cabo san lucas
El Arco de Cabo San Lucas courtesy of wikimedia commons. All rights reserved.
Cabo San Lucas, commonly called Cabo in America, is considered one of Mexico’s top 5 tourist destinations and beach towns. It’s located at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula. Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo are referred to as Los Cabos.
Cabo San Lucas is known for its beaches, scuba diving, fishing, nightlife, and the sea arch, El Arco de Cabo San Lucas. Marine life in the area includes rays, sharks, and a number of game fish, such as mahi-mahi (dorado), and striped marlin.
Cabo San Lucas beach photo courtesy of Flickr. All rights reserved.
Best Beaches in Cabo San Lucas
There is no single Cabo San Lucas beach. In fact, Cabo San Lucas’ beaches are so varied that the “best” is a matter of personal preference. Some are known for their scenic beauty, but are not swimmable due to high surf, strong currents, and powerful undertows. Some are known for their swimming and snorkeling. Some are known for their great surfing. Some are party beaches. Some are romantic. With so many beaches to choose from, you’re sure to find your best beach.
Playa del Amor (Lover’s Beach) is located on the Sea of Cortez side of Land’s End. Access is by water taxi only. It’s one of the area’s most popular beaches because of its beauty, great snorkeling, and swimability.
Divorce Beach is located on the Pacific side of Land’s End. You can reach Divorce Beach from a gap in the rocks at Lover’s Beach. This is not a swimming beach.
Playa Solmar is located on the Pacific side of Land’s End next to Sandos Finisterra hotel. It’s scenic and generally not too crowded, but swimming isn’t possible due to strong ocean currents.
Playa Medano is right in the middle of all the action Cabo San Lucas offers and is the safest swimming beach.
Chileno Beach is at KM 14 off the main highway. This is one of the best beaches for families, snorkelers, and divers.
Santa Maria Beach is at KM 11.5 off the main highway. It’s part of a marine sanctuary and has fantastic snorkeling.
Sunset Beach is a private beach on the Pacific Coast that is only accessible to guests of the Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Golf and Spa Resort. It got its name from the magnificent sunsets over the beach.
RIU Palace Cabo San Lucas photo courtesy of wikimedia commons. All rights reserved.
Where to Stay
If you’re like me, you want to stay at the best hotel on the beach that you can afford. According to oyster.com, these are the 10 best hotels in Cabo San Lucas on the beach…
- The Cape, a Thompson Hotel
- Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Resort & Spa
- Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa
- The Resort at Pedregal
- Montecristo Estates
- Pueblo Bonito Hacienda Beach Club & Residences
- ME Cabo
- Sandos Finisterra Los Cabos
- Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort & Spa
- RIU Palace Cabo San Lucas
Although not part of the list above, one of the more popular places to stay is Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa Cabo San Lucas because of its combination of value and amenities. The hotel is part of Villa Group Resorts.
Photo courtesy of wikimedia commons. All rights reserved.
Where to Eat and Drink
Best Restaurants
Zagat calls Cabo San Lucas a “food lover’s paradise”.
El Farallon, a seafood restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean at The Resort at Pedregal, is on numerous best lists.
Flora’s Field Kitchen at Flora Farms is another top restaurant with farm-to-table dining. Maroon 5’s Adam Levine even got married there.
The Office on the Beach is a restaurant on the beach with tables in the sand. The food is good, basic Mexican and the setting is unbeatable.
Maria Jimenez is where the locals go for great food in a homey atmosphere.
Manta, a fine dining, seafood centric restaurant at The Cape hotel, has gorgeous views of El Arco de Cabo San Lucas.
Best Nightlife
Cabo Wabo Cantina is owned by rocker Sammy Hagar of Van Halen. With a dance floor and live music by local and top musicians from all over the world, it’s one of Cabo’s top party spots. Even Sammy Hagar sometimes plays there.
The Giggling Marlin is the oldest club in town, but still a favorite where you can have your picture taken hanging like a marlin from the roof.
Cabo Wine and Jazz at the Los Cabos Winery is just what the name says, a place to go for wine and jazz. It’s more intimate and laid back than Cabo’s other top nightlife establishments.
Mango Deck is right on Medano Beach. You can sit on the beach drinking tropical drinks under an umbrella with a full-service bar and a mechanical bull at your disposal.
El Squid Roe is an iconic nightclub, dance hall, and restaurant in downtown Cabo. Expect crowds.
How to Get There
Most visitors arrive by plane through Los Cabos International Airport (SJD).
Although not recommended, it’s possible to drive from the continental U.S.
If you prefer arriving in a more leisurely manner, you can cruise to Cabo San Lucas from Long Beach, CA on a variety of cruise lines including:
- Carnival
- Princess Cruises
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- Oceania Cruises
- Celebrity Cruises
- Seabourn
- Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Royal Caribbean International
- Crystal Cruises
- Azamara Club Cruises
Summary
Whether you’re a beach or a golf lover; traveling as a single, couple, or with a family; love romantic dinners or raucous nightlife; Cabo San Lucas has something for you.
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