OP-ED: Americans Stop Going to Cancun 

“So, Parker, what are your next steps?” Was a question I was repeatedly asked at my sister’s wedding. While the wedding was beautiful and truly one to remember, I would often have to look down into my overly strong whiskey, and uncomfortable dress shoes, and take a deep breath before uttering my response. “Well, I am going to travel around Mexico for a while. 

For the older generation, my answer was usually met with a ghostly look of fear and confusion. “Oh, lord!” “Are you sure? Mexico is unspeakably dangerous.” And at the very worst, “have fun getting your head cut off!” My blood would usually boil a touch as I had already traveled in ‘dangerous’ places for months at a time. I have been to Nicaragua, Cambodia, and Colombia just to name a few. I understand it was out of a lack of education and primarily concern. However, it was deeply discounting my previously lived experiences. 

 

Now it would be extremely irresponsible to say that Mexico is without its problems. According to Statista, Mexico has one of the highest murder rates in the world. Then again the US isn’t far behind. Furthermore, according to the Global Peace Index, Mexico ranks 140 in terms of safety and violence. However, the United States isn’t much better, with a ranking of 128. 

 

A key thing I kept struggling to explain to these lovely and caring people was that most of the violent crime in Mexico is completely reserved for the cartels and their activities. I had no plans on joining up or even getting the least bit involved with the cartels. After a while, I had to stop myself from making the joke that I was planning on becoming a cartel boss. It was rude in hindsight but then again it was difficult for me to listen to someone speaking with authority on a place they have never been. 

For the younger, more adventurous crowd it was easier to explain what I was planning on doing but, the thing that stuck out like a sore thumb was their response to my follow-up question. The conversation would go something like this. 

 

“Oh wow! That’s so cool, I loved Mexico when I went.” a member of the family or friend would respond. 

 

“Yeah, I’m super excited to get out of the States for a while. Where have you been in Mexico?” I would ask. 

 

“Oh well, I’ve been a couple of times, but mainly to Cancun, Cabo, and once I went all the way to Tulum!” They would excitedly respond.  

 

For reference, Tulum is only two hours away from Cancun. I would stop myself from rolling my eyes and just respond with a half-hearted ‘cool’. They probably picked up on it but their face turned into a mirror image of the older generations when I said I would never step foot in Cancun or Cabo because I wanted to see the ‘real’ Mexico. The towns and cities I mentioned no one had ever heard of. The common through-line was a combined looked of confusion, worry, and astonishment that I wanted to see something other than the aforementioned places above. 

 

While some travel ‘gurus’ might have you believe that Cancun and Cabo are some of the safest cities in Mexico, the recent COVID pandemic and increased cartel activity would prove otherwise. At the time of this writing, there was a deadly shootout in the 'safest' city of Tulum that injured several tourists and unfortunately killed two. While this can and does happen frequently in the United States, (look at any of our mass shooting events for reference), it is incredibly short-sighted to continue touting the idea that because there are a large number of tourists in the area, it automatically means it is a safe place. 

 

Now to be fair I did stop in Playa del Carmen. A small beach town just south of Cancun and to date, it is the most unsafe place I felt in all of Mexico. Everyone is trying to sell you something and they showed of honest hostility when you say no thanks or just keep walking. Walk down the main strip and you’ll a repeating chorus of “tequila, cigars, coke, or weed.” The increased military and police presence did nothing to calm my nerves. A question kept circling in my head. 

 

Why does the city need so many people with rifles and armored trucks if it is a safe place? This question was later answered after talking to several business owners in the city. Now all of this is strictly anecdotal but according to them when the US-Mexico land border closed, Mexican cartels had to pivot business tactics. They have had to increase drug sales in these tourist areas. They have had to increase extortion against local businesses. To the point that the business owners either have to sell the business or just disappear. Some of the businesses that I talked to are hanging on, but only by a thread. Not to mention some of the highest levels of police corruption can be found in the state of Quintana Roo. 

 

It’s no wonder people and tourists are increasingly getting robbed by the state authorities. In short, if you mix increased violence, organized crime, and police corruption you get a deadly combination where there are no winners. Only losers, and unfortunately most tourists are turning out to be the latter. 

 

Now, instead of forking over thousands of dollars to get drunk on the beach, never leave the resort, and do all of the things you could just do in Miami let’s take a look at my favorite places in Mexico and places you can actually learn something. 

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