Los Cabos is really two towns stitched together by a 20-mile coastal corridor at the southern tip of Baja California Sur: the marina energy of Cabo San Lucas and the colonial calm of San José del Cabo. Whichever end you post up on, here’s how to spend your days.
El Arco and the Sea of Cortez
El Arco, or the Arch of Cabo San Lucas, marks Land’s End — the granite formation where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez at the very tip of the peninsula. It’s only reachable by boat, whether that’s a glass-bottom tour, a water taxi, or a private charter, and the trip out usually comes with sea lions basking on the rocks and, in winter, a good chance of spotting migrating whales. Most boats also stop at Lover’s Beach, a calm, swimmable stretch on the Sea of Cortez side with decent snorkeling along the rocks. Don’t be tempted to walk over to the Pacific-facing Divorce Beach next door — the currents there are genuinely dangerous and it’s not a swimming beach.
The Best Beaches for Swimming and Snorkeling
Medano Beach is the hub of Cabo San Lucas — calm, protected waters thanks to Land’s End blocking the swell, plus jet skis, paddleboards, and parasailing if you want to stay active. For better snorkeling, most locals point you toward Chileno Bay, about halfway along the corridor to San José: a fully protected bay with a sandy bottom, a coral reef section near the rocks, and water clean enough to hold a Blue Flag certification. Closer to San José del Cabo, Playa Palmilla offers similarly calm water for swimming and a quieter scene overall.
San José del Cabo’s Art Walk and Historic Downtown
San José del Cabo trades marina nightlife for cobblestone streets and colonial architecture. The Gallery District is worth a wander any day of the week, but it comes alive on Thursday evenings from November through June, when the San José del Cabo Art Walk shuts down traffic and turns the neighborhood into an open-air gallery crawl — art, wine, and live music included. The Mission San José del Cabo Anuití, founded by Jesuit missionaries in 1730, anchors the historic center with a simple, elegant façade that’s one of the most photographed spots in town.
Whale Watching Season
Humpback and gray whales migrate through the waters off Los Cabos every winter, with the season generally running mid-December through April and peaking in January and February — sightings are close to guaranteed on a boat tour during peak weeks, and many of the same boats that run El Arco trips double as whale-watching excursions. Weather during peak season is close to ideal for the rest of your trip too, with daytime highs in the mid-70s to low 80s and very little rain.
Where to Stay
The Hosted Collection manages distinctive short-term rentals in both Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. Browse our Los Cabos listings or search available stays directly to find your home base for either end of the corridor.
