Yes, Cabo San Lucas can be visited with care. The risk the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) names for Baja California Sur, including Los Cabos, is drug-related crime.
At Safe to Go, we re-check these advisories every day. The US State Department asks for increased caution across Mexico because of terrorism, crime and kidnapping, and Canada asks for a high degree of caution, with regional advisories.
What Official Advisories State About Cabo San Lucas and Baja California Sur
The UK FCDO travel advice for Mexico says Baja California Sur is unaffected by its warnings against all but essential travel, so no part of Los Cabos is on its list of areas to avoid. The UK FCDO notes that travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against its advice.
The US State Department travel advisory for Mexico urges travelers to exercise increased caution across Mexico due to crime, kidnapping, and terrorism risks. The advisory notes that violent crimes including homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, sexual assault, and robbery occur in the country. The US State Department notes that conditions can vary widely from state to state and even within a state, and it strongly advises US citizens to follow the same travel restrictions as US government employees.
Canada advises travelers to exercise a high degree of caution throughout Mexico, with regional advisories in place, as detailed on the Government of Canada travel advice page. The US summary points readers to its maps of restricted areas, and Canada publishes regional advisories, so read the US State Department Mexico page and the Government of Canada Mexico page for any restriction that names Baja California Sur.
How Cabo San Lucas Compares to Warned Regions in Mexico
Baja California is a separate state from Baja California Sur. For the national picture, see is Mexico safe?. The UK FCDO specifically advises against all but essential travel to the border city of Tijuana, with narrow exceptions for airside transit, the Cross Border Xpress bridge, and federal toll road 1D, as well as to Tecate and connecting roads.
Other Mexican states also face strict regional advisories. The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to all of Zacatecas and to Guerrero except Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa reached by air. The same warning covers Sinaloa outside Mazatlán and Los Mochis, Michoacán outside Morelia and Pátzcuaro, and Colima outside Manzanillo. In Chihuahua, travel is discouraged outside the city of Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez toll routes, and the Copper Canyon rail route.
To compare beach destinations, see is Cancún safe?, is Puerto Vallarta safe? and is Playa del Carmen safe?.
Crime and Scam Risks in Mexican Resort Areas Like Los Cabos
Street crime is a serious issue for foreign nationals in Mexican tourist resort areas. The UK FCDO says pickpocketing and theft are common, including on public transport. Limit the cash and cards you carry, and watch your luggage even in a hotel lobby.
Criminals have targeted travelers using cash machines or currency exchange bureaus, making it safer to use automated teller machines inside malls or shops during daylight hours.
The UK FCDO says tainted alcohol has caused illness or blackouts, drinks containing methanol have caused deaths and serious illness in Mexico, and criminals have robbed or assaulted travellers after drugging them. Never leave food or drinks unattended in bars and restaurants, and get advice from your tour operator or the local authorities if you have concerns about tainted alcohol.
- Avoid wearing expensive-looking clothing, jewellery or watches.
- If your phone is stolen or hacked, criminals may ask your friends or relatives to transfer money, so agree before you travel how you will contact them and send money.
Getting Around Cabo San Lucas by Taxi and Car
US government travel rules in Mexico require personnel to rely strictly on dispatched vehicles from regulated taxi stands or app-based services such as Uber or Cabify, banning street hails entirely. The US State Department strongly advises US citizens to follow the same rule.
Intercity driving at night is officially prohibited for US government personnel throughout Mexico. The UK FCDO also advises travelling only in daylight when possible. The US State Department says emergency services are limited or unavailable in remote or rural areas.
The US State Department instructs drivers to comply fully with road checkpoints, warning that fleeing or ignoring instructions can lead to serious injury or death.
How to Check Whether Cabo San Lucas Is Safe Right Now
The live panel above shows today’s national level from each government. The UK FCDO latest Mexico update added information about tropical storm Simon, so read the warnings on the UK FCDO Mexico page before you fly.
If you want to report a crime, you must make a complaint in person before you leave Mexico. A criminal investigation is not possible without an in-person formal complaint lodged at the state prosecutor’s office, known as the Agencia del Ministerio Público. Download our free travel safety checklist to prepare before your trip.
Road Trips beyond Los Cabos Need Extra Planning
If your plan is to drive alone through remote areas or between cities after dark, plan again: US government employees should avoid traveling alone, especially in remote areas, and may not travel between cities after dark. Stay in Los Cabos or travel with a group, and see is Mexico City safe? or is Oaxaca safe? if you are weighing other trips.
Our verdict would change if the UK FCDO added any part of Baja California Sur to its areas to avoid, if Canada issued a regional advisory for Los Cabos, or if the US barred its staff from travel there.
To weigh Cabo against other trips, browse our city safety guides or use the compare destinations side by side tool before you book flights.