Cabo San Lucas at a Glance

  • Best for: sunshine, beach time, and snorkeling — less so for meeting other solo travelers (see below)
  • Where I stayed: a short walk from the beach, which meant I spent a lot of time there
  • When I went: October 2024, which meant catching both Halloween and Día de los Muertos
  • Heads up for solo travelers: Cabo skews toward couples, families, and bachelor/bachelorette groups more than other Mexican destinations I've visited

Why I Went to Cabo San Lucas

Cabo was 1.5 months of sunshine, beach time, and boat rides. I stayed a short walk from the beach, so I ended up there most days.

I'll be honest about my experience, though: by this point in my travels I was looking for slightly less touristy places, and Cabo is very touristy. It's safe for solo travelers, but I didn't find much of a solo traveler community here. The crowd skewed heavily toward couples and families at the beach, plus a fair number of bachelor and bachelorette parties — a lot of visitors come from western Canada, similar to how Cancún tends to draw more from the eastern US.

I enjoyed my time here and went snorkeling many times, but it's not a destination I feel strongly pulled to return to.

Top Things To Do in Cabo San Lucas

Watch the sunrise over the ocean

Go about 45 minutes before sunrise to catch the reddish orange glow, and then enjoy the less crowded beach after. More people start coming out around 9am or so.

Take a water taxi to the arch

The water taxi will first take you to Lover's Beach, a small beach between along the way to the arch. On the other side, you'll get to check out Divorce Beach. When you leave these beaches, the water taxi takes you back to the arch, then back to your initial pickup spot. You can get a water taxi anywhere along the beach.

Snorkel at Chileño Beach

You can get to Chileño Beach by booking a snorkel tour or by driving about 8 km north of downtown. The snorkeling here is amazing! The two best spots are to the far right and the far left.

Time your trip around Halloween or Día de los Muertos, if you can

I happened to be in Cabo for both — seeing local businesses hand out candy on Halloween, plus the street festivals and parades for Día de los Muertos, made for one of the more memorable stretches of my time here.

Where to Stay in Cabo San Lucas

I stayed a short walk from the beach, which made it easy to spend time there most days without much planning. If beach access is your priority, I'd recommend the same. Cabo skews more resort-heavy than some of my other Mexico stops, so expect a wider range of larger hotel options alongside smaller stays.

Check out the interactive map below to find the perfect place to stay.

Book Your Stay in Cabo San Lucas

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frequently asked questions

Cabo San Lucas FAQ

Is Cabo San Lucas good for solo travelers?

It's safe, but in my experience it skews heavily toward couples, families, and bachelor/bachelorette parties, so it's harder to connect with other solo travelers there than in destinations like Cancún or Oaxaca. Great for beach time on your own; less great if you're hoping to meet people.

What's the best time of year to visit Cabo San Lucas?

I went in October and it worked out well — warm weather, plus the chance to catch both Halloween and Día de los Muertos, which turned into one of the highlights of my trip.

How do you get to the famous arch in Cabo?

By water taxi, which you can catch anywhere along the beach. Most routes stop at Lover's Beach and Divorce Beach on the way to and from the arch itself.

Is Cabo San Lucas walkable?

The main tourist area along the beach is walkable, and staying close to the beach makes it easy to spend most of your time there without needing to arrange transportation.

Cabo San Lucas or Cancún — which is better for solo travelers?

Both are touristy, beach-first destinations, but Cancún felt easier for connecting with
other solo travelers to me. Cabo leans more toward couples and bachelor/bachelorette groups.

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