Embracing the Blue Flag Ideal: Why the Beaches of Los Cabos Are More Beautiful Than Ever

Beaches and Los Cabos are practically synonymous, so much so that first-time visitors may not know where to begin when it comes to sunny days spent on glorious stretches of golden sand.

What are the best beaches in Los Cabos? What is it that makes a great beach, anyway? Is it the views? The color and consistency of the sand? The availability of bars or restaurants? The conditions for activities like surfing, snorkeling and swimming?

All are interesting questions that go to the heart of any visit to Los Cabos, given that the region boasts over 100 miles of coastline, with more picturesque playas that the average tourist could see in a year.

As it happens, there is one objective measurement for beaches, in Los Cabos and elsewhere. That’s the Blue Flag program pioneered in the 1980s by the European based Foundation for Environmental Education, which judges beaches based on very defined standards of cleanliness, services and sustainability.

Blue Flags are not about beauty. They’re about signs, clean bathrooms, showers, handicap access, recycling bins, parking, and other practical concerns that can significantly enhance one’s experience at the beach.

But since every beach in Los Cabos is visually breathtaking, offering stunning Sea of Cortez or Pacific Ocean views, the availability of these basic services is a big deal when it comes to choosing where you want to spend your day in paradise…particularly if you’re traveling with children or people with disabilities.

The good news is that there are a lot of blue flags flying in cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, as well as along the 20-mile tourist corridor which connects them. As a matter of fact, Los Cabos has more blue flag beaches – 22 – than any other destination in Mexico.

For some context, the blue flag program is globally recognized, with beaches or marinas maintaining the stringent blue flag standards (it’s not a lifetime award) in nearly 60 different countries around the world. Mexico is currently in 13th place overall in terms of countries with the most blue flag beaches, claiming 63 nationwide. Baja California Sur, the state where Los Cabos is located, leads the way with 23 (again, 22 in Los Cabos alone!). The only other state that is close is Quintana Roo, the state where Cancun and the Riviera Maya is located, with 21.

Los Cabos’ blue flag supremacy is a rather new phenomenon. As recently as 2016, the municipality had only three beaches that had earned FEE’s blue flag stamp of approval: Playas Chileno, Santa Maria and Palmilla. The stunning growth of the program since then is a credit to the community at large, which has recognized how important beaches are to the tourism industry and has made a commitment to keep the local sands both beautiful and sustainable.

Many of the newer blue flag beaches in Los Cabos are in fact subsections of Playa El Medano, the two-mile stretch of gorgeous sand that is the center of social life in Cabo San Lucas. But blue flag beaches can be found in virtually every corner of Los Cabos, from popular city based locales to lesser known gems like El Surgidero and La Ribera, two East Cape playas conveniently close to where a new Four Seasons resort has recently opened.

With that in mind, here are the 22 blue flag beaches in Los Cabos as of 2021 (although we wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see a few more announced in June, when FEE traditionally announces new awardees):

Acapulquito

El Chileno

El Corsario

El Surgidero

La Gaviota

La Ribera

Las Viudas

Medano Breathless

Medano Casa Dorada

Medano Club Cascadas de Baja

Medano Hacienda

Medano ME Cabo

Medano Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos

Medano Pueblo Bonito Rose

Medano Riu Palace Los Cabos

Medano Riu Santa Fe

Medano Villa Del Palmar

Medano Villa El Arco

Medano Villa La Estancia

Monumento

Palmilla

Santa Maria

No need to rank them further. Visiting any of these sun-kissed meccas ensures you’re going to have a great day at the beach. And with summer fast approaching, where else would you rather be?

For more information about upcoming events, activities and attractions, and villa rentals in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit  www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photo credit:  Los Cabos Tourism Board

Upcoming Events Calendar

April

Semana Santa – Mar. 28 – Apr. 3

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Apr. 1, 8, 15, 22

Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Apr. 2, 9, 16, 23

Todos Santos Film Festival – Apr. 15 – 18

May

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – May 6, 13, 20, 27

Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – May 7, 14, 21, 28

El Dia de la Madre – May 10

June

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jun. 3, 10, 17, 24

Los Cabos Open of Surf – Jun. 3 – 7

Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Jun. 4, 11, 18, 25

Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament– Jun. 10 – 12

July

East Cape Dorado Shootout Fishing Tournament – Jul. 17

Los Cabos Open of Tennis – Jul. 19 – 24

Ladies Only Fishing Tournament at Palmas de Cortez – Jul. 22 – 26

August

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore – Aug. 3 – 7

Wahoo Gold Cup Jackpot Fishing Tournament – Aug. 21

September

Mexico Independence Day – Sep. 16

October

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 10 – 14

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 14 – 17

Bisbee’s Black and Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 19 – 23

November

Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers Rally – Nov. 1 – 13

Day of the Dead – Nov. 1, 2

WON Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 3 – 6

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25

Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26

SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 15 – 20

Revolution Day – Nov. 20

December

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Dec. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

El Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe – Dec. 12

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

 

 

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