Located on the tip of the Baja Peninsula, Cabo is an ideal location for a weekend away. Particularly easy to get to if you live on the west coast, Cabo sees over 300 days of sunshine per year, with temperatures ranging between 60 degrees (in the winter) to 90 degrees (in the summer). The best time to visit is after the spring break crowds leave and before the weather turns hot and muggy; sometime between May and June. An ideal destination from the US, there’s really no reason you shouldn’t spend a weekend in Cabo at least once in your life.
How to Spend a Weekend in Cabo
Before arriving in Cabo it’s important to be prepared. Unlike certain destinations abroad, I think it’s important to come to Cabo knowing where you’re going to stay and how to get from the airport to your hotel. If you’re staying in a hotel they can usually pick out activities for you, but by doing some research ahead of time you’ll save both time and money so that you can spend ample time enjoying the sun.
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Getting Around Cabo
Before arriving in Cabo, I highly recommend booking a car rental from the airport to your hotel. Depending on where you’re staying some hotels offer free shuttle services or can certainly book a shuttle for you. To save some money I chose to book my own transportation and settled on using Viator. My ride cost $60 one-way for a private ride and communication with my driver was easy. Once I landed and exited the airport my driver was already waiting with a sign that had my name on it. If you do forget to book a ride ahead of time you can always book once you land at the airport. It will just be more expensive.
Another great option when booking transportation is using Bookaway. With Bookaway you’re able to compare prices across multiple different transportation companies.
You can go even cheaper by booking a seat in a van full of other people. Please remember that this might be very time-consuming. If you’re the first person to arrive you’ll have to wait for the rest of the guests to arrive and then you might be dropped off last (depending on where you’re staying).
As far as getting around once you arrive in Cabo, again, this is something I would rely on the hotel for or book ahead of time. I’ve heard many stories of tourists waving down their own taxis only to be charged an exponentially higher fare than normal. By booking with the hotel or pre-arranging rides you should know how much you’re going to pay ahead of time. And don’t forget to tip! Mexico utilizes the Peso but USD is also an accepted form of payment.
Please note that Uber does operate in Cabo but they are not allowed to pick up at the airport.
Where to Stay in Cabo
There’s no shortage of luxury hotels and Airbnb’s scattered throughout Cabo. And when choosing where to stay I knew that no matter what I chose, I couldn’t go wrong. When choosing where to stay take into consideration whether or not you want an all-inclusive, adults-only, or if you want your own VRBO so that you can have more privacy.
I ended up staying at the fabulous Nobu Hotel Los Cabos, located on the southwestern tip of the peninsula. Although the hotel was further away from downtown Cabo, it was an idyllic stay. To read more about my experience, check out this post.
Activities in Cabo San Lucas
If you’re headed to Cabo for a weekend getaway, there is no shortage of things to see and do. On one hand, you can spend time at your hotel and be a beach bum all weekend. Or on the other hand, you can venture out to see what the town really has to offer. While spending 2 days in Cabo isn’t *quite* enough time (in my humble opinion); you’ll have the chance to explore and pack in fun-filled activities along the way. Below you’ll find a list of some of the most popular activities and Cabo attractions.
- Rent ATVs
- Go boating/sailing
- See the Arch of Cabo San Lucas
- Horseback ride on the beach
- Participate in a food/drink tour
- Go whale watching
Don’t miss 10 of the Best Things to Do in Cabo
GO BOATING/SAILING
Boating past the famous Arch of Cabo San Lucas out into the Pacific Ocean was by far one of the most fun and memorable activities I did in Cabo. While there are tons of boating companies to choose from, depending on how much money you’re willing to pay will determine what kind of experience you’ll have. I ended up booking a spot on Cabo Adventures “Luxury Sailing Cabo Tour” because it felt like a fair price with many amenities. On the plus side, the boat was awesome, the food was great, and the drinks really were unlimited. The boat hosts were continually bringing us out whatever drinks we requested and often jumped at an empty glass. Included in the price is pick up/drop off to and from your hotel, however you don’t have control of when you’ll be picked up and dropped off so you could be waiting for long periods of time. The downside was that when you’re able to paddleboard/snorkel you’re brought to this little cove with tons of boats so it feels very touristy. The boat also seats 20 people, and while there were only 7 people when I went – 20 would’ve been way too many. I would highly recommend calling beforehand to confirm how many people are already booked on the boat before deciding whether or not to go. Or if you have the money – splurge on something private!
RENT ATVs
The other activity that I participated in was renting ATVs to ride through the desert. Using G-Force Adventures we were picked up from our hotel, brought to the property, and taken through the desert to the beach. Once we got back to our starting point we participated in a free tequila tasting and were taken back to the hotel. I really enjoyed this experience and would recommend it. The downfall is you have no control over when you’re picked up/dropped off so expect to be waiting around quite a bit.
Both of these experiences were great, but if I were to do them again I would schedule a ride to come to pick me up once the activity is over. This is because when you arrive back at your starting point, you’re required to sit around and wait for pictures to load, plus you’re pressured into purchasing. In the case of Cabo Adventures, the rides only leave on the hour. So if you’re dropped off at 2 pm, you’re required to wait until 3 pm to leave.
2-Day Cabo San Lucas Itinerary
DAY 1
Upon arrival to Cabo, check into your hotel. Spend the day at your hotel pool soaking up the sun and enjoying the amenities of the hotel. Head to downtown Cabo for drinks and dinner and to experience Cabo off of resort property. I recommend getting sunset drinks at Sunset Monalisa (when making a reservation make sure to request outdoor seating) before heading to dinner at La Lupita Taco & Mezcal. This is a fun little taco joint in downtown Cabo with live music and tequila flowing like water! If you plan to head to town for dinner I highly recommend hiring a driver for the entire night so that you aren’t stuck trying to find your own taxi. Please note that there are two La Lupita’s; you want to eat at the one in Cabo San Lucas, not San José del Cabo.
DAY 2
On your second day in Cabo get off of the hotel property for a fun day excursion (see above for ideas). After your day excursion head back to the hotel to eat at a restaurant on the hotel property. If you are staying in a hotel that doesn’t have great restaurant options, I highly recommend heading to the Nobu Hotel Los Cabos for a wide variety of different restaurants. If you like seafood, make a reservation at Nobu. And if you like meat, make a reservation at Ardea Steakhouse.
When you travel to Cabo San Lucas (even if you’re only spending a weekend), expect fun in the sun and to get a little bit wild. In Mexico there are great attitudes all around, the tequila flows freely, and incredible resorts beckon you to come to visit. While a weekend in Cabo is hardly enough time, it will give you a good enough taste that you’ll want to book a trip back.
SHOP MY FAVORITE CABO LOOKS
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Kylee is a Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) nurse passionate about making travel affordable and accessible to nurses. Inspiring nurses to travel both near and far, Kylee began Passports and Preemies in 2017 while volunteering in Skopje, North Macedonia as a way to reach nurses and advocate for the prevention of nurse burnout by traveling. Kylee is the original creator of the “8 Day Vacay” – a vacation geared towards nurses who aim to take advantage of the potentially 8 days off between work weeks with no need to use PTO.
