14 Things You Must Do in Los Cabos

Of course, the main thing to do in Los Cabos is to relax on one of the beaches. In fact, there are 22 beaches in Los Cabos with Blue Flag certification, meaning they meet the environmental management standards set by the Foundation for Environmental Education. Not all the Cabo beaches are swimmable, so do take note when you go (the aptly named Divorce Beach is a no-go). Medano Beach is a great swimming beach and one of the area’s most popular places to visit with plenty of hotels, restaurants and bars. For a quieter beach with clear water that’s great for snorkeling, head to Chileno Beach. There’s no food vendor at Chileno, though, so pack your own snacks and drinks.

Both Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo are teeming with luxury resorts that boast stunning architecture. One of them is Viceroy Los Cabos, known for its modern architecture and shallow pools that reflect the sky (it’s also the resort where the Biebers vacationed a couple of years ago). Most of the rooms boast an ocean view and many come with a soaking tub on the balcony. Viceroy Los Cabos has multiple dining concepts and pools, plus a bar, spa and access to the beach, so you don’t even need to leave the premises if you so choose.

One of the most famous attractions in Cabo is El Arco, or The Arch. The arch shaped rock formation is a distinctive landmark that juts out of the sea. There are numerous tour operators that run boat trips to The Arch, which is also known as Land’s End. Book a sightseeing tour and view The Arch from the boat, or opt for a paddle boarding or kayaking tour with High Tide Los Cabos. Oftentimes you can view marine life like sea lions on these tours, and many also include a stop at Lovers’ Beach where you can enjoy the clear waters from this secluded, sandy beach.

If Cabo San Lucas is the younger sister who likes to party, San José del Cabo is the more sophisticated older sister. Here’s where you go to get more of a traditional Mexican town feel with quaint streets and art galleries. The Mission San José del Cabo was founded in 1730, but the Pericues tribe had already been living in the area for hundreds of years. Check out the Natural History Museum of Cabo San Lucas to see the area’s historical artifacts. The Mission San José del Cabo is also open to visitors (note that they still run daily service and Sunday mass, so plan accordingly). The church was rebuilt in 1940 and there is now a tile mosaic on the exterior of the church that depicts the Pericu Indians revolution in 1734.

About a 90-minute drive from San José del Cabo is Cabo Pulmo National Park, a marine reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Sea of Cortez. Not only does Cabo Pulmo have the only coral reef in the Sea of Cortez, but this area is also known for one thing that is on most scuba divers’ bucket list: jackfish tornado. This is when thousands of jackfish swim around together in a swirling column resembling a tornado and is a real sight to behold. There are a number of dive tour companies that provide transportation and pickup from Los Cabos hotels, including Manta Scuba Diving.

Being at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, Los Cabos is surrounded by the ocean, so naturally seafood is abundant—and delicious—here. Marlin, tuna, Spanish mackerel and mahi mahi are just some of the fish that make up the fresh catch around Los Cabos, depending on the season. And be sure to also try the shellfish—Baja Sur is known for their chocolate clams, named for the brown color of their shells. We’re fans of the ceviche at Metate Cabo, the fish tacos and sunset views at Baja Lobster Co and the fresh sushi at Nido, set inside iconic and Instagrammable nest-like structures.

Being a subtropical desert, we don’t often think of farms when we think of Los Cabos, but in recent years more farm-to-table restaurants have popped up and they’re worth exploring. One of the early proponents that has been around since 1996 is Flora Farms, a 150-acre property with a ranch and farm, and now also restaurant, spa and lodging. Flora Farms originally ran a restaurant in San José del Cabo but later decided to move the restaurant to the farm for a true farm-to-table experience. The restaurant serves a seasonal menu with produce and proteins grown on their farm and ranch, including the can’t-miss mozzarella and ice cream made with milk from their ranch.

Los Cabos has a couple of adventure parks with zipline tours, taking guests on a thrilling ride above the tree canopies. Canopy Costa Azul offers a tour that includes the zipline circuit, suspension bridge and rappelling down a 180-foot wall. Wild Canyon Adventure Park has the longest zipline in Los Cabos and can hold up to four people at one time. Wild Canyon Adventure Park also offers ATV rides, bungee jumping and more adrenaline thrills.

With so many beaches in Los Cabos, it’s easy to find a few with gentle waves perfect for beginner surfers. In the summer, there are surfing lessons at Costa Azul, which is easily accessible from San José del Cabo. In the winter, lessons are usually run at Cerritos, which is closer to Cabo San Lucas. Cerritos is a popular winter surfing spot because the waves here are larger and more consistent in the winter months, and there are different surf breaks here which are better for beginners vs. more experienced surfers. Whichever month you’re traveling, you can always catch a wave in Los Cabos.

Had too much relaxing at your Cabo resort? Get a workout in with a hike. The Los Cabos and Baja Sur areas offer quite a few hiking opportunities in the desert (though best done in the winter or in the mornings) like Cerro de la Z that is easily accessible from Cabo San Lucas and leads to an observatory. For a different kind of scenery, though, head to Fox Canyon (Cañon de La Zorra) within the Sierra Laguna Biosphere Reserve. The Fox Canyon hike leads to a shimmering river and a 50-foot waterfall, so bring your swimsuit along. High Tide Los Cabos runs group hiking tours here with transportation from Los Cabos.