Cabo’s Best Beaches, From Sundowners to Swimming

Written By Genevieve Brown
boats anchored at Santa Maria Beach Cabo

Boats anchored in Santa Maria Bay

Cabo’s Best Beach

Cabo San Lucas is one of our favorite destinations in Mexico due to its unique terrain. Sprawling desert mountains line the horizon behind Cabo San Lucas, as you travel down the hill towards San Jose Del Cabo, the view opens up to give way to miles of open rocky coastlines. San Jose Del Cabo and Los Cabo extend out along either end of the coastline, with a highway connecting the two areas - called the Tourist Corridor. The Tourist Corridor brings life to the harsh desert landscape via undulating hills of lush golf courses and pristinely maintained hotel gardens, with luxury resorts lining the beach from end to end.

The beaches in Cabo are rough with steep sheer rock faces, unlike the tropical, soft white sand beaches you’ll find in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, but they are just as beautiful in their own right. Below we have provided a definitive guide to the best beaches in Cabo, with an outline of which amenities are available at each, the highlights of each destination, and provided recommendations for the best luxury hotels nearby.

Be aware not all beaches are swimmable, and conditions can change dramatically. Keep an eye on the weather and look out for the flags to see what the conditions are.

A quick summary of the flags system used on Cabo San Lucas Beaches

  • Black flag: Beach closed including sand. Very dangerous conditions don’t go near the beach (Often used during hurricanes or large swells)

  • Red flag: Water closed to the public, high hazard or strong currents, you can sunbathe on the sand and be near the water, but don't swim.

  • Blue flag: Ok to swim but watch for dangerous marine life (jellyfish, stingrays, sharks)

  • Yellow flag: Ok to swim and do watersports but be cautious of the changing winds and tides.

  • Green flag: Optimal conditions for swimming and watersports.

palmilla beach cabo

Palmilla beach with One & Only Palmilla hotel in the background

  1. Palmilla Beach 

Palmilla beach and the surroundings are some of the best in Baja. Our personal favorite spot in San Jose Del Cabo for a swim or sunbathe. Palmilla has some of the clearest water that you’ll find in Cabo San Lucas. The area is home to spectacular cliffside mansions and luxury hotels with manicured gardens that line the roads and beachfront. There is also a fantastic golf course that runs from the top of the cliff down to the beachfront, as well as some great local spots for cocktails and dining nearby. If you stay in one of the estates in Palmilla you’ll also have access to their private beach clubs, which are some of the best in Baja. Come here for a whole day of beach picnics and lazing in the sun, you won’t be disappointed. 

Tip: If you want to make a picnic for your beach day, head up to The Shoppes At Palmilla and stop by the California Ranch Market. You’ll find an array of gourmet health food and produce as well as some grab-and-go picnic items like fresh organic fruit bowls and salads.

  • Best beach for:  Ocean dips and sunbathing in paradisical surroundings. 

  • Amenities: lifeguards, sunchair and umbrella rental, bbq, showers, toilets 

  • Watersports: Swimmable, surfing, snorkeling, paddleboarding, foiling, can anchor a boat in the bay here 

  • Hotels nearby: One & Only Palmilla, we also recommend Air BnB for luxury villas available for hire throughout Palmilla. If you book here, make sure to check out the Palmilla Dunes beach club, and The Shoppes at Palmilla. 

  • Location: Palmilla Beach on Google Maps

lovers beach cabo with jagged clifface

Lover’s Beach also named Playa Del Amor, Los Cabo

2. Lover’s Beach or Playa Del Amor 

The renowned Lover’s Beach, or Playa Del Amor, is a picturesque strip of coastline framed by jagged cliffsides. To get to Playa Del Amor (Lover’s Beach) you’ll need to travel by boat or kayak from the Los Cabo Marina or Playa Coral Negro. Though difficult to reach, this beach is one of the better swimmable beaches in Cabo, try and plan your trip in the afternoon and take the boat back over sunset. When planning your day trip you’ll want to make sure you have a beach bag packed with all your essentials as there are no services or facilities once you arrive. 

Water taxis are reasonably priced and easy to find at the marina. We recommend making a day of it and hiring a private charter boat to stop here, along with the famed Cabo arches, Divorce Beach, and Santa Maria Beach for an unforgettable day out on the water. 




Cabo arches and divorce beach

Divorce Beach , Los Cabo

3. Divorce Beach

Divorce Beach is found on the other side of Lover’s Beach. While geographically connected the conditions at each of the beaches are vastly different. Divorce beach has tumultuous waves and heavy currents, don’t even attempt to swim here. There is a really nice hike from Grand Solmar Beach, just be wary of tides and timing, the hike is a great way to see the rugged cliffs of the Pedregal/Solmar area and you will also be able to enjoy the view of Solmar Beach 

  • Best for: Watching wild waves and hiking 







cliffside restaurant at solmar beach cabo

Playa Solmar, Waldorf Astoria’s El Farron cliffside restaurant

4. Playa Solmar 

Playa Solmar is another dramatic wild beach with absolutely breathtaking surroundings. While the beach itself is not swimmable, you can walk along and watch the soaring waves crash against the sand. Resorts line the beachfront taking advantage of the beautiful scenery, and at the end of the beach, you’ll see Waldorf’s famed El Farron Restaurant (pictured above)  around the cliff. There are no facilities here but there are plenty of hotels nearby where you can book a day pass for access to pools and facilities, like Playa Grande and Grand Solmar. If you are looking for accommodation we highly recommend the Waldorf, as the location is spectacular. 

Playa grande beach club on solmar beach

Playa Grande Beach Club on Solmar Beach

Santa maria beach

Santa Maria Beach, with Montage resort in the background

5. Santa Maria Beach

Santa Maria beach is the top spot in Cabo for snorkeling with an array of tropical marine life including angel fish, puffer fish & starfish. An idyllic bay to anchor your boat in if you hire a private charter. While quieter on shore, lots of launches and catamarans line the bay and create a festive atmosphere. If you are in town over the whale watching season you might be lucky enough to find yourself snorkeling beside some humpbacks breaching. Santa Maria is a public beach, however a lot of the shoreline is sectioned off for the Montage resort, so get there early to secure your spot. Montage Los Cabo is an elegant luxury hotel that sits right on the beach, if you are looking for accommodation this is another stunning hotel in Cabo that we recommend trying.

  • Best for: Snorkeling, whale watching, calm bay for a boat. 

  • Amenities: Lifeguards, bathrooms, showers, chairs & umbrellas for hire. 

  • Suitable for watersports: Snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, boat tours, swimming

  • Hotels nearby: Montage Hotel 

  • Location:

 

Costa Azul Surf school and beach

View of Costa Azul beach from Cabo Surf School

6. Costa Azul 

Costa Azul is our favorite spot for surfing in San Jose Del Cabo, you can find the Cabo surf school perched at the end of the beach. A low-key spot with a great atmosphere, you’ll find lots of surfers here but also holidaymakers enjoying a casual Cerveza while watching the sunset. While it’s safe to swim, check the conditions before you go and keep an eye on the flags. Be aware that jellyfish come here across June/July. You can view a live surf cam with current conditions here.

  • Best for: A lazy day surfing followed by a sundowner 

  • Amenities: No amenities unless you are here from the surf school or dining/staying at Costa Azul resort. Costa Azul resort has a bathroom, shower, restaurant, and pool. There are chairs and umbrellas available to rent. Parking is free. We also notice the public space was being developed further, so more public amenities might be added in the future.

  • Suitable for watersports: Surfing, paddle boarding, and swimming depending on conditions.

  • Hotels nearby: Cabo Azul Resort, Cabo surf hotel & spa 

  • Location; Costa Azul on Google Maps


Medano beach bagatelle beach club

Bagatelle beach club on Medano beach

7. Medano Beach 

Medano is the most popular beach located right in the heart of Los Cabos. Medano is the most lively of the beaches in Cabo San Lucas, with beach clubs and bars rolling out along the sand. Beach vendors line the beach selling local wares and renting out watersports. If you're looking for a spot for a bachelor weekend or girls' weekend away you’ll find beach clubs like Taboo, Bagatelle, and Sur. 

  • Best for: Beach clubs, beach bars, and a lively atmosphere

  • Amenities: Some lifeguards, Bathrooms, Showers, chairs, and umbrellas for rent. Beach clubs.

  • Suitable for watersports: Swimming, Paddleboards, Waverunners, Parasailing, Boat Tours, Water taxis 

  • Hotels nearby: 1 Homes Cabo, The Cape, A Thompson Hotel - this is at the other end of Medano from all the bars and beach clubs but is a stunning cliffside resort worth going a little bit further out for. 

  • Location: Medano Beach on Google Maps

beach clear water chileno bay beach

Beautiful Chileno Bay Beach

8. Chileno Bay Beach 

Chileno beach is in the Tourist Corridor and is one of Cabo’s most loved beaches. With a slightly more chilled atmosphere than you’ll find at Medano, this beach is ideal for families. This is one of the calmer bays in the area, with clear water and offshore snorkeling. There are plenty of luxury hotels along the Tourist Corridor that are a short drive from Chileno. It’s also right in the middle of San Jose Del Cabo and Los Cabos, which makes it a popular location for many holidaymakers looking to explore both sides of Cabo San Lucas. Note: Keep an eye out for jellyfish here too. 


cannery beach

One of the Cannery Beaches, beside Los Cabo marina

9. Cannery Beaches 

An easy spot to get to where many of the locals go, straight beside the marina. The water here is clear, with plenty of fish, and in the right season, you might be able to see a baby leatherback turtle. A great spot to pull up and watch the boats of the marina go out to Lover’s Beach. On calmer days you can also rent a stand-up paddle board from here to paddle directly to lover’s Beach. The beginning of the land's end hike is nearby, and it’s very close to Pedregal and downtown.

Looking for beach vacation inspiration outside of Mexico? Check out our guide to the 15 best beaches in the world. Let us know in the comments below if you have any questions, or recommendations. We’d love to hear from you.

Genevieve Brown
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