mexico/cancun area - what to shoot, and is it safe!

My partner and I are thinking about a trip to Cancun, Mexico around september. from all you hear about Mexico on the news, though it looks a beautiful place and great for photography I've always thought not a safe place to visit. but is it that bad?

grateful for any advice both on safety - would i be wise to leave my dslr at home (i normally take a nikon d300, standard zoom, fisheye and 70-300mm vr plus a small p&s) and what sights there are to see in the cancun area.

thanks

dave