Cabos endless coast line offers beautiful beaches for everyone and every mood. Here are some of our favorites…
Tip: For those visiting Los Cabos for the first time… Most of the beaches on the Pacific side (west side of the Baja Peninsula) are Un-swimmable due to dangerously strong undertows and currents. This is a downside for many of the big resorts North of San Lucas and they don’t tell you on the website! These areas can be very windy. So, if you want an un-swimmable beach and a bunch of bad hair days, those mega resorts on the Pacific side are for you. Many of the beaches on the Southern tip, known as the corridor closer to San Lucas and Costa Azul closer to San Jose, are swimmable.
Playa Santa Maria. When you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Medano Beach and the Marina area, Santa Maria Beach is a great option. Unlike Medano Beach there are no vendors, no loud music and distractions. Santa Maria beach is a state park with free parking and restrooms located 15 minutes east of Baja Toms off Highway 1. (About 20 minutes from downtown San Lucas.) Look for the beach access road and drive south to the public parking area. From there it’s a short walk on a paved sidewalk. The sand here is a bit coarse but becomes finer closer to the water. The beach is clean and well kept. One of the best and easiest areas for snorkeling for all skill levels. Santa Maria is a protected natural cove near the site of one of Los Cabos’ original hotels called the Twin Dolphin. Make sure to take food and drink as again there are no vendors on this beach. So take food and drink along with your water toys. There are nearby resorts with few restaurants but they normally do not allow access to beach goers. One trick if you really want to go is to make a reservation and go in through the front entry of the resorts but honestly that’s not why you are here. Playa Santa Maria is a great spot for a relaxing beach day! There are few other beaches nearby that we will highlight in future post
Medano Beach, Playa El Medano, (english translation Dune Beach) is the main hot spot in Cabo San Lucas. Medano Beach is safe and swimmable. It stretches from the Marine eastward toward the arroyo (drive stream bed) at the “Tabasco Beach ” end. The beach has nonstop activity all day long. Everything you would associate with a main public beach from hotels, resorts, bars, restaurants and all kinds of activities. The beach is always busy and full of vendors selling everything and anything under the sun including blankets, sunglasses, jewelry, blow up beach toys, temporary tattoos, cigars, snacks, refreshments and drinks. The vendors can be relentless at times, while always friendly they come in big numbers. And remember this is how many locals feed their families. So, if this isn’t your thing just say no thanks, no, or ignore them and they will walk away. Medano is the party, consider a different beach if you are looking for tranquility. See our tip #5 Playa Santa Maria. Most of these vendors are licensed by the local government. And no, the Cuban cigars are not real. If you are looking for activities this is the place for jet skiing, parasailing, grabbing a water taxi to Lovers Beach and the Arch. You can take food and drink with you or you can grab almost anything you need from the numerous clubs, restaurants and bars located directly on the beach.
Click on the BEST DAY TRIPS link under RECOMMNDATIONS for some of our other favorite beaches of Baja California Sur.
Renowned for its excellent snorkeling, diving, kayaking, and clear aquamarine waters brimming with marine life, Chileno Beach stands out as the best all-around beach in the Tourist Corridor. Chileno Beach is wide and fairly flat, making it perfect for strolling or running, and offers safe swimming. It is the only beach with restrooms (bring your own tissue), as well as garbage cans and a palm grove for shade. Similar to Santa María, Chileno Beach attracts snorkel tours around midday—head northeast toward the point for more privacy. The rocky reefs that run parallel to the beach are teeming with tropical fish, sea turtles, moray eels, invertebrates, sea urchins, gorgonians (sea fans), sponges, and starfish. The beach is Blue Flag certified for cleanliness and has easy access public parking. This beach truly offers something for everyone, making it a must-visit destination in the Tourist Corridor. Located just off the main highway near KM 14 just about 15 Minutes east of our Ventanas unit.