Last Updated on March 19, 2020
Are you planning a trip to Los Cabos and have some last minute doubts on the safety topic?
Keep calm because we will walk you through it, and explain all you need to know to help you make the best choice.
Lately, there have been a lot of information out there related to safety in Los Cabos, the most concerning one come from last year’s U.S State Department’s México travel warning due to some violent incidents that occurred in the region, but hold on! There is no need to worry, since most of the information online appears out of context.
So we will go through the facts that you really need to know before traveling to Cabo, plus we will give you some extra tips to make your trip as safe and pleasant as possible.
What you really need to know
Crime rates in Cabo San Lucas are lower than in the Mexican border region; in fact, it is one of the safest spots in México. However, it has not been exempt from certain violent incidents during the last couple of years.
Last year from January to mid-July, the number of deaths rose to 159, which is why on August the United States issued a new travel warning for Mexico.
It is important to acknowledge that such incidents were related to drug gangs in México, and that all deaths have happened out in the tourist areas.
According to the Director of Los Cabos Tourism Board, Rodrigo Esponda,
The violence and shootings have not been anywhere near the tourist areas. Overall the destination of Los Cabos is perfectly safe. Thousands of tourists have been arriving every day. In the first half of this year, Los Cabos Airport has experienced a 19.9% increase in passengers. This would not be happening if Los Cabos wasn’t safe.
If anything the past violent events brought up a positive response from the Mexican authorities, and even from the private sector, who have done an extraordinary job turning down the rise of violence in Los Cabos.
The location has received over $46 million from government and private sources to support security. About 190 federal police have arrived this year to patrol the area. The private sector has invested more than $7 million to finance supplemental police training, provide equipment and operate security cameras in the whole town.
Plus now tourists can access help and support 24/7, 365 days a year in Cabo’s new CATAC offices (Tourist Assistance Centre) which is located at the Cabo San Lucas Marina.
It is necessary to clear all this information up so that future visitors really know what is going on, and realize how important their safety and full enjoyment is for everyone in Los Cabos.
And, why is that it is so important?
Well, obviously nobody wants more crime in Los Cabos, neither this beautiful place to be related with crime or murder. Instead people want it to keep being noticed for its warm and exciting vibe which makes it a must for everyone’s Travel Bucket List.
But the main reason why safety is such an important issue is because tourism is a lifestyle in Los Cabos. Without tourists, there would be nothing there since the destination was built from scratch with the purpose of bringing luxury and comfort to tourists.
Also, the determination of maintaining Los Cabos as a safe destination for tourists goes beyond local interests; the federal, state and municipal governments have invested economic interests in maintaining safety, and this is shown in all the extra support they have already brought into Cabo.
The truth is that…
Alongside with the new safety measures, tourism in Cabo keeps on growing.
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- More new hotels have been announced to open in the next three years, many of them luxury hotels, including Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and Montage Los Cabos.
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- Cabo’s golf courses, hotels, and resorts, continue to win prestigious tourism and travel awards.
- The construction of a second international airport that will be located in Cabo San Lucas is underway; its Initial capacity will be for one million passengers.
These facts only demonstrate the effort they have put in overcoming from any situation that can make tourists feel unsafe.
Remember that:
When you are visiting a foreign country, what’s truly important is that you enjoy every minute of your trip without having to worry about your safety at all.
Here are some safety concerns to keep in mind before the party
Yes, you heard me well, if you go ahead with your trip, get ready to party because the word Cabo stands as synonym for Fiesta; if you are looking forward to spend some awesome time in Los Cabos, it is your first time here, and still feel a little concern, listen to this:
Once you arrive, all you got to do is having the same precautions as if you were in your own city (some people tend to forget about this when they are on vacation).
Besides that, we recommend you to take into account the next safety tips which will keep you away from any risky situation, trust me!
Best safety tips that will get you ready to rock Los Cabos
Watch out with the waves
Although Cabo is known for its pacific crystal clear waters, sometimes they can be a little bit dangerous.
Some beaches of the city have very powerful reptiles and large waves.
It is possible to cool off swimming in the Sea of Cortez, at Lover’s Beach or in the bay.
As long as you adhere to the local restrictions, like the use of black flags as a reminder for visitors to stay out of the water, you will be safe. Ocean conditions may vary so just be alert.
Always party safe
Nightlife in Cabo gives you plenty of choices to have fun, here are some of the hottest spots: Cabo Wabo Cantina, Nowhere Bar, Giggling Marlin, and The Office, just to name a few. Of course tequila is the first one invited to the party, and when it gets in the way things can get a little out of control.
Usually when there are irregular situations in Cabo (Fights, accidents, arrests, crimes), alcohol is involved with it, so to avoid all that, keep this in mind:
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- Always travel in a group at night.
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- Don’t go too far from the crowded places.
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- Avoid accepting drinks from strangers or leaving your drink unattended when you are at the club.
- It is advisable that you plan in advance how to return back to your hotel so that you don’t have to walk back to the hotel while you are intoxicated.
Although it is completely safe to walk around either city (San jose del Cabo, or Cabo San Lucas) at night, with the police patrolling constantly.
Choose wisely what you ingest
Los Cabos is best known for its rich gastronomic culture, including dishes that you cannot miss like “Tamales Fajados”.
But when we are talking about health, it’s better to play safe and be a little bit extra careful with what you ingest. Nobody likes feeling sick during vacation, right?
Some of the traditional spicy Mexican food might not be too good for your stomach, so avoid consuming foods you are not used to in big amounts; another useful advice that is going to help your stomach prevent upsets, is eating yogurt in the mornings, you welcome!
Cabo is also known for having a variety of food trucks where food is cheaper and good; just make sure they have the basic sanitary conditions before you try them.
Also, drink only bottled or purified water while in Cabo San Lucas, and wash your hands regularly to avoid developing any bacteria, especially if you have stomach issues. There have been cases of people who have sensitive stomachs and not do well from eating food that carried some sort of bacteria.
If you prefer, bring with you any meds that you think you might need, although you will find pharmacies on every block in case that you do have stomach issues during your stay.
Stay away from drugs
As mentioned before, most of the criminal activity in Mexico occurs with people who are involved with drug gangs.
Although some Americans are known for going to the south of the border to have a little fun, remember that it is illegal to buy, sell, possess or use, and the last thing you want do is to finish the party earlier and end up prisoner abroad. So stay away from cocaine, weed, and any kind of drugs.
Check the weather before your trip
Los Cabo’s weather is relatively nice and warm throughout the year since it has a tropical desert climate. But (There’s always a but) it also has hurricane season from August to October, meaning that you could get caught in the middle of a storm.
In order to avoid having to cancel your outdoor plans because of a storm, schedule your trip from May to June which is the best time to visit Cabo, considering the weather (and lower prices); the springtime weather is comfortable with temperatures around the mid-80s.
Avoid the risk of losing your valuables and documents
Keep a copy of your important documents with you
Losing your passport and visa could cause you some serious trouble at airport immigration, keeping those safe will keep you safe; so instead of carrying the originals, it’s always a good idea to keep a copy of your documents with you all the time. If anyone asks to see your documents (unlikely, but it could happen), show them the photocopy and explain that the originals are back at your hotel.
Try to leave valuables at home
I mean, if you really must have them with you, lock them in the hotel safe before heading into town. Try to carry only the necessary cash for the day, or credit cards you need while you’re out, also place your wallet in a front pocket, and keep an eye on your purse, especially when you are partying.
Remember that these are all just in case advices, nothing to be worried about.
Pick the best transportation service
Transportation and traffic are important subjects regarding safety in Los Cabos, especially at the moment you get outside the airport to go to your hotel, where you can run into the “Sharks”, people who harass you to offer and sell to you different services making you feel uncomfortable; to avoid all that, you need to pick wisely your means of transportation.
There are several ways of transportation you can use, the first one is public transportation which main mode is the Subercabos bus system, The bus works every day from 5:30 AM-10:00 PM, and it serves both, San Jose del Cabo, and Cabo San Lucas. The bus does not have specific stops; it offers a special service for tourists stopping wherever people request along the route. This service is also cheap, but sonce it is not a personalized service, it can be uncomfortable and exhausting, because of the length of the trip as well as the frequent requests for stops.
Your second option if you want a more private service is taking a taxi. You will find plenty outside the airport, but they are not cheap, the approximant cost is about $7 per mil, considering that it is a long ride from the airport to either city, it is not very advisable; besides the fact that it might be quite overwhelming to pick on which one to go, and not knowing if the prices are fair or not.
The third option you have is renting a car, and this one may not be so easy peasy. In Cabo locals have quite fame for its rapid driving style, and since you are not familiar with their particular style, neither with the roads, it could be the cause of accidents (in the worst case), or you might just get lost, and Google maps will come to the rescue.
The last transportation option you have is using a private transportation service which guarantees that you will have someone waiting for you inside of the airport which saves you from dealing with “the sharks”.
Another advantage is that you won’t have to overpay since you would have booked from home, and they usually have lower prices than taxis or shuttle services outside the airport.
A private transportation service assures that you’ll have a comfortable ride, and that you will get safe to your destiny. Booking a private transportation service is the best option, not only it’ll be good for the pocketbook but also to your wellbeing.
To help you chose the best one, here are some of the qualities that an airport transportation should have in Los Cabos:
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- Late-model vehicles that are clean and in good conditions which guarantee your comfort and safety wherever you go.
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- A responsible, punctual and trained staff that is waiting for you at the airport on time, regardless of whether your flight is delayed or not.
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- Personalized and friendly attention that will make you feel comfortable, remember that it is your first intercultural experience.
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- A certified company, in which you can trust, preferably recommended on trip advisor.
- A service with a competitive price.
You should know that not all the private services have these qualities, if you want a quality service, you should opt for the best in the area.
In most cases your safety depends on who you trust which is why when you are hiring any service, you must have extra caution, and always look for references first.
One of the best transportation services in Los Cabos is Viptransportationloscabos.com which is officially certified by trip advisor; one of their users commented:
“Always on time, courteous, and nice clean vans. We use this service each time we go to the San Jose/Cabo area at least twice a year. Their prices are very reasonable for what you get and I would highly recommend them.”
VIPtransportationloscabos takes passengers to and from airports, and around Cabo San Lucas; they are best known for having a high-quality service that makes their passengers feel comfortable and safe.
They give their clients a VIP treatment, the perfect start for the perfect trip.
VIPtransportation offers an exclusive and relaxing ride to hotel, so that you can be free of any worries and just seat back and enjoy the landscape.
Some of their advantages are:
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- They have reasonable prices, and a simple system of online booking and online payment.
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- They are very eager to make tourists feel like at home, giving their clients a worm welcome.
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- They offer a customized service which adapts to the client’s needs, because for them all of their customers are VIP.
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- They have a fleet of new and comfortable units, including SUV, van, minibus or bus 50 seats fleet in case you are thinking about having a BIG Cabo party.
- They count with a responsible work team, which will be right at the airport waiting for you with a sign that has your name on it.
This is the safest choice you can make concerning transportation. You can easily book here: https://www.viptransportationloscabos.com/ .
Now, to answer the question “Is it safe for tourists to travel to Los Cabos México?”
We give you a big fat Yes!
Los Cabos remains as a safe place for anyone who wants to visit and experience adventure, luxury, relaxation, party or all of them; it’s true that there is no other place with the same magic because besides the breathtaking landscapes, luxurious hotels and spas, and colonial streets with beautiful architecture, what makes people return year after year and fall in love with Los Cabos is its people, the warmth and hospitality of the Mexican people, which you can see in their smiles and attitude towards foreigners, showing how willing they are to welcome visitors and engage with them.
As I said before, tourism is a lifestyle in Los Cabos, and it will continue being that way as long as the conditions are given for visitors to feel free and safe to explore the beautiful location, and currently, they are! So you have nothing to worry about.
Sadly crime is spread all over the world and it has splashed over Cabo, but the authorities and local citizens keep on doing their best to make of Los Cabo a place as free of crime as possible.
And as they do their part, you have to do yours by preventing risky situations and taking care of yourself. Take into consideration that very rarely is there any violence or threat to personal safety and that the only thread you would have to be worried about is a heavy hangover.
If you follow all the previous pieces of advice on how to be safe in Los Cabos your trip should go smooth and without any trouble. So go ahead! Pack your bags, and don’t miss all the adventures Cabo has to offer starting with a VIP ride to your hotel.
Check this important video about Cabo:
Roberta Jacobson, U.S Ambassador: What a paradise!
