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Top Four Things to Do

Top Four Things to Do

Top Four Free Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas

Revered as a world-class, deep-sea fishing mecca, Cabo San Lucas has morphed over the past 20 years into a captivating, take-on-all-comers port city.

Here’s our pick of the top four free things to do in a vibrant Land’s End town that sparkles from morning till night.

  1. Marina. For the best people-watching in town, the ever-lively Cabo San Lucas marina is the place to go. Ringed by a plethora of shops, bars, and outdoor restaurants, the marina and its inner harbor are dominated by big, gleaming sport-fishing yachts. Visit in the late morning to observe boat crews offloading their catches. Watch the sea lions bark and beg for hand-outs from the boat captains. Stroll the marina after dark to see the bars and cafes come to life. If you ever wanted to be photographed with a pet iguana wearing a little sombrero, the marina is your best opportunity.

  2. Puerto Paraiso Mall. Fronting the head of the marina, this sprawling three-level mall boasts dozens of shops, restaurants, and art galleries, with a 10-theater cineplex on the top floor. Even if you’re not ready to buy, it’s fun to window shop name-brand stores ranging from Lacoste and L’Occitane to the Body Shop and Tommy Bahama. Don’t miss the Sergio Bustamante art gallery, which displays silver- and gold-plated jewelry by the eponymous Mexican artist who uses the sun and the moon as elements in his creations. More window-shopping? Adjacent to the mall is Luxury Avenue, a trendy shopping complex with retailers ranging from Longchamp and Swarovski.

  3. Nightclubs. Downtown Cabo San Lucas takes on a vivacity all its own after dark. Even if you’re not in the mood to dance or drink cocktails, stroll the main drag, Lazaro Cardenas, to catch the mood of this legendary party town. You’ll see and hear everything (and more) by pausing in front of Cabo’s open-air nightclubs. At El Squid Roe, a boisterous, triple-decker party palace, patrons are invited to dance on top of the tables to rap, hip hop and R&B remixes, with Latin and reggae rhythms taking over after midnight.  Adjacent to El Squid Roe is Mandala, a Vegas-style club known for its high-volume house music, big plasma TVs, and flashy interior with glittering chandeliers and disco balls suspended above the dance floor. On Boulevard Marina is The Giggling Marlin, a must-see, 35-year-old institution with a big neon-lit marlin in a bucket hat and sunglasses atop the entrance. It’s a great place for a selfie or a group photo.

  4. Medano Beach. No trip to Cabo is complete without a stroll on Medano Beach, a popular town beach with two-mile crescent of sand lapped by calm waters. Along with the downtown area, this grand strand is ground zero for social life in Cabo San Lucas. Medano is lined with bars, beach clubs, restaurants, souvenir vendors--and a tremendous cross-section of humanity. Cabo’s most swimmable beach is tranquil at sunrise, but the sandy area between the cantinas and the sea pulsates with activity throughout the day.