Where to stay in Cabo San Lucas? In this post, we will be looking at the best areas to stay in Cabo San Lucas (include map and video), the best hotels in Cabo San Lucas for all budgets, and the safest place to stay in Cabo San Lucas.
Located at the intersection of the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of California, Cabo is famous for its five-star resorts, whale watching, authentic Mexican food, fresh seafood, championship golf courses, nightlife, and iconic attractions such as the Arco de San Lucas and Mount Solmar.
Cabo San Lucas is general safe for visitors, however, it is important to be aware of your surroundings, pickpocketing, bag snatching, and stick to the resort tourist area as possible.
The entire Los Cabos area are safe including Downtown Cabo San Lucas, San Jose Del Cabo, and Tourist Corrido. Exercise the common sense you use anywhere else in the world and you will be fine.
Where to stay in Cabo San Lucas?
The best areas to stay in Cabo San Lucas for tourists are Downtown Cabo San Lucas, Medano Beach, Marina, Pedregal Hills, San José del Cabo and Los Cabos Tourist Corridor. These are the most popular and safe areas for tourists that offer a wide range of attractions and amenities.
Downtown Cabo San Lucas is the overall best area to stay in Cabo San Lucas for first-timers. It is the most covenient location and has a wide range of lodging, shopping, dining, and nightlife. It is famous for its wild spring break nightclubs (December – April) and water activities.
Or perhaps you like the sound of everything it has to offer but would like it to be just a tiny bit quieter and less intense, in which case the nearby San Jose Del Cabo might be more to your liking. San Jose Del Cabo has more cultural sights with art galleries and historic colonial buildings.I
If you wanted to stick to a specifically designed tourist resort, then you have 19 miles of options to choose from in the Tourist Corridor. Tourist Corridor home to exclusive hotels and world class golf courses. Tourist Corridor is often patrolled by police and is the safest area in Los Cabos.
| 💖 Best Area for First-Timers: | Downtown Cabo San Lucas |
| 💎 Best luxury hotel: | Sandos Finisterra All Inclusive |
| 🏨 Best mid-range hotel: | Tesoro Los Cabos |
| 💰 Best budget hotel: | Seven Crown Express & Suites |
Map of Best areas & neighborhoods in Cabo San Lucas:
Best areas to stay in Cabo San Lucas for tourists:
1. Downtown Cabo San Lucas
Downtown Cabo San Lucas is a Mexican city with a real party feel, similar to locations elsewhere in the country like Cancun. Surrounded by beautiful beaches and ports, it is a destination where you can make the most of your days out on the water or relax on the sand.
With activities such as horse riding in the desert, parasailing on the beach, and options like snorkeling, scuba diving, whale watching, fishing, boat rentals, and cruises.
However, despite all of that, it is at night that the area really comes to life. Known far and wide for its vibrant nightlife scene, famous clubs, and bars.
There are the famous Cabo Wabo Cantina, the Baja Brewing Company microbrewery, Coco Bongo, Mandala, El Squid Roe, Giggling Marlin Bar & Grille, Nowhere will allow you to drink, dance, and party the nights away until the early hours of the morning.
For the nights where you want to take it a little slower or simply want to line your stomach, fabulous restaurants like Edith’s, Hacienda Cocina Y Cantina, and Sunset Da Mona Lisa provide ample options to enjoy an authentic, traditional Mexican meal in an iconic location.
There are plenty of shopping opportunities. Shopping malls like Plaza Bonita Shopping Mall, Plaza Puerto Paraiso, and Luxury Avenue Los Cabos are offers everything you may need!
You also have the history and culture spot of Cabo San Lucas Natural History Museum to learn more about the early natives of Los Cabos and the Mayan culture.
The Iglesia de San Lucas is the main church in Cabo San Lucas. The church is located in Town Square. It has a well-preserved 16th-century architectural style.
If you are looking for some luck, head to the PlayWin Casino which is a Vegas-style casino in Downtown Cabo San Lucas.
Downtown is also close to beautiful beaches like Lover’s Beach, Playa del Divorcio, Chilean Beach, Medano Beach where you can swim, sunbathe, relax, and enjoy watersports: jet skiing, parasailing, kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, paddleboarding, deep-sea fishing.
Golf enthusiastic will love to play at Dye-designed 18-hole golf course, Cabo San Lucas Country Club, with beautiful views of The Arch at Land’s End.
You can also take a day trip to the artsy quaint town north of Cabo, Todos Santos, which is home to Hotel California.
Downtown Cabo San Lucas hosts many of the region’s biggest festivities such as the Easter Festival in April, the Festival of San Jose each March, and the Day of the Dead every November.
Combining all of this with the range of fabulous hotels and resorts in the area, Downtown Cabo San Lucas is a fabulous choice to sit back in luxurious accommodation, take in your surroundings, and completely let loose, unwind and recharge in a stunning destination.
Best Places to Stay in Cabo San Lucas Downtown:
luxury ($$$): Sandos Finisterra All Inclusive Offering 5-star all-inclusive service, this 5-star hotel is situated next to a pristine beach and features 4 outdoor pools. It has panoramic views of Cabo San Lucas and the Pacific Ocean. The resort has a sauna, a hydrotherapy area, and a gym with views of the city.
mid-range ($$): Tesoro Los Cabos This 4-star hotel is set in the real heart of Cabo San Lucas, offers a spacious outdoor swimming pool with 2 hot tubs and a pool bar, a full-service spa, and an on-site restaurant. It has a breakfast buffet, a wide variety of menus, and cuisine specialties, like Italian, Mexican, fusion, seafood, and snack.
budget ($): Seven Crown Express & Suites is within a 5-minute walk of Cabo San Lucas and one kilometer from Playa de Amor Beach. The hotel is within a 5-minute walk of downtown Cabo San Lucas, which features shopping and dining.
If you are already settled with your accommodations in Cabo San Lucas, I suggest checking 22 Best Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas to know more what are the things to do and see in this Mexican tourist resort!
2. Medano Beach
For anyone coming to Cabo San Lucas for a relaxing beach vacation, I would strongly suggest taking a closer look at the area around Medano Beach (also known as Playa el Médano). The beach runs along Cabo San Lucas Bay from the east side of the marina to Villa del Palmar.
While the strong currents and riptides surrounding the area are ideal for many water sports, they can make swimming a dangerous proposition for many, especially weaker swimmers or children.
Medano Beach is known to offer the safest swimming conditions in the region, so visitors of all abilities will be able to enjoy the water to their heart’s content. This makes it a great choice to allow complete relaxation, where you don’t have to worry about taking a swim or keeping an eye on the kids the whole time.
These ideal conditions have made it a popular choice for people wanting to come and relax on the sand during their trip, so larger than average crowds may put off some visitors. That said, as often occurs in the more popular destinations, the range of amenities and attractions in the area has exploded as well.
Hotels, bars, shops, restaurants, and excursions are available to suit a wide range of tastes and budgets, meaning on the days where the beach is a little too crowded, you have plenty of other options available to ensure you have an enjoyable visit.
Best Places to Stay in Medano Beach:
- luxury ($$$): Marina Fiesta Resort & Spa, A La Carte All Inclusive Optional
- luxury ($$$): Breathless Cabo San Lucas – Adults Only
- luxury ($$$): Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort & Spa
3. Marina
The Marina is the ideal part of Cabo San Lucas to stay for anyone wanting to get out on the water and take advantage of the many opportunities available here.
Whale watching tours regularly take passengers out in the hopes of seeing pods of the majestic creatures, while regular kayaking excursions allow you to take advantage of the strong currents and enjoy an exhilarating experience.
There are also plenty of options for those who want a more relaxing, carefree experience as well. Cruise ships offer you the chance to explore other parts of the region in one of the most stylish ways possible or you can even rent luxury boats out to have a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The watery fun even extends on land as well, with the Cabo Dolphins Centre giving you the opportunity to have encounters with the beloved mammals, as well as a number of other animals.
If you were hoping to simply come here and enjoy a relaxing time watching the boats bob up and down in the water don’t fret, as they have you covered here as well. Oceanfront seafood restaurants, eateries, and bars serve tacos, tequila, and ceviche, allowing you to enjoy the culture and your surroundings all at the same time, in a completely chilled-out manner.
Supported by a collection of shops that range from high-end boutiques to local stores like Plaza Puerto Paraiso, Luxury Avenue Los Cabos, and Plaza Bonita; a theatre for evening entertainment, and various hotels to suit all budgets, it is a location that will appeal to a huge range of visitors.
The Marina district hosts some events each year such as the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament in October and the Los Cabos Summer Dive Fiesta in August.
Best places to stay in Cabo San Lucas Marina:
- luxury ($$$): Playa Grande Resort
- luxury ($$$): Sandos Finisterra All Inclusive
- mid-range ($$): Solmar Resort
4. Pedregal Hills
Located on the southwest of Cabo San Lucas’ downtown on the Pacific Coast, Pedregal Hills is upscale neighborhood that iis perched on the hills. It is the only luxury guard-gated residential community in Cabo San Lucas.
It’s a largely residential area of Cabo San Lucas that caters to an extremely high-end, exclusive type of visitor. Its luxurious establishments and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean give it a unique feel that combines class with natural beauty.
Centered around a gated community, stylish, high-priced hotels, bars and restaurants give those looking for a more sophisticated experience a place to stay, where they will be surrounded by like-minded people.
Pedregal Hills is very close to the nightlife area of downtown and Cabo’s world-class marina with its famous El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, Lover’s Beach, and Divorce Beach.
If you are seeking the type of experience you would get in a destination like Beverly Hills or South Beach in Miami, then Pedregal Hills is definitely an option you will want to consider.
5. San José del Cabo
San Jose Del Cabo is a separate city, located 20 miles northeast of its livelier sister city of Cabo San Lucas. Together, the two form a metropolitan area known as Los Cabos that is home to more than 350,000 people and served by the Los Cabos International Airport.
San Jose Del Cabo is perfect for couples, honeymooners, and those who want a more traditional Mexican holiday with a quieter getaway. You will find plenty of fine dining restaurants which are set in historic buildings with a romantic patio.
San Jose Del Cabo boasts many of the same attractions as Cabo San Lucas, which draws tourists from far and wide. Stunning beaches, plush resorts, numerous clubs, bars, and shops, as well as exciting activities and excursions, make it a place where visitors can relax and let loose for a while as they bask in the glorious sunshine and crystal clear waters.
However, there are also a few cultural attractions here as well, that may make it an ideal choice for an even wider range of people. There is the Mission San Jose Del Cabo, a beautiful, early 18th century Jesuit mission that is one of the oldest buildings in the region and a must-see for history fans visiting the area.
The San José missionary church is located on Plaza Mijares which is also home to the town hall, restaurants, and shops.
The area is also one of only two known places in the world where the extremely rare and nearly extinct Oryzomys Peninsulae Rice Rat can be found. That makes for a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in nature or wildlife to potentially make an incredibly rare sighting.
Seeing dolphins at Cabo Dolphins is an interesting thing to do in Los Cabos. The whale watching season when whales migrate to Los Cabos is from December to April. You’ll have an opportunity to see massive Humpback Whales and the California Gray Whales during the peak season, from January to March.
Art lovers will enjoy the thriving art district with interesting art galleries, displaying the works of Mexican and international artists. On Thursday evenings from November to June, you will have a chance to see the Art Walk where you can see the art galleries, shops that stay open late for visitors.
Hike at Estuario San José del Cabo; Surf at Costa Azul Beach, snorkeling at Playa Palmilla and Playa Santa Maria; and Explore Arroyo Seco Canyon are also some fun things to do while staying in this Cabo San Lucas’ twin sister.
This diversity truly ensures that visitors from all walks of life will find something to entertain them here, while also being a fabulous choice for anyone who likes variety from their destination.
If you are visiting San José del Cabo in March, you will have a chance to take part in the Festival of San José, patron saint of San José del Cabo. It has music, parades, food, drink, dancing, and parties.
Best places to stay in San Jose del Cabo:
- luxury ($$$): Marquis Los Cabos, an All – Inclusive
- mid-range ($$): Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos – All Inclusive
- budget ($): SIX TWO FOUR Urban Beach Hotel
6. Tourist Corridor
Tourist Corridor is one of the best places to stay in Cabo San Lucas all-inclusive because it has a good selection of high-end deluxe, boutique, adults-only to all inclusive resorts. It attracted many Hollywood celebrities like Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jennifer Aniston, Lucille Ball, John Wayne, Elizabeth Taylor, and Bing Crosby.
Better known as Los Cabos Corridor, Tourist Corridor is a stretch of road that runs for roughly 19 miles between San Jose Del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Los Cabos Corridor is an incredibly popular destination with tourists.
Luxury and all-inclusive resorts offer superb service, elegant beach clubs, on-site gourmet restaurants and spas, lagoon-like pools. You can find big brand hotels like Esperanza, Cabo Surf Hotel, Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort, The Cape, Marquis Los Cabos, Grand Fiesta Americana, Sheraton Grand Hacienda del Mar.
These hotels surround some fabulous golf courses and beaches, giving you a fantastic number of ways to unwind, whether you want to play around on the links, go swimming in the ocean, or simply bask in the glorious sunshine on the golden sand.
Tourist Corridor is also a golfers’ dream with eight impressive championship golf courses made by Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf, Greg Norman, and Robert Trent Jones Jr., the Corrido like Cabo del Sol’s Ocean Course, Cabo Real Golf Club, El Dorado Golf & Beach Club, Querencia Golf Club, and Palmilla Golf Club.
For beaches check out Blue Flag Beaches of Playa Palmilla, Santa Maria Beach, Playa Chileno, Playa Monumentos or Playa Acapulquito, Cuadra San Francisco, and you can visit Desert Park Natural Reserve.
Perhaps the most popular of all these beaches is Chileno Bay. Home to a glorious stretch of sand that meets crystal clear waters containing numerous species of tropical fish, sea turtles, invertebrates, and sponges, it is ideal whether you want to relax on the shore or go diving or snorkeling and explore beneath the waters.
It is even used for a number of sports fishing tournaments, an activity that is incredibly popular in the region.
Best places to stay in Los Cabos in Corridor:
- Luxury ($$$): Paradisus Los Cabos All Inclusive
- luxury ($$$): Hilton Grand Vacations Club La Pacifica Los Cabos
- luxury ($$$): Marquis Los Cabos, an All – Inclusive, Adults
Check out my virtual tour about the best places to stay in Cabo San Lucas in this video:
See More:
In conclusion, Downtown Cabo San Lucas, Medano Beach, Marina, Pedregal Hills, San José del Cabo and Los Cabos Tourist Corridor are the best and safest places to stay in Cabo San Lucas for tourists and first-time travelers.
Overall, if you want nightlife and a bustling atmosphere, Downtown Cabo or Medano Beach are great options. If you prefer a quieter and more luxurious experience, Pedregal Hills or the Tourist Corridor may be more suitable.
San José del Cabo is ideal for those seeking a cultural experience, while the Marina area offers a mix of amenities and convenience. Consider your budget, interests, and the type of vacation you desire when making your decision.