Golden beaches, dramatic coastal scenery, and luxury resorts have made this one of Mexico’s premier vacation destinations. Whether you’re seeking lively nightlife, world-class dining, or a relaxing escape by the sea, this sun-soaked destination delivers it all.
Perched at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, Cabo San Lucas joins neighboring San José del Cabo to form the renowned Los Cabos region. Framed by the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California, it is famed for its spectacular beaches, luxury resorts, vibrant marina, and breathtaking desert-meets-ocean landscapes.
Whether you’re relaxing on pristine beaches, cruising the coastline, sampling fresh seafood and tropical cocktails, or exploring nearby towns and natural landmarks, Cabo San Lucas offers the perfect mix of adventure, relaxation, and unforgettable scenery.
Santa Maria Beach
Playa Del Amor and Playa El Medano bring in the crowds. One for its exotic beauty and the other for its rowdy atmosphere. But one way to escape the crowds and enjoy stunning scenery is with a day at Santa Maria Beach.
The beach is 20 minutes northeast from Cabo San Lucas. It’s within a sheltered bay that’s frequented by yachts and catamarans. The golden sand is flanked by equally golden rock cliffs that provide a startling contrast to the electric blue sea.
Santa Maria beach is within a marine sanctuary, providing exceptional snorkeling with ample coral, colorful fish and the odd sea turtle.
Deep-Sea Fishing
Cabo San Lucas’ position at the southern end of the Baja Peninsula puts it in an enviable position. Here, anglers will have direct access not only to the Sea of Cortez, but also the vast Pacific Ocean.
This has made Cabo San Lucas a celebrated city for those who love deep-sea fishing. It’s also a fantastic place to experience it for the first time. Its balmy and sheltered waters attract schools of marine life, including snappers, monstrous tuna and mahi mahi.
Tours usually depart early around sunrise, providing exceptional views as you depart the port. After enjoying life in the Pacific, return with your fresh catch, cut to perfection by your guide.
The Marina
Essentially the city’s downtown hub, the Marina comprises luxury yachts, waterfront restaurants and a vibrant promenade. The waterfront boardwalk is enveloped by bright orange buildings home to a range of local, national and international retail brands. These are spread between two shopping centers, the Puerto Paraiso Mall and Luxury Avenue.
Between the two malls are restaurants and bars that are a lovely spot to watch the opulent yachts come and go. To get up close to the impressive sailing yachts and motorboats, wander along the waterfront. This is also where many ocean-going tours depart, from whale watching to scuba diving
Cabo Pulmo Marine Preserve
You could spend all week venturing between local beaches and enjoying the sun. But to really experience the magical water around Cabo San Lucas, you have to explore the Cabo Pulmo Marine Preserve.
Scuba divers and snorkelers can experience an incredible underwater world, home to over 300 species of tropical fish swimming in and out of a beautiful coral reef. You may also spot tiger sharks, eels and playful sea turtles. It’s no wonder the preserve has been nicknamed the Aquarium of the World.
The best time to visit is during October and November when the water is balmy, the currents are minimal and the clarity is at its highest.
Play golf
Featuring over a dozen championship level golf courses, Cabo San Lucas is a golfer’s dream. Several of them have been designed by iconic golfers, such as Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, with many becoming some of the top courses in the world.
When you add in fantastic weather and some ocean views, you really are spoiled for choice. A few golf courses to keep your eye on include Puerto Los Cabos and Diamante’s Dunes. The former, designed by Nicklaus, is a 27-hole epic along the East Cape. As for Diamante’s Dream, this course comes with swirling dunes, jaw-dropping vistas and plenty of challenging situations.
Iglesia de San Lucas
Much of your time in Cabo San Lucas will be spent indulging in the beach experience. But there are several historic landmarks around town that are worth a visit. The best example of this is Iglesia de San Lucas.
Otherwise known as the Church of Saint Luke, the gorgeous building dates back to the early 18th century. Its elegant facade features classic Spanish colonial architecture with stone archways leading to the interior and two bell towers as old as the church.
Inglesia de San Lucas was originally surrounded by a quaint plaza. Today, the plaza has been revitalized and includes a vibrant atmosphere with restaurants and shops.
Playa Del Amor & Playa Del Divorcio
Behind Land’s End, is a duo of golden sand beaches split by rugged rock. One beach faces the calm Sea of Cortez and represents the beginning of a new romance, hence its name, Playa Del Amor (Lover’s Beach). On the other end, is Playa Del Divorcio (Divorce Beach), which faces the burly surf of the Pacific Ocean.
Both are equally beautiful, but with better swimming conditions and the chance to spot sunbathing sea lions, Playa Del Amor is the most popular. From the soft sand, you’ll have a close up view of the impressive Lands End monument along with the baby blue water to wade in.
There are no roads to either beach with the Sea of Cortez offering the only access. Travelers can jump on a water taxi, or paddle over from Medano Beach.
Todos Santos
A popular day trip from Cabo San Lucas, Todos Santos combines history, art and beautiful mountain scenery. Todos Santos is an hour north along the Pacific coast. The drive itself is a hit, taking you along the ocean and meandering through charming rural towns.
In Todos Santos, you’ll have no shortage of 19th century colonial architecture, alongside the town’s historic sugar mills. The surrounding countryside is laden with farms growing mangos, papayas and avocados. Along with the towering mountains, it’s easy to see why American artists arrived in such numbers.
Since the 1980s, Todos Santos has been the setting and inspiration for many painters. As such, no time in town is complete without exploring the many local galleries.
Go Whale Watching
From October to March, the whale watching season in Cabo San Lucas is in full swing. Migrating humpback whales arrive in immense numbers attracted both by the peninsula’s position in the Pacific Ocean and because of the number of local lagoons, which are favored breeding grounds.
The whales are a major attraction for travelers and you’ll find an abundance of tours to match demand. These tours will bring you out into the Gulf and the Pacific in search of these majestic beasts. The local boats are small to not scare off the whales, so dress with the expectation of getting wet. With such large numbers of whales, you’ll be hard pressed to arrive back on land without a sighting or two.
Playa El MĂ©dano
Starting from the all-inclusive, adults only Breathless Resort, Playa El Medano is the busiest beach in town. The action here is non-stop and even if you’re tucked under the beach umbrella and reading a page turner, you can’t help but take part.
Hordes of scantily clad beachgoers roam between the effervescent water, the sand and the slew of beachfront watering holes. But when guests aren’t sipping on colorful cocktails and taking in the sun, they’re embarking on one of the many beach activities.
On Playa El Medano, you’ll have your choice of jet skiing, kayaking, high speed tubing and parasailing well above the Gulf of California.
San José del Cabo
When you hear the term Cabo, people are often referring not just to Cabo San Lucas but the neighboring city of San Jose del Cabo. The sister city is the more reserved of the two with the charming town 30 minutes north along the coast from Cabo San Lucas.
A day trip to San Jose Del Cabo starts with a bang with the spectacular road trip along the Baja Peninsula. Upon arrival, you’ll have the chance to peel back the curtain on Mexican history as you explore what is the equivalent of a classic European “Old City”.
Although you won’t find Roman ruins, you’ll discover beautiful cobblestone streets that are teeming with life and culture. All roads lead to the stylish plaza where you’ll have to choose between a range of delectable restaurants.
Chileno Beach
Other beaches in Cabo San Lucas are renowned for their waterfront party atmosphere. As enthralling as that is, if you’re seeking a more serene day by the ocean then pack your gear and head to Chileno Beach.
The water here is exceedingly calm and crystal clear. It’s a popular spot for snorkeling, and those exploring the underwater world will be privy to a close up view of schools of tropical fish. With fantastic clarity, snorkelers will be able to see vast distances without having to go far from shore.
Like the ocean, Chileno Beach is relaxing. With no rowdy establishments you can kick back and make your own fun. This does mean, however, you’ll need to come prepared with your own food and drink.
Land’s End
The famous natural landmark known eloquently as Land’s End is found at the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula. It’s here that the tides change, the Pacific Ocean completes its journey into the Gulf of California.
The best way to see Lands End, otherwise known as El Arco, is on a boat tour. There are plenty of options along the waterfront and each tour has something different to offer. One thing to keep in mind is that not all tours will have English-speaking guides.
Most experiences will last around an hour, bringing you up close to the elegant sandstone arch that spectacularly frames the horizon. Other highlights include Scooby Doo Rock alongside other sea stacks rising from the swirling ocean.