Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Cabo San Lucas?
Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Cabo San Lucas?
Most visitors spend three to seven days in Cabo San Lucas when visiting. The idyllic city offers so many things to see and explore, so you'll want to take full advantage of the limited time you have. Highlights include the nightlife, the beautiful scenery, scuba diving and snorkeling, and the beaches.
Cabo San Lucas is a popular resort destination on the Baja California peninsula. Visitors come for the beaches, stunning beauty, and wild party scene. There is a lot of outdoor beauty and many great restaurants.
Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Cabo San Lucas? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is 3 days enough time in Cabo San Lucas?
Three days is generally not enough time to experience the beach and other activities of Cabo San Lucas. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to enjoy the most popular activities such as the nightlife, the beautiful scenery, scuba diving and snorkeling, and the beaches. To genuinely appreciate the idyllic city, a longer visit is recommended so that you can have more time to relax at the beach. Many tourists opt for at least 3 or as many as 7 days here, after all. After all, Cabo San Lucas enjoys immense popularity among tourists because of its many sights and attractions. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.
How to spend 3 days in Cabo San Lucas
Scuba diving and snorkeling around Cabo San Lucas is very popular. Spend the day exploring the beauty of the surrounding underwater world. 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.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Cabo San Lucas Paddleboard and Snorkel at the Arch ($100)
- Cabo San Lucas Glass Bottom Kayak Tour and Snorkel at Two Bays ($100)
- Small-Group Snorkel Adventure in San Jose del Cabo ($85)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. 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.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Cabo Bar Crawl - The BEST Bar and Clubs in Cabo ($55)
Cabo San Lucas is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. The town is relatively easy to walk around with many things close together.
The beautiful beaches await you in Cabo San Lucas, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. 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.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Los Cabos Surf Lesson at Costa Azul ($48)
- 6-Hour Guided City and Cruise Tour of Los Cabos with Lunch ($119)
- Fun Surf Lesson & Tacos ($135)
Cabo San Lucas is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. Beautiful beaches, stunning natural beauty, and striking landscapes make this a world class tropical destination.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Sunset Boat Tour in San Jose del Cabo ($195)
- Cabo San Lucas Sunset Sailing Shared Cruise ($105)
- Boat ride to the Arch and Snorkel ($84)
The public transit in Cabo San Lucas is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. Buses make up the main form of public transit. They are called Subercabos and run between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.
Known for it's hiking, Cabo San Lucas sees plenty of visitors looking to get outdoors. Spend a day exploring the natural beauty and scenery on a nearby hike. It's not hard to get out into nature and you'll find many great hiking trails that go through varied and beautiful landscapes.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Hike the native Pericu road in Sierra de la Laguna. ($160)
- Los Cabos: Hiking at the Fox Canyon ($165)
- Private Hiking at the Fox Canyon from Cabo San Lucas ($220)
The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. 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.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Seafood Galore, Los Cabos Food Tour ($80)
- Los Cabos Beach & Desert Tour in Automatic Atv + Tequila Tasting ($70)
- Cabo Candelaria Village Adventure + Tequila Tasting ($170)
Is 4 days enough time in Cabo San Lucas?
Cabo San Lucas holds a significant allure for tourists because of its many sights and attractions. Given only four days, you will likely be rushed to dance the night away, admire the wonderful scenery, explore the underwater world, and lounge on the beach. To truly savor all that the city offers along with the beach, a more generous amount of time is usually needed. Many travelers opt for three to seven days to relax and explore here. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
How to spend 4 days in Cabo San Lucas
If you have more than 4 days in Cabo San Lucas, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the city has to offer.
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. 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.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Cultural & Ecology, Nature & History of the hidden towns of Southern Baja! ($125)
- San Jose del Cabo Historic District Walking Tour ($65)
- Echoes of Cabo: A Walking History Tour ($186)
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
Is 5 days enough time in Cabo San Lucas?
Many visitors spend five days in Cabo San Lucas, as this is a good amount of time to see the idyllic city's major attractions such as the nightlife, the beautiful scenery, and scuba diving and snorkeling. If you have five days here, we have a few suggestions of things to do below.
How to spend 5 days in Cabo San Lucas
Having 5 days in Cabo San Lucas will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.
Shopping in Cabo San Lucas is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. 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.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Cabo San Lucas Shopping, Tequila Tasting, and Snorkel Tour ($135)
- Whale Watching in Cabo San Lucas: Sightseeing Cruise and Shopping ($115)
- Explore Los Cabos City Tour, Glass-Bottom Boat Ride, Lunch and Shopping! ($99)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Cabo San Lucas.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Cabo San Lucas, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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