Real-Time Data Shows Where U.S. Tourists Feel Safe This Spring Break

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Every February, the safety debates begin. If you look at the official U.S. State Department Travel Advisories right now, you will see a blanket Level 2: ‘Exercise Increased Caution’ warning applied to the Dominican Republic, and the exact same Level 2 warning covering Mexico’s top tourist states like Quintana Roo and Baja California Sur.

Read the official government text, and you are immediately presented with severe warnings. The State Department warns of “homicide, robbery, and sexual assault” in the Dominican Republic, and warns of “terrorism and crime” alongside violence from “terrorist groups, gangs, and criminal organizations” in Mexico.

It is enough to make anyone cancel their flight. But here is the problem: those government warnings paint entire nations with a single, broad brush. They rely on generalized, state-wide statistics that do not reflect the heavily secured, heavily patrolled reality inside the tourist corridors of Cancun, Cabo, or Punta Cana.

At Travel Off Path, we believe the only people who truly know how secure a destination feels are the travelers standing in it right now. To add necessary context to these broad warnings, we are looking directly at the Traveler Safety Index—a live, crowdsourced database where tourists actively on the ground rate their experiences and log security incidents in real-time.

By demanding undeniable statistical proof and raw transparency, we juxtaposed the government warnings against the actual, on-the-ground reality. Based on hundreds of verified reports from travelers soaking up the sun today, here is the real safety breakdown for U.S. tourists this Spring Break.

Make sure to share your own on-the-ground experience at the bottom of the article and let us know if you currently feel safe.

1. Cabo San Lucas: The Gold Standard

If you read the State Department’s warning for Baja California Sur, you are told to exercise increased caution due to the risk of violence from criminal organizations. But if you want absolute certainty for your Spring Break, the live data points directly to the tip of the Baja peninsula.

Cabo San Lucas is currently holding the highest tier on the index, achieving a 92/100 and a “STABLE” status while maintaining a massive volume of traveler feedback. What makes this score trustworthy is the transparency of the incident logs. Out of the 126 recent verified reports, the index has only recorded 4 reports of scams and 2 reports of harassment.

The reality? While the surrounding state may have issues, Cabo’s heavily secured resort infrastructure is operating flawlessly. The minor incidents reported are exactly what you would expect in any major global city, proving that Cabo easily handles massive crowds of luxury travelers without exposing them to the severe risks mentioned in the government briefing.

2. Punta Cana: The Caribbean Heavyweight

The U.S. government explicitly warns that violent crime is a concern throughout the Dominican Republic, regardless of nationality. However, the data confirms what frequent travelers already know: the resort-heavy structure of Punta Cana creates a highly insulated, incredibly secure bubble.

Backed by 65 verified live reports, Punta Cana holds a rock-solid 91/100 safety rating and a “STABLE” status. Looking at the live incident feed, the destination has only registered 1 report of harassment and 1 report of theft. It stands as the safest statistically proven option in the Caribbean. If your goal is to land, hand your bags to a bellhop, and sip something cold with near-zero logistical friction, Punta Cana delivers exactly that, completely insulated from the State Department’s broader national warnings.

3. Cancun: The Most Tested Destination

The State Department’s advisory for Quintana Roo cites the risk of violence from terrorist groups and criminal organizations, which makes Cancun the most heavily scrutinized destination on the board. Yet, despite being the busiest transit hub and party epicenter in the region, Cancun is holding incredibly strong with a 90/100 “STABLE” rating.

With massive volume comes raw honesty. Because Cancun is the most heavily tested destination on the index with 152 verified reports, the incident data paints a crystal-clear picture of the reality on the ground. The index has logged 7 reports of scams, alongside 1 isolated report of assault and 1 drugging.

This transparency is exactly why the 90/100 score is so reliable. Out of hundreds of visitors navigating the Hotel Zone, the incidents remain remarkably low. The data shows the tourist corridors are highly secured by local authorities, serving as a real-time reminder that while you need to watch your drinks in crowded nightclubs, you are not stepping into the severe, state-wide risks outlined in the official advisories.

4. Playa Del Carmen: The Walkable Alternative

• Official U.S. Advisory: Level 2 (Terrorism and Crime)
• Traveler Safety Index: 86/100 (STABLE)
• Verified Live Reports: 24

For travelers who want to trade the mega-resorts of Cancun for a more walkable, boutique-heavy vibe, Playa Del Carmen is proving to be a highly secure alternative.

Sitting comfortably at an 86/100 with a “STABLE” status, the data shows that tourists sticking to the well-patrolled 5th Avenue and established beach clubs are experiencing a highly secure vacation. Backed by 24 verified reports with zero major incidents logged, it establishes a definitive trend. Playa offers a café-centric atmosphere while still maintaining the protective bubble that international tourists expect on the Riviera Maya, largely insulated from broader state-wide risks.

5. Tulum: The Elevated Risk Zone

• Official U.S. Advisory: Level 2 (Terrorism and Crime)
• Traveler Safety Index: 76/100 (ELEVATED)
• Verified Live Reports: 21

The most vital function of real-time data is catching shifts in security before the government advisories update. Right now, while the State Department groups Tulum in the exact same Level 2 category as Cancun, the Traveler Safety Index is officially flagging it as lower safety then its Mexican Caribbean partners.

Tulum’s rapid expansion has clearly impacted the on-the-ground experience. Backed by 21 recent reports, the destination has dropped to a 76/100 and currently holds an ELEVATED risk status. The data proves that while the bohemian aesthetic remains a massive draw, the tourist experience here is currently less insulated and more volatile than the highly controlled environments of Cabo or Cancun. Travelers heading to Tulum this Spring Break need to exercise a higher degree of situational awareness.

Are you currently on the ground in one of these destinations? We need your voice. Drop your rating into the Traveler Safety Index below and help the next wave of travelers find their perfect, worry-free getaway.

Don’t Guess. Verify.

For decades, tourists have had to rely on generalized government advice that paints entire regions with a single, broad brush. That method only tells half the story.

The Traveler Safety Index represents a massive shift in how we plan vacations. By leveraging the collective intelligence of the crowd, we can see exactly what is happening in a specific hotel zone on this exact day, proving that the scariest headlines rarely match the reality on the beach.

Are you currently on the ground in one of these destinations? We need your voice. Drop your rating into the Traveler Safety Index below and help the next wave of travelers find their perfect, worry-free getaway.

Check Over 500 Destinations On The Traveler Safety Index to find out where your favorite destination is rated for 2026.