Is Cabo safe for tourists? The travel advisories, the real risks and how boat days work
What the U.S. and Canadian advisories say about Cabo, the risks visitors actually run into, and how safety works on a private boat.
In this guide
Cabo San Lucas is in Baja California Sur, which the U.S. State Department rates Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, in the Mexico advisory it reissued on May 29, 2026. That is the same level it gives Quintana Roo, where Cancun is. For most visitors, the risks that come up day to day are the sun, the Pacific surf and tap water, and all three are easy to plan around.
Is Cabo safe right now?
The U.S. advisory lists Mexico state by state. Baja California Sur sits at Level 2, with terrorism and crime given as the reasons. Mexico as a whole is also Level 2, with some other states at Level 3 or Level 4.
Canada's travel advice for Mexico as a whole is to exercise a high degree of caution, and it lists separate regional advisories for the places it says to avoid. As of its October 1, 2026 update, Baja California Sur was not on that list.
At the end of September 2026, Hurricane Polo made landfall about halfway down the state's Pacific coast, far from Los Cabos. If your trip is close, look at the current advisories and the forecast before you fly. Our trip guide has a forecast for about the next nine days.
| Source | Rating | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. State Department | Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution | Baja California Sur (Cabo) |
| U.S. State Department | Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution | Quintana Roo (Cancun) |
| Government of Canada | Exercise a high degree of caution | Mexico as a whole |
Both governments update these pages, sometimes several times a year. Read travel.state.gov (U.S.) or travel.gc.ca (Canada) a few days before departure.
Is Cabo safe for Americans?
The Level 2 rating applies to U.S. citizens, and the advice is ordinary travel sense. Keep valuables out of sight, don't leave phones and wallets on the sand while you swim, and use transport you have arranged instead of strangers offering rides.
Two numbers are worth saving in your phone. 911 is Mexico's national emergency number, and it works from any phone, free. 078 is the tourist assistance line listed by the Los Cabos tourism board.
Cabo is on Mountain Standard Time all year, the same as Arizona, with no daylight saving. Every time in a booking confirmation, a tour pickup or a restaurant reservation is Cabo time, which matters if your phone is set to your home zone.
Is Cabo safer than Cancun?
Neither one is officially safer. Both states have the same Level 2 rating in the current U.S. advisory, so the advisories won't decide it for you.
What does differ is the ocean. Cancun faces the Caribbean. Cabo sits where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez, and the Pacific side has some of the roughest beaches in the area. Our Cabo vs Cancun comparison goes through the rest: water, wildlife and what a boat day looks like in each.
What tourists actually deal with in Cabo
Most of what goes wrong on a Cabo vacation is small and predictable.
The sun
Highs run from about 77°F (25°C) in January to about 88°F (31°C) from July to September, according to the 10-year averages in our trip guide. On the water there is glare and wind on top of that, so a burn sneaks up on you. Wear a hat and reef-safe sunscreen, and reapply after every swim. Drink more water than you think you need, especially if you are also drinking alcohol.
Pacific surf and rip currents
This is the one that hurts people. Canada's travel advice for Mexico warns that riptides are common, that several drownings happen each year, and that lifeguard services don't meet Canadian standards.
In Cabo, the line is easy to see. Divorce Beach faces the open Pacific, with big surf and a strong undertow; it is for photos from the boat. Lover's Beach, on the other side of the same strip of sand, faces the calm bay, and that is where people swim. There are no lifeguards at Lover's Beach.
Our article on which Cabo beaches are safe to swim lists every beach, which side it faces and what the flag colors mean.
Tap water
Don't drink tap water in Cabo. Stick to sealed bottled water, use it for brushing your teeth, and be wary of ice unless you know it was made with purified water. Canada's advice warns about travelers' diarrhea from contaminated food and water.
On a boat day this is simple. Several of our yachts include bottled water, and you can add more from our menu when you book.
Taxis and getting around
Canada's advice is to use officially marked taxis, not to hail cars on the street, and never to share a ride with strangers. Your hotel can call a taxi for you.
Marina Cabo San Lucas, where our charters board, is in downtown Cabo. It is a walk from the Médano Beach hotels and a taxi ride from the resorts along the corridor. The exact slip and a map pin come with your confirmation, so you are never wandering the docks looking for a boat.
Drinks in the heat
Our yachts don't sell or serve alcohol. Guests 18 and over may bring their own. The exceptions are the Azimut 70 and the McKinna 70, which include complimentary drinks served by their crews. Whatever you drink, swim before the drinks, not after.
Is it safe to go on a boat in Cabo?
On a private charter you have one crew and one group on board, and the captain answers to the harbor rules. This is how it works with us:
| What | How it works |
|---|---|
| Who runs the boat | An independent, licensed operator responsible for the yacht, its crew and safety on board |
| Crew | A professional captain on every yacht, plus a deckhand or more crew on most |
| Life jackets | On board; tell us children's ages so the right sizes are there |
| Weather | The Port Captain (Mexican Navy) closes the harbor under a storm threat |
| Swim stops | The captain picks calm water on the bay side or in the coves |
The Port Captain, the Capitanía de Puerto, is part of the Mexican Navy and controls the harbor. It closes the harbor only under a hurricane or storm threat or another extraordinary situation, and most closures fall between September and mid-October. If your date is closed, you choose a new date or get a full refund.
On the water, the captain decides where you swim based on that day's sea. The bay and Land's End are usually calm, and the Pacific side has more swell. Sea lions and whales are protected in Mexico, so captains keep their distance and idle near the sea lion colony instead of crowding it. Fishing is only on the McKinna 70's sport-fishing charter; the other yachts are pleasure yachts without fishing permits.
Kids are welcome. Every yacht except the Chaparral 28 has a head (bathroom), which helps with small children and longer days.
How booking works, and why it is safe for your money
You send your date and group size through the planner or WhatsApp at +52 624 300 8029. We reply in writing within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time. Payment happens only after your date is confirmed in writing, through a secure Stripe link that takes cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Prices are per boat, not per person, with the 16% IVA tax included. The customary crew tip of 15% is not included. A 2-hour Arch and Land's End charter on four yachts that suit most families:
| Yacht | Guests | 2 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bayliner 33 | up to 8 | USD 599 / MXN 11,399 |
| Sea Ray 36 | up to 12 | USD 659 / MXN 12,599 |
| Sea Ray 40 | up to 12 | USD 879 / MXN 16,799 |
| Pontoon 38 | up to 18 | USD 869 / MXN 16,599 |
The 2-hour route stays close to town: Pelican Rock, the sea lions, the Arch, Lover's and Divorce Beach, then back along Médano Beach, 4.7 miles round trip.
Planning a safe trip to Cabo
Check the advisory a few days before you fly, drink bottled water, wear sunscreen, and swim only on the bay side or from a boat in a calm cove. If it is your first visit, our first-timer's travel tips cover money, time zone and getting around.
For the day on the water, compare the yachts side by side on the fleet page, then send your date through the planner. Tell us the ages of any kids and anyone who gets seasick, and we'll suggest the boat and route that fit.
Yachts in this guide
Questions people ask
Is Cabo safe to visit right now?
The U.S. State Department rates Baja California Sur, the state where Cabo San Lucas is, at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, in the Mexico advisory it reissued on May 29, 2026. Advisories change, so check travel.state.gov or travel.gc.ca before you fly.
Is Cabo safe for Americans?
The Level 2 rating for Baja California Sur applies to U.S. citizens, and it is the same level the State Department gives Mexico overall. Most problems visitors run into are sunburn, rough Pacific surf and stomach trouble from untreated water.
Is Cabo safer than Cancun?
Neither is rated safer. The U.S. State Department puts both Baja California Sur (Cabo) and Quintana Roo (Cancun) at Level 2. The bigger difference for visitors is the water: Cabo's Pacific-facing beaches have heavy surf and are not for swimming.
Can you swim at every beach in Cabo?
No. Beaches facing the Pacific, such as Divorce Beach, have big surf and a strong undertow. Swim on the bay side, at places like Médano Beach or Lover's Beach, or from a boat anchored in a calm cove.
What number do I call for an emergency in Cabo?
Dial 911, Mexico's national emergency number, from any phone. For tourist assistance, Los Cabos tourism lists 078.
Plan your day on the water
Pick a yacht, the hours and the food in the planner. A written reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time.
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