Following a fresh travel warning issued by U.S. authorities urging Americans to ‘Travel Smart‘ and be hyper-aware of their surroundings whenever they travel south of the border, there is one beach destination that stands out as a beacon of safety.
The new advice follows political instability across a number of states and rising levels of crime, but if it’s this trendy resort zone lining the azure Pacific Coast where you’re headed, you can put your worries to rest (at least in part).
Despite recent alerts, Los Cabos remains not only low-risk but the safest beach destination in the country, and this is why:
This Is Why Los Cabos Remains Perfectly Safe
The Mexican ‘Capes’ are the second most sought-after resort destination in Mexico in Cancun, and a celeb-frequented stretch of coast that’s attained global fame as a capital for wellness-based activities: it goes without saying crime is largely under control.
You may be wondering how exactly this is measured and, most importantly, how Cabo has managed to come out unscathed as other parts of Mexico experience growing instability.
Well, as the Cancun Sun reports, part of it has to do with its geographical location.
Hear us out:
Geography Plays An Important Part
What is the nearest major municipality you can think of that’s anywhere near Cabo, excluding the smaller towns at the southern tip of Baja California Sur and La Paz?
Probably Mexicali, a whole 755 miles away in the neighboring state of Baja California, which sits right on the U.S. border.
Mexicali is awash with gangs, but the only way to get to Cabo is by taking the trans-peninsular highway, probably one of the most heavily patrolled roads in Mexico.
Additionally, the nearest city on the Mexican mainland, opposite the Californian peninsula, is Mazatlan.
Mazatlan has also developed a reputation for being less safe, being placed on the high-risk Level 4 list, but it’s 223 miles on the opposite side of the Sea of Cortés, making it considerably more difficult for drug trafficking routes to be established.
The Area Is More Sparsely Populated
Baja California Sur itself is rather sparsely populated, and believe it or not, this is a safety-defining factor.
It is by no means a utopia, but based on the data available on urban safety, it is among the safest municipalities in Mexico.
When violence sees an uptick in other cities, it rarely spills into the solitary Capes.
Even if it were dragged into the usual turf wars, criminals would have to make it past the highly-surveilled roads, airports, and ferry ports to reach the heart of Cabo.
Additionally, the perception of safety offers us an insight into life in Cabo: based on consecutive INEGI-led researches, the Mexican equivalent to a National Institute of Statistics and Geography, close to 70% of locals feel safe in their place of residence.
The questionnaire varies every year, but it typically includes questions on whether they have experienced shootings, robbery, or been a witness to violent acts in the recent period.
A vast majority would have responded ‘no’, indicating tourists shouldn’t be overly worried themselves.
Police Officers Receive Extensive Training
City authorities have also ensured new officers are in for training on a regular basis and are able to access better, cutting-edge equipment, with 2 million dollars invested in upgrades and more cadets and policemen hired in 2024.
The addition of the National Guard has greatly contributed to a broader sense of security, too.
Despite their title, they in fact operate as a police service, combining federal, military and naval officers, and their white-camouflage uniforms are certainly no strange sight in Cabo’s bar district at night.
That’s not to say Cabo is crime-free – like any other popular tourist destination, crime can and will occur on occasion – but it takes place mostly in the form of pickpocketing and petty theft, as violence levels are largely kept under control, with flare-ups dealt with immediately.
So What’s Behind The U.S. Travel Advice?
The U.S. is no stranger to issuing travel warnings for some of the leading tourist destinations globally based on major developments that may pose security threats to American tourists or geopolitical events known to disturb peace.
Mexico is no exception, and as the number one vacation spot for U.S. citizens going abroad, and a neighboring country, it is most heavily scrutinized, with every Mexican state undergoing an individual safety assessment.
For example, different départements of France or administrative regions in Colombia are not viewed separately: both of these countries have advisories applicable nationwide, with a handful of footnotes denoting higher risk in specific provinces or cities.
Mexican states, on the other hand, are attributed to their own safety level, with Level 1 being the safest and 4 the least safe, and while these can change based on recent events, the ‘low-risk’ areas of Mexico have remained virtually unchanged over the years.
That is the case with Los Cabos and the wider state of Baja California Sur, which has consistently upheld its Level 2 status; in other words, safety concerns are considered ‘moderate’ here, contrary to other Level 3 states like Jalisco or Sinaloa.
When it comes to the Mexico-wide travel alert, unlike previous alerts issued for the Middle East or parts of South America, it reads more like a safety reminder than a significant update, and as long as Americans adhere to general safety protocols, they are under no significant risk.
These include:
- Avoiding walking alone at night in untouristy areas, particularly if they’re deserted and poorly lit
- Not carrying valuable items in public, such as expensive jewelry, especially outside resorts
- Keeping a close eye on personal belongings and never leaving items unattended at the beach
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