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Is Los Cabos safe? 🇲🇽

Mexico · Safety report last updated

As of October 2026, Los Cabos scores 57/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: mostly — take normal precautions. Los Cabos is a popular tourist destination with moderate safety risks, requiring travelers to exercise a high degree of caution. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (moderate risk).

Safety Report

IsMyTripSafe.com

Los Cabos 🇲🇽

Mexico · Assessed 13 October 2026

57

/ 100

Mostly — take normal precautions

Safer than ~51% of countries

District map

What drives this score

Crime54/100CautionHomicide 24.9 / 100k
Sentiment59/100FairMixed to Cautious
Advisories75Good
Stability57Fair
Health72Good

01 · Official Guidance

Advisories

Good

UK Foreign Office (FCDO)

Level 3

Advises against all travel to parts of the country

“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel State of Baja California FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the city of Tijuana, except: airside transit through Tijuana airport the Cross Border Xpress bridge from the airport linking terminals across the Mexican-US border the federal toll road 1D and Via Rápida through Tijuana to the border FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the city of Tecate in Baja California, including roads between Tijuana and Tecate.”

Updated 2026-10-13T08:45:22Z

Full advisory →

Government of Canada

Level 2

Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)

“Canada's official risk level for Mexico: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).”

Updated 2026-10-12T10:23:23.2300018-04:00

Full advisory →

02 · Evidence Signals

Crime

Caution

Mugging & robbery risk

Moderate risk
62

City SignalCity Web Research

Pickpocketing & theft risk

Moderate risk
78

City SignalCity Web Research

Visitor safety sentiment

45 / 100 (Mixed to Cautious)
45

City SignalCity Web Research

Urban scale factor

0k residents
94

City SignalCity Geocoding

Homicide rate

24.9 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3Mexico24.9South Africa43.7
21

Country BaselineWorld Bank Open Data · 2023

Feel safe walking alone after dark

41.3%
37

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2024

Physical assault (past year)

6.1%
72

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2024

Robbery / mugging

Moderate

While violent crime is less common in tourist zones, there is a moderate risk of robbery, particularly if venturing into less-trafficked areas or at night.

Pickpocketing

Moderate

Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are moderate risks in crowded tourist areas, markets, and on public transport.

▸ 4 more indicators

Sexual violence (past year)

1.6%
81

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2024

Detected human-trafficking victims

0.10 / 100k
91

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2024

Bribery during public-official contact

14.0%
69

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2023

Crime seen as a major business constraint

12.3%
69

Country BaselineWorld Bank Enterprise Surveys · 2010

03 · Environment

Health & Air

Good

Air quality

US AQI 25 · Good

Open-Meteo Air Quality

Hospitals

10 beds / 10k · country avg

WHO Global Health Observatory

Weather

October: highs ~25°C · no weather extremes

Open-Meteo

Road safety

12.0 / 100k

WHO Global Health Observatory

Natural hazards

2 active alerts · Tropical cyclone (orange)
75

Country BaselineGDACS / USGS

Tropical cyclone

notification for tropical cyclone SIMON-26. Population affected by Category 1 (120 km/h) wind speeds or higher is 62 . · ~480 km away

Flood

flood alert in Mexico · ~456 km away

CDC travel health notices · 1 for this destination

Watch

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Mexico

Worldwide notices (not specific to this trip): Polio, Dengue, Measles

04 · Institutions

Stability

Fair

Political stability & no terrorism

55/100
55

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Terrorism deaths (latest year)

0.09 / million
93

Country BaselineGlobal Terrorism Database · 2021

Rule of law

39/100
39

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Control of corruption

29/100
29

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

▸ 3 more indicators

Government effectiveness

49/100
49

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Regulatory quality

51/100
51

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Voice & accountability

53/100
53

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

05 · Field Research

Current Situation

Moderate

Traveller sentiment score

Mixed to Cautious

59/100

Reported feel45Mixed to Cautious
Robbery risk62Moderate risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk

Recent reports indicate a significant drop in US tourism to Los Cabos, with some news outlets questioning its safety due to broader violence in western Mexico. While tourism bodies attempt to reassure visitors, the decline suggests traveler caution.

Los Cabos is a popular tourist destination with moderate safety risks, requiring travelers to exercise a high degree of caution.

While Los Cabos generally maintains a safer environment for tourists than some other parts of Mexico, elevated crime rates and official advisories necessitate vigilance. Travelers should be aware of potential risks, particularly concerning petty crime and the possibility of being caught in broader regional security issues.

Recent developments

  • Jun 2026U.S. Embassy issued a security alert for San Jose Del Cabo.— Travel Off Path
  • Feb 2026Cabo tourism reassurances followed gang violence in western Mexico, leading to some airline route cancellations.— TravelPulse, KATU
  • Oct 2025Cartel 'narco-banners' were displayed, warning Americans in a Mexican resort.— FOX 11 Los Angeles

Common scams

  • Overpriced tours or activities
  • Distraction pickpocketing
  • Fake police or official impersonations
Which areas are safe? District-by-district ratings are on the Safety Map→

Full briefing

Los Cabos presents a mixed safety picture for travelers, with official advisories urging a high degree of caution. While the resort areas are generally policed for tourist safety, the broader context of crime in Mexico and specific security alerts necessitate traveler awareness. The region is experiencing a notable decrease in US tourism, with reports in June 2026 highlighting a U.S. Embassy security alert for San Jose Del Cabo.

Recent news indicates that Los Cabos tourism bodies have sought to reassure visitors following gang violence in western Mexico earlier in 2026, though this unrest did lead to some airline route cancellations. In late 2025, cartel banners were displayed in a Mexican resort, warning Americans, underscoring the potential for spillover effects from regional security issues.

Travelers should remain vigilant, particularly regarding petty crime like pickpocketing in busy tourist zones. It is advisable to avoid displaying wealth, use only reputable transportation, and stay informed about any local security developments. The presence of a tropical cyclone alert, though currently distant, also serves as a reminder of the region's susceptibility to natural hazards.

Was this Los Cabos, Mexico report helpful?

IsMyTripSafe.com

Not legal or medical advice

Report generated 13 October 2026

Sources: U.S. State Dept · UK FCDO · World Bank · WGI · UNODC · WHO · UN SDG · Global Terrorism Database · Numbeo · OpenStreetMap · Open-Meteo · CDC. Composite index recomputed at request time.

Links:

06 · Neighbourhoods

Safest areas and areas to avoid

6 districts

Our field research rated 6 Los Cabos districts for visitors: 1 safer, 5 needing caution. See them plotted on the Los Cabos safety map.

Cabo San Lucas MarinacautionHigh tourist traffic can attract petty crime; be aware of surroundings.

San Jose del Cabo Historic CentercautionGenerally safe, but exercise caution after dark and in less populated areas.

Medano BeachcautionPopular tourist spot, can be crowded; watch for pickpockets and opportunistic theft.

Tourist Corridor (between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo)cautionResort areas are generally secure, but exercise caution when traveling between locations, especially at night.

Downtown Cabo San LucascautionCan be busy with nightlife; be aware of your surroundings and avoid displaying valuables.

PedregalsaferExclusive, gated community with high security, generally considered very safe.

1 safer5 caution0 avoidOpen the district map

07 · After Dark

Is Los Cabos safe at night?

41% of people in Mexico say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2024).

While violent crime is less common in tourist zones, there is a moderate risk of robbery, particularly if venturing into less-trafficked areas or at night.

After dark, be most careful around Cabo San Lucas Marina, San Jose del Cabo Historic Center, Medano Beach, Tourist Corridor (between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo). Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.

08 · Questions

Los Cabos safety FAQ (2026)

Is Los Cabos safe right now (2026)?

Los Cabos is a popular tourist destination with moderate safety risks, requiring travelers to exercise a high degree of caution. While Los Cabos generally maintains a safer environment for tourists than some other parts of Mexico, elevated crime rates and official advisories necessitate vigilance. Travelers should be aware of potential risks, particularly concerning petty crime and the possibility of being caught in broader regional security issues. (Assessed 13 October 2026.)

Is Los Cabos safe for women, families and solo travelers?

Safety is not one number, and this Los Cabos report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.

Which areas of Los Cabos should tourists avoid?

No districts were flagged as no-go areas for visitors at the last assessment.

What are the most common scams in Los Cabos (2026)?

  • Overpriced tours or activities
  • Distraction pickpocketing
  • Fake police or official impersonations

How does Los Cabos compare with other places in Mexico (2026)?

Los Cabos ranks #9 of 9 Mexico destinations we've assessed, scoring 57/100. See the Mexico safety overview for the full list.

How is this los-cabos safety score calculated (2026)?

The score blends 12+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.

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