We all know Los Cabos is a tale of two cities.
You have Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, a pair of mouthfuls in more ways than one.
Known for its upscale all-inclusives, renowned restaurants, buzzing bars, pristine coastline, and the famous “arch”, it doesn’t matter which side you visit, you’re in for a treat.
As popular as Cabo has been over the years, breaking one tourism record after another, one key driver for its powerhouse status has long been safety — but that has suddenly taken a turn.
Mexico’s U.S. Embassy website just announced a security alert for San Jose del Cabo.
Had it been Puerto Vallarta, given the out-of-nowhere madness last winter — maybe that’s believable.
Cabo, though?
That’s a hard one to fathom, but here we are…
Multiple Incidents Haunt San Jose Del Cabo
The Embassy is reporting that the U.S. Consulate General Tijuana has confirmed multiple incidents where Cabo’s popular airport is located.
That’s right — the office based at the tip-top of Baja is warning travelers about trouble near its southernmost point.
But the data is real, nonetheless.
While the Embassy remained vague about exactly what went down near the airport, here is what they made clear:
There have been at least two documented incidents between obvious criminal organizations and law enforcement in the vicinity of the international airport terminal, where most U.S. and Canadian tourists arrive and depart.
Most notably, although these occurrences happened nearby, the Embassy states they were outside commonly visited tourist areas.
In other words, Sammy Hagar isn’t sweating right now.
An Odd Summer For Cabo
Here we are, a few days into June, but it’s already turning out to be a doozy of a summer for Cabo.
A destination used to being packed to the gills during the summer season, despite its notoriously high prices across the board, The Cabo Sun reported recently it’s not going to be another record-breaking summer for the always-popular beach destination.
In fact, some Cabo hotels are having trouble filling rooms.
Maybe it’s inflation, maybe travelers really are turning over new leaves in search of more authentic escapes like Ixtapa, for example, or maybe it’s a mix of both.
But there’s no denying an official security alert will add another bruise to what’s already been a rough stretch for Cabo’s once-untouchable reputation.
Should You Still Vacation Here?
On one hand, it’s one of the best times ever to visit Cabo since it’s a rare opportunity to avoid the usual crowds this time of year.
On the flip side, now that there are legitimate safety concerns, it might cue memories of what happened in Puerto Vallarta as mentioned previously, making travelers question whether the picture-perfect image of swim-up bars and infinity pools is really the safe haven it’s sold as after all.
Here’s what the Embassy says about that:
In their own words, “We encourage continued vigilance throughout Cabo San Lucas, and particularly around the airport”.
There’s nothing close to a “Do Not Visit” warning — just suggestions to remain vigilant and friendly reminders about airport transportation.
Ubers are allowed to drop off passengers at San Jose del Cabo International Airport, but no pickups are allowed.
Pickups are reserved for taxis.
Of course, any seasoned traveler knows of the “broken meter” trick, which is just one example why the Embassy encourages Americans to “Use clearly identifiable taxis with numbering and visible and readable license plates when departing the airport”.
Our Safety Index reports 4 incidents of scams, but travelers still feel safe here as there’s a current high safety score of 92/100:
Vacationers on the Cabo San Lucas side tend to come for the party scene, while travelers on the San José del Cabo side actually feel like they’re in Mexico, with a historic center brimming with culture and vibrant walkways of art galleries and colonial-style facades — plus some flashy resorts too.
No matter how you divvy up your trip, we advise double-checking entry requirements and watching for any State Department advisory updates before booking.
Tips To Remain Safe
Besides careful planning, the Embassy released 4 helpful tips to ensure you remain safe on your trip to Cabo, a sentence that still doesn’t quite feel real:
- Keep up with local media for updates
- Always remain aware of your surroundings, even in popular areas
- Follow all local law enforcement guidelines
- Let your friends and family know you are safe in case more violence occurs
Additionally, should you need assistance, this is important contact information to have on hand:
- From Mexico: (55) 5080 2000
- From the U.S.: 011 52 55 5080 2000
- Department of State – Consular Affairs: +1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444
Don’t forget to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) too.
Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.
