Planning a trip to Cabo, an issue that’s top of mind for many travelers is the safety of their destination. And it’s not exactly surprising. With the picture painted of Mexico by the media, travel here can look pretty bleak. In contrast, the millions of visitors on the ground have little else but great things to say about their destination. So which version of Cabo is true? And how safe is Cabo in 2023? Here’s your concise guide to safety in Cabo, from a practical outlook of what to expect to quick and easy tips on how to stay safe and have an unforgettable experience—in all the best ways!
Table of Contents
- What Is the U.S. State Department Travel Advisory for Cabo in 2023?
- Is Cabo San Lucas Safe for Tourists?
- Crime in Cabo
- Is It Safe to Travel Around Cabo at Night?
- What Should I Be Careful of in Cabo?
- Ready to Travel to the Land of Sunshine and Sea? Next Vacay Will Take You There
What Is the U.S. State Department Travel Advisory for Cabo in 2023?
If you want to know if a place is safe to travel to, including Cabo, then one of the best and first places to check is the U.S. State Department’s travel advisory.
The U.S. State Department gives destinations a travel advisory level depending on the social and political climate of the region. The four levels advise travelers considering visiting a destination how cautious they should be when visiting or if they should reconsider traveling altogether.
For Baja California Sur, where Cabo San Lucas is located, the travel advisory is listed at level 2, warning travelers to exercise increased caution. Level 2 is one of the lowest advisory levels and generally means the region is safe to travel. While you’ll want to remain extra alert, travel is one hundred percent open. There are no restrictions for the destination of Baja California Sur, meaning it’s safe to visit Cabo San Lucas, San Jose Del Cabo, and La Paz.
Is Cabo San Lucas Safe for Tourists?
Cabo is safe for tourists who exercise a normal amount of caution, stay in vetted accommodations, and stick to the well-trafficked zones. As with any destination, it’s best to avoid being alone at night or getting overly intoxicated. But generally, it’s agreed that Cabo San Lucas, San Jose Del Cabo, and the Tourist Corridor, which connects the two cities, are the safest places in the Los Cabos municipality.
It’s helpful to remember that when it comes to dangers tourists face in Cabo, you’re at much greater risk of harm from driving or swimming than from violent crime.
Is Cabo Safe for Families?
Cabo is a popular tourist destination that has seen countless families visit year after year, many of them without encountering a single problem. From family-friendly, all-inclusive resorts in Cabo to fun, family-friendly excursions like whale watching on a pirate ship, Cabo has made itself a family-focused destination.
Is Cabo Safe for Solo Travelers?
Cabo is absolutely safe for travelers going it solo. But that doesn’t mean solo travelers shouldn’t take some precautions when traveling to Cabo, just as they would going to any other destination. Being alert to petty crimes and dangerous situations in the area can help you stay safe when traveling alone.
For travelers who decide to visit Cabo solo, here are some quick and helpful tips for staying safe:
- Learn common, handy phrases in Spanish.
- Share your travel itinerary with friends and family, and keep in touch.
- Avoid traveling around alone at night.
- Enroll in the U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
Crime in Cabo
Cabo is a big tourist city, and it’s getting bigger. So, it’s no surprise that crime is present here as it is in many major tourist cities worldwide. However, because tourism is a big part of the economy, the local government has invested time, money, and energy to ensure Cabo remains safe for visitors.
Of course, severe and petty crimes still exist, and knowing the potential dangers before traveling is essential to staying safe in Cabo.
Drug Cartels in Cabo San Lucas
Drugs, and drug cartels, are a main concern for many travelers considering a vacation to Mexico. And indeed, a lot of the violent crime in Cabo and Baja California Sur in the past several years has had to do with drug cartels. But it’s also true that much of this violence doesn’t affect tourists directly.
In fact, the best way to avoid violent crimes is not to buy drugs or participate in drug-related activities while in Cabo.
Of course, that doesn’t always guarantee that drug-related crime won’t affect you during your vacation. Looking at tragedies that have recently occurred in other tourist hotspots in Mexico, drug and gang-affiliated violence can spill into tourist zones, and tourists can get caught up in the crossfire.
In the end, it’s a risk assessment. The reality for many tourists visiting Cabo is that violent or drug-related crime won’t be a factor at all; it’s why, when questioned, many visitors consider Cabo to be a safe destination. In general, you’re much more likely to get scammed at the airport or have your valuables stolen than you are to get caught up in any organized crime in Cabo.
Scams in Cabo
Speaking of scams, Cabo has its fair share, which isn’t particularly unexpected. Every big tourist destination has its scams and people willing to make a quick buck off of travelers who are naive to their schemes. If you’ve traveled before, you’ve likely encountered many of the scams that occur in Cabo, from hustlers at the airport to pickpockets in crowded thoroughfares.
However, just because they’re old tricks doesn’t mean the local government in Cabo doesn’t take them seriously. It’s looking to launch a new digital tourist directory to combat some of these crimes by guiding tourists to verified and reputable services. It’s another way the local government is hoping to keep tourists safe while they’re in Cabo.
The 4 Most Common Scams in Cabo and How to Avoid Them
The best way to avoid scams wherever you’re traveling is to stay alert and know which are most prevalent at your destination. Here’s a quick breakdown of the biggest scams in Cabo:
1. Street Games
Stalls invite unsuspecting passersby to participate in unwinnable gambles or put on shows to distract while accomplices steal their valuables.
How to Avoid: Don’t participate in street gambling, and ensure all valuables on your person are safely stored.
2. “Bar Friends”
Scammers will approach tourists in bars under the guise of friendship and lead them to another bar, with whom they’re typically partners, where their marks will be overcharged for drinks. As if this wasn’t bad enough, tourists are sometimes taken to an ATM to withdraw money if they don’t have enough cash on hand to pay.
How to Avoid: If invited to another bar by strangers, ask for a drink menu when you arrive to ensure you’re not overcharged for drinks. Or, suggest a bar you know and feel comfortable with instead, and you can avoid this situation entirely.
3. Broken Camera
A scammer will ask a passing tourist to take a picture with their camera. Then, when it’s handed back, they’ll purposefully drop it and accuse the tourist of damaging it.
How to Avoid: Politely decline requests to take photos unless you know they’re another tourist.
4. Taxi Overcharges
Drivers will purposefully take the long way to get you to your destination, thereby running up the meter, or charge more than their standard rates.
How to Avoid: Check how long the route is ahead of time and request to start the meter any time you get in a taxi. This way, you can get a rough estimate and compare the journey to how long it should take.
Is Cabo Safer Than Mexico?
Cabo San Lucas is located in Baja California Sur, a state in Mexico. With that said, it is a relatively safe part of the country. According to a recent poll by INEGI, it’s considered the safest of Mexico’s popular tourist destinations, ranking higher than Puerto Vallarta and Cancun.
Perspective: Cabo Safety vs. Major US Cities
Like any other country in the world, Mexico has places that are safe to travel to and places that are best avoided. But when considering the safety of Cabo, it might help to put the question of how safe it is in Cabo into perspective. To do that, we can compare it to the US.
Looking at the most violent cities in the world, Mexico has its fair share, but travelers can take comfort in knowing that Cabo is not among them. Cabo is noticeably absent from the top 50 most violent cities in the world. Want to guess as to what cities do make an appearance?
St. Louis, Baltimore, Detroit, and New Orleans all make the list, with 60.59 homicides per 100,000 people, down to 36.87 homicides per 100,000 people. Yet despite these numbers, all four cities remain safe to travel and host major events that see hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Even Cancun, arguably the most visited city in Mexico, appears on this same list. Considering it just made history in 2022 with over 30 million tourists, its popularity seems unlikely to decrease anytime soon.
Is It Safe to Travel Around Cabo at Night?
Traveling around at night isn’t inherently dangerous. Still, it provides some risks, the same as it does in any major city. That risk goes up when you’re drinking. So, if you’re out late at night, don’t get overly intoxicated and try sticking with a group. Travelers, especially women, shouldn’t wander off on their own. When heading back to your hotel for the evening, it may be advisable to take a taxi rather than walk back.
What Should I Be Careful of in Cabo?
Rather than worrying about dangerous neighborhoods or criminal activity, the biggest things to be careful of in Cabo are protecting your belongings and paying attention to safety warnings. Taking care of your valuables, heeding signs prohibiting swimming at certain beaches, and avoiding driving at night are the best ways to stay safe in Cabo.
Personal Safety: Helpful Tips for Staying Safe in Cabo
Want to know the secret to staying safe while on vacation in Cabo? Practicing common sense protections is all it takes to ensure you’re as safe traveling in Cabo as you would be traveling anywhere else in the world.
- Don’t display expensive items in public. Whether it’s your laptop or a precious necklace, Cabo isn’t the place to flaunt your wealth or display priceless items.
- Keep your valuable documents at the hotel. Things like your passport and travel insurance are important documents you don’t want to lose, so don’t carry them on your person. If needed, make copies and put those in a secure travel bag while out and about.
- Don’t carry lots of cash. You’ll want some cash on hand, but try to carry small amounts and avoid flashing your cash publicly as much as possible.
- Avoid driving at night. There are almost NO lights outside the city, and the risk of encountering animals on the road is high.
- Make sure your phone is charged. In an emergency, you’ll need your phone to pull up a translator, contact help, etc. If possible, carry a backup charger when you go out.
- Stick to group excursions. Even if you’re traveling alone, it’s best to join excursions with a group or one other traveler in case of an emergency.
- Stay up-to-date on the latest news and government alerts. Depending on your travel plans, sign up for emergency weather alerts to warn of inclement weather, especially if you travel during hurricane season, and get government alerts through an app like STEP.
- Trust your instincts. No matter how things appear on the surface, heed your gut and remove yourself from a situation if you don’t feel comfortable.
Drinking Water Safety in Cabo
You may wonder if it’s safe to drink the water in Cabo. Unfortunately, while the water found here is pure, the pipes that carry it into the city often contaminate it. Consequently, it’s best to avoid drinking water directly from the pipes. Instead, you can opt for agua purificada (purified water) from your resort and restaurants to minimize the chances of getting sick.
Beach Safety in Cabo San Lucas
Thanks to Cabo’s location on the Pacific Coast, many of the beaches in Los Cabos aren’t safe to swim. Though if you’re looking to have a luxury stay in Cabo, there are plenty of swimmable beach resorts to put you right by the safest beaches.
Thankfully, many of the beaches are well-marked via a system of colored flags warning travelers when swimming conditions are safe or unsafe. Visitors can brush up on their beach flag knowledge to ensure they avoid unsafe beaches and stick to the swimming-friendly beaches, most located along the Sea of Cortez.
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