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Cabo offers something for everyone. If you want to elevate your heart rate, you can zoom down a zipline, soar over town in a power glider, or whoosh around the bay on a wave runner. If you want to relax, you can lounge on a catamaran, get pampered at a spa, or simply float in your resort's pool. If you fall somewhere in the middle, stroll along the marina or take a boat tour. Here are some of my favorite things to do on vacation.
La Isla
La Isla has evolved from my first (heavenly) journey aboard to become a small fleet of Islas. These are essentially floating platforms for small and large groups with food, drinks, and a restroom on board. Your island departs the Cabo marina and anchors near Land's End, where you can lounge aboard, snorkel the Sand Falls, kayak in the bay, or swim to the last stretch of Baja land, Lover's Beach. This was truly my best day ever, and I look forward to a return visit.
Tip: check with your hotel concierge early in your trip for availability. They often reserve the entire boat for private groups.
Cabo Sky Tours
Soaring over the Cabo San Lucas Bay and city in a glorified tricycle with wings may sound terrifying to some, but I can say it is AMAZING! The views will take your breath away, and it's surprisingly peaceful. The pilot, Ernesto, offers a few different tours starting at around $200. For an extra $40, he'll attach a GoPro and snap epic pics throughout your flight. You'll need to wear closed-toe shoes and a jacket. This experience is worth every penny.
Tip: only one passenger and the pilot can fly at a time, so large groups will do a lot of waiting.
Cabo Sailing
If you like a mix of adventure with your serenity, try a sailboat snorkeling cruise. The luxury sailing tour offered by Cabo Adventures leaves from the marina in town, then they cruise along the coastline to Santa Maria or Chileno Bay for snorkeling while you work up an appetite. They'll feed you snacks and serve drinks, and then the real adventure begins. They put up the sails for a speedy ride back to town. The boat can shift to some pretty wild angles while sailing, so this is not for the weak or woozy. Hold on tight!
Tip: bring cash for crew tips and some really awesome photos.
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Whale Watching
During whale-watching season, December to April, there are dozens of whale-watching tours available. There are grand yachts, catamarans, trimarans, sailboats, smaller inflatables, and party boats. Most involve onboard snacks, an all-you-can-drink open bar, and restrooms, plus official photographers to capture pictures for a fee. I've never failed to spot a whale spout or tail on a cruise during the migration season. If you're lucky, whales will put on a show with fin slaps and leaps out of the water. You may even spot pods of dolphins and flying rays. My favorite boats have been Oceanus, Tropicat, Cabo Blue, and Pez Gato.
Tip: if you opt for a catamaran, get to your dock early so you can board first and choose a spot on the edge of the trampolines.
Beachfront Massages
No vacation is complete without spending a blissful, relaxing hour (or longer) listening to the waves while expert hands melt your aches and pains away. Eden’s Spa has been my favorite for several years, but their tent is now one of several located on the beach between Pueblo Bonito Rosé and Villa Del Arco hotels. Given the competition, many spots were offering 75-minute massages for just $20 USD during my latest visit. I tried Massage & Sea (connected to Tabasco Beach) during our January 2018 trip and loved it, too.
Tip: head here early in the day to beat the crowds and truly relax.
Parasailing
You can't walk more than two minutes along the marina or Medano Beach without someone offering you a parasailing tour. Parasailing is serene and beautiful, not to mention inexpensive compared to many other water activities. Last time I parasailed in Cabo—admittedly several years ago—I rode on the Pink Panther boat for around $30.
Tip: either hand off most of your belongings to someone who's staying ashore or seal everything in a water-tight bag. I've watched a a lot of wipeouts as people struggle to hurl themselves and their possessions over the sides of boats while waves slap Medano Beach.
Cabo has much more to offer beyond these featured activities, including world-class golf, legendary sportfishing, ziplines, ATVs, horseback riding, swimming with dolphins (done it, liked it), a yellow submarine boat tour (done it, liked it), stand-up paddleboarding, SCUBA diving, SNUBA (done it, panicked, not a fan), wave runners, glass-bottom boat tours (done it, liked it), FlyBoard, kayaking, tequila tasting, shopping, glass factory tours, and more. The farm-to-table venues Flora Farms and Acre Baja have lots to offer. Talk to your resort concierge and other travelers for recommendations. Of course, TripAdvisor is a great resource to consult before you travel.