Things to do in Cabo at a glance
The main sight is El Arco, the rock arch at Land's End where the peninsula meets the sea. You see it from the water, and most visitors do it on one of the Cabo boat tours that leave from the marina. The same trip usually passes Lover's Beach, which has no road access.
Around that core you can swim at Médano, snorkel in the bays of the corridor, watch whales in winter, go sportfishing or spend a day at Cabo Pulmo or Todos Santos. The notes below show how each one works, what it costs where a price is known, and what to check before you go.
El Arco and Land's End
The main sight at Land's End.
The arch
El Arco lies inside the protected area of Cabo San Lucas. It is a rock formation in the sea, not an attraction with a ticket office, and you do not walk under it on a regular path. You see it from a boat, a water taxi or a kayak.
El Arco and Land's End →The fee
Visits to the protected area carry a fee of 125 MXN per person and day. You need a wristband or an official proof of payment. Children under 12 are exempt, and there are discounts for students, teachers, Mexican nationals and foreign residents.
Sea lions
The California sea lion is one of the typical species of the protected area, so a sighting is possible. It is not guaranteed on any given day.
Our pick: a guided look at both towns
The city tour links Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo in one day, with hotel pickup.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. 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.
Things to do in Cabo San Lucas
Boat trips to El Arco, glass-bottom and sunset cruises, snorkeling and whale watching in season, with live prices and availability.
Cabo marina, restaurants and nightlife
Where the town centers on the water.
The marina is the center of the maritime side of Cabo. Boat tours, water taxis and charters start here, and the area around it gives you access to restaurants and nightlife. A walk around the marina is separate from any boat tour and its dock fee. If you stay near the marina, you can walk to the departures and to dinner without a car.
There is no single set of opening hours for the sights of the town. Weather and harbor operations can limit access, so check the day before you head out.
Beaches and bays
Swimming depends on the flag of the day.
| Place | How you get there | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Lover's Beach | Water taxi from Médano, glass-bottom boat from the marina, kayak or paddleboard | A short beach stop at Land's End, swimming on the Gulf of California side only |
| Divorce Beach | On the Pacific side of the same sand | Looking, not swimming |
| Médano Beach | From town | Swimming where the flag allows it |
| Chileno | Along the corridor, at kilometer 14.5 | Swimming where the flag allows it |
| Santa María | By car along the corridor or by boat from the marina | Snorkeling and diving in a sheltered bay |
For most first-time visitors, a boat trip to El Arco with a stop at Lover's Beach and an afternoon at Médano covers the essentials. The water at Divorce Beach is too dangerous for swimming. Green flags mean suitable conditions, red flags mean stay out of the water, and a black flag means the beach is closed. Beaches have been closed because of high waves and strong currents, so check the flag first. More on the beaches and Lover's Beach pages.
On the water: whales, snorkeling and fishing
Seasonal and rule-based activities.
Whale watching
Humpback whales are a winter attraction. The season in the protected area ran from 15 December 2025 to 30 April 2026, and operators may stop around 15 April. Check the dates for 2026/27 before you plan. Whale watching is restricted within 2 km of El Arco.
Whale watching →Snorkeling
Santa María and Chileno are the bays along the corridor. Pelican Rock at Land's End is a snorkeling spot reached on a boat trip. Do not swim to it on your own from the marina.
Snorkeling →Sportfishing
Fishing from a boat needs a personal, non-transferable sportfishing permit. Booking a charter is not the same as holding a permit, so ask who arranges it.
Fishing charters →Day trips from Cabo San Lucas
Two destinations beyond the marina.
Cabo Pulmo
A national park with a coral reef in the Gulf of California. It is 98.1 km by road from San José del Cabo. The visitor hours are 08:00–18:00 every day, and the fee is 125 MXN per person and day. Do not confuse it with El Arco.
Cabo Pulmo →Todos Santos
A town on the Pacific side, 76.4 km from Cabo San Lucas. It is a day trip, not a district of Cabo, and it belongs to the municipality of La Paz. Its mission was founded in 1733, and the town joined the Pueblo Mágico list in 2006.
Todos Santos →San José del Cabo and the corridor
A separate town.
San José del Cabo is a separate town, the seat of the Los Cabos municipality, with a historic mission founded in 1730. The corridor is the 20 miles of coast between the two towns, with resort areas and the bays of Chileno and Santa María. The airport also lies near San José del Cabo, not at the marina of Cabo San Lucas. See the airport page for the way to town.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pages that fit a trip to Cabo.
Lover's Beach
Water taxi access, Divorce Beach and where swimming is advised.
Médano and the other beaches
Access, swimming safety and the flag colors explained.
Weather and best time
Monthly temperatures and rainfall, plus the hurricane season.
Where to stay
Areas compared by location, from the marina to the corridor.
Things to do in Cabo San Lucas: frequently asked questions
What is the main thing to do in Cabo San Lucas?
Seeing El Arco at Land's End from the water. Most visitors combine it with a stop at Lover's Beach on a boat trip from the marina.
Can I walk to El Arco?
No. El Arco is visited by boat, water taxi or kayak. Lover's Beach next to it has no road access either.
Is there a fee to visit the arch?
The protected area charges 125 MXN per person and day. Children under 12 are exempt, and discounts apply to students, teachers, Mexican nationals and foreign residents with proof. A dock fee, quoted as $3 per person in the examples on this site, is a separate item.
Where can I swim in Cabo San Lucas?
Médano Beach, Chileno and the Gulf of California side of Lover's Beach are the usual choices, when the flag allows it. Do not swim at Divorce Beach.
Are Cabo Pulmo and Todos Santos worth a day?
Both are full-day trips. Cabo Pulmo suits reef snorkeling in a national park. Todos Santos suits a town visit with a historic mission. Check the current road and opening situation before you set out.