Cabo is my second favorite place in Mexico just behind the great Ciudad de México. Cabo has the beaches, night life, food, and the diverse landscape to make it an all-in-one getaway. Most people that go to Cabo will stay within the confines of their all-inclusive resort, but if you do so, you're missing out on some great experiences. Don't get me wrong, all-inclusive resorts are great, but you still need to make it a point to check all that Cabo has to offer. This last time, we stayed at a great waterfront condo we found on AirBnB that was only about $200 per night and had enough room for about 5-6 guests. Check out AirBnB options if you don't plan on doing the resort experience.
Cabo San Lucas is rated amongst the top 5 tourist cities in Mexico and is located about 1100 miles south of the California border on Baja California Sur. One of the most well-known places in Cabo is El Arco, the iconic rock formation shaped in an arch where the land ends and the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez meet. Cabo is also home to great scuba diving, fishing, resorts, beaches, and marine life that include whales, mahi-mahi, and striped marlin. I've been twice (s0 far), so let me tell you about some of my favorite spots and things to do!
What to eat
Birria De Res Los Montaño The first time my buddy and I went to Cabo, we were on a mission to find and eat the absolute best tacos in Cabo. After trying 2-3 restaurants (which were all great), we decided to walk around the city one morning until the tacos spoke to us. Much like a lot of touristy areas, there were restaurants trying to lure us in by saying they have "the best" or "the cheapest", but none had any customers. Finally, we spot this brick and mortar stand that was no bigger than a taco truck on the corner of Calle Félix Ortega and Ignacio Zaragoza called Birria De Res Los Montaño. This place had a line around the block with locals looking to get their breakfast fix before work. We agreed this was the it and waited for a spot to open up so that we could sit and take it all in. They have menudo (a spicy tripe soup) and taco choices of lengua (beef tongue), barbacoa, pollo, and more made with fresh tortillas. They have since grown and the building now better supports their growing customer base - I would highly recommend walking the few extra blocks from downtown and giving them a try!
Tacos Guss To fulfill your late night hankering of tacos, you should stop by Tacos Guss. They have a wide variety of cheap, authentic tacos with various items to top them off. They're located in the heart of downtown and only a block away from some of the best bars like The Giggling Marlin, El Squid Roe, and Cabo Wabo Cantina. After a fun-filled night (or morning), you should do yourself a favor and stop by since they're opened 21 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Tacos Gardenias For a third taco choice, Tacos Gardenias is a bit more upscale and boasts a nicer ambiance and restaurant while continuing to provide amazing tacos. It's up the hill and only a block away from the main beach area (Playa El Medano) near the Mango Deck and the Office on the Beach. I would recommend getting some tacos and the shrimp cocktail.
The Office on the Beach This is not your cheap taco stand, but rather a pricey dining experience right on the beach (Playa El Medano). The Office on the Beach has a large menu of high quality steak, chicken, and seafood with live music and a beautiful view overlooking the ocean. I'm not going to lie, the food is phenomenal (and filling) and the margaritas were just as good. Be ready for them to bring a tray of fish, shrimp, lobster, and various steaks for your group to share and be prepared to shell out anywhere from $30 to $75 US dollar per person. I know it seems expensive, but you can justify the cost by eating tacos the rest of your trip. The restaurant fills up pretty quickly, so I'd recommend stopping by a day before and getting a reservation near sundown for the following day.
Solomon's Landing Our last time in Cabo, we got a great AirBnB overlooking the marina. Since there are a lot of food and drink options at the marina, we only had to go downstairs for breakfast or drinks. One of our early morning go-to's was Solomon's Landing which had a great open view of the marina and great breakfast options with fair prices. I'd recommend the green chilaquiles with chicken or the strawberry banana stuffed french toast!
Tiki Sushi Bar Another great spot on the marina is the Tiki Sushi Bar with drinks, appetizers, bar food, and sushi. We generally made this our "happy hour" location for snacks and drinks before we went out on the town. Get a margarita! They are super fresh and delicious.
What to drink
Mango Deck If you are looking for somewhere that feels like Spring Break all of the time, stop by the Mango Deck. It doesn't really matter if you go in jeans, skirt, shorts or a swimsuit because this restaurant and beach club has everything - food, drinks, people, parties, music, and open access to the beach. They seemed to always be pretty busy when we went, but mostly at night. Just like any other spring break, you can look forward to seeing at least one sloppy drunk dragged out by the staff, but it's fun to drink and people watch.
The Giggling Marlin At one point, The Giggling Marlin was the only bar downtown. This bar, restaurant, and club established in 1984 is best known for its nightlife which is always lively and fun. If you go, try the Goyo Challenge where they hang you upside down while you take a shot!
El Squid Roe Another well-known club downtown is El Squid Roe, which is a huge multi-level club with multiple bars, dancing areas, great DJ's, and a double-decker bus. It is very easy to get sucked into the atmosphere and lose track of time here (which has happened to me twice)!
Baja Brewing For a more quiet drinking experience, you should try Baja Brewing located on the marina in the mall (Puerto Paraiso). They brew a handful of beers in house like the a blonde ale, oatmeal stout, and Mexican IPA. Order a flight to try them all and make sure to look at their branded merch for souvenirs.
Slim's Elbow Room This tiny bar (hence the name) only has enough room for about 6-10 customers and claims to be "The World's Smallest Bar". The inside is covered with $1 bills with handwritten notes from customers and a small bar with beer and tequila options only. The bar's go-to tequila is the triple distilled "Cinco Perros" and you get a free shot if you buy a shirt or hat.
Cabo Wabo Cantina Everyone has heard of Cabo Wabo! Although this is one of the more touristy options on this list, it's still worth checking out. They often have great drink specials to go with their live music - you're bound to enjoy the lively and exciting experience at Cabo Wabo.
What to do
Playa El Medano This beach is the main tourist beach in the city due its proximity to downtown Cabo. You can easily spend a whole day or more here drinking on the beach, renting jet skis, partying at the bars, eating at restaurants, booking excursions, or hanging out at one of the many resorts (if you're staying there).
El Arco Hop on a boat (generally about $20 to ride) and head over to El Arco (The Arch). From the boat, they will show you the sea lions sunbathing on the rocks, giant pelicans perched or flying around, and you can see fish in the beautiful blue waters. They will usually give you the option to get out on Playa del Amor (Lover's Beach) to spend some time and they will come back for you later.
Deep sea fishing Take a half-day deep sea fishing trip for around $400 by talking to someone in the marina (captains will fight for your business) or at an experience/excursion counter. The best time to fish for big game is between July and September. We only caught one tuna, but we took it up to a restaurant in the marina to get it cooked up. If you're lucky like we were, a sea lion (or two) will jump on the back of your boat and steal the bait fish that you don't use.
Scuba Diving, snorkeling, or spear-fishing Although the water is cooler than what I'm used to in the Caribbean, it makes for some great diving, snorkeling, and spear-fishing. One of the coolest experiences I had was spear-fishing in Cabo - not because we got fish (because we didn't), but because I could literally hear the humpback whales singing in the distance when I was underwater. If you're lucky, on one or any of these excursions, you have a decent opportunity to spot a whale or two.
Surf's up Another option would be to grab a 30-minute taxi ride up to Cabo Surf Hotel & Spa to rent a board and enjoy the surf. I don't surf, but I had a beer and watched as some whales were playing in the distance.
The Wrap-Up
Regardless of how long your stay or if you decide on AirBnB or resort, there is plenty to do in Cabo San Lucas. What is your favorite place or thing to do in Cabo? Leave a comment and let me know.
Travelingo 3x3
Where to eat:
Where to drink:
What to do:
Go to Playa El Medano
Go see El Arco (The Arch)
Go deep sea fishing
