Medano Beach and the main beaches of Cabo
Médano Beach, also written Playa El Médano, lies on the bay of Cabo San Lucas, and it is the beach where water taxis to Lover's Beach start. It is an area that is generally suitable for swimming. That is not a clearance for every day or for every stretch of the beach. Santa María and Chileno are two bays on the Tourist Corridor, the coast road to San José del Cabo.
Pacific beaches work differently. Surf, rip currents and undertows are a real risk at some beach resorts on that side. Before you go in, read the flag, and use the guide below to match your plan to the beach. If you want a boat day, see the Cabo boat tours.
Beaches compared
Where each one is and what to know before swimming.
| Beach | Where | Swimming |
|---|---|---|
| Médano | Bay of Cabo San Lucas | Generally suitable, but not on every day or along the whole beach |
| Santa María | Tourist Corridor, by car or boat trip | Sheltered bay, snorkeling and diving |
| Chileno | Tourist Corridor, kilometer 14.5 | Generally possible, the flag decides |
| Lover's Beach | Land's End, no road | Only on the Gulf of California side |
| Divorce Beach | Pacific side at Land's End | Too dangerous for swimming |
For most visitors, Médano is the easiest first beach, since it is in town and water taxis start there. Choose Santa María if you want a sheltered bay for snorkeling, and keep the Pacific beaches for walking.
Our pick: a boat to the beaches
This boat stop lets you choose between Lover's Beach, Pelican Beach and Medano Beach.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Cabo beach and boat trips
Boat trips to the arch and nearby beaches, with live prices and cancellation terms.
Playa El Médano
The beach in town.
Médano is the beach next to Cabo San Lucas itself. It is a base for water taxis to Lover's Beach, so many visitors pass through it. Swimming is generally possible there, but the flag on the day decides, and a closed beach is closed for everyone. Do not treat the whole stretch as one swimming spot, and do not take it as a guarantee for the day.
Hotels with beach access are a different thing. A hotel beach is no proof that the water is safe on your day. Local flags and lifeguard instructions come before any tourist description.
Santa María and Chileno
Two bays on the coast road.
Santa María is a sheltered bay on the Tourist Corridor that you can reach by car, and boat trips from the marina go there too. You do not need a boat for it. Chileno lies at kilometer 14.5 of the same road. Santa María is used for snorkeling and diving, and Chileno for swimming, both on calm days. For snorkeling details, read the snorkeling guide.
Fees and facilities differ by bay. Ask on the spot about parking and gear rental.
Beach flags and closures
How to read the flag before you go in.
Green
Suitable conditions.
Red
Warning of unsafe conditions. Do not go into the sea.
Black
The beach is closed and the sea is off limits.
Blue
An environmental certificate, not a green swimming flag.
The authorities close beaches as a precaution when waves and rip currents are high. Check the flag at the beach and ask the lifeguards if you are unsure. The hurricane season for the eastern Pacific runs from 15 May to 30 November, so check conditions each day in that period. For travel advisories and more, see Is Cabo safe?.
Lover's Beach and Divorce Beach
At Land's End, reachable only by water.
Lover's Beach has no road. You arrive by water taxi from Médano, by glass-bottom boat or by paddling. Swim only on the Gulf of California side. Divorce Beach on the Pacific side is too dangerous for swimming. Read the full guide at Lover's Beach.
Planning a beach day and where to stay
Match the beach to your plan.
A beach day in town
Médano is next to Cabo San Lucas, so it works without a car. Check the flag, and keep in mind that a hotel beach does not prove safe water on your day.
A day in a sheltered bay
Take a car or a boat trip to Santa María for snorkeling, or to Chileno at kilometer 14.5 for swimming on a calm day.
A day at Land's End
Go by water taxi, glass-bottom boat or paddle. See Lover's Beach for the fee and the swimming side.
Médano is a beach-side area to stay in, but not every hotel has access to the water. A beach location on the Pacific side is no promise that you can swim. For areas to stay by location, read where to stay in Cabo San Lucas. For sea and storm months, see the weather guide.
Cabo beaches: frequently asked questions
Can you swim at Medano Beach?
Generally yes, but not on every day and not along the whole beach. Follow the flag and lifeguard instructions.
What do the beach flags mean in Cabo?
Green means suitable conditions. Red or black warns of unsafe conditions. Black means the beach is closed and the sea is off limits, and red means do not go into the sea.
Do I need a boat to reach Santa María Beach?
No. You can reach Santa María by car, and boat trips from the marina also go there.
Where is Chileno Beach?
On the Tourist Corridor at kilometer 14.5. Swimming is generally possible, but the daily flag decides.
Can you swim at Divorce Beach?
No. The water on the Pacific side is too dangerous for swimming.
Are beaches ever closed?
Yes. Beaches close as a precaution when waves and rip currents are high. A hotel beach or a well-known bay does not prove that the water is safe on your day.