Tulum Safety

[kb5]

Hello all! It has been some time since my last post but I am growing a little worried hearing about all of the violence occurring in Mexico. Should I be concerned about traveling into Cancun for our vacation in Tulum? What are your thoughts about this? Is anyone else out there concerned for their safety while in Tulum?

Thanks!!!

[edurban]

Hi kb5, I read El Diario de Mexico every day and there sure is lots of bad news, but I haven't seen any from the Yucatan. The north of the country is the worst (along the US border) with Ciudad Juarez & Monterey two places you couldn't pay me to visit right now. The states of Zacatecas, Michoacan, & Guerrero are having their problems, but none of these places are near Tulum.

Closer to (my) home, Mexicans may want to avoid Staten Island and the Bronx, where non-Latin gangs have been targetting, attacking, and even killing Mexicans....

What a world.

David

[beachreader]

No worries here.

[susan]

I have criss-crossed the yucatan with my kids, on our own. No worries , no problems. Don't put yourself in compromised situations, just as you wouldn't at home, and you won't have any issues.

[Margoinmexico]

This subject has been on my mind a LOT since I've been in the states.......glad it came up.....
I just got a letter from someone that had contacted me about what it's like to live in Mexico a while ago, then he wrote me again worried about some video he saw on the internet about something that happened in Cozumel....and this was my response.....

mxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxmx mxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxmx

K tal, K pasa and a few other terms you will need to get by in your new life if you choose it! I am indeed Well and Happy, can’t think of a better way to be! Same to you!

I did not look at your link that you sent. I am a very sensitive soul and make a conscious effort to monitor what goes into my senses. Nothing you said in the letter made me believe that looking at that will make me FEEL GOOD, so guess it doesn’t go in. I swore off scary or violent movies 20 years ago, media in general, including TV news, newspapers, radio or internet news 15 years ago…..and have not missed any of it. 911 was a visual I could do without. It is easier since I’ve been in Mexico, but I’ve only been there for 4 years…..it is a choice, something I love to remind people.

But that doesn’t make me unavailable for comment on the event you are referring to. Shit happens everywhere. Seems to be part of life. I don’t know why it happens, but I do try to avoid it whenever possible as we all do. I believe you could pick any town on earth and start digging and you’ll find something that will scare you. I’ve spent most of my life in rural areas, and know that per capita, we have scary stuff just as much in the country as they do in the city, it just isn’t as concentrated. There are just as many opportunities for joy however, so look for places where the energy is good enough to create a joy in the people. That is what I look for, then I plug into it.

I have been in the states now for a couple of months. First time I’ve been out of Mexico for more than a couple of weeks in 4 years, it has been an adjustment. I have found happy people mostly in my journeys here. The one place where they seem to get a dark cloud over their faces is when they tell me how unsafe it is in Mexico. The news has done a good job of putting fear into an entire country about its neighbor. That makes me very sad, but I am doing my best to dispel this rumor, and educate people on the damage that the media is doing to them personally and to please unplug and have a nice day.

I feel safe everywhere I go, including my part of Mexico. Will I be spending time in a border town soon, probably not and I recommend that you avoid them too. If the US would legalize marijuana, maybe drugs wouldn’t have such a bad name and we could stop this silliness. Tulum and Cozumel are like Maine and Vermont compared to Los Angeles.

When in Mexico, I walk by myself late at night in town, on the beach and in the jungle. I did the same when I lived in Southern California and rural Missouri. I have no fear. IF something bad happens to me, so be it, but I’m not going to miss the experience due to the fear that something bad MIGHT happen. I’m not stupid, I do it with awareness of my surroundings, and look for ways to protect myself if something doesn’t feel right, but that is pretty rare. Usually I do it in joy and the beauty of the moment. But that’s just me. How others do it is their choice! Life is good.

Well, that is my lecture, thanks for the opportunity to clarify something in writing that I’ve been thinking about a lot. I think I may use this in some blogging that I do. I hope it helps you make your decision. I can really only speak for Tulum in this however, I’ve never even been to Cozumel!!! I still have a lot of exploring to do, can’t wait to get back to Mexico…..I fly into Cancun on a one way ticket on September 29th……!!! Same day and time as my friend Niki…perfect. Life is GOOD!

Keep me posted, nos vemos,

PEace and FEEL GOOD!

Margo

[Badger43]

Very well said, Margo. Thanks for that!

And you really should check out Coz sometime, especislly the littlebar/restaurants over on the East side.

Paul

[minniemex]

Well said Margo!!

I too have encountered the questions about safe travel in Mexico. I always equate it to places right in my own area. There are parts of Mpls & St Paul that I wouldn't be caught dead in, yet I still live in the "area". Tulum is very safe and being that tourism is the major draw, the people who live there are going to keep it that way. Just remember to act wisely in what you do and you will be more than just fine.

[Margoinmexico]

Thanks guys, let's spread the word!!!!!

[kb5]

Thank you all so very much for your responses! Margo, I don't think you could have explained it any better for someone such as myself who has never been to Tulum, or even left the U.S. for that matter. Muchas Gracias!!!

[OM TULUM]

You know what i would like to hear form the news media where in North america ( major city ) would they consider safe? I hope its not the near discovery building close to DC.

[chamba]

Safe as ever.

[edurban]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread, because yesterday's issue of The Economist mentioned that the murder rate in Yucatan is actually lower than the murder rate in Canada. And lest we forget, Yucatan is not just the home to sandy beaches and friendly Maya locals, its got at least three good sized cities: Merida, Campeche, & Cancun...Merida alone being larger than Boston, USA. Very safe place, just observe the usual precautions.

David

[Margoinmexico]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread, because yesterday's issue of The Economist mentioned that the murder rate in Yucatan is actually lower than the murder rate in Canada. And lest we forget, Yucatan is not just the home to sandy beaches and friendly Maya locals, its got at least three good sized cities: Merida, Campeche, & Cancun...Merida alone being larger than Boston, USA. Very safe place, just observe the usual precautions.

David

Way to GO DAVID! I love this!