Travel Alert for Playa del Carmen Mexico Update

Over the weekend, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City issued an update on the travel alert for Playa del Carmen, gateway city to both popular vacation destinations in Cancun and in the other direction, where tourists head out to visit Mayan ruins including Tulum and Chichen Itza.

This update involves U.S. government personnel more than tourists. Last week, following the discovery of undetonated bombs aboard ferry boats that ran between Playa del Carmen and the island of Cozumel, tourists were advised against any ferry travel between the two ports.

Now, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City has revised its travel restrictions. U.S. government personnel are prohibited from travel to Centro, Calica, Gonzalo Guerrero, Quintas del Carmen, and Villas del Carmen neighborhoods of Playa del Carmen. These neighborhoods are bordered by Avenida Benito Juarez, 50 Avenida Sur (Highway 307), and Calle 34 Norte. U.S. citizens should avoid those neighborhoods until further notice.

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U.S.government officials, along with tourists, were given the all-clear to travel to resort areas in Riviera Maya which also includes those near Playa del Carmen, but outside the restricted neighborhoods of the alert.

Confused? Here are the U.S. government’s recommended actions to take:

• U.S. citizens should avoid those neighborhoods in Playa del Carmen listed above until further notice.
• U.S. citizens should not use ferry services operating between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel.
• Be aware of your surroundings and exercise increased caution.
• Purchase travel insurance that specifically covers you in Mexico and includes medical evacuation insurance.
• Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate if you need assistance.

As of right now, the U.S. Consular Agency in Playa del Carmen will reopen for normal operations on Monday, March 12.

Just to clarify, according to the latest travel alert for Playa del Carmen, the circumstances surrounding the security threat in the above listed neighborhoods is separate from the threat against ferry boats between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel.

U.S. government personnel are still prohibited from using ferry services between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel until further notice while  U.S. citizens are warned against the use of ferry services going between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel.