A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Liberia vs. Cabo San Lucas for Nightlife, Hiking, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Liberia or Cabo San Lucas?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Liberia and Cabo San Lucas. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Liberia

Liberia is a accessible, colonial, and fascinating city. It's also known for hiking.

Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas is a wild, adventurous, and scenic city. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking.

Liberia and Cabo San Lucas: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Liberia or Cabo San Lucas?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Cabo San Lucas. Although Liberia and Cabo San Lucas are both popular with visitors, Cabo San Lucas has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Cabo San Lucas is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Liberia is known for its hiking. Cabo San Lucas is more touristy than Liberia and is known for its beautiful coastline, all-inclusive resorts, and vibrant nightlife scene. It is also home to Land's End. Liberia is popular for its "cowboy" culture as well as its proximity to some of Costa Rica's best national parks, beaches, and rainforests.

How is Liberia different from Cabo San Lucas?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Cabo San Lucas and Liberia. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Liberia or Cabo San Lucas?

Cabo San Lucas is a good destination for its sights and museums. However, Liberia does not have museums and landmarks.

Cabo San Lucas is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several historical sights in the area such as the Church of Saint Luke and San Jose del Cabo.

Liberia does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Liberia or Cabo San Lucas? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Cabo San Lucas is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Liberia is a mediocre city for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Cabo San Lucas makes for a great culinary experience. If you step away from the all-you-can-eat buffets in the resorts, and the tourist hot spots, you'll find some excellent local Mexican cuisine and nice fine dining restaurants. Fresh seafood and local produce make the dishes unique.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Liberia. The city has a number of traditional restaurants where you can find the ubiquitous Costa Rican dishes like gallo pinto and casado.

Is Liberia or Cabo San Lucas Better for Nightlife?

Cabo San Lucas is an unbeatable place for nightlife. However, Liberia is a mediocre city for nightlife and partying.

The nightlife in Cabo San Lucas is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. It has a long reputation of being one of Mexico's best party destinations. There are wild, all-night dance parties, crazy and crowded clubs, and music that lasts well into the morning. The best nightlife can be found in the blocks around Plaza Bonita, near the marina boardwalk.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Liberia. If you're in town for the night, you should have no problem finding a bar to hang out at.

Is Liberia or Cabo San Lucas Better for Resorts?

Cabo San Lucas is notable for its resorts. However, Liberia is not a resort destination.

There are plenty of resorts in Cabo San Lucas to choose from. Many of the resorts are along parts of the coastline where it's not safe to swim. If you really want to enjoy swimming at a beachfront property, make sure you do some research in advance. Medano Beach is a nice area to consider.

Liberia is not a resort destination.

Is Liberia or Cabo San Lucas Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Cabo San Lucas is notable for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Liberia is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There are many scuba diving and snorkeling spots near Cabo San Lucas. There are many snorkeling and scuba diving excursions that go out on half day and full day trips. Some of the best snorkeling is found at Cabo Pulmo, which has the only living coral reef in the Sea of Cortez.

Liberia is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Liberia or Cabo San Lucas Better for Beaches?

Cabo San Lucas is notable for its beaches. However, Liberia is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Cabo San Lucas for it's beautiful beaches. Because of the water conditions, it's not safe to swim at many of the beaches in the area. This is particularly true on the Pacific side of the city. Many people consider Medano Beach to be one of the best in the area, but also nice are Lover's Beach, the ironically named Divorce Beach, and Chileno Beach.

Liberia is not a beach destination.

Is Liberia or Cabo San Lucas Better for its Old Town?

Cabo San Lucas is notable for its historic old town. However, Liberia does not have a historic old town.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Cabo San Lucas. San Jose del Cabo is an "old town" that's a bit outside of town. It's particularly nice to visit on Thursdays when there's a nice market.

Liberia does not have a historic old town.

Is Liberia or Cabo San Lucas Better for Hiking?

Liberia is a world-class destination for its hiking experiences. Also, Cabo San Lucas is still popular, but not quite as popular for hiking.

Around Liberia visitors will find world-class hiking trails. Head to the nearby Rincon de la Vieja National Park for some of the country's best hiking. You'll see stunning waterfalls and hopefully catch a glimpse of local wildlife.

Many visitors go to Cabo San Lucas for the hiking trails. It's not hard to get out into nature and you'll find many great hiking trails that go through varied and beautiful landscapes.

Is the Shopping Better in Liberia or Cabo San Lucas?

Cabo San Lucas is notable for shopping. However, Liberia is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Cabo San Lucas is an extremely popular place for shoppers. There are many great shopping areas where you can pick up souvenirs or other interesting items to remember your trip. There are mall, markets, and boutique vendors that sell a variety of products.

Liberia is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Liberia or Cabo San Lucas Better for Families?

Cabo San Lucas is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Liberia is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Cabo San Lucas is a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love the snorkeling, boat rides, and kid-friendly cuisine. There are many places where kids can get up close and personal with animals, such as Wild Canyon’s Kingdom or camel riding. You might even be able to see migrating whales during your visit. Surfing, fishing, and hiking are also popular in the area.

Liberia is a family-friendly city. This city is often used as a base for exploring the nearby Rincon De La Vieja National Park. Kids love the hikes, waterfalls, and wildlife that you see in the area.

Is Liberia or Cabo San Lucas Better for Couples?

Cabo San Lucas is an unbeatable place for romance. Also, Liberia is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

Cabo San Lucas is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. It has long been a favorite honeymoon destination and couples who enjoy a beach paradise with wildlife, diving, and outdoor adventures will appreciate Cabo San Lucas. There's also amazing Mexican food and world class resorts.

Liberia makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy hiking through rainforests, seeing splendid waterfalls, and checking out the local wildlife will enjoy a visit to Rincon De La Vieja National Park near town.

Is Liberia or Cabo San Lucas Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Liberia and Cabo San Lucas are very good destinations for backpackers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Liberia. Like much of Costa Rica, this city is an easy backpacker destination with affordable accommodation and unique places to explore.

Many backpackers visit Cabo San Lucas. It's a popular tourist destination, and there are a number of hostels and activities that backpackers will enjoy.

Is Liberia or Cabo San Lucas Better for Students?

Liberia is a city with good options for students. However, Cabo San Lucas is not popular with students.

Liberia is popular with students. As the capital of the Guanacaste province, many students use this city as a base to explore the nearby parks. You'll find study abroad groups as well as researchers and Phd students in the area.

Cabo San Lucas is not popular with students.

Is Liberia or Cabo San Lucas Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Liberia is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Cabo San Lucas is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Liberia is fairly effecient and thorough. There is a comprehensive bus system that travels throughout the city and is used by many people.

While Cabo San Lucas offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Buses make up the main form of public transit. They are called Subercabos and run between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

Is Liberia or Cabo San Lucas a more walkable city?

Liberia and Cabo San Lucas both are very good when exploring on foot.

Liberia is very walkable.

Cabo San Lucas is a very walkable city. The town is relatively easy to walk around with many things close together.

For even more information, also check out Is Liberia Worth Visiting? and Is Cabo San Lucas Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Cabo San Lucas or Liberia?

How long in Liberia or Cabo San Lucas?

Both Liberia and Cabo San Lucas have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Cabo San Lucas than in Liberia. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Liberia, and 3-7 days is enough time in Cabo San Lucas.

Families should spend more time in Cabo San Lucas than Liberia. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Cabo San Lucas, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Cabo San Lucas than Liberia. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Cabo San Lucas that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Cabo San Lucas than Liberia if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Cabo San Lucas.

One day in Liberia or Cabo San Lucas?

In Liberia, you'll find . Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

In Cabo San Lucas, you'll find shopping and museums. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. One reason most visitors come is for the nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Liberia or Cabo San Lucas?

Liberia is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

In Cabo San Lucas, you'll find museums and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One reason most visitors come is for the nightlife. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Five days in Liberia or Cabo San Lucas?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Liberia. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. It offers something for everyone. One reason most visitors come is for the hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Cabo San Lucas is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Cabo San Lucas has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Liberia or Cabo San Lucas?

Travelers enjoy the when visiting the city of Liberia. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One reason most visitors come is for the hiking. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cabo San Lucas. In Cabo San Lucas, you'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling. One reason most visitors come is for the nightlife. It's also a relaxing resort destination. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Liberia and Cabo San Lucas, we can see that Cabo San Lucas is more expensive. And not only is Liberia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Liberia is in Central America and Cabo San Lucas is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Liberia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Liberia and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Cabo San Lucas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cabo San Lucas than you might in Liberia.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Liberia Expensive? and Is Cabo San Lucas Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Liberia or Cabo San Lucas?

Liberia has a larger population, and is about 7% larger than the population of Cabo San Lucas. When comparing the sizes of Liberia and Cabo San Lucas, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.