Cabo San Lucas

Top things to do & see in Cabo

Top beaches

You can walk for miles along Cabo's main stretch of sand, Médano Beach, which in turn is walking distance or a short taxi ride from the marina where cruise-ship launches drop their passengers. It’s all here, from palapa beach bars and restaurants to elegant resort hotels, fresh-air massage studios, wandering hair braiders, water sports concessionaires, souvenir stalls, time-share sales booths and strolling vendors selling a huge variety of jewelry, bikini cover-ups and trinkets. The people-watching is top notch.

Kayak & snorkel tours

If you’re the active type, this is the shore excursion for you. Paddle tours get up close and personal with Los Arcos (the iconic rock arches at Land’s End) and make a snorkel stop at Pelican Rock or Playa del Amor (Lover’s Beach), perhaps the most photographed spot at Cabo.

Take note: Sometimes the water in the bay is glassy-smooth, and sometimes it’s rough enough to pose a significant challenge for novice paddlers and children. Feel free to wait and see. You can easily assess conditions and book a trip at the marina upon arrival. Experienced paddlers may prefer to rent a kayak and go on their own from Médano Beach — but check tide tables first. If you get stuck on an outlying strand during a rising tide, you could be in trouble.

Whale watching

Every fall, thousands of gray whales make their 6,000-mile trek from the summer feeding grounds of Alaska to the calving grounds of Baja. If you visit Cabo between  December and March, you'll likely be treated to gray whales spouting close to shore, along with some humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins.

Boat tours

Many types are available, from party-boat catamarans to diminutive launches with glass panels in their flooring. Trips range from around 45 minutes to several hours, and all provide good photo ops of Los Arcos. Longer excursions include stops at Lover’s Beach and continue into open waters for whale-watching during the November to March migration season.

Shopping

The temptations start right at the marina and continue at in-town boutiques. Credit cards accepted? You bet! Look for distinctive apparel and beachwear; gorgeous housewares, works of art, leather goods — and, of course, the silver jewelry for which Mexico is so well known.

Go ahead, explore!

This is one of few destinations in Mexico where a moderately adventuresome American visitor will feel comfortable renting a car. Spend your day exploring beaches and other attractions along the 30-mile “Corridor” between Cabo San Lucas and the quieter town of San Jose del Cabo (together referred to as “Los Cabos”). A modern highway connects the two. 

Tip: Spend a few dollars extra and take out full insurance. If anything happens, you’ll want to be able to board your ship and sail away, not be detained or involved in a bureaucratic tangle. Know, too, that rates for standard-shift vehicles are substantially lower than rates for cars with automatic transmissions.

Other options

• Whoop it up: The tequila starts flowing as soon as the first cruise ship passengers arrive at round-the-clock hotspots including Cabo Wabo Cantina, Hard Rock Cafe and El Squid Roe.
• Water sports: Parasailing, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing; you name it: Whatever you can squeeze into your timetable is available in tourist-savvy Cabo.

Family-friendly options

• Resort visit: Your cruise ship can arrange for you and your kids to spend shore time in the cushy atmosphere of a high-end resort. Expect lounge chairs, pools, patio dining, fawning service, lots of kiddo activities and much relaxation and peace of mind.
• Adventure tours: Zip-line parks, swimming with dolphins, desert excursions by dune buggy, surfing lessons and even camel safaris are among the expensive activities marketed to families both on and off the ship.

Don’t miss

Fish tacos! Some say this is where they were invented. Look for a taco truck or a side-of-the-road food stall and join the locals in chowing down at locals’ prices. Of course, you can always order them in restaurants, too.

Best bets for dining

• You can’t go wrong at Mi Casa, a colorful venue on the Cabo San Lucas town square. Eye-catching décor is part of the experience, whether you eat indoors or on the shady patio. The extensive menu is focused on traditional and excellently prepared Mexican cuisine. House specialties include stuffed queen clams and chile en nogada, a stuffed pepper preparation topped with sauces the colors of the Mexican flag.
• The Office on the Beach is another gringo favorite, and it’s easy to see why: a sea of tables tumble from the main building right onto Médano Beach, affording diners the luscious experience of wiggling their toes in the sand while sipping their morning café con leche, enjoying an afternoon cerveza or lunching on huachinango al mojo de ajo (red snapper in garlic sauce).
• If you prefer to escape the follow-the-leader hoards but still stay within walking distance of the pier, settle into an ocean-view table (under a roof or in the sand) at Hacienda Cocina y Cantina, the signature restaurant at the Hacienda Beach Club & Residences on the marina end of Médano Beach. Stick to your diet (if you must) with a light but elegant lunch of shrimp-stuffed avocado and a house salad composed of strawberries, mango, jicama, goat cheese and spiced pecans tossed in a tamarind vinaigrette. Yum.

Best time to go

High season: November to May. December to April are primo months when rain is scarce, highs are in the mid-80s and whale watching is at its peak. January and February can be chilly. 

Shoulder season: June, September, October

Low season: July through September is hot, humid and the time when stormy weather is most likely to occur.

YOLO (You only live once!)

Make like Hemingway and treat yourself to a deep-sea fishing excursion in the “Marlin Capital of the World.” Los Cabos Fishing and Pisces Sportfishing are two of several operators that cater to cruise-ship passengers. Best time for billfish is October-November, but few boats come up empty no matter what the season.

Fun facts

• The legal drinking age in Mexico is 18.
• Whale-watching season runs from November to March, with several species hugging the coast on their annual migrations.
• Many Americans and Canadians live permanently in Los Cabos, and the area also attracts thousands of snowbirds from northern climes.

When you arrive

Docking information

All cruise ships anchor out in the bay and tender their passengers ashore, a process that can be quite time-consuming on larger vessels. Passengers who have booked shore excursions through their cruise line usually get priority privileges. Tenders (i.e., lifeboats) dock at the marina, an easy walk to town or to the Médano Beach district. Taxis, excursion boats, activity concessionaires and shopping opportunities also are available at the marina.

Free Wi-Fi

• Hangout Cafe, at the corner of Zaragoza and 16 de Septiembre
• Oasis Bar & Grill at Marina Sol, Camino al Hacienda
• San Francisco Coffee Company, Boulevard Marina #39

Getting around

Foot, taxi, rental car, public bus — they'll all do the job. Be aware that taxis are pretty expensive.

Need to know

Documents: U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport.

Language: You’ll hear as much English as Spanish spoken in Los Cabos.

Currency: You don’t have to change money if you stick to the tourist areas, although you’ll get better exchange rates on almost everything if you go to an ATM machine and withdraw pesos before starting out.

Store hours: In general, businesses are open between 9 am and 7 pm – sometimes even until 8 or 10 pm. Be prepared that stores are only open in the mornings on Sunday.

Tipping: Most service employees in Mexico count on tips to make up the majority of their income. Waiters get 10% to 15% of the bill, depending on the level of service. In Mexico, it is not customary to tip taxi drivers.

Safety: The U.S. Department of State has long been warning Americans about travel in Mexico due to the country's crime level. All travelers are advised to be careful in Mexico and stick to the tourist areas. Please check http://travel.state.gov for the latest and see Cruiseable's safety tips for cruise passengers.

Your take

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