The shooting occurred on an avenue lined with restaurants and bars a little further inland.
It’s the latest instance of violence to tarnish Cancun’s reputation as a laid-back getaway.
In March, tourists were rushed by loud bangs heard at Cancun International Airport. Flights were suspended for nearly three hours after authorities received reports of gunfire at the airport. Videos posted on social media showed travelers rushing and rushing out of a terminal.
The National Guard later said there was no evidence of gunshots and said the detonation may have occurred after someone knocked over three freestanding vertical displays in the terminal.
Also in March, authorities found four bodies dumped in undergrowth in Cancun and said they were part of a total of 13 murders by the Jalisco Cartel at the resort since September. Most of the bodies were found in vacant lots or houses.
The Caribbean coast, Mexico’s main source of tourism revenue, has been hit by endemic violence.
In January, prosecutors said the murder of two Canadians near Cancún was motivated by debts between international gangs apparently involved in drug and arms trafficking.
In late October, further south in the laid-back destination of Tulum, two tourists – one an India-born Californian travel blogger and the other German – were caught in the apparent crossfire of rival drug dealers and killed.