Start Here
Los Cabos is two towns and a corridor of resorts at the very tip of the Baja California peninsula, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez. Cabo San Lucas is the busier, louder one. San José del Cabo is quieter, more colonial, more walkable. Most families pick a resort somewhere in between and day trip into both.
This is one of the closest international beach destinations from the western United States. A two hour flight from LA, three from Denver, four from Dallas. That short flight time is a big deal for families with younger kids.
The water here is not like Cancún. The Pacific side has strong currents and waves. The Sea of Cortez side is calmer, especially at Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas and Chileno Bay. If your kids want to swim in the ocean, you need to be specific about which beach you choose.
✈ Los Cabos · Trip at a Glance
• • •
🌎 Region: Baja California Sur, Mexico
📝 Language: Spanish (English widely spoken at resorts)
💰 Currency: Mexican Peso (MXN). USD accepted at most resorts.
☀ Best Months: November through May
⭐ Family Rating: ★★★★☆
Getting Around
San José del Cabo International Airport (SJD) is the main arrival point. It sits between the two towns, about 20 minutes from San José and 45 minutes from Cabo San Lucas depending on traffic.
Most families arrange a private transfer or use their resort’s shuttle. Taxis from the airport are fixed rate. Expect to pay around $80 to $100 USD for a one way ride to the Cabo San Lucas hotel zone. Uber operates in Los Cabos and is often cheaper than taxis for getting around town.
Renting a car is worth considering if you want to explore beyond the resort corridor. The drive between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo is about 30 minutes on a four lane highway. The road to Todos Santos on the Pacific side takes about an hour.
Airport Transfers
SJD to Cabo San Lucas hotel zone: ~$80 to $100 USD private transfer. Book in advance.
Getting Between Towns — Uber works well. Taxis are plentiful but negotiate or confirm the rate before getting in. Local buses run along the corridor for about 35 pesos.
Where to Stay
The resort corridor between the two towns is where most families end up. All-inclusive resorts dominate this stretch. The key decision is which end you want to be closer to and how important a swimmable beach is to your family.
Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort
On the corridor with a great pool complex for kids. Swimmable beach. Close enough to San José for an evening stroll into the Art District. Rooms from around $350/night.
Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos
All-inclusive with a dedicated kids’ club, waterslides, and family suites. Sits on a beautiful stretch of non-swimmable beach, but the pool setup more than makes up for it.
Grand Velas Los Cabos
Luxury all-inclusive. The kids’ club here is excellent, and the suites are big enough that nobody feels on top of each other. Starts around $600/night but includes everything.
Casa Dorada at Medano Beach
Right on Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas, which is one of the few swimmable beaches in town. Walking distance to the marina, restaurants, and the water taxi to Lover’s Beach.
What to See
El Arco and Lover’s Beach
El Arco is the rock arch at the very tip of the peninsula. You can see it from shore, but the way to experience it is by water taxi or glass bottom boat from Medano Beach. The ride takes about ten minutes. Most boats will drop you at Lover’s Beach, a small cove between the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez. Swim only on the Sea of Cortez side. The Pacific side has dangerous currents.
Water taxis run about $15 USD round trip per person. Glass bottom boats cost a little more and loop past the sea lion colony on the way.
San José del Cabo Art District
Thursday evenings from November through June, the galleries in San José’s Art District stay open late for an Art Walk. It is low key, family friendly, and a nice way to spend an evening. The streets around the district are lined with restaurants, ice cream shops, and small boutiques.
Outside of Art Walk nights, San José’s main plaza is a good spot for an afternoon. The church, the small shops, the kids running around the square. It is a working Mexican town, not a resort bubble.
Whale Watching
From December through April, humpback and gray whales migrate through the waters off Los Cabos. A whale watching boat tour is one of the top family activities during those months. Tours run about $65 to $85 USD per adult, less for kids, and most are two to three hours. You will see whales. It is that reliable during peak season.
What to Eat
Los Cabos has a strong food scene, especially in San José del Cabo. Do not eat every meal at the resort. The restaurants in town are worth the trip, and kids do well at most of them.
Fish Tacos
Baja California is the birthplace of the fish taco. Battered, fried, topped with cabbage and a creamy sauce. You will find them everywhere from street carts to sit down restaurants. Around 40 to 80 pesos per taco.
Chocolate Clams
A local specialty. These large clams get their name from the brown color of the shell, not the flavor. Served grilled, raw, or in ceviche. About 200 to 350 pesos for a plate.
Tacos de Marlin
Smoked marlin shredded and served in a taco with tomato, onion, and lime. A Cabo staple. Street vendors and taco stands serve them for about 35 to 50 pesos each.
Machaca
Dried, shredded beef or pork rehydrated and cooked with eggs, peppers, and onions. A traditional Baja breakfast dish. Served at most local restaurants for around 120 to 180 pesos.
Nicole’s Perspective
I send families to Los Cabos when they want a beach vacation that is easy to get to, feels international, and does not require a ton of planning. It is one of the simplest Mexico trips to pull off, especially for families flying out of the western US.
The thing I always tell my clients is to be thoughtful about the beach situation. Not every resort beach is swimmable. That matters when you have kids who want to be in the water. Medano Beach, Chileno Bay, and Santa Maria Bay are the three I point people toward.
If you are doing Los Cabos with kids under 10, an all-inclusive makes a lot of sense. The Hyatt Ziva and Grand Velas both have strong kids’ programming. For families with older kids and teenagers, I like mixing a resort stay with a day in San José del Cabo and a morning out on the water.
Whale season is the standout. If your travel dates are flexible and your kids are old enough to sit on a boat for a couple of hours, December through March is the window. The whales come close. It is one of those experiences kids talk about for years.
Day Trips
Todos Santos
About an hour up the Pacific coast. A small arts and surf town with galleries, restaurants, and the Hotel California (yes, that one, sort of). Good for a half day trip.
Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park
About two hours east on the Sea of Cortez. A living coral reef with incredible snorkeling. Best for families with kids 8 and up who are comfortable in open water.
La Paz
Two hours north. The capital of Baja California Sur. The Malecón is beautiful, the seafood is outstanding, and you can swim with whale sharks from October through April.
Chileno Bay
A protected cove between the two towns with calm, clear water and good snorkeling right off the beach. One of the most family friendly swimming spots in the area. Free to visit.
Practical Tips
Sun and Heat
The desert sun here is intense. Even in winter, you will need reef safe sunscreen, hats, and shade breaks for the kids. Hydration is a constant. Bring reusable water bottles and fill them at the resort.
Water Safety
Most Pacific side beaches have strong currents and are not safe for swimming. Look for beaches with green flags. When in doubt, ask the hotel staff. Medano, Chileno, and Santa Maria are the reliable swimmable ones.
Money
US dollars are accepted almost everywhere in the tourist zone, but you will get a better rate paying in pesos. ATMs are available at the airport and in both towns. Carry small bills for taxis and tips.
Best Season
November through May is the sweet spot. December through March adds whale watching. Summer is hot and humid, and September is hurricane season. Water visibility in the Sea of Cortez peaks from July through November.
How Many Days
Four days covers the resort, a boat trip to El Arco, and an evening in San José del Cabo. Six days gives you time for whale watching, a day trip to Todos Santos or Cabo Pulmo, and real downtime at the pool. Los Cabos is a place where you do not need to schedule every hour.
Common Questions
Is Los Cabos safe for families?
Can kids swim at the beaches?
All-inclusive or not?
What age is good for whale watching?
Do I need a car?
Planning a Trip to Mexico?
I plan Mexico trips for families every year and know the resorts, the beaches, and the excursions that work for kids of every age. If you want help putting yours together, I would love to work with you.
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