Best Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas: Wellness, Beaches, and Baja Culture
- GSS Staff
- 5 days ago
- 8 min read
Cabo San Lucas is one of those rare destinations where you can wake up to desert cliffs, spend the afternoon in warm, swimmable water, and end the day in a spa that feels more like a modern-day sanctuary than a hotel amenity. Together with neighboring San José del Cabo, the region known as Los Cabos blends beaches, wellness, food, and culture in a way that works for both first-time visitors and repeat regulars.
This guide brings together signature Cabo experiences: the classic Arch, boat trips, desert adventures—and a deeper layer of wellness rituals and hydrotherapy circuits that make Cabo especially interesting for travelers who care about rest and recovery, not just margaritas and marlin.
1. Anchor Your Trip With a Wellness Day
If there’s one thing worth planning in Cabo beyond “time at the pool,” it’s a dedicated wellness day.
The region’s top resorts have moved far beyond the standard massage menu into multi-step hydrotherapy, sound healing, moon-inspired rituals, and temazcal ceremonies.
You don’t have to be staying at these properties to build a wellness day around them (day passes or spa bookings may be available), but do check access policies in advance.
Built into the cliffs near Cabo San Lucas, Waldorf Astoria Pedregal designs some of its spa rituals around moon phases and Mexican folk-healing traditions. Think soaking rituals, bodywork, and guided relaxation that encourage you to slow down and reset—useful for anyone arriving burnt out from work, time zones, or life.
At SE Spa, the hydrotherapy “water journey” is the main event: a sequence of sauna, steam, cold plunges, pressure jets, warm pools, and thermal loungers designed to move you through cycles of heat, cold, and rest. Some evenings, the spa also offers sound healing experiences that layer vibration and music over water therapy—a powerful combination if you’re interested in nervous-system calm.
Viceroy’s spa hides an entire thermal grotto behind its serene white architecture. Expect vitality pools, experience showers, and contrast areas that move you between hot and cold. Treatments may incorporate CBD oils and balms, grounding body therapies, and multi-hour packages that are more like retreats than appointments.
Over near San José del Cabo, One&Only Palmilla structures its spa around garden courtyards and private treatment villas. Traditional Mexican healing influences, open-air relaxation spaces, yoga, and ocean-breeze movement classes make this feel like a small wellness village rather than a single building.
Several properties in the region host temazcal ceremonies—Mesoamerican sweat-lodge rituals guided by a temazcalero. Inside a domed structure filled with herbal steam and chant, the experience is emotional, intense, and intentionally symbolic: a journey of cleansing, renewal, and emergence.
If you do nothing else beyond the beach and the Arch, plan at least one full wellness day:a quiet morning, a hydrotherapy circuit, a meaningful ritual, and an early night.
2. Sail to Land’s End and See El Arco
Cabo’s most recognizable landmark is El Arco, the natural stone arch where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific. The surrounding area—Land’s End, Lover’s Beach, and Divorce Beach—shows off Cabo’s cliffs and shifting light in a way no pool view can.
You’ll find a range of boat experiences:
Glass-bottom boats from the marina for quick, family-friendly rides
Small-group cruises that circle the Arch and drop you at Lover’s Beach
Private catamarans or sailboats for sunset, snacks, and quieter views
If you want photos without harsh shadows, early morning and late afternoon are the most forgiving times to go.
3. Swim and Snorkel at Santa Maria and Chileno Bays
Cabo is known for dramatic surf, but not every beach is swimmable. Two of the best spots for safe swimming and snorkeling are:
Santa Maria Bay – a horseshoe-shaped bay with calm water and good visibility
Chileno Bay – another protected cove, great for spotting tropical fish and spending the day in and out of the water
You can take an organized snorkel tour that visits both bays in one outing, or arrive early on your own, before the mid-day crowds arrive. Either way, pack reef-safe sunscreen and plan to linger.
4. Watch Whales in Season
From roughly December through April, Cabo becomes a corridor for humpback and gray whales, with occasional sightings earlier or later. Whale-watching boats typically depart from the marina and head toward deeper water outside the bay.
You can choose:
Larger, more stable vessels with covered areas and bathrooms
Smaller boats for a closer-to-the-water feel and fewer people
Even if you’ve seen whales elsewhere, there’s something unforgettable about watching them breach with desert mountains in the background.
5. Take a Day Trip to Todos Santos
About an hour’s drive from Cabo San Lucas, Todos Santos is a designated Pueblo Mágico (Magic Town) that feels like Cabo’s slower, more introspective sibling. The town’s main draw is its creative energy: art galleries, small cafés, boutique hotels, and nearby surf spots.
A day here might include:
Wandering the historic center and browsing local art
Stopping for a long lunch at a farm-to-table restaurant
Driving or shuttling to a nearby beach overlook for sunset
If Los Cabos is your social wellness, Todos Santos is the quieter, reflective chapter of the trip.
6. Explore San José del Cabo’s Historic Center and Art Walk
San José del Cabo offers a more traditional town center than Cabo San Lucas, with colonial-era architecture, a central plaza, and a cluster of galleries and shops.
If your timing lines up, visit on a Thursday evening during the Art Walk, when galleries open late, streets fill with music, and local artists showcase their work. Even outside of Art Walk nights, San José’s center is a lovely place for a culture-first evening with dinner and a stroll.
7. Eat and Wander at Flora Farms and Acre
Two of the region’s most talked-about dining and lifestyle spaces sit inland from San José:
Flora Farms – a working farm with a restaurant, bakery, bar, small shops, and occasional workshops or yoga. Think rustic, warm, and buzzing.
Acre – a contemporary, design-forward property with a restaurant, cocktail program, and treehouse-style accommodations set among palms and greenery.
Both spaces are perfect for long lunches, celebratory dinners, or simply seeing how the Baja “farm-to-table” idea looks when it’s done with real intention.
8. Walk the Marina and Downtown Cabo San Lucas
For all the talk of resorts, Cabo San Lucas is still a real town with fishing boats, piers, music, and everyday life. The marina area is lined with restaurants, bars, and shops; it’s also where many tours depart and return.
A simple evening plan:
Walk around the marina to watch the activity
Dinner overlooking the water or tucked into a side street nearby
If you like people-watching and don’t mind a bit of bustle, this is where Cabo is most itself.
9. Add a Desert Adventure: ATVs, Side-by-Sides, or Hiking
Cabo is, at its core, a meeting point of desert and sea. To feel the desert side more deeply, consider:
ATV or side-by-side tours through canyons, riverbeds, and sand tracks
Guided hiking on coastal or desert trails for those who prefer quiet
Choose operators that emphasize environmental care—staying on designated routes and limiting group sizes—so the landscapes you came to see stay intact.
10. Try Camel or Horseback Rides on the Beach
For something surreal-but-memorable, camel rides along the Pacific dunes have become a signature Cabo offering. If you prefer something more traditional, horseback rides at sunset along quieter stretches of beach can be beautiful and surprisingly grounding.
Both options tend to work best in the cooler parts of the day: early morning or late afternoon.
11. Surf or Take a Lesson at Costa Azul
If you’ve ever wanted to test out surfing, Costa Azul is one of the best places to learn in Baja. Surf schools offer:
Soft-top boards
Short land instruction
In-water coaching for beginners
More experienced surfers can rent boards and paddle out on their own, depending on conditions.
12. Go Deep-Sea Fishing
Cabo’s reputation as a sportfishing capital is well-earned. Whether or not you’re a serious angler, a deep-sea fishing trip shows you another side of the region: early morning marina departures, miles of open water, and the possibility of marlin, dorado, or tuna.
You can join a shared charter or book a private boat, depending on budget and interest.
13. Visit a Local Glass-Blowing Studio
Many resorts and restaurants in Cabo and San José feature hand-blown glassware—colorful tumblers, pitchers, and decorative pieces. Visiting a glass-blowing studio lets you see how those pieces are created, from molten glass to finished product.
It’s a quick but memorable stop, especially for families or anyone who appreciates craftsmanship.
14. Take a Mexican Cooking or Taco Class
A cooking class can be one of the best ways to understand a destination. In Cabo, classes might include:
Tortilla-making from scratch
Salsas and guacamole with local chiles
Baja-style tacos (with options for pescatarians and vegetarians)
Tequila or mezcal tastings paired with food
If you’re traveling with older kids or teens, this is a shared activity that also pays off later in your home kitchen.
15. Play a World-Class Golf Course
If golf is part of your personal wellness or leisure routine, Los Cabos is home to several high-profile courses designed by big-name architects. The appeal here is less about checking off another course and more about the setting: ocean views, desert backdrops, and dramatic elevation changes.
16. Build Your Own Low-Key Wellness Day
Even if you never set foot in a spa, Cabo is inherently supportive of a slower, more intentional day. You can design a simple DIY reset around:
Sunrise walking or stretching on a quiet part of the beach
A long, unhurried breakfast instead of rushing to activities
Reading in the shade rather than scrolling
A tech-light evening: dinner outdoors, a walk, and early sleep
Cabo is marketed as high energy, but it’s surprisingly easy to make it the opposite.
Sample 3-Day Cabo Itinerary
Day 1 – Sea and Landmarks
Morning: Boat ride to El Arco and Lover’s Beach
Afternoon: Swim and relax at Santa Maria or Chileno Bay
Evening: Marina walk and casual dinner in Cabo San Lucas
This day keeps everything close to Cabo San Lucas and along the main corridor, so it doesn’t feel rushed.
Day 2 – Wellness and Food
Late morning: Hydrotherapy circuit and spa treatment at a wellness-focused resort
Afternoon: Quiet time at the pool or beach—journaling, reading, or napping
Evening: Farm-to-table dinner at Flora Farms or Acre
This day is intentionally slow: late start, long spa block, and a destination dinner. If you’re staying in Cabo San Lucas, just allow extra drive time to/from the San José area for dinner.
Day 3 – Desert and Culture
Morning: ATV or camel/horseback experience in the desert or along the beach
Afternoon:
Option 1 – San José del Cabo: Head to San José for galleries, coffee, and a relaxed wander through the historic center.
Option 2 – Todos Santos: Drive up to Todos Santos for a slower, artsy “magic town” vibe and a coastal sunset.
Evening:
If you chose San José del Cabo and it’s a Thursday, stay for the Art Walk.
Otherwise, end with a final sunset by the water—either in Todos Santos or back in Los Cabos.
