Tips on visiting Cancun

It is very easy when living or vacationing on Isla Mujeres to forget about crime, as indeed one should. It's is one of the few places in the world where you don't have to worry about which street you walk down at night or where the bad areas are. Not the same can be said of Cancun, although there are those who move from Mexico City to Cancun to feel safe. It's all relative. If you have a stopover in Mexico city, the airport is safe as will be the hotel. However you have to get from the airport to the hotel, there is normally transport provided by the hotel but armed assaults at traffic lights are commonplace. On a hotel bus on the law of average you will have foreign currency, credit cards, jewelry and all that luggage; rich pickings.

Being vigilant whilst in Cancun starts with the Isla Mujeres Cancun Ultramar ferry, and also on the way back to Isla Mujeres. The ferry tends to be crowded and there can be quite a crush on arrival at the rear of the ferry, this is where most foreigners exit, because that is where the luggage is kept. There are people from Cancun who ride the ferry to and forth, specifically to pick the pockets of tourists, who are not always careful with their possessions. If you don't have luggage it is preferable to exit through the front of the ferry.

On arrival at Puerto Juarez if you don't have transport arranged, it's best to avoid the taxi drivers you encounter within the ferry terminal, they are harmless except to your wallet. If you exit the terminal on the other side of the road there are taxi's where you can normally negotiate a better price as long as you make sure you have pesos with you. We pay 400 pesos to the airport but 500 is fine, There is also now Uber in Cancun. An Uber cannot pick you up from the terminal building, but they can just down the road outside the store. Coming from the airport, if you don't have transport arranged, you have no choice but to get one of the taxis as you exit the main building, but you have to negotiate, for that you need to withdraw pesos from the cash machine outside the customs hall.

If you are visiting Cancun center, itis always best to have your trusted taxi driver who you always use, who works on an hourly rate, we pay 200 pesos an hour, but many do charge 250. That way can shop in various locations, keeping your possessions in the taxi and even go to lunch and your taxi will be waiting for you when you are ready to return. Again if you are waking around local markets be careful with your possessions, try not to look too wealthy, although in any event they can spot a tourist a mile off. Cancun will never be as secure as Isla Mujeres, but just by making a few small changes, Cancun can be safe too.