Cabo San Lucas Mexico Itinerary
Welcome to our Cabo San Lucas itinerary!
Located along the Baja Californian peninsular, Cabo is a very well-known and popular destination in Mexico to visit.
With its endless, beautiful Pacific beaches, you are bound to find the kind of experience that you want.
There’s an abundance of nightlife and entertainment here, so it’s a great match for those looking for some fun!
There are also lots of cool gems to see dotted around, which we’ll explore later.
Best Things to do in Cabo
In this guide, we’ll deep dive into Cabo San Lucas, and since it’s designed for those backpacking Mexico or traveling on a budget we’ll explore the best things to do and see without breaking the bank.
We’ll also look at the best time to go, how to get there, our own recommendations as well as where to stay.
Why Travel to Cabo San Lucas
Cabo is one of the more touristy hotspots in Mexico. As a result, it promises a great variety of entertainment, good vibes, and also an atmosphere that is perfect for kicking back and relaxing.
There are lots of beautiful beaches here, and if you go a little out of Cabo you’ll find deserted beaches pretty much all to yourself!
You can also do some hiking around the area, with the Cerro de la Zeta one of the best places to see the sunset in its red and crimson tones.
You can also take a day trip out to Sierra de la Laguna for some off the beaten path hiking and time exploring nature.
Cabo is also a great draw due to cheap flight prices and easy access. There are dozens of flights arriving in from the USA daily, and a one-way can cost as low as 200 dollars.
Things to in Cabo San Lucas
Now let’s explore the abundance of activities and things to see whilst in Cabo.
This city is home to pretty much anything and everything you could want, so don’t be surprised if you see more gems that are not mentioned below.
El Arco
One of the most picturesque sights in Baja California, El Arco is a naturally formed cave arch that separates the Pacific Ocean from the Sea of Cortez.
There are loads of cheap companies that do boat tours out to the arch, or if you’re feeling more independent then you can talk to some of the local fisherman and get a discounted rate.
We would recommend heading around the evening time, as the arch along with the sunset is one of the most beautiful experiences we had whilst in Mexico.
The best way to see El Arco is with a sunset cruise, where you’ll ride a luxury catamaran and see many other awesome sites on your own time schedule (unlike other tours that can feel overly rushed
Cerro de la Zeta
This small mountain offers some of the best views of Cabo! It takes around 45 minutes to an hour to hike up, although there are shuttles frequently making the trip (better if going during the hottest parts of the day).
We recommend watching the sunrise or sunset from here, and if the former then bringing a few beers to enjoy the view.
The Beaches
The beaches here beautiful, and are one of the major draws for those coming to Cabo. Playa Medano is the main beach and easiest to access.
It’s quite touristy, with lots of amenities and tour guides nearby, however still a great place to relax and enjoy the sun. Those looking for a more remote beach are better off going to Playa de la Raza and Playa del Divorcio, where there’s fewer people around.
If you are looking to surf then Cabo is pretty good, however we would recommend heading an hour south to Todos Santos, which is one of the best surfing destinations in Mexico!
This awesome day tour is a perfect option for those wanting to explore Todos Santos, which includes the more historical sites found in this gem.”
Pelican’s Rock
This is one of the best areas to snorkel/dive in Cabo. The rock itself has many Pelicans and Seals jostling for territory, and has an abundance of tropical fish in its waters.
It’s located near El Arco, and most boat tours usually combine a visit to here as well. However, if you want time to dive or snorkel here, then you’ll need to go with a specific tour to do so, or to swim over from La Raza beach (with caution though as the currents can be quite strong, so make sure you wear a life jacket).
Cabo San Lucas: Backpacking Tips
Below I’ll list some of out recommendations from our experience in Los Cabos, which we hope can help you in your planning and during your stay!
- In our opinion, the best beaches in Cabo are those that are further away such as Playa de la Raza. Further along, you can also head to Playa Pedregal if you want more privacy and a more remote experience.
- Baja California Sur has more than just Cabo, so we would suggest looking at adding some more time to your Baja California itinerary to explore other areas such as La Paz and Todos Santos. Getting to these are pretty quick and easy using public transportation.
- Be sure to check out some of Cabo’s top-rated hostels to ensure you have a place to stay that suits all your needs.
In terms of how long you need to see everything, we would recommend at least 4 days in Cabo.
Whilst there’s not a tonne of destinations in the city per se, there are plenty of activities such as snorkeling, hiking and boat trips.
And of course, we then have time for relaxing on the beach and partying too.
How to Get to Cabo San Lucas
Unlike other Mexican beach paradises, Cabo is one of the easiest to get to.
The San José del Cabo airport is located just outside of the city, and has loads of flights arriving internationally every day.
Given the distance, it’s best to pre-book a shuttle which will take you directly to your accommodation from arrivals
If arriving from outside of Mexico, I’d recommend looking at connecting via the USA or staying there before coming in.
Whilst there are some international flights that come directly, it tends to be a lot cheaper flying into the US and then onto Cabo San Lucas.
If you are already in Mexico, then some of the airports have direct flights here, including Mexico City and Mazatlán.
In the smaller towns and on the east coast, you’ll most likely need to fly into Mexico City first and then onwards to Cabo.
Where to Stay in Cabo San Lucas
The best place to stay in Cabo is near the Mariner, where all the boats are.
There are tonnes of restaurants and tour companies located here, with lots of novelty markets and great nightlife options also close by.
We recommend staying at the Ocean Tiger’s Dive House, which is located close to the bustling Lázaro Cárdenas Street. It’s one of the cheapest hostels in town, has a swimming pool and also comes with free breakfast included.
We’ve listed our favorite hostels in Mexico if you want to check those out.
Best Time to visit Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas has a seasonal weather pattern, like many of the other coastal destinations in Mexico.
So if you add Cabo to your Mexico travel itinerary remember the rainy season runs from June until October, where precipitation is a lot higher.
There’s also a much higher chance of hurricanes and storms, which in the area have historically caused damage to water systems.
Temperatures are also higher during this time, which may appeal to those looking for a good roasting. Average temperatures throughout these months are between 83-85°F.
The dry season runs from Late October until May, and is the perfect time to visit for those looking for great, consistent weather.
Rain is at its lowest, with around 1-3 days of rainfall per month. Temperatures are lower than the rainy season, however at an average of 74°F for each month there’s not too much to complain about!
Those looking to swim (or go snorkeling) will be glad to know that visibility conditions are great year-round! Just be sure to bring a quality pair of swimming goggles to take full advantage
If you are a nature enthusiast or want to see some animals during your trip to Cabo, then take note of the following.
The Whale Shark season runs from October until March, and you can easily go on a boat tour and have a very high chance of seeing some during these months.
If you head between April and December, then you may spot Orcas, Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins, Humpback Whales and an assortment of tropical marine life.
Got travel insurance for Cabo San Lucas?
Best Things to do in Cabo
And that’s all for our backpacking guide to Cabo San Lucas.
Cabo is well-known for being one of the party and spring break hubs of Mexico, often drawing crowds in the thousands annually.
However as we have covered, there are in fact many other great things to do and see here, ranging from its beautiful beaches to hiking and spotting incredible wildlife.
In this guide we have also looked at the best time to visit, where to stay as well as how you can get to Cabo both quickly and cheaply.
We hope you enjoyed reading this guide! If you have any questions, feel free to drop a comment below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Also, be sure to check out our backpacking Mexico guide for ideas on where else to go and what else to see in Mexico’s seven states.
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