A hotel in Tulum was left with bullet holes in its glass facade over the weekend, the latest in a string of intimidation-style attacks linked to criminal groups in the Mexican Caribbean resort town.
Neighbours of the Bacab Hotel, located in the La Veleta neighbourhood at 12th Street South and Cobá Avenue, reported hearing bursts of gunfire on Saturday night. When police arrived, they found at least five bullet holes punched through the hotel's glass entrance door. A message written in red had been left at the scene — a calling card police say is typical of criminal groups sending a warning to rivals or business owners.
Municipal and State Police responded alongside Tulum's Jaguar Group, a specialised security unit. Investigative Police are now working with local authorities to identify those responsible. Nobody was injured in the attack, and officials have not disclosed what the handwritten message said.
Tulum has grown explosively over the past decade from a sleepy beach town into one of Mexico's most popular destinations, and that growth has drawn competition — and violence — among criminal factions vying for control of drug sales and extortion rackets in the hotel and nightlife zones. Most high-profile incidents in recent years have been shootouts or targeted attacks tied to those disputes rather than violence aimed at tourists, and foreign visitors are rarely harmed. Still, shooting up a hotel facade in a residential pocket like La Veleta is a reminder that Tulum's security picture is uneven, and that trouble can surface well away from the beach strip.
For travellers, the practical takeaway is not to cancel a Tulum trip but to travel with a bit of awareness. Stick to well-reviewed accommodation, avoid late-night street corners in areas you don't know, and steer clear of anything involving drugs, however casual the scene seems — that's where nearly all of the incidents involving visitors have started. Register with your embassy's travel advisory alerts if your country offers them, and keep an eye on local news during your stay.
The town remains open for business, with its beach clubs, cenotes, Mayan ruins and the Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve just down the coast. Millions visit each year without incident. But if you're booking a stay in Tulum this season, it's worth checking where your hotel sits — and reading recent guest reviews — before you commit.
