Swimmable Beaches in Cabo: 4 for Swimming, 3 With Caution and 6 Do Not Swim
Where you can swim in Cabo, where you should not, and how to tell on the day.
Quick answer
Yes, you can swim in Cabo: we mark 4 of 13 beaches swimmable, with Chileno Bay and Santa Maria Cove rated excellent and Medano Beach and Palmilla Beach calm. Do not swim at the 6 beaches on our do-not-swim list, which include Solmar Beach and Divorce Beach on the Pacific side.
We live in Cabo, Mexico, and this is the list we give friends before they pack a swimsuit. The marks come from the beach notes of our local team. The ocean changes by the day, so look at the flag on the sand before you go in.
Swimmable beaches in Cabo, and the ones that are not
The swim marks are our own. When two of our notes differ on a beach, we use the more cautious mark.
| Beach | Can you swim? | What it is like | Facilities | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medano Beach | Yes, calm | Main party beach | Beach clubs, vendors, jet skis | Families, walking, parasailing |
| Chileno Bay | Yes, excellent | Crystal-clear water | Public restrooms, palapas | Snorkeling, a calm swim |
| Santa Maria Cove | Yes, excellent | Horseshoe-shaped marine sanctuary | None, carry in and out | Snorkeling from shore, no crowds |
| Palmilla Beach | Yes, calm | Quiet, residential | Limited | Long walks, a locals' beach |
| Lover's Beach (Playa del Amor) | Caution, Sea of Cortez side only | Boat access only | None | The photo, sunset trips |
| Bahía San Lucas (inside the marina) | Caution, murky | Calm, near downtown | Marina facilities | A quick swim |
| Acapulquito Beach | Caution, some surf | Surf beach | Limited | Beginner surf lessons |
| Costa Azul Beach | Do not swim | Surf zone | Restaurants nearby | Surfing, surf watching |
| Solmar Beach | Do not swim | Massive riptides | None listed | Sunset walks, photos |
| Divorce Beach (Playa del Divorcio) | Do not swim | Pacific side of Land's End, riptides | None listed | The photo |
| Playa Migriño | Do not swim | Open Pacific, current | None listed | ATV rides, surf |
| Playa Las Viudas (Widow's Beach) | Do not swim | Named for a reason | None listed | Tide pools at low tide only |
| Cerritos Beach | Do not swim | Big waves | None listed | Surf lessons, surf watching |
Can you swim in the ocean in Cabo?
Yes, you can swim in the ocean in Cabo, at the beaches we mark swimmable on the Sea of Cortez side, and only when the flag allows it.
Los Cabos has two coastlines, and they meet at Land's End, where the Arch is. The Sea of Cortez side is the calm, swimmable one, and you can snorkel there. The Pacific side is rough, with big waves and riptides on most beaches, and it is mostly not swimmable. That side is for sunsets, surf and walks.
So know which side a beach is on before you get in the water.
Best swimming beaches in Cabo San Lucas: how we rate them
We rate two beaches excellent for swimming, Chileno Bay and Santa Maria Cove, and we mark Medano Beach calm.
We do not pick one winner. Chileno has public restrooms and palapas, and our notes list it for snorkeling, families and a calm swim. Santa Maria Cove is a horseshoe-shaped marine sanctuary with no facilities, so carry in what you need and carry it out. Our Cabo snorkeling guide has more on both. To arrive by boat, the Luxury Two-Bay Snorkel visits both bays in 4 hours for $149 per person, plus 16% IVA and a $4 dock fee that you pay in cash on the day.
Medano is Cabo's main party beach. It has beach clubs, vendors and jet skis, so expect a busy beach.
Swimmable beaches in Los Cabos: Palmilla and a public beach
Palmilla Beach is the fourth beach we mark swimmable in Los Cabos, and we mark it calm.
Our notes call Palmilla quiet and residential, a locals' beach for long walks. You can walk it end to end in 45 minutes. Facilities are limited, so bring water.
For a public beach, our notes mark Chileno as public, with a resort next to it and public restrooms.
Which Cabo beaches are not swimmable?
Six beaches are on our do-not-swim list: Solmar Beach, Divorce Beach, Playa Migriño, Playa Las Viudas, Cerritos Beach and Costa Azul.
Three more have a caution mark. At Lover's Beach you swim on the Sea of Cortez side only. Bahía San Lucas, inside the marina, is calm but murky. Acapulquito is a surf beach with some surf. Here is why the six are on the list:
- Solmar Beach: massive riptides. Go for the sunset walk.
- Divorce Beach: the Pacific side of Land's End, with riptides. It is right next to Lover's Beach, so do not mix them up.
- Playa Migriño: open Pacific, with a current.
- Playa Las Viudas (Widow's Beach): named for a reason. Tide pools at low tide only.
- Cerritos Beach: big waves. It is a surf beach.
- Costa Azul: a surf zone. Go to surf or to watch the surf.
Beach flags, lifeguards and what to bring
A red flag means do not swim, a double red flag means the beach is closed, and a yellow flag means caution.
Look for the flag every time, and stay out of the water when it is red. A calm mark on this page does not make a beach safe on a red flag day. Our notes say Medano has lifeguards and most other beaches do not have them. Coverage changes with the season, so do not count on one.
Shade is rare on most beaches outside the resorts, so bring an umbrella. To see where the beaches are, use our map of Cabo beaches.
Resorts in Cabo on a swimmable beach
Our page on hotels on a swimmable beach has the detail, and the short list is 7 resorts on a beach we mark swimmable, from $180 a night.
Four are on Medano Beach: Casa Dorada Los Cabos from $180, RIU Palace Cabo San Lucas from $329, ME Cabo from $354 and Breathless Cabo San Lucas from $602. ME Cabo and Breathless are adults only. Chileno Bay Resort & Residences is from $1,401. Montage Los Cabos is on Santa Maria, from $939. One&Only Palmilla is on Palmilla Beach, from $1,437. For the other five, confirm ages when you book. See every resort we list on our resorts page.
Pick the beach first, then plan the day. For more beaches, see our page on the best beaches in Cabo.
Find your beach
Swimmable bays, surf breaks and quiet coves. The Cabo beaches worth the drive, and which ones to skip.
See the best beachesFrequently asked questions
Can you swim in Cabo San Lucas?
What is the best swimming beach in Cabo?
Which beaches are swimmable in Cabo?
Is Lover's Beach in Cabo swimmable?
Is Medano Beach in Cabo swimmable?
More Beaches in Cabo
Wake Up Steps From the Beach
Our local Cabo team can help plan the perfect trip.