The best beaches in Los Cabos: Lovers Beach & Divorce Beach & Medano Beach & Chileno Beach & Santa Maria Beach
Los Cabos is located on the southernmost tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. It is a very popular vacation destination, and people are drawn to Los Cabos for various reasons, but its fabulous beaches are the main attraction for most visitors
In Los Cabos you can unwind in paradise, escape the everyday hectic and stress, relax on pristine beaches, and immerse yourself in the gorgeous underwater world via snorkeling right off the beach or by boat.
The fantastic weather of Cabo San Lucas is another plus. With its tropical desert climate that has an average of more than 352 days without rain, and daily high temperatures that are almost always above 77 F (25 C), and rarely exceeds 93 F (34 C), one has to ask: Can it get any better?
Lovers Beach (Playa de los Amantes) & Divorce Beach (Playa del Divorcio)
Unfortunately, the location of Lovers Beach on google maps is not correct. Here are the correct locations for both beaches:
There are basically three ways to get to Lovers Beach – you will then walk from Lovers Beach to Divorce Beach:
take a water taxi from IGY Marina Cabo San Lucas
take a kayak tour
come here on an excursion
Lovers Beach (Playa de los Amantes) is nestled between the dramatic rock formations of Land's End. It is one of the must-visit places in Cabo San Lucas.
Lovers Beach is located on the Sea of Cortez side, which has calm waters perfect for swimming. As it faces east and therefore gets full sun in the mornings, you can pack a picnic and spend some time in the morning soaking up the sun.
There is a small clearly marked swimming zone at Lovers Beach with a little bit of snorkeling. Stay inside the marked zone, as there will be lots of water taxis coming and going outside of this zone who may not see you and run you over.
Everything you need to know about snorkeling can be found here.
Divorce Beach (Playa del Divorcio) can be reached by walking from Lovers Beach through the corridor between the tall rock formations to the Pacific side. Its name derives from the crashing waves and strong currents that separate it from the calmer waters of Lover's Beach, symbolizing the sometimes-turbulent nature of marriages.
This beach is facing south and has sunshine from mid-morning until the afternoon. Its rugged beauty and panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean are captivating. Come here to enjoy a picnic, take fantastic photos of the rugged rock formations, be captivated by the sounds of the crashing waves, and simply appreciate the raw power of nature.
Just remember to admire its splendor from the safety of the shore, as there is absolutely no swimming at Divorce Beach, due to dangerous undercurrents that will pull you out to sea and there is nobody there to help you.
Medano Beach (Playa El Medano) in Cabo San Lucas
Medano Beach is by far the most popular beach for tourists in Cabo San Lucas. Its western side is known for its lively atmosphere and beautiful scenery, while its eastern side is much more quiet and serene, and a great place to relax on the sand and enjoy the sunshine.
Medano Beach has many access points. Here are two that we have used:
For the western end of Medano Beach: park at the Plaza Puerto Paraiso or try to find a free parking spot in this general area and walk down Callejon Pescadores or Avenida del Pescador to the Medano Beach entrances
For the eastern end of Medano Beach: Park at the visitors parking lot at Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas or on the street before you get into the premises and follow the signs to the beach
There are designated swimming zones on the western side where you can swim in calm waters. Since people sometimes feed the fish, you can do some limited snorkeling there.
For many, the biggest attraction of the western side of Medano Beach is that there are plenty of activities to keep you busy, such as jet skiing, parasailing, and paddleboarding. There are also many restaurants and bars along the beach, serving food and drinks for much for the day.
At night, the western side of Medano Beach comes alive with music and dancing, making it a great place to party.
Whether you're looking for relaxation or adventure, Medano Beach has something for you, either on its eastern or western side.
Parking will likely be difficult to find nearby, so be prepared to walk a couple of blocks.
Western Part of Medano Beach:
Eastern part of Medano beach:
Chileno Beach / Playa el Chileno
Chileno Beach is located right off Highway 1, roughly half-way between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.
It is one of the best beaches in Los Cabos, if not the best beach in Los Cabos.
On Highway 1, take the exit to Playa el Chileno and follow the signs to the parking lot. The parking lot has quite a few spaces, but due to the popularity of Chileno Beach, it sometimes fills up during high season. Getting there before 11am is always a good idea.
Chileno Beach is safe for swimming, as it is located in the protected Chileno Bay.
It has soft coarse sand and no water shoes are needed to walk on the sand or to get into the water. You should bring your own food, and a beach umbrella or a beach tent, as there are very limited services and shade.
The beach has public restrooms.
There is good snorkeling on both the northern and southern ends of the beach by the submerged rocks. When you enter the water at the southern end, you will likely be greeted by lots of fish, as visitors keep feeding the fish over there.
Everything you need to know about snorkeling can be found here.
Santa Maria Beach / Playa Santa Maria
Located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of Chileno Beach, Santa Maria Beach is located right off Highway 1, roughly half-way between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.
On Highway 1, take the exit to Playa Santa Maria and follow the signs to the parking lot. The parking lot rarely ever fills up to capacity, but it can happen.
Don’t blindly follow google maps – the location of the parking lot is here.
Santa Maria Beach has mostly coarse sand. People with sensitive feet may want to use water shoes to walk on the sand and into the water.
You should bring your own food, and a beach umbrella or beach tent, as there are very limited services and shade.
The beach has public restrooms.
There is snorkeling on both the northern and southern ends of the beach by the submerged rocks.
Everything you need to know about snorkeling can be found here.
Palmilla Beach / Playa Palmilla
With a length of 2,800 ft (850 m), Palmilla Beach is one of the longest beaches in the Los Cabos area.
It has mostly soft white sand, but also some patches with coarser sand. Parts of the water, especially in the southern part, are roped off for swimming.
Located right outside San Jose del Cabo, Palmilla Beach is located right off Highway 1.
On Highway 1, take the exit to Palmilla Resort, drive through the resort grounds, and follow the signs to Playa Palmilla. The parking lot sometimes fills up to capacity during high season, so come before 11am if you can.
Don’t blindly follow google maps – the location of the parking lot is here.
The only area that is good for snorkeling is at the southernmost point by the submerged rocks under the Palmilla Resort buildings. Be careful and protect yourself and your camera as the ocean current can sometimes push you up against the rocks.
Everything you need to know about snorkeling can be found here.
Where do you want to go now?
Author: Rudy at Backpack and Snorkel
Bio: Owner of Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides. We create in-depth guides to help you plan unforgettable vacations around the world.
Other popular Purple Travel Guides you may be interested in:
Like this Backpack and Snorkel Purple Travel Guide? Pin these for later:
