Where is Cabo? Los Cabos is a famous Mexican municipality located in Baja California Sur. It is known for warm crystal-clear waters year ‘round, and that does not describe the migrating whales, the quirky and luxury shopping to be done, and many sports and outdoor opportunities at one’s fingertips. The area’s prime destinations are Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, connected by Tourist Corridor of golden beaches and swank resorts. Beach-hopping, golfing, and sightseeing are a few popular activities there, and, of course, the photogenic El Arco (Land’s End) is a must. The beach houses in Cabo are incredible.
But where is Cabo, Cabo San Lucas, and San Jose del Cabo? You’ll be surprised to learn that is not a trick question.
Finding Cabo
Los Cabos is at the southern tip of Baja California Sur, in the northwestern corner of Mexico. You’ll find the region sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean in the west, the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) in the east, and the US-Mexican border in the north.
Cabo San Lucas, the largest resort city in the region, is 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of La Paz, the capital of the Baja California Sur state. San Jose del Cabo, the municipal capital, is 22 mi/35 km distant from Cabo San Lucas in the northeastern direction.
Traveling to Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo by Road
Up for a riveting road trip? Pack the cooler and take the route over 1,000 miles from Tijuana – across the border from San Diego — to Ensenada and La Paz and onto Cabo.
Along the way, consider visiting the following places:
- Ville de Guadalupe near Ensenada is the most productive wine region in Mexico.
- La Bufadora, also near Ensenada, is a natural phenomenon staging a geyser-like spectacle.
- Set in an oasis, Mulege is a town in the mountains of Baja California Sur featuring cobbled streets and colorful habitats.
- El Mogote, in the vicinity of La Paz, is a peninsula popular among kayakers that boasts mangrove trees.
- Todos Santos, roughly halfway between La Paz and Cabo San Lucas, is a cultural landmark teeming with art galleries and crafts shops.
When you get to La Paz, you’ll be just over two hours from the Cabo’s golden Tourist Corridor.
Traveling to Cabo by Air
You can fly from major cities on the US West Coast – San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego – to San Jose del Cabo directly in less than three hours. Phoenix also maintains non-stop flights to the Cabo’s capital, while you’d need to catch a connection when flying from Las Vegas. For private flyers, the becomes an easy destination with amenities that include seamless private transfers from Airport Cabo San Lucas International (MMSL) to your private villa rental or resort suite.
What Makes Los Cabos an Ideal Vacation Destination?
Many factors joined forces to make Cabo the perfect vacation destination, and these are some of them:
Los Cabos on Location
Los Cabos is among the nearest foreign vacation destinations to the US West Coast. Thus, traveling to Cabo San Lucas or San Jose del Cabo is pretty straightforward. And, it consumes less time when compared to trips to Hawaii, Cancun, or any Caribbean destination, for example. Located beneath the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range, Cabo boasts diverse landscapes. There, you can spend mornings sunbathing and swimming, afternoons exploring the mountainside, and evenings stargazing in the desert, for example.
Activities to Try in Los Cabos
Traveling to Cabo San Lucas and the rest of Los Cabos would be worth it for tourist activities, if for no other reason. Due to its diverse countryside and location, Los Cabos teems with outdoor opportunities.
Swimming and snorkeling are rewarding activities because of the rich marine life, especially in the Sea of Cortez, dubbed “The Aquarium of the World.” There, you can see whale sharks, dolphins, sea lions, turtles, and rooster fish, among other aquatic species – and even swim with them.
Hiking and ATV rides reveal a stunning coastal, desert, and mountainous scenery teeming with cacti, white-sand beaches, and verdant greenery. While inland, you may spot a fox, roadrunners, owls, and rabbits. Moreover, you’ll relish ocean and sea views from various viewpoints in the mountain.
Also, did you know that Los Cabos boasts some of the world’s finest golf courses outside the USA? And quite a few of them are masterpieces of legendary designers, such as Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman.
Finally, kayaking, boating, parachuting, and skydiving are a few other activities popular among travelers.
Los Cabos Attractions
Los Cabos’ many and diverse attractions are some of the reasons why travelers choose Cabo for their warm weather vacation. While there, we recommend you to visit the following points of interest:
- El Arco is the most photogenic and recognizable landmark of Cabo San Lucas and Los Cabos by far. Located where the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortes meet, it is a popular spot among sightseers and sea lions basking in the sunshine. You can explore the famous arch by boat or surfing board.
- Nearby Lover’s Beach (Playa del Amor) is by many the most attractive beach in Cabo. As its name suggests, it is the ideal place for romantic picnics and wedding photo sessions. Also, this pristine beach offers premium snorkelling.
- Fox Canyon, approximately 50 miles/80 kilometers north of Cabo San Lucas, is an attraction beloved by hikers, in particular. It has a signposted trail leading through a mountainous setting and introducing desert plants and wildlife. Granite stones flanking a pond are the highlight of Fox Canyon.
- Cabo Pulmo, located some 60 miles/100 kilometers northeast of San Jose del Cabo and 80 mi/130 km of Cabo San Lucas, is a national marine park. Go there to explore the attractive underwater world brimming with rays, whales, turtles, and the widest coral cover in the Gulf of California.
- Medano Beach (Playa el Medano) is a two-mile (three-kilometer) beach strand and is often the epicenter of Cabo San Lucas’s social life. You can find many eateries, stores, and water sports opportunities there.
Destination Cabo: the Breakdown
Now that you know where Cabo is and how to get and what to do there, buy yourself a couple of swimsuits, golf and snorkeling equipment, and good hiking boots.
Most vacationists travel to Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, but these are far from the only places you can choose for your base. Any place or resort along the Tourist Corridor is likely to meet your expectations and needs, no matter how high they may be.
See our Los Cabos villa rentals here.