. The Embrace It fee is mandatory for all international visitors to Los Cabos, La Paz, and Loreto. Here is how to pay.){kind=link}
Baja California Sur raised its mandatory “Embrace It” tourist tax to 488 pesos (roughly $28 USD) per person as of January 1, up from 470 pesos in 2025. The fee applies to all international travelers over age 12 entering the state, including Los Cabos, La Paz, Loreto, and Todos Santos. It is not included in any airline ticket or hotel reservation and must be paid separately.
The BCS tourist tax for 2026 applies per stay, not per night, and covers visits of more than 24 hours regardless of accommodation type or trip length. The only official payment channel is the state government’s website at embraceit.bcs.gob.mx. Travelers can pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or American Express) or PayPal. After payment, the system generates an electronic certificate with a QR code that serves as proof of compliance.
Confusion around the fee has persisted since it launched in mid-2025. Many travelers arriving in Los Cabos report they had no idea about the tax until after landing. The Los Cabos tourism board initially distanced itself from the program, telling travel agents that “nothing has changed” at the destination level. But the state government confirmed that the BCS tourist tax is mandatory and enforceable by law.
The state says funds from the Embrace It program go toward environmental protection, tourism infrastructure, and social and cultural projects across the region. Baja California Sur welcomed nearly 3.8 million visitors in 2025, and if all international arrivals pay the fee, the state could collect more than 1 billion pesos ($58 million USD) in 2026, according to Mexico News Daily.
For American visitors heading to southern Baja, the practical advice is simple: pay the 488 pesos online before your trip at the official site, save the QR code to your phone, and treat it like any other travel fee. The tax does not apply to Mexican nationals or to visitors transiting through the state for fewer than 24 hours.