There are, and have been, areas that I would NEVER travel to in Mexico and I would certainly never suggest anyone else go there. And I can say the same for the USA as well. In Mexico, most of those areas are in the desert inland areas to the north near the border with USA states of Arizona and New Mexico. This is roughly 3500 KM distance from Playa del Carmen.
“Millions of Americans go to Mexico on vacation every year, so if we play the numbers game, the number of incidents is very small,” said Carlos Barron, a 25-year veteran of the FBI and founder of US Traveler Assist, a security and safety company that provides advice and services to American travelers." The figures don’t dissuade Barron from recommending Mexico as a tourism destination.
“When I’m asked if Mexico is a safe place to go travel on vacation, my response is yes,” he told Forbes. Barron said that staying safe in Mexico largely comes down to common sense. “Be smart about where you go. How are you going to get from the airport to your resort? When you check into a hotel, did you lock your door and use the top lock? What if something happens? Do I have the number of the embassy?
Like so many cities, Playa del Carmen has had some violence. But unlike most cities, the authorities (Federal, State, and Region) have responded with a new Tourist Security Battalion. You will see them throughout the Riviera Maya helping to control crime.