Travel tips · Cabo San Lucas · Mexico
Cabo San Lucas travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Microstar, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Cabo San Lucas grew from a small fishing village into a resort town within a few decades, so tourism shapes daily life more than in older Mexican cities. Spanish is the local language, but English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and tour businesses. San José del Cabo, founded around its 18th-century mission, keeps more of a traditional Mexican town feel.
Key facts
- Language
- Spanish
- Currency
- MXN
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 127 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Do not drink tap water; use bottled or purified water, which hotels and…
- Emergency
- 911
Things to know
- Greet staff with 'buenos días' or 'buenas tardes' before asking for something; it is expected even in tourist businesses.
- A firm 'no, gracias' is enough for timeshare and tour sellers; there is no need to stop and explain.
- Cover up with a shirt or wrap when walking from the beach into town, restaurants or churches.
- Ask before photographing local people, fishermen or their boats.
- Keep noise down in residential streets of San José del Cabo late at night.
- Book Whale watching ahead: In February and March, the busiest months, book a day or two ahead, especially for small-boat tours.
- Book Sportfishing charter ahead: Book a day or more ahead in autumn, when tournament season fills the fleet.
- Book Golf in the Tourist Corridor ahead: Tee times at the best-known courses fill up in winter; book through your hotel or the course well ahead.
- Pay in pesos where possible; places that quote in dollars often use an unfavourable rate.
Tipping
Tip 10–15% in restaurants if service is not already included, about 10–20 pesos per bag for porters, and 10–20% of the trip price for fishing and boat crews.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buenos días | Good morning |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much is it? |
| No, gracias | No, thank you |
| Sin hielo | Without ice |
What to wear
Beachwear is fine on the sand and by the pool, but locals expect a shirt and shoes in town and in restaurants; smart-casual is usual for dinner in the better restaurants.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type A and B sockets, 127 V, 60 Hz
- Drinking water
- Do not drink tap water; use bottled or purified water, which hotels and restaurants provide.
- Emergency number
- 911
- Phone and internet
- Mobile coverage is good across Cabo San Lucas, San José del Cabo and the corridor; eSIMs and local SIMs from OXXO stores are easy to arrange.
- Time zone
- America/Mazatlan
Many beaches, especially those facing the Pacific, have strong currents and shore breaks; swim only where locals do and respect red flags. Timeshare sellers at the airport and on the marina can be persistent, and late-night bar areas call for the usual care with drinks and taxis.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Mexico's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Cabo San Lucas?
Tip 10–15% in restaurants if service is not already included, about 10–20 pesos per bag for porters, and 10–20% of the trip price for fishing and boat crews.
+Can you drink the tap water in Cabo San Lucas?
Do not drink tap water; use bottled or purified water, which hotels and restaurants provide.
+What plugs are used in Cabo San Lucas?
Type A and B sockets, 127 V, 60 Hz
+What language is spoken in Cabo San Lucas?
Spanish.