Military Will Continue To Provide Security In Los Cabos For The Next Six Years

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Last Updated 2 years ago

Even though Los Cabos is one of the safest vacation destinations to visit in Mexico, the military is often used to protect tourists and residents on the streets and the beaches of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.  Now, after a recent debate in Congress, it was decided that the military will continue to provide security in Los Cabos for at least the next six years.  The vote will allow the military to continue to carry out tasks usually assigned to the Municipal and State police forces until 2028. 

While the move does make the streets and beaches of Los Cabos safer, there is some opposition to the continued use of the military.  Those that oppose the presence of the military cite the reason as being that the ruling is allowing the country, and the area specifically, to become more militarized.  Some feel that rather than providing a gateway to militarization, public security should be left in the hands of the two different police forces. 

It isn’t uncommon for military soldiers to be called into action during the busy tourist seasons in Los Cabos.  Over the summer, more than 100 soldiers were deployed to Los Cabos beaches to protect tourists from criminal activity.  And even after the summer, operations have been carried out by the military that has led to the capture of criminals in Los Cabos. 

Los Cabos, which includes the two very popular tourist cities of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, is located in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur.  The state sits along the Pacific coast and is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Sea of Cortez on the other.  Baja California Sur is miles away from some of the more dangerous areas in Mexico that some countries are advising their citizens to avoid. 

The United States is one country that put out such an advisory, encouraging U.S. tourists to steer clear of a number of Mexican cities.  The State Department issued the warning after a number of violent crimes have taken place in cities nowhere near Los Cabos or Baja California Sur.  The department also issued a number of tips for staying safe when visiting Mexican tourist destinations, including not going out alone after dark and not traveling on secluded roads that are unfamiliar.   

Very seldom are tourists in Los Cabos and other tourist destinations affected by criminal activity that takes place in these cities.  This is because much of the crime revolves around drug trafficking and is committed between those involved.  The use of the military further ensures that tourists in these destinations are not harmed by such criminals.   

The military must give some sort of sense of security to tourists because they say they feel safe when visiting Los Cabos.  This sense of security came to light after giving visitors exit surveys when departing from their vacations, in which many tourists indicated they felt safe while visiting.  Additionally, more than 70 percent of residents also say they feel safe in Los Cabos.   

While the military may be a sight to see for tourists visiting Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, it’s important to note that it is not uncommon in Mexico.  The military is there as more of a preventative measure rather than a response to increased criminal activity.  They are simply deployed to continue providing the kind of security that will keep Los Cabos tourists safe during their dream vacations in either popular city.