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Tips for Safe Travel to Cabo San Lucas


John Zaremba, Leaf Group Updated January 26, 2018 Resorts and beaches make Cabo San Lucas a popular vacation destination. (Photo: cabo san lucas image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com )


Travel warnings and newspaper headlines can make travelers wary about leaving the country. Generally, though, travel to top tourist destinations like Cabo San Lucas is safe, so long as the traveler keeps aware of their surroundings and behaves with common sense. Be sure to check the State Department's latest travel warnings, but keep in mind governments tend to err on the side of caution. Check another country's assessment too. Reading the conclusions and advisories about Mexico by the Canadian government, for example, should help put the latest headlines in context.

Arrive By Air

The location of Cabo San Lucas 1,000 miles south of Tijuana, on the tip of the Baja peninsula, makes flights to the San Jose Del Cabo Airport the most convenient way of arriving. Depending on where you're coming from, you may be able to fly to Cabo directly or switch planes in Mexico City. Ferries from Mexico's mainland can take hours to cross the Sea of Cortez, and they operate not out of Cabo San Lucas but out of La Paz, about two hours to the north.

Pack Wisely

Avoid unforeseen trouble with customs and local authorities. All travelers to Mexico need a visa (provided on the plane) and a valid passport, or, if applicable, an alien registration card, Air NEXUS card or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner document. While authorities might not check your travel papers on the way out, they're certain to check them when you're returning, according to the U.S. Department of State. Those without proper documents may be detained.

If you travel with prescription medications, bring copies of those prescriptions and only enough medication to last the duration of your stay. Mexican authorities can arrest a traveler if they suspect the person is carrying more medicine than they need for several days' use.

If you have traveled with firearms previously, double check your luggage before packing to see that it contains no gun paraphernalia whatsoever; Mexican authorities can detain you for bringing so much as a bullet into the country, according to the State Department. Even carrying a pocketknife can result in legal trouble for travelers arrested for a separate offense.


Pickpocketing is the most common street crime in Cabo San Lucas. The area does not see a lot of violent or drug-related crimes, however, these are possible anywhere. Tourists should always use caution when traveling, regardless of the destination.

Traffic presents one of the biggest dangers to tourists in Cabo, according to Cabo Source. Pedestrians should use caution while crossing the streets, as some drivers are fast and aggressive. Pedestrians also should observe the condition of the sidewalks to avoid trips and falls; sidewalks may have cracked and uneven surfaces or holes where the covers for water access have been removed.

Don't carry excess cash, leave bags unattended, or flash valuables. Keep your wallet and phone in a front zippered pocket, and carry your camera or purse close to your body. Those unused to Mexico's water should drink bottled or treated water to avoid stomach upset.

Behave Yourself

Cabo San Lucas has a reputation as a raucous party town. Don't become a criminal yourself; while Cabo's party atmosphere might make you believe anything goes, that's not the case.

Mexican authorities do not tolerate excessive drinking and disorderly behavior. It is illegal to disturb the peace, act in a lewd or indecent way, litter, drive drunk, drink on the streets or on public transportation, or make foul or insulting remarks to others. It is extremely risky to buy or use illegal drugs in a foreign country. The penalties for drug possession and use in Mexico are especially severe – authorities can hold you for a year before your case is even tried.

Avoid Pacific Swimming

Swim at your hotel pool or on the eastern side of the peninsula. Cabo's beaches and Pacific waters are beautiful and blue, but they're also dangerous. Riptides and rogue waves have drowned even the strongest open-water swimmers, and have even knocked over people standing in ankle deep water. Melia's Paradisus Los Cabos is an exception as it has a swimmable beach. Obey all beach warning signs and advice from officials.

The State Department also advises caution in renting water vehicles, as many fleets are poorly kept and under-insured. Read rental contracts carefully, and ask the rental company to explain clearly what you may and may not do. Use such vehicles cautiously; you can be arrested and detained if you damage someone else's property.







Zaremba, John. "Tips for Safe Travel to Cabo San Lucas." Travel Tips - USA Today, https://traveltips.usatoday.com/tips-safe-travel-cabo-san-lucas-1408.html. 26 January 2018.
Zaremba, John. (2018, January 26). Tips for Safe Travel to Cabo San Lucas. Travel Tips - USA Today. Retrieved from https://traveltips.usatoday.com/tips-safe-travel-cabo-san-lucas-1408.html
Zaremba, John. "Tips for Safe Travel to Cabo San Lucas" last modified January 26, 2018. https://traveltips.usatoday.com/tips-safe-travel-cabo-san-lucas-1408.html



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