3 days in Cabo San Lucas

Day by day

1. Day 1: El Arco at Land's End and Lover's Beach (Playa del Amor)

   El Arco at Land's End, Lover's Beach (Playa del Amor) and Diving and snorkelling at Pelican Rock, then Marina boardwalk in the evening.

   1. Morning

      El Arco at Land's End

      The granite arch at the final point of the Baja peninsula is Cabo's defining image, standing in the sea where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific.

   2. Late morning

      Lover's Beach (Playa del Amor)

      Ask the water-taxi driver for a fixed pickup time before he leaves you, and bring water and shade: there are no facilities on the beach.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Baja-style fish tacos

      Taco stands and small taquerías in the downtown grid back from the marina, around Calle Morelos and Avenida Leona Vicario, are cheaper and better than the boardwalk.

   4. Afternoon

      Diving and snorkelling at Pelican Rock

      The rocky reefs at Pelican Rock and Neptune's Finger, minutes from the marina, are Cabo's most accessible dive and snorkel sites.

   5. Evening

      Marina boardwalk

      Come around mid-afternoon to watch the sportfishing boats return and fly their catch flags, then stay on for dinner as the lights come on.

2. Day 2: Glass-bottom boat to Land's End and Sportfishing charter

   Glass-bottom boat to Land's End, Sportfishing charter and Whale watching, then Sunset cruise around Land's End in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Glass-bottom boat to Land's End

      Agree the price and the return pickup before boarding; sellers on the marina boardwalk usually discount when several boats are waiting.

   2. Late morning

      Sportfishing charter

      Cabo's fleets fish the deep water just offshore for striped and blue marlin, dorado, yellowfin tuna and wahoo.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Smoked marlin tacos

      Seafood restaurants and taquerías in Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo; it is often on the breakfast menu too.

   4. Afternoon

      Whale watching

      Choose a small group with a licensed operator; regulations require boats to keep their distance, and a hydrophone on board lets you hear the whales singing.

   5. Evening

      Sunset cruise around Land's End

      Ask whether the boat sails past the arch onto the Pacific side; the best sunset view is from beyond Land's End, not from inside the bay.

3. Day 3: Médano Beach and Santa María Bay

   Médano Beach, Santa María Bay and Chileno Bay, then San José del Cabo Art District in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Médano Beach

      Cabo's main town beach is the stretch where locals and visitors swim close to downtown, with gentle water facing El Arco.

   2. Late morning

      Santa María Bay

      Arrive early to get parking and shade, and bring your own snorkel gear and food; facilities at the beach are basic.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Chocolate clams

      Seafood restaurants and marisquerías in downtown Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo.

   4. Afternoon

      Chileno Bay

      A wide, sandy public beach roughly halfway along the corridor with restrooms, palapa shade and lifeguards on many days.

   5. Evening

      San José del Cabo Art District

      Go on a Thursday evening in the winter season for the Art Walk, then have dinner around Plaza Mijares.

Before you go

• Whale watching: In February and March, the busiest months, book a day or two ahead, especially for small-boat tours.
• Sportfishing charter: Book a day or more ahead in autumn, when tournament season fills the fleet.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Marina and Downtown keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Médano Beach ($$$) suits beach, families, nightlife and first-timers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 26–39 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.7 hours in December to 13.5 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Cabo San Lucas
• 2 days in Cabo San Lucas
• 5 days in Cabo San Lucas

Questions travellers ask