More than 500 swimmers competed at Playa Palmilla on May 2 in the fourth edition of the Cortés Open Los Cabos, generating an estimated 10 million pesos (about $580,000 USD) in economic impact for the municipality.
The open-water race has grown into one of the largest events of its kind in Baja California Sur and northwestern Mexico. Municipal Tourism Director Ana Gabriela Navarro said the competition strengthens Los Cabos’ standing as a national leader in sports tourism by combining athletic competition with tourism experiences.
According to the Los Cabos Municipal Tourism Department, 74 percent of participants traveled from outside the municipality. Each athlete brought an average of 2.1 guests, and visiting groups stayed more than three nights. That combination of hotel bookings, restaurant spending, and general tourism activity drove the nearly 10 million peso figure.
International Athletes at Playa Palmilla
The race took place in the Sea of Cortez waters off Playa Palmilla, located along the Tourist Corridor between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. The beach is one of the few swimmable stretches on the Los Cabos coast, where powerful Pacific swells and rip currents make most shoreline dangerous for open-water activity.
Organizers designed multiple categories and distances for both experienced competitive swimmers and newcomers. The event’s roster included national and international athletes. Mexican Olympic swimmer Jorge Iga, who competed in the 10-kilometer open-water event at the Paris 2024 Games, served as one of the race’s featured figures.
Sports Tourism Calendar Growing
The Cortés Open is part of a broader push by Los Cabos officials to build year-round sports tourism programming. The municipality already hosts the Ironman 70.3 La Paz and a growing slate of endurance events aimed at drawing visitors during shoulder seasons.
One note from participants: future editions of both the Cortés Open and the Ironman 70.3 would benefit from scheduling during cooler months between November and March. Daytime temperatures in Los Cabos routinely exceed 35°C (95°F) from May through October, creating difficult conditions for endurance athletes.
The fourth Cortés Open was first reported by Gringo Gazette and HOY BCS.