What Travelers Need To Know About Cancun And Maya Riviera's Tourist Safety Before Visiting

In July 2025, the governor of Quintana Roo state in Mexico deployed over 7,000 additional troops and police to Cancun and the Riviera Maya. In Mexico, this level of military force is usually reserved for anti-cartel activities in the north of the country, and represents an unprecedented uptick in police and army activity in a heavily visited area.

The move, named Operation Summer Vacation, is designed to protect visitors and safeguard tourism in the area. Tourism in Quintana Roo is a huge deal. It's by some distance the biggest industry in the Mexican Caribbean, and it's no surprise that the government is investing in its protection. Visitor numbers to the area grew from 1.6 million per month in 2019 to just over 2 million per month in 2024. The federal government has invested hugely in Quintana Roo and the wider Yucatan peninsula over the last decade, with landmark infrastructure projects like the Tren Maya and the new airport in Tulum. However, the first few months of 2025 saw a downturn in tourist numbers, so it's not shocking that steps are being taken.

Usually this sort of activity is seen in response to a disaster or unforeseen event. The Yucatan peninsula has traditionally been the safest area in Mexico to visit, and even though it's seen a marked increase in crime and cartel activity over the last few years, Operation Summer Vacation is not a response to any particular incident or specific issue. Rather, it's a preventative measure, designed to stop problems before they start, and make tourists feel safe and secure in one of the world's most popular vacation destinations.

The operation is a combination of state and municipal police, newly created Tourist Police and Civil Protection officers, and military personnel. Over 5,500 police officers, 700 army officers, 700 National Guard officers, and 600 Civil Protection officers have been deployed to the region, with a particular focus on beaches, cenotes, airports, bars, and nightclubs. New vehicles have been provided, including ATVs suitable for the beach. The force will be highly visible, and it will be a common occurrence to see gun-wielding soldiers patrolling the sands or monitoring highways at checkpoints.

This isn't the first time this kind of increase in police and military presence has been used in the Mexican Caribbean. As recently as April 2025, a similar force was deployed for the month surrounding Easter to ensure heightened security for the 1.2 million visitors expected, and Tulum took this unusual precaution in 2023.

While there is definitely a practical element to the deployment of additional police and well-trained emergency responders, it's also something of a marketing exercise. The operation is well-publicized and enormously visible, designed to demonstrate clearly and unequivocally to tourists that a visit to Cancun's all-time best beaches, or Tulum's amazing Mayan ruins is just as safe as ever.

Travelers may now be asking, is visiting the Riviera Maya safe? Traditionally, Quintana Roo and Yucatan have had extremely low levels of crime compared to other Mexican states, and are generally considered to be safe and secure. The sight of armed guards patrolling a beach might be alarming at first, but isn't something to be concerned about or a reaction to a problem, but rather a reassuring presence, a sign that the local government takes the security of tourists extremely seriously.

The US State Department does have a 'Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution' advisory in place for Mexico, but this has been in place for many years, and is fairly standard for many of the most popular destinations in the world, including Costa Rica, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark!

It's always worth checking the State Department website before traveling anywhere in the world, but there have been no recent changes in the advice or new warnings for any of the main cities or attractions in the Riviera Maya. This beautiful part of the world remains a safe, secure, and above all, exciting vacation destination for travelers looking for sun, sea, and sand in Mexico.