Cabo San Lucas Mexico is the paradise that millions of people visit each year. Located at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, this destination is filled with beautiful beaches, rich marine life, fun nightlife, and delicious food.
If you are looking for a place where you can unwind, relax, and have a lot of fun, then you need to visit Cabo.
This vibrant beautiful city has a wide range of activities and options to enjoy, so it can be overwhelming to plan your next vacation.
We have curated a long list of the best things to do in Cabo San Lucas with different activities for the entire family. This way, you can easily prepare the perfect itinerary for your next adventure.
Why visit Cabo San Lucas?
Cabo San Lucas has everything you could ask for a perfect vacation. Crystal clear waters, golden sand, and rich marine life for all ocean lovers, so you can enjoy the weather, bask in the sun, and explore the underwater world.
You can also find the most stunning landscapes and views of the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean.
Visit the famous rock formations, like The Arch, Neptune’s Finger, Pelican Rock, and of course, the famous Land’s End where you can take incredible panoramic pictures of the most beautiful sunset!
If you are looking for adventures and fun activities, Los Cabos has a wide range of options for you.
Snorkeling, scuba diving, jet skiing, kayaking, hiking, camel rides and horseback riding, surfing, mountain biking, and so much more!
Lastly, one of the most popular things about Cabo San Lucas is its rich culture. Explore the fine beach bars and restaurants with world-class gourmet meals and drinks that will leave you hooked and wanting more. The music, life events, and parties are ideal to create long-lasting memories with your loved ones.
What are the best things to do in Cabo San Lucas?
If you are ready to start planning and booking your next Cabo adventure, then take a look at the best activities you can do in this gorgeous city.
Snorkeling tour
Cabo San Lucas is one of the places with more marine life variety. It is actually known as an Aquarium of the World, and you can find many specimens and even interact with them.
One of the best ways to explore the Sea of Cortez and its rich marine life is with a snorkeling tour, like the ones offered by La Isla Tour.
We cruise around the best locations to spot beautiful tropical fish, stingrays, sea turtles, and more! Visit Lover’s Beach, Chileno Beach, Neptune’s Finger, and more locations that are known as a hotspot for marine animals and have great visibility.
All of our snorkeling tours include snacks, drinks, and snorkel gear. Also, we include paddle boards so you can enjoy the beaches and the water as you please.
We take care of everything so you only worry about having fun!
Whale-watching excursion
In Cabo San Lucas you can have a close encounter with whales. This is a seasonal excursion that you can plan between mid-December and mid-April, having a peak in late December and January.
During this excursion, you can spot humpback whales, gray whales, blue whales, whale sharks, fin whales, killer whales, and more! Prepare your camera and your eyes to see a spectacular show with these magical creatures.
La Isla Tour offers you an unforgettable whale-watching tour so you can fully enjoy this experience in Cabo San Lucas.
We will cruise around the hotspots to encounter as many whales as possible, and our guide will tell you everything about these animals.
Our tour includes snacks and drinks so you can have a blast meeting the fascinating whales!
Swimming with dolphins
If you love dolphins, your trip to Cabo San Lucas will be the perfect place to have a close encounter with them.
It isn’t strange to see these beautiful mammals in their natural habitat while sailing around the coast of the Baja peninsula, especially if your vacation happens to be during dolphin season, which is from December to April.
Our sailing tours are a great way to see dolphins and many other sea animals like sea lions, manta rays, whales, whale sharks, and more.
To make this experience better and more educational, we will have a marine biologist aboard that will explain to you and your family all the best things about Los Cabos sea life.
It is not recommended to swim with wild dolphins, but if you want to have the bucket list experience of actually swimming with dolphins, you can also do it in Los Cabos.
There are various options to see dolphin shows or swim with them in both Cabo San Lucas Marina and the Hotel zone.
Scuba diving in Cabo San Lucas
Scuba diving is one of the best things to do in Cabo San Lucas and there are many great snorkeling and scuba dive spots to do it in near the Pacific coast.
This is the perfect activity if you truly want to explore the deep end of the sea and discover all the beautiful animals that are living here.
In Los Cabos, you can find more than 300 species of fish, bull sharks, tiger sharks, moray eels, sea turtles, porkfish, octopuses, sting rays, sea lions, and more!
And, it doesn’t matter if you don’t have much experience because you can get certified at a school. Beginners and advanced divers are all welcome.
To go on a scuba diving adventure, you can go to Cabo San Lucas Marina Park or go to Cabo Pulmo National Park. The latter is 2 hours away from Los Cabos, but it is completely worth the trip since you can find many animals in this area.
Dive in Cabo Pulmo National Park
Cabo Pulmo National Park is the ideal place to learn to scuba dive in Cabo San Lucas.
This area has deep and shallow waters so everybody can have a great time enjoying the wonders of the sea and ocean floor, and, of course, swim alongside some of the most beautiful tropical fish and marine creatures.
Beginners can snorkel or dive near the coast, and even take classes to improve their skills and get certified. Experts can explore shipwrecks, swim with sea lions, and even maybe spot some whale sharks.
It is possible to get to Cabo Pulmo by car, but taking a boat ride to Cabo Pulmo will make your adventure even better.
On the way to the whale shark spot, you will enjoy the coastline, eat something aboard, and even stop to dive in other wonderful spots.
Close encounters and swimming with whale sharks
If you want to take scuba diving to the next level, don’t miss the opportunity to see or swim with whale sharks in Cabo San Lucas.
Whale sharks aren’t sharks or whales, they are the largest fish in the ocean. Whale sharks look like a shark but feed like a whale; they only eat plankton and algae, so it is completely safe to swim with them, they are very gentle so it is a wonderful experience that you will remember forever.
To swim with whale sharks it is necessary to go to the area of La Paz Bay, which is in the Baja California peninsula about 2 hours north of Cabo San Lucas.
You can go by car or use other earth transportation, but as we recommended with Cabo Pulmo, taking a boat trip to La Paz will improve a lot your experience.
The whale shark season in the Los Cabos area starts in October and finishes in April. A personal encounter with whale sharks is also a great experience for children and non-swimmers.
Camel rides in the desert
What many visitors don’t know is that some of the best things to do in Cabo San Lucas don’t involve being in the ocean, and visiting the desert is one of them.
The Baja Desert is an amazing place to go during your stay in Cabo and there are many fun things to do there for the whole family.
Children and adults will have fun camel riding along the Baja Desert seeing the ocean from a new point of view. Depending on the plan that you want, you can combine the camel ride with other activities. To finish your adventure, you can have a traditional Mexican meal and enjoy the beautiful desert canyon setting.
Horseback riding and ATV adventure in Cabo San Lucas
The desert is one of the hidden Cabo San Lucas attractions, but if a camel ride is not for you, maybe you will enjoy horseback riding in the desert and nearby sandy beaches.
But one of the most adventurous things you can do in Cabo is have an ATV ride. Speed along the sand dunes and feel the breeze on your face exploring the Cabo Desert and Migrino beach on an ATV trip.
In Cabo San Lucas you will find different tour options of day trips to the desert for children and adults so every member of the family enjoys the most of this outdoor adventure.
Take a glass-bottom boat tour
As we already mentioned, Cabo San Lucas has a rich marine life, and everybody should explore the underwater world of the Sea of Cortez. You can spot many beautiful tropical fish, sting rays, sea turtles, sea lions, and more.
A great way to experience this is with a glass-bottom boat tour, which has an acrylic superficie and you can see through it! Without disturbing the animals, you can take a closer look at their habitat, take pictures, and explore.
La Isla Tour offers you a clear boat tour through the most iconic locations in the Sea of Cortez where you can find many colorful fish.
Our excursion includes snacks and drinks, so you only need to take your camera for all the stunning pictures!
Exploring the best beaches of Los Cabos
Cabo San Lucas is well known for its stunning beaches with crystal clear waters and white sand. Fortunately, California Baja Peninsula is blessed with almost a year-round of sunshine, so you can be assured that you will enjoy the true tropical weather while swimming.
While planning your next vacation you might be wondering what are the best beaches. Depending on what you are looking for, you will find many options, but overall, these are the most popular beaches in Los Cabos.
Lover’s Beach
Nestled in the Sea of Cortez, Lover’s Beach or Playa del Amor is a gorgeous location that will leave you breathless. You can only reach it by water taxi or on boat tours. It is a swimmable beach with calm warm waters and a great spot for snorkeling.
Right next to it, you will find Playa del Divorcio or Divorce Beach, which isn’t safe for swimming since it is on the Pacific Ocean side. However, if you are already on Lover’s Beach, we recommend taking the time to explore its sister. You can lay down in the beautiful sand and enjoy the sun.
Playa del Amor offers you amazing views of the iconic rock arch, Pelican Rock, and Neptune’s Finger. Since it is far away, you won’t find amenities like you would do on other beaches, but you have the advantage of having a less crowded experience.
Most of our tours cruise around Lover’s Beach, so you can plan your itinerary with us.
Medano Beach
One of the most popular and famous beaches in Cabo San Lucas is Medano Beach. It is located in the tourist corridor, really close to downtown Cabo, so it is accessible and near to most hotels and luxurious resorts.
This is the place where you can get the conventional beach experience, including incredible beach restaurants, bars, water sports, beach vendors, changing facilities, parking, and more. So, if you want to have a fun time and be assured that you will find on the beach anything that you need, this is the ideal destination.
Medano Beach is a swimmable beach with calm waters, so it is perfect for children and non-strong swimmers. Since it is close to downtown it tends to be crowded, but it is a beach worth visiting.
Santa Maria Bay
Santa Maria Bay is one of the popular beaches to enjoy a nice relaxing day. This is a beautiful swimmable beach ideal for all types of swimmers, even children. The coastline has a horseshoe shape that shields the waters from strong waves and currents.
This beach is also a popular location for snorkeling thanks to its varied marine life. It is actually known as the marine sanctuary, so if you want to discover all the species of fish in the Sea of Cortez, this is your place to be.
Compared to Medano Beach, Santa Maria Beach doesn’t have many amenities or facilities, so we recommend packing with you all you need.
Chileno Beach
Another gem of Cabo San Lucas is Chileno Beach, a blue-flagged location in the city, which means that it is recognized internationally for its exceptional conditions for swimming and snorkeling.
This beautiful beach has a protected cove, so it doesn’t have strong waves or undercurrents. It is entirely safe for children and non-strong swimmers.
It is also a hotspot for snorkeling due to its incredible conditions and diverse marine life. At Chileno Beach, you can find many tropical fishes, stingrays, sea turtles, and more!
Ziplining in Cabo San Lucas
On your Cabo adventures, you cannot forget to include ziplining. This activity is for all adrenaline lovers who want to experience Cabo from a different perspective.
There are different locations to zip line in Cabo, so we recommend checking your options beforehand. Soar through greenery and canyons, and enjoy a fast journey in Cabo San Lucas’ desert.
A great idea is to take the longest and fastest zip line in Mexico, which is called Superman. If adrenaline is your thing, then book this activity for your next visit.
Mountain bike adventures
Cabo San Lucas has many many mountain biking trails, so if you are an experienced or beginner biker, this is a great activity to explore the Cabo desert. You will have incredible views of the ocean and a big part of Cabo, so it is an enjoyable time to explore more of the city.
Depending on your skills we recommend choosing a trail that is adapted to you. Also, don’t forget that regardless of the season you are visiting, Cabo San Lucas has warm temperatures and a lot of sunshine. It is important to pack a water bottle to stay hydrated, wear comfortable and breathable clothing, and put on sunscreen.
Sunset cruises
One of the best Cabo San Lucas activities is to go on a sunset cruise. This is a romantic, sweet, unforgettable experience that everybody visiting should have.
On these cruises, you will cruise around the landmarks of Cabo San Lucas and the Sea of Cortez. By sunset, you will be right at Land’s End, which will give you a unique and marvelous panoramic that you cannot find anywhere else. These sunsets are emblematic of Cabo, and there is no better way to experience them than here.
La Isla Tour offers you a memorable sunset cruise that will navigate through El Arco, Lover’s Beach, Neptune’s Finger, and Land’s End. Our tour includes snacks and drinks to fully enjoy your experience in the Sea of Cortez.
Explore the delicious food of Cabo San Lucas
Foodie lovers have an amazing time in Cabo San Lucas because its gastronomy is rich in flavor with all the notes of tropical and seafood. If you love Mexican food, then you cannot miss the opportunity to visit all the best restaurants and bars. There are many options, from luxurious world-class restaurants to small local businesses.
The most popular types of restaurants are the beachside restaurants and the cliffside restaurants. If you want to touch the sand and hear the ocean while you enjoy your meal, then a beachside location will be perfect for you. Instead, if you are looking for the best views, we recommend you visit a cliffside place that gives you a panoramic shot of Cabo San Lucas.
In Los Cabos, you can find Mexican food, but also dishes that are traditional from Cabo. Fish tacos, shrimp tacos, seafood soup, chocolate clams, fried fish, pork or chicken tamales, enchiladas, tacos al pastor, mole enchiladas, quesadilla, carnitas, Ceasar salad, and so much more!
Cabo Food Tours
To explore the best locations and food in Cabo San Lucas you can also take Cabo food tours. These excursions will lead you through the best restaurants and locations and will recommend the dishes that are a must for all visitors.
This is a great way to taste all the delicious food in Cabo and not miss anything important, and it is also an excellent option to discover more of Cabo’s culture and gastronomy through the experienced hand of a local guide.
Go bar hopping
Cabo San Lucas has one of the best and most fun bars in the world. You can find beach bars and downtown locations, so there are options for everybody. Also, some bars are thematic or have live music events, so you can have a nice time enjoying music and delicious drinks.
Since Cabo is a city planned for tourists, bars try to distinguish themselves by offering the best quality drinks, and unique blends, and offer fun and lighthearted entertainment. This means that there are a lot of good bars in the city waiting for you to discover them. A great way to do this is going bar hopping.
There are tours but mostly recommendations and guides with a list of the best locations and drinks that you should try. The idea is to visit a location, try their best drink or your favorite option, and then hop to the next one.
Of course, we recommend drinking with caution and always knowing and respecting your boundaries. Cabo San Lucas is a very safe city, especially if you are in downtown or the tourist corridor, but the best advice is to always stay alert and safe while drinking.
Try the home tequila
Mexico is well known for its tequila all over the world, so if you are visiting Los Cabos, you need to try the home tequila. Besides the known brands, there are different distillers that offer their products in Cabo San Lucas.
You will find different tastes, notes, and hints in each brand, so we recommend taking your time to explore the different options. Of course, as we already mentioned, we advise conscious and responsible drinking to stay safe at all times.
Take the art walk and discover Los Cabos’ culture
Between November and June, every Thursday you will find a sophisticated street art gallery in the main square of San José del Cabo known as the Art Walk. It is an exposition of fine art, where art galleries and studios show their most precious pieces up for sale.
In this walk, you can find paintings, sculptures, and many handmade crafts with local materials. Most work resembles the energy and culture of Mexico and Cabo San Lucas, so it is a great souvenir if you appreciate art.
To add more entertainment to your evening, it is normal to find live music and shows on the street. And if you want to have an amazing dinner, many restaurants offer dining tables outside so you can still feel the energy of people and the events around you.
This incredible walk is open up to 9 p.m., and you will find free appetizers and drinks when you visit a gallery. It is a fun activity to enjoy local art and find interesting pieces to take home.
ATV adventures
Another great activity for adrenaline seekers is going on an ATV journey across the dunes and mountain trails of Cabo San Lucas. Not only you can explore the city from a different perspective, but also get incredible views and stunning landscape panoramics. It is a fun activity that everybody should try at least once.
While you conquer challenges and speed up, we recommend not forgetting to take care of yourself and your skin. Pack with you a bottle of water, and sunscreen, and wear comfortable protective clothing.
Enjoy live music events
As we mentioned, Cabo San Lucas is a city that is used to tourists visiting all year round, so it is normal to find all types of events very often. You can go to live music events, DJ sets, street performances, cultural events and so much more.
This is a great activity to have a fun night, dance, sing, and unwind. Since there are many options, we can assure you that you will find something adapted to your style and rhythm.
Sunset dinner in a boat
To experience the best of Cabo San Lucas you need to plan a sunset dinner in a luxury catamaran. This exclusive and elegant activity is a must for visitors who want to fully live the real fantasy in the Sea of Cortez.
After navigating through the landmarks of Cabo San Lucas, the cruise ship will make a stop a Land’s End, a panoramic view of the ocean and the sunset. There is no other view or place like this one, and we recommend preparing your phone and camera for taking many pictures.
Once there, you will be served delicious gourmet Mexican food and drinks, so you can enjoy your meal while admiring the most magical place on Earth.
La Isla Tour offers sunset dinners in our luxurious catamarans. Our gourmet food is prepared by a renowned Mexican chef onboard, and we also offer an open bar for you and your guests.
Explore San José del Cabo
Everybody knows Cabo San Lucas, but what most people don’t know is that there is a sister city just next to Cabo that is also worth visiting. San José del Cabo is where most locals live, so it is a calmer, less crowded place with stunning views, great swimmable beaches, and rich culture.
If you are looking for a place to deeply relax, walk around, and explore the culture of Los Cabos, then you need to visit San José del Cabo. Plan a day trip, visit one of its great beaches, and then explore the surroundings.
Since it is less crowded, it is a completely different experience from Cabo San Lucas and it will give you a true perspective of how locals live. It is a great way to immerse yourself in the culture and get to know more about these interesting cities.
Fortunately, San José del Cabo is just a few minutes away from Cabo San Lucas. If you are staying in a downtown or tourist corridor, it is a 30-minute short drive.
Release baby sea turtles in San José del Cabo
In Cabo San Lucas you can find five of the seven species of endangered sea turtles – hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback, Olive Ridley, and green turtles. Organizations help to protect these beautiful baby animals by releasing them directly into the sea and preventing other animals from hurting them.
This initiative is also open to the public, so you can book your experience in San José del Cabo and go help release baby turtles. The guides and experts in the organization will explain more about their work and why it is important to protect these creatures.
Go hiking in Cabo San Lucas
As we mentioned, Cabo San Lucas has different mountain trails that you can also explore on a hike. If you love hiking, this is an incredible way to discover the Cabo desert and local flora and fauna.
There are different circuits, so we recommend checking for the difficulty level and choosing the one that adapts to you better. You can also find companies that guide you through the trail and tell you all about the area, flora, and fauna.
Enjoy the vibrant nightlife of Los Cabos
Besides the beaches, Cabo San Lucas is also well known for its fun and vibrant nightlife. From incredible restaurants, to live music, parties, and bars, you have many options to enjoy every single night in Cabo. Regardless of what you like, we can assure you that you can find the perfect activity or location to have a fun night.
Some of the most popular night activities are: going on a sunset dinner in a yacht or catamaran, going to a beach party, bar hopping, going to a live music event, having dinner in a thematic restaurant or a location with entertainment, taking the art walk, and having dinner on a beachside restaurant.
Water sports in Cabo
Cabo San Lucas is well known for its beaches, but what most people don’t know, is that you can practice many water sports and water activities. This is what makes Cabo really fun at a day beach, and if you love sports that make your hurt pound, then we have a great list for you.
Parasailing
There is nothing like the rush of parasailing, feeling the speed, and flying through the air. You have the beautiful calm waters of the Sea of Cortez, and you get to fly above it and take a different look at Cabo San Lucas.
Parasailing is a fun activity that can get your adrenaline kicking in, and it is definitely worth a try just to get a different panoramic view of the beach and Cabo.
Jet skiing
You can go full speed through the ocean and feel the wind in your hair by jet skiing in Cabo San Lucas. This is also another activity for adrenaline seekers, and it is definitely a fun experience to have with friends and family.
Jet skiing is a good way to navigate the Sea of Cortez and explore different beaches easily. Of course, we always recommend following safety precautions and guiding instructions.
Surf
The Sea of Cortez side has calm waves and most of the beaches are swimmable. But, if you want to surf and are looking for bigger and stronger waves, then you need to explore the beaches on the Pacific Ocean side.
There are many beaches ideal for surfing in Cabo San Lucas. Regardless of your skill level, you can find beaches ideal for beginners, or locations that are more suitable for advanced surfers. You can also go to school and surf training to get your first lessons if you don’t have much experience yet.
Paddleboarding
If you want a more relaxed water sport, then you can try paddleboarding.
This is a simple but very relaxing and fun way to explore the Sea of Cortez and enjoy your day at the beach. It is simple and it doesn’t require any skill level, so it is ideal for everybody who wants to navigate through the beach.
Kayaking
Lastly, another calming but fun experience is to go kayaking. You won’t need much skills except arm strength, but other than that, you are ready to explore the beach and have a beautiful view of Cabo’s coastline.
This activity is ideal for everybody in the family, and you can choose to go with someone else or go solo.
Golfing in world-class courses
Many people don’t know that Cabo San Lucas is a popular destination for golfers. Not only does it have many courses, but some of them have been even used for international tournaments.
Many luxurious resorts have their own private golf course, and if you are staying in one of them, you have complete access to their facilities. However, there are also some public courses that are incredible and challenging, even for well-versed golfers.
If you want to have this experience in Cabo San Lucas, we recommend checking some of the courses designed by the famous golf course designer Jack Nicklaus. Some of the best golf courses are Quivira Golf Club, El Dorado Golf Club, El Campestre, Cabo del Sol, Palmilla Golf Club, Cabo Real Golf Club, Puerto Los Cabos, Country Club Bosques, Laguna del Mar, Golf Club of Estrella, Bosques Reales, and many more.
Visit Land’s End
We have mentioned the magic of Land’s End, and it is definitely an experience that you don’t want to miss.
This location on the Sea of Cortez is an exact point where you cannot see more land but just pure ocean and the sky. It is a beautiful panoramic view that gets even prettier at sunset. The best pictures of Los Cabos sunsets are taken here, and we can assure you that cameras cannot capture the true essence of this place.
La Isla Tour offers several excursions that cruise around Land’s End, but to have the best experience, we recommend taking our sunset dinner cruise.
This sailing adventure not only will take you to the most magical point on the Sea of Cortez, but you can also enjoy a gourmet delicious meal prepared by our Mexican chef onboard.
