Los Cabos' tropical environment and the year-round warm waters of the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean guarantee you'll have plenty of recreational options to choose from. Fishing, golfing, diving and surfing—mainstays that made the area a vacation magnet—are perennially popular, but this ocean playground also ropes in those looking for adventure with activities like parasailing, ziplining and exploring the desert backcountry on an ATV.
Test the Waters with Deep-Sea Fishing
How could anyone serious about sportfishing not love the self-proclaimed Marlin Capital of the World—a place where landing a 100-pound catch is par for the course? Deep-sea fishing can be enjoyed all year in Cabo San Lucas, although prized marlins generally run from July through December. Other species typically found in offshore waters include wahoo, tuna, sailfish, yellowtail and dorado.
To reel them in you'll need to charter a boat. Pangas, small motor-powered skiffs used by local fishermen, are the most reasonably priced and can generally accommodate two or three fishermen, or you can go more upscale and reserve a cruiser or yacht with a capacity of up to eight. Regardless, splitting the cost of the rental helps lower the overall price. Charters can last from 5 hours to a whole day and typically head to the bountiful Gordo Banks, offshore from San José del Cabo, or into the Pacific Ocean.
Panga excursions can be arranged at the Cabo San Lucas marina or at the Puerto Los Cabos development just north of San José del Cabo. For larger boats, stick to the Cabo San Lucas marina. It's a good idea to confirm what's included up front; bait, tackle, food, drinks and cleaning are some of the items that might be incorporated into the rental fee. And if you do land a record catch, have a picture taken as documentation, since catch-and-release is the common practice and this will truly be “the one that got away.”
Stay on Land and Play a Round of Golf
For those on land, golf is the sport of choice in Los Cabos. Challenging championship-quality courses appear as winding ribbons of irrigated green in Cabo's dry, desert landscape. Most of Los Cabos' public courses are along the Corridor—the 20-mile stretch of road connecting Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo—and all offer scenic desert, ocean or mountain views.
Courses open to the public include the Palmilla Golf Club, at the One&Only Palmilla resort; the Ocean and Desert courses at the Cabo del Sol resort development; the Cabo Real Golf Course at the Las Ventanas al Paraiso resort; and the Cabo San Lucas Country Club. Greens fees can be quite high, especially in season (roughly mid-October to mid-June), although rates are somewhat cheaper in the afternoon. Contact your local AAA travel agency for help with adding a golf trip to your vacation package or travel itinerary.
Make a Splash with Snorkeling or Scuba Diving
Land's End, where the Pacific and the Gulf of California merge, is one of the most accessible and popular scuba diving locations. You can sign up for a reasonably priced tour to snorkeling sites near El Arco, or just take a 15-minute water taxi ride from the Cabo San Lucas marina or Playa el Médano to Lover's Beach, which is near the rock formation.
Once there, be sure and stay on the gulf side of El Arco since the currents and undertow on the ocean side (humorously referred to as Divorce Beach) are not safe for any type of water activity. Snorkelers are likely to spot schools of brightly colored angel, trigger and parrot fish. If you're not part of a tour, don't forget to arrange a time for the water taxi to pick you up for the return trip to Cabo.
Two other snorkeling and scuba spots to consider, both along the Corridor, are Playa Chileno and Playa Santa Maria. Playa Chileno, popular with locals, has clear blue water, palm trees and a coral reef where sea turtles, sea urchins and starfish hang out. Family-friendly Santa Maria, just to the south in a crescent-shaped cove, is a marine sanctuary with plenty of colorful tropical fish. The best time to come to either beach is in the morning before the tour buses arrive.
The primo site for diving and snorkeling, though, is about a 2-hour drive from Cabo San Lucas. Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the only living coral reef on North America's west coast. The area has few amenities, but it's what's underwater here that counts. The best months are June through July.
Seek out Scenic Beaches
Beaches in the Los Cabos area are stunning and dramatic, often rimmed by craggy rock formations. The sand is pristine and the water a beautiful turquoise. Unfortunately, strong waves and undertows on the Pacific Ocean side as well as at many beaches along the Gulf of California make swimming exceedingly dangerous. This, plus the lack of lifeguards, means these scenic beaches should be enjoyed for walks, picnicking, sunbathing, taking photographs or playing volleyball rather than for swimming.
You can swim, however, at 2-mile-long Playa el Médano, the main beach at Cabo San Lucas. You can also rent Jet Skis, go parasailing, people watch or chow down at one of the outdoor restaurants along the beach.
If you prefer views of Cabo from above, try parasailing. And for a real adrenaline rush, strap yourself into a zipline harness and fly across a desert canyon. Extreme sports aficionados rate the ziplines at Wild Canyon Adventures park the best in the Los Cabos region.