10 Must do attractions for the first timer in Cabo San Lucas + 1 Cool bonus feature my fellow 80'
- Abigail Gaston
- Nov 4, 2018
- 9 min read
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Cabo San Lucas, an overall exquisite resort location in Mexico that has seen significant growth in tourism over the years. It is a destination that is friendly to many different vacationers; families, newlyweds, large group trips, small intimate trips, singles, and so on, and has various attractions for all!
I have multiple friends who return to Cabo San Lucas regularly (yearly or every other year), simply because they love the relaxed vibe, beauty of the area, and the ease of getting around downtown by foot or bus. No matter the reason for your vacation to Cabo San Lucas, if this is your first time to this beautiful Mexican peninsula, you must follow All That Gallivanting’s list of 10 must do attractions for the first timers in Cabo San Lucas!
My friends who consistently vacation to Cabo San Lucas have informed me that they do not overly participate in the touristy aspects of Cabo San Lucas anymore; they basically revel in the Paradise like feel of Cabo, as opposed to taking tours and excursions. However, one thing is certain; they have participated in the Cabo tourist life in the past, and they appreciate the value these natural resources, activities, and locations bring to the heavily traveled Baja California Sur destination.
If you decide to be like one of the many who return often to this tropical Paradise, great; you will have already put the 'first timer' attractions in the bag during your first vacation and you will have more time for rest and relaxation every vacation thereafter. However, if you decide to 'one and done' Cabo San Lucas, then you did Cabo right your first go-round, so check this destination of your travel bucket-list and move on. Alright, onto the fun stuff!
10 must do attractions for the first timer in Cabo San Lucas
El Arco (Arch Rock)
El Arco is hands-down the most known feature in Cabo San Lucas. Depending on where your resort is located, you may have the opportunity to see El Arco from your hotel room balcony, or at least from your resorts beach front. My boyfriend, Jeff, and I stayed at Villa del Palmar; a lovely, state of the art resort located right on the pristine Cabo San Lucas beachfront to the Sea of Cortez. We constantly were greeted with El Arcos amazing presence during our vacation, and even on the 7th day of our trip, we never tired of seeing its magnificent form. El Arco is item number one for one major reason; it is completely unacceptable to visit Cabo San Lucas and not see El Arco, even if only briefly.
Lover's Beach & Divorce Beach
Okay, I hear you, no one wants to visit a place called “Divorce Beach” but the two destinations are pretty much in the same location and I really cannot tell you about one without at least touching upon the other. Lover’s Beach and Divorce Beach are extensions of Arch Rock. Although it is soft, sandy beach and not hard rock forms, it is still a part of the long land and rock formation that divides the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez.
Arch Rock is actually said to protect Lover’s Beach.
On one side, you have Lovers Beach. Lovers Beach faces the Sea of Cortez. On the other side, you have Divorce Beach, which faces the Pacific Ocean. According to our glass bottom boat tour guide, Lover’s Beach is known for a few different legends; however, one has stood out over time more than the others.
Our tour guide told us a real Romeo and Juliet kind of story. He told us a story staring a stranded Japanese sailor and a Cabo San Lucas native woman who rescued him. They quickly fell in love; however, the sailor was murdered by the woman’s father, as he did not agree with their union.
Scarred by grief of the death of her lover, the woman went to Lover’s Beach to take her own life, in hopes to be reunited with her one true love. The beach was soon after named “Lover’s Beach.”
I love to hear legends regarding places Jeff and I visit around the world. To me, these fun stories, whether mythological or real, tie a little life into each location. However, if you are not a 'story' kind of person like me, maybe you will appreciate the following. Our glass bottom boat tour guide also told us that the small beach property is said to be dubbed Lover’s Beach because it marries the Pacific Ocean with the Sea of Cortez; simple but still neat.
The Pacific Window
The Pacific Window is a small gap that allows Cabo San Lucas explorers to see through the rocks that separate the Sea of Cortez from the Pacific Ocean. Many tourists take glass bottom boat trips, kayaks, jet skis, paddle boards, private boat trips, and so on, to this spot within the long rock formations to get a little peak of the Pacific Ocean from the calmer waters of the Sea of Cortez. It is definitely worth marking on your Cabo San Lucas vacation itinerary, simply to get a picture. If you take a glass bottom boat tour or any boat tour for that matter, it is an automatic scheduled stop. Jeff and I were able to see it twice; once during our glass bottom boat tour and once during our dinner cruise.
Whale Watching
Cabo San Lucas is a major whale watching hub in the Pacific! Cabo San Lucas has many successful whale watching excursions and I highly recommend you take one of these journeys. However, what was incredible about our view from our room at Villa del Palmar was the view we had of the Sea of Cortez. Even more, the view we had of these magical sea creatures in the distance of the Sea of Cortez. Three times during our seven-day vacation we witnessed with our eyes, these beautiful creatures and with our ears, their songs.
We were told that primarily Humpback Whales are a breed you will see playing out in the Sea of Cortez. We were also told that Grey Whales navigate through the Cabo San Lucas waters for breeding and birthing purposes. For two to three months each year, these massive mammals migrate through the waters that line the Baja California Sur, past Cabo San Lucas, and up the Peninsula of Mexico. The Peninsula is known for having shallow lagoons that are suitable for this their life-cycle.
If you are interested in attending a whale watching excursion, shoot for a trip during mid-January through mid-March; this is the time of year you will find Humpback and Grey Whales moving through the waters in mass quantities and staying relatively close to the bays.
The Marina and the Boardwalk Shops /Flea Market
The marina and boardwalk, which also houses the flea market, is an area that sees lots of daily tourist traffic during all hours of the day, and for good reason. If you are able to peel yourself out of bed at around 6:00 AM and head to the marina, you likely will catch fishermen returning from their early morning deep sea fishing and their large victories. Also, if you are looking for a quiet, peaceful experience at the boardwalk, this is the time of day to roam around the marina.
Take a Cabo day tour for only $95
Includes 5+ attractions and lunch!
Later in the day, when the shops and restaurants are in full swing, you will find great souvenir shopping opportunities and yummy margaritas and Baja Mexican food (however, if you have the all-inclusive package at your hotel, for cost savings, I recommend you eat there). The shopping at the flea markets is really neat; you can spend hours discovering some really cool items and do not be afraid to negotiate prices! In the evening hours, the marina and boardwalk becomes a host to great nightlife!
Beach Rentals and Excursions
While in Cabo San Lucas, Jeff and I ventured off on three separate excursions; we had four planned, but the weather was not cooperative for the fourth. One of the tours we took was a glass bottom boat tour. I know I touched upon it above, but to reiterate, it really is a great way to see some beautiful fish and other sea creatures who have made the Sea of Cortez their habitat. Also, you get a lot of bang for your buck; Arch Rock, Lover’s and Divorce Beach, Pacific Window, sea lions and pelicans up close, and so on. The glass bottom boat tours, like many other rentals and excursions, take off right from the beach near Arch Rock.
Other fun water sports activities include flyboarding, paddle boarding, kayaking, parasailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and more! Again, most of these activities area easily accessible from the swimmable beach front, and I highly recommend you add some adventure to your Cabo vacation. You can book your excursions right at your resort; however, I have discovered that if you book them through Viator.com, you likely will get a discount!
Speaking of Swimmable Beaches
If you do not know already, upon arriving to Cabo San Lucas or San Jose del Cabo you will quickly discover that not all beaches in this tropical paradise are swimmable (also, I just told you so…). That said, there are some lovely swimmable beaches and I highly recommend that if you are not staying at a resort that has a swimmable beach, you venture off to a beachfront that allows swimming.
Also, please note that if a beachfront is cautioning you away from swimming, it is because swimming is highly unsafe in that area; usually it is because riptides are dangerously strong. Do not attempt swimming here, no human is stronger than the sea and that is not meant to be funny.
See a list of swimmable beaches in Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, and The Corridor (Read more from Cabos Best Beaches). And, check to see if your resort sets on one or plan your vacation so that it does!
Playa Solmar
Lover’s Beach
Divorce Beach
Medano Beach
Santa Maria Beach
Chilleno Beach
Tequila Cove
Estuary Beach
Playa Hotelera (Hotel Beach)
Punta Palmilla
Playa Costa Azul Playa Acapulquito (Old Man's Beach) Playa Barco Verado (Shipwreck Beach) Playa Las Viudas (Window's Beach) Playa Cabeza de Ballena (Whale's Head Beach)
Nightlife
Cabo San Lucas is incredibly popular for its relaxed, laidback feel. That, however, is not to say that Cabo San Lucas does not know how to party; it is just the opposite, actually. Cabo San Lucas has some of the best nightlife in Mexico! You do not have to leave your resort and stay out until the wee hours of the morning every night of your vacation; however, I highly recommend you do experience a Cabo night out at least once! See a list of the best nightlife in Cabo below.
Top Nightclubs:
(best Google and TripAdvisor rating)
El Squid Roe – The largest party spot in town with 3 floors to explore
Cabo Bash – “The Party Kings in Cabo San Lucas”
Mandala Los Cabos – A dance club that positioned itself as one of the top clubs in the world. An oriental theme and style.
Crush Nightspot – DJ’s from all over the world perform at Crush. Crush is known to have a very lavish look and feel and “an experience for all your senses.”
La Vaquita – Known to have a fun atmosphere and interesting decor
Mermaids Table Dance – A gentleman’s club
Two for the Road – A cool Jazz club in Cabo San Lucas
Blind Boar – Speakeasy (1920’s theme & feel)
Best Bars:
(best Google and TripAdvisor rating)
Cabo Wabo Cantina - Most popular Cabo bar – Owned by Sammy Hagar and although he has sold his stake in Cabo Wabo Tequila, he still holds tight to the famous Cabo Wabo Cantina
Mango Deck Restaurant and Beach Club – A beachfront good time; literally, you are just steps away from the water
Uno Mas? – The perfect tropical Tiki-Hut bar
Monkey’s Cave Bar – Known for great Margaritas
Giggling Marlin – There is always a show to be seen at the Gigglin Marlin + the smoky salsa is said to be the best in town and made table side
Lattitude 22+ - A roadhouse type bar with a cool fishermen’s feel
Rips Bar – A Cabo crowd favorite; Rips keeps the yearly travelers coming back
Sangria’s – A favorite for those looking for great music
Visit the Desert:
Cabo San Lucas is a unique and special destination in that it has gorgeous golden desert land and sparkling Sea of Cortez waters. My favorite excursion in Cabo San Lucas was our ATV tour. During this excursion we got a wonderful tour of the desert (well, not the entire thing but a good section of it) and we even came up on a very secluded and beautiful beachfront. The tour was around 3 to 4 hours door to door and tons of fun! Make sure you wear tennis shoes and clothes you do not mind getting a little mud splatter on, just in case you roll through some water.
A great action packed time + beautiful scenery
Book your Cabo ATV excursion today!
Watch a Cabo San Lucas Sunset
Whether you take a sunset dinner cruise, or one of the other sunset cruises that you can book through Viator.com, or you find a great location on land to view this amazing show; one thing is certain and that is that you absolutely must pencil in a Cabo sunset during your Cabo San Lucas vacation. It is something you will not soon forget and really makes for a romantic moment and a great photo opportunity!
BONUS! BONUS! BONUS!
I am pretty sure I do not have to say it; however, this monstrous rock formation is called, drum roll, "Scooby Rock!!! Take a look; you cannot deny that this giant piece of stone looks just like the profile of Scooby-Doo!
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