Los Cabos Authorities Close Beaches To Keep Tourists Safe

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Last Updated 1 year ago

Tourists have been flocking to Los Cabos this year more than ever before because of its trending beaches and gentle ocean waves. 

With hotel occupancy rates constantly high and tourist numbers consistently breaking records, the beaches have been filled with travelers scuba diving, swimming, kayaking, and more. 

Recent weather conditions have caused closures of the beaches for short periods of time, preventing travelers from venturing to see the crystal clear waters for themselves. 

Although hurricane season is winding down in Los Cabos, apparently the torrential rainstorms are far from over. 

Just recently, the tropical storm Lidia hit the Baja California Sur vacation hotspot, causing numerous beach closures yet again. 

If you’re traveling to Los Cabos anytime soon for your next vacation, here’s what you need to know about the current beach closures and what local officials are doing to protect tourists.

Which Beaches Are Closed? 

According to local officials, some of the beaches that are closed include Corsario Beach, Breathless Beach, and Hacen Beach, which were covered in garbage and are being cleaned. 

The beaches with red flags posted include Playa Palmilla, El Corsario, El Médano, El Surgidero, and La Ribera.

The beaches with black flags posted and are completely closed are Playa Las Viudas, El Chileno, and San José del Cabo Tourist Corridor. 

Los Cabos Officials Place Red and Black Flags On Beaches

Because tropical storm Lidia has caused torrential rainfall and high winds, local officials have released a statement that they have closed various beaches to locals and visitors. 

The Federal Maritime-Terrestrial Zone (also known as Zofemat) announced beach closures yesterday, stating that they placed red and black flags on various beaches. 

The effects of the storm, mainly the rain and high winds, have caused rough waters, which have made the beaches too dangerous for swimmers or people tanning on the sand.  

The coordinator of Zofemat in Cabo San Lucas also stated that the rough waters have drawn in garbage, making the waters not safe for swimmers and covering the beaches in waste.

The Difference Between The Various Flags 

The somewhat self-explanatory flag system in Los Cabos easily lets tourists and locals know when the beaches are safe to visit and when they are not. 

The Federal Maritime-Terrestrial Zone, otherwise known simply as Zofemat, posts the flags on the beaches and makes the decisions on whether or not to close them for short periods of time or indefinitely. 

Zofemat posts green, yellow, blue, red, and black flags depending on the weather conditions and safety of the beaches. 

The green flags indicate that the beaches are safe for visitors, while the yellow flags suggest that travelers and locals be careful when swimming in the waters as they are rougher than normal. 

The blue flag, not to be confused with the prestigious blue flag certification, indicates that the beach’s waters are home to dangerous marine life and that swimmers should take caution to avoid jellyfish and other sea creatures. 

The red and black flags are notably the worst of the flags that could be posted, and both indicate that the waters are forbidden to swim in as they’re too dangerous and rough to permit swimmers. 

The slight differentiation between the two flags is that while red flags suggest that the waters are not to be entered, tourists and locals can still go to the beach and hang out on the sand. 

However, the black flag indicates that the beach is completely closed to visitors, and people cannot enter the waters or shore. 

What To Do When The Beaches Are Closed

Although Los Cabos is primarily known for its ocean-based activities, there is also no shortage of activities to pursue when the beaches are closed. 

If you see red or black flags posted, you can go horseback riding, go on a hike, visit nearby towns, or go to one of the outdoor markets.