Los Cabos is a very popular vacation destination and it is well known for its beautiful beaches, landscapes, and fun activities all year around. If you are planning your next adventure in Cabo San Lucas, then you need to know what to pack and what are the necessary items to bring.
If you are wondering what to pack for Cabo, we have created the ultimate packing list, which is a guide for everyone visiting.
What is the best time to visit Los Cabos?
It is complicated to say what is the best time to visit, especially since Cabo is pretty much sunny all year long. It will depend on the climate and temperature that you prefer and what type of activities you want to do.
If you prefer the warmth, beach sand, and the sun, then we recommend visiting in the summer months, which goes from June to August with a temperature peak of 95º F.
The fall goes from September to November, and the temperature is around 75º to 85º F.
If you prefer a cooler climate, then visit during the winter in December – February, and the temperature can drop down to 60º F at night, which is still comfortable.
And lastly, the spring goes from March to May, with a temperature of 75º to 85º F.
What to wear in Cabo San Lucas?
Clothing is one of the main questions, specifically because of the weather. Due to its location in Baja California Peninsula, the city has a perfect climate all year with an average of 350 days of sun.
The temperature can go from 70º – 90º F, so it is always comfortable regardless if you are swimming, taking the sun, walking, hiking, or practicing any sport. Therefore, the best items of clothing to wear in Cabo San Lucas are lightweight and made of breathable fabric.
Make sure to pack outfits depending on the season you are coming, and also depending on the activities and itinerary you plan. This will determine what are the necessary items to pack.
What to wear in the summer in Cabo San Lucas?
If you decide to visit Cabo in the summer, you need to keep in mind that the temperature can reach 95º F. Even though it is warm, there is always low humidity.
For this climate, the best outfits and clothes you can pack for Cabo San Lucas are shorts, comfortable t-shirts or tank tops, and dresses.
If you plan to walk or go hiking, bring walking shoes that allow air to pass through. For going to the beach or staying around your hotel, it is best to stick to sandals or flip-flops.
Summer nights can be a bit cooler, but not too much. If you consider yourself a person susceptible to the cold, you can pack a light jacket or sweater.
What to wear during the winter in Cabo San Lucas?
If you are visiting Baja California Sur in the winter, then keep in mind that temperature can drop down up to 60º F. Since there is low humidity, nights can be colder and a bit chilly. It is recommended to pack a light jacket or sweater.
During the day, you might feel comfortable with sweatpants, harem pants, or just long pants. Pack regular t-shirts or blouses, and comfortable shoes.
What to wear during the day?
What you wear during the day depends on your activities and itinerary.
If you are staying at the beach or the hotel pool, you will need your swimsuit, flip-flops, beach cover-ups, sunglasses, and a hat or a cap for sun protection. This can be also used for boat rides and excursions on the sea.
If you plan on walking and exploring Cabo San Lucas or San Jose del Cabo, then choose a light and breathable t-shirt, shorts/long pants (depending on the season), a hat or a cap, sunglasses, and comfortable walking shoes.
To go hiking or practicing a different sport, don’t forget to pack adequate shoes for that, equipment if needed, a hat or a cap, sunglasses, and breathable clothing that is comfortable to move around with.
As always, keep in mind the season so you can pack the right items.
What to wear during the night?
Equally, your outfit for the night will depend on your activities. Cabo San Lucas is well known for its parties and fun nightlife. So, what are your plans?
You can visit beach restaurants, have dinner in a private catamaran, visit town restaurants, go to beach parties, explore clubs, go bar hopping, and more!
In most places, you will see people with a relaxed beachwear style.
However, you should know that some places in Cabo Mexico at night have a fancier dress code, so you will see most people with “beachy” evening outfits but adding appropriate shoes, jewelry, and accessories.
Don’t forget to pack according to the season!
What are the best shoes for Cabo?
There are a few essential shoes that you cannot leave at home.
You will need flip-flops or sandals to go to the beach, and you can also use them to walk around your hotel and go to the pool.
To walk around and explore the city it is important to pack comfortable shoes or sneakers. But, if you want to go hiking, then you need the appropriate footwear like hiking boots for the activity.
If you want to practice different water sports, then we recommend bringing water shoes, especially if you want to do kayaking, surfing, or snorkeling. Even though it is not mandatory and you can be alright without them, you might feel comfortable with them.
At night, Cabo San Lucas has many activities. Some places have a relaxed dress code, and others are more fancy places. The best recommendation is to pack at least 1 pair of adequate shoes or beach heels so you can dress up for the occasion.
Must-have accessories for Cabo San Lucas
Besides clothing, there are some accessories that will make your experience in Cabo San Lucas more pleasant. The next packing list includes all the important items that you need for your Cabo trip:
Sunglasses are essential. Cabo has 350 of sunshine, so sunglasses will make your experience more comfortable regardless of where you want to go or do.
A hat or cap is equally important to sunglasses, and they will help you with sun protection. If you visit in the summer, this is a must.
A beach bag / Tote bag / Backpack is extremely helpful since you can carry all your things while you explore the city or go to the beach. A recommendation is to always pack bathing suits in your bag, sunscreen, your camera, and a water bottle.
A hair tie is our last must-have item. If you have long hair, packing a hair tie or a scrunchy will be a good idea. Cabo can be windy, especially at night, so a hair tie can be helpful.
Packing list: all items needed no matter the season
If you don’t know what to pack for Cabo, we share with you the ultimate Cabo packing list that you need to plan your trip. A piece of advice to optimize your space is to use packing cubes. We recommend packing:
- Documents: passport, ID, travel insurance, flight tickets, and similar. Bring a pen to fill in your Mexican tourist card.
- Money-related items: bring cash (most places accept U.S. dollars), debit, or credit card.
- Appropriate clothing: following the season and your itinerary. Don’t forget beach/pool clothing, like cover-ups.
- Adequate footwear: depending on the season and the activities you plan to do.
- Bathing suit
- Towel: bring just a small one or a pool one, since you will be provided with towels at the hotel.
- Sunscreen: ideally reef-safe sunscreen. Include chapstick with UV protection.
- First Aid kit
- Hygiene essentials: most hotels will include the basics, like soap, shampoo, and conditioner.
- Skin-care essentials: include a sunburn relief cream and chapstick.
- Sunglasses
- Hat/Cap
- Backpack/Tote Bag
- Camera
- Waterproof phone case
- Sports equipment: if needed.
Sports equipment
Los Cabos is a great place to practice many sports, and it is actually a hotspot for surfing, golfing, and snorkeling enthusiasts. So, if you would like to practice any sport while being here, don’t forget your necessary equipment.
Some of the activities and sports you can practice in Cabo San Lucas are:
- Surfing
- Kayaking
- Snorkeling
- Scuba-diving
- Paddling
- Volleyball
- Tennis
- Golf
- Parasailing
- Fishing
- Horseback riding
- Hiking
- Wakeboard
- Kiteboard
- Sandboarding
Keep in mind that some catamaran excursions, like the ones offered by La Isla Tour, include all equipment to practice snorkeling and paddling. You can explore the marine life with a snorkeling tour and we will take care of the food, drinks, and equipment!
Must-have items for Cabo adventures
Cabo is full of adventure and places waiting to be explored. If you want to enhance your experience with some fun expedition, then you need to remember to pack the next items:
- Bag: for adventures, it is more comfortable to take a backpack or a carry-on bag with you, depending on where you are going and how much you are bringing with you.
- Extra outfit: bring a spare of clothes in case you need to change. Add socks!
- Small towel: to dry up quickly if you need it. It is best to pick a small one to pack light.
- Comfortable shoes: you will need good walking shoes, and if you plan to go hiking, then pack your hiking boots. For all water-related activities, you can include water shoes.
- Sun protection items: as we mentioned, Cabo is always sunny. Don’t forget to pack your sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. To protect marine life, it is best to pick a reef-safe sunscreen. If you plan on going on long walks or hikes, a good idea is to pack a long-sleeve breathable shirt to protect your arms and shoulders.
- Waterproof phone case: most adventures in Cabo involve water, so it is best to pack a waterproof phone case and also a waterproof camera case if needed.
- GoPro: if you love adrenaline, then you probably already own a GoPro. Don’t forget to bring your camera for adventures.
- Swimsuits: even if you go hiking, never leave your hotel room without a bathing suit. On your way, you might find a beach, river, or pool and regret not having it with you.
- First Aid kit: to be safe, it is best to always pack a small emergency kit that can help you in different situations. In this kit, include:
- Activated charcoal pills: these can help with small stomach troubles, which is always a good idea to bring with you. Even though Los Cabos food and tap water are safe, some people can be susceptible to them. Pack them with you to make sure that you won’t have to shorten your adventure no matter what.
- Over-the-counter medicines: pack antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, and painkillers. You can also include analgesic gels, anti-inflammatory gels or creams, and alcohol.
- Bandage: don’t forget to pack band-aids, bandages, small amounts of cotton, and adhesive.
What NOT to pack for Cabo?
These are some items that you won’t need while being here:
- High heels: Cabo is a place that inspires walking, so most women wear sandals. For evenings, you can add beach sandals, beach heels, or medium heels.
- Suit and ties: Los Cabos has a relaxed dress code, so you won’t need to dress up.
- Leather shoes: same as above.
- Jeans/denim: jeans or denim are uncomfortable for the trip since they are not flexible enough.
- Winter coat: even though nights in Cabo can be chilly, you will do fine with just a light jacket.
Explore Cabo San Lucas and the Sea of Cortez with a private catamaran
The best way to explore Los Cabos and the Sea of Cortez is with a private catamaran. At La Isla Tour, we have 18 years of experience and we offer different cruising experiences that adapt to your needs. From a small excursion to big events, you will find in us the best option to sail in Cabo San Lucas.
La Isla Tour offers snorkeling tours or whale-watching tours
Explore the underwater world of the Sea of Cortez with a snorkeling tour. We will cruise around the best spots to snorkel and discover local wildlife, like sea lions, sea turtles, tropical fish, dolphins, whales, stingrays, and more! We include all the necessary snorkeling equipment, so you don’t have to worry about it.
A different tour to discover marine wildlife is the whale-watching excursion, where we will cruise around the hotspots to sightsee humpback whales and dolphins.
All of our tours include snorkeling equipment, paddle board equipment, snacks, drinks, and English-speaking guide tours.
Personalize your experience and get a luxury excursion with us
Plan your big event with La Isla Tour. We offer excursions for weddings, anniversaries, vow renewals, proposals, family escapades, friend gatherings, booze cruises, birthdays, and so much more!
With our luxurious catamarans, you can have access and delight your guests with an open bar and gourmet food prepared by a renowned chef.