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Last updated on January 15th, 2023
Cabo San Lucas is a popular travel destination in Mexico. It is known for its delicious food, nightlife, and pristine beaches. Whether you are looking for a luxury getaway, adventurous excursions, or vibrant nightlife, Cabo has a little bit for everyone.
When many people think of Cabo, they think of luxurious getaways, but it is much more than that. Although Cabo is a place full of nightlife and luxury hotels, it is also a magnificent place to immerse yourself in nature.
This guide takes you through our trip and includes some of the top things to do in Cabo San Lucas.
Where to Stay in Cabo
Vacation Rentals
Since there were several of us, we chose to stay in an Airbnb only minutes away from Medano Beach. Cabo San Lucas has become a popular vacation destination, and many new communities have been constructed over the last several years as vacation homes and rentals. We stayed in a new gated community that had both condos and single-family homes.
The home we stayed in was over 3,000 square feet with three bedrooms, a rooftop terrace with grill and firepit, lounge pool, and views of the Cabo Arch. Our Airbnb property manager was friendly and offered to book tours and gave us suggestions for the best things to do in the area.
The best part of the property was the outdoor living space. Both the main floor terrace with pool and rooftop gave us spectacular views of the Sea of Cortez.
Hotels & Resorts
If you want more of a resort experience and to be close to the downtown area, then I recommend staying at a hotel. Here are some fabulous options that are within walking distance of Medano Beach.
Moderately Prices Hotels
- Villa La Estancia Resort
- Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa
- Bahia Hotel and Beach House
- Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort
Luxury Hotels
Want more options? Check out some other fabulous hotels in the area.
How to Get Around Cabo
Rent a Car
The easiest way to get around is by car. The airport has several car rental companies for affordable prices. Our car came to as little as $32 a day. If you are worried about driving around Los Cabos, don’t be!
The main highway is easy to navigate, and there are signs everywhere. If you are renting a car, I do recommend getting the international data plan on your phone to use your GPS. Parking in downtown Cabo is pretty easy as well. There is a huge mall next to the marina that has a large parking deck to park your car.
Join a Tour Group
If you are staying on the strip at a hotel and do not plan on exploring the other areas of Cabo, you could probably get away without one. Many of the hotels work cooperatively with tour companies, which will come and pick you up directly from your hotel.
Hotels are also happy to book transportation for you to the airport. The strip is in the heart of the downtown area, so you can easily walk to Medano Beach and the Marina from there.
Take a Taxi
Taxis are another great option for getting around if you do not need to rent a car or would prefer not to take public transportation. We did use a taxi a couple of weekend nights to take us to the downtown area.
Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas
There are so many things to do in Cabo to keep you busy. From their world-class golf courses to outdoor excursions, there’s something for everyone.
There are numerous tour companies in the area that offer a variety of excursions, and many hotels work with some of these companies to offer great deals and packages. Here are some exciting activities to try while you’re in Cabo San Lucas.
Visit the Cabo Arch
The Cabo Arch is a famous rock formation at the end of the Baja Peninsula where the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean meet. Boat tours will take you over to the arch, with many including snorkeling or diving expeditions.
You can either book your tour online or walk into one of the local tourist shops around the marina to schedule one. I do recommend booking a tour early in the morning.
The arch is one of the most popular attractions, and the water is filled with boats trying to get a picture of the rock formation. If you’re lucky, you might even get a glimpse of some sea lions on the rocks.
Some popular tours to the Arch:
Relax on the Beach
Medano Beach
The main beach in Cabo is Medano Beach. It is also the busiest and most lively one around. The beach is popular due to its location to the marina and town center. Many of the resorts have access to this beach.
Numerous restaurants also have tables on the sand overlooking the bay. Medano Beach is the most vibrant beach around, with lots to do.
Chileno Beach
Chileno Beach was one of my favorite beaches to go to. It is not as touristy or as crowded as the other beaches. One morning, we went as early as 9 am and were the first people there.
It is also easier to swim than some of the others. The water here is much calmer and clearer, making it a great place for snorkeling and paddleboarding. Chileno Beach is easy to get to and has a free parking lot.
If you are looking to soak up the sun in a more relaxing setting, this beach is perfect!
Lover’s Beach
Lover’s Beach is on Land’s End near the arch. The secluded beach is tucked between two large rock formations and is a great place to swim in the Sea of Cortez.
The only way to get there is by boat. Many boat taxis will take you from Medano Beach to Lover’s Beach. You can also kayak or paddleboard over there if the water is calm enough.
The earlier you can get there, the better. Lover’s Beach gets very crowded in the middle of the afternoon.
Santa Maria Beach
Santa Maria Beach is along the Tourist Corridor, just down the road from Chileno Beach. It sits between two large granite rocks, which allows shelter from the wind and surf.
The waters here are therefore much calmer, making for a perfect location for water sports. I recommend snorkeling around this area. There are many tropical fish that you will be able to see close to the shore.
Explore the Water
I recommend doing some snorkeling or scuba diving while you’re in Cabo. There are many different places you can go, but I do recommend either Chileno or Santa Maria Beaches if you want to go out on your own.
The water is much calmer here and less crowded. Try getting there early in the day before the sailboats show up. That will be the best time to see the fascinating marine life. If you want to snorkel further offshore, then you will want to join a tour group.
Our first excursion was a snorkel tour to these two beaches. This catamaran tour included an open bar, snacks, and snorkel gear.
The tour started at the marina at Merano Beach and took us for a cruise around the Sea of Cortez before anchoring in Chileno and Santa Maria Beach. Once there, you could freely hop into the water to explore or soak up the sun and enjoy a drink on the catamaran.
Other Snorkeling and Diving Tours:
- Snorkeling at Chileno Bay and Santa Maria Cove
- Luxury Sailing, Snorkel, and Lunch
- Snorkeling Cruise with Open Bar
- Catamaran and Snorkeling Adventure
- Half-Day Snorkel (Includes swimming with the sharks)
- Scuba Diving in Cabo San Lucas
Scuba Dive at Cabo Pulmo
Cabo Pulmo is another incredible place for diving and only a four-hour drive from Cabo San Lucas. With over 17,000 acres of the protected area, it is one of the best marine parks in the world. It is also home to the only coral reef in the area.
Here you will find over 300 species of fish alone. For the best diving and snorkeling experience, I recommend coming here over the beaches in San Lucas. Never dived before? That’s okay! There are many diving courses that you can take in Cabo Pulmo.
Popular Excursions:
Spend the Day Sailing
The best way to explore the sea is by boat. There are many luxury yachts and catamarans that you can rent for the day that will take you around the water and offer lunch and open bars.
For a more romantic experience, try taking a sunset cruise. Cruises last a couple of hours and take you to Land’s End for spectacular views of the sunset. Companies vary in price and packages.
More affordable cruise options start at about $85, and more luxurious ones can cost upwards of $500 per person.
Top day and sunset cruise options:
- Day-time Sailing Excursion (From $129)
- Day-time Sailing and Snorkeling (From $90)
- Sunset Party Cruise with Open Bar (From $71)
- Luxury Sunset Sail (From $95)
- Sunset Dinner Cruise (From $89)
- Luxury Sunset Sailboat Excursion (From $199)
- Sunset Yacht Cruise with Open Bar (From $95)
Take an ATV Tour
Take an ATV Tour around Rancho Carisuva. The ranch is known for its work with wildlife preservation and provedes horseback riding and ATV excursions. The tour lasts two hours and comes with all the gear you need.
It starts through desert trails and takes you along the beach. The best part of the excursion was riding on the sand and watching the waves hit the shores as we rode.
Our guide let us stop on top of a cliff to enjoy the spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. When we got back to the ranch, we were allowed to walk around and pet the animals.
Additional ATV Tours
Go on a Shark/Snorkel Dive
Yes, I am absolutely recommending this snorkeling excursion. When my boyfriend first mentioned he wanted to go swimming with sharks, I thought he was insane. Turns out, this was my absolute favorite thing we did on our trip and an experience
I will always remember. We used Cabo Shark Dive. We met the group at the pier of the marina for the afternoon excursion. There were six of us total, with three crew members, one of which was an experienced diver.
Our guides took us first around to Land’s End for a picture with the arch. Then, we continued out into the ocean for our shark dive.
Our guides were extremely knowledgeable and taught us a lot about the sharks in the area and how they are truly misunderstood creatures. We were very lucky to find another small boat that had already chummed the water and had been able to find a shark.
We, therefore, anchored our boat and put on our gear. The water is extremely cold so we were each given a wetsuit and snorkel gear. Before we knew it, we had a five-foot mako shark circling our boat.
To be completely honest, I was a nervous wreck at this point when our guide told us it was time to get in the water. Our diving instructor was to get in with us while the other two guides stayed on the boat to watch for sharks.
We each took turns getting into the water and had to swim to a long line that had been thrown in for us. We were told to all hold onto the line facing the same direction and simply float on the top of the water with our heads submerged. Our instructor was at the end of the line to hold it.
When I first got into the water, my heart was beating a mile a minute. Once I got to the line, I went calm. And then came the first mako.
I cannot describe how amazing this experience was. The mako swam around us but never once came directly at us. After a couple of minutes another showed up, and then another.
We spent maybe 20 minutes in the water, floating calmly and being utterly mesmerized by these beautiful creatures swimming so close by. Never in a million years did I think I would be so calm with these creatures circling just feet from me. It was incredible!
Looking back now, I am upset with myself for not renting a GoPro to document this experience.
Finally, we each took turns swimming back to the boat and headed back to shore. According to the instructor, we were extremely lucky to see three sharks that day.
Some people can spend hours on the boat and not get a glimpse of even one. Of all the excursions I have ever done, this was one I will always remember.
For someone who gets a little uneasy with swimming in open water, that says a great deal. If you don’t do anything else in Cabo, you have to try this amazing shark dive!
Here is the link for our Snorkeling Excursion with Cabo Shark Dive. The company also offers diving excursions.
Swim With the Whale Sharks
If you are not quite ready to swim with makos and hammerheads, try swimming with whale sharks instead! Although they can grow up to 30 feet in length, these sharks are herbivores and are quite gentle. Whale shark season is between September and April.
Popular Excursions:
- Full-Day Whale Shark Expedition in La Paz
- Full-Day Whale Shark Expedition in Cabo San Lucas
- Whale Shark Snorkeling with Lunch
Go Whale Watching
The Seas of Cortez is full of fabulous marine life. It is also one of the best places to see humpback whales. The best time to go whale watching is between December and April, which is when they come to the area to breed.
Unfortunately, we visited in July and were not able to see any. Several great companies will take you on a Whale Watching excursion. Cabo Adventures is one that I highly recommend.
We used them for a couple of other excursions. They were very knowledgeable about marine life in the area. They also offer a Whale Watching excursion.
Some popular whale watching tours:
Try a New Water Sport
Any type of water sport you want is available in Cabo San Lucas. Whether you want to jetski, parasail, surf, or kayak, this can all be done at Medano Beach. Many tours will also take you to the less crowded beaches in the area, which I highly recommend doing for a more relaxing water excursion.
TIP: The prices for equipment rentals are always negotiable. Try haggling the price down a bit. Most places are very flexible with this.
Surfing
San José del Cabo is one of the best places to catch the waves. For beginner surfers, Playa Acapulquito and Cerritos Beach are great places to surf.
Monuments Beach is primarily a surfing location and is where novice servers go for more challenging waves. If you are new to surfing, several places offer beginner lessons and include equipment rentals.
Jet Skiing
Jet Skiing is a fun water sport that allows you to see Los Cabo in a different way. Excursions will take you around the bay and up close to the Arch and Lovers Beach.
This particular Jet Ski Excursion also takes you further out in the Sea of Cortez, where you can ride along the coastline and enjoy looking at the luxury resorts and private residents along the water.
Parasailing
For a bird’s eye view of the water, try parasailing. What better way to see the fabulous landscape than 600 feet above the water? There are a few companies that will take you around the bay to the Baja peninsula and Land’s End.
Rent a Paddle board or Kayak
One of the most relaxing ways to explore the waters is by paddle board or kayak. It is also a great way to get up close and personal with the sea life. You can either rent one to enjoy on your own or organize a group tour.
Many excursion companies offer tours that include a variety of activities so you can experience as much of the water as possible.
Next, we docked on Lover’s Beach for a chance to walk around and explore the rock formations and stare out to the Pacific Ocean. From there, we slipped on snorkel gear for a dip in the water. I was surprised by how cold it was! After a few minutes, I got used to the temperature and was distracted by the fish that I no longer noticed. There is a rock called Pelican Rock sitting in the middle of the water where we were able to get up close to the birds during our snorkel.Other great tours include:
Enjoy the Nightlife
The central part of Cabo is full of bars, clubs, and restaurants that are open late into the night. The strip is conveniently located near the marina, within walking distance of Medano Beach and hotels. Some well-known bars are Cabo Wabo, Nowhere Bar, and El Squid Roe, but there is an infinite number of places to go. No matter what day of the week, once nighttime hits, the downtown area turns into a much more vibrant area. On the weekends, every restaurant and club was full of both locals and tourists. If you want to spend your night downtown but are looking for a more laid-back area, walk a few blocks past the marina. There you will find the more local part of town. Many of the restaurants and bars here are open just as late, but they are not as crowded and more laid-back.
Day Trip to San José del Cabo
San José is another beautiful place to visit and is only a half-hour drive from Can San Lucas. The area has a much quieter vibe yet still offers the same beautiful outdoor experiences. San José has some pristine beaches, great shopping, and fabulous restaurants. We spent our last full day in San Jose and fell in love. The best part of San Jose was that it is not as well known, making for a less touristy experience.
Have Dinner at Flora Farms
Flora Farms is a beautiful 25-acre organic farm in San José del Cabo. The property offers travel accommodations, a grocery store, spa, several shops, and a delicious restaurant. The farm grows over 100 varieties of vegetables and herbs alone, all of which are used in their restaurant. On our last night in Cabo, we drove 30 minutes to Flora Farms for dinner at the Field kitchen.
Everything on their menu is made from fresh farm ingredients. The menu is seasonal since it is based solely on what is grown locally. I recommend making reservations for the Farm kitchen prior to going. Our waiter was extremely hospitable and knew the menu like the back of his hand. He also suggested some drinks to try, which was quite refreshing. Everything we ordered was delicious, including the cocktails. During dinner, the restaurant had a live band perform who was just as spectacular as the meal.
The farm was so tranquil that we spent the rest of the night listening to music and wandering around the area. We grabbed an ice cream from the cart and walked around the little shops and explored the property. Make sure to check out their market, where you can buy many of their jams, bread, ice creams, and deserts before you leave!
Play a Round of Golf
