The beating heart of the Baja Californian peninsula, Cabo San Lucas is an incredible city which has something for everyone here.
This includes postcard-perfect Pacific beaches, matched with iconic dark sed sunsets every evening.
We’ll also find tons of entertainment options, great nightlife, natural rock formations as well as adventure parks that you’ll want to fit into your plans and itinerary when exploring the city and nearby region.
In this article we’ll take a look at the most important things you need to know when planning your own trip to Cabo San Lucas, such as how to get here, the best time to visit, what to see and do as well as whether Cabo is safe.
We’ll also explore our own personal tips to help you have the best time possible when here.
Why Visit Cabo San Lucas?
Cabo San Lucas is by far one of the most popular places to visit in Mexico – and for good reason too. Like Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, here we’ll find a diverse range of activities and awesome things to see, as well as many off the beaten path experiences and lesser-known gems to visit nearby too.
Given Cabo is located in the far north of Mexico, the weather here is hot year-round – which makes it ideal to explore its golden-sand beaches during any month of the year. This includes the lively Médano Beach where all of the hotels and restaurants are located, as well as to Chileno Beach and Playa del Divorcio to enjoy some crystal-clear snorkelling conditions.
Cabo San Lucas also has many thrilling activities to take part in for a really memorable vacation here. This includes going deep-sea fishing with local charters to reel in a big catch (check out BoatsBaja.com), spotting Blue Whales and Humpback Whales, eating tasty Mexican cuisine and even flying on a zip line through the desert canyons.
Later in this guide we’ll take a look at the very best things you can see and do when in Cabo San Lucas.
Planning Your Trip To Cabo San Lucas
How To Get To Cabo San Lucas
Given its close proximity to the USA, most visitors usually connect with a flight from here (unless flying directly of course). The nearest airport to Cabo San Lucas is Los Cabos which is roughly 30 minutes away and is the best way of getting into the city. Here we can find regular flights here from cities like Miami, Dallas, Chicago and Seattle for between $70-130 for a one-way ticket.
We recommend booking your flights on Expedia.com or through Google Flights.
Although Cabo San Lucas is disconnected from the major mainland of Mexico, it’s still possible to arrive here without flying. Those in nearby La Paz can take a simple 2 hour bus here, whilst those further north in Tijuana can enjoy a memorable coastal road trip south to reach Cabo.
Another option is taking the ferry from the region of Sinaloa on the mainland to La Paz, followed by the two hour bus. They depart on a weekly schedule from Mazatlán and Topolobampo, and take roughly 9 hours to arrive to La Paz.
How Many Days Do You Need In Cabo San Lucas?
Once you know how to get to Cabo San Lucas, another major topic is working out how much time you’ll need here to see all of the main highlights and have the best experience possible.
Usually I suggest between 4-6 days in Cabo San Lucas. This amount of time is perfect for enjoying the various golden-sand beaches and sea activities, and also for taking a day trip to explore other parts of Baja California Sur (such as La Paz or Todos Santos).
If you’re heading here for a more specific reason like learning how to surf, or if you want to rent a yacht or go fishing, then you’ll probably want to extend your trip to over a week or so so you can take full advantage.
The Best Time To Visit Cabo San Lucas
Before you start booking your flights, it’s always good to check different weather seasons can bring different advantages and disadvantages.
The dry season is by far the most popular time to visit, which runs from November until April.
At this time of year, expect dry and warm sunny days most of the time, which is perfect for hitting up a beach or anything outdoors. The only drawback is that it can get very busy with crowds around this time, especially obviously closer to the Christmas holidays.
The wet season begins in May goes through to October, and is also a great alternative time to visit Cabo San Lucas. Even though there’s more rain, and the days are balmy, there are usually enough sunny days sprinkled in for a good trip.
Just know that stormy weather (and potential hurricanes) are most likely to happen between the months of September and October.
Lastly, another important consideration is the various fauna that can be spotted around this Pacific city. Whales can be spotted off the coast during their annual migration north between January and March, whilst you can also swim with Whales Sharks from November until April.
If you’re looking to go fishing in Cabo, then the best time is between the months of July and October during the rainy season.
Cabo San Lucas Packing List
As Cabo is warm year-round, this makes it quite easy to pack for this coastal city. It’s similar if you are planning a longer trip around Mexico too, given most parts are also usually hot!
Below we’ll list a great starting packing list for your trip to Cabo San Lucas, as well as all of the essentials that you’ll want to bring:
- T-shirts and vests.
- Shorts.
- Swimming trunks and costumes.
- Short-sleeve shirts.
- Sandals.
- Shoes.
- Thin layers for daytime hiking.
- A poncho or rain jacket (if heading during the wet season).
- A hand towel.
- A baseball cap or nice hat (to prevent you from getting burnt during the day).
- Sunglasses.
- High SPF sunscreen (we suggest using a minimum of SPF 30).
- A reusable water bottle.
- A day pack for when taking day trips around the city and nearby region.
- A quality camera or mobile phone.
- Extra batteries for your camera.
- Charging adaptors and power banks.
- Padlocks (for keeping your personal belongings safe).
- Important documents (such as your passport, credit cards etc).
- Copy of your travel insurance documents.
- A plastic folder to hold all of your important documents together.
The Best Things To See And Do In Cabo San Lucas
Visit The Arch Of Cabo San Lucas
Jutting-out of the Pacific Ocean, the Arch of Cabo is by far one of the most impressive landmarks you can see around the city. A naturally-created rock formation, you can spot it from Médano Beach and is also beautiful to watch when the sun is setting beyond it. You can also head out on a boat tour to get even more impressive pictures, and also explore the hidden beach behind it.
Hike Up To The Cerro De La Zeta Mirador
Translating locally as a viewpoint, the best mirador in Cabo San Lucas is located on top of a mountain just west of the city centre. It takes just under an hour to complete the hike up the Cerro De La Zeta, where you can enjoy a quieter walk with less crowds around and some picturesque arid vegetation along the way. At the top there are impressive views over both Cabo as well as the surrounding Pacific Ocean.
Enjoy Cabo’s Famous Nightlife
What really makes Cabo San Lucas come alive is its legendary nightlife scene after the sun goes down. Regardless if you’re after a hectic night out, or want more of a chilled-out evening by the beach – there’s plenty of options for everyone here. There are lots of bars near the Marina and along Avenida Lázaro Cárdenas such as Jungle Bar and Monkey Business Bar, whilst nightclubs such as La Vaquita and El Squid Roe promise an eventful scene.
Head On A Local Taco Tour
All over Cabo San Lucas you can find many epic dishes that mix both Mexican classics as well as some of the more popular cuisine that hails from the Baja California Sur region. Trying them by yourself can sometimes be daunting, which is why I recommend joining Juan More Taco for an awesome street food experience. Not only will you try all kinds of exotic local dishes, your expert guide will also be on-hand for any questions you may have!
Go Deep-Sea Fishing
Given its location along the Pacific, Cabo San Lucas is a perfect spot to go deep-sea fishing where you can find popular catches such as the Blue Marlin, Wahoo and Yellowfin Tuna species. The overall best time to go fishing is between July and October, although other months are still good for different big catches.
You’ll find lots of local companies around the harbour like Boats Baja, who organize both fishing charters and private yachts.
Is Cabo San Lucas Safe To Visit?
Like with most cities around Mexico, Cabo San Lucas has both its safe and unsafe areas – with the Harbour and Médano Beach neighbourhoods being the best for a stay.
Of course you’ll still want to take the usual precautions such as leaving valuables back in your apartment when heading out, and also not wandering off into unknown neighbourhoods alone at night.
Outside of the tourist areas and hotel resorts, it can get a little more sketchy in certain areas. Usually these neighbourhoods aren’t recommended for tourists to venture into alone – and to be honest usually don’t have any redeemable sites or attractions (and aren’t really places that tourists would want to head to). If for any reason you need to go, I suggest using Ubers to and from, and also to try to visit during the daytime (unless going with a trusted friend or tour guide).
The last piece of advice in terms of how you can stay safe is to follow local guidance.
If you’re renting a car, or renting a boat, check with the operator to find out about any potential safety concerns you might have. Boats Baja has an entire post on keeping safe in Cabo.
This includes any tips you can pick-up from the receptionist in your hotel, as well as from any tour guide you travel with. This way you can learn some valuable advice such as why you should avoid drinking tap water, as well as if any particular areas are not worth heading to right now.
Our Tip Tips For Visiting Cabo San Lucas
Below we’ll now share some of our own personal top tips for having the best experience possible when in Cabo San Lucas.
Avoid Drinking Unsafe Water
Having already mentioned this above, you’ll really want to double-down on the water situation here. Unfortunately the public water systems aren’t treated at all, and as a result many unsuspecting tourists get nasty stomach bugs and can fall ill. Always drink from sealed bottles of water, and try to avoid getting ice in drinks when heading to restaurants.
Head To Cabo During The Shoulder Seasons
Sandwiched between the dry and wet seasons, these periods often offer us the best of both worlds when coming to Cabo. These include the months of November, May and June.
Not only can you enjoy warm temperatures and great weather with less crowds around, you can also get involved with local cultural celebrations such as the Day of the Dead (which is an important Mexican event that takes place every early November).
Keep An Open Mind During Your Trip
There’s a lot more going for Cabo than just its beaches and endless nightlife options, and as a result I recommend trying to keep an open mind when here. Whilst visiting off the beaten path destinations is a good start, I also suggest visiting other places in the nearby region such as Todos Santos for its awesome surfing and La Paz for its spectacular beaches.
Overview Of Cabo San Lucas
And that’s all for this guide on how to plan your own trip to Cabo San Lucas, as well as the surrounding regions of Baja California Sur.
This Mexican paradise is already a hot destination to visit in the country, with its scene and activities rivalling those of Cancún and Puerto Vallarta. As we’ve now seen, Cabo is also home to a massive range of activities, so your only issue will be working out how to fit them all into just one trip here!
As always, planning your trip in advance will help make it more smooth and enjoyable.
I highly recommend taking your time to read again the sections of how to get to Cabo, the best time to visit, our own top tips as well as the various destinations on offer here to help you have the best experience possible.
