On World Tourism Day, themed this year “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” Los Cabos reaffirmed its commitment to a tourism model that benefits visitors, residents, and the environment alike.
The destination has become one of the few in Mexico with a set of multidisciplinary guides that put responsible tourism at the heart of its development strategy. Since 2019, the Los Cabos Tourism Trust (FITURCA) has published 13 guides in collaboration with local communities and industry stakeholders:
- 1. Guide for Travel Agents (2019)
- 2. Groups and Conventions Guide (2019)
- 3. Wellness Guide (2020)
- 4. Specialized Luxury Guide (2021)
- 5. Responsible Tourist Guide to Cabo Pulmo (2022)
- 6. Sustainable Events Guide (2022)
- 7. Gastronomy Guide (2022)
- 8. Tourist Guide for the Spanish Market (2023)
- 9. Beach Guide (2023)
- 10. Rural Guide (2024)
- 11. Tourist Guide for the German Market (2024)
- 12. Diving and Marine Wildlife Guide (2025)
- 13. First Specialized Birdwatching Guide (2025)
The guides provide strategies for managing the destination and help visitors better understand Los Cabos, encouraging them to diversify their activities and ensure the long-term sustainability of the region’s economy and natural resources.
Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park exemplifies Los Cabos’ sustainable approach. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 and a RAMSAR wetland site in 2008, this 20,000-year-old coral reef, the largest and most diverse in North America, hosts more than 800 marine species, including five endangered sea turtle species.
Once degraded, Cabo Pulmo has undergone a remarkable regeneration, becoming both a conservation success story and a driver of local community well-being. To protect the park, FITURCA created the Responsible Tourist Guide to Cabo Pulmo, which urges visitors to manage waste responsibly, support local businesses, and respect both the environment and community traditions.
FITURCA has also extended responsible tourism practices to the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector. The Sustainable Events Guide provides concrete recommendations to minimize the environmental impact of events, from planning to post-production. It encourages event organizers to adopt sustainable suppliers and ensure that each gathering leaves a positive legacy for both visitors and residents.
Beyond environmental protection, the guides also strengthen the local economy by promoting consumption from small community businesses, women-led enterprises, rural producers, and ventures run by youth and older adults.
Rural towns like Miraflores and Santiago showcase the cultural heritage of Southern Baja California, preserving trades such as saddlery, palm weaving, carpentry, and the production of honey and traditional sweets. These activities not only support livelihoods but also give visitors an authentic glimpse into regional life.
“Through these guides, Los Cabos has established itself as a benchmark for responsible tourism in Mexico, thanks to its initiatives and tangible achievements in environmental preservation, cultural enrichment, and community well-being,” said Rodrigo Esponda, General Director of FITURCA. “We actively work to ensure that each visit leaves a positive mark, contributing to the health of ecosystems and the flourishing of our communities.”
Esponda added that the guides are just one of many initiatives aligned with UN Tourism’s One Planet program, which promotes responsible tourism across six pillars: public health, social inclusion, biodiversity conservation, climate action, circular economy, and governance.
“The ultimate goal is not to pursue less harmful tourism, but a model that actively mitigates environmental impacts,” he said. “We seek tourism that restores ecosystems, generates positive impact, and shares responsibility for the present and future of this vital region.”
The guides are available at: https://www.visitaloscabos.travel/industria/guias/descargar/
