Comparison · Cabo San Lucas vs Cancún · Mexico
Cabo San Lucas vs Cancún
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Microstar, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Cabo San Lucas for El Arco at Land's End, Sportfishing, free sights and a short break; choose Cancún for Caribbean beaches and All-inclusive resorts. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 2,383 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 2,383 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Cabo San Lucas
- November–April
- Best time for Cancún
- December–April
Side by side
| Cabo San Lucas | Cancún | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Mexico | Mexico |
| Known for | El Arco at Land's End, Sportfishing and Whale watching | Caribbean beaches, All-inclusive resorts and Isla Mujeres |
| Best time to visit | November–April | December–April |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $200–$350 | $180–$320 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 33°C (91°F) | July, 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 26°C (79°F) | January, 28°C (82°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 6 |
| Beaches | Médano Beach | Playa Delfines |
| Airports | SJD | CUN |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Cabo San Lucas for…
El Arco at Land's End, Sportfishing, free sights and a short break. Cabo San Lucas sits at the very tip of the Baja California peninsula, where granite headlands end at El Arco and the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. The town wraps around a marina packed with sportfishing boats, with Médano Beach as its main swimming strand…
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Choose Cancún for…
Caribbean beaches and All-inclusive resorts. Cancún is two places: the Hotel Zone, a 22-km sandbar shaped like a figure 7 between the turquoise Caribbean and the Nichupté Lagoon, lined with resorts, public beaches and nightclubs; and downtown, a working Mexican city of markets, taquerías and the main…
Top sights compared
| # | Cabo San Lucas | Cancún |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Arco at Land's End | Playa Delfines (El Mirador) |
| 2 | Lover's Beach (Playa del Amor) | Playa Langosta and Playa Tortugas |
| 3 | Glass-bottom boat to Land's End | Museo Maya de Cancún and San Miguelito |
| 4 | Médano Beach | El Rey archaeological site |
| 5 | Marina boardwalk | MUSA Underwater Museum of Art |
Food compared
| Cabo San Lucas | Cancún |
|---|---|
| Baja-style fish tacos | Cochinita pibil |
| Smoked marlin tacos | Sopa de lima |
| Chocolate clams | Poc chuc |
| Ceviche and seafood tostadas | Panuchos and salbutes |
Which is cheaper?
Cabo San Lucas and Cancún cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $200–$350 in Cabo San Lucas and $180–$320 in Cancún (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Cancún on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 2,383 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 13 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Cabo San Lucas or Cancún cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $200–$350 in Cabo San Lucas and $180–$320 in Cancún (estimates).
+Is Cabo San Lucas or Cancún better for a first trip?
Pick Cabo San Lucas for El Arco at Land's End, Sportfishing, free sights and a short break, or Cancún for Caribbean beaches and All-inclusive resorts.
+How far is Cabo San Lucas from Cancún?
About 2,383 km in a straight line.