The 3 Fees You Must Pay When Visiting Cabo In 2026 (Not All Are Included)

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Your bags are packed, you have your airport outfit picked out, and you’re ready for a margarita. But every time you open a Facebook group or check a travel forum, you see a new panic post about a “hidden fee” in Cabo.

One person says they paid $50 at a kiosk. Another says they “never paid a dime.” Someone else is screaming about a scam website they used.

It is a mess of conflicting information, and honestly, it is the last thing you want to deal with before a vacation.

Here is the good news: The reality on the ground in 2026 is actually very simple once you cut through the noise of social media, forums and AI hallucinations. There are only three fees that matter.

One you have already paid, one you need to handle on your phone, and one that will show up on your hotel bill.

Here is the savvy traveler’s guide to the three fees you will actually encounter in Los Cabos this year.

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1. The “Invisible” Tax (INCLUDED)

The Fee: Derecho de No Residente (DNR) + Airport Use Fee (TUA)

The Status: Pre-Paid / Bundled

First, let’s clear your mental load. You know that scary “Federal Entry Tax” everyone talks about? The one that went up to ~$53 USD (MX$983) in 2026?

If you flew in on a commercial airline (American, United, Delta, WestJet, etc.), you have already paid this.

It is bundled directly into the “Taxes and Fees” line item of your ticket, often coded as “UK” or “Tourism Tax” on your receipt. You do not need to fill out a form on the plane, and you certainly do not need to stop at those kiosks in the arrival terminal where aggressive salespeople try to “help” you.

The Insider Intel:

When you land at SJD, you will run a gauntlet known as the “Shark Tank”—the hallway between customs and the exit where timeshare salespeople dress like officials. They will ask if you have paid your “arrival tax” or “customs fee.”

Do not engage. Keep walking. You have already paid the federal government when you bought your Delta or American Airlines ticket.

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2. The “Embrace It” Tax (NOT INCLUDED)

The Fee: Baja California Sur State Contribution

The Cost: MX$488 (approx. $27 USD per person)

The Status: Mandatory / Pay Online

Lets clear the air for the keyboard warriors now. Here is the official government website wording. “Embrace IT is a fee charged by the State of Baja California Sur, to all international travelers staying in the state for more than 24 hours. Visitors are subject to a fee of $488 MXN and is supported by the State Finance Law, under Article 129 Bis.“

This is the one you actually need to pay attention to. Unlike the federal tax, your airline does not collect this fee. It is a specific state tax for Baja California Sur (the state where Cabo is located) that funds local infrastructure and environmental projects.

In previous years, you might have heard people say, “I never pay this, nobody checks.”.

While it works on an honor system for the most part and contributes to the destination we love, enforcement could change overnight. We are already seeing this in Cancun, where authorities recently stepped up enforcement of their own version of the state tax (Visitax) with zero warning.

How To Handle It Like A Pro:

Go Directly To: https://embraceit.bcs.gob.mx/

• The Trap: Do not Google “Cabo Tourist Tax.” You will find third-party “processing” sites that look official but charge you $45 for a $27 tax. They are middlemen. Avoid them.
• The Hack: Pay this 24 hours before you fly. Take a screenshot of the QR code receipt and save it to your “Favorites” in your photo gallery. Cell service at the airport can be spotty, and you don’t want to be the person frantically trying to refresh your email at the security checkpoint while the line builds up behind you.

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3. The “Checkout” Surprise (NOT INCLUDED)

The Fee: Environmental Sanitation Fee (Saneamiento Ambiental)

The Cost: MX$33–$38 (~$2.00 USD) per room, per night

The Status: Added to Final Hotel Bill

This is the fee that usually causes arguments at the front desk. You might think, “I pre-paid my All-Inclusive package on Expedia, I don’t owe anything else.”

Wrong.

This is a local municipal fee that third-party booking sites (Expedia, Booking.com, Costco Travel) almost never include in their rates. It is considered an “incidental” tax, similar to how resort fees work in Las Vegas.

The Operational Reality:

• How it works: It will appear as a separate line item on your final hotel bill (folio) when you check out.
• The Math: It is charged per room, not per person. For a standard 7-night vacation, it adds up to roughly $14 USD.
• The Purpose: It’s not a scam; it’s a standard municipal levy used for waste management, beach cleaning, and maintaining the Blue Flag status of Cabo’s beaches.

Stress Free Vacation

You are responsible for two things: The “Embrace It” State Tax (online before you leave) and the Sanitation Fee (at the hotel front desk). Everything else is noise. Ignore the rumors, pay the small stuff, and enjoy your vacation without the stress.