The Truth About Drinking Tap Water at Cabo Resorts (Even For Coffee?)

You know the moment. It’s 7:00 AM in your stunning Los Cabos resort room. The sun is just beginning to cast a golden glow over the Sea of Cortez, but your brain isn’t fully online yet. You stumble in a zombie-like state toward the in-room coffee maker, ready for that first life-giving cup.

And then, you freeze. You’re holding the empty coffee pot, looking at the faucet, and a great debate begins in your head. “The resort is so nice, the water is probably fine… right? But it’s still Mexico… Should I use the bottled water? Even for coffee?”

It’s a travel question as old as time. Here at The Cabo Sun, we’re ending the debate with a simple, safety-first guide so you can get on with your caffeine and your perfect vacation.

So, What’s the Deal with Resort Water?

First, let’s be clear: the water flowing through the pipes at most high-end Los Cabos resorts is not the same as the standard municipal tap water. These resorts have invested millions in their own sophisticated water treatment systems. Many use a process called desalination (turning seawater into fresh water) and then subject it to multi-stage filtration and UV purification. Technically, the water coming out of the tap is often purer than what many people drink at home. But the journey from the filtration plant to your faucet involves a complex network of pipes, and that’s where any small risk lies.

The Ice Cube Resort Secret Everyone Should Know

What about the ice in your margarita? This is one area where you can feel very confident. Resort bars and restaurants have an unbreakable rule: do not make guests sick. A full-blown outbreak would be a business-ending disaster. For this reason, the ice served in your drinks is almost universally made from purified water.

Here’s a great insider tip: Look for ice cubes with a hole through the middle. That distinct, cylindrical shape is the signature of a high-volume, commercial ice machine that uses filtered and purified water. It’s factory-made and perfectly safe.

Even if you don’t see the signature hole, the rule of thumb is simple: any reputable resort has a vested interest in keeping its guests healthy. So unless you’ve accidentally checked into the ‘Bates Motel,’ the ice is almost certainly safe to enjoy.

The Golden Rule for a Flawless Vacation

After all the technical talk, what’s the final verdict? While the infrastructure is advanced, we must always err on the side of caution. Your vacation time is too precious to risk even a single day feeling unwell.

For drinking and making coffee, the unbreakable rule for a flawless trip is simple: use bottled water. Your room is restocked with it daily for a reason. Use it for that morning coffee, for filling up your reusable bottle, for everything.

Here’s a classic travel myth we need to bust, especially at 7:00 AM when your brain isn’t quite firing on all cylinders.

The Myth: “The water in my hotel coffee maker comes out steaming hot, so it’s definitely hot enough to kill any bacteria or parasites.”

The Reality: Not quite. While the water feels scalding, it isn’t actually boiling. And according to the ultimate authority on this, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), only a full, rolling boil for a minimum of 1 minute can truly give those nasty microscopic critters their eviction notice. Your coffee maker is designed to brew at the perfect temperature for coffee (around 200°F), but not the perfect temperature for purification (212°F).

For brushing your teeth, you are likely fine to use the tap water as long as you don’t swallow any. But if you want to be extra-cautious, using bottled water is a simple step that eliminates any sliver of doubt.

And as for showering? It is 100% okay. Just don’t sit there with your mouth wide open having the odd sip as you sing your favorite Mexican tune you heard at the swim-up bar.

The simple truth is this: the systems are advanced, but the risk, however small, just isn’t worth it. Drink the incredible views, not the tap water. Stick to the bottle, and keep your perfect Cabo vacation exactly that—perfect.

Happy travels!