Experience Cabo San Lucas

Discover Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos

Cabo San Lucas is one five main locations in Baja California Sur – which include La Paz, San Jose del Cabo, Todos Santos and Loreto. All of these places can be discovered with Mexperience.

Cabo San Lucas – ‘Cabo‘ means cape – is at the far tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, the land immediately south of California in the United States; it is cut-off from mainland Mexico by the Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California.

This region of Mexico is a real paradise, with its hot deserts, breezy oceans and cool waters reflecting several different shades of blues and greens.

The region is a particular favorite with divers, golfers and people looking to take part in sports fishing excursions.

Like many of Mexico’s thriving beach locations, Cabo San Lucas was a quiet fishing village before it was developed. Today, Cabo is an elite party town on Mexico’s Baja California Sur coast; luxury hotels, trendy bars, restaurants and night clubs are everywhere.

Cabo attracts people looking for relaxation, water sports and golf. Golf has taken off here in recent years with the development of some of the world’s finest golf courses and near year-long perfect weather for golfing.

If you want to experience a getaway destination that promises luxurious relaxation just across the border, then Cabo San Lucas could be just the place you’re looking for.

Key Attractions

Beach Life

Cabo San Lucas has a great ‘principal’ beach – called Medano. You can rent snorkeling equipment and non-motorized water equipment right on the beach. This is a good place to sunbathe and swim as well.

Farther out of town, you can find some remote beaches along the shoreline between “the two cabos” (Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo). These include the Barco Varado, Chileno, Palmilla, Santa Maria and Vista del Arco Beaches, for those who want to get away from the crowds and see some stunning beaches and shoreline. You’ll need to rent a car – see Getting Around, below.

Nature and Adventure Experiences in Los Cabos

Los Cabos is a perfect base from which to enjoy Mexico’s great outdoors and take part in a variety of Nature and Adventure experiences in Mexico.

The local ecology, the landscape, the climate and the proximity to the sea make this region a paradise for those who love nature. What’s more, you can find experienced and well prepared organizations in Los Cabos who are ready to help you enjoy the best of what this region offers.

Fishing, kayaking, sailing, camping, surfing, horseback riding, nature walks, fabulous bird watching, cliff hikes, sunset cruises and watching the amazing whales and sea lions are just some of the activities you can enjoy in the area.

Water Sports

With its calm waters, fine weather and beaches, it’s no wonder that water sports are one of the main attractions in Cabo San Lucas, including snorkeling, SCUBA diving, kayaking, water and jet-skis. If it’s water based, you can experience it in Cabo San Lucas. See Also: Water Sports in Mexico.

Sports Fishing Experiences

Los Cabos is one of Mexico’s top destinations for sports fishing. See Also: Sports Fishing in Mexico.

Spas in Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas is host to some of Mexico’s finest resort spas. For more information about spas and how to benefit from a magnificent health spa experience in Mexico, connect to the Mexperience guide to Spas in Mexico.

Local Cruises

There’s no better way to enjoy the scenery in this area than on a local boat cruise. Local cruises take you on tours around the many islets surrounding Baja California Sur, and include sunset cruises that let you experience some of the most wonderful sunsets you’ll view in your life.

Whale Watching in Baja

From the Bering Strait, whales migrate to the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur between January and March of each year. To see the marvel of these great creatures, you’ll need to visit in season. There are three main areas where it’s best to view the whales – the main one being Magdalena Bay off the Pacific coast. See Also: Whale Watching in Mexico

Golf in Cabo San Lucas

The climate in Baja California Sur is ideal for golf all year-round, and the region is fast becoming one of the top places in the world to play the game. Baja is host to some of the world’s finest golf courses and many people visit the area simply to enjoy great golf in Mexico.

Getting There & Around

By Air – You can get to Cabo San Lucas by plane from Mexico City, Guadalajara, Tijuana, and various places in the USA, especially Los Angeles, CA. The same airport that serves Cabo San Lucas serves San Jose del Cabo, although it is closer to San Jose del Cabo. Taxis and vans are available from the airport; to save time and secure your space, consider pre-booking a shuttle so that someone is there to meet you at the airport when you arrive (see Airport Transfers, below). For detailed information about flights and flying, see the Mexperience guide to Air Travel in Mexico.

By Bus – To get to Baja California Sur, your best bet is to fly there (see above); the bus journey from Tijuana to La Paz is about 27 hours; then a further 2 hours from there to Los Cabos. For detailed information about bus transportation read the Mexperience guide to Bus Travel in Mexico.

By Car – Driving to Cabo San Lucas from the southern border of the United States will take you about twenty to twenty-four hours on Highway 1 and then a further two hours on Highway 19. See additional information about Driving in Mexico and Mexico’s Toll Roads on Mexperience.

Car Rental – To properly explore Mexico’s Baja Peninsula consider renting a car for your visit. Having your own car will give you more flexibility than using public transport options and, in some cases, offer you access to places which are otherwise difficult to visit without the use of a car. Read our guide to Car Rental in Mexico to learn what you need to know about car rental in Mexico and connect to the Mexperience Travel Center to reserve your Rental Car.

By Ferry – If you are on Mexico’s mainland, or want to get to it, there is a ferry that crosses the Sea of Cortez (also known as the Gulf of California) to and from La Paz to the port cities of Mazatlan and Los Mochis (Topolobambo). The ferry trip to/from Mazatlan takes 18 hours and does not run daily; sleeping cabins are available with advance bookings. The ferry to/from Los Mochis (Topolobambo) takes around 8 hours and does not sail daily either. Check the Ferry’s web site at: http://www.ferrytmc.com/ for details of routes, schedules, prices and contact details. Note: from 2004, a new Catamaran ferry is being operated, and this has significantly reduced the travel times across the Sea of Cortez from Mexico’s mainland to La Paz.

Taxis – Taxis in most of Mexico’s beachside towns and cities are not metered, so agree your price before you get in. Taxi travel is very affordable in Mexico, in comparison to the USA, Canada and Europe, and so provides a viable means of public transportation in Mexico. Your hotel can arrange taxis for you; some post their rates on a board in the lobby; taxi hotel rates are usually higher than cabs you hail off the street. If you speak Spanish, you will have a distinct advantage and be able to negotiate a price with the driver. For detailed information, read the Mexperience guide to Taxi Travel in Mexico.

Local Bus – If your budget is tight or if you want to see more of local life, local bus service are available which connect La Paz, Los Cabos and Todos Santos as well as other destinations further north such as Loreto, San Felipe and other destinations in Baja California.

Cabo San Lucas Essentials

Telephone: Connect to the Communications in Mexico page on Mexperience for detailed information about keeping in touch and the latest table of national dialing codes.

Exchanging Currency: Banks with ATM machines can be found in the downtown area of Cabo San Lucas. During business hours, they and the Casas de Cambio will buy travelers’ checks and cash from you as well. For detailed information about exchanging and managing your money, read the Mexperience guide to Money in Mexico.

Travel Insurance: We recommend that you are adequately covered with travel medical insurance and/or travel assistance insurance when you are visiting Mexico. Note that your US Automobile Insurance will not cover you in Mexico — you must get a top-up policy to be properly covered. Read the Mexperience guide to Travel Insurance in Mexico for full details and links to specialist insurance suppliers.

Beach Safety: The main beach, Medano, is a safe beach to swim from, and areas of the nearby water are roped off to protect swimmers from motorized water craft that operate in the area. Keep an eye on the surf and monitor weather conditions—especially in September when the weather in the region is changeable.

Internet Access: Internet cafes can be easily found in towns and cities across Mexico and WiFi is increasingly commonplace–from cafes, shops, hotels, and some cities even offer free WiFi in some defined public spaces.

Local Climate

The weather during the summer months will be extremely hot; cooler near the coasts. In the winter it can get cooler and windy. The rainy season is September (the one month when the weather can be changeable), otherwise this part of Mexico enjoys sunshine most days of the year.

Weather & Climates in Mexico

Learn more about the weather and climates through the seasons and regions by connecting to the Mexperience guide about Weather and Climates in Mexico