Five bodies have been found in a car in the popular Mexican tourist hotspot of Cancun as the drug war death toll soars past 100 this year.

The silver Mazda sedan was found outside Hall Gym about 7am on Wednesday with a dead man in the front and others piled in the back.

Police didn't say how the men died but the grisly find stoked fears of yet another drug cartel hit after escalating violence in the popular coastal city.

Five bodies have been found in a car (pictured) in the popular Mexican tourist hotspot of Cancun

Earlier in the month 14 people were killed and five wounded in six shootings in just 36 hours, the highest-ever death toll in such a short time

The car was parked near the back of the Public Prosecutor's Office, but gym workers also say they received a threat over the phone against the owner.

Forensics officers took the car away on the back of a tow truck for further analysis.

Drug-related violence has spiraled out of control in Cancun this year with 100 people killed in what is believed to be gang violence.

At least four bullets were fired at a beach vendor by men on water skis on Saturday in the city's hotel bustling district.

Two days earlier three men were murdered at a bar and last Monday a body riddled with bullets washed up on a popular tourist beach.

Drug-related violence has spiraled out of control in Cancun this year with 100 people killed in what was believed to be gang violence

Five of them were killed in a home where neighbors said the occupants were drug dealers. Another three were killed standing outside a tamale stand next to a clothing store

On April 11 a woman's body was found in the street shot several times in the face with a 'message' left on it.

Earlier in the month 14 people were killed and five wounded in six shootings in just 36 hours, the highest-ever death toll in such a short time.

Five of them were killed in a home where neighbors said the occupants were drug dealers. Another three were killed standing outside a tamale stand next to a clothing store.

The next day, five others were gunned down in separate shootings around the city.