Looking for the best things to do in Cabo san Lucas?
As one of the best beach towns in Mexico, Cabo San Lucas is one of the most-visited and best Mexico travel destinations. Visitors traveling to Cabo will definitely need to know about all the best things to do in Cabo Mexico.
Looking for the best Cabo San Lucas Tour? I recommend this Sunset Cruise with Tequila Tasting and Taco Dinner — which has a near-perfect 5 Star rating.
Cabo San Lucas has something for everyone: from tours aboard luxury yachts and pristine beaches with clear waters, to one of the world’s greatest golf courses (Cabo del Sol by Jack Nicklaus) and every outdoor adventure there is — from mountain biking to sandboarding.
Ready to discover all the best Cabo things to do? Let’s get to it!
After you see all 21 of the best things to do Cabo has to offer, don’t miss the Cabo San Lucas Travel FAQ at the end of the article, to help you plan the most epic Cabo vacation.
Unique Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas Mexico
1. Ride a Camel on the Cabo Beaches
While you may not associate camels with Mexico, Cabo San Lucas is actually part beach, part desert, so it’s the perfect place for camels.
These unique animals are found on eco farms throughout the area, and offer visitors one of the most unique experiences in Cabo.
In recent years, Cabo camel rides have become one of the must do activities in Cabo San Lucas for visitors of all ages.
If this is something you want to do, book early, as camel rides in Cabo tend to sell out! Below, you’ll find some of the best camel tours in Cabo.
🐫 Best Cabo Camel Tours
unique Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas
2. Swim with Whale Sharks in Cabo
The closest place to go whale watching in Cabo is La Paz, Mexico, located about 2.5 hours away.
You can see them all year-long, but if you visit from November to April Cabo, the peak of Cabo whale shark season, it is a bucket list experience to swim alongside the largest fish in the ocean!
Mexico is understandably protective of these endangered animals, so there are many rules for interacting with them — including only a limited number of boats in the area at a time.
As you wait for your boat’s turn to enter the bay, you’ll learn all about the whale sharks.
When it’s time to enter the water, you’ll jump in and find yourself right next to a docile whale shark.
The waves can be quite large, but your guides can help pull you towards the whale sharks, which range from about 20- to 30-feet (6-9 m) in length.
Best Cabo whale shark tours
🦈 Whale sharks are sharks, but a docile variety. You can safely snorkel and swim with sharks in Cabo on this Cabo San Lucas Shark Swim Tour.
unique Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas
3. Cabo Whale Watching (Seasonal)
Each year, several species of whales migrate past Cabo, including humpback whales, orcas (killer whales), gray whales and more.
This area is such a whale-watching hotspot that there’s even the Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located just off shore.
For visitors heading to Cabo San Lucas in winter, you must add a Cabo whale tour to your itinerary.
Different species make their way through the Pacific Ocean waters near Cabo at different times of year, but the months of December to April are best for whale watching in Cabo San Lucas.
Best Cabo whale watching tours
🦅 Besides whale watching, you can also go bird watching in Cabo at theEstero San José Reserve. Located just outside of town, this natural bird sanctuary is one of the best things to do in Los Cabos.
unique Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas
Best Boat Tours in Cabo San Lucas
4. El Arco Boat Tour (Arch in Cabo)
El Arco is the most famous of all Cabo sites — and something you won’t want to miss when traveling to Cabo.
El Arco means “The Arch,” as this is a natural stone arch. It’s located at Land’s End, which is the tip of the Baja Peninsula, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez.
It is only accessible by boat, which you’ll catch at the Cabo Marina.
You can take the water taxi that will simply drop you off at the beaches near the Cabo Arch — Lover’s Beach (Playa de los Amantes) and Divorce Beach — though a tour is more fun and you’ll see more.
Besides the beaches and the Arch, there are other pretty spots around the peninsula, like Scooby Doo Rock and Horse Head Rock.
The tours also offer unique experiences that add more than just seeing the unique rock formations.
Best Cabo Arch Boat Tours
unique Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas
5. Diving or Snorkeling in Cabo San Lucas
When you need some ocean time, a snorkeling tour (or dive trip for those certified) is one of the best Cabo experiences.
The snorkeling in Cabo is undeniably amazing, and if you’ve been wanting to buy a GoPro (or the more affordable Akaso) — now you have the perfect reason 🐠
Best Cabo snorkeling tours
🤿 Don’t want to get in the water? There are glass bottom boat tours in Cabo as well.
unique Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas
6. Cabo San Lucas Sailing Tour
There are so many amazing Cabo San Lucas things to do — and as you might have noticed by now, most of them involve being in, on, or near the water. When you take a Cabo sailing trip, you get the best of all worlds!
There are so many types of sailing tours in Cabo to choose from, including:
⛵️ Luxury sunset sail cruises
😍 Romantic sunset dinner cruises
🤿 Family-friendly snorkeling cruises
🥂 Adults only Cabo booze cruises
🏴☠️ Cabo Pirate Ship cruise
Best Cabo sailing tours
Best Cabo Food Tours & Experiences
7. Enjoy a Sunset Dinner Cruise in Cabo
The best place to watch the sunset in Cabo San Lucas is on the water, aboard a boat, while enjoying a gourmet dinner — of course!
Not just an activity for couples, many cruises take out groups, so this is among the top things to do for solo travelers, a small group or even the whole family.
Best Cabo Sunset Cruises
🍽🍷 Looking for a romantic dinner in Cabo back on land? Flora Farms, an organic farm located just outside of the city, is one of the best things to do in Cabo San Lucas for couples.
Best Things to Do in Cabo Mexico
8. Eat Up on a Cabo Taco Tour
When in Rome, you do as the Romans do — but when in Mexico, you eat tacos 🌮
Located on the Pacific Ocean, you can imagine the seafood tacos in Cabo are top notch, but there’s more to this town than just fish tacos and the famous Baja shrimp tacos.
To try all the best local fare, you’ll need a local.
On all the best Cabo taco tourslisted below, you’ll be taken right to the best spots in town to try everything from fancy yellowfin tuna tacos to tacos al pastor, the king of authentic Mexican street food tacos.
Best Cabo food Tours
Adventurous Things to Do in Cabo Mexico
9. Take a Cabo ATV Tour
Riding ATVs in Cabo is among the top attractions for many visitors.
It is the easiest way (and most fun way!) to see both the sand dunes and the best Cabo beaches in a single outing.
For a great deal, book a day at Los Cabos Adventure Park.
This Cabo park lets you pick and choose from all the most popular things to do in Cabo Mexico — like ATVs, camel rides, zip line rides, horseback riding and more.
Best Cabo ATV Tours
adventurous things to do in cabo mexico
10. Sport Fishing in Cabo San Lucas
Deep-sea fishing is one of the top things to do in Cabo San Lucas, and really, one of the best water sports on the entire Pacific Coast.
The Los Cabos area in particular is a coveted spot for marlin fish, as Cabo is the marlin capital of the world.
Best Cabo fishing Tours
adventurous things to do in cabo mexico
11. Ride the Best Cabo San Lucas Ziplines
One of the best Cabo San Lucas activities for adventure-seekers is a zipline ride.
Cabo has such unique terrain, with everything from mountains, sand dunes and the ocean, to wild canyons filled with tall cacti. For a great deal, head to Los Cabos Adventure Park.
This park, one of the best things to do in Cabo with kids, lets you pick and choose from all the most popular things to do in Cabo Mexico.
These include zip line rides, camel rides, Wagona Splash Island Cabo water park, and more.
Best Cabo Zipline Tours
adventurous things to do in cabo mexico
12. Go Parasailing in Cabo San Lucas
Besides the challenging hike up Mount Solmar, you’ll get the best views of the city while parasailing in Cabo!
Unlike some other adventure Los Cabos activities, this is a great experience that applies to even the most timid of adrenaline junkies.
adventurous things to do in cabo mexico
13. Ride a Sandboard in Cabo
You’ve heard of skateboarding on land, and snowboarding on snow, but in Cabo you can go sandboarding on the sand dunes.
Cabo’s unique location is part beach, part desert, making it one of the few places on Earth you can sandboard with a view of the ocean.
Best Beaches in Cabo San Lucas & Baja Mexico
14. Visit Cabo Pulmo National Park (UNESCO Site)
Cabo Pulmo National Park is part of the Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California, one of the Mexico UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
In fact, French diver and TV personality, Jacques Cousteau, famously called this part of Mexico “the aquarium of the world.”
The protected waters around Cabo Pulmo are teeming with healthy coral reefs, tropical fish and marine life — making them ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving near Cabo.
However, you’ll miss all the best spots unless you’re with a tour guide who knows where to go!
best things to do in cabo mexico
15. Laze on the Best Cabo Beaches
There are many great beaches in Cabo San Lucas, but the most famous ones are accessed by Water Taxi from the Marina — Lover’s Beach (Playa del Amor), Divorce Beach (Playa del Divorcio).
To get to them, round trip Water Taxi tickets cost about $20-30 USD.
The main beach in Cabo San Lucas is Playa Medano Beach. Medano is such a popular beach because it’s conveniently located in Downtown Cabo, in front of many of the hotels and restaurants.
It’s also one of the best sandy beaches in Cabo, with warm waters and a lively atmosphere. While not all beaches are great for swimming, Playa Medano is among the most swimmable beaches in Cabo.
Lover’s Beach is perhaps the best beach in Cabo San Lucas, as it’s located at the famous Cabo Arch.
The water here is calm, but for more of the best Cabo beaches for swimming, head to Playa Santa Maria Beach, Playa Palmilla Beach and Playa Chileno Beach, which all have calm waters.
Best Ethical Animal Encounters in Cabo
16. Release Baby Sea Turtles in San Jose del Cabo
Immerse yourself in the nature and ecology of Los Cabos on this baby turtle release tour in San José del Cabo, located about 30 minutes from Cabo San Lucas.
The best way to get to San Jose del Cabo from Cabo San Lucas is by rental car or Uber.
During the experience, you’ll learn about the turtles’ biology and behaviors from a knowledgeable guide.
Then, you get to release the baby turtle hatchlings into the sea for the first time in their life 🐢 More than a tour, you get to lend a hand to the local environment on your Cabo vacation.
🎨 San Jose del Cabo Art Walk: If you visit during the high season, don’t miss the Cabo Art Walk. One of the best things to do in San Jose del Cabo, it is held from November to June, Thursday evenings, from 5pm-9pm.
best things to do in san lucas cabo
17. Horseback Riding on Cabo Beaches
Like something right out of a movie, horseback riding on the beach is one of the most unforgettable Cabo activities.
For the best of both worlds, calm tranquility and heart-pumping speed, consider this combo tour that offers both a horseback ride and ATV ride!
Best Cabo Horseback Riding Tours
Best Day Trips from Cabo San Lucas
18. Espiritu Santo Island (UNESCO Site)
Isla Espíritu Santo National Park, located off the coast of La Paz, Mexico, is an uninhabited island.
It is part of the Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes 244 islands.
The shallow waters at Espiritu Santo Island are perfect for swimming or just floating around at one of the most peaceful places on Earth.
For photographers, there’s no place better than Isla Espíritu Santo, a place of pure natural beauty, where the rocky desert meets the clear blue sea.
best things to do in cabo mexico
19. Todos Santos, Mexico Pueblo Mágico
One of the 177 Mexico pueblos magicos, or magic towns, Todos Santos is also one of the best beach towns in Baja Mexico.
It is known for colorful street art, beautiful architecture, artisan shops, tranquil beaches, and the Hotel California.
Enjoy this Mexico magic town on the Todos Santos Day Trip from Cabo San Lucas Tour.
Todos Santos is the closest pueblo magico to Cabo San Lucas, and worth checking out as one of the best Cabo day trips.
It is also one of the main towns near Cabo, and has attracted a lot of American expats in Mexico who visited this enchanting place, fell under its spell, and never left.
If you want to go on your own, the best way to get to Todos Santos from Cabo San Lucas is in your rental car. The drive takes about one hour, and you can use this map for directions.
After some time exploring the town, join Todos Santos local, Danny, for this Todos Santos Sunset Hike.
Best Free Things to do in Cabo Mexico
20. Stroll the Cabo San Lucas Marina
The Cabo San Lucas Marina is a very popular tourist area, with tons of restaurants, bars and shops along the water.
Grab a drink and listen to live music at one of the Cabo restaurants near the water, as you watch the boats roll in and see the sea lions compete for fish.
There’s plenty of shopping around the main square, street vendors selling Mexico souvenirs, and activities for the entire family.
The Marina makes a fun and relaxing stop for your first evening in Cabo, and after walking it, you’ll get a better idea of the lay of the land.
🤔 What’s the best area to stay in Cabo? Anywhere near the Marina makes for a safe and great choice, with some of the best all-inclusive resorts in Cabo not far away.
Located a short walk from the Marina in Amelia Wilkes’ Square, don’t miss the Cabo Museum of Natural History.
Here, you’ll learn all about the indigenous people of Cabo (the Pericú, Cochimí and Guaycura Peoples), as well as the area’s pre-columbian history.
free things to do in cabo mexico
21. Hike Mount Solmar to Cerro del Vigia
Those looking for the best off the beaten path things to do in Cabo will love hiking Mount Solmar with Enrique and his dogs.
There’s no official trailhead to Cerro del Vigia because it’s located on Enrique’s private property — which also means you can’t access the trail on your own.
Thehike departs from Compañia Inmobiliaria (📍Map), daily at 8:15am. This is a dog rescue company owned by Enrique, who will admit you through the kennels.
Then, he and a few friendly dogs will walk with you to the top, as Enrique tells you all about the history of Cabo.
The hike is short at about 2.5 miles (4 km), but challenging, and you will scramble up on all fours at a few points.
However, the views are absolutely worth it, and you can see Cabo in 360° — including the Pacific Ocean, Sea of Cortez, Cabo Arch, Lover’s Beach, Cabo Marina and more.
Enrique doesn’t charge anyone to enter his property, but do remember to leave him a nice tip. For more information on the Mount Solmar Hike, check the Cerro del Vigía Facebook page.
🥾 Want to do more Cabo hikes? Don’t miss this Cabo Mountains Hike with Danny, one of the top rated Cabo tours.
Cabo San Lucas Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cabo San Lucas, Mexico?
Cabo San Lucas is located on the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula. It is in Baja California Sur state, one of the two states in the peninsula, located on the West Coast of Mexico.
Cabo San Lucas Map
What’s the closest airport to Cabo San Lucas?
The closest Cabo airport is Los Cabos International Airport (code: SJD), located about 30 minutes from Cabo San Lucas.
You might also see it called San José del Cabo International Airport, as it’s in the city of San Jose del Cabo, Mexico.
Together, these two cabos together make up the area commonly called Los Cabos, which literally means “the two cabos.”
From the airport in Cabo, the easiest, safest and best to get to your hotel in Cabo San Lucas is via private airport shuttle.
Best Cabo Airport Transportation
What’s the best time to visit Cabo?
With about 300 sunny days each year, Cabo is one of the best places to visit in Mexico anytime!
The short Cabo rainy season runs from August to September, but besides that, it’s a great place for a summer vacation, for Spring Break, and in the winter months during Cabo whale season.
What are the best All Inclusives in Cabo Mexico?
Wondering, What’s the best area to stay in Cabo San Lucas? It’s the beach, of course!
For those who want to stay at a Mexico all inclusive resort, the Cabo resorts are known as some of the best in the country. Below, you’ll a list of the best best all inclusive resorts in Cabo San Lucas:
Grand Velas los Cabos ($$$$)
Garza Blanca Resort & Spa ($$$)
Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas ($$$)
Tesoro Los Cabos ($$)
Is Cabo San Lucas safe for travelers?
Yes — For the vast majority of travelers, Cabo is safe and you’ll have an amazing trip there.
That’s not to say bad things don’t happen in Cabo; they do. However, if you stay aware of yourself, your surroundings and your belongings, you should be safe in Cabo San Lucas.
Is Cabo San Lucas safe for solo female travelers?
Yes — As someone who’s done Mexico solo travel all over the country, I know I’m biased about Mexico safety.
For this reason, I asked Beth of The Travel Fam to write the Ultimate Cabo Solo Travel Guide. She is a mom of two who traveled to Cabo solo, and loved it!
Is there Uber in Cabo San Lucas?
Yes — There is Uber, but no Lyft in Cabo San Lucas. In general, Uber costs about 40% less in Mexico than in the U.S., so plan for about $5-7USD for a 30 minute ride.
As it’s so economical, don’t ever walk home alone late at night; always call a Cabo Uber or take a taxi.
Final Thoughts: The 21 Best Things to Do in Cabo Mexico
One of my favorite things about Cabo, and there are many, is that there’s something for everyone.
Travelers from every style (luxury travelers, backpackers, solo travelers, etc.) will find so many ways to have a good time because there’s just so many fun things to do in Cabo San Lucas.
Whether you want to lay on a beach all day, drink in hand 🍹 while soaking up the sun, or jump on an ATV to cruise the sand dunes, it’s all in Cabo!
As one of the top Mexico vacation destinations, Cabo is so well-loved because it’s impossible to not have a great time.
Mexico Travel Planning Guide
Should I buy Mexico travel insurance?
YES — With basic coverage averaging just $5-10 USD per day, enjoy peace of mind with a plan from Travel Insurance Master, one of the biggest names in travel insurance. (Read more)
Can you drink the water in Mexico?
No — You’ll want to buy this Water-To-Go Bottle, which filters your drinking water so you don’t get sick from drinking water in Mexico.
Also, it helps keep you hydrated while traveling Mexico. (Read more)
Is it safe to rent a car in Mexico?
Yes — Renting a car in Mexico is one of the best ways to see the country! I always rent with Discover Cars, which checks international companies and local Mexican companies, so you get the best rates. (Read more)
Will my phone work in Mexico?
Maybe — It depends on your company, so check with your provider. If you don’t have free Mexico service, buy a Telcel SIM Card. As Mexico’s largest carrier, Telcel has the best coverage of any Mexico SIM Cards. (Read more)
What’s the best way to book my Mexico accommodations?
For Mexico hotels, Booking.com is the best site, but for hostels, use Hostel World. If you’re considering a Mexico Airbnb, don’t forget to check VRBO, which is often cheaper than Airbnb.
What do I pack for Mexico?
Head to the Ultimate Mexico Packing List + FREE Checklist Download to get all the info you need on packing for Mexico.
What’s the best site to buy Mexico flights?
For finding cheap Mexico flights, I recommend using Skyscanner.
Do I need a visa for Mexico?
Likely Not — U.S., Canadian and European Passport holders don’t need a visa for Mexico; but check here to see if you need a Mexico travel visa. Most travelers will get a 180-Day FMM Tourist Visa passport stamp a upon arrival.
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