Los Cabos Tours & Activities

Plan your trip to Los Cabos, Mexico — handpicked tours and activities, the best time to visit, where to stay and eat, how to get there, and a sample itinerary.

Top things to do in Los Cabos

• El Arco (The Arch of Cabo San Lucas) and Land's End. A towering natural granite arch at the absolute southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, where the Pacific Ocean collides with the Sea of Cortez. Accessible only by boat from Medano Beach or the marina, this 30-million-year-old formation is the defining image of Los Cabos and a must-see for every visitor.
• Whale Watching in the Sea of Cortez. Between December and April, thousands of humpback and gray whales migrate through the warm, sheltered bays of Los Cabos to mate and raise calves — a spectacle that ranks among the world's premier wildlife-watching experiences. February offers the highest likelihood of close-up encounters with mother-and-calf pairs.
• Playa del Amor (Lover's Beach). A secluded cove of jade-green water and white sand nestled against the granite boulders of Land's End, reachable only by water taxi. The Sea of Cortez side is calm enough for swimming and snorkeling, while the Pacific side — Divorce Beach — crashes with dramatic, untameable surf just steps away.
• Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park. A UNESCO World Heritage Site roughly two hours from San Jose del Cabo, Cabo Pulmo protects the only hard coral reef in the Gulf of California — a 20,000-year-old ecosystem nicknamed 'The Aquarium of the World' with over 800 species of marine life. After receiving full protection in 1995, its fish population rebounded…
• San Jose del Cabo Art District and Thursday Art Walk. Every Thursday evening from November through June, the cobblestone streets of San Jose del Cabo's historic centro come alive as more than a dozen galleries open their doors with complimentary drinks, live music, and the chance to meet artists from Baja and beyond. The weekly Art Walk, launched in 2006, is the…
• World-Class Sport Fishing. Los Cabos earns its title 'Marlin Capital of the World' from the nutrient-rich confluence of the Pacific and Sea of Cortez, which draws blue, black, and striped marlin year-round alongside yellowfin tuna, sailfish, and dorado. Charter boats range from 17-foot pangas to 70-foot luxury yachts with fully outfitted crews.
• Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere Reserve. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve rising just 16 miles from San Jose del Cabo, the Sierra de la Laguna is a startling microclimate where desert cacti give way to pine-oak forests and the Baja Peninsula's only tropical rainforest. More than 900 plant species — over 20% endemic — await hikers, boulderers, and canyoneers…
• Championship Golf Along the Tourist Corridor. Nowhere else in North America can golfers play emerald fairways that spill down cactus-studded desert hillsides directly to the Sea of Cortez. Los Cabos boasts more than eight world-class courses designed by legends including Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, and Greg Norman, with optimal conditions across 300-plus days of…

Best time to visit Los Cabos

Late November through March (peak: January–March; absolute peak score: second week of March per WeatherSpark tourism index). Optimal combination of dry weather, comfortable temperatures (highs 79–81°F), low humidity, clear skies, active whale watching (humpback and gray whales), and world-class sportfishing. Fewer hurricane-season risks than summer/fall. Art Walk Thursdays and the Festival de San Jose del Cabo (March) add cultural programming

Los Cabos weather by month

Getting to Los Cabos

Book a pre-arranged private transfer or authorized airport shuttle before you land — never use unmarked taxis at Los Cabos International Airport. Official taxis charge fixed zone-based fares; ask your hotel for the authorized rate sheet. The 20-mile corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo has no convenient public transport, so a rental car or negotiated taxi is essential for exploring both ends.

• SJD Los Cabos International Airport — 35 min drive
• LAP Manuel Márquez de León International Airport (La Paz) — 120 min drive

Where to stay in Los Cabos

Where to base yourself, by neighborhood.

• Tourist Corridor (Cabo del Sol). The 33-kilometer stretch of coast between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo is home to Los Cabos's most celebrated luxury resort hotels — including properties by One&Only, Grand Velas, Montage, and Auberge — set where the Sonoran Desert tumbles directly… Good for: Luxury travelers, honeymooners, golfers, and anyone who wants resort amenities alongside pristine snorkeling and whale watching.
• Cabo San Lucas (Marina and El Medano districts). The lively southern town anchors nightlife, sport fishing charters, water sports, and the iconic marina — the largest in Baja with 380 slips. El Medano beach, the only swimmable shore in town, lines the main bay, while the Marina district keeps visitors… Good for: First-timers, party travelers, anglers, and water-sports enthusiasts seeking walkable access to everything.
• San Jose del Cabo (Centro and Hotel Zone). The quieter, more authentically Mexican sister city retains its colonial architecture, palm-lined plaza, 1730s mission church, and the famous Thursday Art Walk. The beachfront Hotel Zone (Playa Hotelera) offers a calmer, more family-oriented resort… Good for: Culture-seekers, repeat visitors, families, and travelers who want a more local Mexican experience alongside beach access.
• Pedregal (Cabo San Lucas hillside). A gated hillside community rising above the Cabo San Lucas marina, Pedregal offers sweeping panoramic views of the Pacific and the marina below, with high-end vacation rentals and boutique resorts commanding some of the most dramatic vistas in the… Good for: View-seekers, luxury villa renters, and those who want seclusion with easy access to Cabo San Lucas dining and nightlife.
• Animas Bajas (San Jose del Cabo foothills). A verdant agricultural valley a few miles inland from San Jose del Cabo, Animas Bajas is home to both Flora Farms and Acre Resort — two of the most celebrated sustainable hospitality concepts in Mexico. Staying here means waking to birdsong in a mango grove… Good for: Wellness travelers, foodies, couples seeking a boutique farm-stay experience, and anyone wanting to escape the resort corridor entirely.

Where to eat in Los Cabos

A curated set of standout tables and local favorites.

Local favorites & classics

• Nick-San (Nicksan Cabo). Cabo San Lucas · Japanese-Mexican Fusion — The original Mexican-Japanese fusion restaurant in Los Cabos, open since 1994, created by chefs Masayuki Niikura and Angel Carbajal. Cilantro, avocado,…
• Salvatore G's. S/N · 4.9★ (2,886 reviews)
• Flora Farms. Carretera Transpeninsular San José del Cabo Km. 30 Las Ánimas Bajas · 4.7★ (3,653 reviews)
• La Casa Country CSL. Lote 18 · 4.8★ (1,612 reviews)
• Outpost. Boulevard Paseo de la Marina esquina con avenida cabo san lucas Centro · 4.7★ (1,680 reviews)
• Sunset Monalisa. km 6 · 4.4★ (2,399 reviews)
• Captain Tony's. Blvd. Paseo de La Marina 58 Int. 6 Loc. 1-E · 4.6★ (1,708 reviews)
• Mother Flower. Vicente Guerrero y Francisco I. Madero · 4.9★ (853 reviews)

Fine dining & Michelin

• Cocina de Autor at Grand Velas Los Cabos. Tourist Corridor · Contemporary Mexican / Global Fusion (tasting menu) — The only Michelin One Star restaurant in Baja California Sur, sustained across both 2024 and 2025 guides. Dutch-born chef…
• Comal at Chileno Bay Resort. Tourist Corridor · Contemporary Mexican — Michelin-recommended open-air restaurant with sweeping Sea of Cortez views, where Chef Orli draws on Mexico's distinct regional cuisines and South American…
• Flora's Field Kitchen at Flora Farms. Animas Bajas (outside San Jose del Cabo) · Farm-to-table / Baja-Mediterranean — A Michelin Green Star and Bib Gourmand holder set on a 25-acre organic working farm in the Sierra foothills. The…
• Acre Restaurant at Acre Resort. Animas Bajas (San Jose del Cabo hills) · Contemporary Mexican / Coastal Mediterranean — Michelin Green Star farm-to-table restaurant on a 25-acre sustainable resort property, where more than 60…
• LÍMO Heritage Kitchen at Suelo Sur. San Jose del Cabo (centro) · Baja California / Heritage Mexican — 2025 Michelin Plate recognition for this open-air downtown gem, where chef Guillermo J. Gomez structures his menu around garden,…
• Mezcal at Montage Los Cabos. Tourist Corridor · Contemporary Baja Mexican — Newly recognized in the 2025 Michelin Guide, this resort restaurant celebrates the flavors and artisanship of Baja California with a focus on agave…
• Al Pairo at Solaz. Tourist Corridor · Modern Mexican / Seafood — A 2025 Michelin Guide newcomer set within the Solaz resort on the corridor, Al Pairo delivers polished modern Mexican cuisine with a coastal seafood…
• Edith's Restaurante. Av. del Pescador S/N · 4.5★ (1,276 reviews)

A 7-Day Los Cabos Plan

1. Day 1 — Land's End & The Arch. Start at Medano Beach, the lively hub of Cabo San Lucas, and arrange a water taxi from the marina to Land's End for a close-up view of El Arco — the iconic granite arch framing the Pacific and Sea of Cortez. Explore the sea lion colony on the rocks and photograph the dramatic cliffs…
2. Day 2 — Snorkel, Coves & Chileno Bay. Drive the scenic Tourist Corridor northeast from Cabo San Lucas to Santa Maria Cove, a protected UNESCO-listed snorkel site teeming with tropical fish, rays, and sea turtles in crystal-clear water. Arrive early when the water is calmest and visibility is best. Continue a short…
3. Day 3 — Whales of the Sea of Cortez. Join an early-morning whale watching tour departing from the Cabo San Lucas marina — from January through March, humpback and gray whales are near-guaranteed; blue whales and orcas are possible year-round. Most reputable operators like Cabo Adventures and Cabo Expeditions follow…
4. Day 4 — Art Walk & San Jose del Cabo. Drive 30 minutes northeast to San Jose del Cabo and explore the charming historic center, starting with the Misión de San José del Cabo church on the main plaza. Browse the boutiques, galleries, and artisan shops along Boulevard Mijares and the surrounding cobblestone streets.…
5. Day 5 — Sport Fishing & Cabo Pulmo Reefs. Depart before dawn from the Cabo San Lucas marina on a deep-sea sport fishing charter — Los Cabos is one of the world's top billfish destinations and marlin, sailfish, dorado, and tuna are regularly caught in the rich waters where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. Many…
6. Day 6 — Sierra Highlands & Oasis Villages. Set out early for the Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-designated mountain range rising to over 7,000 feet just an hour's drive inland from Los Cabos. Join a guided hiking or mule trek into the pine-oak forest ecosystem — a dramatic contrast to the desert…
7. Day 7 — Surf, Golf & Farewell Sunset. Head to Costa Azul Beach just south of San Jose del Cabo, home to Zippers — one of Baja's most consistent point breaks. Beginner surfers can take a lesson with local instructors on the gentler inside waves, while experienced surfers can challenge the more powerful outside sets…

Events & festivals in Los Cabos

• Whale Watching Season (December through April (peak January–March)). Humpback, gray, and blue whales migrate from northern Pacific waters to Baja California Sur to mate and give birth. Eight whale species venture to Los Cabos waters. Pacific side has primary breeding grounds; some…
• Festival de San Jose del Cabo (Patron Saint Festival) (March 8–19 (culminating March 19, feast day of Saint Joseph)). Annual 11-day civic and religious festival honoring the town's patron saint, Saint Joseph. Dates to the original Jesuit mission established in 1730. Events include mass, crowning of a festival queen, parades,…
• IGFA Rolex Offshore World Championship (May (annual, week-long)). Invitation-only championship where winners of 110+ qualifying tournaments worldwide compete in Cabo San Lucas. Based in Cabo since 2013. Organized under strict IGFA rules.
• San Jose del Cabo Art Walk (Every Thursday evening, November through June (approx. 5 PM–9 PM)). Weekly gallery walk through the historic Art District of San Jose del Cabo, organized by the Gallery District Association. Galleries open their doors for a self-guided walking tour; often features artist appearances…
• Bisbee's East Cape Offshore Tournament (July (Buenavista, East Cape)). Annual Bisbee sportfishing tournament held in July at Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort on the East Cape, preceding the fall Cabo San Lucas events. The 20th annual edition was held in 2019.
• Bisbee's Black and Blue Marlin Tournament (October (2026 dates: October 19–24; preceded by Los Cabos Offshore, October 12–17)). World's richest sportfishing tournament, held annually in Cabo San Lucas since 1981. Focuses on black marlin and blue marlin. Founded by Bob Bisbee with 6 teams and a $10,000 purse; now draws 150+ teams and…

Top-rated tours & activities in Los Cabos

• Heather Nikki 80 ft Italian Azimut Yacht Rental — 5.0★ (242 reviews)
• 108 ft Neoprene Overmarine Yacht — 5.0★ (151 reviews)
• Natural Hot Springs Experience — 5.0★ (88 reviews)
• Private Cabo Arch Kayak & Snorkel Tour for 4 Guests — 5.0★ (74 reviews)
• Cabo Half-Day Surf Lesson — 5.0★ (63 reviews)
• Educational Sunrise Whale Watching with Photos Included — 5.0★ (44 reviews)
• Private Sandboarding Experience in Los Cabos — 5.0★ (42 reviews)
• Explore Mexico Finest Agave Spirits and Cocktails — 5.0★ (30 reviews)

Los Cabos travel FAQ

When is the best time to visit Los Cabos?

Late November through March (peak: January–March; absolute peak score: second week of March per WeatherSpark tourism index).

What are the top things to do in Los Cabos?

Top experiences include El Arco (The Arch of Cabo San Lucas) and Land's End, Whale Watching in the Sea of Cortez, Playa del Amor (Lover's Beach), Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, San Jose del Cabo Art District and Thursday Art Walk.

Which airport is closest to Los Cabos?

Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) is the nearest, about 35 minutes away.

Where should I stay in Los Cabos?

Popular areas to base yourself include Tourist Corridor (Cabo del Sol), Cabo San Lucas (Marina and El Medano districts), San Jose del Cabo (Centro and Hotel Zone), Pedregal (Cabo San Lucas hillside).

How do I get around Los Cabos?

Book a pre-arranged private transfer or authorized airport shuttle before you land — never use unmarked taxis at Los Cabos International Airport.