El Arco rock formation, beach, and sea in Cabo San Lucas

© Salvador Navarro Maldonado/Unsplash

Cabo San Lucas: Home of Mexico's best beaches

Cabo is a treasure chest of show-stopping shoreline

November 2020

By Tristan Parker

Mexico’s vast Baja California peninsula is a renowned haven for beach lovers but it’s Cabo San Lucas, on the southern tip of Baja, that really steals the show. Known simply as Cabo to locals and regulars, the region is a sand seeker’s paradise, thanks to a choice of pristine beaches and turquoise sea. Whether you’re after serene scenes while topping up the tan, a day of swimming, high-adrenaline watersports, or the chance to admire the area’s rich array of marine wildlife, there’s a sunny spot for everyone. But where to start? Here’s our pick of the best beaches in Cabo San Lucas.

Spotting fish snorkelling in Cabo San Lucas

Be dazzled by the colourful fish when snorkelling in Cabo © Visit Los Cabos

Santa Maria

Best for: First-class snorkelling
The cove at Santa Maria Bay has long been a blissful place to snorkel due to its crystal-clear waters, allowing for easy viewing of over 800 species of fish. In particular, look out for the handsome black-and-yellow stripes of Moorish idols and the playful patterns of Cortez angelfish. A snorkelling trip is a great way to learn the basics and ensure you’re exploring the best spots, so consider booking on to a Princess excursion that takes you directly to Santa Maria with a guide to offer expert advice.

Solmar Beach

Best for: Unforgettable sunsets
The wide and open layout of Solmar makes watching the sunset here an enchanting experience. There’s plenty of space, meaning you won’t ever have to jostle for a good position, and witnessing the whole sky melt into a soft orange above you is truly spectacular.

Lovers Beach Cabo San Lucas

The wow factor: Lover's Beach © Shutterstock

Lover’s Beach

Best for: Stunning scenery
Huge, wild rock formations scattered on the sands make this an especially gorgeous beach to visit. And the fact that it can only be accessed by water (don’t worry, water taxis are available) gives it a magical, secluded feel. Perhaps the most scenic sight of all here is El Arco, a famous rocky arch tucked around a coastal corner of the beach. See both the beach and El Arco on a guided Princess day trip, where you’ll learn about more of the area’s natural wonders.

Médano Beach

Best for: A world of watersports
The buzzy and centrally located Playa el Médano is a popular destination for many reasons, but perhaps its biggest asset is its status as a watersports hub. Take your pick from jet-skiing, parasailing, sea kayaking, stand-up paddle-boarding, parasailing, surfing, and even flyboarding, which involves strapping a board to your feet that uses water to propel you high above the sea.

Chileno Beach

Take a dip in the calm waters of Chileno Beach © Visit Los Cabos

Chileno Beach

Best for: Taking a dip
Loved by locals as well as visitors, Chileno offers some of the best swimming in the area thanks to calm waters and lots of amenities, including showers, bathrooms and a lifeguard for added safety. Chileno has also been awarded Blue-Flag status, providing more assurance that it’s clean and well-managed.

Pedregal Beach

Best for: Peaceful sunbathing
This wonderful stretch is framed by dramatic hillside, but despite its beauty it’s also brilliantly uncrowded, making it the perfect retreat for reading, sunbathing and snoozing. But it’s worth noting that the sea here isn’t suitable for swimming due to strong currents.

Whale breaching in Cabo San Lucas

The coast of Cabo San Lucas provides brilliant whale-watching opportunities © Visit Los Cabos

Land’s End

Best for: Incredible wildlife
Land’s End is the name given to the peninsula surrounding and encompassing Lover’s Beach, nearby Divorce Beach, plus El Arco and various inlets. The area and its waters are prime territory for Cabo’s wildlife, including seals, pelicans, sea lions and – the stars of the show – whales. Catch a close-up view of the humpback whales that make their way to this region during winter on a Princess Zodiac boat tour.

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About the Author

Tristan Parker

Tristan Parker

Tristan is a journalist writing about travel, lifestyle and music. Writing has taken him all over the world, though he seems to spend a lot of time in Spain and Scandinavia, which is fine by him. His belief that you can learn a lot about a place by sitting in the local bar for a few hours has worked out well so far.