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First, let’s start with some good news. The traffic light system that Mexico uses for the Covid-19 for the state of Quintana Roo, where the Riviera Maya is located, has been updated. Each week the Governor makes an announcement about the following week. Recently, the northern half of the state turned green for the first time since the start of the pandemic. The green light means there are fewer restrictions. Now, the whole state has moved to the green.
Having the green light does not mean that all restrictions are gone, it means that more things can be opened and opened more fully. This is good news for the intense winter season. With a varying outbreak, things are feeling good and looking pretty good for this winter season on the Riviera Maya.
Beaches and water quality
After a relatively light hurricane season, and now entering the fall / winter season of 2021.22, we are experiencing very good beaches. The seaweed is very low or non-existent and the calm waters have made the beaches look beautiful! At Facet the beaches and water are some of the best we have seen in years, we hope this continues to be true.
Playa del Carmen is busy and noisy
After a brief tourist break in September and early October, things are roaring again. We have seen signs of an intense winter season talking to travel agents and hoteliers. Many tourists have been waiting to book trips and it is now taking place. An evening walk now down 5th Avenue will show you how many people there are now and how many companies are competing to get customers by increasing the music. Is it just us, or Playa del Carmen getting stronger?
What this means for you if you are planning to come to the area this winter season, be sure to book in advance. Many hotels are close to their capacity. We see many rooms for rent, but often these are the last of the choices and the least desirable rooms.
One of the outdoor live music venues in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Shooting on the beach between Puerto Morelos and Cancun
One of the most important news of the week, which made a lot of international media, was a shooting on the beach. The shooting took place on the beach in front of two resorts between Puerto Morelos and Cancun. The alleged gunman arrived by boat and carried out what appears to be an execution of rival cartels. Two people suspected of being rival members of the cartel were killed. As tourists rushed to take refuge, some minor injuries are reported and a tourist is reported to have been shot, but is recovering at the hospital.
About 10-15 men arrived by boat and carried out the police which they describe as a selective execution of rivals. Social media showed the video of the guests of the confusion and panic when the guests entered the hotels and barricaded themselves.
The Mexican authorities have made it clear that the resorts will be back in operation.
The bad part
This is another violent act that has happened in the Riviera Maya and that has happened in a public place. In the past, most cartels about cartel violence have been isolated in personal homes and outside the city center and in the eyes of tourists. More aggressive attacks are now taking place in public view and tourists are trapped in crossfire. The governor of the state described the attack as “a serious blow to the development and security of the state, seriously endangering the image of the state.”
This is a growing trend that became apparent last year, but that can be traced back to 2017, when the BPM music festival was filmed at the Blue Parrot Club in Playa del Carmen. Many point to this event as a turning point for the Riviera Maya. Before that event, many would never have imagined such a thing or that current events could happen in the area.
Some conclusions from this event
The initial reaction from some could be that resorts are dangerous in Mexico when reports of shootings occur. The important note to take away from this story is that it happened on the public beach. The gunman did not enter the complex from the lobby or the main entrance. The resorts have very good security on the Riviera Maya. Even a regular person trying to visit a friend staying at a resort may have difficulty getting through the front doors. Behind the scenes of the resorts you will find many cameras, security, metal detectors, walls and doors. The resorts place a lot of emphasis on making guests feel relaxed and safe during their vacation.
That doesn’t excuse me in any way, and everywhere, including public beaches, there should be places where people feel safe. For people who have been in the area for a long time, it is clear that crime is on the rise. We recently wrote about the population increase in Playa del Carmen that showed a 103% increase in the last 10 years. Other cities have also grown rapidly in the Riviera Maya. Doubling the population means an increase in crime and this is a sad fact of growth,
Not only tourists are dismayed when events like this take place. Neighbors also denounce the violence and are dismayed that things like this are happening in the area. It’s a shame that a small group of individuals can affect the way people see and feel about an area.
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