When planning a trip to the vibrant and diverse country of Mexico, you’ll undoubtably find a wealth of incredible destinations to choose from.
For many travelers to Mexico, the Yucatán Peninsula often comes to mind as home to some of the nation’s most iconic and popular spots.
The Yucatan Peninsula, not to be confused with the Mexican province contained within the peninsula, is a prime tourist spot in North America.
Thousands of traveler pass through this region each and every year looking for the perfect relaxation spot or a backpacking style adventure.
This post contains affiliate links. Layer Culture is supported by you and I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase by clicking a link. Learn more.
The Yucatan Peninsula Travel Safety
That’s all good, but is the Yucatan Peninsula safe for new travelers and what are some of the common crimes to watch out for as a visitor?
These are some of the most basic questions that many travelers ask before or during planning a trip here and this page is here to tell you what’s what.
Let’s start off by looking at exactly where the Yucatan is:
The Yucatán on the map
Nestled in the far southeast of Mexico, the Yucatán is a diverse region that boasts ancient temples, lush jungles, and idyllic beaches.
It has its own portion of the Mexican Caribbean at its shores, as well as the Gulf of Mexico stretching along its western coast.
The Yucatán also borders the states of Campeche and Quintana Roo, which between the three make up the “tail” of Mexico.
Its most popular city is Mérida, which is located some 300km away from Cancun, and 1300km from Mexico City.
Is it Safe to Travel to The Yucatan?
Yes! This whole area is very popular with British and American backpackers inspired by media programs such as the Race Around the World.
However, what travelers need to remember, is that there are multiple provinces and even nations contained within the peninsula.
Mexican states of Yucatán, Campeche, and Quintana Roo, as well as Guatemala’s Petén Department as well as almost the whole of Belize.
This post covers a more general view of the area as a whole since this was all Mayan hundreds of years ago.
For the most part, this area is very safe, but there are exceptions in certain areas. Let’s look at some safety facts according to recent data.
Yucatan Peninsula Safety Facts
- According to the UK Government, over 576,971 British nationals visited Mexico in 2017 with most visits being trouble-free.
- According to the UK Government, over 576,971 British nationals visited Mexico in 2017 with most visits being trouble-free.
- Also according to the UK Government, Major tourist destinations like, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and Cancun have not seen the levels of drug-related violence and crime experienced elsewhere in Mexico.
- The intentional homicide rate of Yucatan is 3 per 100,000. That’s better than the US homicide rate which is 5.
Will you Travel to the Yucatan soon?
Designed by travelers, for travelers, World Nomads covers more than 150 adventure sports and activities so you can explore your boundaries. 
Is The Yucatan Safe to Travel Alone?
The peninsula and the west coast are known as the Riviera Maya are safe to travel alone, if don’t get up to anything illegal/suspect.
If you stay within the confines of the resort and beach areas and trust your instincts, you’ll have a wonderful time backpacking or on a family vacation.
You’ll need to abide by the necessary precautions when traveling to Central America such as don’t go out alone at night in certain areas/streets, don’t trust in random strangers, don’t flash expensive items, etc.
It helps to know basic Spanish since Mexicans and Yucatan residents very much appreciate English speakers who learn it as a second language.
💡Smart Travel Tip
Booking excursions, hotels, and bus rides are a lot easier if you know some basic Spanish conversation to be able to negotiate with locals.
However, the area is tourist-centric due to the hub of Cancun so it isn’t as much of a necessity as with the rest of Mexico or Central America.
The best thing to do is to learn the basics if you want to travel alone.
Backpacking The Yucatan Peninsula
When coming from places such as Europe, backpacking through Mexico can be challenging for many travelers, as some border regions— including parts of the Yucatan— are known for having a complicated reputation.
However, Yucatan as a region is extremely safe as compared to the rest of Mexico so the border regions here aren’t as bad.
From my personal experience Mexico has been an amazing country to navigate, but you definitely need to look up which regions should be avoided when backpacking if you’re to venture outside the peninsula.
Yucatan can be the starting point for many backpackers taking the long route down to Colombia to see all the Central American countries.
You’ll find countries like Guatemala and Belize are quite easy to navigate if you do decide to backpack by bus hopping or with coach rides.
Make sure to book only the safest accredited hotels and hostels too! The last thing you want is to book the cheapest possible accommodation for budgetary restraint reasons and find yourself in a sticky situation.
Where to Stay in Yucatan
From my personal experience spending time in this region of Mexico, the best city for a stay in the Yucatán is the cool city of Mérida.
In fact, Mérida is perfect to base yourself in to visit its ancient ruins, enjoy the city’s nightlife and also some close-by beaches.
See some of the best hotels in the Yucatan that you can stay in.
Nearby Valladolid is another awesome colonial city, which is best for its proximity to the legendary ruins of Chichén Itzá.
It’s also a good area to base yourself in to visit the nearby Cenotes and to also make day trips to the incredible white sand beaches.
Many visitors who are traveling from Cancun to Valladolid will do a full day trip that covers more than one attraction including Chichén Itzá.
Yucatan Nightlife
Whilst not the most hectic in Mexico, the nightlife in the Yucatán region is pretty varied and is great nevertheless to experience when looking to let your hair down. After all, the evening is the coolest part of the day here.
The backpacking hub of Mérida is one of the most popular destinations to visit in Mexico and has lots of great options.
La Fundación is a popular place to start, and here you try out a variety of Mezcals and Tequila varieties. Malahat is another good option too.
For a more authentic experience, visit some of the local cantinas for a beer such as Dzalbay and El Porvenir.
Yucatan Peninsula: Travel Safety Tips
Although rules and regulations vary depending on what country you find yourself in, I took the time to select tips that apply to the region.
⤵️ Below are some useful tips to help you on your journey:
- Carry a hidden wallet for pickpockets and keep your money hidden away. Bras, hidden money wallets, or secret bag compartments will do (as long as you don’t leave your things unattended).
- Follow advice from locals and experienced tour guides when visiting Cenotes in Mexico alone. The best cenote tours are extremely fun and usually worth their weight in gold.
- Make sure to use trusted and accredited hotels/hostels. Then once you’ve booked your room, book taxis or buses through the hotel.
- Make sure to carry sunscreen. This is the hottest region of Mexico, but the sea breeze can fool you into thinking it’s a cooler temp.
- Don’t accept offers of drugs. Not only is it illegal, but it’s dangerous and you’re helping an industry wrought with crime that the government is trying to stop.
- If you want to take expensive equipment such as cameras or smartphones, keep them hidden, locked away, and on your person. A PacSafe backpack like this one is perfect for this type of trip.
- Don’t go where there are few other people in the vicinity; this includes camping in secluded places. A simple rule: if there are families around (i.e. with women and children), you’re probably safe.
Traveling around The Yucatan by Bus
The Yucatan Peninsula has a good road and bus network. Especially great for those embarking on the Gringo Trail and further afield.
There are comfortable, frequent, reasonably priced bus services that connect to all major cities and tourist hotspots.
Most cities and towns have bus terminals that operate regularly. If there is no single main bus terminal, different bus companies will have separate terminals scattered around town.
Grupo ADO operates many of the bus lines that you’ll be using. Read this guide on bus travel in Mexico for a primer on Mexican bus systems.
Best time to visit Yucatan
The dry season of the Yucatán runs from November until April. Here, daily average temperatures range from 74-82°F, with highs of up to 95°F and lows of down to 65°F (January is the “so-called” coldest month of the year).
Rainfall ranges from 1-2 inches per each of these months. The contrasting wet season runs from May until October.
Average daily temperatures here range anywhere from 77-84°F, with highs reaching up to a scorching 87°F, and lows of down to 72°F (May is the hottest month of the year to visit The Yucatán). Rainfall ranges from 2-5.5 inches per each of these months.
Is The Yucatan Peninsula Safe?
For the most part, by traveling here yourself, you will quickly see why the Yucatan as a peninsular is one of the safest section of Latin America.
Avoiding certain spots such as some of the border regions between countries is advisable, but other than that, it’s quite safe indeed.
Another reason I love it here is because it’s an area brimming with cenotes, Mayan history, and the best Mexican food in the western hemisphere.
The people are very friendly and the natural wonders are rife. If you have to pick one place in the Americas to explore, make it here.
See these other safe places in Mexico before you book your trip.
📌 Like this guide? Click to Pin it…
👉🏽 Did you enjoy this guide? Feel free to buy me a coffee to say thanks!
