8 Best Beaches in Cabo: Where to Swim, Snorkel and Surf

Some of the best beach days in Cabo start with a boat ride, because the most famous sand here has no road in. Lover's Beach sits right beside the Arch at Land's End, and you get there by water. That is only one of the eight beaches we keep going back to, from calm snorkel coves on the Corridor to a first surf lesson near San José del Cabo. Here is where to swim, where to snorkel, and where to just bring the camera.

Cabo San Lucas: Médano and Lover's Beach

1. Médano Beach

Médano is the beach most of us start with. Visit Los Cabos calls it the vibrant heart of Cabo San Lucas, and it is one of the most popular swimmable beaches in all of Los Cabos. You get calm water, beachside restaurants and bars, and water sports like kayaking, snorkeling and parasailing. It also carries a Blue Flag, according to Visit Los Cabos.

Médano is the launch point too. Water taxis leave from here for the Arch and Lover's Beach, so you can do a beach morning and a boat ride in the same day. See our Cabo San Lucas guide for what else is close by.

2. Lover's Beach (Playa del Amor)

This is the one people come to Cabo to see. Lover's Beach is a small spit of sand between two big granite rock formations, right next to the Arch. The easy way in is a water taxi across the bay from Médano. If you want a little workout, it is a short kayak or paddleboard ride over calm water, and glass-bottom boats from the marina run trips here too.

Visit Los Cabos calls it ideal for swimming and snorkeling, and you may spot sea lions near the Arch. Walk across the sand and you hit Divorce Beach on the Pacific side, known for dramatic cliffs and crashing waves. That side is for photos. Bring shoes, because the sand gets hot in the afternoon. Our Lover's Beach how to get there guide has more.

The Corridor: Santa María, Chileno and Palmilla

The Tourist Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo is where the calm snorkel coves live. All three of these are on the Visit Los Cabos Blue Flag list.

3. Santa María Beach

Santa María is a horseshoe bay and a protected marine sanctuary, with shallow water and a lot of tropical fish. It is great for snorkeling, swimming or just floating. You can reach it by car or by boat from the marina, and it sits close to Chileno. Go in the morning, when visibility is at its best.

4. Chileno Beach

Chileno has a reef with tropical fish and tide pools, and Visit Los Cabos calls it one of the best spots in Los Cabos for snorkeling and even beginner friendly diving. You will find palapas for shade and rentals for snorkeling and boating. Weekdays are quieter. For a deeper dive, read our Chileno snorkeling guide and the Cabo snorkeling guide.

5. Palmilla Beach

Palmilla is the Blue Flag beach closest to San José del Cabo. It is a protected cove with calm, swimmable water, good for a swim or a snorkel, and you can watch the local fishing boats come and go. Facilities are limited, which is exactly why it keeps a slower, quieter pace. Pack what you need for the day.

Surf and Tide Pools: Acapulquito, Cerritos and Playa Viudas

6. Acapulquito (Old Man's Beach)

Acapulquito sits in the Costa Azul area near San José del Cabo. Visit Los Cabos calls it the most beginner friendly surf spot in Los Cabos, with a right hand point break and long, rolling waves that longboarders love. If you have always wanted to stand up on a board, this is the place to try. It is also on the Blue Flag list. Surf season on this side typically runs from late May through September, with June and July the most consistent.

7. Cerritos Beach

Cerritos is about an hour north of Cabo San Lucas on the Pacific, with surf all year and a laid back beach town feel. It makes a great day trip, whether you surf or just want to watch the sets roll in with a cold drink.

8. Playa Viudas (Widow's Beach)

Playa Las Viudas is a Corridor stop for tide pools and rock formations. It is open to the ocean, so guides like Fodor's say skip the swim and come for the tide pools and the photos instead. Low tide is the fun time to explore.

Read the Flags Before You Swim

Cabo's water changes by the day, and the town makes it easy to know what you are walking into. The Los Cabos government, through ZOFEMAT and Civil Protection, posts flags on the beaches:

• Green: good conditions for swimming.
• Yellow: caution, moderate waves.
• Red: no entry to the sea.
• Purple or white: harmful marine life in the water.
• Black: the beach is closed.

Trained staff watch busy beaches like Palmilla, Chileno and Médano. If a lifeguard tells you to stay out, stay out. A red flag day is a great excuse for a long lunch on the sand. Our best beaches in Cabo page has more on swimming by beach.

FAQ

Which Cabo beaches can you swim at?

Visit Los Cabos lists Médano, Chileno, Palmilla and Lover's Beach as swimmable, and Santa María is a calm cove known for snorkeling and floating. Conditions change day to day, so check the posted flag and follow the lifeguards before you go in.

How do you get to Lover's Beach?

No road goes there. Take a water taxi from Médano Beach, paddle over by kayak or paddleboard, or ride a glass-bottom boat from the Cabo San Lucas marina. A private yacht can also stop at the Arch.

Which Los Cabos beaches have a Blue Flag?

Visit Los Cabos lists five: Chileno, Santa María, Palmilla, El Médano and Acapulquito. The list can change from year to year, so confirm the current one before you plan around it.

What do the beach flags in Los Cabos mean?

The Los Cabos government (ZOFEMAT with Civil Protection) uses green for good swimming conditions, yellow for caution with moderate waves, red for no entry to the sea, purple or white for harmful marine life, and black for a full beach closure.

Key Takeaways

• Swim on the calm coves: Médano, Lover's Beach, Santa María, Chileno and Palmilla.
• Lover's Beach is boat, kayak or paddleboard only, and Divorce Beach next door is for the view.
• Visit Los Cabos lists five Blue Flag beaches: Chileno, Santa María, Palmilla, El Médano and Acapulquito.
• Learn to surf at Acapulquito, or road trip about an hour north to Cerritos for surf all year.
• Playa Viudas is for tide pools and photos, not a swim.
• Always read the posted flag and follow the lifeguards. Red means stay out of the water.

Want to see the Arch from your own boat? A private yacht day can take you around the Arch and drop anchor in a calm bay, and our concierge can help you plan the rest of your beach days. Confirm stops and timing when you book.