Playa del Carmen Travel Risk — Moderate Risk (44/100)
Is Playa del Carmen safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Playa del Carmen scores 44/100 on our travel risk index (Moderate). The US State Department rates Mexico Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution, updated 29 May 2026); the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country (updated 13 Oct 2026); Canada says: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories). No GDACS or USGS hazard events within 100 km in the last 14 days. CDC travel health notice: Level 1, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Mexico (23 Dec 2025). No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Political instability (score 15)
Natural disasters (score 55)
September 27, 2026
Playa del Carmen, Mexico has a current Travel Risk Calculator composite score of 44 out of 100 (moderate risk tier); the highest-rated risk category is natural disasters at 55/100; the lowest-rated category is political instability at 15/100; last updated September 27, 2026. For official nationwide security advisories, entry requirements, and health notices, see the Mexico travel risk page. Real-time conditions below include live weather, official advisory levels, GDACS disaster alerts, and current news.
Get a personalized assessment for your tripHow safe is Playa del Carmen to visit in 2026?
Playa del Carmen currently sits at 44/100 on our composite travel-risk index, which puts it in the moderate-risk tier. Most travelers will be fine with normal precautions, but a few categories below score high enough that planning matters. The highest-rated risk category for Playa del Carmen is natural disasters (55/100), and the lowest is political instability (15/100). This page was last updated on September 27, 2026; the baseline category scores reflect analytical indicators, layered with live conditions throughout the day. Live conditions — weather and air quality every 30 minutes, US State Department advisory every 6 hours, GDACS disaster alerts every 30 minutes, CDC health notices every 12 hours, and news every hour — are cached at the source and refreshed automatically when stale.
Driven by: security (60/100) and crime and scams (33/100).
A score of 44 is higher than the scores of 57% of the 241 countries we cover.
AI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 16, 2026
Playa del Carmen currently holds a moderate baseline risk score of 44 out of 100 with a US State Department advisory level of 2, while Global Affairs Canada has issued a new travel warning urging visitors to exercise caution. Additionally, travelers should note ongoing regional drought conditions and a Level 1 global health notice for dengue.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 16, 2026 03:37 UTC
What should I do now?
- Run a real assessment. Open the calculator for live data (weather, advisory, news) layered onto this baseline.
- Natural disasters (score 55/100): Check seasonal hazard (hurricane, monsoon, earthquake) for your dates. Identify hotel evacuation routes on arrival.
- Environmental quality (score 50/100): Check air-quality forecasts. If sensitive, pack a mask and adjust outdoor activity. Hydration is critical in heat.
- Check your country's advisory. The single most authoritative live signal. Linked at the bottom of every real assessment.
Day vs Night Safety in Playa del Carmen
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
Daytime conditions are generally secure along major corridors and commercial districts. Keep bags zipped and avoid displaying high-value items openly.
Risk levels elevate noticeably after dark outside main central zones. Avoid walking alone through unlit parks, alleys, or quiet transit stations; favor pre-booked door-to-door transport.
Safety by Traveler Type in Playa del Carmen
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
Families with children
Health/disaster risk is elevated. Confirm medical-evacuation cover, identify hospitals near your accommodation, and check seasonal hazard (storm/heat/quake) before you book.
Business travelers
Digital/money risk is elevated. Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive work, use a VPN, watch for card-skimming at ATMs, and carry minimal cash.
No group-specific warning is triggered in Playa del Carmen for solo travelers (Crime 45/100 · Transport 45/100), women traveling solo (Crime 45/100), older travelers (Health 30/100 · Transport 45/100) and lgbtq+ travelers (Advisory 40/100 · Political 15/100): these scores sit in the low-to-moderate range, so standard precautions apply. Local laws affecting LGBTQ+ travelers and gender-specific incident rates are not captured in our scores; check your government's travel guidance.
Score layers
Safety categories
Source: Grounded open data research & citations
Quick facts
| Hospital access | medium |
|---|---|
| Airport risk | medium |
| Road safety | medium |
| Public transport | medium |
| Tourist scam risk | high |
| Night safety | medium |
| Last updated | September 27, 2026 |
Live conditions in Playa del Carmen
Real-time data refreshed from public sources — weather and air quality from Open-Meteo, official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For an AI-synthesized briefing tailored to your specific trip, run a personalized assessment.
Today's weather
🌦 Drizzle
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
| Today's high / low | 30.4°C / 24.6°C | Wind now / max | 15.3 km/h / 17.4 km/h |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humidity | 95% | Precipitation today | 13.3 mm · 98% chance |
| UV (max today) | 7.2 | Sunrise / Sunset | 06:43 / 18:24 |
- High precipitation chance
- Thunderstorm risk
Source: Open-Meteo (free public weather API) · fetched 2026-10-16 03:19:00 UTC · cached
Air quality
Air Quality
Good
| PM2.5 / PM10 | 2.9 / 4.4 µg/m³ | O₃ / NO₂ | 48 / 2 µg/m³ |
|---|
Source: Open-Meteo Air Quality · fetched 2026-10-16 03:19:00 UTC · cached
Official travel advisory
Level 2 · Exercise Increased Caution
Mexico Travel Advisory - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Disaster alerts
Active Disaster Alerts
-
Orange notification for tropical cyclone SIMON-26. Population affected by Category 1 (120 km/h) wind speeds or higher is 62 . ORANGE · country-wide · 2026-10-07
From 07/10/2026 to 16/10/2026, a Tropical Storm (maximum wind speed of 250 km/h) SIMON-26 was active in EastPacific. The cyclone affects these countries: México (vulnerability Medium). Estimated population affected by category 1 (120 km/h) wind speeds or higher is 62 .
-
Drought is on going in The Bahamas, Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador ORANGE · country-wide · 2026-07-03
The Drought notification level is Orange.
-
Green flood alert in Mexico GREEN · country-wide · 2026-08-18
On 17/08/2026, a flood started in Mexico, lasting until 12/10/2026 (last update). The flood caused 21 deaths and 1663 displaced .
-
Drought is on going in Mexico, United States GREEN · country-wide · 2026-04-30
The Drought notification level is Green.
“~N km away” = event centroid within ~500 km of this location; “country-wide” = a national/regional alert that may not be near this specific city. Source: GDACS · fetched 2026-10-16 03:37:34 UTC
Natural hazard calendar & history
No GDACS or USGS events recorded within 100 km in the past five years.
CDC Traveler Health Notices for Mexico
- Level 1 - Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Mexico (Level 1, 23 Dec 2025)
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Public Domain).
For consular advice on women's safety, LGBT+ travel, and local laws, see the Mexico travel advice & laws.
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel. See the Mexico entry requirements.
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
-
Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-10-02
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
-
Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-09-23
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
-
Level 1 - Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Mexico WATCH · 2025-12-23
Illness and death due to Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) have been reported in the northern region of Mexico along the U.S. border, particularly in Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Nuevo León.
-
Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-15 19:24:31 UTC
Recent headlines
Recent Headlines · Playa del Carmen Mexico
-
'Exercise Caution': Mexico Issued New Travel Warning By Global Affairs Canada Effective Immediately
TheTravel · 6d ago
Source: Google News · headlines verbatim, dates from publishers · fetched 2026-10-16 03:19:01 UTC
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Playa del Carmen
The most weather-stable two-month window for Playa del Carmen is January–February, when typical daily temperatures run from about 22°C to 26°C and monthly rain averages 42 mm.
Seasonal planning flags include hurricane season in June–November. These are climate patterns, not forecasts.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Sep 5, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Practical safety map
Safety infrastructure nearby in Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen has 10 hospitals, 10 police stations, 3 embassies, 10 pharmacies and 3 fire stations within 7 km of the city center in the latest OpenStreetMap extract.
The interactive map loads when it approaches the viewport.
Facility list (works without JavaScript)
- Hospital: AmeriMed Hospital Playa del Carmen
- Hospital: Centro Professional 28
- Hospital: Hiperbaric - International Clinic
- Hospital: Hospital Costamed
- Hospital: Hospital General
- Hospital: Hospiten Riviera Maya
- Hospital: IMSS UMF #11
- Hospital: International Medical Center TCMS
- Hospital: ISSSTE UMF Playa del Carmen
- Hospital: Módulo de Atención para Tarjetas de Salud y Control Venéreo
- Police: Unnamed police
- Police: Unnamed police
- Police: Unnamed police
- Police: Estación de Policia
- Police: Modulo de Policia Turistica
- Police: Modulo de Policia Turistica
- Police: Policía
- Police: Policía de Tránsito Municipal
- Police: Policia Turistica
- Police: Policía turística
- Embassy: Italian Honorary Consulate in Playa del Carmen
- Embassy: U.S. Consular Agency in Playa del Carmen
- Embassy: USA Consulate
- Pharmacy: Unnamed pharmacy
- Pharmacy: chech Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Drugstore
- Pharmacy: Drugstore
- Pharmacy: Farmacia del Ahorro
- Pharmacy: Farmacia PDC
- Pharmacy: Farmacia Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Farmacias Bazar
- Pharmacy: Farmacias Pharmacy PDC
- Pharmacy: yza
- Fire station: Unnamed fire station
- Fire station: Bomberos Estación Central 1
- Fire station: tacion de bomberos
Map and facility data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Locations can be incomplete or outdated; confirm before relying on them. See this destination’s numbers or browse emergency numbers by country.
Emergency numbers (Mexico)
| Police | 911 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 911 |
| Fire | 911 |
| General | 911 |
See nearby hospitals, police, pharmacies, embassies, and fire stations on the safety map.
Essential local emergency phrases
Show this screen to first responders, hotel staff, or passersby if you cannot speak the local language during an emergency.
Medical access
| Hospital access | medium |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy access | medium |
| Emergency response | medium |
| English-speaking care | unknown |
| Evacuation complexity | low |
Playa del Carmen has hospitals and clinics that serve tourists, and emergency numbers are readily available. English‑speaking medical staff may be limited, so travelers should be prepared.
Common scam patterns
- label. Tourists often encounter taxi drivers demanding fares far above the official rate, especially at the airport and popular spots. This can leave visitors paying double the expected price. Tip: Insist on using the meter or agree on a price before starting the ride.
- label. Criminals install skimming devices on ATMs and may distribute counterfeit bills, leading to loss of cash and compromised card data. Victims may not notice the fraud until after the transaction. Tip: Use ATMs inside banks or reputable hotels and inspect cash before leaving the machine.
- label. On Quinta Avenida vendors sell fake friendship bracelets, distracting tourists while accomplices pickpocket wallets. The scam targets visitors walking the busy pedestrian street. Tip: Decline unsolicited offers and keep valuables in a zippered bag.
Area notes
- Fifth Avenue (Quinta Avenida). Heavily foot‑traffic pedestrian street with many shops and police presence; generally safe but watch for scams.
- Playacar. Gated residential and resort community with private security, considered very safe for visitors.
- Beachfront area. The main beach stretch is popular with tourists; standard beach safety applies.
Nearest embassies & consulates
Find your home country's diplomatic mission in Mexico for consular support, lost passports, or citizen emergencies:
Frequently asked questions about Playa del Carmen
Is Playa del Carmen safe to visit?
Playa del Carmen currently scores 44/100 on our composite travel risk index (moderate risk; lower is safer). It already includes the current US State Department advisory for Mexico (Level 2 of 4). Official advice can change quickly, so check it again shortly before you travel.
Sources: Travel Risk Calculator — Playa del Carmen · Methodology
Run a personalized assessment for Playa del Carmen
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Calculate my trip riskScore history
| When | Score change | Tier | Reason / source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | 49 → 44 | moderate | Data update scoring v2 |
| Sep 27, 2026 | 41 → 49 | moderate | Method change (scoring v2) scoring v2 |
| Aug 31, 2026 | 0 → 0 | unknown | Data update Grounded open data research & citations |
Every editorial change to Playa del Carmen's composite score is logged here, with the source and reason for the change. Live data overlays (weather, advisories, disaster alerts, news) refresh continuously on their own cadences and are not recorded as score changes — see the Live conditions section above for current overlay state.
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Transparency & Sources
We document the baseline sources, coverage scope, and data inputs for this destination below.
Sources used
- SimpleMaps World Cities (CC BY 4.0): Coordinates, region, population for Playa del Carmen
- Travel Risk Calculator score (method v2): Security, crime and scams, health, natural hazards and current alerts for Playa del Carmen, from US, UK and Canadian advisories, INFORM, World Bank, UCDP, CDC, GDACS, USGS and OpenStreetMap
- Editorial baseline (Travel Risk Calculator): City-level threat scoring across 9 categories (crime, health, advisory, political, disaster, transport, environmental, digital security, money safety)
Live data overlays on this page refresh asynchronously on the source cadences shown above. Run an assessment to create a trip-specific briefing using your dates and traveler profile.
Baseline scope
- Category scores represent an analytical baseline, updated from official feeds and public records.
Coverage notes
- Transport-hub safety notes (airport, train stations).
Methodology · Full data-source registry · Report a correction
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.