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Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo are two cities that make up the area of Los Cabos. Although they might share a coastline, they are very different places. For such a small city, there are numerous fun things to do in Cabo San Lucas to keep you busy.
Found at the tip of Baja California, Cabo San Lucas is where the desert meets the ocean. It’s a place where no matter where you are, you’re only a block away from the water.
This is where you can experience numerous outdoor activities, shop ’til you drop, and drink, dance and party all night long!
I visited Cabo San Lucas as one of the first stops on my honeymoon. It was somewhere I added to our plans at the last minute, but this sleepy little town sure blew my mind. We didn’t want to leave, this is one of the best places to visit in Mexico.
Here are the top 21 attractions and things to do in Cabo San Lucas that you won’t want to miss during your holiday.
1. Take a Whale Watching Cruise (one of the most exciting things to do in Cabo San Lucas!)
The Sea of Cortez is one of the best places in this part of the world to get up close and personal with a mighty humpback whale, and you can jump on a whale-watching tour straight out of Cabo San Lucas.
The best time to go to Mexico for whale watching is as early as November, but generally runs from December to April each year.
The waters that surround Cabo are known to be a hotspot for breeding and are also a migratory stop for humpback whales, so your chances of spotting one of these majestic animals are very high.
We were lucky enough to spot a pod of 4 whales playing with each other and jumping in and out of the water several times. Seeing these whales in the wild is one of the most incredible things to do in Cabo San Lucas for couples, families, friends or solo travelers.
Best Whale Watching Tours in Cabo San Lucas
1. Cabo Trek’s Whale Watching Trip. Starting from around $100 USD for an adult, these guys know how to find whales from the sounds and vibrations of the ocean. This is our top choice due to Cabo Trek being an ecotourism company with a certification of responsible whale watching.
Not for the faint of heart, the boats are tiny to ensure minimal disruption to the whales, so you will get wet! The day also includes round-trip transportation from your hotel, marine biologist, and bottled water throughout the day. This is a Cabo San Lucas activity you won’t want to miss. Book your spot here.
2. Luxury Catamaran Experience: If you’re looking for a more luxurious experience, you can book a catamaran trip to see the whales instead. This fabulous trip includes snacks and alcohol, plus pick up and drop off. Learn more here.
2. Take a Swim On Lover’s Beach (Playa del Amor)
Lover’s Beach and Divorce Beach are connected on their own little island along Land’s End. Lover’s Beach looks into the bay and is a beautifully calm piece of water — perfect for swimming and trying out water sports.
On the other side of the island, Divorce Beach has hectic turbulent waves and you are advised against swimming on this side due to the unsafe conditions.
Two beaches that couldn’t be more aptly named.
Lover’s Beach is the perfect place to take a dip and enjoy the warm water of the Sea of Cortez. It’s a good idea to get there early, as the beach can get incredibly busy and crowded during the middle of the day.
Many fishermen and boat operators will offer you a return ride across to Lover’s Beach for a small fee (around $10 return). Make sure to negotiate a time for them to come and pick you up.
Another (more fun) option is to go kayaking around Lover’s Beach and The Arch! On this 3.5-hour sea kayaking tour, you’ll paddle to a sea lion colony, around Divorce and Lover’s beaches, and you’ll even have a chance to snorkel.
Included is an experienced kayaking guide, dry bag, snacks and drinks, snorkel gear, and equipment. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced kayaker, this is sure to be one of the best experiences in Cabo San Lucas. Click here for details and to book.
If you’re looking for another place to cool off, check out Santa Maria Beach, which is an easy Cabo San Lucas excursion. Just 20 minutes up the east coast by bus or rental car and you’ll arrive at the beach.
☞ SEE ALSO: Things To Do in Puerto Vallarta – A List of The Top 20 and for more beaches in Mexico, don’t miss our list of the Top 10 Puerto Vallarta Beaches
3. Grab a Cocktail & Watch The Sunset
There’s nothing better than enjoying a sunset with a cocktail in hand and your bare feet in the sand. I especially love beachfront bars, where the floor is made of sand and there’s no dress code.
There are many different bars and restaurants in Cabo San Lucas that line the beach and offer you a beautiful view of the sunset. To get away from the crowds, choose one of the smaller restaurants for friendly staff and super fast service.
Mangos On The Beach is one of the most popular places to eat on the beach, well-known for its craziness and party atmosphere. We decided instead to skip the party and grab a blue cocktail at Omega Sports Bar next door where everyone sits outside.
This place has a sandy floor and cheerful staff who were kind enough to offer us colourful blankets to keep warm when the sunset and the air got a little cooler.
Our dinner for two, including cocktails, cost us just 500 pesos at Omega (less than $25USD). Watching the sunset with a cocktail is definitely one of the more romantic things to do in Cabo San Lucas.
4. Jet Skiing, Parasailing & Kayaking at Medano Beach
Medano Beach is the main beach in Cabo San Lucas. It’s within easy walking distance of the centre of town or the marina, and it also offers just about every water sport you could imagine.
Goats On The Road Picks: Best Things To Do at Medano Beach
- Go Parasailing above the gorgeous beaches! Click here for details and to book your spot.
- Rip around on a jet ski with a group of friends or by yourself. Click here for details and to book.
- Chill out on the beach with a drink in hand.
Always wanted to try jet skiing? Want to fly high above the land on a parasail? Feel like taking a leisurely kayak to the archway? These adventurous things to do in Cabo can all be done at Medano Beach.
The beach is also home to many beachfront bars and restaurants, where you can kick back and relax with a drink after a long day of adrenaline-pumping activities.
Prices for watersports differ along the beach, so it’s always a good idea to see if you’re able to haggle the prices down a little bit! Kayak and paddleboard rental start from between $25-$30USD for the hour, while jet ski hire is around $100 per hour.
☞ SEE ALSO: Things To Do in Playa del Carmen – A List of The Top 21
5. Eat Your Weight in Tacos & Guacamole
Eating tacos is definitely on this list of best things to do in Cabo San Lucas…but it’s also one of the top things to do in Mexico as a whole!
You won’t find tacos or guacamole more fresh or delicious than those in Mexico, and I’ll be honest — Cabo San Lucas is where my love of Mexican food really took off. There are numerous taco fillings, but since Cabo is on the sea, it’s best to choose fresh seafood tacos. They are tasty!
Just about every place in Cabo San Lucas serves tacos and guacamole, so you’re never far away from your next snack. Pair your tacos with tequila, and you’ll feel like a local.
We found the best guacamole at Omega Sports Bar on the beach, I definitely think that is where my guacamole addiction began. If you’re around the main town, head straight for Las Guacamayas for some delicious tacos.
Tacos in Cabo are often around the $1.50-$2 USD price mark, so cheap and so delicious. Alternatively, book this incredibly popular taco and culinary experience.
☞ SEE ALSO: If you’re planning a trip to the other side of Mexico, you won’t want to miss our complete guide to Playa del Carmen, our information on how to get from Cancun to Playa del Carmen, and our complete guide on where to eat and where to stay in Playa del Carmen.
6. Dance The Night Away at El Squid Roe
Get out of your comfort zone and grab dinner and a drink at El Squid Roe. It’s a crazy combination of a restaurant, bar and live entertainment venue.
With cocktails in glasses that reach a metre off the table, throwback music and a sparkly disco ball, this eclectic bar keeps everyone smiling and dancing all night long (even if you’re just dancing in your seat).
El Squid Roe can be found on Lázaro Cárdenas in downtown Cabo San Lucas. They’re open every night, serving dinner from about 6pm, with regular live entertainment and themed nights.
Meal prices are probably a little bit more than you would expect in Mexico – around $9 – $20USD for a main meal, depending on your order, and around $4USD for a cocktail – but the portions are very large and the atmosphere can’t be beaten.
Address: Blvd. Lázaro Cárdenas 1112, Downtown, Ildefonso Green, 23479 Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico. Click here for directions.
☞ SEE ALSO: Things To Do in San Pancho – A List of The Top 15
7. Take a Cruise Around Land’s End
Visiting Land’s End is one of the most popular things to do in Cabo San Lucas. Land’s End (El Arco de Cabo San Lucas) is a famous landmark in Cabo.
Goats On The Road Pick: #1 Boat Trip Around Land’s End
Snorkelling Cruise with Open Bar: A fun 4-hour cruise around Land’s End, Lover’s Beach, and the sea lion colony. Swim, suntan, snorkel, and relax! Enjoy an open bar, snacks, snorkelling equipment, hotel pick-up, and more. Book your spot here.
There are no cenotes in Cabo (like there are in the Yucatan), but there are still some amazing rock formations to see and water adventures to have.
These natural formations are located at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, where the Pacific Ocean becomes the Gulf of California. This is one of the top attractions in Cabo San Lucas, and for good reason.
Take a leisurely cruise around Lands End to check out some of the incredible rock forms, including El Arco and Scooby Do Rock.
You will find many companies in the marina selling their tours. They are all around the same price, but some of them will be open to some negotiations. Some will be legitimate, while others will not. A better bet is to book in advance online with a reputable operator.
We paid around $25 for our tour which cruised us around the bay for about an hour and a half. Each boat operator offers something a little bit different though, so it’s a good idea to compare prices and tour options. For a longer day tour around Los Cabos, click here.
☞ If you’re planning on visiting more areas in the Baja, don’t miss the wineries of the Valle de Guadalupe!
8. Watch Fishermen in The Marina
One of the most interesting ways to spend the evening is by watching the fishermen come back to the marina after a long day of fishing in the ocean.
It actually kind of made me feel like I was a local, and if you’re looking for relaxing things to do in Cabo San Lucas, watching the fishermen is a good start.
At the end of each day, just before the sun sets, the fishermen return to the marina from their day on the water. They then clean and gut their fish on one of the metal benches around the docks. It’s not the easiest task due to the thieving pelicans from above, and the sneaky seals next to them!
Marina Address: Centro, Marina, 23450 Cabo San Lucas, BCS, Mexico. Click here for directions.
9. Take a Day Trip to San Jose del Cabo
The quiet sister to Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo offers a more laid-back, authentic vibe to its wild neighbour. This cute little town is about half an hour from Cabo San Lucas, halfway back towards the airport.
As well as its own stunning white sand beaches, San Jose del Cabo offers more of a quiet shopping strip, a beautiful church, delicious restaurant and dining options, and an excellent historic centre.
Take a day trip to experience a little more of the Baja Peninsula and the local way of life. To embark on this day trip you have a couple of options:
- Rent a car online for a day and then drive down the Transpeninsular Highway (Hwy 1) which connects Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. Consider renting a car as one of the things to do in Cabo San Lucas, the freedom to explore at your own pace is incredible.
- Catch the Subur Cabos bus service that runs between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo along the Tourist Corridor. The bus runs every 20 minutes all day, starting at 5:20am in Cabo San Lucas until about 9:30pm, and costs around $2.50 – $3 a ticket.
Click here to find San Jose del Cabo on the map.
☞ SEE ALSO: Things To Do in La Paz, Mexico – A List of The Top 21