There Are The Top 2 Safety Issues In Los Cabos Travelers Are Reporting This Summer

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Let’s get this out of the way first: According to the vast majority of travelers, Cabo San Lucas is rated as one of the safest destinations in Mexico, and most visitors feel completely secure while enjoying their vacations.

In fact, according to the Traveler Safety Index (TSI)—which measures real-time votes from tourists who have recently visited the area—Cabo is currently rated as one of the safest destinations in the world right now with a score of 93, falling only behind Aruba.

BUT, there are two specific problems travelers are reporting this summer that have made them hit the “I didn’t feel safe” button. Here is what they are and what you need to know before you land.

1. The Trap of Local Scams

The number one complaint according to travelers this summer isn’t physical safety—it’s scams. When tourists feel they are being actively tricked out of their money, that baseline feeling of security vanishes quickly.

This issue takes a few different forms in Cabo. The most common include being heavily overcharged by unverified transport drivers, or booking “discount” boat tours on the street that turn out not to exist once you show up at the marina.

Perhaps the most frustrating trap is the “free” tequila tasting. What starts as a friendly invitation into a tourist shop for a quick sample often turns into a high-pressure sales pitch, resulting in a tourist paying $300 for a heavily disguised bottle of tequila they could have purchased for $25 at a local grocery store.

How to stay savvy:

• Pre-book your transit: Never figure out your airport transportation after you land. Pre-book a verified private transfer or shuttle before you even board your flight.
• Use official tour channels: Book your excursions through reputable online platforms or directly through your hotel’s concierge. If a street price for a boat tour seems too good to be true, it is.
• Skip the street tastings: Politely decline unsolicited tequila tastings on the street. If you want to bring home a great bottle, head to an established supermarket where prices are clearly marked and fair.

2. High-Pressure Harassment

The second area is the relentless timeshare gauntlet, which begins the second you land and follows you right into your resort lobby.

It starts in the notorious “Shark Tank” at the Los Cabos International Airport. From the moment you clear customs and baggage claim, you must walk a hallway of employees aggressively pushing timeshares under the guise of offering transportation or local advice.

But the pressure doesn’t stop once you escape the airport. When you arrive at your resort, it is incredibly common for “guest services” or “VIP concierge” employees to pretend to be your absolute best friend. They will offer you a welcome drink, chat you up about your flight, and then seamlessly transition into offering you free spa credits, highly discounted boat tours, or romantic dinners. The catch? You just have to attend a “brief 90-minute welcome breakfast.”

If you agree, you will find yourself trapped in a high-pressure, half-day presentation where leaving feels impossible. Walking away with a $20,000 vacation club purchase you didn’t plan for—or just losing a precious day of your vacation to an intense sales pitch—is a surefire way to ruin a trip.

How to stay savvy:

• Keep walking at the airport: When navigating the airport shark tank, keep your eyes forward and keep walking until you are completely outside the terminal where your pre-booked transport is waiting. Do not stop to answer friendly questions about where you are staying or if you need a taxi.
• Beware the overly friendly “Concierge”: At your resort, learn to distinguish between the actual front desk staff checking you in and the “VIP” or “Guest Services” reps hovering nearby. If a resort employee offers you a massive discount on tours or spa treatments in exchange for attending a “breakfast” or “property tour,” they are selling a timeshare. A polite but firm “No thank you, we are just here to relax” is your best defense.
• Protect your vacation time: Unless you are genuinely in the market for a timeshare, never agree to a presentation. The sales tactics are incredibly intense, emotionally draining, and designed to wear you down. No amount of free spa credits or discounted snorkeling tours is worth losing half a day of your holiday feeling trapped in a high-pressure sales room.

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