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Proving travel warnings and the media furor do not always reflect the situation on the ground, which can be, in fact, the exact opposite, Los Cabos has become the safest tourist destination in Mexico heading into 2023, as violence rates plummet and a strong police presence continues to discourage criminals from operating in the area.
Historically a go-to beach destination for West Coast residents of the U.S., Los Cabos has been growing exponentially as an all-encompassing international hub after the overcrowding and excessively high prices of the Riviera Maya began turning tourists away. Now, it ranks among the top three most visited coastal cities in the country, second only to Cancun.
The crown jewel of the Mexican Pacific is breaking all sorts of records, and most importantly, it is protecting the well-being of guests:
Pickpocketing Across The Capes Is Down By 52%
As confirmed by Daniel de la Rosa Anaya, State Attorney General of Justice in Baja California Sur (BCS), the state where Los Cabos is located, rates for all categories of crime have decreased sharply since 2018. Most notably, the number of intentional homicides and vehicle theft, some of the most common occurrences in Mexico, are down 95% and 74%, respectively.
Additionally, the rates of burglary and street theft (pickpocketing and violent robbery) dropped 63% and 52% compared to the reference year, suggesting the streets of Cabo could not be better policed than they are at present. Regrettably, the same cannot be said of other popular Latin American cities, such as Medellin.
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Mr. Anaya attributes the positive results to the state's zero-tolerance attitude towards crime, such as deploying more officers to key locations, including tourist zones, and investment in the state police. As a result, locals and visitors alike have never felt safer in Los Cabos, which comprise the twin destinations of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.
More specifically, 67.5% of residents are satisfied with the current level of public security, as asserted in recent research conducted by INEGI, Mexico's National Institute of Statistics and Geography. This might come as a surprise to the overly cautious American, who strictly adheres to their Government's travel guidelines, but the Pacific cities are as safe as it gets.
Los Cabos Remains A Level 2 Destination
As a matter of fact, even the U.S. Department of State has acknowledged Los Cabos as one of the least-risky vacation spots in Mexico, classing it as a Level 2 destination. Effectively, there are no heightened safety threats or travel alerts concerning American visitors. Nevertheless, they are advised to exercise ‘increased caution'.
This means watching out for thieves in crowded places and being aware of scammers. Chances of being physically assaulted or even finding oneself in life-or-death situations are markedly low, if not insignificant, especially now that 150 new police officers were trained to ensure incidents are kept to a minimum throughout the holiday season.
On top of that, 2023 will see the installation of 300 security cameras in tourist sites and over 25,000 street lights. Walking in poorly-lit streets late at night continues to be a major concern for U.S. tourists visiting Mexico, as do petty crimes, and local authorities seem to be addressing these issues by improving their surveillance.
Los Cabos is challenging Cancun for the number one spot as Mexico's trendiest beach getaway, posting 22% more arrivals than the previous record year of 2019, while the Mexican Caribbean hub has grown by a much more moderate 9%. Americans love Cabo, and the widespread sense of security they feel vacationing there is only partly why.
Widespread Sense Of Security And A Stunning Nature
From the iconic Arch of San Lucas, the most prominent feature of Lovers Beach, to the Cabo Pulmo Marine Park, home to the oldest coral reef on the West Coast, it is brimming with natural beauty begging to be discovered. Cabo has also been recognized as the wellness capital of Mexico through its extensive list of award-winning spas and top-rated all-inclusive resorts.
And if it's luxury you're after, perhaps you should consider booking a seat on an ultra-luxurious, semi-private jet to Cabo starting at only $600 one-way for a truly five-star experience: priority boarding, faster passport control, a generous baggage allowance, and of course, overflowing champagne and tidbits throughout your flight. Find out more here.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Malu
Wednesday 28th of December 2022
@Leslie Shanquella Robinson was killed by other Americans while visiting Mexico. It’s typical and short sighted to draw such conclusions. As an African American who vacations in Mexico routinely. I think you are grossly ill informed.
Leslie
Tuesday 27th of December 2022
How is it safe to travel to Mexico when Shanquella Robinson was Murder there ,and Mexico Authorities helped covered it. I'm safe to say that black lives don't matter because if this would have been a white American people would be in jail.I will never travel to your sick as country. US don't value black lives Mexico sure as hell don't. You can clearly see that
Sonia Saez
Monday 26th of December 2022
Shanquella Robinson was killed in one of the Villas by her friends and the Villa don't say or do anything for the family or for push the authorities put more preasure to make justice. Also the Villa personnel try to cover the horrible event. What kind of save or protection can anyone have there. Justice for Shanquella.
AyL
Sunday 25th of December 2022
umm one site I searched showed cabo as having the highest homicide rate in mexico
Sharon
Sunday 25th of December 2022
I don't know how it can be considered the safest place to go in Mexico when a young lady was killed by so call friends, and nothing has been done about. It's already been proven you can commit a crime over there and pretty much get away with it.
Marcus demetria
Monday 26th of December 2022
@Sharon, killed by friends not people that live there