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Los Cabos is the name for the two towns at the tip of Baja California Sur, Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, joined by about 20 miles of resort-lined highway called the Tourist Corridor, according to Mr Playas. Todos Santos, about an hour north on the Pacific, is the fourth option.
Most beaches here are not safe for swimming. The Pacific side has heavy shore break and undertow, and many Corridor resorts are pool resorts. If ocean swimming matters, stay on Medano Beach or a resort on a protected bay such as Santa Maria, Chileno or Palmilla. See our swimmable-beach resort list.
The four areas at a glance
| Area | Best for | Peak-season rate | From SJD airport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabo San Lucas (Medano and marina) | First visits, groups, nightlife, walking to boats | $200 to $400 mid-range near Medano; $100 to $150 budget | 40 to 45 min |
| Tourist Corridor | Full-service resorts, golf, honeymoons | $400 to $900 standard rooms | 25 to 35 min |
| San Jose del Cabo | Culture, couples, short airport ride | $150 to $350 boutique and mid-range | 15 to 20 min |
| Todos Santos | Art towns, surf, quiet | $150 to $350 boutique | About 1 hr |
Peak season is November to April. Rates: GoVisit Cabo. Drive times: JourneyFinder.
Cabo San Lucas: Medano Beach and the marina
This is the busy, walkable end of Los Cabos. Medano Beach runs east from Land's End and is the main swimmable beach in town, with beach clubs, water sports and water taxis to El Arco and Lover's Beach, per GoVisit Cabo. You can reach the marina, restaurants and bars on foot.
The trade-offs are noise, crowds and spring break in March. Cabo Tour Guides notes that guests at the Riu hotels on the eastern end report water too rough to swim, so the central stretch in front of the Pueblo Bonito resorts is the safer bet.
The Tourist Corridor
The Corridor is roughly 20 miles of Highway 1 between the two towns. It has the big resorts, the golf courses and the best snorkeling coves at Santa Maria and Chileno. It is not walkable, and taxis to Cabo San Lucas take 20 to 40 minutes and add up over a week, according to GoVisit Cabo.
Check the beach before you book. Luxury Hotel Compare found that Montage (Santa Maria Bay), Chileno Bay Auberge and One&Only Palmilla sit on swimmable water, while Grand Velas, Nobu and Viceroy advise against swimming in front of the hotel.
San Jose del Cabo
San Jose has a colonial center with a main plaza, a Gallery District and a weekly Thursday Art Walk from November through June, per GoVisit Cabo. It is the closest town to the airport. Much of its coastline has surf, so swimming is limited to spots like Palmilla.
Todos Santos and the Pacific side
Todos Santos is a Pueblo Magico about an hour north of Cabo San Lucas, with galleries, restaurants and the beginner surf at Cerritos Beach. Lodging is small-scale. The Pacific resorts closer to town, such as Waldorf Astoria Pedregal and Sandos Finisterra, have views but you swim in the pool, per Mr Playas.
Our pick by trip type
- First visit or a group trip: Medano Beach. Swim, walk to dinner, take a water taxi to the Arch.
- Honeymoon or a do-nothing week: a Corridor resort on Santa Maria or Chileno Bay, or an adults-only all-inclusive.
- Families: Medano or a resort with a big kids' club. See family resorts.
- Short trip or late flight: San Jose del Cabo, 15 to 20 minutes from the airport.
Compare hotels for your dates
Search hotels, resorts and villas across Los Cabos and sort by price or beach.
Book four to six months ahead for December to March, when the best-value rooms go first, according to GoVisit Cabo.
Sources
- GoVisit Cabo: where to stay by area
- Mr Playas: where to stay in Los Cabos, zone by zone (Nov 2026)
- Cabo Tour Guides: Medano Beach hotels compared (Sep 2026)
- Luxury Hotel Compare: Cabo resorts with a swimmable beach (Sep 2026)
- CaboSanLucas.net: beaches, where to swim, snorkel and surf
- JourneyFinder: Cabo airport transfers, SJD to Cabo San Lucas (2026)
