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14 Things You Must Do in Los Cabos

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Things to Do in Los Cabos - An overhead shot of a white sand beach where it means with bright blue green water. Some people and chairs dot the sand.
Carlos Sanchez Pereyra/Getty Images

Los Cabos refers to the region at the southern tip of the Baja California Sur, which includes both Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, aka the two Cabos. These towns are about 30 minutes away from each other and feature distinctly different atmospheres: Cabo San Lucas boasts busting nightlife while San Jose del Cabo oozes traditional Mexican charm. Together, they form one of North America’s best travel destinations. In Los Cabos, visitors can take in stunning scenery both from land and water, stay in some of the world’s best luxury resorts, and enjoy plenty of activities, whether you want an action-packed getaway or a tranquil retreat. From sandy beaches to art galleries to scuba diving, here are the best things to do in Los Cabos.

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Things to Do in Los Cabos - A large sandy beach with a couple of straw umbrellas on the shore. The ocean is wide and blue. There is a rocky structure in the background.
Los Cabos Tourism

1. Hit the Beach

Of course, the main thing to do in Los Cabos is to relax on one of the beaches. In fact, there are 22 beaches in Los Cabos with Blue Flag certification, meaning they meet the environmental management standards set by the Foundation for Environmental Education. Not all the Cabo beaches are swimmable, so do take note when you go (the aptly named Divorce Beach is a no-go). Medano Beach is a great swimming beach and one of the area’s most popular places to visit with plenty of hotels, restaurants and bars. For a quieter beach with clear water that’s great for snorkeling, head to Chileno Beach. There’s no food vendor at Chileno, though, so pack your own snacks and drinks.

Things to Do in Los Cabos - A decorative walkway that goes over a makeshift pool that leads to the beach.
Viceroy Los Cabos

2. Stay at Stunning Resorts

Both Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo are teeming with luxury resorts that boast stunning architecture. One of them is Viceroy Los Cabos, known for its modern architecture and shallow pools that reflect the sky (it’s also the resort where the Biebers vacationed a couple of years ago). Most of the rooms boast an ocean view and many come with a soaking tub on the balcony. Viceroy Los Cabos has multiple dining concepts and pools, plus a bar, spa and access to the beach, so you don’t even need to leave the premises if you so choose.

Things to Do in Los Cabos - A group of people kayaking in an inlet cove. There are natural rock formations surrounding them.
High Tide Los Cabos

3. Take a Boat or Kayak Trip to El Arco

One of the most famous attractions in Cabo is El Arco, or The Arch. The arch shaped rock formation is a distinctive landmark that juts out of the sea. There are numerous tour operators that run boat trips to The Arch, which is also known as Land’s End. Book a sightseeing tour and view The Arch from the boat, or opt for a paddle boarding or kayaking tour with High Tide Los Cabos. Oftentimes you can view marine life like sea lions on these tours, and many also include a stop at Lovers’ Beach where you can enjoy the clear waters from this secluded, sandy beach.

Things to Do in Los Cabos - An ornate older white building with a colorful sign in front of it that reads San Jose del Cabo.
Elijah-Lovkoff/Getty Images

4. Explore San José del Cabo History

If Cabo San Lucas is the younger sister who likes to party, San José del Cabo is the more sophisticated older sister. Here’s where you go to get more of a traditional Mexican town feel with quaint streets and art galleries. The Mission San José del Cabo was founded in 1730, but the Pericues tribe had already been living in the area for hundreds of years. Check out the Natural History Museum of Cabo San Lucas to see the area’s historical artifacts. The Mission San José del Cabo is also open to visitors (note that they still run daily service and Sunday mass, so plan accordingly). The church was rebuilt in 1940 and there is now a tile mosaic on the exterior of the church that depicts the Pericu Indians revolution in 1734.

5. Check Out the Local Art Scene During Art Walk

Los Cabos isn’t just beaches and cocktails; there’s a thriving art scene here as well. Check out the art district in San José del Cabo with more than a dozen galleries featuring local as well as international artists. The best way to get to know the art district is to join the Art Walk, which happens every Thursday evening from November to June (which is the high season in Los Cabos). The area is closed to car traffic during the Art Walk, so everyone can enjoy strolling around the galleries. Often local artists will be in attendance to talk about their art, and there may be folk dances and other performances throughout the evening.

Things to Do in Los Cabos - A person in full scuba gear swims with a school of fish in the ocean.
Jenny Widjaja

6. Go Scuba Diving in Cabo Pulmo

About a 90-minute drive from San José del Cabo is Cabo Pulmo National Park, a marine reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Sea of Cortez. Not only does Cabo Pulmo have the only coral reef in the Sea of Cortez, but this area is also known for one thing that is on most scuba divers’ bucket list: jackfish tornado. This is when thousands of jackfish swim around together in a swirling column resembling a tornado and is a real sight to behold. There are a number of dive tour companies that provide transportation and pickup from Los Cabos hotels, including Manta Scuba Diving.

Things to Do in Los Cabos - A speckled plate of sashimi and avocado.
Viceroy Los Cabos

7. Enjoy the Fresh Local Seafood

Being at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, Los Cabos is surrounded by the ocean, so naturally seafood is abundant—and delicious—here. Marlin, tuna, Spanish mackerel and mahi mahi are just some of the fish that make up the fresh catch around Los Cabos, depending on the season. And be sure to also try the shellfish—Baja Sur is known for their chocolate clams, named for the brown color of their shells. We’re fans of the ceviche at Metate Cabo, the fish tacos and sunset views at Baja Lobster Co and the fresh sushi at Nido, set inside iconic and Instagrammable nest-like structures.

Things to Do in Los Cabos - Flora Farms building at sunset surrounded by palm trees and other greenery.
Flora Farms

8. Explore the Farm-to-Table Movement

Being a subtropical desert, we don’t often think of farms when we think of Los Cabos, but in recent years more farm-to-table restaurants have popped up and they’re worth exploring. One of the early proponents that has been around since 1996 is Flora Farms, a 150-acre property with a ranch and farm, and now also restaurant, spa and lodging. Flora Farms originally ran a restaurant in San José del Cabo but later decided to move the restaurant to the farm for a true farm-to-table experience. The restaurant serves a seasonal menu with produce and proteins grown on their farm and ranch, including the can’t-miss mozzarella and ice cream made with milk from their ranch.

9. Take a Camel Safari on the Beach

Camels in Cabo? While Los Cabos is a desert, camels aren’t usually the first animals you think of when you think of Mexico. While not native to the area, camels have been introduced to Baja California, and they fare pretty well here since the desert climate is similar to the Sahara. Outfitters like Cabo Adventures offer camel rides, and unlike in the Sahara desert, here in Cabo, you can ride camels both in the desert and on the beach on the same trip.

10. Swim with Whale Sharks

Another unique adventure that the Baja Sur area offers is to swim with whale sharks in La Paz. Whale sharks are the world’s largest sharks and the largest fish species. An adult whale shark can grow to more than 30 feet in length and weigh 20,000 pounds! There are only a few places in the world where you can jump in and swim right next to these magnificent creatures, and La Paz, located two hours from Los Cabos, is one of them. Tour companies like Cabo Adventures run tours that include transportation from Los Cabos to La Paz. The best time to do this tour is from November to April.

11. Relax with a Spa Treatment

With so many luxury resorts in Los Cabos, naturally there is also no shortage of great spas offering massages, saunas and specialized treatments. The Spa Montage is inspired by its Baja surroundings and offers a variety of treatments incorporating the rhythms of the ocean, desert and local traditions to soothe and restore visitors. We also love the luxury spa at Viceroy Los Cabos with its focus on holistic wellness—start out with an exfoliation using cacao and coffee then finish with sound healing and a deep tissue massage.

Things to Do in Los Cabos - Two people wearing helmets are attached to each other on a zip line that hangs above the trees.
Los Cabos Tourism

12. Get the Adrenaline Pumping with a Zipline Tour

Los Cabos has a couple of adventure parks with zipline tours, taking guests on a thrilling ride above the tree canopies. Canopy Costa Azul offers a tour that includes the zipline circuit, suspension bridge and rappelling down a 180-foot wall. Wild Canyon Adventure Park has the longest zipline in Los Cabos and can hold up to four people at one time. Wild Canyon Adventure Park also offers ATV rides, bungee jumping and more adrenaline thrills.

Things to Do in Los Cabos - A woman in a long t-shirt stands on a long surfboard while riding a wave.
High Tide Los Cabos

13. Take a Surfing Lesson

With so many beaches in Los Cabos, it’s easy to find a few with gentle waves perfect for beginner surfers. In the summer, there are surfing lessons at Costa Azul, which is easily accessible from San José del Cabo. In the winter, lessons are usually run at Cerritos, which is closer to Cabo San Lucas. Cerritos is a popular winter surfing spot because the waves here are larger and more consistent in the winter months, and there are different surf breaks here which are better for beginners vs. more experienced surfers. Whichever month you’re traveling, you can always catch a wave in Los Cabos.

Things to Do in Los Cabos - A man stands in a lake situated under a natural rock formation adorned with a waterfall.
High Tide Los Cabos

14. Go on a Hike

Had too much relaxing at your Cabo resort? Get a workout in with a hike. The Los Cabos and Baja Sur areas offer quite a few hiking opportunities in the desert (though best done in the winter or in the mornings) like Cerro de la Z that is easily accessible from Cabo San Lucas and leads to an observatory. For a different kind of scenery, though, head to Fox Canyon (Cañon de La Zorra) within the Sierra Laguna Biosphere Reserve. The Fox Canyon hike leads to a shimmering river and a 50-foot waterfall, so bring your swimsuit along. High Tide Los Cabos runs group hiking tours here with transportation from Los Cabos.


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Freelance PureWow Editor

Fiona Chandra is a freelance food and travel writer born in Indonesia and currently based in Los Angeles. She loves to explore different food and cultures in California and...