The Best Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 

El Arco de Cabo San Lucas is a rock formation on Baja California in Mexico
El Arco de Cabo San Lucas is a rock formation on Baja California in Mexico | © Frederick Millett / Alamy Stock Photo
Sara Darling

Cabo San Lucas, at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico, is known for its marine life and watersports, but you can also tour a brewery and shop till you drop in this resort city. If you’re planning your next trip, here’s our list of things to do.

With a reputation as a party town, Cabo San Lucas has sand, sun and nightlife, with most of the action taking place around Playa El Médano, which is the main beach here. Also known for its incredible sea-dwelling creatures, there is plenty to see, should you need a break from sunbeds. Whether you want to hang-glide over the dunes or deep dive with sharks, you will be spoilt for choice for activities and experiences – here’s our pick of the best.

1. Cabo Blue Boat

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Tourists view The Arch off Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico
© Frank Nowikowski / Alamy Stock Photo

With so much sea life in the Gulf of Mexico, it would be rude not to take a boat trip – and Cabo Blue Boat has been leading groups for decades, so the staff knows all the best spots to stop and explore the reefs and coral. Whether you fancy a day out cruising the crystal-clear seas for a special occasion, a snorkeling experience or a romantic sunset cruise, the crew will be happy to accommodate. With meals and drinks included, you will definitely make some memories.

2. Cabo Shark Dive

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Groupers feeding from the reefs of the Sea of Cortez, Pacific ocean. Cabo Pulmo National Park, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
© Jaime Leonardo Gonzalez Salazar / Alamy Stock Photo

Sharks are perceived as intimidating creatures, but it’s not impossible to get up close to see these intriguing beasts in their natural habitat. Cabo San Lucas has a variety of marine life including sharks, whales, manta rays, mobula rays and dolphins, and Cabo Shark Dive has been providing open-water dives for more than 16 years. With a professional, certified team consisting of marine biologists, underwater photographers, PADI divemasters and shark behavioral experts, you can enjoy a safe and monitored experience.

4. Cabo Whale Watching

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Humpback Whale breaching off the coast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
© Cavan Images / Alamy Stock Photo

Whale-watching on the Baja Peninsula is an experience like no other. Every December, thousands of whales make their annual migration from the cold waters of the Arctic to the warm, calm ocean around Cabo to give birth and raise their young, where they remain until March or early April. Join a boat trip with Cabo Whale Watching, and you will have the chance to see pods of whales and their young, as well as dolphins, manta rays, sea lions and whale sharks in their natural habitat.

5. Cabo Sky Tours

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Aerial view of Lands End and the Arch of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico, where the Gulf of California meets the Pacific Ocean
© Frederick Millett / Alamy Stock Photo

If you want to see the coastline of Cabo from the skies, Cabo Sky Tours offer a unique, adrenaline-busting hang-gliding experience. All tours are chaperoned by the expert, licensed pilot Ernesto Magaña, who has more than 7,800 hours of flight time and promises a safe, fun and exciting flight. Trips take in the rocky formations called the “end of the earth”, where the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean meet, “divorce beach”, “pirate’s cave”, “lover’s beach” and the famous “arch”, with its sea lions and seals. You can even get a bird’s-eye view of the dunes where Brad Pitt’s 2004 movie Troy was filmed.

6. Baja Brewery

Brewery

Starting as a small project in 2006, the Baja Brewery has developed into an international beer company, creating a unique selection of seven craft IPA beers. There is now a permanent bar and rooftop restaurant at the Cabo Villas Beach Resort & Spa in downtown Cabo San Lucas, which offers an eclectic menu of delicious pub and international fare, as well as live music and sports events, while the original restaurant is adjacent to the brewery in the Art District.

7. Snorkeling Cabo Baja Tours

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A scuba diver admires a section of reef in The Corridor, a popular dive area in Los Cabos in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico.
© Hudson Fleece / Alamy Stock Photo

Sea turtles are the animals that best represent Los Cabos, and you cannot visit the area without finding out more about these beautiful animals. They choose the warm seas of the Yucatán Peninsula to lay their eggs, and Cabo Baja Tours organizes snorkeling trips that stop at sites of specific interest, where guests have the chance to swim with sea turtles, sea lions, loggerheads and schools of bright, tropical fish. Don’t forget your underwater camera so you can document this unmissable experience.

8. Centro Comercial Puerto Paraíso

Architectural Landmark

If you need a shopping fix and to see some real stores in a mall, you will love the Centro Comercial Puerto Paraíso. At two stories, this is the largest complex on the peninsula and is on the marina, with plenty of parking. Expect all kinds of stores, ranging from swimwear outlets and shoe stores to souvenir stalls and luxury brands. There’s also an outside play area for kids and a few sit-down restaurants.

If you’re looking for somewhere different to stay while you’re here, why not book into one of the best luxury hotels in Cabo San Lucas? Or, if you’d rather stay like a local, opt instead for authentic Mexican accommodation. For more inspiration for your itinerary, don’t miss out on some of the most beautiful beaches nearby. Make your stay complete with knowledge of the best places to eat.

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