Cabo’s Top 5 Beaches
They say life’s a beach. It’s certainly true in Los Cabos--the coves and inlets of Cabo’s rugged shoreline shelter dozens of lovely beaches, each with its own ‘sense of place.’ Here’s our pick of the Top 5.
- Medano Beach (Playa el Medano)
More than a two-mile crescent of sand lapped by calm waters, this grand strand is ground zero for social life in Cabo San Lucas. Medano is lined with beach clubs, bars, restaurants, cantinas, souvenir vendors--and a tremendous cross-section of humanity. Cabo’s most swimmable beach is peaceful at sunrise and sunset, but the beating heart of downtown Cabo San Lucas pulsates with activity throughout the day.
- Lover’s Beach (Playa del Amor)
Accessible only by water taxi or glass-bottom boat from the Cabo San Lucas Marina or Medano Beach, this secluded hideaway on the Sea of Cortez nestles at the base of rock formations at Land’s End. The clear waters here are ideal for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. Divorce Beach, which fronts the Pacific Ocean and is off limits to swimmers (big surf, strong currents), can be reached from Lover’s Beach through a notch in the rocks.
- Santa Maria (Playa Santa Maria)
This gorgeous horseshoe-shaped beach, embraced by a pair of peninsular volcanic arms that rise to cactus-covered cliffs, is a marine sanctuary known for its placid waters and excellent snorkeling. Brightly colored fish swim along shelves of coral-encrusted rock at both ends of the crescent beach. Beachgoers seeking shade should arrive early to claim one of the thatched palapas. Santa Maria Bay has a new parking lot and updated facilities.
- Chileno Bay (Playa el Chileno)
One of Cabo’s best-liked and most beautiful beaches, this broad strand and its clear, sheltered waters are a magnet for snorkelers and swimmers. Kids gravitate to the tide pools at the east end of the beach. Conveniently located in the center of the Corridor, Chileno Bay offers wooden palapas or rental umbrellas. Ample parking is available, including handicap access.
- Palmilla Beach (Playa Palmilla)
Tucked within the resort community of Palmilla, this mile-long, family-friendly beach on the outskirts of San Jose del Cabo offers excellent swimming in a protected cove known for its calm waters. The starting point for the swim leg of the annual Los Cabos Ironman triathlon, Palmilla is very popular with local families on the weekends. Weekdays are quieter.