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In October 2021, tragedy struck after a gang leader ran into a popular restaurant at peak dining hours to avoid a rival gang member shooting him. Instead, the shooter followed him in and killed two tourists and injured three more.“ Travelers Worldwide, January 2023

At one point while sitting at the beach trying to relax, Suarez saw military patrolling on the beach with rifles. Since everybody was just sitting and drinking and relaxing she was surprised when several officers started to surround a man who was alone, and had been laying there peacefully.

“They ordered him stand and hold his hands up. It wasn’t okay,” she said. The harassment was inescapable. So too was feeling like there was any real help.

Which is why the current taxi issues and alert might bring Tulum’s growing crime issues to greater attention. With more hotels being built in the area around town, like the two new Hilton properties last year, reliable taxis and transportation will be needed to thrive. Harassing and assaulting customers cannot be a norm.

Tulum’s Boom and Crime

It’s not a surprise that where more visitors go, there’s more crime. It’s just that it’s expected to be more of the pickpocket variety, not assault and violent crime.  One usually stays home to avoid that.

However, the issue of violence in Quintana Roo has sadly has been increasing along with the boom and construction, something the new U.S. State Department alert indicates.

“A report by Mexican news outlet La Reforma, from earlier this year, indicated that at least five cartels are now operating in the Riviera Maya and reports of violent crime in Tulum alone had gone up 783 percent since 2019.” Daily Beast, November 2021

In August 2022, four bodies were found in the Tulum hotel area according to The Cancun Sun.

While those victims were not tourists, the violence of locals occurring in a tourist neighborhood that is growing in popularity is still an issue. Sadly the fact that the violence was not of tourists can give visitors of false sense of security.

“A recent Bloomberg article highlighted another incident in which the crimes of rival gang members came dangerously close to tourists visiting Tulum.  In this situation, which took place back in February, two drug dealers were shot and killed in an upscale restaurant.  It is a very real example of how the turf war between gangs affects tourists, and businesses, which are commonly forced to pay these gangs for protection.“ The Cancun Sun, August 2022

When I asked the state department for details and criteria on how they drew up this Quintana Roo taxi security alert they didn’t respond. What made the taxi issue now reach the level of an alert for this area is unknown. It is also unclear how long this alert will likely last, what is needed for it to come down, or what it coming down actually means.