How to Make the Best of Your Los Cabos Vacation

SUN-SOAKED PARADISE

Planning a vacation or a weekend getaway? The sun-soaked paradise of Los Cabos, nestled at the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, offers a perfect blend of stunning beaches, amazing restaurants, and breathtaking natural beauty. Whether you’re looking for thrilling adventures or a relaxing drink on the beach, Los Cabos has something for everyone. Here’s how to make the best of your Los Cabos vacation.

Cabo San Lucas

Marlins and more

“I love your T-shirt!” a loud female voice with a strong Mexican accent yelled, followed by “Where did you buy it?” This wasn’t the first time she had complimented my T-shirt while passing her shop. The first time I was a little flattered. The T-shirt was from a shop in Europe I answered politely and realized that she didn’t care about my T-shirt but just wanted my attention. A lot of people want your attention, all the time, when you walk around the Cabo San Lucas Marina in Mexico. Do you want to catch a Marlin maybe? Go whale watching? Buy a new bikini? Have your hair braided or your picture taken with a big lizard on your shoulder?

Cabo San Lucas Marina

Combined work/pleasure

I heard a lot of great things about Los Cabos before actually going. It’s one of the most popular places to go for a weekend getaway when you live in California. However, for some reason, we never went there before. At the end of our one-month stay in Georgia, we had the opportunity to go on a three-day trip with Allan’s company. We were going to stay at the Esperanza Resort just outside Cabo San Lucas, so we extended our stay for four more days as a combined work/pleasure trip.

However, for those four days, we wanted to stay close to the downtown/marina area and didn’t want to spend a ton of money since we were looking forward to a luxurious stay at the Esperanza. We booked a room at Hotel Tesoro Los Cabos with the most amazing view of the marina. The rooms were a little rustic but nice and clean and included a pretty delicious breakfast buffet for less than $100 a day.

The Marina

Once a small fishing village, Cabo San Lucas has developed into a bustling resort destination. It’s known for its stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and luxurious resorts. A large Marina is located in the heart of town, filled with restaurants ranging from casual eateries to gourmet restaurants and high-end boutiques mixed with local markets. It’s fun to walk along the Marina where luxurious yachts, charter vessels, and more modest fishing boats are moored. The sight of dozens of pelicans following the fishing boats when they return from the sea is extraordinary and often you’ll meet a sea lion sunbathing on the dock.

The Marina in Cabo San Lucas at sunset

Grilled octopus at the Marina

Cabo San Lucas attracts a variety of people, some louder and crazier than others. There is always something going on, like a Batchelor party or girls’ weekend. Being asked every other minute if you want to go fishing or get your hair braided can be annoying, I’m not gonna lie. I also got a tiny bit upset once when someone put a large lizard on my shoulder before asking if I wanted my picture taken. However, all it takes is a big smile, firmly declining the many offers, and it’s not so bad at all. In fact, when we came back the following year I almost felt at home when I heard a familiar voice yell “I love your T-shirt!”

The Marina is a popular starting point for various water-based activities, including deep-sea fishing, sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and whale watching.

Simple boats at the Marina

The Downtown

One of the best things about Cabo is that it’s very walkable. For a more intimate and authentic experience than what you’ll find in the Marina, there are smaller and more local Mexican restaurants in the backstreets. Here, taquerias offer traditional dishes like tacos and enchiladas, and street vendors sell elote (grilled corn), churros, and tamales.

Handmade souvenirs

The small streets are dotted with colorful Mexican-style buildings and charming courtyards. I rarely buy anything but it’s fun to look at the handmade crafts, pottery, textiles, jewelry, and souvenirs in all the little shops. I love to hear the live music and bustling atmosphere of the local cantinas. Tequila and mezcal are very popular local drinks and who doesn’t like a frozen Marguerita with lime and salt?!

The Beach

We really enjoyed walking East of the marina to Playa El Medano, one of the most famous beaches in Cabo. Medano Beach is a two-mile stretch of fine golden sand, perfect for sunbathing and beach activities. The views of the Sea of Cortes, and surrounding rock formations are stunning but perhaps the most popular part of Medano Beach is its many beachfront restaurants, bars, and cantinas.

The beach clubs provide lounges, cabanas, and umbrella rentals and there is a festive atmosphere with DJs, live music, and themed parties. Many of Capos’s top resorts and hotels are located along Medano Beach where you’ll have direct access to the beach. The hotels here are beautiful, the direct beach access is perfect, and you’ll be just a few steps away from good food and drinks. However, you must be okay with a lively atmosphere day and night.

Playa El Medano

Funky Geisha

Have you ever chosen a restaurant because you like the lamps? Well, I have. Maybe it says something about how much (or little) I know about quality dining or maybe it says something about how much I weigh the ambiance. When we passed Funky Geisha, an Asian fusion restaurant, located on Medano Beach I didn’t really care what kind of food they had. I absolutely loved the vibe and the funky bohemian style.

Since we didn’t make a reservation in time we were seated at a very low table on some pillows. I wasn’t too sure about this arrangement at first. I started worrying about getting back up from the floor even before I sat down but everything worked out fine. We ordered some very creative cocktails. Mine was served in some sort of Viking Horn mug with slushed ice. The Asian-inspired food was amazing and we were treated to a very interesting Taiko Drum show that added to an overall memorable dining experience.

Edith’s

Since we are already picking restaurants based on lamps, here is another one, Edith’s. This Mexican restaurant turned out to be a popular place where traditional Mexican decor was combined with a touch of elegance and sophistication. Intricate rustic woodwork, adobe-style walls, terracotta accents, and hand-painted tiles. In the center an outdoor garden-like terrace with lush greenery and vibrant murals. And then of course the lamps! And the food! Everything showcased the craftsmanship and cultural heritage of Mexico in a very tasteful way.

Sunset snack at Medano Beach and the bar at Edith’s

Deep sea fishing

The area around Los Cabos is renowned for its marine life, making it a prime spot for snorkeling, diving, and fishing. It’s known as the “Marlin Capital of the world”. However, please check out the season for deep-sea fishing before you start dreaming about catching that award-winning Marlin. Allan went on a fishing trip with some of his colleagues. The first thing they were told after paying $300 each was, that April isn’t a good season for fishing.

Whale watching

Our second time in Cabo we went whale watching which is popular during the migration season. The region’s water, particularly where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean provides an ideal habitat for whales. The season typically runs from mid-December to mid-April where Humpback Whales are the most sighted whales.

To get a closer and more personal experience we booked a tour on a Zodiac; – a smaller inflatable boat. If you’re looking for more comfort and amenities, such as a toilet and refreshments, larger boats such as catamarans and yachts also offer whale-watching tours.

Whale watching

Zodiac Ride

At the beginning of our tour, the Zodiac slowly passed two of the most popular beaches in Cabo. Paya del Amor, Lovers Beach, where the waters are calm and ideal for swimming and snorkeling. Playa del Divorcio, Divorce Beach, known for its rougher waves and stronger currents

Whale watching on a Zodiac

Before we went full speed, we passed El Arco at Land’s End, one of the most iconic sites in Cabo. El Arco, The Arch is a stunning natural rock formation that has been naturally carved by wind and sea erosion over millions of years. Several other striking cliff formations surrounded by azure blue water can be seen at Land’s End.

El Arco at Lands End

Breaching Whales

Back to the whales: Soon after we observed a huge Humpback Whale in the distance and waited in anticipation for it to breach. Breaching is when the whales jump out of the water and slap their tails and fins on the surface. We didn’t get disappointed, and after watching the whale for a while the Zodiac took off along the coast. High-speed and splashes of saltwater; – that’s what you get on a Zodiac. So much fun!

Breaching Humpback whale

We didn’t really have any expectations since it was at the end of whale watching season, so we were excited to see a mother whale and her calf. The mother was teaching the calf how to breach by splashing her fin. We witnessed how both the mother and her calf repeatedly jumped out of the water and how the calf splashed its tail on the surface over and over again. Watching these magnificent creatures was truly a unique and awe-inspiring experience.

Mother whale and her calf

Esperanza Resort

A Luxurious Experience

After four days in downtown Cabo San Lucas, we moved to the Esperanza Resort. Staying at the Esperanza was the ultimate luxury experience. From when we entered the resort and took in the breathtaking views of the ocean we knew this was something special. Esperanza is nestled in the cliffs of Punta Ballena and provides a profound sense of seclusion and tranquility. The resort has direct access to a private beach area and features a variety of accommodations including villas, suites, and casitas.

Beautiful Esperanza

Our “room”, a spacious and tastefully decorated casita with high ceilings and large windows opening up to stunning ocean views. The bathroom had a spalike appearance all finished with luxurious marble and stone. Our favorite part of the casita was an expansive terrace with a private infinity-edge hot tub overlooking the ocean. I’m sure I could get used to sipping drinks in a hot tub, especially at sunset.

Dining at Esperanza

Esperanza has several infinity-edge pools, all with panoramic ocean views. The restaurants offer fantastic food in beautiful and serene settings. My favorite was Cocina del Mar, the resort’s signature restaurant. It has a fantastic cliffside setting and lots of fresh and delicious seafood. La Palapa is a more casual dining experience with traditional Mexican dishes and international cuisine. La Terraza Americana offers American-style cuisine with a Mexican twist. Las Estrellas is a family-friendly dining option. Allan’s company hosted a magical private dining event on the beach with tiki torches and an expansive Mexican buffet.

Cocina del Mar at sunset

The spa at Esperanza

The problem with staying at a resort: All you can do is relax, have a drink, eat amazing food, go to the pool and beach, get a spa treatment, and repeat. Sounds awful, right? The Spa at Esperanza features open-air treatment rooms, a fitness center, and a yoga studio. It’s by far the most beautiful surroundings for a spa I have ever seen. I had a two-hour massage, the most expensive massage I ever had, and you can argue if it was worth the. money. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if I didn’t have to pee halfway through the treatment…..

Los Cabos has something for everyone and at a budget that fits you. Hopefully, you got some inspiration on how to make the best of your Los Cabos vacation.

Infinity pool overlooking the ocean

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