Where is Los Cabos?
Los Cabos includes the cities of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo and the surrounding area. It is in the Mexican state Baja California Sur in the southern region of the Baja California Peninsula. The state sits between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez). This beautiful region is home to picturesque beaches, unique wildlife, and rich cultural heritage.
Los Cabos has become a popular tourist destination, with many large resorts in both cities and along the Tourist Corridor (the stretch of highway between them). However, if you’re wishing to avoid the temptation of sinking into an all-inclusive and are interested in exploring the area, this is the guide for you.
What’s in this guide?
- Where to stay in Los Cabos
- How much it costs to stay in Los Cabos
- What to do in Cabo San Lucas
- What to do in San José del Cabo
- How to get around Los Cabos
- Where to eat in Los Cabos
- Los Cabos FAQs
Should you stay in San José del Cabo or Cabo San Lucas?
San José del Cabo is known for its colonial architecture and history. This city has a lesser tourist presence (comparatively, there are still many hotels and tourism-focused businesses), with landmarks such as the Misión San José del Cabo, a Catholic Church built in the 18th century, Plaza Mijares, and a vibrant arts scene.
Cabo San Lucas is bustling, especially along the marina. It has many large resorts and all-inclusives along the coast and is altogether louder and busier than we found San José to be. This city is also home to the famous El Arco, the landmark arch that sits between the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. As well, Cabo San Lucas is an ideal location for whale watching.
Both cities are serviced by the same airport, which is just north of San José del Cabo. The cities are about 30 minutes by car or about an hour by bus apart, so it is easy (and recommended) to visit both during your stay. We stayed in Cabo San Lucas and found it to be a convenient base for many of our activities.
Hotels in San José del Cabo
While there are many amazing resorts and luxury hotels in Los Cabos and through the Tourist Corridor, I’d like to use this blog to highlight the smaller local hotels. In addition to being more affordable, smaller hotels are usually locally owned, meaning the money you spend on your accommodations stays in the communities you visit. It is important to be mindful of your impact as a tourist, especially in high traffic areas such as Los Cabos. Staying in a smaller hotel can be one way to travel responsibly.
In San José del Cabo, I’d recommend El Encanto Inn. Located in the Historic Centre of the city, this charming inn is close to restaurants and shops. While I did not stay here, I thought the hotel looked beautiful and inviting. It also has great reviews.
Budget travellers and students may be interested in the Desert Heart Hostel. This colourful hostel is in the Gallery District on Calle José María Morelos. You can make a reservation via WhatApp, linked in their Instagram profile.
Hotels in Cabo San Lucas
Los Milagros is a cute hotel located just a block and a half from the Boulevard Paseo de la Marina. This central location is a great hub for activities in Cabo San Lucas and it was my top contender when choosing a hotel for our trip.
We stayed at the Cabo Vista Hotel in Cabo San Lucas during our trip. We got a deal through our credit card company which made our stay very affordable. It was a fifteen-minute walk to the marina, and 15 to 20 minutes from most other activities. The hotel is tucked a little further into the city. This allowed us to escape the bustling tourist centres along the marina and near the big resorts. The rooms were clear and comfortable and the restaurant was good, with a nice discount for guests. Also, the hotel is just one block away from our favourite brunch spot, Casasola.
Is the Los Cabos area budget friendly?
At a glance, Los Cabos is a luxury vacation centre. However, under the surface of glamourous resorts and cruises, there are plenty of more affordable (and more local) options. This includes where to stay, where to eat, and what to do. We tried to keep a careful eye on our budget, although we splurged here and there.
Our Budget
Our hotel cost about $80 CAD per night (for two people). We chose to take the bus (see Transportation in Los Cabos), which was about $7.50 CAD per person from the airport. Most of our meals were around $500 MXN ($35.70 CAD) including tip for two people. We also took advantage of our kitchenette and cooked (or ate leftovers) for some meals. We spent around $150-200 CAD per day, or $75-100 per person per day (including accommodations).
While it is possible to spend less money, it would also be very easy to spend more. There are many restaurants that are marketed to tourists and the prices here are usually very similar to what they would be in the US (around $400+ MXN or $20+ USD). For Canadians (with the current exchange rate), this can make dining out very pricey. I recommend searching for smaller, more local restaurants. We found most of these restaurants has meals between 150-200 pesos along with affordable beverage options. Always check the menu online (most restaurants have menus posted on Google Maps). As well, eating further from the marina tends to improve the quality of the meal and the price. You can check my post on the best places to eat in Los Cabos for more detailed information.
Activities in Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas sits on the border between the Sea of Cortez (the Gulf of California) and the Pacific Ocean. The famous landmark, El Arco, or the Arch, stands at the end of the bay and can be seen from a boat or water taxi. While many tourists go to Los Cabos to relax at a resort, there are so many interesting activities you can do in the area.
Whale Watching in Los Cabos
The Baja California Peninsula is an important region in humpback whales’ migratory cycles. It serves as a breeding area for many of the North Pacific humpback whales which journey between Alaska and Mexico with the changing seasons. This makes the Baja California Peninsula one of the best places in the world to see humpback whales between the months of December and April.
Naturally, this makes whale watching a popular tourist activity. As such, it is common for many companies to try to sell tickets along the marina and other tourist kiosks throughout Los Cabos. However, many of these companies do not follow governmental regulations set in place to protect the whales, such as maintaining a safe distance from them.
We did some research before booking our trip and found Thoroughly Travel’s Ethical Guide to Humpback Whale Watching. Based on their recommendation, we booked our trip with Whale Watch Cabo. The trip was amazing and we saw 4 grey whales and around 8-10 humpback whales including a mother and calf. The trip was 2.5 hours, and although it was more expensive than many of the companies advertising along the marina, we noticed the great amount of care that our company put into the tours – both for the participants’ experience and the whales’ safety and well-being. We both agreed that the tour was well worth the price. It cost $79 USD or $115 CAD per person for the tour, plus tax.
Beaches
Beaches can be enjoyed throughout the Los Cabos area. In Cabo San Lucas specifically, there is El Medano a public and accessible beach on the far east end of the marina. Lover’s Beach is another popular destination, but it is only accessible by water taxi. You can hire a water taxi at the marina and must send the captain a message when you’re ready to come back. Lover’s Beach is swimmable, as it is on the Bay of Cabo, but the other side of the beach opens up to the Pacific Ocean and is known as Divorced Beach. Swimming is not allowed on this side due to the powerful waves and rocky shoreline.
In addition to relaxing on the beach or swimming, there are also great snorkeling areas around the Bay of Cabo. Other water-based activities include renting kayaks or jet skis, or even going out on a boat tour around the bay.
Hiking
One of the first activities we were told about in Cabo San Lucas was “The Hike”. The Hike is a guided trip up Mount Solmar with Enrique, a dog trainer who brings a pack of dogs up the hill along with a gaggle of tourists every morning. The Hike starts at 8 am and doesn’t wait for stragglers. This was one of our favourite experiences of the trip, as the view from the top is incredible. We even saw two grey whales along the shoreline below. While the activity is free, Enrique accepts tips which help to care for the dogs and keep the tour going. The tour is marked in Google Maps.
Important: The Hike is short, but it is steep and there are sections that require scrambling (almost climbing). Make sure to wear good footwear and keep your hands free. If you can, bring some water as it can get hot at the top.
Natural History Museum in Cabo San Lucas
The Museum of Natural History is a small museum primarily dedicated to the history of the Baja California Sur and Los Cabos. There are sections for geology, anthropology, archaeology and more modern moments in Los Cabos history. It is a great spot if you are interested in learning more about the history and culture of the area. It is only $2 USD per person (around $40 MXN), so it is definitely worth a stop. Most of the signs are translated into English.
Activities in San José del Cabo
Art Galleries
San José del Cabo is known for its arts and culture scene. The historic centre is a hub of art galleries and handmade goods. Walk the streets to find unique sculptures and installations. The galleries specialize in different specialties such as the metal sculptures found at Plaza Sr. Chavez, hand-painted pottery, traditional embroidery, or the Tree Bark art (an ancient art practice of Indigenous peoples dating back to pre-Hispanic Mexico).
The Art Walk
Every Thursday evening between 5 pm and 9 pm from November to June art galleries and vendors in San José del Cabo participate in the city’s art walk. The city closes Calle Obregon to car traffic to accommodate visitors. If you are an art lover, this is a must-do!
Beaches
San José del Cabo is home to it’s own beautiful beaches such as Costa Azul, Playa del Estero, and Playa Acapulquito. If you are looking for a good area to swim in, however, you’ll need to travel a little further.
Some of the most famous beaches in the Los Cabos area are actually in between the two cities. Playa Palmilla is accessible by bus and is just west of San José del Cabo. It is a swimmable beach, although there are some rocks in the water. Playa El Chileno is a popular beach spot as well, with many families and tourists stopping here each day. This beach is popular for snorkeling, but there are not businesses, so pack some food!
Transportation in Los Cabos
Before arriving in Los Cabos, I sent a message to our hotel to ask what the best way to get from the airport to the hotel was. The hotel is about 45 km from the airport, and staying in either Cabo San Lucas or San José del Cabo will require some form of transportation. This is the advice shared with us by the hotel staff at Cabo Vista.
La Ruta del Desierto – Public Transportation
The least expensive way to travel between Cabo San Lucas and the airport is the bus known as the “Ruta del Desierto” or the Desert Route. This bus is purple and yellow and the name is printed on the front and the side of the vehicle. There is no route number as this is the only bus along this route. It stops at Terminal 1 and 2, then continues south to San José before continuing through the Tourist Corridor to Cabo San Lucas. It also stops at some of the major hotels as well as beaches through this stretch.
The fare from SJD to Cabo San Lucas was $100 MXN per person. The fare between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas is only $45 MXN. We opted for the bus and found it easy to find and navigate. I couldn’t locate a timetable, but it comes frequently between 4:30 am and 10:00 pm. You can check the airport website for more information.
Uber
Another option is Uber. As with all Uber locations, the price will vary based on demand. The hotel mentioned this option was the safest option as you know exactly who the driver is as well as the distance and the price. Do not accept any offers at the airport who claim to be Ubers. True Ubers can only be requested through the app. You are able to pay with credit card or cash for an Uber in Mexico.
Taxi
The third option is taking a taxi. There are many options at the airport as taxis frequently wait here for passengers. The hotel told us the price for a taxi would be around $1,400 MXN.
Transportation Service
Alternatively, you can use a transportation service. Our hotel recommended Transcabo and Gray Line. For these services, you book ahead of your arrival. That way, a driver will be ready for you at the airport upon your arrival. These shuttles start at $18 USD (about $26 CAD or $360 MXN) per person.
Rent a Car
Finally, you can rent a car in Los Cabos. There are many companies available at the airport where you can pick up your vehicle. If you do decide to rent a car, make sure to do some research on the local driving laws.
Where to Eat in Los Cabos
Finding good food is never a problem in Mexico. However, the volume of tourists in the area means that some restaurants lean more into spectacle than they do to quality. We found that Google Maps reviews were not a reliable indicator of quality, leading us astray on the first evening. Instead, we gathered recommendations from friends and influencers who had visted the area. I’ve complied a detailed list of restaurants here. Some of our favourites were La Lupita, Mother Flower, Casasola and La Mexicana Restaurant y Cantina.
Los Cabos FAQs
Do you need to use pesos in Los Cabos?
Most businesses accept both USD and MXN currency. Additionally, most businesses accept credit card, although some have a $50 peso limit to charge cards. It is advisable to bring some cash, especially for smaller vendors, but you won’t need to rely on it for daily expenses. I’d personally recommend bringing pesos over US dollars, as it’s the national currency.
Do you need to speak Spanish to visit Los Cabos?
In the tourist-dense areas, you’ll be able to get by on English alone. However, if you wish to go off the beaten path a little, or dine at some more authentic establishments, having some knowledge of Spanish is very useful. I found it very helpful to be able to communicate in Spanish, especially in restaurants to communicate orders, inform staff of allergies, and make reservations.
Is Los Cabos accessible for those with mobility issues?
The short answer is not really. Walking around Cabo San Lucas was our primary mode of transport and we found the streets to be generally inaccessible. For someone with mobility aids, navigating the city would be difficult as there are often obstacles such as power line poles and stairs along the sidewalks. There are also inconsistent curbcuts and occasionally very high curbs that would make transit by foot/wheels difficult. Additionally, our hotel had no elevator, and even the ground floor had a step up into the room. The external hallways were narrow as were the hallways in our room.
If you have accessibility requirements, I’d recommend relying on driving as your primary form of transit, and contacting your hotel to ensure they’re fully accessible.
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