Nearly 100,000 people packed Cabo San Lucas beaches during Semana Santa this year, part of a record-breaking 203,400 total beachgoers counted across the Los Cabos municipality during the Easter holiday period.
Municipal Zofemat (the federal agency that manages Mexico’s coastal zone) coordinator Rafael Guillermo Álvarez Munguía announced the figures at a flag ceremony in Cabo San Lucas on April 20. San José del Cabo beaches drew roughly 60,000 visitors, while the northern zone of the municipality accounted for about 50,000.
Record Numbers Follow Heavy Spring Break Season
The Semana Santa surge came on the heels of a busy spring break season. Over 52,000 U.S. college students visited Los Cabos beaches during March 2026, with more than 60,000 total visitors when parents and families were included. Los Cabos has typically received over 350,000 tourists in total during March and April in recent years, and the combined spring break and Semana Santa period marks the peak of the annual high season.
Security operations during the holiday involved more than 500 personnel deployed across beaches, highways, and downtown areas. The effort brought together local police, the Mexican Navy, the Red Cross, Civil Protection, firefighters, and rescue teams.
Beach Certifications Triple Under Current Administration
Álvarez Munguía also noted that the number of Playa Platino-certified beaches in Los Cabos has grown from five to 17 under the current municipal administration. Playa Platino is a Mexican certification program that evaluates water quality, safety infrastructure, and environmental management. The expansion has forced Zofemat to extend its ongoing quality audits from a shorter review period to a full month.
The municipality also invested 5 million pesos (roughly $250,000 USD) in six new Zofemat lifeguard towers equipped with video surveillance cameras at El Médano and Empacadora beaches, which frame Cabo San Lucas Bay. Each camera has a 200-meter range and a 180-degree field of view. The towers were installed specifically to protect swimmers during the spring break and Semana Santa period.
Waste Challenges Grow With Crowds
The crowds brought a familiar problem: garbage. Zofemat has reported a 500% increase in solid waste on beaches during spring break and Easter compared to normal periods. Nearly 100 tons of trash were expected during spring break alone this year, up from 95 tons in 2024 and 90 tons in 2023. Common waste includes glass beer bottles, plastic water bottles, and cigarette butts. Officials added extra trash containers and portable toilets to beaches ahead of Semana Santa.
The Semana Santa visitor figures were first reported by Colectivo Pericú.