Baja California Sur Projects 332 Million Pesos From Baja 1000 Weekend

Baja California Sur is projecting an economic impact above 332 million pesos — roughly $17.8 million — between November 13 and 16, when the SCORE Baja 1000 overlaps with Mexico's Revolution Day long weekend. The number comes from SETUE, the state tourism and economy secretariat that tracks hotel bookings and visitor spending across the state's five municipalities.

Secretary Maribel Collins Sánchez said the state expects about 120,000 tourists in hotels, with average occupancy reaching 80 percent. The timing helps: Monday, November 16 is Día de la Revolución, a statutory holiday on the third Monday of November, and this year it lands directly after the race.

Why the Course Change Matters for Sellers

This is the 59th edition of the Baja 1000 and the first time in its history the race runs entirely within Baja California Sur, rather than crossing the peninsula from neighboring Baja California. Collins Sánchez flagged that shift herself. For hoteliers and tour operators outside the Los Cabos–La Paz core, it moves the money.

The route passes through all five municipalities, near towns such as Ciudad Constitución, Puerto San Carlos and Los Barriles. Race teams, chase crews, mechanics and spectators will spend well beyond the resort corridor. The roughly 1,500-kilometer course also runs near Todos Santos and Cabo San Lucas.

Where the Occupancy Sits

SETUE's regional projections tell the story:

• Los Cabos: 78 percent
• La Paz: 75 percent
• Loreto: 76–85 percent
• Mulegé: 85–90 percent
• Comondú: 100 percent

Comondú selling out is the detail worth noting. A full house in a small municipality on a race route is a different revenue profile than 78 percent in Los Cabos, where the base is far larger.

Two Estimates, One Official Number

Not everyone is quoting the same figure. On November 11, Peninsular Digital reported a projection above 700 million pesos (about $37.6 million), also attributed to the state tourism secretariat, alongside occupancy above 75 percent and more than 100,000 visitors.

Neither report explains the gap, and Peninsular Digital does not say how its number was calculated. Only the 332-million-peso figure appears in SETUE's own published bulletin, so that stands as the official projection. Treat the larger figure as unverified until the state clarifies.

The Field and the Logistics

Organizers counted 274 registered teams as of November 8, representing 19 countries plus competitors from 37 US states and Puerto Rico. It's the final round of the 2026 SCORE World Desert Championship, with awards on Sunday, November 15.

The start and finish line sits on Bulevar Centenario in San José del Cabo, between Álvaro Obregón and Manuel Doblado. Motorcycles and ATVs start at 1:00 a.m. on Friday, November 13; cars, trucks and UTVs follow at 9:00 a.m., after the official ceremony at 8:15 a.m. Temporary closures will affect the race corridor, and fuel stations and small-town businesses along the route should see a bump in traffic.

How to Read the Numbers

For comparison: when the race started on the La Paz malecón in 2023, SETUE reported record occupancy and an economic impact above 100 million pesos — a fraction of either figure floating around this year. Whether the final tally lands nearer 332 million or 700 million won't be clear until SETUE publishes its post-event count, and sellers along the route should budget expectations accordingly.