The municipal government of Los Cabos closed its annual Playa Platino beach certification audit on May 8, capping a review that began April 13 and covered 27 certified beaches across the municipality. The audit evaluated cleanliness, water quality, safety, and coastal conservation in compliance with Mexican Standard NMX-AA-120-SCFI-2016.
Rafael Guillermo Álvarez Munguía, the municipal coordinator of Zofemat (the Federal Maritime Land Zone office) in Los Cabos, led the closing ceremony. He recognized the daily work of operational and administrative staff responsible for cleaning, maintaining, and monitoring the certified shorelines.
What the Audit Measures
The Playa Platino distinction is a national certification that holds beaches to strict standards. Auditors tested enterococci levels, bacteria that indicate whether water is safe for swimming. They also reviewed waste management, lifeguard presence, and environmental conservation practices at each site.
David Ruiz Agúndez, the operations coordinator for Zofemat Los Cabos, attended the closing event and emphasized the need to maintain environmental quality standards year-round. The audit followed the peak Spring Break and Semana Santa season, when tens of thousands of visitors put heavy pressure on the coastline.
A Growing Portfolio of Certifications
Los Cabos has expanded its beach certification program steadily. In 2025, the municipality added 17 new Platinum Beach certifications. The region also holds more than 20 Blue Flag designations, an international standard for water quality, safety, and environmental management.
The Playa Platino and Blue Flag programs run on separate but overlapping criteria. Together, they require regular water testing, trained lifeguard teams, accessible infrastructure, and zero-waste protocols on the sand. Los Cabos employs nearly 200 beach staff who work early morning and overnight shifts to clear debris and maintain conditions.
Completion of the audit puts the municipality on track to maintain or renew its certifications before the summer high season begins in June. Official results from the review have not yet been released.
The Los Cabos municipal government reported the audit closure on May 11 via its official website.