Safety question for driving Riviera Maya and on to Chichen Itza
 

We are renting a car in Cancun and driving to Chichen Itza. From there we are headed to Akumal and ending in PDC. How safe are the roadways between destinations? My husband and I have driven all over Europe, but never Mexico. Are there "shady" areas that we must drive through? Thanks!

No. If you don't take the toll road from Cancun to Chichen Itza though the towns you drive through have speed bumps you have to watch out for.

We drove from from Puerto Morales to Chichen Itza to Akumal several years ago and there were no safety issues, but you should fill up your tank before you get on the toll road. After that there were no gas stations for about 200 kilometers.

Definitely get gas before you get off highway 307 onto the Coba road as there won't be another until Valladolid. The topes are generally through every town so be careful as some of the signs have been removed to warn drivers of their impending arrival. Other than that no dangers that I'm aware of. Pretty straight route.

Just bear in mind that on the main highway between Cancun and points south, in order to make a left turn, you must pull onto the right shoulder, wait for traffic to clear, then punch it across four lanes. Oh, prayer also helps.

Yes, the road rules are a bit different and it's a VERY good idea to know what they are.

Thanks for all of the advice! I did read about how to make a left turn...I know it is going to feel strange!

Driving in these parts is quite safe, but as others have said, make sure you have plenty of gas, particularly if you go off main highways. There is a risk driving at night, due to potholes, and other obstacles. Foe example a highway construction site near Akumal was using large stones instead of traffic cones as road markers - not easy to spot at night.