The best things to do in Cabo San Lucas are a boat or kayak trip to El Arco at Land's End, snorkeling in the calm bays along the Tourist Corridor, a sportfishing charter or sunset sail from the marina, and a night out on the marina strip. From mid-December into April you can add whale watching, and with an extra day you can reach San José del Cabo, Todos Santos or the reef at Cabo Pulmo.
This guide sorts Cabo San Lucas activities by type, with what each one is, where it happens and when it works best, plus a short plan if you only have one day. For the full list of categories, see the Los Cabos tourism board's things to do guide, and if you're still deciding whether to book, read Is Cabo San Lucas Safe? first.
On the Water: El Arco and Cabo San Lucas Boat Tours
Boat trips to the arch leave from the marina or Medano Beach, and many other Cabo San Lucas tours on the water start from the same docks.
El Arco and Land's End. The granite arch stands where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez, and you can only reach it by water. Options run from water taxis and glass-bottom boats to private yachts and guided kayak trips. Go early, when the water is usually calmest, and watch for sea lions on the rocks. Browse operators like Papillon Yachts Rental, a boat rental service on Paseo de la Marina whose listing mentions sunset cruises and Arch photos, or KAYAK LOS CABOS clearyak, a kayak tour agency at Playa la Empacadora by the marina.
Lovers Beach and Divorce Beach. Boats can drop you at Lovers Beach (Playa del Amor) beside the arch. Swim and snorkel on its Sea of Cortez side. Divorce Beach, on the Pacific side, is for looking, not swimming, because the surf and currents there are rough. Agree on the water taxi price before you board.
Snorkeling. The calmest snorkeling is in the protected bays along the Tourist Corridor, the 20-mile highway to San José del Cabo. Playa Santa María (around km 12) is a sheltered cove inside a marine sanctuary, with clear water and plenty of reef fish. Get there by about 8:30 a.m., since tour boats tend to arrive between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Chileno Bay (km 14.5) has a gentle sandy entry, restrooms, showers and free palapas for early arrivals, and no motorized water sports.
Sunset sails. Sailboats and catamarans leave the marina before sunset and cruise past the arch. Cabo Sailing is a boat tour agency on Paseo de la Marina, and Blue Sky Cabo Fishing and Tours lists sunset cruises and Arch tours alongside its fishing charters.
Sportfishing and Whale Watching: Cabo San Lucas Excursions by Season
Sportfishing. Fishing runs all year, and catch and release is the general rule. Black and blue marlin peak July through October, dorado July through November, yellowfin tuna September through January, and striped marlin roughly November through March. Half-day and full-day charters leave from the marina. Each October, Bisbee's Black & Blue tournament weighs in at the marina, and spectators can watch from the dock. Browse charters such as Armada Sport Fishing & Private Fishing Charters Cabo, listed on J Dock.
Whale watching. The season opens December 15 and runs into April, with January through March the peak. Humpbacks and gray whales are the most common sightings, and good water starts minutes from the marina. Boats must keep about 200 to 250 feet from whales depending on boat size, so a good captain won't chase or crowd them. La Isla Tour Cabo | Catamaran Rental on G Dock lists whale watching and snorkeling among its private excursions, and Sea Sports In Cabo, a boat tour agency on the marina's D Dock, notes whale sightings on its listing.
On Land: The Marina, Downtown and Medano Beach
The marina. Paseo de la Marina wraps around a harbor that mixes local panga fishing boats with large visiting yachts. It's the launch point for most boat trips by day and the main bar strip by night.
Downtown. Plaza Amelia Wilkes, the main square, is home to the Museo de Historia Natural (a natural history museum), with shops and places to eat all around it.
Medano Beach. The town beach is swimmable but busy, with jet skis, water taxis and parasail boats sharing the bay. Swim inside the buoyed areas and check the flags: green means safe, red or black means stay out. In high season, plan on paying for a beach club (or staying at a resort on the sand) if you want a lounger and umbrella. Licensed vendors wear white uniforms and ID badges, and a polite no, gracias handles the rest.
Off-Road, Ziplines, Camels and Hiking
ATVs and off-road. Guided ATV and dune buggy tours run through desert arroyos and sand pits, and tours on the Pacific side around Migriño can take you from desert trails down to the ocean. Drivers must be 16 with parental consent, or 18 with a valid driver's license, and ride-along passengers on a double ATV must be at least 9.
Ziplines. Wild Canyon adventure park runs eight zip lines across its canyon, with short hikes and an off-road ride between them, and tours include round-trip transportation. For a bigger jolt, Los Cabos also has a bungee jump from a glass-bottom gondola about 300 feet up.
Camel rides. Camel tours amble through the desert and along the beach, and some stop for a tequila tasting. The pace is mellow and no experience is needed, which makes them an easy pick with kids.
Hiking. Mt. Solmar is the classic local climb: a steep, guided-only hike on private land near the marina that rises 440 feet above Land's End and takes 1.5 to 2 hours, with some light scrambling. Its listing shows hikes starting at 8 a.m., Sunday through Friday. For something gentler, the lighthouse trail from Quivira Golf Club climbs at a steady grade to the lighthouse above town and is a popular sunset walk.
Food and Nightlife: What to Do in Cabo San Lucas at Night
Dinner. Seafood is the obvious move. In town, options range from Mexican cooking with ocean views at Edith's to Japanese-Mexican sushi at Nicksan and cliffside dining at Sunset Monalisa. For farm-to-table, Flora Farms near San José del Cabo serves meals in its organic gardens and books up well ahead. Browse more on loscabos.ai restaurants.
Bars and clubs. The marina strip and downtown carry the night. El Squid Roe turns from restaurant into multilevel club after dark, and Cabo Wabo Cantina, founded by Sammy Hagar, is known for live music. For a slower pace, Monkey Business Bar is a cocktail bar on Paseo de la Marina whose listing notes live music some evenings, and Two for the Road Cabo JAZZ Spot is a jazz club on the same boulevard. Uber works around town, so you don't need to drive.
Thursday Art Walk. From November through June, galleries in San José del Cabo's Gallery District open for a free Art Walk every Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m.
Day Trips: Things to Do in Los Cabos Beyond Town
San José del Cabo. The quieter of the two towns sits at the far end of the Tourist Corridor, about 20 miles away. Wander the whitewashed historic center, see the 18th-century mission church, and time it for the Art Walk in season.
Todos Santos. This Pueblo Mágico is about 45 to 60 minutes north on Highway 19. Walk the plaza and the 1723 mission church, browse galleries on Calle Benito Juárez, have a farm-to-table lunch, and snap the Hotel California (the Eagles have said it wasn't the song's inspiration). On the way, stop at Cerritos Beach for a surf lesson or a swim in its protected bay.
Cabo Pulmo. This national marine park and UNESCO World Heritage Site holds what the tourism board calls "the only hard coral reef in the Gulf of California," an estimated 20,000 years old and home to more than 800 marine species. Plan on two hours or more each way by road, so treat it as a full day. Fishing is banned in the park and divers must go with a guide.
Best Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas If You Only Have One Day
Early morning: Water taxi, glass-bottom boat or kayak out to El Arco while the water is calm, with a swim at Lovers Beach. Hikers can swap in the 8 a.m. Mt. Solmar climb.
Midday: Lunch and a swim at Medano Beach, or an Uber or Ruta del Desierto bus to Chileno Bay to snorkel.
Late afternoon: Stroll Plaza Amelia Wilkes and the downtown shops, then walk the marina.
Sunset: A sunset sail past the arch.
Evening: Dinner downtown, then live music, cocktails or a club along the marina.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should you do in Cabo San Lucas for a day?
Start early with a boat or kayak trip to El Arco and a swim at Lovers Beach, spend midday at Medano Beach or snorkeling at Chileno Bay, walk downtown and the marina in the afternoon, then take a sunset sail and finish with dinner and drinks near the marina.
What is Cabo San Lucas known for?
El Arco, the rock arch at Land's End where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez, is its signature sight. Cabo is also known for sportfishing (Bisbee's Black & Blue marlin tournament is held here every October), its busy marina and its nightlife.
What are the best excursions in Cabo San Lucas?
The most popular are a boat trip to El Arco and Lovers Beach, snorkeling at Santa María or Chileno Bay, a sportfishing charter, a sunset sail, and whale watching in winter. For a full day out, Cabo Pulmo and Todos Santos are the standout day trips.
What is there to do in Cabo San Lucas at night?
Walk the marina, then pick your pace: live music, a jazz club, cocktail bars or big clubs like El Squid Roe. On Thursdays from November through June, the San José del Cabo Art Walk is a quieter option.
What is there to do in Cabo San Lucas with kids?
Chileno Bay's gentle sandy entry suits young swimmers and first-time snorkelers, and camel rides are an easy win. From June to December, some beachfront resorts run sea turtle hatchling releases with marine biologists, with hatching peaking August through October. Kids 9 and up can ride along on a double ATV, and some all-inclusive resorts run kids camps.
When is whale watching season in Cabo San Lucas?
The season opens December 15 and runs into April, with January through March the best months. Humpback and gray whales are the most common.
Ready to plan? Browse boat tours, fishing charters and kayak outfitters on loscabos.ai activities, then check attractions and nightlife to round out your trip.
