Mexico Tourist Hotspots Double Down on Taxes
Mexico's top tourist destinations popular with Californians are doubling down on tourism taxes to fund security and infrastructure amid ongoing cartel violence concerns. Places like Cancun, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta are hiking surcharges on hotel and resort stays to reassure visitors and maintain appeal despite negative headlines.
In Baja California Sur, home to Cabo San Lucas, a mandatory "Embrace It" tax for foreign visitors was implemented in June 2025 and has already increased. As of January 2026, the fee rose from 470 pesos to 488 pesos (about $28 USD) per person for anyone over 12 staying more than 24 hours. The funds from Baja California Sur's tax are funneled into a state infrastructure trust. The stated uses are broad, covering environmental protection and cultural projects, but explicitly include supporting public safety and health services. Payment must be made online before travel, and visitors receive a QR code they may be required to show authorities. The state of Quintana Roo, which includes Cancún, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen, charges a tourist tax known as "Visitax." The fee is approximately 283 Mexican pesos ($15.80 USD) and applies to all foreign visitors over the age of four who arrive by air. Revenue from Quintana Roo's Visitax is legally earmarked for specific uses, including sargassum cleanup, infrastructure projects like the new Nichupté Bridge in Cancún, and, critically, funding the increased presence of the National Guard and tourist police to keep resort zones safe. Unlike other fees that are often bundled into airfare, Visitax must be paid separately online through an official government portal. After years of lax enforcement, authorities at Cancún International Airport have begun actively checking for proof of payment before security, pulling aside travelers who haven't paid. Meanwhile, an attempt to add a new tourist entry fee in Puerto Vallarta was struck down by Mexico's Supreme Court as unconstitutional in late 2025. However, the state of Jalisco is still increasing its lodging tax, which will rise from 4 percent to 5 percent in January 2026, adding to the cost of hotel stays. These tax hikes come as the Mexican government deploys thousands of troops and federal officers to tourist areas to bolster security. In Quintana Roo alone, the governor has deployed 10,000 personnel to reassure visitors and residents amid ongoing security concerns. Hotel associations have voiced concerns over the implementation of these taxes. The Mexican Caribbean Hotel Council has criticized the "deceptive" way the Visitax is collected, while successfully lobbying against a proposal that would have forced hotels to collect the fee themselves. In Los Cabos, hotel groups initially stated that no framework was in place for the "Embrace It" tax when it was first announced.
