Is Cabo San Lucas Safe? 2024 Travel Safety Guide
Welcome to our Cabo San Lucas safety guide.
Cabo San Lucas (Cabo for short) is located within the Mexican state of Baja California Sur and is one of the most visited destinations in the country.
Cabo Quick Summary:
- 📍 Where is it: Northern Mexico
- 🗺 Difficulty Getting There: Easy
- ⏱ Time needed: 4+ days
- ☀️ Best Time to Visit: April/May
It’s well known for its lively scene, with a ton of hotels, restaurants and nightlife to choose from. It’s also home to some incredible Pacific beaches and a range of things to see and do.
Is Cabo San Lucas Safe?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you’ll need to know about Safety in Cabo as a backpacker or traveler to this are of Mexico.
We’ll look at all the different factors, our top safety tips, other useful information as well as an FAQ section where we answer your key questions.
Is Cabo Safe Right Now?
Quick Answer: Yes! With the large majority of tourists having a trouble-free experience, we can confirm that Cabo San Lucas is safe to visit right now.
There are a few areas to avoid and cautions to exercise (covered in this article), however in general Cabo is pretty safe for travel at this moment.
Where to Stay in Cabo San Lucas
You will find that Marina Fiesta Resort & Spa is one of the best value hotels in Cabo. It’s perfectly located next to the popular Medano Beach, which has a long stretch of pristine coast and is also close to the famous El Arco.
How to Get to Cabo San Lucas?
The easiest way to get to Cabo is to first fly to the San José del Cabo International Airport, which is located half an hour outside of the city.
It’s one of the best-connected airports in Mexico, with many incoming flights from the USA daily. Once here, you can then take a shuttle bus or taxi to Cabo.
Things to do in Cabo San Lucas
Cabo is home to many fun activities and awesome things to see. El Arco is one of the highlights, with the beautiful, rocky arch formation best seen on a boat tour as the sun begins to set.
Those who like hiking can head up to Cerro de la Zeta, which has the best views over Cabo and the surrounding Pacific Ocean.
There are plenty of beaches in Cabo to choose from.
Medano Beach is the best for water sports such as Jet Skiing as well as the launch point for boat tours, whilst Solmar and Divorce beach are much more relaxed and quiet.
Is Cabo Safe to visit?
Below we’ll take a look at the current safety situation in Cabo San Lucas.
Cabo San Lucas Mexico Travel Warnings
The state of Baja California Sur as a whole is one of the safest you can visit within Mexico. Within Cabo, there is currently very little risk of kidnapping or violence.
Petty crime is more common though, however, with pickpocketing and scams the major risks to tourists.
Crime in Cabo San Lucas
Within the touristy areas of Cabo (such as near the harbor and beaches), there is little crime and these areas are safe to walk around.
As you head towards Lázaro Cárdenas and a few blocks north, it’s still relatively safe where the majority of the restaurants and nightlife options are located. However, it would be best to leave valuables at home if heading here as pickpocketing has been reported.
Way further north into the Los Cabos Municipality (of which Cabo San Lucas is only a small part), it can get pretty unsafe, so it’s recommended to avoid these areas as much as possible.
Cabo Safety during the Day
Like most Mexican cities, safety is much higher during the day compared with the night.
You’ll be able to venture out further with less worry, and have no problems walking around the city center. If heading to the beach be sure to go with another friend, family member, or group if possible.
Unfortunately, a few solo travelers who took a dip in the sea came back to find less than what they had left, so take a few precautions like the above and this won’t happen to you.
Cabo Safety at Night
At night Cabo gets very busy, especially along the Lázaro Cárdenas street, with lots of nightclubs and bars open until the wee morning.
If dressing up to head out for the night, we recommend taking taxis to and from your accommodation and the venue. Avoid walking along the beaches at night, as there have been reports of pickpocketing and in rare cases assault.
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7 Safety Tips for Cabo San Lucas
Below we will list some safety tips for you to take into consideration before, during and after your trip to Cabo San Lucas.
1. Bring Lots of Sunscreen
Cabo is pretty hot most of the year, and as such, there’s always a risk of sunburn. Be sure to buy a good quality sunscreen like this one to keep your skin safe while outdoors.
2. Always look for Beach Flags
Swimming in the sea is a very popular activity to do in Cabo, and is a great way to cool off in the hot Mexican sun. Always check the flags to see which beaches are safe to swim in, as these can also change on a daily basis.
3. Be Wary of ATM Helpers
Recently a common scam has sprung up in most major cities in Mexico. A seemingly helpful local will try to assist you at an ATM machine, however, will have a Card Reader in their pocket which can take all of your card details rapidly. If approached, politely decline and walk away (of course with your card!).
4. Don’t Accept Random Drinks
This is pretty universal regardless of where you are but is always a good reminder. Cabo is a pretty fun place to be with lots of bars and clubs, so just remember this advice as well as to look after your own drinks.
5. Leave Valuables at the Accommodation
Whenever venturing out on a day trip, or even going for a short stroll, be sure to leave things like your car keys (if not needed), passport, important documents, jewellery etc locked up where you’re staying.
6. Carry a Spare Wallet
Keep this in a back pocket with just a little money inside. If you’re unfortunate to be robbed or held up, you can give this dummy wallet and get away safely.
7. Watch out for the local Fauna
Since Cabo has an arid desert climate, animals such as Scorpions and Snakes are known to be around the area, so always watch where you step.
Cabo Safety FAQ Guide:
Here we’ll take a look at the most frequent questions we get asked by our readers about safety in Cabo San Lucas.
Is Cabo San Lucas Safe? Final Words
And that’s all for our guide on how to stay safe in Cabo San Lucas.
This exotic, beachside city is one of the most popular for a visit in Mexico. It’s full of world-class beaches and entertainment, and as a result, has tons of international tourists arriving every year.
Most of these visits are trouble-free, with only the rare incident of pickpocketing or assault.
As long as you follow the advice here and from your local travel advisory, you’ll have a trouble-free and memorable stay.
In this guide, we’ve explored the current safety situation in Cabo, which includes the areas to avoid, as well as any current travel advisories.
As well as looking at what to do in Cabo and how to get there, we’ve also included our FAQ which answers your most burning questions.
While you’re still here, be sure to take time to read our action-packed Cabo backpacking itinerary and we hope you stay safe during your time here!
👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.
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