Sight guide · Cabo San Lucas · Mexico
Visiting Playa Palmilla
Close to San José del Cabo, Palmilla is a sheltered beach where local fishermen launch their pangas, with gentle water that suits young children and paddleboarding.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Microstar, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Playa Palmilla is a beach in Tourist Corridor, Cabo San Lucas. Allow 2–3 hours; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Beach
- Area
- Tourist Corridor
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- kids, outdoors and free
- Best months
- January–March
About Playa Palmilla
Close to San José del Cabo, Palmilla is a sheltered beach where local fishermen launch their pangas, with gentle water that suits young children and paddleboarding. It is one of the few corridor beaches with easy public access and calm conditions most of the year.
Tip: Pair it with lunch in San José del Cabo, about ten minutes' drive away, rather than eating at the beach.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 2–3 hours.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Tourist Corridor, resort strip and golf courses between the two towns.
Best time to visit Playa Palmilla
Playa Palmilla is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- January: 26°C (79°F) highs, about 1 rainy days, busy crowds.
- March: 28°C (82°F) highs, about 0 rainy days, very busy crowds.
- February: 27°C (81°F) highs, about 1 rainy days, busy crowds.
When to visit Cabo San Lucas has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Playa Palmilla is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen El Arco at Land's End and Lover's Beach (Playa del Amor).
- No. 11 of the 17 sights in our Cabo San Lucas things-to-do list.
- Day 5 of the 5-day plan.
- Listed in free things to do in Cabo San Lucas.
- One of the picks in outdoors in Cabo San Lucas.
- A family favourite in Cabo San Lucas with kids.
Near Playa Palmilla
Also in Tourist Corridor, so you can walk between them:
- Chileno Bay — half a day, free
- Santa María Bay — half a day, free
- Golf in the Tourist Corridor — 4–5 hours, expensive
If you like Playa Palmilla
- Lover's Beach (Playa del Amor) — Land's End, 2–3 hours
- Médano Beach — Médano Beach, Half a day
- Estero de San José — San José del Cabo, 1–2 hours
Staying near Playa Palmilla
Stay in Tourist Corridor ($$$$) to walk here: resort strip and golf courses between the two towns. All areas to stay in Cabo San Lucas.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Playa Palmilla?
Plan 2–3 hours. With Chileno Bay nearby, it fits a half-day in Tourist Corridor.
+Is Playa Palmilla free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit Playa Palmilla?
January–March for the most comfortable weather. Pair it with lunch in San José del Cabo, about ten minutes' drive away, rather than eating at the beach.
+Do I need to book Playa Palmilla in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Playa Palmilla good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Cabo San Lucas. Cabo works well for families who choose a hotel on a swimmable beach, such as Médano or the protected corridor bays.