Is Cozumel Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Updated On November 7, 2023
Cozumel, Mexico
Safety Index:
85
* Based on Research & Crime Data
User Sentiment:
83
* Rated 83 / 100 based on 8 user reviews.

Cozumel is an undeveloped Mexican island and municipality in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.

The main town on the island is San Miguel de Cozumel.

The name of the island translates as «Swallow Island‎»‎.

This place attracts tourists with sandy beaches, a beautiful sea and the possibility of diving.

Cozumel Reef National Park is popular for divers due to the Mesoamerican Barrier Coral Reef and the Museum of Underwater Sculptures.

Chankanaab National Park is famous for its lagoon with underwater caves with dolphins, sea cows, and sea turtles live.

Warnings & Dangers in Cozumel

Overall Risk

OVERALL RISK: LOW

Generally, Cozumel is safe to travel. Military and police presence in and around Cozumel to help regulate the area and keep it safe for tourists. To remain safe, make sure that your belongings are secure when you are outdoor.

Transport & Taxis Risk

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

It's not safe to rent and drive a moped on the island. If you need a taxi you should take a cab with "sitio" sign on it. It's not safe to catch a taxi right on the street. Cozumel has a city bus service, but safer and convenience is to take a taxi for travel needs.

Pickpockets Risk

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

Petty theft is always a possibility in popular tourist areas. Things like pickpocketing can take place. Leave your purse or bag locked in the hotel room as much as possible. If you need to have your bag with you, consider using an anti-theft travel purse or backpack.

Natural Disasters Risk

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

Hurricanes and typhoons sometimes affect Cozumel. Before planning to visit that island travelers should check information about natural disasters risks on trip period.

Mugging Risk

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Cozumel is currently considered to be quite safe, and the strong police-presence helps that remain the case. Taking simple safety actions is important to help reduce mugging risks.

Terrorism Risk

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

Cozumel is located far from where usually there are terrorists attacks. But, terrorism is widespread in Mexico, so you should be on alert even in this place.

Scams Risk

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

The main scams are related to the refueling of rented cars with low-quality cheap gasoline or the sale of "free tours". Be vigilant and purchase the necessary things only in the verified and safe places of the island.

Women Travelers Risk

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM

As in all Mexico, on Cozumel, it is recommended for women traveler don't stay alone at night on streets and beaches, and do not wear provocative clothes.

So... How Safe Is Cozumel Really?

Cozumel has low crime rates that should reduce any fears you have of travel there.

The drug-related crime in Mexico is concentrated on the country’s borders, and rarely affects tourists.

The U.S. State Department does occasionally issue warnings about the crime situation on the island, so you can check it before a trip to be sure is it safe to visit.

Surely you should still take proper safety measures.

For example, avoid being on the beach at night.

Always lock your valuables inside your safe in the hotel.

To alleviate concerns about being mugged, carry as little money as you can, and divide up your cash and cards in different pockets.

State department officials urge tourists to Cozumel to stay with a group, especially at night.

It is also better to refrain from swimming in areas where you see black or red flags — these signify dangerous currents.

Taxi service is safe for travelers if they use cars with official registration “sitio”.

And totally unsafe to drive a moped on Cozumel: there are big amounts of moped-related accidents.

Overall Cozumel has a low rate of crime and high safety index for daylight and night.

Therefore, keep the usual level of security for yourself and avoid unsafe places.

How Does Cozumel Compare?

CitySafety Index
Cozumel85
Playa del Carmen69
Cabo San Lucas68
Acapulco63
Cancun71
Guadalajara62
Mexico City45
Niagara Falls (Canada)87
Calgary (Canada)82
Buenos Aires (Argentina)60
Vancouver (Canada)82
Cordoba (Argentina)61
Toronto (Canada)81

Useful Information

Visas

Visas

No visas required for tourist proposals to enter Mexico for many countries of Europe, US citizens and so on. You should have a valid passport and a tourist permit. The maximum possible of stay is 180 days. For a longer stay of other options, you should visit the Mexican embassy.

Currency

Currency

The Mexican peso - is the official currency in Mexico. There are one hundred Mexican centavos to every peso. The symbol for the Mexican Peso is $, so you can see MX$ or MN$ in banks and exchange points.

Weather

Weather

The best time to visit Cozumel is from March to June. Average temperatures this time of year range from 20 to 30 ℃. The peak season is from December to February. It's the most expensive time to visit.

Airports

Airports

There is an international airport on the island - Cozumel International Airport. It handles national and international air traffic for the city of San Miguel, Cozumel and handles hundreds of thousands of tourists during a year.

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance

The medical insurance for travelers should be done before starting your trip to Mexico. As well as in other countries, the customs officer can ask you to show travel insurance. Be prepared.

Click here to get an offer for travel insurance

Cozumel Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Jan 24° C
Feb 25° C
Mar 26° C
Apr 27° C
May 29° C
Jun 29° C
Jul 29° C
Aug 29° C
Sep 29° C
Oct 27° C
Nov 26° C
Dec 25° C
Choose Temperature Unit

Average High/Low Temperature

Temperature / MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High
°C
272829303232323232302928
Low
°C
212122232526262525242322
High
°F
818284869090909090868482
Low
°F
707072737779797777757372

Mexico - Safety by City

CitySafety Index
Acapulco63
Aguascalientes80
Cabo San Lucas68
Cancun71
Chichen Itza70
Chihuahua40
Cozumel85
Cuernavaca65
Culiacan55
Durango75
Ensenada90
Guadalajara62
Guanajuato53
Hermosillo90
Huatulco85
Isla Holbox85
Isla Mujeres80
Ixtapa68
Juarez32
Leon68
Los Cabos80
Manzanillo68
Matamoros40
Merida78
Mexicali42
Mexico City45
Monterrey55
Morelia46
Nogales50
Nuevo Laredo40
Oaxaca74
Piedras Negras67
Playa del Carmen69
Puebla80
Puerto Morelos85
Puerto Vallarta70
Queretaro City63
Reynosa35
Saltillo70
San Luis Potosi80
San Miguel de Allende75
Sayulita90
Tijuana41
Tulum80
Valladolid90
Veracruz70
Zacatecas70
Zapopan70
Zihuatanejo70

Where to Next?

8 Reviews on Cozumel

  1. Safe and enjoyable.

    Cozumel is safe.

    We have had great luck with Quatrosamigos rental car.
    We dive with Scuba Life Cozumel. JP and crew do a great job getting us to the reef of the day as well as providing nice guidance with safety in mind for all.

  2. R
    Richard byrd says:

    Worst place to go

    Had a terrible time in Cozumel. Sparkle sea jewelry store sold us fake jewelry. They got us for 3500.00 dollars. No one should go there. He has gotten other people too! The worst vacation ever!!

    1. Why would u spend $3500.00 not knowing exactly what your getting anyways?!

    2. I wouldn’t have spent $3500 on the whole vacation. A little forethought goes a long way.

  3. A
    Anonymous says:

    I love Cozumel and have never felt unsafe. However, the last time I went was in December of 2020, and some of the C-Vid restrictions were ridiculous, which made the trip a bit less than ideal.

  4. Our bags were stolen at the port. Cops didnt do anything and we got ripped off at a beach bar on the east side. Bartender gave us margarita and then said we owed him $40 for it , we had to pay it before he got us the “only taxi available” on the remote side of the island which also ripped us off. Lots of scamming and oportunists taking advantage.

  5. J
    Jeff Carr says:

    Best place to visit for a Caribbean experience!

    Cozumel is amazing. I have been coming here for at least 3 times a year for the last 5 years and even spent a month there at one time. The scuba, fishing, dinning, car rental, taxi, and food are all good, easy, and reliable. Its very walkable. Unlike paris, rome, italy, etc; most people speak less english so google translate and a peso converter app is helpful. I have stayed in hotels, AirBnB, apartments, and houses. Rented cars and mopeds. TripAdvisor is a good app for the best places. Unlike America but similar to other cultures; haggling is part of the process for some street vendors along the seawall but prices are very reasonable. Its incredibly safe to walk anywhere at anytime. If you are looking for deals on watches or jewelry then do some research; ask them to test the diamonds etc. They have tons of pharmacies with generic medications so you probably won’t see the same quality and the prices are not that good. Your doctor is probably your best resource. The backside of the island is off the grid so make sure you have pesos. Most places in the main areas take credit cards, thats a great payment method or pesos. Gas is in liters not gallons. Banks are the best for ATMs. Mega is the most expensive so try to avoid it. They do have dominoes pizza and burger king plus well stocked 7-11 and OXXO stores. All inclusive places are really good if you want to come with no issues. Its my favorite place in the Caribbean! Have fun and enjoy island life while your here!

  6. Tropical unspoilt beauty

    I’ve been going to Cozumel since the 90’s and highly recommend it. It’s paradise old style, tropical, beautiful and relatively undeveloped in most parts with stunning beaches and scenery. Hiring a small jeep to explore the Island is cheap enough and safe if you are not driving like a lunatic and careful. We never encountered any problems anywhere and drove everywhere all over, everyone was friendly. Food amazing along the road stop shacks and the town was brilliant for partying, shopping with filled with nice restaurants. You can get the fast ferry over to Playa Del Carmen easy. You can also go into any of the hotels and use the pools which is great. Don’t accept water in a glass, always buy branded bottled water, even to brush your teeth and don’t ask for ice in your drinks or cocktails and you’ll be fine. Yes there is scams everywhere but good bartering in a nice way is always accepted. Be wary buying gems and jewellery that seem like a bargain as it’s probably glass stones set in gold plate. Always ask to see authenticity certificates.

Cozumel Rated 4.13 / 5 based on 8 user reviews.

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