Los CabosTravel Guide
Looking for an exciting new beach destination in Mexico? Los Cabos on the tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula is a popular resort region of golden sand beaches combined with striking desert landscapes.
Its two main tourist towns offer the best of both worlds — San José del Cabo is all about culture, history and beautiful Spanish colonial architecture, while Cabo San Lucas is the party town with its pumping nightlife and many high-end resorts.
Yes, things can get lively here, but there’s plenty more to this region than world-class nightclubs, sultry music, buckets of Corona and resort vibes. Outdoor activities include a variety of water sports, such as surfing, snorkelling, jet skiing and kayaking, while on land there’s bungee jumping, hiking through the desert, horseback riding and world-class golf courses surrounded by mountains with views of the Sea of Cortez.
Los Cabos is also a famous culinary hotspot where foodies can indulge in farm-to-fork Baja cuisine and sip local craft beer. Does this sound like your kind of place? Then dip into our Los Cabos Travel Guide for more!
Los Cabos quick facts
Language
National language
Spanish
Beverages
Bottle of Coke/Pepsi (330ml)
AUD $1.70
Local time
Thursday
5:07am
Currency
Mexican peso
AUD $1.00 = MXN $12.91
Eating out
Restaurant meal (casual dining)
AUD $15.48
Electricity
Plug type: A
2 or 3 pins • 127V
Explore Los Cabos
Where to stay in Los Cabos?
From glitzy resorts and hotels to villas, apartments and budget-friendly options, Los Cabos has something for you.
If you’re looking for family-friendly accommodation with all the bells and whistles for the adults, you can’t go wrong at Grand Velas. This luxury, all-inclusive boutique hotel boasts a wide range of facilities (including a dedicated kids’ club) and plenty of activities like morning yoga, cooking and dance classes, and e-bike tours. There’s also direct access to a private beach and shuttle services into town.
Montage is a contemporary 122-room hotel providing a front-row seat to Santa Maria Bay. Aside from the views, it has two swimming pools, an all-day restaurant and a private spa (the largest in Los Cabos!) The hotel also offers complimentary sunrise kayak excursions.
The Mayan Monkey is a fabulous option if you’re watching your budget. Close to all the action of the Marina’s restaurants, bars and clubs, and the beach, this hostel offers a range of accommodation from private rooms to dormitories. Amenities and services include a pool deck, shuttle service and entertainment in the form of happy hour and live music — what more could you want?
Exclusive adults-only accommodation doesn’t get better than Marquis Los Cabos. Overlooking the Sea of Cortez, this all-inclusive resort boasts gorgeous suites, a magnificent spa, a choice of four on-site restaurants and a well-equipped fitness centre. It’s also close to swimmable beaches and downtown San José del Cabo.
Keen to play a round of golf on a championship course? Dreams Golf Resort & Spa, 15 minutes from San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, is a golfer’s paradise. Enjoy unlimited gourmet dining, high-octane entertainment, and a top-notch pool and beach service.
Looking for value for money? The lovely three-star hotel Santa Maria Del Cabo is a five minutes’ walk from Las Mañanitas Beach and offers rooms overlooking the beach or the golf course. With a delicious inclusive breakfast, friendly staff and laidback atmosphere, it provides a more affordable and low-key option in San José del Cabo.
Believe us when we say, this is just the start. Book your accommodation today!
Things to do in Los Cabos
Mexico is a popular destination for cruise holidays and so is Los Cabos. If you love the idea of a hassle-free holiday with everything included, including all your activities, this might be your best option. But if you’re firmly on land, there are plenty of things to do in Los Cabos to keep you busy and entertained.
The fastest-growing resort area in Los Cabos, Cabo San Lucas is famous for its nightlife, shopping and culinary scenes. But there’s plenty more to do and see here. Tee off at one of the top-notch golf courses or head to the beautiful beaches like Lover’s Beach, where the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean meet. Whale watching is at its best in the middle of December and early April or take a glass-bottom boat tour for a bird’s-eye view of the sea (sounds weird, doesn’t it?). And don’t miss out on visiting the famous natural landmark of Los Cabos — the three-storey high granite archway El Arco — accessible by boat or kayak tour.
Time your visit to Los Cabos just right, and you could join the Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) festivities. Celebrated at the start of November, this national holiday acknowledges the symbiotic relationship between life and death. This unique event involves parades and costumes featuring calacas (skeletons) and calaveras (skulls). Guaranteed to be a fascinating experience!
Delivering a more artsy and laid-back experience, San José del Cabo is all about historic architecture, boutiques and galleries. Experience the town’s art walk, a regular event showcasing the many galleries and artists resident here, enjoy the trendy coffee shops, or use the town as a convenient base for day trips or hiking.
An underwater adventure is waiting for you at Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park. The living coral reef in the Sea of Cortez is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers some of the best diving in the world. Spot whale sharks, turtles and many colourful species of fish. You may even discover a shipwreck. Stay a while to make the most of this pristine park — glamping is part of the experience.
Los Cabos has many other diving hotspots, of course, and exciting activities like boat and canopy tours, extreme sports and even camel rides through the desert! Now, how to fit it all into your itinerary?
Looking for an immersive experience? Then a tour is the way to go.
Flights to Los Cabos
Los Cabos food and drink
Cuisine in Los Cabos is diverse in flavour and influences, from traditional Mexican and fusion to international (Italian, Peruvian, sushi — it’s all here!) But the region is best known for farm-to-table and sea-to-table dining, showcasing fresh, locally sourced ingredients and the culinary traditions of the Baja California peninsula. Look out for Mexican chocolate clams on the menu (don’t worry, they’re not dipped in chocolate!). These large clams in brown shells are a specialty. Carnivores will be happy to know that meat features on menus too!
With its beautiful garden setting in the Villa La Estancia Resort and Residences, it’s easy to see why most travel guides recommend La Casona steakhouse and piano bar in Cabo San Lucas. It’s a sophisticated take on a steakhouse that also caters to vegetarians and seafood fans, while featuring an extensive wine list. Drop in for breakfast, then head back again for dinner. This is fine dining at its best!
Wachinango’s in Cabo San Lucas is a bar, grill and fresh marisco (seafood) eatery with a fun and quirky beach hut vibe, but there’s no fast food here! It’s gourmet all the way. Popular dishes are the shrimp tacos and grilled octopus.
Street food, mostly Mexican-influenced, features on many restaurant menus in Los Cabos. And Baja fish tacos — the region's most famous street food item — can be found almost anywhere. When you’re out and about, you’ll find street food sold everywhere from taco stands, out of food carts or baskets on the front of bicycles, and from taquerías (front rooms of private homes)! Other popular dishes are quesadillas (grilled tortillas filled with cheese, chicken or beef) and tortas — a bun or sandwich stuffed with meat, cheese, avo, peppers and more. The torta suiza is a must-try with three different melted cheeses.
Hidden along a small dirt road in San José del Cabo, Huerta Los Tamarindos is an organic farm home to one of the best places to eat in town. Sit on the terrace overlooking the fields, tuck into Mediterranean-style food, a homemade pizza or hearty soup, and wash it all down with local wine. The farm also has an organic market and gift shop on-site and offers farm tours and cooking classes.
Get a real taste for the local cuisine by booking a tour.
Los Cabos through your eyes
Where to shop in Los Cabos?
If you’re planning to do some shopping in Los Cabos during your holiday, you’ll be happy to know there are plenty of shopping malls, local boutiques, curio shops and markets to browse through.
The multi-level Puerto Paraíso and high-end Luxury Avenue are the most popular malls in Cabo San Lucas. Since they’re located next to each other on the Marina, you can shop at both — easily! Housing the usual mall mix of luxury brands, top boutiques, a cinema, fast food outlets and kids’ entertainment, you can even extend your browsing to a third mall! The nearby Plaza Bonita is within walking distance.
San José del Cabo’s signature mall is Plaza del Pescador. Modern, spacious and offering a wealth of retail, entertainment and lifestyle elements, it really is the “place to be” as their tagline line states.
Enjoy a good flea market? Head to Mercado Mexicano in Cabo San Lucas, which sells everything from trinkets, T-shirts and hats to handmade goods and souvenirs. Enjoy interacting and mingling with the locals, bargaining and browsing, and going home with treasures you won’t find anywhere else.
Meanwhile, “Souvenir Central” is alive and well in downtown San José del Cabo! Plaza Artesanos is a treasure trove of local shops selling authentic Mexican jewellery, hats, dresses, masks, rugs and ceramics. If you’re looking for high-quality items without the hard-sell tactics, this is the place to stock up on gifts. You’ll also be shopping responsibly here, as everything is handmade locally.
Looking for a safe and simple way to bring your money when you travel? Our Travel Money Card has you covered!
When is the best time to travel to Los Cabos?
The Los Cabos region has a tropical desert climate with a warm winter (December to March), a hot summer (May to October), and a dry and wet season.
It’s an ideal holiday destination with more than 350 sunshiny days a year! And when you hear "wet season” you probably think it’s gushing for weeks on end, but the rainfall is actually less than 10in (25cm), and falls mainly during hurricane season (August to October).
The dry season falls into winter and extends to April. Temperatures are at an average high of around 26–28°C (79–82°F). Although the weather is optimal during this time of year, this is also peak season. Side note: American students on spring break arrive in their droves during February and March.
The best time to visit Los Cabos is from May to June, when the winter crowds have gone home and the summertime storms have yet to hit. The wet season officially kicks off from mid-June to November and although these months are much hotter — averaging within the low 30°sC (high 80°sF) — holiday deals are easy to find.
Don't miss out. Book your flight today!
How to get around Los Cabos
While there’s no traditional form of transport in Los Cabos — sorry no beach tuk-tuks — there are several modern options to get around.
Many visitors to Los Cabos arrive via boat from La Paz, a bustling city in Baja California Sur, but for those with a celebrity budget, private charter services are plentiful.
Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo are connected by a stretch of highway called the Tourist Corridor. The public transport system is the Suburcabos bus line, and these buses are a convenient and budget-friendly way to travel between the two towns.
Shuttle services and taxis are available at the hotels and resorts, while good old Uber also operates in Los Cabos.
The Los Cabos International Airport is about 12km from San José del Cabo and 35km from Cabo San Lucas and is serviced by many different airlines, such as American Airlines, United, Spirit Airlines and Delta. It’s also used for regional private charter services (for those celebrity budgets again).
If you like being independent and heading off on day trips, we suggest you rent a car.
Let us help you organise your own wheels for exploring. Hire a car today.
What are the best beaches in Los Cabos?
You’ve come to the right destination for pristine beaches! From bustling and secluded to family-friendly, plus several with Blue Flag status, the perfect beach awaits you.
Divorce Beach is situated on the Pacific Ocean side of the Baja California peninsula and near Cabo San Lucas. Secluded and picturesque, and only accessible by boat, it gets its name not from couples breaking up but from the rugged landscape of jagged rocks and huge waves. Please note that swimming here is very dangerous because of the strong currents!
Ironically, Divorce Beach is adjacent to Lover’s Beach on the calmer Sea of Cortez side. This beach is also only accessible by boat, but in contrast, swimming and snorkelling is safe here. The beach is next to the famous El Arco archway (See: Things to do in Los Cabos). Simply walk from here to Divorce Beach.
Santa Maria Beach is a beautiful horseshoe-shaped bay tucked between rocky cliffs. This protected marine sanctuary is under 20km from San José del Cabo and under 15km from Cabo San Lucas, and is a snorkeller’s paradise. Peaceful and uncommercialized, it offers general amenities but no restaurants or bars.
If you’re a surfer staying in Cabo San Lucas, the closest surf is at the beautiful Monuments Beach. Set against striking cliffs and rock formations, kayaking, sailing, scuba diving and snorkelling are just some of the other water sports popular here.
Excellent surf can also be found at Cerritos Beach, situated between Cabo San Lucas and Todos Santos. Both beginner and advanced surfers will find their perfect waves here and many stay to camp. If you don’t have a surfboard, you can easily rent one (and learn!) from one of the surf schools
Palmilla Beach, with its long stretch of white sand and crystal-clear waters, is among the swimmable beaches in Cabo San Lucas and popular with families. It is also secluded with limited amenities. Dotted with palapas (thatch umbrellas) and perfect for picnics, you can watch the fisherman launching their boats here. Buy freshly caught fish in the car park and your resort will happily cook it for you.
The calm bay at Chileno Beach, between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, is ideal for swimming and snorkelling among the reefs. A lovely, low-key spot, it offers useful amenities like palapas, restrooms and a nearby restaurant. It’s also easy to get to by taxi.
