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Los Cabos Officials Declare Beaches Are Safe For Tourists This Summer

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Despite reports earlier in the month about the levels of pollution on Los Cabos beaches, official tests from the Baja California Sur State Public Health Laboratory have declared the beaches in the area safe for recreational use.

The Survey Results

Water testing officials from the state laboratory sampled seawater at more than three dozen locations across Los Cabos, La Paz, and the surrounding areas to test for unhealthful conditions.

overview of el medano beach in cabo

Upon analyzing the water samples, they declared the beaches most frequented by tourists visiting the area were in the optimal sanitary condition allowed for recreational use.

The studies were conducted under highly controlled methods over the past few weeks of July as part of the Clean Beaches Program.

The tests were completed in compliance with the worldwide World Health Organization standards, which declare that the seawater off the shore of a beach is sufficiently sanitary when the tests find less than 200 enterococcal units per 100 milliliters of water.

Water testing in a test tube

The average found in the 39 different testing locations throughout Los Cabos, La Paz, and the surrounding areas in Baja California Sur was only 14 units.

That is well below the maximum standard, which led to the declaration of the beaches being sufficiently sanitary for locals and visitors to the area.

Not only did the tests meet the standards of the World Health Organization, the analysis testing methods of the Baja California Sur State Public Health Laboratory also is recognized by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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Taking water samples from a tide pool

Blue Flag Recognition

This test is a critical standard for Los Cabos to maintain its high profile recognition as one of having the most Blue Flag beaches in North America.

The Blue Flag standard not only rates the beaches on the environmental standard to maintain cleanliness, but it also holds the beaches to high levels of standards for accessibility and safety.

Blue flag flying on a beach

Many tourists around the world proactively seek this designation when deciding which beach resort destinations to visit for their vacations.

Essentially, it is regarded as the gold medal for beaches around the world, and Los Cabos officials work proactively to maintain this high level of beach quality standard for visitors to the beach resort destination.

Los Cabos alone has a total of 25 beaches that meet this very strict and prestigious beach quality standard.

Medano Beach Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Multiple segments of the popular tourist beach El Médano are Blue Flag certified, as well as Chileno, Palmilla, Las Viudas, La Ribera, and La Gaviota beaches, among others in Los Cabos.

Beachgoers Asked to Be Vigilant

Even with easily meeting the minimum standards for sanitary cleanliness, local officials reminded tourists and locals to remain vigilant about maintaining the cleanliness and beauty of the beaches in Los Cabos.

Lady picking up recyclable items on the beach

Tourists are especially asked to focus on packing out what they pack into the beach for the day. Be sure to remove any trash from snacks and drinks and utilize the recycling containers at the entrance to the beaches in Los Cabos when possible.

If the recycle containers are full, please at least use the trash cans and kindly notify a local lifeguard that they need to be emptied.

Waste such as cigarette butts and discarded wood from bonfires can also cause environmental issues at beaches.

People around bonfire on a beach

Officials recommend avoiding bonfires because not only is the burnt wood an environmental issue, but the left-over nails and unburnt wood shards can be a safety hazard for other beach visitors and sea animals.

Any other unsanitary conditions on the beach or in the water should be reported to the nearby on-duty lifeguard as soon as possible.

Together, tourists and locals alike can work to ensure the beaches of Los Cabos remain clean, sanitary, and safe for all guests looking for some sand and surf in the sun.

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