If you are planning a trip to the southern tip to Los Cabos, you need to add one extra step to your travel checklist. Cabo is gearing up for another massive year of tourism in 2027. The beaches are absolutely stunning, the luxury resorts are world class, and the local food scene is better than ever.
However, keeping the destination pristine requires a massive amount of funding. To help support the local infrastructure, the state of Baja California Sur implemented a mandatory tourist fee. The government has officially confirmed that the Embrace It tax will continue to be strictly enforced throughout 2027.
If you are completely unaware of this fee, you are not alone. Thousands of travelers show up in Cabo every single month with zero idea that this separate tax even exists. Here is exactly what you need to know about the Embrace It tax, how to pay it, and what happens if you try to skip it.
What Is The Embrace It Tax?
The Embrace It tax is a mandatory fee required by state law for all foreign visitors. If you are staying in the state of Baja California Sur for more than 24 hours, you are legally required to pay up.
The current official rate for the tax is 488 MXN pesos per visitor. Depending on the daily exchange rate, that usually comes out to roughly 25 to 28 American dollars.
Thankfully, you do not have to pay for your entire family if you are traveling with young children. The state has established a few very specific exemptions. Children who are 12 years old and under are completely exempt from the fee. Anyone who holds legal Mexican residency is also exempt. For everyone else, it is a mandatory part of your vacation budget.
Why It Trips Up So Many Travelers
The biggest reason tourists get confused by the Embrace It tax is because they assume all government fees are already baked into their airline tickets.
When you buy a flight to Mexico, you do pay a handful of steep taxes. Your ticket price includes the DNR, which is a federal non resident fee imposed by the national government. Your ticket also includes the TUA, which is a standard airport usage fee.
However, the Embrace It tax is a completely standalone state fee. It is never automatically included in your airfare or your hotel bill. You have to go entirely out of your way to pay it independently.
How The Random Spot Checks Work
You might be wondering how the government actually forces millions of tourists to pay a separate digital tax. They do not have massive, slow moving border control lines specifically for this fee. Instead, they rely on a system of random spot checks.
Enforcement is carried out randomly by authorized officials. You could be pulled aside at the airport upon arrival, asked for proof of payment during your stay, or checked right as you are trying to leave the state.
Pro Tip: Because the enforcement is random, the absolute worst thing you can do is rely on airport cell service to prove you paid. Once you complete the payment online, immediately save the digital QR code directly to your camera roll. If an official randomly stops you, you can simply flash your screen and keep walking.
How To Pay The Fee Safely
The state has made the payment process incredibly streamlined, but you have to make sure you use the correct website. There are always third party scam sites trying to charge fake convenience fees.
You should strictly use the official government portal at embraceit.bcs.gob.mx to handle your payment. The platform allows you to pay securely using your standard credit or debit card. You can technically pay the fee at any time during your trip. However, for a completely stress free travel day, it is highly recommended to complete the transaction from your couch before you even pack your bags.
The Weird Tax Email You Will Receive
There is one final quirk to this tax process that you need to be prepared for so it does not trigger a spam alarm.
About six days after you pay the Embrace It tax, you are going to receive an email containing a CFDI document. This stands for Comprobante Fiscal Digital por Internet. It sounds highly technical and official, but it is simply the Mexican federal government tax receipt for your payment.
It proves to the federal authorities that your state payment was properly registered. You do not need to fill anything out or reply to the email. Just keep it for your records and enjoy your time lounging on the beautiful beaches of Los Cabos.
Los Cabos Tourist Tax
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