12 Amazing Cabo Day Trips to See More of Baja Sur (2024)

If you’re visiting Cabo but want to explore other places around Baja California Sur look no further! In this post, we’ll share the 12 best day trips from Cabo.

This article may contain affiliate / compensated links, that may earn me a small commission, at no extra cost to you. For full information, please see our disclaimer here. While all efforts have been taken to ensure the information included in this post is correct and current, travel information such as opening hours, business operations and prices change frequently. If you find anything in this post that is incorrect or outdated please let me know in the comments so I can update it for other readers.

Day trips from Cabo

Los Cabos (aka Cabo) is the holiday spot in Baja California Sur, and thousands of travellers flock here each year for a relaxing beach getaway.

But in our opinion, Cabo is not the best part of Baja California Sur!

We strongly believe so many visitors are missing out on amazing destinations and attractions around the state, in favour of staying in commercialised Cabo for their whole trip.

We think the best way to experience all the wonderful places around Baja California Sur is on a road trip, spending multiple nights in a number of different destinations.

However, we know that not everyone has the time for that, or for whatever reason prefers to base themselves in one spot.

So how can you see the best of Baja California Sur whilst staying in Cabo? Day trips.

Whether you’re staying in Cabo San Lucas or San Jose del Cabo, adding a few day trips to your itinerary allows you to experience some of the highlights of Baja!

Luckily, the southern region of Baja California Sur is quite compact, so you have a plethora of wonderful places and attractions within 1-3 hours of Cabo.

We have personally visited each of these places. We loved them so much that we stayed for multiple days in each place, so you can be sure they are worth visiting for a day!

Let’s jump in 12 of the best day trips from Cabo.

Do I need to rent a car to take a day trip from Cabo?

Renting a car in Los Cabos is an easy and affordable way to do many of these day trips.

It gives you a lot more flexibility to map out your day the way you want to and combine sights and towns that may not be offered by a tour company.

Plus, it’s often cheaper to rent a car for the day, compared to the cost of a tour.

The best place to pick up a car is at the Los Cabos International Airport. But if you only want a car for a day or two, there are options in town in Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

🚗 You can browse rental cars in Los Cabos here

If you’re not comfortable with driving, you don’t have to rent a car to do the majority of these day trips from Cabo.

There are tons of tours out there departing from Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, that take care of all the transport and arrangements for the day.

I include recommended tours for each of our suggested day trips.

12 Best Cabo day trips

1. Visiting the other Cabo

If you’re visiting Cabo, chances are you’ve decided to base yourself in either Cabo San Lucas or San Jose del Cabo.

These two resort towns together make up the region of ‘Los Cabos’.

Well, one of the best and easiest Los Cabos day trips is to visit the other Cabo!

Each town has a unique personality and identity, so it’s worthwhile to spend a day in the town that you’re not staying in.

You don’t even need a tour or rental car to do it. The Ruta del Desierto bus easily connects the two towns.

👉🏼 Trying to work out which Cabo is the right base for you? Our comparison post might help

Spending a day in San Jose del Cabo

If you’re staying in Cabo San Lucas, you can spend a great day exploring San Jose del Cabo.

San Jose is considered the quieter, more sophisticated Cabo, and we think it has a more local feel than Cabo San Lucas.

The downtown Art District is stunning, with charming buildings, cobblestone streets and colourful flags blowing in the breeze. You could easily while away a few hours wandering the area, checking out boutique stores and art galleries and hanging in Plaza Mijares.

The beaches in San Jose are much quieter than those in Cabo. However, the town is not set on the coast like Cabo San Lucas is.

The closest beach is Playa Hotelera (aka Playa Costa Azul), which is not suitable for swimming. But nearby Playa Palmilla is one of our favourite beaches in Cabo, and it’s a calm bay for swimming and snorkelling.

👉🏼 Get our full guide to San Jose del Cabo here

Spending a day in Cabo San Lucas

The more raucous, party-focused of the two Cabos, Cabo San Lucas has some unique attractions that are worth seeing. Even if you think the party scene is not your vibe.

Hiking Mt. Solmar is a must-do. This mountain offers spectacular views over the Bay of Cabo. And the best part? You hike it with a group of dogs! It’s confusing at first, but read my guide to learn more.

You can’t go to Cabo without seeing the iconic El Arco (the arch), a unique rock formation at the end of the rocky Lands End peninsula. Boat tours depart from the marina or Medano Beach. Most will drop you off for a few hours at Lovers Beach and Divorce Beach.

👉🏼 Get our full guide to Cabo San Lucas guide here

2. Swimming with whale sharks in La Paz

Swimming with whale sharks in La Paz is an unforgettable experience and understandably at the top of many people’s Baja bucket lists.

Each year from October – May they hang out off the coast of La Paz, feeding in nutrient-rich waters.

The 2+ hours drive from Cabo is worth it for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to snorkel next to the largest fish in the world!

These gentle giants can grow up to 12 metres long but don’t worry, they are not harmful to humans. They eat only plankton and other microorganisms, which is why they are known as the gentle giants of the sea.

The experience is highly regulated to protect the whale sharks and you can only access the swimming zone with an authorised tour company.

Depending on the tour you choose, it may combine a short visit to other sites in La Paz. The most common stops are the outer areas of Playa Balandra, or San Rafaelito, a sea lion colony where you can snorkel with the playful pups.

3. Visit Todos Santos

One of only two pueblo magicos (magic towns) in the state of Baja California Sur, you cannot miss a visit to Todos Santos.

This small town is located about an hour north of Cabo and is home to some of the state’s best art galleries, shops, and restaurants.

Attracting an arty, spiritual crowd of yogis, surfers and creatives, the vibe in Todos Santos feels completely different to Cabo.

Spend your day wandering the charming cobblestone streets, ogling over the gorgeous colourful flags waving in the breeze, and browsing boho boutiques.

The food choices are overwhelmingly good, but some favourites in the centre of town include Santo Chilote for fish tacos or El Poblano for meat tacos/burritos.

For a caffeine hit and sweet treat, head to Taller 17 and don’t miss ice cream from the iconic Neveria Rocco.

If you have the time (and a vehicle), be sure to check out the beach too, a short drive from town. The golden, unspoiled coastline provides a complete contrast to the busy beaches of Cabo.

Playa La Cachora is the closest to downtown Todos Santos, a less than 10-minute drive.

4. Hiking, hot springs and waterfalls in Santiago

Beaches may be the biggest drawcard for visitors to Cabo, but the cacti-covered, desert mountains of the interior should not be ignored!

The small rural town of Santiago, just an hour from Cabo, is home to some beautiful natural attractions, the Sol de Mayo Waterfall and Santa Rita Hot Springs.

These two natural attractions are located just a short drive from each other and showcase the beauty of Baja California Sur’s desert landscape.

The Santa Rita Hot Springs are one of the best hot springs in Mexico. Located inside a beautiful canyon, the lush palm-filled landscape around the pools is spectacular to see in the middle of the desert.

♨️ Read our guide to the Santa Rita Hot Springs here

Cascada Sol de Mayo (Sol de Mayo Waterfall) is another popular activity located in Santiago. This spectacular waterfall is located inside Cañon de la Zorra (Fox Canyon) and is accessed via Rancho Sol de Mayo.

The hike to the waterfall from the ranch is relatively easy and takes less than 30 minutes. You can walk to the base of the falls and swim in the pools, or follow a trail to the top of the falls, where you can swim in the river. If you’re brave, jump into the pool from the top (water levels permitting!).

🌵 Read our guide to the Cascada Sol de Mayo here

5. Snorkelling or scuba diving in Cabo Pulmo

Although there are plenty of snorkelling tours on offer around Los Cabos, if you really want to see the best reef, you have to go to Cabo Pulmo.

Home to one of the largest coral reefs in North America, Cabo Pulmo is teeming with marine life and colourful corals.

It is a world-renowned dive destination, but whether you snorkel or scuba dive, you can still appreciate this underwater paradise.

You can expect to see turtles, rays, eels, sharks, and a variety of colourful fish. If you visit during the cooler months (December – March) you might even be lucky enough to see or hear humpback whales underwater!

The town of Cabo Pulmo is adorably laidback, with just a handful of sandy streets, a couple of local restaurants and that’s about it.

If you’re lucky enough to find Tacos and Beer open with their very fluid opening hours, don’t miss a post-dive feed!

Although it is possible to snorkel straight off the beach in Cabo Pulmo, doing a boat tour gives you access to better sites in the marine park.

If you want to scuba dive, you will definitely need to organise a tour with a dive shop.

The most important decision is if you are going to drive yourself there and arrange a tour directly with a company in Cabo Pulmo. Or join a tour from Cabo with transport included.

6. Visit the world-famous Playa Balandra

Playa Balandra (aka Balandra Beach) is one of the most iconic Los Cabos day trips.

This world-famous beach is known for its crystal clear shallow water and beautiful sandy beaches. Although labelled a beach, Balandra is technically a bay that has seven different beaches!

Located in the capital city of La Paz, Playa Balandra is just over 2 hours north of Cabo.

You can visit Playa Balandra like any other beach, and spend your time sunbaking and swimming. But there are so many other ways to experience this beautiful bay!

The bay is surrounded by layers of mountains crisscrossed with trails, and we would highly recommend allocating a few hours to hiking around the bay. You’ll get some incredible aerial views, and get access to the furthest of the seven beaches.

It’s usually possible to rent kayaks from a small stall in the car park, and if the tide is high enough you can kayak around the calm waters of the bay.

7. Espiritu Santo Island

Espiritu Santo Island showcases some of the most mind-blowing nature in all of Baja California Sur.

This beautiful island is located off the coast of La Paz in the Sea of Cortez and is known for its stunning waters, white sand beaches, and resident sea lions.

The only way to visit Espiritu Santo Island is via a boat tour.

Most tours will make the 1-hour trip out to the island, and spend a few hours stopping at different bays and beaches. You usually have a chance to snorkel and jump in the water with the playful sea lions at their colony, Los Islotes.

Many tour companies will have the option of kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding from one of the remote beaches around the island.

8. Surfing at Cerritos Beach

Cerritos Beach is one of the best surf breaks in all of Mexico and is a popular spot for both beginners and experienced surfers.

Even if you’re not a surfer, it’s a fantastic beach to spend the day. Offering a good balance of vendors renting lounges, umbrellas, snacks and drinks, without being constantly hassled like in Cabo.

Day trips from Cabo to Los Cerritos are primarily focused on surfing. If you don’t want to self-drive, taking one of these tours is your best bet.

Cerritos Beach is less than an hour from Cabo, on a very well-made highway so we would highly recommend renting a car.

If you go with the self-drive option but still want to surf, you can easily rent a board or organise lessons directly with schools in Cerritos Beach.

You can show up and rent a board on the spot, but to organise a lesson it’s best to get in touch with Mario’s Surf School or CRT Surf School in advance.

After a long day of surfing, the best thing to do is relax on the beach with a cold drink in hand and enjoy the amazing sunset views.

Unless you want to drive back to Cabo in the dark (not recommended due to the free-grazing cattle), it’s a good idea to stay the night in Cerritos Beach. There are hotels literally on the sand, and we would recommend Cerritos Surf Town.

9. Go off-road to remote beaches in the East Cape

One of the best Los Cabos day trips is exploring some remote beaches that are only accessible with an off-road vehicle.

The East Cape area, east of Cabo, is home to some of the most beautiful and untouched beaches in all of Mexico.

Forget beach vendors, noisy bars and crowds. This slice of paradise is virtually untouched, with the only other beachgoers the friendly donkeys poking their heads through your car window.

Where the beaches in Cabo are mostly rough and unswimmable, in the East Cape, they are much calmer for swimming. You can pretty much take your pick of any beach along the coast, but La Fortuna, Nine Palms and Shipwrecks are popular spots.

Whilst there are some restaurants around, opening hours are unreliable. Bring plenty of sunscreen, water, and snacks for a full day at the beach, and don’t count on restaurants being open.

If you’re a surfer, don’t forget your board, as the East Cape offers some amazing surfing. There aren’t any rental places around, so if you want to surf you need to BYO board, or visit the area as part of a surf day trip.

Tour or DIY?

The East Cape is a very remote area, and there aren’t too many tours available. In our opinion, you definitely need a 4×4 or ATV to comfortably access the area. The only road in is an unpaved, bumpy sandy track which can be a lot of fun if you are equipped, and very nerve-wracking if you’re in a small rental car. The best way to enjoy the area is to self-drive an off-road vehicle, and the journey is part of the fun! Or if you’re a surfer, you can join a surf trip which is the only day trip from Cabo that gets you deep into this stunning stretch of pristine coastline.

🚗 Driving time: There is no one ‘destination’ in the East Cape, and part of the fun is driving along the rough road next to the ocean. A popular landmark to use as a point of reference is La Fortuna, where there are a couple of small restaurants and a beautiful beach. This is 1 hour from San Jose del Cabo and 1 and a half hours from Cabo San Lucas. But be prepared for the trip to take a lot longer though, as it is very slow going!

10. Check out La Ventana

La Ventana is another destination that just squeezes into an acceptable day trip limit. It is absolutely worth the long drive!

It’s around two and a half hours from both Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. The route differs depending on which Cabo you’re coming from.

La Ventana was up there as one of our favourite beach towns in Baja. It’s small and dusty in an amazing desert environment, but there is enough here to keep you busy for a day or more.

Most popular as a kite surfing town, there are so many wonderful outdoor activities in La Ventana.

The giant cardon cactus forest right next to town is a must-see. It was one of the most incredible sights we saw in Baja! There is a great hiking trail at Punta Gorda and a unique hot springs beach where you can dig up your own thermal pool under the sand.

You won’t miss the view of Isla Cerralvo, the huge imposing island sitting just offshore. A quieter and less discovered alternative to Isla Espiritu Santo, spending a day snorkelling/free diving and beach hopping around the island is magic. We recommend Agua Salada for local tours.

If you do want to try out kite surfing, Playa Central is one of the main schools in town. They also run a very cool restaurant/bar right on the main beach. Sitting on their rooftop with a cocktail in hand is the place to be in La Ventana.

🚗 Driving time: The route to La Ventana is a little different depending on which Cabo you’re coming from. From Cabo San Lucas, you’ll follow Highway 19 past Todos Santos. From San Jose del Cabo, you’ll take Highway 1. Both routes take around two and a half hours. The highways are paved, but once you’re in La Ventana, most roads are dirt. A 4×4 is handy to confidently take the enticing sandy tracks you’ll see around town, but not strictly necessary.

🚐 Tour recommendations: There are no tours to La Ventana from Cabo. If you can get yourself to town, we would recommend checking out Agua Salada. They’re a fantastic local tour company that runs trips around the area. They are particularly great if you want to get out to Isla Cerralvo.

👉🏼 Plan your day trip with our La Ventana guide

11. Explore Los Barriles

The small town of Los Barriles is located on the east coast of Baja California Sur, just over an hour north of Cabo.

Best known as a kitesurfing town, the population swells each November – March with kitesurfers from around the world.

With a distinct holiday feel, the small town centre is jammed with restaurants, bars and souvenir shops catering to the seasonal influx of tourists, that will keep you entertained for the day.

Los Barriles is also famous for its sport fishing. Heading out on a fishing charter to try your luck hooking a marlin, tuna or Mahi Mahi is one of the best things to do in the region.

Another one of the unique things about Los Barriles is that cars and ATVs are allowed to drive onto the beach. If you have a 4×4 rental car, it’s a lot of fun to drive up onto the beach for the day.

If you don’t, you can rent an ATV/quad bike, or organise a tour that takes you along the beach and up into the desert through dusty arroyos and canyons.

Don’t miss Taqueria El Viejo for some epic seafood tacos. If you need coffee, head to Maxico, or if you’d prefer a cocktail, La Playa Beach Bar serves up some delicious drinks right on the sand!

🚗 Driving time: It is an easy drive up Highway 1 from Cabo to Los Barriles, with no need for a 4×4. It takes 1 and a half hours from Cabo San Lucas and 1 hour from San Jose del Cabo.

🚐 Tour recommendations: As mentioned, there are no tours that run from Cabo to Los Barriles. If you can get yourself to Los Barriles, you can organise some great tours for the day, depending on your area of interest. Los Barriles Sport Fishing is a good place to start if you want to charter a boat for a few hours and throw in a line. If you want to go quad biking, you can rent them or do a guided tour with Quad Girl. To try your hand at kite surfing, ExotiKite is the best school in town.

12. Get to know La Paz city

I’ve already mentioned three different day trips from Cabo to the La Paz region. With so many natural attractions around La Paz, it seems silly to suggest a specific day trip to the city.

Whether you’re swimming with the whale sharks, visiting Playa Balandra or heading out to Isla Espiritu Santo, you won’t be left with a lot of time to actually explore and appreciate La Paz.

La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur and seeing the city is a totally worthwhile day trip from Cabo.

The city has a rich history and culture, and there are plenty of things to see and do. It is a complete contrast to the tourist-centric Cabo, and La Paz has a distinctly local feel.

The best place to start your day is on the Malecon, the city’s seafront boardwalk. Stretching for over 5 kilometres, you can walk, bike or skate along. We suggest renting a bike from City Bike and riding the entire Malecon. It runs out of the city centre to Playa El Coromuel, a gorgeous beach.

Don’t forget to head away from the water and stroll through the Historic Centre of La Paz. This area is full of colonial-style buildings, plazas, churches, and museums. Keep your eye out for colourful street art all around the city!

The food scene in La Paz is fantastic, and you can get some delicious fish tacos! We suggest McFisher or El Estadio Tacos. End your day with a drink at Harker Rooftop Bar.

Why staying overnight is more sustainable

We understand moving around and staying in multiple destinations isn’t possible for everyone.

However, if this is something you are able to do, we would encourage you to consider planning your trip in this way.

It is far more sustainable to spend multiple days in one destination, rather than doing day trips.

Overnight visitors bring a lot more value to destinations. Rather than all your tourist dollars staying in Cabo, you can spread your money to smaller destinations that can really benefit financially from visitors.

If you are staying in a large resort in Cabo, eating all your meals in restaurants around the area, and booking your day trips with an agency in Cabo, all your money stays in Cabo – an already very popular tourist area.

But if you bring your dollars to a smaller town, you can contribute to their local economy by staying, eating and doing activities organised there.

By staying multiple nights in a destination, you also reduce your transport.

Transport is the largest carbon emitter within the tourism industry, so by minimising how frequently you are moving long distances, you can reduce your carbon emissions.

If you’re only visiting a destination for a day, or even just a few hours, you’re not really getting a true sense of the place.

Not only can day tours be rushed and stressful for you, by trying to fit everything into a short timeframe, but they also don’t do the justice deserved to the destination you are visiting.

By investing a few days to get to know the local area and experience the culture, you are demonstrating to local residents your genuine interest in their town, which makes for a much nicer tourist-local relationship.

If basing yourself in Cabo and doing day trips from there is what suits you, then that is fine. But if you could consider converting even one of these day trips into an overnight stay, you would be leaving a more positive impact.

Best Cabo day trips

There you have it, 12 day trips that will show you a whole other side of the beautiful Baja California Sur.

Los Cabos has its charms and we can see why so many people holiday there each year. But there is so much more to Baja California Sur than just Cabo, so be sure to include some of these Los Cabos day trips in your itinerary!

If you’re looking for things to do within Los Cabos, check out our travel guides below. Or if you’re not sure which Cabo is right for you, this comparison post Cabo San Lucas v San Jose del Cabo can help you decide which to choose.