Are you planning your vacation to Baja California in Mexico and wondering if Los Cabos is dangerous for tourists?
And as Mexico has the reputation of being a dangerous country, just like for Cancun ou Acapulco, it is legitimate to ask the question about Los Cabos, especially if you are looking for where to stay in Cabo San Lucas.
The questions we will specifically address are:
- Is Los Cabos a dangerous city?
- Are tourists safe in Cabo San Lucas?
- What neighborhoods to avoid in Los Cabos?
- Where to stay in Los Cabos to be on the most beautiful beaches but in a safe neighborhood?
Here is a practical guide to identify the areas to avoid in Los Cabos and the best areas to stay in Cabo San Lucas.
Los Cabos dangerous?
In 2024, Mexico remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world. Its criminality, mainly linked to drug cartels, continues to increase. See articles on lapresse.ca ou tdg.ch.
And unfortunately, this crime is not limited to Mexico City. In fact, as the article in the Diplomatic World, 24 Mexican states out of 31 are affected by the violence caused by drug trafficking.
Regarding Los Cabos, this seaside resort was, a few years ago, part of the dangerous areas of Mexico.
Fortunately, things seem to have changed (see newspaper article 20minutos.es where the city of Los Cabos is not listed). This is also what we see on the ranking Numbeo.com which indicates for Cabo San Lucas a crime rate of 44.50 which is an average rate. Indeed, in comparison, Los Cabos would be less dangerous than cities like New York, Athens, London, Rome ou Paris.
On the other hand, according to the latest classification of worldpopulationreview.com, in 2024 Los Cabos is indeed one of the 10 most dangerous cities in the world with an average of 111,3 murders per 100 inhabitants. But one can wonder because it is the only ranking that positions Los Cabos in this way.
Is Los Cabos safe for tourists?
As with all tourist areas, tourists should exercise caution in Los Cabos.
The very serious article CSARN explains that crime is increasing and spreading in places in Mexico that until now were untouched.
He gives the example of the August 6, 2021 attack on a beach in Los Cabos frequented by Hollywood celebrities: 3 men were shot dead in an attack in broad daylight. The shooting, which targeted a rival gang, scared away all the tourists who were in a panic before the police evacuated the beach.
Generally, tourists are not the direct targets of homicides committed in Los Cabos. Indeed, the high level of crime in the region is linked to the settling of scores and cartel wars. However, even if they are not directly targeted, tourists could be collateral victims of shootings.
And, just like anywhere else in Mexico, travelers to Los Cabos face the risk of kidnapping, robbery and assault. THE French government recommends that tourists be “particularly vigilant in all tourist and beach areas of Mexico. These areas are recurrently affected by petty crime and increasingly by elements of organized crime. Even at tourist sites, tourists can be confronted with armed attacks, theft or scams.”
But faced with this observation, you should know that there are dangerous areas in Los Cabos and areas where tourists are not in danger.
Tourist area in Los Cabos
Los Cabos is located at the southern end of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula and consists of 2 parts: Cabo San Lucas San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.
These 2 cities are connected by a 32-kilometer highway which runs along the Pacific coast along which there are the most beautiful beaches and numerous luxurious hotel complexes. This is the tourist area of Los Cabos called el Corredor Turístico. See location of the tourist area
Areas to avoid in Los Cabos
Throughout the tourist area of Los Cabos, the dangerous places for tourists would be in the 2 main cities in San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas (see details below):
Neighborhoods to avoid in San Jose del Cabo
San José del Cabo has 3 neighborhoods (Santa Rosa, the zacatal, Expansion el Zacatal) that tourists should avoid as well as a small part of the city center.
Neighborhoods to avoid in Cabo San Lucas
And for Cabo San Lucas, there are also certain areas of the city center to avoid at night as well as the neighborhoods of Lagunitas, the tezal et El Caribe which are the most dangerous in Los Cabos.
In which area to stay in Los Cabos?
The area of tourist corridor (stretch of coastline between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo) is the best area to stay in Los Cabos. It is in this area that many stars and celebrities choose to stay.
There are the most luxurious hotels and apartments in all of Baja California, magnificent golf courses and very trendy and lively seaside resorts.
Which hotel in Los Cabos?
If you are looking for a nice hotel:
- in a safe place in Los Cabos,
- on a heavenly beach with turquoise waters,
- with excellent value for money,
- and facilities worthy of a 3 star
So here is the resort Villa La Estancia – Medano Beach Villas
Which hotel in Cabo San Lucas?
If you are looking to stay near the entertainment and you like luxury, I recommend a hotel ranked among the 100 most beautiful in the world: the hotel le Grand Solmar Land's End.
This hotel has a dream location close to all the restaurants and the most beautiful beaches (lovers' beach, divorce beach, playa Solmar, etc.).
Safe excursions from Cabo San Lucas
Generally, I am the one who organizes my excursions, whether in Colombia visit us at the Panama or the family Pérou. And so far everything has gone well.
But when you're in a place like Los Cabos, it's good to go through a guided tour for convenience and security. Here is an outing from Cabo San Lucas that I recommend: