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What you need to know before you go
The two Cabos
The Los Cabos area is located at the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. It is so known because there are two Cabos: San Jose del Cabo ("San Jose") and Cabo San Lucas ("Cabo"). San Jose is the quieter town, with an artistic, authentic Mexican culture. Cabo is about 30 minutes away, and offers more resorts, activities, restaurants, and celebrity sightings. There are also all-inclusive resorts along the corridor between the two towns.
Note: I fell in love with Cabo San Lucas on trip #1. This guide reflects my experience, so it is focused on Cabo and not San Jose or the Corridor.
Choose your beach
There are two primary resort beaches within the town of Cabo, Medano and Solmar. Medano Beach is the main one for tourists and locals alike since it is publicly accessible and has numerous hotels and bars. It's also the only beach in town where swimming is permitted, though only certain designated sections are safe from riptides. On Medano, you can find parasailing outfits, wave-runner rentals, and other watersports. The amenities and activities are abundant, but they come with crowds, noise, and an endless parade of vendors peddling their wares. I absolutely recommend a day or two at Medano Beach, but for serenity I prefer to lounge poolside or stroll along Solmar Beach.
Photo: view toward Land's End on Medano Beach
Solmar Beach sits on the Pacific side of town, where constantly crashing waves set a serene soundtrack for your vacation. There are just six properties on this private stretch of beach, so crowds and vendors are nonexistent. The beach nearly always features a red flag, which means swimming is not advised because of riptides and large waves. However, there's plenty of seaspray and an omnipresent light breeze to help you cool off near the shoreline. The great thing about staying at one of the hotels on Solmar Beach is that you can enjoy a peaceful day there, then easily walk to the restaurants and bars in town. It's also a prime location for whale-watching.
Development along a third beach in Cabo San Lucas, Sunset Beach, has ramped up in recent years. Like Solmar, it offers incredible views of the Pacific Ocean and migrating whales without the crowds of Medano Beach. It's also not swimmable. Unlike Solmar, Sunset Beach properties are too far away from the city to walk to dinner or shuffle home from the bar on foot.
There's another stretch of sand in town, though you won't find any hotels or amenities there: Lover's Beach. It's wedged between the rocks of Solmar Beach and the formation that ends in the landmark Cabo arch (called El Arco). Reachable only by boat (or by rock-climbing), Lover's Beach sits across the bay from Medano Beach. It touches Cabo Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Once you cross to the Pacific side, its name changes to Divorce Beach because of its turbulent waters. The Lover's Beach side is swimmable, but you'll need to stay on alert for glass-bottom boats that drive straight up on the sand to drop off other visitors.
If you're looking to explore beyond Cabo, travel along the coast toward San Jose to find Santa Maria and Chileno Beaches, as well as other lesser-known beaches where you can swim or snorkel.
When to visit
Cabo boasts 350 days of sunshine a year with a dry climate. Weather is hottest and most prone to develop tropical storms from July through September. The whale migration season is an ideal time to visit: December to March. Late October is a popular time for fishermen who flock to the Bisbee tournament.
Over the years, I've visited at a variety of times from December to June. April had the most consistently sunny and hot weather. June was more humid with the biggest waves on both beaches. My favorite time to visit is February. It's prime whale-watching season, the weather is dry and in the mid- to upper-70's each day, and the spring breakers haven't arrived yet. Medano Beach gets a little wild over spring break, so I'd encourage families to book at resorts on Sunset or Solmar Beaches if you need to travel over the spring break period (March to mid-April).
Getting around
Cabo drivers don't even take a road test to get licensed, so you're sharing the road with some questionable drivers. I recommend skipping the car rental and limiting your road time. Book an airport shuttle in advance to get to your hotel (e.g., Transcabo, Cabo Transfers, Cape Travel) or book a roundtrip package through your resort.
Getting around town, you'll find plenty of taxis. If you're going to or from the Solmar and core Medano Beach hotels throughout town, your ride should run about $10 USD. To get to town from Sunset Beach or further Medano sites like the Riu resorts, you're looking at $14+ USD. Hotels on both Solmar and (most of) Medano Beach are located within walking distance of restaurants, the marina, nightlife, shopping, and even the world's most popular coffee franchise.
Photo: sunset over the Pacific on Playa Solmar
At the airport
When you arrive at the Los Cabos airport (code SJD), you'll go through customs, retrieve your bags from the carousel, then go through a secure baggage scan area. I recommend using the restroom in the baggage claim since the ride to Cabo is about 45 minutes and you may not leave right away when you find your transportation company. Once you exit the baggage scan area, go directly to the exit ("salida") and avoid talking to locals inside. The indoor folks are timeshare salespeople who will waste your time by masquerading as affiliates of whatever company you happen to be looking for. Ignore them. Keep moving until you're outside in the fresh air. You'll find your transportation company outside. And there's a bar located outside, too, so waiting for your shuttle group won't slow down vacation mode. Arranging private transportation rather than a shuttle for your group will get you into vacation mode faster, so do some price-shopping to find the right plan for your budget(s). I've waited 30+ minutes for other travelers to arrive and get onto a shuttle, particularly when traveling solo or with one other person.
Safety
Common sense is key. I feel completely comfortable traveling solo to Cabo because I trust my instincts and I know what to expect there. I highly recommend it for other overworked boss babes who need a break.
Be as cautious in Cabo as you would be in any U.S. city. Drugs are illegal, so don't buy them. Lock valuables in your hotel safe, and don't leave electronics unattended at the beach or pool. Avoid wandering through town alone, particularly at night. Don't overindulge... or have a good buddy system in place if you do. Keep an eye on children selling gum or collectibles on the streets, as they can be a diversion for pickpockets. Don't pack your most expensive gadgets, clothing, and accessories.
The U.S. consulate has posted alerts that state there are some sketchy arrangements in town for emergency care, like payouts for hotels or cab drivers who take people to certain hospitals. Read more here.
Currency
Although the local currency is the Mexican peso (MXN), the U.S. dollar (USD) is widely accepted in the tourist areas. Restaurant menus may use either currency, and to make matters more confusing, both use the $ symbol. Look for the fine print (e.g., "prices in pesos" or "MXN") or ask your waiter to confirm your burger is, in fact, just 150 pesos (around $7 USD). Plan to bring American cash or pesos with you. American Express and travelers' checks aren't widely accepted. Your hotel will likely offer you the most favorable exchange rate if you want to carry pesos (vs. ATMs or restaurants). You'll need to present your passport to exchange cash at your resort's front desk.
COVID-19
Visit the CDC website for the latest information about travel restrictions as well as testing, mask, and other requirements. In general, Cabo tends to be more relaxed than most of the U.S.