Los Cabos, meaning the capes, is made up of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas in Baja California Sur, Mexico. It’s a gorgeous destination known for beautiful beaches and tasty seafood. In this Los Cabos Travel Guide, I’ll break down how to get around the area, where to stay, what to do, and where to eat! I’ve been traveling for years. For the past 10 months, I have lived in and traveled throughout Mexico. I love sharing what I’ve learned and exploring this incredible country! Let’s dive right in!
Things to Know
- Los Cabos is a little pricier than other parts of Mexico. If you’ve traveled around Mexico, or have been to Mexico City and/or Cancun, I found prices almost double in Los Cabos.
- Many people here speak some English, but it doesn’t hurt to know a little bit of simple Spanish. If you venture outside of Los Cabos, fewer and fewer people tend to speak English. I always recommend having a translator app on your phone that can be used without service, Microsoft Translator app is free and my favorite!
- Currency is the Mexican Pesos, generally, the rough exchange rate is $1 USD = 20 pesos. You can pay with United States dollars here, but check the conversion the place is using (usually posted on the wall or near the cash register). I find I save a lot more money when I pay using pesos on my credit card which has no international fees. Credit cards are widely accepted here, but I also recommend carrying 500 pesos ($25 USD) on you while traveling in Mexico.
- Getting around the area is super easy using taxis, ubers, or rental cars, but more on that below!
- There are lots of options for accommodations, everything from resorts to hostels you’ll find here. One of my favorite things about Los Cabos is how much you can plan and customize your experience here.
How to Get Here
San Jose del Cabo Airport is the most popular to fly into here. La Paz airport, about two hours north, is another option but I found flights more expensive here. You can also travel the area by local bus, rental car, or driving a car from the US.
Getting Around
It’s only a short drive between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Ubers and taxis are easily accessible, it’s also easy and quite affordable to arrange a rental car here.
We used a rental car and paid about $35 USD a day for it. Our trip through Baja California Sur was a road trip, having a car allowed us to explore more of the surrounding areas. I also felt very safe driving here alone or with my friend, we never ran into any issues. Check out my Baja California Sur Road Trip itinerary here.
Where to Stay
I found San Jose del Cabo to be quieter and smaller, the center of the town here is charming and brightly decorated. While Cabo San Lucas was much bigger and busier, if you’re looking to enjoy the nightlife while visiting, I would recommend Cabo San Lucas. If quiet morning walks are more your jam I would stay in San Jose del Cabo or at a property that’s right on the beach.
There are many accommodation options from resorts in the area to hotels and Airbnb. You will find options to accommodate almost any budget! Here are a few of my recommendations to stay:
Posada Real Los Cabos
Sitting right on the beach in San Jose del Cabo, this budget-friendly resort offers a pool and restaurant onsite. Best of all it’s closely situated to the city!
Solmar Resort
Beautiful budget-friendly resort in Cabo San Lucas. They offer a pool, dining, and lots of activities. Located about a 15-minute walk from the Marina there.
San Jose del Cabo Airbnb
Nice budget stay, especially if you’re looking for two rooms. The place itself is well-kept, but a little outdated. The pool at the location was really nice to use. We had a rental car, so staying outside of San Jose del Cabo was easy, plus when we did Uber it was pretty cheap (about $3-4 USD).
Mayan Monkey
Located in Cabo San Lucas this hostel came highly recommended to me and it looks like a dream! Not only is it beautiful but it’s in a great location to be able to walk to the beach near here!
Things to Do
My Favorite Beaches
Many of the beaches in Los Cabos aren’t in town. Most of the public beaches only have a bathroom and access to a trash can, keep that in mind when planning your day. I’ve also found that many of the public beaches don’t get as busy.
With all of these beaches, my biggest tip to avoid crowds or even have the beach to yourself is to arrive as early as possible. Snorkeling can also be really nice early in the morning. Keep that in mind when planning your beach days.
To get to many of these you can usually arrange a taxi or uber to take you or drive yourself if you have a rental car. I would highly recommend that if you’re going by Uber you have another backup method to get back just in case the cell service isn’t strong enough to use an app. I have service on my phone when traveling throughout Mexico and I also save a few local taxi numbers in case I need them. Your host or hotel is a great resource to ask for a taxi company.
Playa El Chileno
Great snorkeling here, bring or rent your own snorkel gear before arriving. There’s a parking lot here too. This beach sits right next to Chileno Bay Resort & Residences.
Playa Santa Maria
Another gorgeous beach that has large rock formations on each side of the beach. There’s also a public bathroom, trash access, outdoor shower, and parking lot here too.
Playa del Amor and Playa Divorcio
Some of the most famous beaches in Los Cabos! To get here you’ll need to take a water taxi, many leave from Medano Beach. Or most Lands End Tours also stop here and allow you to either take a water taxi back or come back with a later tour. Lovers Beach is the beautiful sandy spot where the Gulf meets the Pacific, just beyond this sandy stretch are huge jagged rocks, this is Divorce Beach. Get here early to beat all of the others coming to enjoy this beautiful beach!
Things to do in San Jose del Cabo
Explore the Charming Centro
Day or night this place is just lovely. Personally, I enjoyed walking around early in the mornings to take photos and enjoy the quiet beauty of the town.
Visit Mision San Jose del Cabo
Shop in town, you’ll find lots of things to buy from souvenirs to hats and bags. Many of the items I saw are from the state of Chiapas, if this is a stop on your big trip through Mexico, I would save some of the shopping.
Check Out the Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo Every Thursday
Thursdays here are very fun, the town square is full of artisans and artists selling their creations and work. It makes for a fun night out!
Things to do in Cabo San Lucas
Watch the Sunset From the Pedregal
The pedregal is an overlook that provides one of the most spectacular views of the area! On Google Maps you’ll want to drive to Cerro de la Z or use the address Villa Dorada 514, note that there are two ways to get there, if you come to a gate, get back on the main road and have Google Maps reroute you.
The road up is a little rough, but you’ll come to a dirt section next to a fence, from their park and begin walking up the concrete pathway. It’s straight up from here, and it took us about 20-30 minutes to get up. The view is so beautiful and worth the climb. I’ve been during the day and at sunset, and both were great. During the day it did give a clearer view, but there’s little to shade. A rental car worked great for us getting here, but you can also Uber or taxi.
Tour Lands End
Arguably one of the most famous things to see in Cabo San Lucas. There are tons of tour options here, I recommend asking for recommendations from your Airbnb or hotel. I usually go to where the tours leave and ask around until I find the best price. Make sure you include seeing these stops: Sea Lion Colony, Pelican Rock, and Lovers Beach.
Book a Whale Watching Tour
Only available December-April. Experience seeing the humpback whales that migrate to the area every year. However, if you’re there outside that time window there are so many options to explore this area by boat. I could easily spend a few days myself on one here!
Explore the Marina
Another staple for Cabo San Lucas. Many tours leave from here, but it’s also fun to walk around and see all the boats. There are also lots of shops and restaurants here if you’re looking for that too
Where to Eat
Los Cabos is home to some terrific eats! Can’t beat how good the seafood is here. From fine dining to cheap eats, you’ll find it. Expect to pay $7-$30 USD a meal depending on how nice of a restaurant you’re looking at. Drinks run around $4-$10 USD. Tacos are about $2 USD in most places here.
Best Eats San Jose del Cabo
La Lupita Tacos & Mezcal
This beautifully decorated lively restaurant is located in the center of San Jose del Cabo. They serve a variety of different deliciously curated tacos. My favorite was the cochinita. Plus they have a location in Cabo San Lucas.
El Toro Guero
The seafood here is excellent, also located in the center of town. Make sure to add this hidden gem to your San Jose del Cabo itinerary.
Los Tres Gallos
Located in the center of San Jose del Cabo. Their large but tasty menu is served in a festive restaurant. I recommend asking to sit on the top floor for the full experience. They also have a location in Cabo San Lucas.
Flora Farms
Known for its farm-to-table menu and excellent quality. A great option for lunch or dinner. Another can’t miss San Jose del Cabo spot to check out!
Coffee Lab
In the center of San Jose del Cabo. They serve great coffee and small bites, we enjoyed the lovely outdoor seating.
Best Eats Cabo San Lucas
Tacos Gardinas
Cabo San Lucas staple! So many great options on their menu, plus it’s near the marina. I found it perfect for lunch after exploring the area.
The Office
Known for its beautiful location on the beach. Enjoy a memorable dinner and drinks during sunset!
Doce Cuarenta
My favorite coffee in the area, perfect for a quick stop! They have locations in Todos Santos and La Paz too.
Los Cabos on a Budget
I’ve been a long-term budget traveler, nowadays I like to consider myself more of a budget maximizer. While Los Cabos was one of the pricier destinations I’ve traveled to in Mexico, it’s definitely possible to travel on a budget. Here are my budget tips below
Plan Ahead What You’re Looking to Do
Meaning if you want a day at the beach think about which one. The public beaches here are free, but getting there will cost you, either by rental car or uber/taxi. Consider ahead of time how much a rental car is and if you’ll use it enough to get the best bang for your buck. We paid $35 USD a day plus gas, which I split with my friend and it ended up being worth it for us.
Shop Around for Tours and Excursions
You’ll see so many tour groups and guides around, especially near the marina. To find the best price on tours I usually ask around until I find the best price. This works great in the evening when they are trying to fill up tours or right before the tours leave.
Walk Out of Touristy Areas for Dinner
A popular trick that works so well! Walk just a few blocks outside of the center to find much more affordable eats.
What to Consider With Accommodations
Depending on how long your staying consider two things:
- If staying in the center of the city is worth paying a little extra usually. I usually go with this so I can walk to wherever I might need or want to go. Having a rental car can also make this obsolete.
- If having a kitchen will save you some money on eating out. When I’m traveling to a place for five days or more, I like this option so I can cook on my own. I don’t find it works well for me on shorter stays. This is worth spending some time considering.
3-Day Los Cabos Itinerary
If you only have three days to explore, or only want to leave your resort for a few days, I’ve put together this three-day itinerary to help guide your planning. Later on, I list all of the day trip options, if you’re here for more than three days, adding these day trips works great!
Day 1
- Start the day by exploring downtown San Jose
- Get coffee at Coffee Lab
- Have lunch at Flora Farms
- Enjoy Playa Santa Maria, there’s just public parking, a bathroom, and trash here. I recommend bringing drinks and snacks if you plan on hanging out long!
- Dinner at La Lupita Tacos & Mezcal, Los Tres Gallos, or El Toro Guero
- Shop in town & check out the art walk in San Jose del Cabo every Thursday
Day 2
- Start the day with coffee at Doce Cuarenta
- Tour Lands End
- Stay around and enjoy Lovers Beach and take a water taxi back
- Watch the sunset over dinner at The Office
Day 3
- Spend the morning snorkeling at Playa El Chileno, earlier the better, bring or rent your own snorkel gear before arriving
- Have lunch at Tacos Gardinas
- Explore The Marina
- Watch the sunset at the Pedregal
Day Trip and Self-Guided Excursions
I can’t recommend having a rental car enough for these! Los Cabos is close to some very cool day trips. Of all the non-touristy things to do in Los Cabos, these are my favorites! Many of these day trips will give you a glimpse of another side of Baja California Sur. Check out my suggestions below:
Dive into Miraflores and Santiago
About an hour away by driving, these two small towns will give you a glimpse of a different side of BCS. These two towns are fun to drive through, I stopped a few times along the way to walk around the town. The gem of this day trip are the agua calientes or hot springs here, and Canon de la Zorra, where you can hike down to a waterfall to swim and relax. Keep in mind that in the fall these areas tend to close, Google Maps was pretty up to date with this. Driving around I also saw signs, you can always ask in town if your Spanish allows it. Or I like to always ask either the Airbnb host I have or the hotel front desk to see if anyone knows. I found many people in Los Cabos who spoke English, but out in these towns, it was harder to find English Speakers. Check out my Travel Guide to Miraflores and Santiago coming soon!
Fall in Love With Todos Santos
Todos Santos is a Pueblo Magico just north of Cabo San Lucas, about an hour’s drive. This small town is filled with bright colorful streets and picturesque spots. You’ll also find some excellent restaurants while being very close to a few beautiful beaches. Check out my Travel Guide to Todos Santos coming soon!
Explore History in El Triunfo and San Antonio
El Triunfo and San Antonio are two small towns with deep mining history in Baja California Sur (BCS). El Triunfo is a charming town with two small museums, a few restaurants, and mines. While San Antonio is a little quieter, it’s famous for a street there being the backdrop for a Bo Jovi album cover, maybe you’ve heard of “These Days?” Check out my Travel Guide to El Triunfo and San Antonio coming soon!
Get Lost in La Paz
A two-hour drive from Los Cabos. La Paz was possibly my favorite place on this trip. La Paz doesn’t get near the tourism that Los Cabos does. It’s full of incredible beaches just outside the city, many of these beaches were minimally busy, with crystal clear waters. Not to mention, the seafood is plentiful and incredible here. Check out my Travel Guide to La Paz coming soon!
Road Trip Through Baja California Sur
If these day trips have piqued your interest, consider turning your trip into a road trip! I spent nine days road-tripping with a friend. It made for an off-the-beaten-path adventure! Check out my itinerary, and how you can plan your road trip here!
Whatever you decide to add to your Los Cabos itinerary I’m sure it will be incredible! Los Cabos is a beautiful bucket list destination, I hope you love it as much as I do! Now, are you ready to start planning your trip? Let me know what you would do first from this Los Cabos Travel Guide when visiting the area. Or, if you’ve been, tell me below if there’s anything you would add to this travel guide!
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