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Beloved by US expats and cruise passengers alike, Los Cabos is a sun-drenched holiday hot spot on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.
It’s a destination that blends luxurious all-inclusive resorts, ritzy restaurants, and bustling bars and boutiques with an arid beauty characterised by dramatic rocky coastline and sweeping beaches, striking mountain peaks, and quintessential desert landscapes. One minute you can be surrounded by high-rise apartments, the next, towering desert cacti. It’s quite a contrast!
Whether you’re visiting the region for a relaxing beach break, a culinary journey of discovery, or an adrenaline-fuelled adventure, this dual-city municipality — comprising of resort hub Cabo San Lucas (often referred to simply as ‘Cabo’) and the more locally flavoured San Jose del Cabo — offers experiences that will appeal to every type of traveller.
Just a tip on travelling to this part of Mexico; navigating the arrival experience at Los Cabos International Airport and getting to your accommodation without being taken to the cleaners en route can be a challenge. This is one of the country’s busiest tourist gateways and is fraught with overpriced transportation traps. To avoid the stress, put a plan in place before you land. One of the best options is to pre-book a fixed price private transfer. SJD Taxi, Cabo Airport Shuttle, and Trans Cabo offer fixed-rate door-to-door services to Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, and the resort corridor in between. Expect to pay between $75 and $95 USD for the 50-kilometre trip.
All settled? Great! Here’s a checklist of our top ten things to do in Los Cabos on a first visit.
1. Admire El Arco De Cabo San Lucas
Perched on the close-to-southernmost tip of the Baja peninsula, within cooee of Cabo, El Arco is a limestone arch that rises from the point where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez. This natural attraction can only be reached by boat and there’s no shortage of tour operators who will be happy to take you there. Choose from glass-bottom boat trips, sunset sightseeing cruises, or more lavish private charters. You may see sea lions basking on nearby rocks and the clear waters below are home to myriad marine life. The aforementioned sunset trips are an opportunity to add something truly magical to your Insta feed.
2. Snorkel in Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park
Located about two hours’ drive north-east of Cabo San Lucas, Cabo Pulmo is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed marine sanctuary and is home to one of the oldest coral reefs in North America. Snorkelling here reveals a rich biodiversity of underwater species, and you may see schools of yellow snapper, wandering sea turtles, and gracefully moving rays. A guided tour from Cabo makes the process easy, and will usually include road transport, the trip out to three or four dive sites in a local panga (speedboat), snorkelling equipment, and lunch. The marine park itself is a model of community-led conservation and there are strict regulations in place to protect its fragile beauty.
3. Go whale watching
Los Cabos is arguably one of the best whale watching destinations in the world. Gray whales migrate thousands of miles from the Arctic to feed, mate, and calve in the warm shallow waters that surround the Baja peninsula. You’re also likely to spot humpbacks and they tend to steal the show for whale watching cruise passengers with their breaching and tail slapping. Choose a cruise manned by a qualified marine biologist and enjoy expert commentary throughout the experience.
4. Explore the Art District in San Jose Del Cabo
Culture vultures will love exploring San Jose del Cabo’s Art District — a collage of colourful buildings and cobblestones streets festooned with flags. Each Thursday evening between November and June, the precinct hosts a night market known as the Art Walk. Browse for fine art, folk crafts, and a mix of traditional and contemporary Mexican decor items. You’ll often find the artist on hand to discuss their inspiration. Even if you’re not in town for the Art Walk itself, it’s well worth spending some time exploring the historic centre of San Jose. First constructed in the 1700s and rebuilt a number of times, the Mission de San Jose del Cabo Anuiti Catholic Church is a photogenic highlight.
5. Hike the Sierra De La Laguna Biosphere Reserve
After a few days in Cabo San Lucas, you may find yourself quite keen to escape the tourist crowds. A hike in the Sierra de la Laguna mountains, 70 kilometres north of Cabo, is the perfect antidote and you’ll see an entirely different side of the peninsula. This highland biosphere reserve of pin oak forests, plunging waterfalls, and cactus-dotted canyons was once home to Los Cabo’s indigenous nomadic people (the Pericu), who disappeared sometime in the 1700s. A guided walk with a qualified guide is the best way to go. You’ll learn about the region’s incredible flora and fauna (including no less than 80 species of bird, some of which are endemic to these mountains), and hear how the Pericu once lived.
6. Unwind at Chileno Bay
Situated midway between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose Del Cabo along what is known as the ‘Tourist Corridor’, Chileno Bay is a gem of a beach with soft golden sand, a small swell, and incredible snorkelling right off the shoreline. It’s protected by a coral reef where you’re likely to spot parrotfish, angelfish, and even the odd octopus. Given its gentle temperament (and the fact that it’s well outside the Cabo hubbub), Chileno is popular with families. It features clean and well-maintained facilities, shaded palapas (thatched shade huts), and is regularly patrolled. You get there by car, public bus, or water taxi from the Cabo San Lucas Marina.
7. Dine in style at Cocina De Autor
Traditional Mexican staples like tamales, tacos, and tostadas will likely feature prominently in your Cabo diet, but that doesn’t mean posh nosh is off the menu. There are some incredible restaurants here, and if you have the cash to splash the sky’s the limit. Right up there is Cocina de Autor at the Grand Velas Los Cabos Hotel. Sporting a Michelin star, this oceanfront eatery serves an eight- to ten-course tasting menu that gives local culinary traditions an international spin. The presentation is flawless and the wine pairings are highly memorable. If you’re celebrating something special, you can’t go wrong here.
8. Do a sunset cruise
A sunset cruise in Cabo is pure romance — or revelry — depending on your style. Choose to cruise on a luxury catamaran where champagne and dinner are served, or opt for a lively drinks cruise complete with an open bar, a DJ, and on-deck dancing. Whichever option floats your boat, you’re guaranteed stunning views of Land’s End, El Arco, Lover’s Beach, the Cabo waterfront, and of course, that fiery Baja sunset.
9. Get active on and off the beach
Los Cabos’ beaches are breathtaking, but if your idea of a good time on holiday involves more than simply face planting on a towel — never fear. There are plenty of active pursuits on offer, including jet skiing, flyboarding, parasailing, and even eFoil surfing (Google it!). Alternatively, go old school; surf boards, surf skis, kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards are available for hire at most major beaches.
Away from the beach, zip lining, bungee jumping, and quad biking are all fun ways to shake things up.
10. Book a holiday photo shoot
While it’s not a uniquely Mexican phenomenon, the holiday photography package is definitely ‘a thing’ in Cabo. Perhaps it’s the dramatic coastal setting and sublime sunsets, but the idea of discarding your selfie stick and getting a professional to take the holiday snaps suddenly makes perfect sense here. It’s a seriously competitive industry too, so shop around. You’ll spend your allotted time working with a professional photographer on the beach to capture the linen-clad holiday god or goddess within. Work it baby.
This post was published thanks to SJD Taxi.
Browse our range of Los Cabos tours and experiences here.
Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of the top things to do in Los Cabos? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.
Additional images: Depositphotos and Envato
About the writer
Adam Ford is editor of Top Oz Tours & Travel Ideas, and a travel TV presenter, writer, blogger, and photographer. He has travelled extensively through Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, and the Middle East. Adam worked as a travel consultant for a number of years with Flight Centre before taking up the opportunity to travel the world himself as host of the TV series Tour the World on Network Ten. He loves to experience everything a new destination has to offer and is equally at home in a five-star Palazzo in Pisa or a home-stay in Hanoi.
