Can You Swim In Cabo Beaches Right Now? Health Officials Name Specific Beaches Still Under Advisory

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If you are packing your bags for a Los Cabos vacation this week, your itinerary probably heavily involves the ocean. The September heat is intense, and the water temperatures in the Sea of Cortez are currently peaking in the mid-80s, making a swim sound incredibly inviting.

However, if you are planning to jump into the water right outside your resort, you need to hit pause.

After heavy, localized rainfall from the outer bands of Hurricane Marie, state health authorities have stepped in. The State Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (COEPRIS) has officially issued an advisory explicitly urging tourists and locals to avoid entering the ocean at several of the most popular, highly trafficked urban beaches in Los Cabos.

Before you throw on your swimsuit and head down to the sand, here is exactly what is happening with the water quality, why the advisory was issued, and which specific beaches you need to avoid this week.

The Problem: Post-Storm Sediment Runoff

To understand why the water is currently unsafe, you have to look at the unique geography of the Baja Peninsula.

Cabo is a stark desert environment built around a network of dry riverbeds known as arroyos. For the vast majority of the year, these arroyos are completely dry. However, when a tropical system like Hurricane Marie dumps heavy, sustained rainfall over the region, those dry riverbeds instantly flash-flood.

When the water rushes down the mountains and through the city streets toward the ocean, it picks up massive amounts of sediment, debris, and, unfortunately, urban runoff. When that massive surge of untreated water finally empties into the bay, it severely compromises the sanitary quality of the seawater along the shoreline.

Swimming in water contaminated by heavy sediment runoff can lead to a variety of unwanted health issues, ranging from skin infections and earaches to severe gastrointestinal problems.

The Specific Beaches Under Advisory

This is not a blanket ban on the entire coastline, but COEPRIS has specifically targeted the urban beaches located directly near the main runoff points.

If you are staying in Cabo San Lucas, health officials have explicitly named the following beaches in their advisory:

• El Médano (Medano Beach): This is the most popular, highly trafficked swimmable beach in the entire city, lined with massive resorts and beach clubs.
• La Empacadora
• Ocho Cascadas

If your resort is located up the Tourist Corridor in San José del Cabo, the advisory includes:

• Costa Azul: A highly popular spot for local surfers.
• The Main Hotel Zone Beach
• La Playita

(Note: The advisory also extends north to the capital city of La Paz, covering the stretch of beach between El Comitán and El Caimancito).

When Will The Water Be Safe Again?

The initial advisory was slated for four days immediately following the heavy rains, but officials have opted to extend the warning out of an abundance of caution.

According to René Cota Avendaño, the deputy commissioner of Sanitary Promotion, COEPRIS personnel are currently in the field conducting rigorous new seawater samplings at all of the affected beaches. Those samples are being rushed to the State Public Health Laboratory for deep analysis.

The advisory will remain firmly in place until the laboratory officially confirms that the sanitary quality of the water has returned to safe levels for recreational activities.

What You Should Do Right Now

If you are currently on the ground in Los Cabos, do not ignore this advisory. The ocean might look tempting, but risking a severe stomach bug is the fastest way to completely ruin your vacation.

For the next few days, stick strictly to the filtered, heavily chlorinated safety of your resort pool. Keep an eye on local news updates, and wait for the official all-clear from COEPRIS before you grab your snorkel gear and head back down to Medano Beach.