How To Plan A Trip To Cabo San Lucas

The beating heart of the Baja Californian peninsula, Cabo San Lucas is an incredible city which has something for everyone here. This includes postcard-perfect Pacific beaches, matched with iconic dark sed sunsets every evening. We’ll also find tons of entertainment options, great nightlife, natural rock formations as well as adventure parks that you’ll want to … Read more

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The beating heart of the Baja Californian peninsula, Cabo San Lucas is an incredible city which has something for everyone here.

This includes postcard-perfect Pacific beaches, matched with iconic dark sed sunsets every evening.

We’ll also find tons of entertainment options, great nightlife, natural rock formations as well as adventure parks that you’ll want to fit into your plans and itinerary when exploring the city and nearby region.

In this article we’ll take a look at the most important things you need to know when planning your own trip to Cabo San Lucas, such as how to get here, the best time to visit, what to see and do as well as whether Cabo is safe.

We’ll also explore our own personal tips to help you have the best time possible when here.

Why Visit Cabo San Lucas?

Cabo San Lucas is by far one of the most popular places to visit in Mexico – and for good reason too. Like Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, here we’ll find a diverse range of activities and awesome things to see, as well as many off the beaten path experiences and lesser-known gems to visit nearby too.

Given Cabo is located in the far north of Mexico, the weather here is hot year-round – which makes it ideal to explore its golden-sand beaches during any month of the year. This includes the lively Médano Beach where all of the hotels and restaurants are located, as well as to Chileno Beach and Playa del Divorcio to enjoy some crystal-clear snorkelling conditions.

Cabo San Lucas also has many thrilling activities to take part in for a really memorable vacation here. This includes going deep-sea fishing with local charters to reel in a big catch (check out BoatsBaja.com), spotting Blue Whales and Humpback Whales, eating tasty Mexican cuisine and even flying on a zip line through the desert canyons.

Later in this guide we’ll take a look at the very best things you can see and do when in Cabo San Lucas.

Planning Your Trip To Cabo San Lucas

How To Get To Cabo San Lucas

Given its close proximity to the USA, most visitors usually connect with a flight from here (unless flying directly of course). The nearest airport to Cabo San Lucas is Los Cabos which is roughly 30 minutes away and is the best way of getting into the city. Here we can find regular flights here from cities like Miami, Dallas, Chicago and Seattle for between $70-130 for a one-way ticket.

We recommend booking your flights on Expedia.com or through Google Flights.

Although Cabo San Lucas is disconnected from the major mainland of Mexico, it’s still possible to arrive here without flying. Those in nearby La Paz can take a simple 2 hour bus here, whilst those further north in Tijuana can enjoy a memorable coastal road trip south to reach Cabo.

Another option is taking the ferry from the region of Sinaloa on the mainland to La Paz, followed by the two hour bus. They depart on a weekly schedule from Mazatlán and Topolobampo, and take roughly 9 hours to arrive to La Paz.

How Many Days Do You Need In Cabo San Lucas?

Once you know how to get to Cabo San Lucas, another major topic is working out how much time you’ll need here to see all of the main highlights and have the best experience possible.

Usually I suggest between 4-6 days in Cabo San Lucas. This amount of time is perfect for enjoying the various golden-sand beaches and sea activities, and also for taking a day trip to explore other parts of Baja California Sur (such as La Paz or Todos Santos).

If you’re heading here for a more specific reason like learning how to surf, or if you want to rent a yacht or go fishing, then you’ll probably want to extend your trip to over a week or so so you can take full advantage.

The Best Time To Visit Cabo San Lucas

Before you start booking your flights, it’s always good to check different weather seasons can bring different advantages and disadvantages.

The dry season is by far the most popular time to visit, which runs from November until April.

At this time of year, expect dry and warm sunny days most of the time, which is perfect for hitting up a beach or anything outdoors. The only drawback is that it can get very busy with crowds around this time, especially obviously closer to the Christmas holidays.

The wet season begins in May goes through to October, and is also a great alternative time to visit Cabo San Lucas. Even though there’s more rain, and the days are balmy, there are usually enough sunny days sprinkled in for a good trip.

Just know that stormy weather (and potential hurricanes) are most likely to happen between the months of September and October.

Lastly, another important consideration is the various fauna that can be spotted around this Pacific city. Whales can be spotted off the coast during their annual migration north between January and March, whilst you can also swim with Whales Sharks from November until April.

If you’re looking to go fishing in Cabo, then the best time is between the months of July and October during the rainy season.

Cabo San Lucas Packing List

As Cabo is warm year-round, this makes it quite easy to pack for this coastal city. It’s similar if you are planning a longer trip around Mexico too, given most parts are also usually hot!

Below we’ll list a great starting packing list for your trip to Cabo San Lucas, as well as all of the essentials that you’ll want to bring:

• T-shirts and vests.
• Shorts.
• Swimming trunks and costumes.
• Short-sleeve shirts.
• Sandals.
• Shoes.
• Thin layers for daytime hiking.
• A poncho or rain jacket (if heading during the wet season).
• A hand towel.
• A baseball cap or nice hat (to prevent you from getting burnt during the day).
• Sunglasses.
• High SPF sunscreen (we suggest using a minimum of SPF 30).
• A reusable water bottle.
• A day pack for when taking day trips around the city and nearby region.
• A quality camera or mobile phone.
• Extra batteries fo