Cabo San Lucas tends to be one of the first places that North Americans think of when it comes to Mexican resort vacations. Its pristine beaches, convenient location, and luxurious resorts make it a very tempting destination for travellers to visit.
More than five million people visit this area every year.
For those of you that never heard of this place, you are probably wondering what drives people to visit here in the first place. Is there more to Cabo than resorts and beaches?
For even more travel destination inspiration, check out all of our other travel blogs.
This is everything you need to know about Cabo San Lucas.
Overview
Cabo sits on the southern tip of Mexico's Baja Peninsula and lacks nothing in terms of its beauty, nightlife, shopping, romance and even kid friendly resorts. The spectacular stone cliffs and breezy blue water make it a crowd favourite vacation for folks all over the world. Thinking of travelling to Cabo San Lucas? We did! And we bring you this piece on everything-you-need-to-know, Cabo Style
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DETAILS
Location
Baja California Sur, Mexico
Coordinates
22°53′23″N 109°54′56″W
Area
3,750.93 km2 (1,448.24 sq mi) (Combined with San Jose del Cabo)
Cabo San Lucas is full of interesting rock formations that date back as far as 115 million years ago. One of the most notable is in a famous tourist site called the Arch of Cabo San Lucas.
It formed through basement rock, which happened because of the cooling of lava or magma. The arch itself is a granite rock formation.
History
As far back as 13,000 BCE, Cabo San Lucas has had people inhabit the area. The first are believed to be the Pericú people. Of course, there were other tribal groups around such as the Guayacuras and Cochimies in the early days.
Eventually, Cabo was discovered by the Spanish around the year 1535, with a fleet of ships led by Hernan Cortez. However, the true founder of Cabo is credited to be Cipriano Ceseña in 1788.
Development
One of the biggest things that boosted Cabo's development was the creation of their current airport in San Jose del Cabo. That was completed in 1986 and since then, it has gone on to be the sixth busiest airport in all of Mexico.
That allowed more international travellers to discover the beauty of Cabo and achieve the popularity it has today but before that, it was because of the fishing scene.
Fishing companies date back here from the early 1900s and word quickly spread about the fishing scene available in the waters of Cabo. A handful of hotels were constructed in the 1960s and the 1970s so others could enjoy the marine life.
Eventually, it got so popular that the Mexican government decided to join in and help build a marina in the area that was completed in 1974.
Tourism
As said above, Cabo San Lucas sees about three million tourists a year. Most come to see the pristine beaches that the coast there offers in Baja California Sur.
The area is not only famous for its beaches but it is also famous for its luxury resorts. There are several in the area to choose from with more and more rooms becoming available every year.
Some popular activities around the area include golf courses for those enthusiasts, boat tours to discover the nature around the area, scuba diving to get a closer look at all of the animals that live in the ocean, and whale watching at certain times of the year.
Another thing that draws tourists in is the fishing scene, particularly marlins. This tournament takes place annually at the end of October and is one of the biggest fishing tournaments in the entire world. The entrance fee for next year is $5,000 and there have been prizes in the past for millions of dollars.
Getting to Cabo San Lucas
To enjoy Cabo it needs to be accessible to get to and thanks to development in the last few decades, this is a relatively simple process. Here is what you need to know to get here:
Location
Cabo San Lucas is located in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. That puts it between the coasts of the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean.
Transportation
Since Cabo San Lucas is separated by the Gulf of California from most of Mexico, the only way to drive there is to go through the San Diego and Tijuana areas and head south from there.
However, this is not the most recommended route, as most tourists generally fly in from abroad. Cabo San Lucas has an international airport that serves the area called Los Cabos International Airport.
Once you arrive in Cabo, you do have the option to rent a car to get to your resort and explore the surrounding areas. Of course, be aware of where you are because it is not recommended to have a car outside of the tourist areas since highway areas have occurred in the past.
Taxis are available either at the airport or at your resort to take you to your next destination. These can cost as much as $70 from the airport but if you have a big enough group, you can split the cost.
A local bus is also available but this will take a longer period of time to reach your final destination. However, the rates reflect that, with this costing less than $3 per person.
You even have the option of taking water taxis from the marina to the popular beaches for around $10, but these prices can be negotiable depending on the circumstances.
If you are in the downtown area or along the resorts, you can walk around on foot. However, you'll need a vehicle to really cover some ground safely with limited access on foot available.
Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas
As mentioned above, tourists come to Cabo mainly for the resorts and beaches. However, the golf courses, marine life, and fishing scene are nice compliments for the area as well. But, there are a few sights that stand out around this location.
Arch of Cabo San Lucas
This is a rock formation out in the middle of the coast that's shaped like an arch and stands out as a sight for tourists to take a boat and see in the water. It was formed by natural erosion and stands 30 feet tall.
This area is also called "Land's End" because it is right at the end of the beach and it is very difficult to access by land. This site appears as the postcard picture for Cabo for many tourists.
Lovers Beach
This is located adjacent to Land's End and offers a secluded beach for tourists to enjoy if they are willing to make the effort to get there. What makes this beach special is that it is surrounded by rock formations and calmer waters.
It is not accessible by foot or car so to get here, you will have to take a boat or water taxi.
Medano Beach
If you like to swim in the ocean, then this beach is your spot. It is one of the more swimmable beaches in Cabo with white sands and with a lot of resorts, restaurants, and bars nearby.
Tour Los Cabos
As far as touring the area, there are plenty of day trips available for you to enjoy, and tour companies will pick you up from the resort. You can go sailing, drive an ATV, play golf, see marine life, go scuba diving, and more.
Snorkel at Santa Maria Bay
Why go to Santa Maria Bay for snorkelling? The answer is because it is a protected marine life area in Cabo, so it gives you some of the best opportunities around the coast to discover the animals in there that call this place home.
Flora Farms
This is an organic farm that prides itself on the humane treatment of its animals and the natural food that grows there. The farm claims that they plant over 100 vegetables and herbs.
Along with this, there is also a kitchen and a spa in the area plus movie nights, yoga, cooking classes, farm tours, and more.
Land's End
This has been the name of the area that surrounds the Arch of Cabo San Lucas. It offers beaches for people to enjoy plus if you want to take a kayak out to the Arch, you have that option from Land's End.
Todos Santos
If you want a more cultural experience away from the resorts, beaches, and water activities, this might be the spot for you. This area is known for its art displays and galleries available to appreciate local art.
There is also a history museum in this area and for those of you who do want more extreme water activity, there are prime surfing spots available just south of here.
Hotels Cabo San Lucas - Best Ones to Stay At
Cabo has a lot of hotels to choose from with more and more resorts getting built up by the year. Some of the most recommended ones to stay at include:
Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos
This is an all-inclusive resort targeted at people of all ages with an infinity pool and a waterpark for the kids. Other things offered at this resort include a gym, spa, Kids Club, a swim-up bar for the adults, local cuisine, and nightlife.
The Cape, A Thompson Hotel
The Cape is a hotel in Cabo that offers absolutely stunning views from its bars and restaurants, including a rooftop view. Some rooms and suites plus villas also offer memorable sights for guests that wish to stay here.
It advertises sailing, golfing, and sport fishing for day trips. If you want to bring a big group, you can plan to have a corporate outing here or even your wedding.
Rui Santa Fe
This is another all-inclusive resort that is open 24/7 and has five pools around the property. There is a free gym and sauna plus unlimited food and drinks at the restaurants.
For the kids, the water park on the property is open six days a week and of course, you have the option to do excursions.
Best Times to Visit Cabo San Lucas
Most people would probably look at this as a winter destination escape, so if that is what you are looking for, your best months are December through April. It is a bit colder in the area that time of year but it is still warm compared to the north and it is considered the mildest season.
If you want near-perfect conditions, March through June would be your best bet because it does not rain in those months.
In contrast to that, some of the worst months to visit may be August through October despite the warmer weather. This is because it is typically when the hurricane season occurs and that could make it a gamble as to whether you will get caught in a storm or not.
Weather in Cabo San Lucas
Compared to the rest of North America, Cabo is very warm throughout the year with the average temperatures by month not going under 13 degrees Celsius. The warmest months of the year tend to be in the middle of the year from May to October.
Most of the rain in this area occurs during the hurricane season, which is primarily from August to October. There are about 220 millimetres of rainfall per year and 160 of them take place within those three months.
From March to June, basically, no rain is recorded and the first few months of the year is considered the area's mildest season.
The hottest temperatures of the year are in the summer months between July and September where the maximum average ranges from 33-34 degrees Celsius.
Plan Your Trip to Cabo San Lucas Today!
So, now you know everything there is to know about Cabo San Lucas. With all of the attractive activities to do and sights to see for tourists, you are probably ready to pack your bags and go.
Before you depart, consider protecting your trip and book travel insurance with Insurdinary today.
