This post may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I could earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Ready for a holiday in the sun but not sure what else to put on the itinerary besides lounging by the pool? Here are 11 unique things to do in Cabo San Lucas to make the most of your trip to beautiful Baja California Sur!
After weighing the pros and cons of Cabo San Lucas vs San Jose del Cabo, you have decided that you will be visiting Cabo San Lucas—or maybe both—and are wondering what there is to do besides sunbathing and partying. Don’t worry, I have you covered!
This list of unique things to do in Cabo San Lucas should help you plan your trip around some of the unique activities this stunning Mexican destination has to offer.
Whether you are looking to party the nights away, have a relaxing getaway, or go on full adventure mode, there are plenty of fun and unique things to do in Cabo San Lucas for every kind of traveler.
So let’s get to it!
11 Unique Things To Do In Cabo San Lucas
1) Breakfast at Casa Valentina: One of the best places to eat in Cabo San Lucas
In a sea of overpriced and underdelivering restaurants in Cabo San Lucas, mainly focused on a foreign clientele—with many not even serving real Mexican food—Casa Valentina stands out, in a good way.
Casa Valentina is a charming Mexican restaurant, nestled inside a picturesque garden, serving traditional Mexican dishes—perfect to satisfy my extreme chilaquiles craving straight out of the plane.
This is a great spot to eat as locals do and try some of the many unique delicious dishes that Mexican breakfast offers, from huevos divorciados to chilaquiles, to tasty enfrijoladas and more!
The location is really cute, the service was incredible, and the food was delicious, even my Mexican mom was impressed, and she knows how to make some good chilaquiles!
While I am fully aware that I am totally biased, I will still dare to say that after traveling the world for almost 8 years now, nothing compares to a good Mexican breakfast.
So make sure to head to Casa Valentina to get a taste of what you have been missing your whole life at the breakfast table.
2) Stroll along the Marina Cabo San Lucas
While you might end up at the Marina Cabo San Lucas as a starting point for a tour, don’t skip strolling along it and discovering the businesses around it.
When strolling along the marina you will enjoy the view of the docked yachts, the unique rocky hills of Cabo San Lucas, and my favorite thing, if looking over the edge of the water you will notice a wide variety of unique fish swimming between the rocks.
I was very impressed by this, I have never seen these many kinds of different fish without the need to snorkel.
Along the marina, you will also find some souvenir shops, a tucked-away artisan market, bars with a view, and plenty of tour salespeople… beware.
After having a really bad experience with a last-minute in-person tour purchase I would advise you to not give in to the sellers on the marina, and rather do your research online before booking a tour.
However walking along the water is still an enjoyable activity to do, especially if paired with stopping by a bar with a view for a sunset drink.
3) Pick-me-up at Lands End Coffee Roaster: One of the best coffee shops in Cabo San Lucas
Another unique thing to do in Cabo San Lucas is to explore the coffee scene.
If you know me, and this blog, you will know that coffee is the first thing I will look for in any destination I visit. And the one that stood out the most while in Cabo San Lucas is the conveniently located Lands End Coffee Roaster.
If you are anywhere close to the Marina Cabo San Lucas, whether it is before or after a boat tour, and find yourself in desperate need of a pick-me-up, fear not, good coffee is just around the corner!
Lands End Coffee Roasters is a compact coffee shop that is just a few steps away from the popular Cabo San Lucas Marina and is the perfect pit stop to fuel up with a tasty iced coffee before continuing the day’s adventures.
4) Enjoy Cabos diverse sea life from the comfort of a transparent boat
One of the best unique things to do in Cabo San Lucas is take a transparent boat tour to feel like you’re snorkeling without even having to get wet.
There are plenty of boat tour salespeople advertising the tours at the marina, but if you want to arrive with a plan you can always book your transparent boat tour in Cabo San Lucas in advance.
With the boat’s transparent bottom, you will get to enjoy the Sea of Cortez’s diverse life swimming under you, as well as the vibrant blue of the Cabos coastline, all while staying nice and dry!
This is a great activity to do if visiting Cabo San Lucas with someone who is not too comfortable with snorkeling or being in the water in general.
5) Visit the iconic Arch of Cabo San Lucas
An unmissable thing to do, and definitely one of the most unique things to the region, is to take a tour to see the iconic Arch of Cabos San Lucas.
You can do this with the transparent boat tour, but the tours are shorter, or you can take a regular boat tour that shows you around the coast with a guide that explains the rock formations along the way.
On a good weather day, most tours showing you the iconic Arch of Cabo San Lucas will also offer a stop at one of the two Lands End beaches which are only accessible by boat, Lovers Beach or Divorce Beach.
Which is a great addition to the tour as there are not many beaches directly in Cabo San Lucas.
Tip: Always follow your guide’s instructions on swimming safety in Cabos beaches, as conditions can change quickly based on currents and ocean behavior.
6) Dive in Cabo Pulmo: A Marine National Park
For the adventurous at heart, one of the most unique things to do in Cabo San Lucas is to take a diving tour to Cabo Pulmo, a Marine National Park.
Cabo Pulmo is easily one of the most gorgeous diving spots in the world. Thanks to its National Park status, the area’s natural ecosystem has been protected and reefs have been recovered, allowing tons of migratory species to return and thrive in the Sea of Cortez.
This is why Cabo Pulmo is known for its incredible sealife and unique diving experiences, such as diving with hammerhead sharks, seeing massive schools of colorful fish, and swimming alongside mobula rays.
My boyfriend drove himself to Cabo Pulmo and said it was a bit of a chaotic drive, with dirt roads and herds of bulls in the middle of the road.
If you’d rather skip the hassle of getting there by yourself, make sure to book a Cabo Pulmo diving tour leaving from Cabo San Lucas for ease of planning!
7) Go on a life-changing whale-watching tour
For those of us who would rather see the marine life from the boat and not in our immediate proximity, a great activity, and one of the most unique things to do in Cabo San Lucas is to go on a whale-watching tour.
Cabo San Lucas is a coveted winter destination due to its warm temperatures for the sun-seekers as well as for the incredible bucket list-worthy experiences that it provides, such as witnessing the yearly visit of majestic grey whales, humpbacks, whale sharks, and even orcas!
I went on a whale-watching tour many years ago, further north into Baja California Sur, and it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life, and one I would recommend to everyone.
I also recently did a whale-watching tour off the coast of Vancouver Island, in Canada, and it didn’t even come close to what it is like to see them in Baja California.
The water of the Sea of Cortez is calmer and the whales are so used to the visitors that they tend to come close to the boats like curious water puppies!
So if you’re visiting Cabo San Lucas between December and April, booking a whale-watching tour is a must. Truly a once in a lifetime experience!
8) Admire the art exhibitions and the picturesque papel picado at The Place Cabo
Even though it’s mostly known for its party vibes—especially compared to its artsy neighbor, San José del Cabo—Cabo San Lucas still has its own touch of folklore and Mexican charm at The Place Cabo.
The Place Cabo is a little pedestrian street decorated with picturesque papel picado dangling from above, and lined with art exhibitions about local subjects, from sunsets to cacti to incredible sealife photography.
Strolling through this artsy little corridor is one of the most unique things to do in Cabo San Lucas for the art lover, and a great activity to add for a nice afternoon away from the margaritas by the beach.
9) Feast at El Toro Güero: One of the best cheap eats in Cabo San Lucas
No matter where you are in Baja California, seafood is vital to the state’s cuisine, and Cabo San Lucas is no different, so trying it is a must!
After asking around and talking to some locals, everyone had the same undisputable winner: Mariscos el Toro Güero, or El Toro Güero Seafood.
El Toro Guero Seafood is a no-frills seafood joint that serves all kinds of delicious regional seafood dishes, from the unmissable shrimp ceviche tostadas—my favorite—to incredible marlin quesadillas, to perfectly seasoned micheladas.
Loved by locals, the vibe is casual and authentic, the prices are reasonable, and the food is incredible!
One of the best places to eat in the city, as well as being one of the best cheap eats in Cabo San Lucas.
10) Visit Santa Maria Beach: One of the most stunning beaches in Cabo San Lucas
While visiting Cabo San Lucas generally means a beach holiday in everyone’s mind, it’s funny to think that there are not many beaches immediately IN Cabo San Lucas.
The main one, Medano Beach, is relatively small and lined with businesses, that make the beach space even tighter, plus, here you will find no shortage of harassing sellers that pass by every couple of minutes.
So one of the best beaches to visit from Cabo San Lucas for peace, quiet, and space, is the stunning Santa Maria beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the area.
Being just a quick 10-minute drive from downtown Cabo San Lucas, this tranquil beach is far away from the noisy beach bars and sellers of Medano Beach.
And it oddly has the most perfect kind of rocky sand I have ever seen—small enough to not be uncomfortable to lay on, big enough that it doesn’t get stuck anywhere.
The beach is also incredibly clean and well taken care of, the perfect spot to relax and read that book you have been carrying around during your trip to Cabo San Lucas.
11) Buy uniquely themed Los Cabos souvenirs at Rip Curl
A very random, but unique thing to do in Cabo San Lucas, is to buy practical wearable souvenirs, such as the uniquely designed t-shirts sold at Rip Curl.
Much better than the bikini body t-shirts sold in every cheap tourist shop, Rip Curl Cabo San Lucas t-shirts provide a local touch to its normally surf-focused brand.
This is the kind of souvenir that we like to get from the different places we travel to, unique designs from brands we already love and buy from.
I hope this list of unique things to do in Cabo San Lucas helps you plan an unforgettable trip!
Whether you’re there to party, relax, or dive into adventure, Cabo San Lucas has something special for every kind of traveler. Which activity would be at the top of your list for your upcoming trip to Cabo San Lucas? Let us know in the comments!