Best Beaches in Cabo San Lucas

Here is something most travel blogs gloss over: at most beaches in Cabo San Lucas you do not swim. The Pacific Ocean side has powerful waves, strong rip currents, and steep drop-offs that catch visitors off guard every year. Only a handful of beaches are swimmable, and even those can change with conditions.

The swimmable beaches are on the Sea of Cortez side: Medano Beach, Chileno Bay, Santa Maria Beach, and Palmilla. These are protected from Pacific swells and have calmer waters. On the Pacific side, our beach guide marks Solmar, Divorce Beach, Migriño, Las Viudas and Cerritos as beaches where you do not swim. Always read the flag (red flag = no swimming, double red = beach closed, yellow = caution) and ask locals before entering unfamiliar water.

For snorkeling, Chileno Bay and Santa Maria Beach are your best bets - both have protected marine areas with tropical fish, sea turtles, and rays. For boat tours, Medano Beach is the main departure point for glass-bottom boats, sunset cruises, and water taxis to Lover's Beach.

Surfers should head to Costa Azul in San José del Cabo for consistent breaks. For a quieter beach day, Palmilla is the locals' pick - calm water, soft sand, and none of the vendor hustle of Medano. If you are staying in a luxury villa in Pedregal, you will have access to a private beach via the famous tunnel entrance.