Yes the Pueblo area of Tulum has experienced a huge spike in violence this year, it appears to be a rival cartel vying for power. This event was most likely cartel-related against the business, but in the past it was very rare that tourists would be caught in the cross fire since that would not benefit the business or the cartel.

This year and late last year we’ve seen attacks in broad daylight, and tourists have actually been targeted in these cases. One man would not turn over his watch and was shot dead in a cafe in broad daylight. The randomness of these murders and the fact that tourists are being targeted is scary, and is more like you’d see in any large US city and not the act of a cartel punishing a business owner for not paying…


"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.”
-Anthony Bourdain