14 Hot Beaches in Cabo, Mexico: A Beach-Hopping Guide!
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Aaaah! The beach… It’s the reason you’re visiting Cabo, Mexico.
Kicking back, sipping a cold one on the beach – that’s really the most fun activity, right? (If you can call lounging in your beach chair an “activity”…)
(By the way, “Cabo” is the nickname used to refer to the whole resort area of Los Cabos as well as Cabo San Lucas, the main town in Los Cabos.)
Anyway, there are plenty of superb Los Cabos beaches. But many are too dangerous for swimming…
Here, we highlight the 14 hottest ones. And all but four are great swimming beaches too.
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Contents: Beach-hopping in Cabo
Why can’t you swim at many Cabo beaches?
Why are some beaches in Cabo unsafe?
Many of Cabo’s beaches are red-flagged as non-swimmable because of strong waves, steep ocean floor drop-offs and undertows.
Be sure you heed the warnings! (Over the years, several visitors have drowned in Cabo on these unsafe beaches.) In particular, most beaches on the Pacific Ocean side of Cabo are too dangerous for swimming.
But the collision of blue ocean and long wide stretches of gold sand here is scenically stunning!
The best beaches in Cabo
1) Medano Beach
Of all the beaches in Los Cabos, Medano Beach (Playa el Medano) is the crowd favorite.
This two-mile expanse of coarse golden sand, stretching from the marina in Cabo San Lucas is also the best place to swim in Cabo. The tequila-clear turquoise waters are usually calm, with very little surf.
Not surprisingly, Medano Beach is also the most popular.
It’s one of the top areas to stay in Cabo. Several luxury hotel, timeshare and villa resorts have staked out prime real estate here (including two lovely Pueblo Bonito resorts).
Restaurant-bars galore (known for their all-day happy hours) are squeezed in beside parasailing, jet ski, boogie boarding, kayak and other water sports rental shacks.
Water taxi boats also pick up bikini- and shorts-clad guests on Medano Beach for trips to Land’s End.
For people-watching and good times, plunk yourself down at a table in the sand and order a 2-for-1 margarita or beer. Chairs at some bars are like short loungers, so you can even work on your tan at the same time.
And don’t forget to check what the beach vendors are selling! Silver jewelry, colorful Mexican blankets, hats, beach cover-ups…
Pro tip for enjoying Medano Beach
Most of the action happens closer to the Cabo San Lucas Marina.
To escape the blare of music and/or for fewer crowds, head further up along the beach towards Tabasco Beach Bar & Restaurant.
2) Lover’s Beach
It’s not exactly an undiscovered secret cove.
But for a couple of hours, it’s worth shaking out your towel on Lover’s Beach (Playa del Amor) at the tip of Land’s End.
Striking rock formations tower above on either side.
If you walk all the way out across the golden sand behind, you hit Divorce Beach (see #3).
Part of the fun is getting there – you can only get there by sea.
You need to take a water taxi boat to set foot on Lover’s Beach. Jump on one at the marina, or hail one from Medano Beach (see #1).
Or you can kayak or SUP over from Medano Beach.
Can you swim in Cabo at Lover’s Beach? Indeed! It’s generally calm and a safe place for swimming.
Tips for enjoying Lover’s Beach
Wear your bathing suit. There are no change facilities or bathrooms.
Don’t forget to bring a hat, sunscreen and water, as there is no shade.
While it’s one of the prettiest Cabo San Lucas swimming beaches, there’s also some good snorkeling, so you might want to bring snorkel gear too.
And go early in the morning or late in the afternoon if you hope to cuddle with your honey without lots of other people around.
3) Divorce Beach
No one really knows why it’s named Divorce Beach (Playa del Divorcio). The locals joke it’s the rough seas encountered there.
Whatever, it contrasts nicely with the calm waters of Lover’s Beach across the other side of the sand.
A world away from happening Medano Beach, secluded Divorce Beach is ideal for quiet sunbathing and relaxing.
But don’t be foolish and try to swim.
The strong rip tides and crashing waves make swimming extremely dangerous here (rogue waves have been known to sweep people out).
How do you decide between the top Mexican hot spots? Cabo or Cancun – which is better? What about Cabo vs Puerto Vallarta?
4) Chileno Beach
Another of our favorite Cabo beaches is Chileno Beach (Playa Chileno).
It’s set against a backdrop of upscale homes and the new Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, one of the most luxurious hotels in Cabo.
It was certified a “Blue Flag” beach in 2015 by the Foundation for Environmental Education for its clean water quality.
Chileno Beach is safe for swimming and offers excellent snorkeling for older children and adults. (The swimming and snorkeling area is roped off from boats.)
A paved parking lot, two new outdoor showers, public restrooms and a wide boardwalk leading to the beach make it easy to access.
You’ll find it very clean (it’s groomed every day).
And unlike Medano Beach, it’s not frequented by beach vendors.
Tips for enjoying Chileno Beach
There are umbrellas you can rent, but to be safe, bring your own.
Also bring snacks or lunch plus drinks, as there are no concessions.
Be aware that it can get crowded on weekends; the best time to go is in the morning on weekdays.
5) Santa Maria Beach
We also love Santa Maria Bay (Playa Santa Maria) for snorkeling.
And we’ve seen whales there too!
Recommended reading: Find out all you want to know about swimming and snorkeling at Santa Maria Beach.
6) Cannery Beach
Cannery Beach is one of those under-rated and little-known Cabo San Lucas beaches. It sometimes goes by different names: The Locals Beach, Old Peoples’ Beach, Playa Publica or Playa Coral Negro.
Whatever, it’s right in the heart of Cabo San Lucas, located at the entrance to the marina.
You’ll often find locals relaxing here.
Some kayak and SUP tours heading to Lover’s Beach also leave from this Cabo beach, as they don’t have to contend with boat traffic departing and entering from the marina (which is the case if they leave from Medano Beach).
7) Los Cerritos Beach
On an easy day trip from Cabo San Lucas, you can explore Playa Los Cerritos (Los Cerritos Beach), about a 45-minute drive away.
It’s one of the only beaches on the west coast of Baja Sur where you can swim. (Others are too wild, with wicked waves.) In summer, especially, the water is very calm.
This is also a great surfing beach. There are areas with waves that appeal to both beginners and experienced riders, and you can take surf lessons or rent a board here.
When we drive up to the cool Baja California beach town of Todos Santos, we make a point of stopping at this beach to check out the surf scene – which is always fun to watch.
Summer? Really? Yes, summer in Cabo is a great time to visit, especially in early summer.
8) Playa Bledito (Tequila Cove)
Another beautiful Los Cabos swimming beach is the small cove in front of the Hilton Los Cabos, called Playa Bledito or Tequila Cove.
To chill in style, get a day pass at the Hilton’s Enclave Beach Club.
One of the nicest beach clubs in Cabo, it features a boardwalk, beach chairs shaded by umbrellas and a waterfront bar serving craft margarita cocktails and tapas.
Day passes at the Enclave Beach Club
Day pass packages are available for non-guests.
For reservations, email enjoy.loscabos@hilton.com or call 52-624-157-5042.
9) Playa Costa Azul
For a signature surfing beach in Los Cabos, head to Playa Costa Azul on the Sea of Cortez side.
The Zippers reef break reels in pro surfers, especially during the summer months.
The Los Cabos Open of Surf is a prime surf competition which takes place each June at Zippers. The event includes live music, swimsuit fashion shows and fine food.
If you’re looking for a cool beach bar, Zipper’s Bar & Grill is right on the beach, offering perfect views of the surf action and easy-on-the-wallet prices.
Pro tip
Try the shrimp tacos and other tasty Mexican food dishes at Zipper’s.
10) Playa Solmar
Anchored by the Grand Solmar Land’s End and other Solmar Resorts at one end, Playa Solmar (Solmar Beach) is one of the best Cabo San Lucas beaches on the Pacific Ocean side, along with Divorce Beach (#3).
It’s postcard-pretty and seems to stretch on forever!
Its not a swimming beach, however – the strong currents are ferocious.
But Playa Solmar is free of beach vendors. And it’s perfect for a long stroll on thick golden sand. Keep your eyes out for passing whales in winter!
The sunsets in Cabo are also spectacular here.
Pssst! Want to go whale watching? See our reviews of the best whale watching tours in Cabo San Lucas.
11) Playa Hotelera
Among the San Jose del Cabo beaches, Hotel Beach (Playa Hotelera) is popular. One of the reasons is that it’s home to numerous resorts, like the Viceroy Los Cabos and all-inclusive Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos.
Again, there’s no safe swimming in the sea here.
The waves are often huge, and the sound as they crash on the beach can be thunderous.
But for walking?
Oh yes! And it’s never crowded.
12) Monuments Beach
Popular with surfers, Playa Monumentos or Monuments Beach offers some of the best surfing for seasoned surfers.
This small beach is located by The Cape, a Thompson Hotel.
When we stayed here, it was fun swinging on the hanging daybed on our balcony and watching the surfers catch the waves.
And when you’re paddling out on your board, you can see El Arco (Cabo’s famous rock arch) in the distance.
Beginner surfers should beware of sea urchins, rocks near the beach and other hazards.
13) Playa Palmilla
Discover another one of the best beaches in Los Cabos at Playa Palmilla (Palmilla Beach), a Blue Flag haven located near San Jose del Cabo.
If you’re looking for an undeveloped swimming beach, without beach clubs and restaurants, this will be your happy place!
Its soft sands and crystal-clear waters are perfect for chilling out, far from the party crowd that’s drawn to Medano Beach (#1 above). And the water is safe for swimming.
Palmilla Beach has eight thatched palapas for shade, but they fill up in the morning.
So bring your own umbrellas and beach chairs, along with a cooler with drinks and snacks plus beach toys for the kids. Then the whole family will be happy!
You’ll find public restrooms and showers, however, close to the Playa Palmilla parking lot. There’s a manned lifeguard station as well.
This beautiful beach makes for a nice change of scene from Medano Beach – we always love our time here.
14) El Ganzo Beach
Tucked away at Puerto Los Cabos marina’s southwest corner, El Ganzo Beach, also known as Puerto Los Cabos Beach, is another one of the best beaches near Cabo San Lucas.
It’s a pristine gem that’s safe for swimming.
Of course, you can shake out your towel anywhere on the beach. But there a couple of beach clubs that make beaching so much more comfortable here.
One is Hotel El Ganzo’s beach club. There’s also the new Veleros Beach Club.
This laid-back beach offers plenty of room to relax without the crowds – and it’s another beach we always enjoy when visiting Cabo.
Resorts with swimmable beaches in Cabo?
Medano Beach resorts where you can swim
With Medano Beach arguably being the best swimmable beach in Cabo, it stands to reason that you can swim in the sea at most hotels on the beach here. Most of the time, that is…
The calmest ocean swimming on this beach is along the stretch closest to the town and marina.
Close-in Medano Beach hotels
Starting from the town-end of the beach, these hotels offer the best swimming on Medano Beach:
- Breathless Cabo San Lucas (on the Marina, but it has access to Medano Beach)
- 1 Homes Preview Cabo
- Hacienda Beach Club & Residences
- Corazon Cabo
- Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort & Spa
- ME Cabo
- Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos
- Pueblo Bonito Rose
- Club Cascadas de Baja
Medano Beach hotels further away from town
Once you get beyond Club Cascadas de Baja and further away from town, the steepness of the beach entry increases and waves get bigger.
Sometimes you can swim at these Medano Beach hotels, but sometimes the waves may be too big for anything more than body surfing at the water’s edge.
All-inclusive Medano Beach resorts
Most of the time you cannot swim at the following two all-inclusive resorts. But every now and then the swim gods shine on you and the water is calm.
Just don’t count on being able to swim at the resort beach if you stay here.
Swimmable beach resorts in Cabo on the Corridor
Along the 20-mile tourist Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, you can swim at these Cabo resorts:
San Jose del Cabo beach resorts where you can swim
Apart from the Corridor and Medano Beach resorts above, there are very few other hotels with swimmable beaches in Cabo – except for these three in San Jose del Cabo:
- One and Only Palmilla – Gorgeous, colonial-style resort favored by celebrities and those who want to stay at the best
- Hotel El Ganzo – Artsy, boutique hotel with a water taxi to a private beach club
- Cabo Surf Hotel – The beach in front isn’t really a swimmable beach (it’s rocky), but it’s great for surfing
What to wear to the beach? Ladies, check out these cute beach sandals for women, and guys, see these comfy flip-flops for men.
That wraps up our guide on the best beaches in Los Cabos!
Los Cabos is a beach lover’s dream. From serene Lover’s Beach and family-friendly Playa Palmilla to the lively Medano Beach, there’s a sandy retreat for everyone.
See you on the beach!
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Photo credits: 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 14, 20 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | 3, 8 courtesy Los Cabos Tourism
About the authors
Great list! I absolutely fell in love with Cabo. The beaches are spectacular and so unique with the dramatic cliffside and the wild waves.
Palmilla is my personal favorite, but they all have their strengths.
Yes, the beaches sure are stunning, aren’t they! Thanks for commenting (and sharing your favorite beach in Cabo).
Those beaches look dreamy and are inviting me to be there right now!
Indeed, Cabo boasts some beautiful beaches :-).