You may have heard about the recent crimes against Uber drivers in Cancun, so here is my safe transportation options in Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and Cancun.
Please note: I have been going to this area for years and I now also own a condo in Tulum. I absolutely love this region, and I am aware of potential dangers, but I have always stuck to my safety pre-cautions, and have never had any issues. Please check out my Is Mexico Safe post to read about them!
ALSO NOTE: I do not go to Cancun. So I don’t have a ton of info for safe taxis there.
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Is Uber Safe to Take in Cancun?
First and foremost, the war between rideshare companies and taxis has existed in almost every place they are introduced to. It is not surprising at all to hear taxi drivers attacking Ubers, or that tourists are getting caught in the crossfire.
While I personally would LOVE to be able to take Ubers here, I will not for probably a year or more, because we all know very well NOT TO MESS WITH TAXIS.
The taxis here may or may not be involved with cartels, and that’s even more reason not to mess with them.
So, that’s my opinion. Wait until things cool off a bit (if ever) and choose one of the other options below.
Also, Uber is only currently in Cancun. We heard it might be coming to Tulum next though. And while I really hope Uber will be one of the safe transportation options in Tulum, I doubt it will be for a while.
SAFE TAXIS IN TULUM and PLAYA
The thing that sucks about not being able to use Uber, is that taxis are expensive, and not always safe. It has been said that some taxis will pick you up, then more people will get in the car or will be hiding in it, and will then mug you, usually at gun point. I have only heard this a few times in Playa though.
Great news though! There are specified “safe taxis” for tourists! If you need to take a taxi, get one from a hotel, or use one of these approved, safe taxi services. You can order it by whatsapp and they speak English. Be sure to ask the cost first!
Here’s my safe transportation options for taxis:
FOR SAFE TAXIS IN PLAYA
- whatsapptaxi central 52 984 197 0814
- Radio taxi english 52 984 316 3751
FOR SAFE TAXIS IN TULUM
- Flash Taxi Tulum 52 983 125 4891
Private Safe Transportation Options in Tulum, Playa, and Cancun
If you don’t want to even bother with taxis, especially to and from the airport (which I wouldn’t recommend anyway because it’s expensive AF), here’s a couple of safe private transportation options:
- BOOKAWAY: is a safe, easy to use platform that will give you all of the options for private transfers, including shared shuttles. or private cars. You can also book your bus tickets (ADO is safe).
- TurismoChannel: Is a local tour company that I’m now friends with, and they also provide safe, reliable, top notch transfer services from the airport, to sites, and in between the cities. You can book literally anything through them as well from tours to rental cars! If you want a bit of a discount, please DM them on IG and ask for Vanessa, and mention that Alyssa sent you!
Is it Safe to Rent a Car and Drive?
Personally, i rent cars and drive by myself all the time. Just obey the speed rules AND! Pay close attention to the one way streets (which are mostly all of them), because the police WILL try to fine you if you go the wrong way!
Other than that, don’t keep valuables in the car, lock it, be super careful on dirt roads, and get the insurance. Also driving in Mexico has a general stereotype of being crazy, but it’s really not that different from the U.S.
Many rental companies online advertise like $14 a day, but this is a lie. They will all try to make you pay an additional $20-50 per day for a “mandatory Mexico insurance”.
Usually I rent cars through my friends at Turismo Channel because they include the insurance. Rates vary by season but it’s usually around $40-50 per day. Again, you can DM Vanessa (@turismochannel) and if you mention me she’ll likely help you out since she’s one of my good friends here!
Speaking of insurance, please make sure you get Travel Insurance for your trip, in case of any cancellations or injuries!
Bike Rentals in Tulum and Playa
My current main mode of transportation is via a cute bike I bought in Tulum for about $175. In playa I also rent bikes and I love it! Biking is safe but obviously be careful with traffic, especially at night. Try to get a bike with a light on it!
Tulum Bike Rentals:
There are bike rental places EVERYWHERE so I’m not going to list them all. I will tell you that you shouldn’t pay more than 100 pesos per day ($5).
Roads are bad here and there’s not really any bike lanes so BE CAREFUL!
Playa Bike Rentals:
I recommend using BiciPlaya, which you use through an app. The app isn’t super amazing, but it’s easy enough to figure out and use, you just need to make sure you have data to lock and unlock the bike.
There are BiciPlaya stations all over Playa, so you just ride to where you want to go, park it at a station, lock it, and get another one when you leave!
Scooter and ATVS
I also love scooters! Especially in Tulum where the beach is a bit far from the town. Rentals can be pretty pricey, but you can attempt to negotiate.
It should be around $35 per day….which is almost as much as a car…so if you’re trying to go far, like to cenotes or Chichen Itza…just get a car.
I found a guy in Tulum who will bring you a scooter and pick it up and also offers weekly discounts, you can contact him at: +52 55 4010 6519. Please tell him the travel blogger girl named Alyssa sent you 😉
NOTE: One of my besties got into a very bad scooter accident in Tulum! She was hit by an SUV and it broke her leg! Please be extremely careful when riding scooters, and always wear a helmet!
Walking Around Tulum and Playa
Walking around Tulum and Playa is another one of my preferred modes of transportation. But, you also have to be careful doing it. Even though again, nothing has ever happened to me (*knocks on wood*).
Walking Around Tulum
Walking around Tulum really depends on where you’re staying. Like I wouldn’t advise walking from La Valleta or Centro to the Beach unless you really like walking. Here’s my tips for each area:
- Walking around the Beach Zone (AKA “Hotel Zone”): there’s no sidewalk on the main road, so be careful of cars. You’re better off walking on the beach. At night be extra careful of cars as well. This area is very busy so theft isn’t the main concern, the traffic is.
- Walking Around Centro : Centro is the area around the highway, which I think of as the “Old Tulum”. Again, be careful with traffic. There’s a ton of annoying speed bumps on that road for a reason… This area seems a little dodgy at night as well, so I wouldn’t suggest walking alone.
- Walking Around La Valletta: Again, I’m biased because I live here, but usually I feel pretty safe walking around this area, even at night. It’s still under development, so you’ll see mostly only tourists and the workers who are building the new condos here. Don’t be afraid of them, they work really hard all day, it will be nice if you say hola and acknowledge them!
Walking Around Playa
Playa has a bad reputation for walking around at night, but again, I haven’t had problems. Walking during the day is safe minus the extreme heat. Here’s my tips:
- Walking on 5th Ave: Be prepared to get haggled to buy things, including drugs. Also lots of drunk tourists at night. I personally get anxiety walking it, but it’s usually one of the main things to do in Playa for visitors since it’s a pedestrian street and where many bars, shops, and restaurants are.
- Walking on 10th Ave: This is more of a driving street, so be careful walking on it. But there’s a few good restaurants, and it’s a good way to avoid 5th.
- Walking Anywhere Closer to the Highway: It may seem dodgy to you, but the rest of the streets are very normal. You’ll see more locals, and just keep in mind this is their home, so don’t fear them, be nice!
Your main worry for walking in Playa should be walking at night alone and/or drunk. This is when you are more likely to get robbed, including by the police!
I hope this post has been helpful to you! As I mentioned, I love Riviera Maya very dearly, and I think it deserves a much better reputation for safety! Please check out my other related posts for here, and if you ever want to rent out my condo in Tulum, please email me!
- Is Mexico Safe? Safety Tips for Tulum and Playa
- Ultimate Stressfree Tulum Guide
- Best Photo Spots in Tulum
- How to Buy Real Estate in Tulum (and Mexico in General)
Please don’t forget! I work extremely hard to produce these free travel guides and posts! If it helped you, or you enjoyed it, PLEASE give it a share on social media, and follow me to keep up with more posts! You’re two minutes of effort truly helps keep my business running! Thank ya!
xx, Alyssa
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