Is Los Cabos Safe? Travel Advisory 2024
Los Cabos is an absolute paradise for anyone seeking a picturesque and adventurous vacation. With its sparkling blue waters, pristine beaches and breathtaking landscapes, it’s no wonder this place is a top tourist destination. Cabo is safe to visit, relatively speaking. Like many other destinations outside the U.S., travelers should heed certain safety tips.
Cabo has been a favorite vacation spot for celebrities and the general public for decades. Each year, this sunny hot spot welcomes about 2.8 million visitors. Many of those are repeat vacationers, who return again and again, based on their fabulous experience the first time around.
Still, some tourists remain wary about visiting Mexico and Cabo San Lucas in particular. Certain headlines may indeed make this area off-putting. Of course, crime happens everywhere in the world, and the good things about Cabo tend to outweigh the bad.
Suggested: Is Puerto Vallarta safe to visit?
What the U.S. Government Says About Visiting Cabo
When considering is Cabo safe to visit, it’s always a good idea to see what the U.S. State Department has to say about it. The State Department is the one that issues travel advisories based on political and social climates throughout the world. If anyone knows if Cabo is safe to visit, it’s the U.S. government.
The State Department has four levels of travel advisories, which are as follows:
- Exercise normal precautions
- Exercise increased caution
- Reconsider travel
- Do not travel
Mexico is comprised of states, and Cabo San Lucas is in the Baja California Sur state. Currently, the State Department’s travel advisory warning level for Cabo San Lucas is set to one of the lowest, which is “exercise increased caution.” They indicate that the reason for this level is low crime rates.
The State Department also indicates that “There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Baja California Sur state, which includes tourist areas in Cabo San Lucas.”
We can surmise from this that it is safe to travel in Cabo, as long as certain ordinary safety measures are practiced. So, what kinds of safety tips should be kept in mind in Cabo?
LATEST UPDATES / NEWS from Los Cabos:
December 28 – Los Cabos Remains Safe For Tourists Despite Increase In This Crime
Despite a 38.7% increase in drug dealing cases in 2023, Los Cabos remains a safe destination for tourists. Most of these cases were reported in Los Cabos, with the local government prioritizing tourist safety. Initiatives like “Ponte Trucha” aim to protect travelers from local fraud, and the Green Angels provide road support. These efforts ensure high safety levels in Los Cabos, allowing tourists to enjoy their holidays without concern. The full article with more details can be found on The Cabo Sun website here.
September 15 – 75 percent of residents consider Los Cabos safe
According to the latest data from the Los Cabos Tourism Observatory, the perception of safety increased by 0.6 percentage points compared to June 2022, a month in which it had decreased by 9.5 percentage points.
Rodrigo Esponda Cascajares, director of FITURCA, reported that these results go hand in hand with the studies conducted by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).
Based on the National Urban Public Safety Survey (ENSU), which refers to the second quarter of 2023, it was found that 75% of residents of the municipality consider the tourist destination safe.
July 7 – Los Cabos rank 4th as the safest destination in Mexico
In a recent interview, the Deputy Attorney overseeing Los Cabos discussed the safety conditions prevailing in this renowned tourist destination.
As per the Deputy Attorney and data provided by INEGI, Mexico’s data collection institute, Cabo ranks as the fourth safest city among 75 different Mexican cities.
This notable ranking positions the Cabo region as the fourth safest metropolitan area in Mexico and surpasses the safety levels of other popular tourist destinations listed, such as Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and various neighborhoods within Mexico City.
Tourist Safety Tips For Los Cabos
Cabo offers world-class resorts and activities for tourists. It’s an excellent choice for those who appreciate blue skies, warm temperatures and postcard-worthy vistas. As long as you exercise reasonable caution, Cabo is safe to visit.
Reasonable caution includes things such as:
- Avoid overt displays of wealth. Keep the expensive jewelry at home!
- Avoid solo excursions. It’s safer to stick with at least one other person from your party.
- Avoid going off with a stranger. If someone wants to show you “secret” spots without your friends, be wary.
- Avoid excess inebriation. Sure, it’s fine to let loose and enjoy the cocktails and cerveza. Just don’t overindulge to the point where you’re vulnerable.
- Don’t swim at night. Cabo has lots of beach bars, but nature can be deceptively enticing. Swimming after dark or after drinking is a bad idea.
- Avoid flashing cash. When paying, be discreet about how much is in your wallet.
- Pay attention to your surroundings. Use your senses to stay aware of who may be watching your movements or waiting for an opportune time to commit a crime.
With all that said, there’s no reason you can’t be among the millions who take advantage of Cabo’s luxurious environment. Chances are, you’ll find yourself lured back to this paradise again and again, like millions of happy tourists before you!
