Are you thinking about visiting Cabo San Lucas, Mexico? Here's what you need to know before planning your trip.
Is Cabo San Lucas worth visiting?
This city is a good place to visit for three to seven days. 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. Cabo San Lucas is loved by visitors for many reasons, and is routinely on national "best of" lists, including Travel and Leisure's Best Places to Visit in 2024 - Beach Vibes.
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Reasons to Visit Cabo San Lucas
Nightlife
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.
Food
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.
Resorts
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.
Scuba Diving & Snorkeling
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.
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.
Historical Sights
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.
Hiking
It's not hard to get out into nature and you'll find many great hiking trails that go through varied and beautiful landscapes.
Shopping
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.
Museums
There are several historical sights in the area such as the Church of Saint Luke and San Jose del Cabo.
The Costs
Depending on your budget, schedule, and travel style, Cabo San Lucas might be a very affordable destination for you. Check out the travel costs for Cabo San Lucas here or see if Cabo San Lucas is expensive here.
Things to Consider Before Visiting Cabo San Lucas
Lots of Tourists
Cabo San Lucas sees a high number of visitors every year, which means you might have to wait in line and deal with large crowds during your visit.
Related
What is Cabo San Lucas most famous for?
Cabo San Lucas is most famous for its beautiful coastline, all-inclusive resorts, and vibrant nightlife scene. The city is very popular for its nightlife. It is also known for its great food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, hiking, and shopping. And many visitors also come to this city for its museums. It is often described as wild, adventurous, scenic, and idyllic.
What is the most famous sight in Cabo San Lucas?
The most popular sight in Cabo San Lucas is Land's End. You can see prices and costs for this and other sights in Cabo San Lucas on our travel costs page.
Or, see tickets, activities, and tours for Land's End and other attractions here.
How touristy is Cabo San Lucas? Is it a popular city to visit?
Cabo San Lucas is a very touristy city that attracts travelers from around the globe. Here are some of the most popular activities and tours. (Prices in US Dollars)
- Hidden Waterfalls Hiking Adventure: $160
- Whale Watching Group Tour in San Jose del Cabo: $95
- Best water tour in Cabo, Flyboard inside a protected Marina: $199
- Surf Lesson Tours (half day): $198
- Cabo Migrino Beach & Desert Tour (Single UTV): $205
- Foodie Grand Tour in Los Cabos: $80
- Natural Hot Springs Experience: $160
- Los Cabos Snorkeling Tour by Speed Boat with Photos Included: $89
How long should I spend in Cabo San Lucas?
The ideal length of time for a trip to Cabo San Lucas is at least three or as many as seven days. Since Cabo San Lucas has a variety of activities such as nightlife, most people need this much time to see and do everything here.
If you have a specific amount of time for your trip, see our advice about how much time to spend here: Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Cabo San Lucas?, Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Cabo San Lucas?, and Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Cabo San Lucas?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.