Day Trips from Cabo San Lucas | Places to Visit near Cabo

There are many types of travelers. Some like to stay at an all-inclusive resort and just like to go from the pool to the beach and vice versa. Others prefer to go out and explore the surrounding towns, taste the local cuisine and learn about the culture. If you are the latter, there are many day trips from Los Cabos where you can discover some charming towns.

If you want to know a little more about Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, and the nearby beaches during your Los Cabos vacation, there are several colonial towns and other unique places to visit. To get to them, there are several tour companies with excellent guides who know the history and points of interest of each town, or you can rent a car and plan your own itinerary. Here is a list of places to take the best day trips:

San Jose del Cabo

San Jose del Cabo is one of the most visited cities in Los Cabos. It was founded in the 18th century and still preserves part of its colonial architecture of Spanish origin. This is seen around the main square, where many families congregate to spend their free days during their trips to Cabo. San Jose del Cabo is well known for its many art galleries and world-class restaurants. If you are a fan of a charming town with interesting culture and gastronomy, you should definitely plan a day trip to this interesting coastal town.

Todos Santos

Perhaps one of the most famous places near Cabo San Lucas is Todos Santos Mexico, but even if you’re not familiar with this name, you’ve probably heard the song that was inspired by it. According to local legend, Todos Santos is home to the Hotel California that inspired The Eagles’ song by the same name. There are some organized tours to Todos Santos that will drop you at the hotel for a drink at the bar. You can also spend your day here shopping in boutiques along the cobblestone streets or relaxing on the local beach while eating fresh seafood.

Los Cerritos Beach

Along the way to Todos Santos, you’ll pass by Los Cerritos Beach, which is popular for one very good reason: surfing. At the tip of the Baja Peninsula, where Cabo San Lucas is located, the water and currents can be a little rough, so you’ll need to head up the road for a good surf break. On day trips from Cabo San Lucas to Todos Santos, you can easily stop by here for some food while watching the surfers, or you can spend your whole day here learning how to hang ten.

Los Barriles

To check out another beach and explore a smaller town, Los Barriles is one of the best day trip ideas. While it’s most popular for windsports like kitesurfing, the town also has delicious Mexican food that’s full of tradition and flavors. To explore more of the seemingly-endless beach, rent an ATV in town, and you can ride out to secluded spots for snorkeling.

El Chorro and Santa Rita Hot Springs

These hot springs are naturally beautiful places near Cabo San Lucas that are worth a trip, especially in winter when the weather is cooler. Because they’re further from town, you’ll want to rent a car, which will also give you the freedom to stop in the villages along the way for a bite of food. The local communities take great pride in preserving their land and these attractions, and they charge just a small entrance fee for the springs. The best tip for these day trip ideas is to go during the week when it’s not so crowded.

Cabo Pulmo

Declared a Protected Natural Area since 1995, Cabo Pulmo Marine National Park is more than 65 km². Home to the oldest coral reef on the west coast of North America, it is a successful model of marine conservation. Considered a dream destination for divers, it is definitely one of the best places to visit in Los Cabos. At Cabo Pulmo, you can swim with sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, exotic fish, and even sea lions. You can also kayak to the sea lion colony.

Santiago

The town of Santiago is a small community dating back to 1723. It has a small zoo and a botanical garden; however, the attractions that make it one of the best day trips are on the outskirts of town and one of the best places to visit in Los Cabos.

Visit the Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere Reserve, and among these mountains, is the Zorra Canyon. Inside the canyon is a 9-meter high waterfall called Sol de Mayo, which falls into a freshwater lagoon where you can swim and cool down. A short distance away is the Santa Rita Hot Springs, where you’ll find some worthwhile natural hot springs.

Balandra Beach

Among the day trips from Los Cabos that you can't miss is visiting Balandra Beach. It is located 30 minutes north of La Paz, which is the capital of Baja California Sur. Have you found one of the best places to visit in Los Cabos yet, that you’ll visit next? Balandra has one of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico. Its waters are amazingly crystal clear and shallow, so you can walk in them without stopping to see your feet. It is surrounded by several hills, to which you can climb to take the best picture of your Los Cabos vacation.

While there’s plenty to do in Los Cabos, there’s always something new to discover you never know what adventures are waiting for you. Whether you go just down the road for a day trip to San Jose del Cabo or venture inland to the hot springs, these adventures will show you more of the local culture and diversity.