Do Tourists Get Targeted in Mexico?
Short answer: targeted violent crime is rare. Petty crime and scams targeting tourists are real. Cartel-style violence targeting tourists is extremely rare. The two are very different things.
The short answer: targeted violent crime against tourists in Mexico is rare, but petty crime and scams targeting visitors are real. The two are very different things, and it matters to keep them separate.
What is NOT happening
The cartel violence that drives Mexico's crime headlines is concentrated in specific states (Sinaloa, Michoacan, Guerrero, parts of Tamaulipas) and specific contexts (turf disputes between organized groups, not tourist-targeted attacks). When you read about violence in Mexican news, almost all of it is happening in those regions, not in Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Baja California Sur, or other major tourism states.
Cartels do not target tourists as a strategy. They target each other and law enforcement. Tourists are economically valuable to the regions that depend on tourism (Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta), and cartel-adjacent businesses generally benefit from tourism continuing rather than being disrupted.
What IS happening, ranked by frequency
| Crime type | Frequency | Risk level | Easy to avoid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickpocketing on 5th Ave | Common | Low (financial) | Yes - zipped pockets |
| Tour operator scams | Common | Low (financial) | Yes - book through villa |
| ATM card skimming | Occasional | Medium (financial) | Yes - use bank ATMs |
| Taxi overcharging | Common | Low (financial) | Yes - use Uber |
| Drink spiking | Rare | Medium-high | Yes - watch your drink |
| Express kidnapping | Very rare | High | Yes - rare in beach destinations |
Where it is safest
The popular beach destinations in Mexico are statistically safer than many US cities. Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, and Mexico City's tourist zones (Roma, Condesa, Polanco) all see millions of visitors a year with very low incident rates.
Habits that solve 95 percent of the risk
- Use Uber, never street taxis (especially at night)
- Stay in established tourist zones
- Withdraw cash only at bank-branch ATMs
- Do not accept drinks you did not see poured
- Pre-book tours through your villa or known operators
- Skip time-share presentations regardless of what is offered
- Keep phones in zipped pockets on busy streets
- Do not flash jewelry or stacks of cash
If you are booking
Same villa. 10% less than Airbnb or VRBO.
The villas you find on Airbnb or VRBO are usually the same ones the host already owns. Booking direct skips the platform service fee. With Villas of Playa del Carmen, your direct rate is 10% below the same dates on Airbnb or VRBO.
Final honest take
Tourists are not "targeted" by violent crime in Mexico in any meaningful sense. They are occasionally affected by petty crime and scams, the way tourists everywhere are. If you stay in tourist zones, use Uber, and apply normal big-city common sense, your risk profile is roughly the same as visiting Lisbon or Barcelona.
Stay in Playacar Phase 1, the safest area in Playa del Carmen
24-hour gated security, residential community, walking distance to 5th Avenue and the beach. Our concierge is available 24/7 for guests.
Related: Is Playa del Carmen Safe? · Level of Danger Explained · Playacar Guide
