Famous for its beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, delicious food and countless adventure activities, Cabo is a no-brainer when planning a vacation. My idea of Cabo had always been a combination of tequila shots, spring break and walks of shame. And then I went there, and everything changed. While you can easily spend the afternoon bar-hopping and drinking margaritas at one of the many watering holes, there is so much more to Cabo than that. If you’re in the mood for some major R&R, there’s an array of all-inclusive resorts boasting infinity pools and top-notch hospitality. There are also plenty of adrenaline-raising activities for adventure-seekers such as jetskiing, parasailing, paddle boarding, the list goes on! Cabo is what you want it to be. For us it was a bit of all of the above. But it was truly a magical place where the arid beauty of the desert comes together with the wild, crashing waves of the ocean. And we found that it’s all a matter of knowing the right way to do Cabo San Lucas.

Arrive in Los Cabo’s airport and don’t be surprised if you feel like you’ve landed in the coastal version of Las Vegas. You are in Mexico, but everyone insists on speaking to you in English. Sans the slot machines, you are greeted by a wave of people trying to pull you in, like hungry sharks, to fall into their time-share selling trap. (Forewarning: ignore them and continue walking towards the exit). After shuffling through all the commotion, alas you exit the airport the first thing you see is of course, an outdoor bar.

Los Cabos is made up of  two towns – Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo and the corridor between the two. Both towns are connected by an 18-mile stretch of spaciously separated waterfront hotels, golf courses and luxury home developments. It’s a stunning Mexico beach destination at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, with coastlines spanning both the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. With a magnificent deep blue sea contrasted by the arid desert cactuses,  Los Cabos is a popular, exotic escape. But the tourist-packed, spring-break destination we know is Cabo San Lucas.

Cabo San Lucas is about a 45 minute drive from the airport. Renting a car is probably the best decision we made in the entire trip. Taxis from the airport to the hotels can cost upwards of US $95 each way. Our rental and gas totaled far less than this amount and it gave us the freedom and flexibility to explore Baja California Sur. A no brainer if you’re traveling with a baby!

We stayed at The Cape Hotel and loved it. We would absolutely stay here again. All of the rooms have balconies with unobstructed ocean views and the service leaves little to be desired. It is located a few miles from all the happening spots which was perfect because we could easily drive in to town for the day and come back to relax in the afternoon. Read on to see family-friendly excursions and delicious meals that are worth checking out!

Fun and Excursions!

There is world class golfing, sport fishing, surfing, horseback riding, parasailing, the list goes on! Any outdoor or water excursion is up for grabs but your best bet is to plan ahead. Cabo Adventures and Cabo Expeditions both have a great selection of activities. Honestly, if you book any activity with either of them, you won’t be sorry! Or you could always choose an activity while you’re cruising the town. There is such a long list of options but below I’ll highlight my favorites!

Visit the Arch

The famous Land’s End (El Arco) is a rock formation that protrudes from the sky and draws beautiful landscapes on the horizon of the Sea of Cortez. It’s one of the most representative icons of the Mexican coast and absolutely worth an up-close looksy. There are several options to get there, small boats and larger cruises (the Sunset Cruise is great for a romantic evening!). Really, it all comes down to preference. We decided to go see The Arch in a glass bottom boat. During our tour, we saw sea lions, manta ray, regional fish and of course the infamous Arch. You get to stop by boat-accessible beaches, hang out for a bit and hitch a ride back. These are beautiful and great spots for snorkeling and working on your tan.

Among these beaches are the famous Lover’s beach and Divorce Beach which is so neat because this is the point where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean.

Sailing

Cabo Adventures has a great package that features a half-day luxury adventure in the Sea of Cortez. You can enjoy a relaxing day aboard a luxury sailing boat in the Sea of Cortez. If you’re lucky you’ll catch a glimpse of dolphins playing by the side of your boat or spot manta rays, sea lions and more. Those looking for adventure can swim, snorkel and stand-up paddle board, or you can just relax and bask in the tropical rays. Food, snacks and drinks are included and is a truly unforgettable experience.

Cabo San Lucas Beaches

For some plain ol’ fun in the sun, the beach is a great option for the whole family. While the region does indeed boast water activities like stand up paddle boarding, surfing, snorkeling, and scuba, many visitors may be surprised to learn that many Los Cabos beaches are not suitable for swimming due to strong undertows and unpredictable tides. There are, however, beaches you can swim in. This is another reason it is a good idea to rent a car. Below are my favorite swimmable beaches in Cabo San Lucas.

Medano Beach

You will hear about it often, as it is the most famous beach in Cabo San Lucas. Medano Beach is where the action is and it’s close to downtown Cabo San Lucas. It’s where the party continues all day and into the night. From this sandy beach, you will be able to drink in a delicious margarita as well as a great view of the Arch. It’s the longest swimmable beach in Cabo San Lucas, beginning at the east side of the harbor and extends along Cabo San Lucas Bay all the way to Villa del Palmar. Not the beach for traquility, there’s definitely lots to do and see here!

Chileno Beach

For a slower pace, Playa Chileno boasts tranquil water and less crowds. This wide, golden sandy beach  bordered by rocky outcrops is the perfect place for great snorkeling and full facilities open to the public. It’s located about halfway between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

Lover’s Beach

Probably my favorite! Accessed via boat or kayak, this beach is where the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean meet. Playa del Amor is famous because it is located at Land’s End, where one side of the beach borders the Pacific Ocean, while the other side of the beach borders the Sea of Cortez. And although it connects with Divorce Beach on the Pacific Side, Divorce Beach is not suitable for swimming. While on the beach, you can enjoy snorkeling, sunbathing and relaxing. We came on a glass-bottom boat that will pick you up and take you back to Cabo San Lucas when you are ready.

Resort

Generally I’m more of an adventurer but the gorgeous infinity pool at our hotel was just the right temperature. It featured a swim-up bar, overlooked the ocean and had direct views of The Arch. The service was amazing and the drinks were cold. So inevitably we spent quite a bit of time there. This is definitely where we got our fix of R&R. The secluded beach was not swimmable but we enjoyed watching surfers catch waves and laying in the sand!

Food and Drinks

Food and drinks are a-plenty in this party town and we definitely took advantage of this! We love trying food that is more authentic and regional and from the places we tried, these were definitely our favorites:

• Asi y Asado – delicious tacos and friendly service. We went a few times since it was nearby to our hotel. The octopus tacos were so good.
• Los Guacamayas – Order the stone bowl – trust me. Live mariachi (singular) and a fun atmosphere. Located right in the center of town.
• Mariscos Mazatlan is the typical restaurant you’d expect to see in Cabo. Their menu features any kind of seafood your heart desires.
• Maria Jimenez – home-turned-restaurant, authentic Mexican food owned by a family from Guerrero, Mex. This cash-only dig serves everything up in original talavera plates. The brick walls and hay roof set the tone for a true Mexican meal. The arrachera is so yummy!
• Mariscos Tres Islas – right across from Maria Jimenez, another great spot for fresh seafood and loud music.

There is no shortage of drinking holes to choose from and almost every restaurant will have at least a small selection of beers. For fun, beach-front friendly spots, Mango Deck and The Office are next door to each other and world-famous. Fun atmosphere, good music and strong drinks!

Have you been to Cabo San Lucas? Let me know what your top picks are for yummy eats and  things to do! We also decided to road trips to nearby towns. Check out my blog post on where we went and what we did (this was our favorite part of the trip)!