Millions of U.S. travelers flock to the picture-perfect beaches of Mexico every year.
And Tulum is attracting record numbers of travelers right now.
But on the beaches of Tulum, you will see more than tourists in their swimwear this spring.
That’s because Mexico has deployed the National Guard to Tulum’s beaches to help keep tourists safe.
Here’s what you need to know:
National Guard Deployed
The Mexican authorities have deployed more than 200 troops, including members of the Army and National Guard, to Tulum to protect tourists visiting the area.
This new task force won’t just be on the beach.
They are also tasked with protecting both urban and tourist areas of the city ensuring that security in Tulum is improved and tourists feel safer when exploring the area.
The reason for this deployment is because Tulum has seen an uptick in crime in recent months.
The Stoplight Crime Report is a handy tool for assessing crime rates in a region and this clearly shows that crime has soared in the city.
In November, Tulum had 3 red lights on the Stoplight Crime scale.
By December, this had increased to 6 red lights, and it jumped up again to 7 red lights in January.
So Is Tulum Safe?
Tulum remains a perfectly safe vacation destination.
More than 2 million travelers visit Tulum every year, and the vast majority of those visits are smooth and uneventful.
The key to staying safe in Tulum is to practice the same safety tips that you would when traveling to any other busy foreign city.
Don’t release all of your inhibitions just because you’re relaxing in the sunshine!
This means not wearing any flashy clothing and jewelry, avoiding walking alone at night where possible, and not carrying too much cash with you at any given time.
Watch your drinks to avoid drink spiking, and be vigilant to the risks posed by drugs, unregulated alcohol, and counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
Security Risks In Tulum
Of course there are some security risks in Tulum and it’s important to be vigilant if you’re visiting the area.
According to the Stoplight Crime Report the crimes most commonly being reported in Tulum right now are home robberies, thefts from businesses, vehicle thefts, and drug dealing.
The vast majority of these (such as vehicle thefts and home robberies) are more likely to impact local residents than tourists.
But with drug dealing a problem in Tulum, one of the best ways to stay safe in the city is to stay away from the drug trade.
Don’t buy or deal drugs during your time in Tulum.
We also know that crime in many tourist cities increases during the peak season, which Tulum is experiencing right now.
So, it could be that crime is increasing in Tulum due to the winter and spring break seasons.
But the good news is that this uptick in crime has been responded to with a robust response from the Mexican authorities.
With so many National Guard and military troops on the beach it is likely that relaxing in Tulum will feel safer than ever.
What Does The U.S. Government Say About Traveling To Tulum?
In an update released on 1st March the U.S. government advised that its citizens increased caution when partying in popular spring break locations including Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, and Tulum, especially after dark.
But the state of Quintana Roo, where Tulum is located, has been given a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution travel rating by the U.S. Department of State, which means that it is still considered a very safe destination for Americans to travel to.
Although seeing the Mexican National Guard on the beach may be concerning, this is nothing more than a safety measure.
This also isn’t the first time the Mexican government has deployed troops to Tulum.
In November ‘23 thousands of troops were sent to Tulum to shore up security and protect tourists as both the Maya Train station and new airport opened in the region.
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