Los Cabos Receives the Designation of “City of Birds” at its First International Festival

With great enthusiasm and a spirit of environmental commitment, the First International Bird Festival of Los Cabos was held in the municipality. The event officially awarded the “Bird City” designation, making this tourist destination the second in Mexico to receive this recognition.

The event brought together specialists, academics, government representatives, private sector representatives, rural communities, and civil society, with the aim of highlighting the municipality’s natural wealth and consolidating actions that guarantee the conservation of birds and their habitats.

A Responsible Achievement

For Emer García, head of the Habitat and Key Species Conservation Laboratory at the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur (UABCS), Los Cabos Extension, this designation is a significant step, but above all a challenge:

“More than just a celebration, it’s a commitment. We must redouble our efforts to conserve birds and their habitats. This recognition is given to us for the work we’ve done together with strategic partners, but it compels us to continue and be a global example in conservation,” he noted.

The academic announced that manuals of best practices for birdwatching will be developed, as well as training and certification workshops for birdwatching guides. All of this will be carried out in coordination with the state and municipal governments, the private sector, and organized civil society.

A Historic Day for Los Cabos

The Director General of Ecology and Environment, Nataly Cruz Ocampo, highlighted the significance of this achievement, both in terms of conservation and in promoting sustainable tourism.

“It’s a historic day for Los Cabos. This designation has two major impacts: on the one hand, the protection of ecosystems, flora, and fauna, and on the other, the strengthening of birdwatching as a tourism segment that engages rural communities and offers new development opportunities,” she explained.

Currently, it is estimated that around 300 bird species, both migratory and resident, live in the municipality. Among them is the Peninsular Masked Warbler, endemic to Baja California Sur and in danger of extinction, making the region an enclave of high biological value.

The official emphasized that the participation of hotels, FITURCA, civil associations, and local communities has been essential to achieving this goal, and announced that they seek to make this festival an annual tradition.

Three Days of Conferences, Culture, and Birdwatching

The festival, held from September 25 to 27, included conferences, workshops, photography exhibitions, cultural activities, and birdwatching tours at sites such as La Ribera, Santiago, Estero de San José, and Ocho Cascadas in Cabo San Lucas.

Jorge López Espinosa, Director of Natural Resources and Wildlife, emphasized that this effort is the result of months of coordinated work across different sectors:

“This award marks a before and after for Los Cabos. As with the Blue Flag beaches, we are now recognized for our environmental commitment. It’s a plus for the destination, which highly values ​​international tourism focused on sustainability,” he stated.

The official noted that nature tourism, especially birdwatching, generates significant economic benefits per capita, as visitors in this segment tend to have a high interest in authentic experiences with low environmental impact.

Synergy between Science, Tourism, and Communities

Both authorities and academics agreed that obtaining the “City of Birds” title would not have been possible without the UABCS Los Cabos Extension, an institution that led the scientific studies to document the municipality’s biodiversity.

In addition, the participation of NGOs such as Isla, residents of the Estero de San José, hoteliers, FITURCA, CONANP, and the Institute of Culture and the Arts was recognized, providing resources, organization, and dissemination to the event.

A fundamental part of this strategy, Cruz Ocampo pointed out, will be empowering rural communities and local ranchers, who serve as hosts for birdwatching tours, generating alternative income and strengthening community conservation.

Inclusion and Environmental Education

The festival also included a focus on social inclusion. In collaboration with the Municipal Institute for Disabilities and the university, equipment and training have been implemented so that people with disabilities can enjoy birdwatching.

Environmental education will also be promoted through photography exhibitions, talks, and school visits, with the aim of raising awareness about the importance of birds as indicators of ecosystem health.

Toward a Sustainable Future

With the awarding of the “City of Birds” designation, Los Cabos joins Cozumel in this international network of destinations committed to biodiversity conservation. For local authorities, this is a new seal of identity that complements the destination’s tourism offering, recognized worldwide for its beaches and marine resources.

The official awarding ceremony was attended by Mayor Christian Agúndez Gómez, the rector of the UABCS, Dante Salgado, and various national and international figures from the field of conservation.

In the words of Jorge López Espinosa, the challenge is just beginning:

“We must commit to maintaining a healthy estuary, caring for our oases, and complying with international conservation treaties. This festival is just the beginning of a long-term effort that will position Los Cabos as a world leader in birdwatching and environmental protection.”

With more than 800 people registered for the various activities, the First Los Cabos International Bird Festival not only celebrated recognition, but also consolidated a vision: that of a tourist destination committed to sustainability, science, and community participation as the cornerstones of its future.