Sandy Shoreline

Beach hopping is a must in Los Cabos

By Kirstin De La Cruz and Nick Honachefsky

Typically, vacations last anywhere from one to two weeks. For most people, this is sufficient time to clear the mind and relax the body. In Los Cabos, however, it’s simply not enough time, especially if the goal is to visit the area’s countless beaches. Sandy stretches meeting the Sea of Cortés extend from San José del Cabo, along The Corridor and into Cabo San Lucas. Going past the Arch, the shores are then met by the Pacific Ocean. Los Cabos’ landscape is peppered with beaches, each offering characteristics all their own, making beach hopping a vacation must-do.

Born with natural beauty and marked by five-star affluence, the shifting sands along Baja’s shoreline cater to just about every kind of desire a beach bum or jet-setter can want. Moonlit strolls over secluded sands, hustle and bustle with free-flowing drinks, high-octane ocean action or serene snorkeling — Baja’s beaches have something for everyone.

Couples Retreat
Sun-kissed holds a whole different meaning at Lover’s Beach, the idyllic enclave where the Sea of Cortés greets the Pacific Ocean at Land’s End. Spectacular sunrises and sunsets set the scene for total romance here under the grand El Arco stone formation. Jump on a short panga ride from the bustling Médano Beach to be dropped off on the secluded sands, hand in hand. If it all goes well, why not tie the knot? Sunset Weddings will gladly plan the event for you. Even more secret, a few well-placed sneaky steps past Lover’s Beach on the Pacific side, lies Divorce Beach. Heading north up the Pacific side from El Arco, you’ll find some truly vast and silent golden-sand beaches, though swimming is not recommended due to dangerous waves, deep drops and a wild riptide. Keep an eye out for breaching whales off the coast at Playa Solmar in front of the Pueblo Bonito resort. Playa Solmar can only be accessed if you’re staying on the Pacific side or during full and new moon low tides when you can walk around the rocky outcropping from the east. Stunning inspirational beauty exists on the East Cape beaches, where low tides expose vibrant tidal pools that house various sea creatures sure to inspire a smile and a kiss. Top it all off with a sunset stroll at Monuments Beach, or pull up to longtime local favorite beach La Playita at San José del Cabo, perfect for a late afternoon picnic. For true Hollywood-style romance, check out Meliá Cabo Real, where the staff can arrange some wonderful beach jaunts on horseback to complete your romantic fantasy.

Fun for the Family
Mom and Dad shouldn’t have all the fun. Or should they? Cabo’s beaches and resorts offer up plenty of options to either hang with the kids or keep them entertained for a few hours while you relax. No other beach in Cabo entertains families more than Médano Beach — packed with WaveRunners, kayak rentals, parasailing tours, volleyball, snorkeling and swimming pool options. Restaurants such as the Mango Deck and The Office are at your beck and call for an afternoon lunch, happy hour drinks or even a small chair-side siesta. Select hotels offer up kid-friendly activities, like Solmar Hotels & Resorts, where a well-organized kids’ club keeps children’s attention with face painting, water balloon fights and sandcastle making, as well as activities like soccer, basketball and pool games. Cabo Azul Resort also offers up coloring contests, clay figure molding and sandcastle building for the children while you sneak away for a beverage. Playa Chileno is noted as the most accommodating of local beaches; its shallow, crystal-clear waters teem with tropical fish for underwater exploration and convenient restroom facilities and showers are nearby to wash the kids off. A short stroll from Médano Beach there’s Cabo Dolphin Adventures, where kids and kids-at-heart can enjoy a 30-minute up close and personal swim with the lovely bottlenose beauties in an enclosed pool. Watch out for Ende, my favorite — she loves to tease the group!

Beach Party
Everybody loves a beach party. Add a big blanket, barbecue and adult beverages to fuel the tempo and you’ve got the hottest thing to hit the sands. The party never seems to stop at Médano Beach. Order up a few mojitos from the Mango Deck and take a short walk into downtown to keep the party going at the Hard Rock Cafe. Solmar Hotels & Resorts offer the perfect backdrop for a classic beach party. One of its hotels, the Playa Grande Resort & Grand Spa, hosts a weekly traditional Mexican Fiesta and fun-filled beachside barbecue, complete with genuine Mexican buffet and entertainment.

At sunset, Cabo San Lucas’ beaches come alive. To sample the party from the seas, jump on the Buccaneer Queen, a working 17th-century pirate schooner reproduction, for a spectacular sunset cruise and dockside drinks. Those with discerning tastes head toward swanky Nikki Beach, in front of the ME Cabo, where a trendy, sexy vibe soaks the well-dressed, highball crowd. Plenty of posh couches outside invite ultimate comfort. And there’s no need to drive around. Leave the driving duties to the experienced and sober. Transcabo shuttle service runs up-to-the-minute shuttles, cars and vans between most hotels, beaches and bars in Los Cabos.

Water Adventures
With 45.75 square miles, Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park is the centerpiece of the Los Cabos water playground, so there’s certainly no lack of waterborne excitement to be had from the beach. Cabo Pulmo — Baja’s only coral reef, bristling with technicolored marine life that includes vibrant butterfly fish, scrawled sea snails and multicolored sponges — is perfect for leisure snorkeling or kayaking. Chileno Beach’s shallow reef system can easily be accessed from the beach for snorkeling. If the sun gets to be too much, the soft sands of Chileno Beach are fully equipped with beach umbrellas, purified water and beach chairs to kick back and regain your swimming strength. Be sure to venture to the clear waters of the San José estuary and shorelines of Palmilla Bay, filled with diverse aquatic life, all while you’re serenaded by the songs of any of the 250 species of native birds that call the estuary home. The Médano Beach area comes through again, this time as the high-octane watersport headquarters, especially at El Médano Beach Club/Las Palmas del Médano, where attitude and adventure comes in the form of parasailing, snorkeling and waverunning. Snorkelers can strap on a mask and explore Land’s End, where the strange underwater formations of Neptune’s Fingers and the brilliant sponge-covered boulder fields of Sand Falls lie — the legendary Jacques Cousteau dove these spots. You may even spot the resident sea lion colony clamoring on the rocks at Land’s End.

Surfing Beaches
Surfing is to Baja like butter is to bread: perfect together. East Cape waves attract all levels of surfers, and ground zero for all things surfing is the Cabo Surf Hotel, situated at Km. 28, the flashpoint for all things surfing. If you didn’t have room to pack the stick, longboards and shortboards can be rented out, and to brush up on your skills, sign up for pro surfer Mike Doyle’s Surf School. Along the East Cape, Playa Costa Azul offers some secret and some more popular surf breaks, such as Zippers off of San José, attracting the beginner to expert crowd with easy waist- to head-high sets; La Roca, a tasty break that favors goofy foot surfers looking for the perfect right; and Acapulquito, a beginner’s break, known to offer a sweet, satisfying longboard wave. El Tule is a strong break for both lefts and rights set in the middle of The Corridor adjacent to Chileno Bay.

For more adventure, rent a car from Avis and head up along the Pacific side of the cape to find your own surf haven; be sure to stop by Km. 66 on Highway 19 at Playa Cerritos, a crescent-shaped beach break enclosed by hanging cliffs that overlook the beach from the west side. The waves are makeable on the inside but will tend to blow out by afternoon hours. Surfers pride themselves on being ahead of the curve, and you can check out surf breaks or follow up on accommodations in real time by using the Los Cabos Mobile Guide, a free downloadable cell phone tool providing travelers instant information on lodging, entertainment, local culture and tour operators, as well as updates on promotions and local events. Check out www.TIME2CABO.com for all the details.

There’s a time to sit back on the beach, toes in sand and a chilly one in hand, and there’s a time to break a sweat and have some fun. Pick your passion on Los Cabos’ beaches!

Why is Cabo so much fun? There is so much to do! Click here for a list of dive, watersports, fishing and tour operators. You'll also find links to Cabo's world class golf courses, spas, adventure tours, horseback riding, wedding coordinators and cruises.