A Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Travel Guide
Fashionably late on this post, but hey, it would be off-brand otherwise.
Los Cabos, Mexico is one of the most stunning and exclusive destinations located on the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. Our trip was booked last minute after we decided to call off our wedding due to covid. We were a bit bummed at first but “just go with it” seems to be the theme this year so we decided to make the best out if it. I’m a firm believer in things happen for us not to us and the universe simply had other plans.
This was our first time in Los Cabos and we split our stay between The Cape, a Thompson Hotel & Viceroy. Here are my recommendations on where to stay, what to do, and where to eat from my personal. experience and from extensive research:
THERE’S TWO CITIES IN LOS CABOS – KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
Before traveling, I wasn’t aware Los Cabos encompassed 2 different locations: San José del Cabo & Cabo San Lucas. We had the opportunity to stay in both cities which are about an hour apart from each other. Both were equally beautiful and had their own unique experience. Knowing the difference will help you determine which town in Los Cabos is better suited for your preference.
Cabo San Lucas: The more popular destination that you are most likely picturing when thinking of Cabo. Located at the most southern tip of the peninsula, It has the iconic El Arco, swimmable beaches, livelier restaurants and nightlife, marina excursions (snorkeling, tours of El Arco, boat cruises, etc). So if you’re looking for a spot where the margaritas and beer flow all day and night, this is the destination for you.
San José del Cabo: The quieter, smaller city of Los Cabos that boasts architectural charm. The main airport (Cabo San Lucas International) is located in San José which is close by. There’s no shortage of luxurious resorts, so it’s the perfect destination if you’re looking to wind down and relax. There aren’t much activities to do here though, so you have to factor in the distance and cost of transportation to travel down to Cabo San Lucas. I recommend splitting your time between both places if possible, we loved the contrast in experience.
HOTELS
THE CAPE, A THOMPSON HOTEL
We spent the first half of our trip in Cabo San Lucas, and absolutely loved this hotel! The location was great, only about a 5 minute cab ride to get to the main part of town. The beachfront property is open and airy overlooking El Arco and the Bahia San Lucas horizon. Beautiful property, great service, and delicious food (OMG the Baja tacos).
VICEROY LOS CABOS
For the second half of the trip, we wanted a more intimate and private experience to celebrate our wedding so we drove up to San José. We were sold from the second we got there and upon arrival bumped into President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico. The aesthetic was a DREAM – stark and minimalist focusing the attention on the dramatic water features. Truly an architectual masterpiece, we considered this resort to be the gold standard of luxury. It was named the #1 Resort in Western Mexico by Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards and one of the World’s Greatest Places to visit by TIME Magazine. We hired a videographer on the day of our wedding 8/8/2020 to create a special shoot for us. He was great to work with and even had a drone to capture the views of the stunning property.
These are other resorts I did research on and would love to check out in the future:
ONE & ONLY PALMILLA
GRAND VELAS
LAS VENTANAS
CHILENO BAY RESORT & RESIDENCES, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION
ESPERANZA, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION
MONTAGE LOS CABOS
NOBU HOTEL LOS CABOS
WHAT TO DO
SEASHINE ADVENTURES – YACHT CHARTERS
We didn’t have an opportunity to do this but after seeing all of the amazing reviews I would absolutely recommend it! I went on several travel blogs to get the full scoop and everyone’s experience appears to be pretty consistent. Warm and welcoming crew, delicious restaurant quality menu, unlimited open bar, and lots and lots of fun in the sun. This seems perfect for bachelor/bachelorette parties, a romantic date, or just a relaxing day on the water with friends and family. There’s something for everyone with custom packages and different size charters depending on your group size and preference.
BOAT TOURS AND DAY CRUISES
We went on a glass bottom boat excursion around the Arch in Cabo San Lucas. We paid around $35 for an hour and our captain even bought us a 12 pack of beer for the ride- he was a real good time. I don’t remember the name of the exact boat company but they’re a dime a dozen and you can usually book it for same day online or on the beach.
VIST EL ARCO, LOVER’S BEACH AND DIVORCE BEACH
Your travel guide to Cabo San Lucas is not complete without a trip to these places!
Located on the most southern tip of the Baja Peninsula called Land’s End, these rocks have been formed by rough seas and winds over the last 30 million years. Why are Lover’s Beach and Divorce Beach named this you might ask? Locals tell us it’s because Lover’s beach is on the calm side of the Sea of Cortez and one of the few places in Cabo San Lucas that has gentle tides safe for swimming. Playa de Amor or Lover’s Beach is a small, secluded beach, accessible by water taxi. The area is a narrow cove with low tides and bright, blue water. Divorce Beach on the other hand is on the tumultuous and hazardous side of the Pacific. This area is particularly picturesque and makes for an excellent photo op!
MEDANO BEACH FOR SOME JETSKIING, PARASAILING, OR KAYAKING
This beach has a lot of bars and is one of the few swimmable beaches on the peninsula. If you’re looking for activities out on the water there’s plenty of options (jetskiing, parasailing, snorkeling, etc)
HOT TIP: There is a lesser traveled to stretch of beach just left (or south) of this beach. The locals refer to it as the “quiet one” while referring to Medano beach as the “loco beach” attracting all the tourists.
FLYBOARD AT SANTA MARIA BAY
If being propelled in the air by two jet streams has been an item on your bucket list, now is the time to check it off!
HIKE MT. SOLMAR
If you want to enjoy some of the most gorgeous, panoramic views of Cabo San Lucas you should check out Mt. Solmar. Enrique seems to be a popular local man and unofficial tour guide who routinely walks a group of rehabilitated dogs and encourages visitors to travel alongside him. While he doesn’t charge a fee, it’s considerate to leave a tip for his generous services.
COMER
VICEROY LOS CABOS
When thinking of Viceroy Los Cabos the very first thing that comes to mind is the food. Oh my god. The food is out of this world. Check out:
CASERO RESTAURANT
Homestyle mesa
OTRO BAR
Sophisticated cocktails
NIDO
Best raw bar and fresh seafood inside the famous “nest”
THE CAPE A THOMPSON HOTEL
Best known for Manta, the fine-dining restaurant helmed by chef Enrique Olvera; serving some of the freshest seafood in Los Cabos, 95 percent of their food is made from scratch.
Also, order the Baja tacos from Point Break with an extra side of aioli. I literally filled up on these like twice a day they were so good.
FLORA FARMS
Named “world’s 10 best table-to-farm dining experiences” (a purposeful take on the term “farm-to-table”)
ACRE BAJA
LOS TAMARIDNOS
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WIND DOWN AND RELAX
Most importantly, enjoy yourself. Reconnect with nature. Create unforgettable memories. Bond with your loved ones. Be present in the moment and don’t forget it’s the little things that matter most.
