Is Cozumel Safe for Tourists? The Answer With Data.

Being that Cozumel is part of Mexico, and Mexico has been in the spotlight for drug-related violence, it is natural to be concerned whether or not Cozumel will be safe for Tourists. I researched this subject in-depth and will give you the full spectrum of what I found.

Cozumel, in particular, is possibly one of the safest places to visit in Mexico and in North America. According to the U.S. Department of State, Cozumel is in the Travel Advisory Level 2, which is the same you would find if you traveled to the UK, France, Netherlands, Italy or Spain. There are no restrictions on travel either, for U.S. government employees in Cozumel.

The fact that Cozumel is an island, and is somewhat isolated from the rest of Mexico, makes it even safer. But violence is not the only factor you have to be aware of for being safe in Cozumel, there several are other factors such as health, and natural events (hurricanes, floods, etc) for example.

Cozumel has a Travel Advisory Level 2.

What does this mean? The U.S. Department of State, through its Bureau of Consular Affairs, issues a travel advisory level for each country.

There are 4 levels of travel advisory that the U.S. State Department issues:

Mexico as a country has different travel advisory levels depending on the region, and/or particular situations.

Cozumel is in the State of Quintana Roo, Mexico, which has a travel advisory level 2.

Level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution: Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.

U.S. Department of State

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Quintana Roo state, which include tourist areas in: Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and the Riviera Maya.

U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory for Quintana Roo, Mexico

Here’s the good news!

Cozumel is an island with a population of around 74,000 people, which hosts more than 4.2 million cruise passengers (tourists) each year (data from the Mexican Port Authority in Quintana Roo). These numbers have increased steadily year after year, for the past 10 years. For reasons such as this, it is in the special interest of Mexican authorities to keep places like Cozumel safe.

High impact felonies are almost non-existent in Cozumel. The most common felony registered in Cozumel is breaking and entering without violence, and this is mostly suffered by locals, and it’s been decreasing each year.

Here is a comparison chart of the same period from 2018 and 2019 of felonies in Cozumel (source: Quintana Roo Police Department).

General Advice for Being Safe from Crime in Cozumel

Keep alert and exercise common sense as you would be doing in any other city:

• Keep an eye on your belongings at all times (petty theft like pick-pocketing could occur).
• Avoid being is lonely and/or dark areas.
• Lock your hotel room and/or car door.
• Don’t get into an unmarked cab. (“Sitio” cabs are safe in Cozumel, and their drivers are generally helpful and with good attitudes).
• Stick to main streets and pathways.
• Keep your cellphone with enough battery in case of an emergency. As in many countries, the emergency number to dial is 911.

Here’s a video of tourists (from 2013, but as relevant today as it was then because the conditions in Cozumel haven’t changed), recommending the visit to Cozumel.

Safety Also Means Being Healthy in Cozumel

Here are some considerations you should be aware of in order to keep safe and healthy when visiting Cozumel:

Drink bottled water.

Even locals drink bottled water in Cozumel. Cozumel chlorinates its water supply, but it isn’t enough. Hotels, beach clubs, and resorts also treat their water supply, but it isn’t enough either.

The advice is simple, but I will stress this again: Don’t drink tap water, drink bottled water.

You will be able to find several world-known bottled water brands such as Evian, Perrier, Pellegrino, etc. Also, local bottled water is safe.

There are brands of local water like Bonafont (from Danone Group), Ciel (from Coca-Cola Company), Sta. María (from Nestlé), ePura (from Pepsico), Peñafiel, that are safe to drink.

At restaurants and hotels, the bottled water they offer you, even if it’s not of a brand I mentioned before, will be safe to drink.

Avoid Food From Street Vendors

As in any other city in the world, street vendors aren’t always a guarantee of the cleanliness of their products. So be careful and exercise common sense on where to eat in Cozumel. If a street vendor offers you food that you deem clean and in good condition, go for it, although I would avoid it altogether.

If you want to buy and eat local produce in Cozumel, which by the way is fantastic and at great prices, just be sure rinse it before eating it,

Protect Yourself From the Sun

The last thing you want is a bad sunburn! Plus, sunlight contains ultraviolet radiation (UV) and it can cause premature aging of the skin, wrinkles, cataracts and even skin cancer.

• Use an adequate sunscreen (biodegradable preferentially).
  • Try to use a sunscreen with a protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. This will block more than 90 percent of UV rays.
• Wear a hat.
  • A sun hat (ideal because it protects your scalp, nose, neck, eyes, etc.), but at minimum a baseball cap.
• Use sunglasses.
• Avoid being under the sun for long periods of time.
  • Limit your exposure: UV rays are more intense in Cozumel from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you do get sunburned, the most common natural methods to alleviate this fast are:

• A cold shower.
• A cold compress:
  • With a cold wet washcloth.
• With Ice:
  • Wrapped in a towel and pressing it on the affected areas.
• Drink lots of water.
• Wear the most comfortable clothes.

Here is a video on 8 Instant Relief Remedies for Sunburn:

As for off the counter remedies:

• Aloe Vera Gel.
• Hydrocortisone cream 1%.
• A reusable hot/cold pack.
• Ibuprofen tablets.

What to do if you get ill in Cozumel

It’s common for foreigners to get the famous “Moctezuma’s Revenge”. This being an upset stomach. This could be caused by a number of reasons:

Eating too much fruit, drinking too much alcohol, not hydrating enough, and eating very spicy foods. If you can’t stay away from the bathroom, my recommendation is Imodium AD (in Mexico its called Lomotil).

If you don’t get better and feel the need for a medical service, there’s a good clinic, called Médica San Miguel. You will find English speaking doctors that most likely will be able to help you.

Accidents may also happen, no one is exempt of this, so if something were to happen, here is the contact information for Medica San Miguel:

• (987) 8726194
• (987) 8720103
• (987) 8715453 (Cell Phone)
• (987) 8726155

Protect Yourself Against Mosquitoes in Cozumel!

The weather, humidity, and jungle conditions of Cozumel make it very propense to mosquitoes.

A proper mosquito spray is a must. This will take care of that problem almost completely.

Pregnant women should consult with their doctors before going to Cozumel, because, like in more than 20 countries in the Americas, including the United States, there have been cases detected of the Zika virus due to mosquito bites.

The mosquito population in Cozumel increases when it rains. Here’s the AccuWeather info on Mosquitoes in Cozumel.

Cozumel authorities regularly conduct spraying fumigation campaigns to get rid of the annoying mosquitoes and to prevent diseases.

Check the Weather in Cozumel!

Sometimes there are hurricanes in Cozumel. Although, the last hurricane that affected Cozumel was hurricane Wilma in 2005.

You will find the best weather conditions in Cozumel from December to March. This is considered the peak tourist season. This said Cozumel is a joy to visit year-round.

It is always a good idea to check the weather conditions when traveling to Cozumel so you are not surprised by bad weather.

To Conclude…

Don´t worry too much thus taking the fun out of your visit to Cozumel! Cozumel is a safe place to travel to. You just have to take certain precautions as if you would in any other touristic city in the world.

Cozumel is a friendly place with people who usually are happy to help you in any way.

I’m sure your travel to Cozumel will be a memorable one! This is what it’s all about, creating memories that last a lifetime.

Be smart, travel safely and have a great Cozumel Day!