrease in perceptions of insecurity, the numbers are still pretty high.
This is based on the views of the citizens of Cancun, those who mostly live and work in the neighborhoods outside of the tourist areas.
There is crime in these areas of Cancun, but it rarely spills into the tourist areas of the destination.
![Police Vehicles in Front of Coco Bongo in Cancun, Mexico](https://thecancunsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Small-Police-Vehicles-in-Front-of-Coco-Bongo-in-Cancun-Mexico.jpg.webp)
The Reason Behind The Decrease
Ana Patricia Peralta de la Pena, Municipal President of Benito Juarez, spoke about the decrease at a recent meeting.
She attributes the decrease in perceptions of insecurity to changes in the police force.
According to her, police are working to build trust with citizens, and this has led to greater perceptions of security.
![Tourists Police Station in Cancun, Mexico](https://thecancunsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/police-station-in-cancun.jpg.webp)
The State Department Is Warning
The last State Department warning was issued by the U.S. in August of 2023.
In the warning, the suggestion to exercise increased caution when visiting Quintana Roo is due to crime in the destination.
The warning specifically mentions Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen.
![U.S. State Department Issues Warning For Cancun After Taxis Block Airport Access And Threaten Ubers](https://thecancunsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/U.S.-State-Department-Issues-Warning-For-Cancun-After-Taxis-Block-Airport-Access-And-Threaten-Ubers.jpg.webp)
What The Warning Says
The warning is just that, a warning. In it, the State Department details that crime can occur at any time, anywhere in the state.
It further states that “while not directed at tourists, shootings between rival gangs have injured innocent bystanders.”
Despite the warning, though, there are no restrictions on travel to anywhere in the state of Quintana Roo.
![Sign in Front of the U.S. State Department](https://thecancunsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/state-department-sign.jpg.webp)
State Department Suggestions For Travelers Visiting Quintana Roo
The U.S. State Department, along with issuing the warning about Quintana Roo, also issued some safety suggestions to consider while visiting.
These are suggestions that are helpful when visiting anywhere.
The most important ones are to:
- Avoid areas where illicit activities occur.
- Promptly depart from potentially dangerous situations.
- Exercise increased situational awareness after dark in downtown Cancun.
- Remain in tourist zones.
These are all suggestions given to state personnel visiting the destination as well.
![Tourists Walking Around Cancun at Night](https://thecancunsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Cancun-nightlife-1.jpg.webp)
So Is Cancun Safe To Visit?
As mentioned previously, millions of travelers visit Cancun every year, and very rarely is a tourist visiting the destination the victim of a violent crime.
If you stay in tourist areas and make smart decisions, it’s unlikely that you’ll run into any problems.
If you ask the millions of tourists who visit each year, most of them will tell you that they feel safe visiting Cancun, and according to the results of this new survey, citizens feel safer in Cancun too.
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Hugo Parra
Wednesday 31st of July 2024
Hello
Paul Lowe
Tuesday 30th of July 2024
I feel safe in almost every neighborhood of Benito Juarez, even the Ejido of Alfredo V Bonfil which some locales even hesitate to visit.