Desperate for a Mexico vacation with lots of sun and sand? Need some R&R or some adventure? Wondering if Cabo has what you want? These are all the epic things to do in Cabo San Lucas while on Vacation!
Full Disclaimer, I’m not one to sugar coat things. Cabo is wonderful and a ton of fun but its also not traditional Mexico. It has definitely been americanized over time. That said, it doesn’t mean it cant be a fun getaway beach vacation. Cabo is great for what it is, but please don’t go there expecting the most authentic Mexico experience.
Cabo is also a HUGE area – there are two main town areas, Cabo San Lucas & San Jose del Cabo. I highly recommend staying in Cabo San Lucas. It is the area that has the beaches, the most things to do, and more restaurants and nightlife.
With all that said – lets get to the real reason you’re here. The 15 most Epic Things to do in Cabo San Lucas on Vacation!
1 | Go Parasailing in Cabo
This is something you could book ahead of time on Viator.com or if you aren’t traveling during busy season you could even book it when in town along the marina.
2 | Rent Jet Skis in Cabo
Jet Ski Rentals can be done from Medano Beach – right off the area of the beach where The office is. It was $60 for 30 minutes or $100 for 1 hour. The only way to take the Jet Skis out of the pre-determined area is by signing up for one of the Jet Ski tours that takes you to the arch! Its one of the coolest ways to get out to the arch in my opinion and not many people get to take photos by the famous arch on a jet ski. No experience is necessary – they give you a whole safety briefing plus you have a life jacket.
3 | Rent a Yacht for the day – go snorkeling at Santa Maria or Chileno Bay
This was my favorite activity and honestly with enough people its not all that expensive. You could rent a whole yacht for your entire crew or join another group and just pay per person. We did the sunset yacht cruise with open bar and it was the highlight of our trip. They stop in front of the rocks for photos then take you snorkeling & swimming all while feeding you delicious food & drinks. I highly recommend putting this at the top of your list of things to do in Cabo.
4 | Go whale watching – or “Luxury” Whale Watching
The difference between Luxury & Regular whale watching is simply the boat & drinks. On Luxury Whale Watching you have an open bar & are on a Catamaran – which we did. On the standard whale watching you are on a smaller 30′ penga type boat. I definitely found the Luxury Whale Watching a lot more fun – you can check that out here on Viator. The smaller boats aren’t suppose to go out to the Pacific side past the famous arch & lovers beach as its a bit too dangerous for the smaller boats there. We also had drinks & a bathroom the whole time and the ability to spread out and not be stuck sitting in one spot with a life jacket on the whole time.
5 | Go Snorkeling with Sharks
This one is for the brave – you go out 5 miles in a boat and hop in the water with sharks! its super cool to see the sharks up close. Depending on the season you go you could see makos or blue sharks. They have run into dolphins and whales while out on the water too. If you’ve always wanted to see sharks up close then swimming with sharks might be for you! We all absolutely loved it. The crew that led the trip was great too.
6 | Snorkel or Dive at Cabo Pulmo
One of the most popular snorkel & diving spots in Cabo is Cabo Pulmo. There is SO much to see underwater, its one of the more famous snorkel spots in the area. I’d definitely try to schedule this Cabo Pulmo Snorkel Tour at the start of your trip and leave some flexibility if they have to move you. I say this because the weather can be hit or miss at Cabo Pulmo. Its best to go in the early AM.
7 | Go Zip Lining
There are a few different options – all within a short drive from your hotel. Plus they pick you up at your hotel too! While we went with Wild Adventures – I’d recommend Cabo Adventures for this one. Theyre way more organized and have way more positive reviews from the experience. Plus for the same price you get to do a UTV tour WITH the Zipline for the same price.
8 | Swim with Whale Sharks at La Paz
While La Paz isn’t exactly in Cabo its only about 2 hours away and you can swim with whale sharks! Thats definitely worth a 2 hour drive. Whale sharks aren’t whales – or sharks. They’re actually the largest fish in the world, growing up to 40 feet long in size.
They’re also very gentle creatures. They eat only plankton and krill, by opening their cavernous mouths very wide. Between October and February, whale sharks gather to feed in the Bay of La Paz, about a two-hour drive from Cabo San Lucas. And you can snorkel with these wondrous endangered species in La Paz on an all-day tour from Cabo!
9 | Visit the Office
The office? Isn’t that what I want to avoid on vacation!? No! This office is a fabulous restaurant on the beach thats absolutely a fun vibe but ALSO has amazing food. Normally restaurants with fun vibes have hit or miss food. Not the office. The Office is one of a kind and has some amazing food from the appetizers to the entress. If they have tres leches available when you visit – get it! Just make sure you get a reservation before you arrive in Cabo!
10 | Get a massage at Sand Bar
Sand Bar is an amazing spot near the beach with food, drinks & massages. The massages are not only fantastic and relaxing but not pricey! You can book a massage on their website, sometimes even a few days ahead of time although I do recommend trying to book in advance. The Sand Bar currently has 23 beds (reduced from 30 due to covid as of January 2022). Theres nothing like getting a 60 minute massage while listening to the beach. Highly Highly recommend!
11 | Go ATV riding in the desert
If you enjoy getting out of Cabo proper and going out into the desert then this excursion is for you. On this ATV Tour will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel plus they take you on a 2-3 hour ATV tour. I highly recommend bringing a mask or bandana because there is a ton of dust & sand! Closed toed shoes too. Riding an ATV is very easy plus they’ll explain all the features and answer any questions you may have. If you’re lucky you might be out on the beach while whales are swimming nearby!
12 | Visit Lovers Beach
One of the famous beaches in Cabo San Lucas is Lovers Beach. Pack a towel, some water, drinks & snacks and go enjoy. They even have umbrellas to rent if you want one! You can take a quick water taxi from the marina for 10 USD or 200 pesos Round Trip. The beach has caves to explore, you can swim, and even walk over to divorce beach (not swimmable). Just tell them how many hours you want to stay and they’ll come pick you up when you’re done – its that easy!
13 | Go Deep Sea Fishing
One thing that Cabo is absolutely famous for is the fishing! The marina is packed full of fishing boats that take people out everyday and they come back with all sorts of fish. Most charters like this one will take you and your group out for the day. You just meet them at the marina and the excursion is all-inclusive, including gear, bait, lunch, and both soft and adult beverages. All you have to think about is coming home with a big marlin! There are also places in Cabo where you can get it packaged & frozen and fly home with it! You just need to bring or buy a cooler.
14 | Visit Medano Beach
This is THE beach to visit in Cabo.
All the partying happens along the beach closer to town – the further you walk down the beach the quieter it gets.
15 | Hike up Mt Solmar
If you are an avid hiker you will appreciate this hike. Its definitely more of a rock climb then a hike and I wouldn’t label it as easy – moderate at the minimum. You can find the starting point on google maps by looking up “Mt Solmar hike”. It starts on private land at the dog sanctuary and the guy that runs the sanctuary opens the gate for the public to climb up every day. Be sure to arrive before 8am because if you’re late theres no way to access it. Sometimes he does evening hikes that start at 4:30pm as well for sunset but only on specific days.
BONUS: 16 | Party at El Squid Roe
If you want to go dance the night away then Squid Roe is a place you want to check out. The party starts at 11pm and there are 3 floors to explore & dance in. Prices are what you’d expect in any city in the USA so definitely keep that in mind. If you just want to check it out during the day they have a full restaurant menu for lunch & dinner too.
As you can see – there are A TON of fun things to do in Cabo that fit everyones desires. Plenty to fill a short weekend or a full week in Cabo San Lucas.
Travel with Me
If you’re looking for a group of fun loving girls to hang out with on your next trip you should check out my Girls Trips I host all over the world. You can also join my email list for all the latest trip updates!
