Getting To Know Cabo San Lucas

Below let’s take a look at the basics of Cabo San Lucas, including where it is exactly located and why you should visit.

Why Visit Cabo San Lucas?

One of the most beautiful destinations along Mexico’s Pacific coast, Cabo San Lucas is no stranger to tourism. Receiving over 3 million tourists annually, it’s amongst the very top city beach breaks in all of North America.

Here we can find dozens of postcard-perfect beaches to enjoy, each with something unique and special. For example Médano Beach is great for a lively atmosphere with lots of restaurants and bars nearby, whilst El Chileno Beach is perfect for those who want to swim and snorkel in crystal-clear transparent waters. There’s also long expansive beaches such as that of Pedregal Beach, where it’s easy to find your own space away from the crowds.

Aside from the idyllic beaches and memorable atmosphere, Cabo San Lucas is also a great place to enjoy all kinds of diverse and thrilling activities. The Wild Canyon Park is full of zip lines, bungee jumps and other adrenaline-pumping experiences, whilst we can easily head on day trips to places like La Paz and Todos Santos which are both unique in their own authentic ways. We can also enjoy deep-sea fishing trips, where we can reel in big catches such as Blue Marlin and Mahi Mahi.

Where Is Cabo San Lucas Located?

Cabo San Lucas is situated right in the north of Mexico, along the famous strip of maritime land that is known as the Baja Californian peninsula. Despite the usual confusion, it’s important to know that Cabo is situated in the state of Baja California Sur – which is different from the Baja California region that connects further north.

Given the location of Cabo, this means that it has quite a unique climate compared with many other coastal destinations in Mexico. The region here is arid and desert-like, meaning rainfall isn’t as common here as other areas like Cancún and Puerto Vallarta (which have their traditional, heavier rainy seasons). It also means temperatures are great year-round when visiting and enjoying its beaches.

The other good thing to know is that Cabo is located very close to the Los Cabos International Airport, which is one of the most busy and popular airports in the country. This means it’s easy to get here from the neighbouring USA, as well as from many other countries around the globe with daily incoming flights. Later in this guide we’ll explore your different options of getting to Cabo San Lucas.

Comparing Cabo San Lucas Vs Other Popular Mexican Destinations 

Whilst every destination in Mexico is special in its own right, it can be helpful to know the particular perks of one when deciding where to go for our next vacation. Cabo San Lucas is commonly pitted against other heavy-hitters such as Cancún, Puerto Vallarta and Mexico City, given how popular it has become.

First of all we have the beaches. Given its unique positioning along the North Pacific coast of Mexico, there are lots of golden sand beaches, which are ideal for swimming, snorkelling and for going fishing (and are a nice difference from the usual white sand beaches along the Mexican Caribbean).

Cabo San Lucas also has its own microclimate, given its location in the arid north of Mexico. Whilst it still has its wet season like the rest of the country, the levels of rainfall are still quite low (usually between 1.5-3.5 inches). This is much drier and less hassle when compared with places like Playa del Carmen and Cancún in the Riviera Maya, which can experience anywhere between 3-6 inches a month during the wild wet season.

The Best Things To See And Do In Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas is a really diverse city in Mexico, with all kinds of natural beauty, great entertainment and unique activities to enjoy here. Below we’ll take a look at some of the very best.

Relax On Cabo’s Golden Sand Beaches

By far the most popular thing to do in and around Cabo is to head to the beach. Here we can find dozens of postcard-perfect golden sand beaches, and each with a different setting and atmosphere. Médano Beach is the liveliest and is just a stone’s throw away from the harbour in the city centre, where we’ll find lots of restaurants and some really memorable red skies come sunset. Those who want a more relaxed atmosphere and an expansive coastline can head to Pedregal Beach, whilst Chileno Beach is perfect for swimming and snorkelling.

Visit The Legendary Arch Of Cabo San Lucas

A natural rock formation that looks like a handmade masterpiece, the arch of Cabo San Lucas is a must-see when in this Mexican Pacific city. Located just beyond the shoreline of Médano Beach, this arch has an almost-perfect semi-circle shape, and is a great spot for getting your iconic Cabo San Lucas photos. There are boat tours heading out here all day, however we recommend heading out in the late afternoon to enjoy the beautiful golden hour lighting effects.

Rent Your Very Own Private Catamaran For The Day

Looking for the most memorable and insta-worthy experience of all when in Cabo San Lucas? Then it doesn’t get any better than by hiring your very own private Catamaran! With the freedom to explore as you wish, you can sail around the Pacific Ocean and also visit secluded beaches around the Baja Sur peninsular. You’ll also have first-class seats to enjoy the dark red sunsets that make Cabo such a famous vacation destination. If you are interested in hiring your very own catamaran, then we highly recommend CaboDeluxeSailing who have a variety of memorable options to choose from.

Go Deep-Sea Fishing In The Pacific Ocean

Given Cabo’s positioning on the open Pacific waters at the end of the Baja California Peninsula, this city has always been one of the most popular places in the continent to enjoy a good day of fishing. Here you can hire a range of reputable fishing charters and head out for the day to try your luck, which is good in both the dry and wet season. In these waters we can of course find the elusive Blue Marlin, as well as others such as Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, Yellowfin Tuna and Sailfish. 

Enjoy Drinks Along Cabo’s Harbour

One of the most popular areas to explore, the harbour and nearby avenues are the epicentre for tourism in Cabo San Lucas. Here we will find lots of cosy bars and wild nightlife options between here and the Avenida Lázaro Cárdenas, which are perfect to enjoy drinks any hours of the day – any day of the week! Just a further 5-10 minute walk further south is the famous Médano Beach, which also has its beachside bars and is the ultimate place to let go and relax.

The Best Time To Visit Cabo San Lucas

When planning your trip to Cabo San Lucas, it’s firstly important to know that there are two weather seasons throughout the year.

The first is the dry season, which runs from November until May. Here we can enjoy clear-blue skies with barely any rainfall, and also a more atmospheric vibe as there will be more tourists and events on. The wet season follows from June until October, which is much less busy and best for a more authentic and relaxing trip. Whilst there is more rainfall, it’s still low for Mexico – between 0.5-2.5 inches each month – given we are located in an arid desert region.

Another important consideration are the low and high tourist seasons. Usually the high seasons will be more expensive for both hotels and flights, so those looking to save will want to head in the low season months. These include from July until October, which will also be more relaxing.

Planning Your Trip To Cabo San Lucas

Now that you’ve bought your plane ticket ready, it’s time to get ready for your trip. Below we’ll cover the essentials that you need to know before touching down in Cabo San Lucas.

Where To Stay In Cabo San Lucas

The heart of the touristy area is around the harbour of Cabo San Lucas, which stretches down to the popular Médano Beach. This is by far the best place to base yourself, with tons of great restaurants, nightlife options and malls nearby. We’ll also have the beach and many activities just a stone’s throw away, and anything else can easily be reached with Uber in Cabo San Lucas. 

Around these areas we’ll find lots of luxury all-inclusive resorts, however that’s not all there is to it. There’s also many incredible boutique hotels and AirBnb’s that are also perfect options, it’s just a case of looking in advance before you come. Just remember that if heading during the popular dry season, accommodation can run out fast so try to book yours at least 4 months in advance.

The Best Eating And Nightlife Options

Given Cabo San Lucas has become such a famous and popular vacation destination all over the globe, this means we can find some really memorable eating and nightlife options around the city – although most are located around the harbour and Médano Beach areas.

When it comes to food, the Office On The Beach remains one of the most popular options, which has all kinds of global cuisine on their menu and is also a great place for dinner during sunset. Those who want to try some of the very best seafood classics of the Baja region will want to head to Don Manuel’s which is located close to Pedregal Beach.

Nightlife comes in almost endless options here in Cabo San Lucas. There are many great bars for cocktails such as Jungle Bar and Cabo Wabo, whilst Baja Brewing has a perfect lookout view over Médano Beach and the Pacific Ocean. Those who are after more hectic scenes and memorable vibes will want to head to either El Squid Roe or Mandala.

Cabo San Lucas Packing List

So you have your accommodation and flights all booked and ready, and it’s almost time to leave home. Now is the time to get packing, so make sure you don’t forget the essentials that we’ve listed below!

• Shorts.
• T-Shirts.
• Swimming trunks / Bikini.
• Comfortable Shoes.
• Sandals.
• Trainers if you plan on going hiking.
• A hat or Baseball cap.
• Sunglasses
• A jumper or extra layers if coming during the cooler winter months.
• A hand towel.
• High SPF sunscreen.
• A reusable water bottle.
• A day pack.
• A quality camera or mobile phone.
• Charging adaptors and power banks.
• Your important documents.
• Mexican pesos before you arrive in Cabo.

Overview Of Cabo San Lucas 

And that’s all for our ultimate, comprehensive guide to visiting Cabo San Lucas.

A memorable beachside city located in the north of Mexico, it’s no mistake that Cabo San Lucas has become so popular for tourists. Here we can enjoy a perfect climate year-round, lounge on golden Pacific beaches, live it up with a great atmosphere and also experience novel activities such as deep-sea fishing and bungee jumping between canyons.

Are you still wondering what to do when you visit Cabo San Lucas? Here at Boats Baja we specialise in both memorable deep-sea fishing tours as well as luxury catamaran rentals, which can be the difference between a great holiday and an unforgettable trip.