Is It Safe to Travel to Cabo, Mexico? Find Out Here
As with many Mexican cities, you may wonder, is it safe to travel to Cabo, Mexico?
Cabo San Lucas, the crown of Mexico City, is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in the world.
It’s rich in history, adventure, luxurious resorts, and hotels, and the most stunning beaches, the perfect destination for adventures and vacations.
But is it safe to travel to Cabo, Mexico?
Poor Mexico often gets portrayed so negatively in the mainstream media. Often we are shown news stories about violent crime from some of the more dangerous parts of Mexico, while in reality, there are so many safe places to visit in Mexico.
Just like the United States, there are some areas of Mexico that may be more dangerous than others.
However, that’s not the case with Cabo San Lucas.
According to a recent report, tourists feel safe visiting Cabo San Lucas, with the most recent year (2022) experiencing a 22% increase compared to 2022.
In this post, I will put a stop to all your worries and answer your questions by covering the following:
✅ Whether it is safe to travel to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
✅ Safety Concerns to look out for
✅ Safety tips for visiting Cabo, Mexico
Let’s dive in.
Is It Safe to Travel to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico?
Cabo San Lucas is one of the safest places to visit in Mexico.
According to FITURCA (the Los Cabos Tourism Trust), Los Cabos has been ranked level 2 by the US Travel Advisory, making it one of the most secure places to visit in the country.
Luckily, the advisory imposes government travel restrictions on Baja California Sur, which is part of the tourist areas of Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, and San Jose del Cabo.
Typically, countries are assigned different risk levels (1-4) based on safety. Countries ranked on Level 1 have little or no safety concerns, while those on Level 4 are no-go zones.
Therefore, Los Cabos’ Level 2 shows the city is safe for travel, but it is a good idea to exercise increased caution.
This means avoiding walking on poorly-lit streets, wearing jewelry, carrying expensive items, and of course, using common sense precautions.
Safety Concerns in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Although Los Cabos is considered safe, it’s important to keep perspective on the most important safety concerns when traveling. Here’s an overview:
Criminal Activity
Criminal activity seems to reduce every year making Cabo San Lucas safer than other cities in Baja California Sur.
Statistics show that Los Cabos’ crime rate was 138.26 crimes per 100,000 people in 2021, a significant drop from previous years.
In fact, the most common criminal activity tourists experience involves petty crime like pickpocketing. Even so, most such activities occur away from the resorts and the northern regions of the airport.
Drug Cartels
The Baja California peninsula is a prime spot for continental drug cartel operations because it creates a bridge between the American market and the production areas.
That’s why organized crime syndicates like Sinaloa Cartel are increasingly exploiting the surrounding regions, including Cabo San Lucas.
Because of this, the Mexican government requires tourists to exercise increased caution when visiting the beaches along Baja California Sur areas, including Cabo San Lucas.
Use your common sense, like being aware of your surroundings.
Authorities caution travelers against driving to remote locations in Los Cabos; instead, they should remain on the main highways.
We spent a lot of time in Baja California Sur, there are so many great adventures there like hiking and whale shark snorkeling. If you use your common sense, don’t travel at night, and talk to locals and tour guides, you will be safe in these areas.
More recently, the government deployed soldiers to Los Cabos and San Jose del Cabo areas like Medano Beach, bars, the marina, and nightclubs to help prevent drug-related crime and protect tourists.
The move eliminated any fears associated with a visit to Cabo San Lucas during the busy summer months.
The best way to avoid any issues with Drug cartels? Stay away from drugs and drug activities.
Simple and easy.
Drug cartels aren’t looking for random trouble with American tourists. If you avoid buying/selling or doing drugs and participating in any illegal drug activities, you won’t have any problems.
Scams
Fraud and scams are other safety concerns tourists must look out for when visiting Cabo San Lucas.
Many tourists fall prey to these activities when making lodging reservations, especially for those who prefer using sites like Airbnb.
Fraudsters pose as potential homeowners renting out non-existent properties, taking tourists’ money only to find out they haven’t made any reservations.
Scams are also common when making reservations with tour operators.
The operators offer non-existent travel packages and get away with the monies without providing advertised services.
Fraud and scams are common in the months leading up to Cabo San Lucas’ peak seasons (February and October).
Wildlife
Baja California Sur state has the most dangerous animals. Snakes are the most common making up to 35 snake species.
Half of the species are poisonous; most live in Cabo San Lucas, hiding in trash piles under rocks and bushes. Rattlesnakes are particularly common and are often heard before seen with their distinct tails rattling sound.
You also want to look out for the Brown Recluse spider, known for its venomous bites that cause severe skin lesions treated by skin grafts.
The spiders have long, thin, dark brown or gray legs and short, dark hair and thrive in areas with warm temperatures.
Cabo San Lucas is also home to the poisonous bark scorpion. They have longer tails and pincers than other scorpions and live under barks of certain tree types in Baja California Sur.
Their bites are particularly dangerous to kids and older adults, causing convulsions, numbness, and respiratory infections.
Safety Tips for Visiting Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Knowing the safety concerns in Cabo San Lucas goes a long way in taking the necessary precautions.
If you are wondering if it is safe to travel to Cabo, Mexico, follow these seven key tips to ensure Cabo San Lucas safety:
Keep an Eye Out for Fake Tequila
Cabo San Lucas is known for its ecstatic nightlife and is often referred to as a party town. Tourists come here to take tequila shots, while others head to San Jose del Cabo for more action-packed weekends.
Partying in both towns is fun when accompanied by drinks like tequila, but you must keep an eye out for fake or tainted drinks.
While the then minister of Mexico’s health commission promised to lay down initiatives to improve inspections for counterfeit alcohol, you must be vigilant when ordering and taking such drinks.
Fake or adulterated alcohol is tainted with cheaper alternatives to ethanol, like methanol.
Always have a friend with you, drink a glass of water between each drink, and pay attention to your levels of intoxication while drinking.
As fun as it is to down 5 shots of tequila at one time, try to slow your roll and space out your drinks.
Take Precautions When Swimming
A visit to Cabo San Lucas isn’t complete without diving into the warm, blue waters. Cabo, Mexico is such a popular tourist destination because of the beautiful beaches, views of the Pacific ocean, water sports, and other outdoor activities.
Especially during spring break.
Most coastlines are fantastic for swimming, but some beaches within this region are rife with rip tides. The powerful, fast-moving waves sweep away even the most experienced swimmers.
The areas around the Sea of Cortez, Lover’s Beach, and the bay are the safest for swimming in Cabo San Lucas. However, you must follow any local warnings provided because some places change over time.
Cabo San Lucas beaches experience sudden steep waves and drops, which pose a danger. The shores slope down steeply, posing a risk for kids and swimmers unprepared for the sudden change in water depth.
Also, when swimming in the open sea, you must keep alert.
It would help if you also kept an eye out for jellyfish and other marine animals with spikes that sting. If you must go snorkeling in these parts of Los Cabos, it’s best to wear protective swim gear like Lycra to reduce the risk of getting stung.
Other tips to keep you safe when swimming in Cabo San Lucas are:
- Look for swimmable beach spots in Cabo San Lucas like Chileno Beach, Medano Beach, and Palmilla Beach
- Check if other people are swimming or relaxing on dry land
- Look out for colored flags before swimming. Red flags indicate danger ahead, black flags are for the most dangerous conditions, green ones denote the area is safe for swimming, and yellow warn you to exercise caution when swimming
- Bring a first-aid kit and learn life-saving skills like CPR
- Avoid going swimming alone and stick to popular beach spots
Avoid Walking at Night
Although the crime rate in Cabo San Lucas isn’t as high as in other cities, you must exercise caution.
This means avoiding walking alone at night and if you must walk in well-lit parts of the town or tourist-like spots.
Don’t Carry Much Cash
If you must carry cash when visiting Cabo San Lucas, avoid carrying lots of it. Most criminal activities consist of petty crimes like pickpocketing, so if you fall prey to thieves, you don’t want too much cash.
In fact, your safest option is to carry a credit card or use debit cards and withdraw cash from an ATM. Alternatively, stash the money in a money belt or a waist wallet.
Be Wary of the Local Wildlife
You must watch out for dangerous animals like jellyfish and crocodiles when swimming or hiking close to the edge of the water.
Also, look out for mosquitoes. Cabo San Lucas’ warm temperature makes it a ripe breeding ground for mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases like Zika.
As such, it’s essential to bring antihistamines and bug repellents when traveling to Cabo San Lucas.
Be sure to follow any health and safety protocols in place, especially if visiting areas infested with mosquitoes or dangerous wild animals.
Use Common Sense and Stay Aware When Traveling
You must be aware of your surroundings when visiting Cabo San Lucas. Look out for anyone watching or following you.
If possible, stick to a group, but avoid deserted streets if walking or traveling alone. While at it, avoid wearing flashy ornaments and keep valuables like cell phones and cameras hidden.
Get Travel Insurance
You want to prepare adequately for any eventualities when visiting Cabo San Lucas. Flights can get canceled, you may fall ill or lose valuables, and taking out travel insurance goes a long way in compensating for such losses.
Medical emergencies are common, and they often rack up traveling costs because private hospitals and medical institutions in Mexico are incredibly expensive.
Without travel insurance, you’ll need to pay for the costs upfront and then claim compensation from your medical insurance company.
Keep in mind the U.S. State Department requires travelers to take travel insurance when traveling abroad because the U.S. Embassy can only do so much.
In case you lose travel documents, the embassy may help provide police contact numbers, contact your family at home, and replace your passport.
However, you must pay for expenses like emergency evacuation.
The travel insurance I recommend is SafetyWing Travel Medical Insurance.
They have fantastic, affordable rates, and you can even sign up for their nomad travel medical insurance after you have already left your home country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that we have covered all the important details and you know it is safe to travel to Cabo, Mexico, you may have other questions about traveling and enjoying a trip to this resort town.
Along with what to pack for Mexico, here are the most common:
Can you drink tap water in Cabo San Lucas?
The overall answer to this question for any place in Mexico is no, you can not drink tap water.
Drinking tap water in Cabo San Lucas is not advisable because water distribution pipes may be contaminated. It’s best to buy bottled water.
Or, better yet, bring your own reusable self-filtering water bottle to save on plastic waste and ensure you always have clean drinking water.
When is the best time to visit Cabo San Lucas?
The best time to visit Cabo San Lucas is during the summer, i.e., May to June. This is especially the best time for fishing adventures in Cabo.. The winter crowds are smaller, and the summer storms are yet to hit the city, making Cabo San Lucas safe.
October and November are also great months to travel to Los Cabos, but you need to make hotel reservations early.
Can you use U.S. dollars in Cabo San Lucas?
U.S. dollars are accepted, particularly in downtown Cabo San Lucas and most of the peninsula. Since the exchange rates may be low, it’s best to use pesos.
Are taxis safe to use in Cabo San Lucas?
Taxis are readily available in Cabo San Lucas and safe to use. Local authorities ensure taxi drivers follow the correct driving etiquette and passenger safety.
The taxis are often lined along Walmart and Costco areas of Los Cabos.
Is Cabo San Lucas safer than Cancun?
Both Cabo San Lucas and Cancun are safe.
The cities are part of Baja California Sur and Quintana Roo states which have level 2 travel advisory warnings making them relatively safe for travel.
Final Thoughts
So, is it safe to travel to Cabo, Mexico? The simple answer is that Cabo San Lucas is safe for travel.
It is a popular destination for travelers and vacationers and is one of the best places for Mexico travel adventures. Rest assured that Cabo, Mexico is a safe place where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy some whale watching on the best beaches.
However, keep in mind tourists must exercise caution and common sense precautions when exploring different parts of the city.
This means avoiding carrying lots of cash, wearing flashy jewelry, and walking at night.
Most crimes involve pickpocketing, and such precautions should keep tourists visiting Cabo San Lucas safe. Also, it would help if you looked out for harmful wild animals like snakes, which are common in the city during warm weather.
If swimming, keep wary of dangerous spots by checking the flags. Chileno Beach, Medano Beach, and Palmilla Beach are deemed the safest places to swim.
Overall, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, is a great place and a safe destination to start planning your next adventure.