Your First 48 Hours in Cabo: A Two-Day Itinerary That Works

The first 48 hours decide the trip. Get them right and you are relaxed, fed and oriented by day three. Get them wrong and you spend two days in taxis figuring out where things are. This is the itinerary we give friends on their first visit. It is paced for people who just got off a plane.

Before you land

You fly into SJD, the Los Cabos airport. Pre-book your airport transportation. It is the single thing that makes arrival smooth, and it lets you walk past the crowd in the arrivals hall. English is widely spoken here and US dollars are accepted almost everywhere, so you do not need to solve money or language on day one.

Day one: arrive, eat, watch the sun go down

Lunch on Medano Beach: The Office

Drop your bags and go straight to the sand. The Office on Playa El Medano has tables in the sand and is open 7am to 10pm. $$$, a 4.3 rating from over 5,300 reviews. Order something cold and look at the Arch. You are here now. Medano is also the swimmable beach in Cabo San Lucas, so bring a suit.

Or the louder version: Mango Deck

Next door, open 8am to 10pm, $$, a 4.4 from around 6,200 reviews. Bar games, live music and a crowd. Pick this if your group came to celebrate.

Sunset: Sunset Monalisa

At km 6 on the Corridor, open 4pm to 10:30pm. $$$$, a 4.5 from over 2,100 reviews. This is the first-night table. Reserve it before you fly and aim to sit down 30 to 45 minutes before sunset. Bring a light layer, the evenings cool off.

Nightcap: Cabo Wabo Cantina

If you still have legs, Cabo Wabo on Vicente Guerrero is open until 11pm with live music and dancing. $$, a 4.3 from more than 6,250 reviews. One drink, then bed. Tomorrow starts early.

Day two: water in the morning, San José at night

Morning: snorkel. For first-timers, the two bays to know are Chileno and Santa Maria. Both are calm, protected and full of fish, with easy entry. Go in the morning, when the water is calmer, the fish are more active and the crowds have not arrived.

Lunch: Los Tres Gallos

Back in town, Los Tres Gallos on Leona Vicario is open 11am to 10pm. Mexican, $$, a 4.4 from about 1,530 reviews, with live music. This is your first real Mexican meal of the trip, so order widely.

Afternoon: San José del Cabo. Head to San José in the late afternoon. It is a 30 minute drive. Walk the art district and find a local market. It is the best way to see a different side of Los Cabos, pick up something made here, and practice your Spanish. Negotiating politely is part of the fun.

Dinner: La Lupita Taco & Mezcal

On José María Morelos, open noon to 10:30pm, closed Monday. $$, a 4.6 from around 2,200 reviews. Tacos, mezcal, live music, rooftop seating. If it is Monday, walk to Jazmin's Restaurant at Morelos 14 instead, open 8am to 11pm daily with a 4.5 from about 1,900 reviews.

Or make it a big night: Flora Farms

The farm-to-table restaurant at km 30, $$$, a 4.7 from about 3,400 reviews. Dinner is 5:30 to 9pm Tuesday through Saturday, and it needs a reservation made well in advance.

Practical notes

• Best season. November through April: 75 to 85°F, low humidity and whale season from December.
• Reservations. Book Sunset Monalisa and Flora Farms before you travel.
• Cash. Carry small pesos for tips, 15 to 20 percent is standard.
• Taxis. Agree the fare before you get in.
• Swimming. Medano, Chileno and Santa Maria are swimmable. The Pacific side is not.

Beach, sunset, snorkel, San José: that is 48 hours well spent, and you will know where everything is for the rest of the trip. Find your tables on our Cabo restaurants page.