We spent 20+ years enjoying the Riviera Maya, built our retirement home there 8 years ago and wintered there. We recently changed our plans to move there and instead sold because of the uptick in cartel violence in Tulum, Cancun, PDC, and now communities and resorts between these towns. The unsustainable growth and its impact on the infrastructure- and even moreso the environment - entered into our decision.
If you are considering moving there do your due diligence in researching the different areas and the situation in those areas. As far as the cartel violence goes, there are numerous reports of assassinations being carried out in public bars, beaches, resorts and restaurants, as well as the drug situation…Tourists have been wounded and killed in these attacks on businesses. Obviously many are still moving there, some with this knowledge, but many without it…The people who bought our house claimed to be very intimate with the area, turned out they had no clue about anything. So rent in an area before buying!
