Violence & deaths in Acapulco!

[philemer]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-02-06-acapulco-violence_x.htm?csp=34

Drugs! A couple tourists were also injured (see last part of story). Will things like this you from visiting Acapulco?

 

[PStreet1]

No more than it stops me from visiting L.A. or New York.

 

[johnmfaeth]

Crime is everywhere.

Must point out that NYC is WAY down on the list of US cities in crimes per capita. Twenty years of "community involvement" and targeting known repeat offenders has paid off in a big way.

 

[Jeni]

We just booked Cancun for next May...please tell me they are not having problems similar to this?

 

[johnmfaeth]

From my experience in Cancun, the Police make very sure that crimes against tourists will not be tolerated. This seems to be the case in all the Mexican tourist areas from what I have heard and read. They know that they cannot afford to have the tourism industry hurt.

For example, Cancun is really a barrier island that is joiined to the mainland by two roads. You almost always see a police car parked at the two "chokepoints" with the cops standing outside visually checking out each vehicle that passes.

In "downtown" Cancun (the original town which is on the mainland), one does need to be careful if wandering away from the touristy market/restaurant area. Especially at night.

 

[Ellis2ca]

Can Cun vs. Acapulco

From my experience in Cancun, the Police make very sure that crimes against tourists will not be tolerated. This seems to be the case in all the Mexican tourist areas from what I have heard and read. They know that they cannot afford to have the tourism industry hurt.

For example, Cancun is really a barrier island that is joiined to the mainland by two roads. You almost always see a police car parked at the two "chokepoints" with the cops standing outside visually checking out each vehicle that passes.

In "downtown" Cancun (the original town which is on the mainland), one does need to be careful if wandering away from the touristy market/restaurant area. Especially at night.

I agree that Can Cun is very safe, especially the Hotel Zone, which is Can Cun island itself... I have never seen any reason to be afraid in downtown Can Cun, (which is not on the island)... either, and I always like to go to Yaxchilan Ave. which is full of nice small restaurants, and to Mercado 28, and to the park between Yaxchilan and Tulum Ave. That is "the real Mexico..."

I disagree that the reason that the police keep it safe is because "crimes against tourists will not be tolerated"... or that "they know that they cannot afford to have the tourism industry hurt..." You make it seem as if crimes against the local population is acceptable, or that the Bad Guys have in some way agreed to only make crime against Mexicans but not against American tourists.

In any case, for whatever the reason, Can Cun is much safer than Acapulco, so go without fear, and I hope you love it as much as I do.... - Ellis

 

[Neesie]

Just returned from my first trip

We went to Mexico for the first time (Playa del Carmen) in January. While there, we took a bus to Cancun, a taxi to the ferry port and a ferry to Isla Mujeres. My husband and I don't speak Spanish and yet were helped at each leg of our journey by Mexicans. Upon our return from Isla Mujeres to Cancun we ended up at the large bus station in Cancun and it looked like we were the only non-Mexicans there. We were very comfortable, much more so than we would have been in downtown Minneapolis. We did not see signs in English, only Spanish. Again, Mexican citizens (noticing our Mayan Palace bracelets) helped us buy tickets for the right bus and told us "no, this one is not your bus" and finally, "go, this one is your bus!" How friendly!!!

If you search, you can find instances of violence anywhere. Newspaper stories are one-sided and don't tell all the facts, just the sensationalism that seems to sell.

 

[johnmfaeth]

Hi Ellis,

First, I stand by the two statements that they do have a very visable police presence and zero tolerance for crime in resort areas. As a result it is safe.

I did not mean to infer anything about non-resort areas, frankly, I doubt any Mexican citizens live on Cancun Island to become victims. And those who work on Cancun Island certainly share the benefits of the low crime characteristic.

Any tourist typicaly carries a certain amount of cash anywhere they visit. This makes them prime targets vs. locals, whether in Mexico, Mississippi, or Malaysia.

Don't get me started on the economic conditions these people have to deal with. Frankly it's disgusting that such poverty is allowed to exist just south of our border. My least favorite memories of Cancun are of tourists bragging about how they talked a street vendor down the last dollar for a killer deal. How wonderful, now they will have even less. PS. I'm not against haggling to a fair price.

John Faeth

 

[Monica]

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!! What's going on in Acapulco is nothing new. And it certainly isn't going to stop me. It shouldn't stop anyone. Only if you are a druggy or a dealer should you be concerned.

 

[LynnW]

Interesting topic! They just did a question of the day survey on one of our local radio stations that ended about an hour ago. The question was with all the recent reports of crime in Mexico would you still go. They only had ONE person say no!

Lynn

 

[philemer]

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!! What's going on in Acapulco is nothing new. And it certainly isn't going to stop me. It shouldn't stop anyone. Only if you are a druggy or a dealer should you be concerned.

Nothing new but maybe escalating? You're sightseeing around Acapulco and the gunfire starts! Stray bullets flying. Colateral damage (maybe you). I haven't seen these news stories for Cancun, PV or Cabo areas. Is Acapulco worse?

Phil