Is it Safe to Travel to Cabo San Lucas? Cabo Safety Tips
So you’d like to plan a trip to Los Cabos, Mexico.
But before you get too jazzed about going, you want to know: Is it safe to travel to Cabo San Lucas?
The short answer, in our view, is “yes.”
As regular visitors to Cabo for the past 20+ years, we’ve never hesitated to go to Los Cabos and never experienced any safety concerns.
But for a more thoughtful answer – including crime, health and safety stats, plus tips to help you stay safe – here’s our guide to safety in Cabo San Lucas (and all of Los Cabos).
Contents: Is Cabo, Mexico, safe to visit?
Is it safe to travel to Cabo, Mexico? Travel warnings
Let’s start with advice from the very top – the U.S. State Department. Go here to see if there’ any specific Cabo San Lucas travel advisory for the time you plan to travel.
You might also want to check the Canadian government’s Mexico travel advisory. Canada has a less complicated relationship with Mexico, so its Mexico travel warnings are sometimes not as harsh.
Travel advisory levels
There are 4 levels of travel advisories issued by both the U.S. and Canada (and they’re roughly equivalent) for various places around the world:
- Level 1 – Take normal security precautions
- Level 2 – Exercise increased caution
- Level 3 – Reconsider travel
- Level 4 – Do not travel
What you’ll find is that, in general, Los Cabos hovers in the Level 2 safety category – meaning “exercise increased caution.” (Sometimes the U.S. warning is Level 3.)
The Los Cabos area (aka “Cabo”) includes the resort towns of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, along with the Tourist Corridor (the 20-mile stretch of coastline connecting the two towns).
How should you interpret the “Level 2” flag?
To put things in perspective, some other Level 2 travel destinations (according to the U.S. State Department) include the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and Belgium.
But you probably wouldn’t be scared to travel to Belgium right now, would you?
What about Italy? Would its Level 2 advisory scare you away from all that scrumptious pizza and pasta in Italy?
Cabo San Lucas crime
Thousands upon thousands of visitors flock to Cabo each month to soak up the sun, watch whales, golf, party at rockin’ beach clubs and generally have an epic time.
The stats
Almost 4 million tourists visited Cabo in 2024.
Most are American. (According to the Los Cabos Tourism Board, between January and July, 2024, a whopping 91% came from the United States.)
Canadians are also flocking south in record numbers – making up about 12.5% of all visitors in early 2025.
Bottom line? Pretty well everyone who visits Cabo enjoys their vacation without incident (except maybe for the occasional sunburn and hangover from the wickedly good Mexican margaritas).
Reports of crime
Yes, you’ll hear the odd report of petty crime – pickpocketing, credit card fraud and the like.
But these things can happen anywhere you travel. Your chances of being robbed or mugged in Cabo are actually miniscule.
As for violent crime in the region, it’s mostly tied to drug trafficking and doesn’t affect tourists.
You might have heard, for example, that in April, 2025, both Canada and the U.S. issued a visitor security alert after reports of neighborhood shootouts, three buses being set on fire in La Paz and Los Cabos, and attacks that killed four police and narcotics officers.
Authorities responded swiftly to boost security, and the advisory has since been lifted. Cabo is once again considered safe and welcoming to tourists.
Is Los Cabos safe from drug cartels?
We all know about Mexico’s cartel issues.
But most of that violence is concentrated in towns near the U.S. border – in cities like Ciudad Juarez (across from El Paso, Texas) and Tijuana – both far from Cabo.
Ciudad Juarez is over 600 miles away, in the state of Chihuahua. Tijuana is in the state of Baja California – the northern half of the Baja California Peninsula.
Cabo, meanwhile, is in Baja California Sur – the southern half of the peninsula, and a world apart.
Also, cartels tend to avoid tourist areas. Hurting tourists is bad for business, and they know tourism brings vital dollars to Mexico.
In summary: As a tourist in Cabo, your risk of encountering drug-related violence is very low.
Cabo San Lucas murders
If you Google Cabo’s murder rate, you might choke on your tequila. Older reports once pegged Los Cabos as having one of the world’s highest per capita murder rates.
But those headlines are outdated.
In 2024, cities like Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez still made the list of most dangerous cities in the world by murder rate. Cabo did not.
Of course, it’s smart to do your own risk assessment about Mexican safety.
But based on our experience – and that of most visitors who stick to the main resort areas – Cabo feels very safe.
More information: The U.S. Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council is a good source for keeping tabs on criminal activity in Mexico and specific regions.
Beach patrols
To keep things safe, police and even military personnel often patrol key tourist areas (hello Medano Beach!) especially during peak travel times like winter holidays and spring break.
Feeling safe
Exit surveys show that most tourists feel perfectly safe in Cabo.
Us too – we’ve never felt unsafe here. (Mind you, we don’t really go anywhere outside of the tourist areas.)
Oh, wait, those beach patrols? Armed officers strolling Medano Beach are meant to be reassuring. But we always chuckle – they look a bit too serious. (Maybe that’s just us!)
Safe areas of Cabo
Stick to the well-trodden tourist zones, and you’re unlikely to run into any issues. (Check out our post on recommended areas to stay in Los Cabos.)
Safe areas include:
- Downtown Cabo San Lucas (including the Marina)
- Medano Beach
- Resort areas on the Pacific Side of Cabo San Lucas
- Pedregal
- The Tourist Corridor
- Tourist areas of San Jose del Cabo
Insider tip: Thinking of walking somewhere off the beaten path? Always check with your resort or a local first.
We once tried to walk to The Glass Factory – not realizing the neighborhood is sketchy. (Locals told us it’s an area where drug deals sometimes go down.) Most visitors get there by vehicle (Uber, taxi, rental car or on a tour), which is the way to go.
The factory itself is secure and totally fine once you’re inside the gates, but walking there isn’t a good idea.
Is Cabo San Lucas safe at night?
Generally speaking, both Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo are safe after dark. That is, so long as you use common sense – like not wandering down dark alleys or taking drinks from strangers.
That said, if you’re out enjoying Cabo’s nightlife (and having more than a couple of cocktails), a few simple precautions go a long way:
- Pace yourself with the drinks (and know your limit).
- Never leave your drink (alcoholic or otherwise) unattended.
- If you have to walk outside of the main tourist areas to get back to your hotel, take a taxi or Uber.
(We cover this in more detail in the section below on Other Cabo Safety Tips.)
How safe is Cabo for driving?
As for getting around in Los Cabos, we don’t like to drive on the main highways outside of Cabo at night. If we’ve rented a car for a day trip to Todos Santos or La Paz, we like to return before it’s dark.
The reason is not because we’re afraid of getting car-jacked or kidnapped.
We’re more afraid of the cows! They’re known to wander out on the roads at night. And they’re a serious car accident hazard.
We also don’t like driving after dark during Christmas and on New Year’s Eve. There are too many partiers out on the roads, and drinking and driving spells trouble.
The same is true for driving early in the morning on New Year’s Day. Both locals and visitors are known to still have alcohol in their bloodstream – and to still be inebriated.
Is Cabo safe health-wise?
You’ll want to be up-to-date on all your routine vaccines (including flu, Hepatitis A and Covid) when traveling to Cabo. This is a standard precaution for traveling anywhere.
The latest recommendations: See the CDC’s travel health notices for travel health notices for Mexico.
Food and drinking water
Is the tap water safe to drink in Cabo?
In short: “No” stick to bottled water. At resorts, “house” water (which is purified or filtered) is also fine.
Read this: We’ve written a separate guide on drinking water in Cabo – including what’s safe when it comes to ice, brushing your teeth and more. Check it out for all the details.
Is it safe to eat raw fruit and salads in Cabo?
Tucking into the local cuisine – like Cabo’s mouthwatering shrimp and fish tacos – is part of the fun! This includes sampling fresh fruits and vegetables too
Fruits with a thick peel or rind, like bananas and oranges, are always safe to eat. And in our experience, apples, grapes and other store-bought produce have never caused us any trouble either.
We’ve also happily eaten fresh salads in restaurants without issue.
When preparing food ourselves in our vacation condo, we rinse fruits and veggies with boiled (then cooled) or bottled water.
If you have stomach sensitivities or want to play it totally safe, you could stick to eating just cooked vegetables (no salad) when dining in restaurants.
Beach safety in Los Cabos
Los Cabos is known for its beautiful beaches. But not all of them are safe and swimmable.
You can’t swim on many of the beaches due to dangerous rip tides and rogue waves. Be sure you know which are the safe swimming beaches in Cabo before you put your toes in!
Want to swim in the sea at your resort? Book accommodation on a swimmable beach.
Learn the colored flag system
Many beaches use a colored flag system to update beach-goers on how the current conditions are for swimming safety.
Flag colors range from black, red, yellow and green:
- Black is the most dangerous.
- Green is safe.
Blue flags may also be used to indicate safe swimming conditions and really clean water.
Look for a lifeguard on duty
Not all beaches have a lifeguard on duty, but some will for an extra layer of safety.
Watch the waves
Rogue waves sometimes wash up on the beach and have been known to sweep people out to sea.
Be sure to look for any posted warning signs on the beach to alert for these. And when walking along the beach, always keep an eye on the waves.
Protect against sunburn
Don’t be a lobster!
The sun burns hotter in Mexico than it does in more northern climates. Slap on sunscreen (and re-apply often) and wear protective clothing like rash guards, hats and sunglasses.
Stay hydrated
It’s easy to get caught up in the fun of being out in the sun and surf – and to forget about drinking some water.
Make sure you’re taking plenty of water breaks to prevent dehydration.
The same goes for your four-legged friend. If traveling with your dog, make sure they also drink water when playing on the beach.
Other Cabo San Lucas safety tips
1) Get travel insurance
Whether you’re an adventurous traveler or a more chill and relaxed visitor, travel insurance coverage is a must-have whenever you’re traveling.
Insurance is available not only for canceled flights and lost luggage, but also for your medical expenses if you end up getting sick on your trip.
Tips: See what travel insurance your credit card offers.
Also check out SafetyWing. If you travel often to Cabo, it may work for you, as their insurance is designed for frequent travelers (as well as digital nomads).
2) Leave valuables at home
You don’t need to stress about flashing your diamond ring at most resorts or touristy restaurants in Cabo. And you’re not likely to get mugged on the streets.
But accidents and thefts can happen, just like anywhere else.
So if you’re not going to wear it 24/7, consider leaving the expensive bling (especially irreplaceable heirloom jewelry) at home, where it’s truly safe.
We’re often a bit too relaxed ourselves – leaving laptops, cameras, GoPros and the like out in our timeshare condo when heading to the pool or to an outside restaurant. Thankfully, nothing’s gone missing (we trust the staff!).
But really, it’s smarter to tuck away your tech and valuables out of sight. Just in case…
We learned the hard way. Janice once had her Apple Watch and charger stolen from a hotel room in Cabo San Lucas. So yes, it can happen.
3) Take group tours
Exploring what there is to do is part of the fun!
Traveling with a group adds strength in numbers and will make it harder to be the victim of a crime. Try some of our favorite group tours, like:
- This kayaking tour to Lover’s Beach and the Arch
- One of Cabo’s best sunset cruises
- This top-notch food and taco tasting tour
- This fun tequila tasting tour
4) Keep a copy of your passport separate from the originals
Your passport is your ticket back home, quite literally.
It’s best to put it in your room safe (along with your other valuables like jewelry).
Make sure to keep a copy in a separate safe place, so that if something happens to the original, you’ll still have access to the copy. It can help when it comes time to getting a replacement passport.
5) Don’t walk alone at night
While the tourist areas of Cabo are safe, it’s still important to exercise caution and use your noggin.
Walking alone at night in any city can make you more susceptible to crime. It’s preferable to travel with at least one other person at night. Take a taxi or Uber if you need to get somewhere by yourself.
6) Be extra careful when drinking
Alcohol lowers your inhibitions and decreases your awareness of your surroundings.
Enjoy that margarita and Mexican beer, but do so with caution, especially if you’re outside your resort.
- Go to bars and lounges with a friend or travel companion.
- Know your limits and never accept a drink from a stranger.
- Avoid setting your drink down for long, and if you’re worried someone could have tampered with your drink, ask for a new one.
7) Use bug spray to prevent mosquito bites and tropical diseases
We personally rarely have a problem with mosquitoes in Cabo. So we confess we don’t use bug spray, except perhaps when going out for things like ziplining or hiking in the countryside.
But be aware there’s a remote possibility of contracting the Zika virus or Dengue fever from mosquitoes in the area.
Last words on “Is it safe to travel to Cabo San Lucas?”
We’ve traveled to Cabo San Lucas for years and have always felt safe in the resort areas and main tourist spots.
Yes, like anywhere, there are things to be mindful of – petty crime, driving hazards, food safety.
But Cabo is actually a whole lot safer than many other places we’ve visited in Mexico and beyond.
Use common sense, take a few smart precautions and you’re sure to have a fabulous time. Chances are, you’ll be dreaming about your next trip back before you even leave!
More Cabo trip planning tips
- Essential Tips for Planning Your Cabo Trip
- The Best (and Worst!) Time to Go to Cabo
- Can You Safely Drink the Tap Water in Cabo?
- Renting a Car in Cabo
- What to Pack for Your Visit to Cabo
- 8 Ways to Get Around in Cabo: From the Bus to Uber
- How Much to Budget For Cabo
- 15 Cool Cabo Souvenirs (and Where to Buy Them)
Our favorite resources for planning a trip to Cabo
Resorts: Booking.com is great for scoring a “wow” hotel in Cabo – or at least a decent one. (We especially like their flexible cancellation policy!)
Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
Tours: For the best local guided tours in Cabo, see Viator and GetYourGuide.
Car rental: Renting a car in Los Cabos is one of the best ways to explore. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the best rates.
Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation and travel security.
Need more help?
- See our Start here page. It lists everything we’ve written on Cabo.
- Also check our Ultimate Cabo travel guide and our article on Planning your Cabo vacation: Essential tips.
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About the authors
