Mexico has always been a popular destination for holiday-makers, and we think everyone must visit this country at least once in their lifetime.
Many areas around the country have become infamous for their resorts, as well as nearby attractions such as Mayan ruins or golden Pacific beaches.
However safety is still a major worry for travelers, who are often unsure where is best to head in Mexico.
Whilst certain areas like the Riviera Maya are known for their safety, other regions are also beautiful but do make us wonder if they’re safe for a visit.
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Safest Resorts in Mexico
In this guide we’ll explore 10 of the safest resorts in Mexico, as well as which places are best to avoid in this Latin American country.
What is the safest part of Mexico to vacation?
Overall the safest part of Mexico to stay in has to be the Yucatán, which is located in the extreme south-east of the country (next to Cancún).
The main reason for this region being so safe is because of the local people, and their importance on the values of community and safety.
They work together to keep the streets friendly and safe, and have even driven-out drug cartels before they could set up operations here!
This makes it a great place for staying in a resort, where you can really relax and enjoy yourself, as well as head out into the cities or towns too without worrying.
Places to avoid in Mexico
Whilst certain areas are obvious to avoid if you want safety (such as Ciudad Juárez, Tijuana etc), others may actually be somewhat close to the safe areas of Mexico.
For example Cancún is really safe in the hotel zone, however the downtown area can be somewhat sketchy, especially at night where it can feel much more seedy.
Another popular area is Cabo San Lucas, which has many resorts and is really easy to get to from the USA. Whilst this town is safe and great for tourism, the nearby town of San José del Cabo is quite dangerous and is best avoided.
Wherever you do pick to go on your vacation, it’s important to do extra research on that particular region, just so you know where not to go on your days trips out.
What is the safest beach town in Mexico?
Whilst there’s a variety of safe beach towns all over Mexico, we feel that Akumal has to be one of the safest overall.
Located within the Riviera Maya peninsula, it avoids the busy crowds of Playa del Carmen and Cancun, as well as the sometimes seedy vibes that can be felt in both at night. It’s pretty small, so you can easily (and safely) walk everywhere you need to here on foot.
Some of the best things to do in Akumal include enjoying the atmosphere of Half Moon Bay with its restaurants and bars, as well as go snorkeling with turtles.
Safest Resorts in Mexico
Cancun
Cancún is by far one of the most known and famous resort areas in all of Mexico. Even those who don’t like to travel have heard about it!
It’s important to know that the hotel zone is where the majority of resorts are located, and is the safest part of the city to stay in. Here you can enjoy several restaurants and also enjoy the Caribbean Sea and white sands of Playa Delfines.
It’s important to know that the rest of Cancún can be hit or miss with safety, so it’s best to use taxis to get around. This includes going to the harbor which connects the city with ferries to Isla Mujeres.
Akumal
Gaining more and more popularity in the last few decades, Akumal is actually one of the overall safest resort towns you can visit in Mexico.
It’s located within the Riviera Maya in southern Mexico, and is roughly 105 km south of Cancún. You can easily walk around everywhere on foot given the town is so small, and has hardly any crime reports or incidents.
Swimming with turtles is a highly popular activity to do here, and between May and October we can see giant Loggerhead and Green turtles head ashore here to lay their eggs.
Puerto Escondido
Now we make our way over to the Pacific coast of Mexico, to the beach town of Puerto Escondido which is situated in the state of Oaxaca.
Puerto (for short) has various popular areas such as La Punta and Zicatela, which are great for surfing and enjoying the atmosphere.
However most resorts are located closer to the town center, in areas such as Carrizalillo and Bachoco, which are known for their beaches and are really chill areas.
The only thing to be careful of here is the sea, which can be really strong in parts (be sure to research safe beaches for swimming beforehand).
Isla Mujeres
This tropical island lies just off the coast of Cancún, however feels miles away given its safer all-round and has a different atmosphere.
Playa Norte is one of the stand-out beaches worth heading to, which is often ranked as one of the best in Mexico. You can also go snorkeling, as well as exploring the ancient ruins of Ixchel in the very south of the island.
Most resorts are located in the north, which is perfect given all of the best beaches, restaurants and amenities are located here. Just be careful when swimming on the eastern beaches, since they are much stronger than the western ones.
Puerto Vallarta
Similar to Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta has been a major tourist hotspot for decades for those looking to enjoy a solid Mexican beach destination.
Located on the Pacific coast of the Jalisco state, it’s a really safe area, especially near Los Muertos where all of the resorts are located (whilst the name may make you think otherwise, it’s actually the safest area in Puerto Vallarta).
Here we can enjoy the beaches and lively malecón, as well as head on a day trip to the stunning Marieta Islands.
Cozumel
By far the most-known Mexican island worldwide, Cozumel is the epitome of tropical paradise and relaxation. It’s almost like this island was made for resorts, which can be found in abundance here.
As it’s disconnected from the mainland, there’s hardly any violence or drug-related issues here, making it an extremely safe area to stay within.
Some of the best things to do in Cozumel include going snorkeling and diving, where you can see a variety of tropical fish, Manta Rays, Sea Turtles and more (and also sharks with the latter too).
Huatulco
Huatulco is another popular Oaxacan beach resort, which lies some 80 km south of Puerto Escondido.
It’s also known for its golden Pacific beaches, and here you can head on a 7 bay tour to see some of the very best (which is an especially great idea for those who love crystal-clear snorkeling conditions).
There’s many luxury resorts that line the sands here, and are great for those who want a more exclusive experience (away from the town).
Huatulco in general is also a pretty safe town, which is common with all major destinations in Oaxaca.
Mahahual
Also located along the infamous Riviera Maya strip of Mexico, Mahahual is actually one of the least visited of all on this list.
This is because it has only made its way onto the radar of mainstream travel recently, given its location much further away from other destinations like Playa and Cancún (it’s close to Belize right in the south of the peninsula).
The town here is very relaxed and laid-back, and tourists visiting here rarely have any problems. It’s quickly becoming one of the best places to dive in the country, and travelers can also enjoy less-touristy Mayan ruins such as those of Chacchoben.
Zihuatanejo
Whilst the state of Guerrero is usually best avoided, the resort city of Zihuatanejo is actually pretty safe to visit. It feels a long way away from its neighbor of Acapulco, which is overall more hectic and dangerous).
The town and beach are really safe to visit, the only thing you’ll need to again keep an eye out for are the safe beaches for swimming (a common theme along the Pacific). There’s a tonne of resorts here to suit all tastes, which are located along the coast.
Playa del Carmen
Also known as Playa, this Caribbean beach town has become one of the most popular in all of Latin America for its atmosphere and tropical lifestyle.
The resort area is actually located slightly further south in the area or Playacar, which is extremely safe and is situated within a residential, gated complex (as well as private beaches too).
Playa del Carmen also has a tonne of great things to see and do nearby, such as the Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá. There’s various cenotes close-by which are great for exploring and going for a swim, such as those of Aktun Chen and Cenote Azul.
Safest Resorts in Mexico
And that’s all for this guide on the safest resorts in Mexico.
In this guide we have explored 10 of the safest resort towns in Mexico you can stay in, which are both memorable and full of awesome things to see and do.
We’ve found that many of these are actually close to Cancún (within the Riviera Maya), so you can easily visit multiple within one trip if heading to this part of Mexico.
We’ve also looked at some of the areas which are best avoided, as well as summing up the overall safest resort town in Mexico.
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