Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: urban growth in a desert coastal setting

Cabo San Lucas is a city in Mexico which has undergone significant urban expansion in recent years, growing into a key tourist and residential centre. Located at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, the city has progressively extended beyond its original limits, with new districts and infrastructure spreading into the surrounding desert terrain.

These Copernicus Sentinel-2 near-infrared composites, acquired respectively on 13 March 2017 (left) and 11 March 2026 (right), illustrate these changes. Built-up areas are visible in light grey and reveal a clear outward growth pattern, particularly inland and along major road networks. Vegetation appears in bright red tones, while the desert landscape is shown in shades of brown, providing contrast with the expanding urban areas.

Copernicus Sentinel data supports the monitoring of urban dynamics and land-use change, providing valuable insights into how cities evolve over time.