Cabo San Lucas - 'Cabo' means cape - is at the far end of Mexico's Baja Peninsula, the land immediately south of the United States, cut-off from mainland Mexico by the Sea of Cortez, sometimes also referred to as the Gulf of California.
This region of Mexico is a real paradise - with its hot deserts, and cool, warm breezed oceans; its waters reflecting several different shades of blues and greens.
The region is a particular favourite with divers, golfers and people looking to take part in sports fishing excursions.
Like many of Mexico's thriving beach locations, Cabo San Lucas was a quiet fishing village before it was developed. Today, luxury hotels, trendy bars and restaurants and night clubs are everywhere: Cabo is an elite party town on Mexico's Baja California Sur coast.
Cabo attracts people looking for relaxation, water sports and golf. Golf especially, has taken off here in recent years with the development of some of the world's finest golf courses and near year-long perfect weather for golfing.
If you want an upper class resort, that offers luxury, with the opportunity to take part in some water-based fun, golf, or all night partying - perhaps a taste of all these - then Cabo San Lucas could be just the place you're looking for.
Key Attractions
Beach Life
Cabo San Lucas has a great 'principal' beach - called Medano. You can rent
snorkelling equipment and non-motorised water equipment straight from the
beach. This is a good place to sunbathe and swim from as well.
Further out of town, you can find some remote beaches along the shoreline between "the two cabos" (Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo). These include the Barco Varado, Chileno, Palmilla, Santa Maria and Vista del Arco Beaches, for those who want to get away from the crowds and see some stunning beaches and shoreline. You'll need to rent a car - see "Getting Around" - below.
All of the Mainstream Guidebooks give detailed information about the beaches, their locations and main attractions in Cabo San Lucas. Find a guidebook on the Mexperience Bookshelf!
Water Sports
With its calm waters, fine weather and uncompromising beaches, its no wonder
that water sports are one of the main attractions in Cabo San Lucas. Snorkelling,
SCUBA diving, kayaking, water and jet-skis - what tickles your fancy? If it's
water based, you can experience it in Cabo San Lucas!
Connect to the Mexperience Directory for Information about Water Sport Facilities
and Services for visitors in Cabo San Lucas.
Local Cruises
There's no better way to enjoy the scenery in this area than on a local boat
cruise. Local cruises take you on tours around the many islets surrounding
Baja California Sur, and include sunset cruises that let you experience some
of the most wonderful sunsets you'll view in your life.
Connect to the Mexperience Directory for Information about Local Cruises for
visitors Cabo San Lucas.
Whale Watching
From the Bering Strait, Whales migrate to the pacific coast of Baja California
Sur between January and March of each year. To see the marvel of these great
creatures, you'll need to visit 'in season'. There are 3 main areas where
its best to view the whales - the main one being Magdalena Bay off the Pacific
Coast - check the Mexperience Directory for details of these organised Eco
Tours (link below).
Connect to Mexico's Eco Tourism experiences near Cabo San Lucas with Mexperience!
Fishing Trips
Baja California Sur is one of the top venues in the world for sports fishing.
You can rent your own skiff ("panga"), or contract a full sized
boat. Details in the Mexperience Directory.
Connect to the Mexperience Directory for Information about local Fishing Trips
in Cabo San Lucas.
Golf in Cabo San Lucas
The climate in Baja California Sur is ideal for Golf all year-round, and the
region is fast becoming one of the top places in the world to play the game.
Connect to the Mexperience Directory for Information about good places to
enjoy rounds of Golf in Cabo San Lucas.
Other Attractions
Day Trips out exploring, horse riding, and All Terrain Vehicle tours are some
of the other experiences you can enjoy in and around Cabo San Lucas.
Find out about these and others by connecting to the Mexperience Directory
of Local Tours in Cabo San Lucas.
Getting There & Around
Getting There
By Air - You can get to Cabo San Lucas by plane from Mexico City, Guadalajara,
Tijuana, and various places in the USA, especially Los Angeles, CA.
Connect to the Mexperience Directory for Airlines
You can also find airplane rentals at wingsForRent.com
By Bus - To get to Baja California Sur, your best bet is to fly there (see above); the bus journey from Tijuana to La Paz is about 27 hours; then a further 2 hours from there to Los Cabos.
By Car - Driving to Cabo San Lucas from the southern border of the United States will take you about 20-24 hours on Highway 1 and then a further 2 hours on Highway 19. See additional information about Driving in Mexico and Mexico's Toll Roads on Mexperience.
By Ferry - If you are on Mexico's mainland, or want to get to it, there is a ferry that crosses the Sea of Cortez (also known as the Gulf of California) to and from La Paz to the port cities of Mazatlan and Los Mochis (Topolobambo). The ferry trip to/from Mazatlan takes 18 hours and does not run daily; sleeping cabins are available with advance bookings. The ferry to/from Los Mochis (Topolobambo) takes around 8 hours and does not sail daily either. Check the Ferry's website at: www.ferrysematur.com.mx for details of routes, schedules and prices. Note: from 2004, a new Catamaran ferry is being operated, and this has significantly reduced the travel times across the Sea of Cortez from Mexico's mainland to La Paz.
Getting Around
From the Airport - The same airport that serves Cabo San Lucas serves San Jose del Cabo, although it is closer to San Jose del Cabo. Terrestrial Transport is available from the airport into town, or you can take a taxi (which can be shared). If you want to rent a car, agencies have desks inside the main terminal building. Booking in advance is likely to save you money.
Local Buses - Local buses are available and you'll need to take one or taxi travel from Cabo San Lucas to nearby San Jose del Cabo; but just about all of Cabo San Lucas is accessible on foot.
Taxis - Taxis are widely available, but not metered, so agree your price before you get in. If you speak Spanish, you will have a distinct advantage and be able to negotiate a better price! Another good reason to Learn Spanish!
Rent a Car - If you want to see all of the amazing beaches and scenery which
reside within a short car ride of Cabo San Lucas, your best bet is to rent
a car. This is best and most economical way to see the area and will enable
you to explore other areas more efficiently, for example Todos Santos and
La Paz.
See the Mexperience Directory for details about Car Rental in Cabo San Lucas.
See additional information about Driving in Mexico and Mexico's Toll Roads
on Mexperience.
By Local Bus: Renting a car is the most flexible way to see the surrounding area, although if your budget is tight or you want to see more of local life, local buses do run run frequently connecting La Paz, Los Cabos and Todos Santos as well as other destinations further north such as Loreto and destinations in Baja California.
Local Events Calendar
Cancelled for 2004: July: Every July, you can experience the Cabo Jazz Festival
in Cabo San Lucas. In 2004, The Cabo Jazz Festival will take place between
the 22nd and 25th of July, hosted on one of the most pristine beaches in Cabo,
Sunset Beach, home to the famed Pueblo Bonito Hotel and Resort. Held right
on the beach, in the sand, under the stars with the water coming up to your
feet while you sip on one of your favourite beverages. No where in the world
can you experience all of this while listening to some of the worlds top names
in Jazz. Link to festival's official website at www.cabojazz.com for full
details.
This event was cancelled by the organisers at the end of April 2004 - see
the above website for details.
October 18th hosts the festival of St Luke's Day - the Patron Saint of Cabo San Lucas (which means "Cape of Saint Luke"). Expect lots of dancing in the streets, music and specially arranged local events to mark the day.
Practical Information
Telephone: Connect to the Communications in Mexico Page on Mexperience for
full information about keeping in touch and the latest table of national dialling
codes.
Exchanging Currency: Banks with ATM machines can be found in the downtown area of Cabo San Lucas. During business hours, they and the Casas de Cambio will buy traveller's cheques and cash from you as well. Read about currency exchange in Mexperience's Money Section.
Beach Safety: The main beach, Medano, is a safe beach to swim from, and areas of the nearby water are roped off to protect swimmers from motorised water craft. Check for and keep an eye on the surf and on weather conditions, especially in September, when the weather in the region is changeable. Don't venture out too far - especially if you're not a strong swimmer!
Internet Access: Connect to the Mexperience Directory for a list of Internet Cafes in Cabo San Lucas.
Local Tourist Office: Connect to the Mexperience Directory for details of the nearest Tourist Information office.
[Return to Contents Table]
Accommodation
Connect to the Mexperience Directory for details about Hotels in and around
Cabo San Lucas
Also: Explore Holiday Villas for Rent in Los Cabos
Restaurants
Connect to the Mexperience Directory for details about Restaurants in and
around Cabo San Lucas.
When Night Falls
As one of Mexico's elite party-towns, Cabo San Lucas will offer night owls
a feat of bars, restaurants and night clubs that will keep you dancing all
night long!
The night clubs don't get going until around midnight, and don't stop until the sun rises the next day. If you want to dance and swing, quite literally until the sun comes up, then Cabo San Lucas will deliver the experience you're searching for!
Remember that you're at land's end on the Pacific Coast. The sunsets you'll see from here are absolutely terrific, so make sure that you're near the coast at around dusk. Between January and March, you may also watch the whales in the water as the sun goes down - spectacular!
See the Mexperience Directory for Night Spots in Cabo San Lucas.
What to Buy in Cabo San Lucas
Shopping is a major pastime in Cabo San Lucas.
All of the shops are within walking distance (as it is with most other things in Cabo San Lucas). You may ask the shop to have your purchase delivered back to your hotel, especially if it is a bit big or fragile, or if you are just starting an active day of bargain hunting!
See the Mexperience Directory for Shopping Experiences in Cabo San Lucas.
Local Climate
The weather during the summer months will be extremely hot; cooler near the
coasts. In the winter it can get cooler and windy, so if you're travelling
in the winter, take some warmer clothes just in case the weather turns cooler
(especially in the evenings) while you're there. The 'rainy season' is September
(the one month when the weather can be changeable), otherwise this part of
Mexico enjoys sunshine most days of the year.
source: www.mexperience.com
