Visiting San Jose del Cabo for the first time? This San Jose del Cabo guide covers everything you need to know about the quieter and more sophisticated Cabo in Baja California Sur, Mexico.
If you’re wondering what to do in San Jose del Cabo, we’ll share the 17 best activities, as well as a San Jose del Cabo travel guide with essential transport info, where to stay and what to eat.
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 If you find anything in this post that is incorrect or outdated please let me know in the comments so I can update it for other readers.
About San Jose del Cabo
Welcome to the cuter Cabo. The quieter, more sophisticated sibling to wild Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo is a colourful colonial town in the south of Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Situated at the bottom of the Baja Peninsula, San Jose del Cabo is right on the coast, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez.
San Jose del Cabo is divided into two main areas:
- 🎨 The Art District – the charming inland historic centre or ‘downtown’
- 🏖️ The Zona Hotelera – the beachfront Hotel Zone, where resorts line miles of golden coastline
Colourful papel picado flags flap in the wind on the streets of the Art District. Street art decorates the walls, colonial buildings line cobblestone streets, and galleries, boutiques and souvenir stalls beckon you in. Throw in a lively plaza with cheap food stalls and a wonderful atmosphere, and you have one of the most charming towns in all of Baja California Sur.
Head towards the Zona Hotelera, and you will find miles of quiet, golden beaches. Forget the rowdy beach clubs and persistent vendors of Cabo San Lucas, beaches in San Jose del Cabo are a place for solitude. Although the currents and rips can be strong, they are the perfect spot for a long walk in the sand, sunrise and sunset, and even as a whale watching vantage point in the cooler months.
Want the quick answer? Skip straight to the best things to do in San Jose del Cabo or check out our absolute must-do experiences in San Jose del Cabo below!
SUNRISE WHALE WATCHING TOUR
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SAN JOSE DEL CABO OCEAN SAFARI
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STREET FOOD TOUR
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San Jose del Cabo vs Cabo San Lucas vs Los Cabos
Before we get any further, let’s stop and clarify the very confusing naming conventions of the destinations in southern Baja California Sur.
Los Cabos (also known as Cabo) is the overarching region, and the two main towns are Cabo San Lucas (also referred to as Cabo) and San Jose del Cabo (also referred to as San Jose).
The stretch of coast between is known as the Tourist Corridor and is lined with large international resort chains.
It is approximately 45 minutes between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.
❓ Confused about which Cabo is right for you? Check out our Cabo San Lucas vs San Jose del Cabo comparison post
- Los Cabos is the overarching region
- Cabo San Lucas is the most popular tourist town in Los Cabos
- San Jose del Cabo is a quieter, more historic town
- Tourist Corridor is the coastal area between the two towns, lined with large resorts
GRAB A COPY OF MY BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR TRAVEL GUIDE!
After falling absolutely in love with Baja, I decided to put together a Baja California Sur Travel Guide eBook to help anyone planning a trip to Baja California Sur.
This eBook is designed to be a go-to quick reference guide for the best places to visit around the state, allowing you to be confident you’re hitting all the highlights without needing to do hours of research.
This 153-page eBook covers 13 top destinations across the state, with recommendations for where to eat, stay and play, as well as regional information about climate, transport, and tour recommendations.
It’s filled with all our best tips and advice, and beautiful photos to excite and inspire you ahead of your trip to this incredible part of Mexico!
There is also the option to add a customised Google Map that has over 450 locations pinned by category, allowing you to easily visualise our recommendations across the state.
Find out more about the guide here.
Our experience in San Jose del Cabo
Within minutes of wandering around the Art District, we fell in love with San Jose del Cabo!
Every street was prettier than the next, and I honestly could not get enough of the colourful flags, cobblestone streets and pastel-toned buildings.
I think I ‘awwed’ and ‘aahed’ at every turn, and we spent hours aimlessly wandering around the historic centre. Recharting our course through streets we had seen multiple times already because they were just so gorgeous!
We absolutely loved spending our evenings in the main plaza, Plaza Mijares, watching local life in action. San Jose del Cabo felt distinctly less touristy, and it was so nice to see local kids skateboarding around the square, dance classes happening on the stage and families out together for dinner.
At first glance, there may not be as many things to do in San Jose del Cabo as there are in Cabo San Lucas, but we much preferred the vibe of San Jose del Cabo. The good thing is that because the two towns are so close to each other, you can still enjoy your base in San Jose, but travel to Cabo San Lucas for the activities.
For us, it was the better of the two Cabos and if we returned, we would base ourselves in San Jose del Cabo.
Sustainable travel in San Jose del Cabo
Please make a point of avoiding any experiences involving captive animals in San Jose del Cabo and Los Cabos more broadly.
We watched a trailer of very cramped, distressed and uncomfortable horses fly down the Tourist Corridor freeway at 100 kilometres an hour. No doubt on their way to or from a tour carrying tourists down the beach.
Riding camels is the same experience, and swimming with captive dolphins – a big no-no.
If you are doing anything involving animals, please take some time to consider whether it is the right thing to do. If the animals are not in their own habitat in the wild, the answer is usually no.
Getting to San Jose del Cabo
✈️ FLYING INTO SAN JOSE DEL CABO
The nearest airport to San Jose del Cabo is the SJD – Los Cabos International Airport.
There are direct flights from many cities around the USA, Canada and Mexico.
🚐 GETTING FROM THE AIRPORT TO SAN JOSE DEL CABO
San Jose del Cabo is only around 20 minutes away from the airport, much closer than Cabo San Lucas.
There are a couple of different options to get from the airport into town:
- 🚌 Bus – the Ruta del Desierto bus runs from Terminal 1 into San Jose del Cabo. International flights arrive in Terminal 2, so you will need to take a short walk to Terminal 1 and find the bus stop. There should be someone selling tickets at the stop, and it is 90 pesos.
- 🚐 Shared shuttle – an affordable option with the comfort of having something booked and paid for in advance (luckily we did this as none of the ATMs we tried at the airport were operating so we wouldn’t have had any pesos to pay for the bus!). We went with this shuttle.
- 🚐 Private shuttle – if you’re a larger group, or just looking for something a little fancier, you can organise a private shuttle. This private transfer service is a good option.
- 🚕 Uber / Taxi – Uber was never legal at SJD airport, but the rules are starting to flex a little. It’s still quite complicated and pick-up can’t be from arrivals, so unless you’re willing to walk a while out of the terminal, a taxi is your best option. However, they are very pricey. Booking a shuttle in advance is a better option. If you do have to use a taxi, organise and pay at an official desk inside the terminal.
- 🚗 Rental car – if you’re renting a car for your trip, you will be picked up by your rental agency at the airport, and you can drive yourself to San Jose del Cabo.
🚗 COMING FROM OTHER PARTS OF BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR
If you’re coming from other parts of Baja California Sur, you can easily drive to San Jose del Cabo if you’ve rented a car (we highly recommend it), or by bus.
The Aguila bus connects San Jose del Cabo with other cities around the state, like Todos Santos, La Paz, Loreto etc. These buses are new and comfortable long-distance buses and can be booked online.
The Aguila bus terminal in San Jose del Cabo is located here, just outside the Art District.
Getting around San Jose del Cabo
🚗 WITH A RENTAL CAR
Do you need to rent a car in San Jose del Cabo? Well, it depends.
If you are just in San Jose del Cabo for a short period or having a flop-and-drop holiday, you can get by without a rental car.
But if San Jose del Cabo is just one part of a broader Baja road trip, OR you’re planning to do some day trips and get out of Cabo, I would highly recommend renting a car.
Despite being a developed ‘city’ with a compact centro, we found ourselves in the car a lot in San Jose del Cabo. Partly from laziness – when you’ve paid for the car, you’re less inclined to walk! – and partly because things are quite spread out.
Some of the best beaches are a while away, and the farm-to-table restaurants are outside of town. Many of the popular local food spots were also a fair distance from the main plaza area.
Once you get outside the developed Los Cabos area, a car becomes practically essential to reach some areas of the state.
If you’re planning to rent a car, it’s best to organise it from the airport. This is where most of the agencies are located, with the biggest variety of cars available.
👉🏼 Browse for a rental car at San Jose del Cabo International Airport here
If you’re apprehensive about renting a car in Cabo, don’t be! Check out our tips for driving in Baja.
👣 WITHOUT A RENTAL CAR
San Jose del Cabo is not as walkable as neighbouring Cabo San Lucas.
Although strolling around the central Art District is easy enough, the town is set a few kilometres back from the beach and the popular Hotel Zone.
Uber is available, and taxis are always around to shuttle you between the beach and the town.
If you want to head down to the Tourist Corridor to some of the other beaches, or into Cabo San Lucas, you can use the Ruta del Desierto bus which is affordable and frequent.
17 Best things to do in San Jose del Cabo
1. Stroll the impossibly gorgeous streets of the Art District
Getting lost and wandering aimlessly around the centro, or Art District is one of the best things to do in San Jose del Cabo.
The streets are painfully beautiful, and somehow each is prettier than the last. I’m going to let the photos do the talking, as I don’t have the words to describe how truly lovely this little city is!
The centro area is a small grid, so it’s easy to just wander back and forth and explore it all. But here are a few landmarks to pop into your map to make sure you don’t miss anything.
- 🌴 Plaza Mijares – the main plaza is usually buzzing with activity, full of food stalls and is bordered by shops and restaurants.
- ⛪️ Mision San Jose del Cabo – the town’s main church is just across from the plaza and is worthy of a stop. You will also find the colourful San Jose del Cabo letters here, a fixture in most Mexican towns!
- 🛍️ Boulevard Antonio Mijares – this street runs south from the plaza and is the place to be if you want to do any souvenir shopping.
- 🎨 Alvaro Obregon – this street is where most of the galleries are concentrated and there are gorgeous paintings, sculptures and jewellery to browse.
- 🌈 Jose Maria Morelos – this was the prettiest street in the whole Art District! Follow this location pin to find it.
- 🌵 Ignacio Comonfort – this small side street is home to a cute garden with some fun street art, including the ‘Cabo Mi Amor’ painting, as well as some really interesting historic information and murals.
🌜 Learn more about the town with a historical and cultural walking tour
2. Thursday night Art Walk
Every Thursday night between November – June art galleries in the central Art District remain open until 9:00 pm to encourage visitors and locals alike to get out and appreciate the art and creativity happening around the region.
Free wine and nibbles are usually provided by some of the galleries, and the city closes the street of Alvaro Obregon to allow pedestrians to spill out from the sidewalks.
Browse paintings, sculptures, jewellery, photographs and more from local creatives, and enjoy the buzz of the town as it swells with visitors on Thursday nights.
The Thursday Art Walk is an initiative of the San Jose del Cabo Gallery District Association.
3. People watch in Plaza Mijares in the evenings
Hanging out in Plaza Mijares in the evenings was one of our favourite things to do in San Jose del Cabo.
A central square or plaza is a fixture of most Mexican towns, and before arriving in Mexico we read about plazas full of music, food stalls, performances and dancing.
San Jose del Cabo was exactly what we were hoping for.
As the sun went down and dusk fell, the plaza filled up with food stalls, kids riding skateboards, families out for a meal and plenty of loved-up couples.
It was so nice to see locals just generally going about their lives, particularly in an area that is a world-renowned tourist destination.
We enjoyed some delicious (and dirt cheap) dinners in the plaza, and there is a range of different stalls to choose from.
Doña Nina is a San Jose icon, and you can’t miss her delicious tamales. The other stalls seem to change based on the day, but we also tried tostadas, elotes, aguas frescas of all flavours and of course some fresh churros for dessert!
There are plenty of paleta (popsicles) carts in the square too, ringing their bells with a freezer full of yummy flavours.
4. Go for a hike
The cacti-covered arid desert landscape around San Jose del Cabo is breathtaking. Luckily there are a few different hiking trails around the city allowing you to soak up the scenery.
Cerro de las Chivas
Cerro de las Chivas is a popular trail that you can begin from the centre of San Jose del Cabo. You will climb a relatively steep incline to the top of a hill, and enjoy stunning views over the Sea of Cortez.
Be sure to start early before the sun gets too hot and bring plenty of water.
The trail is 2.7 km / 1.6 mi out-and-back. You can follow it on AllTrails here.
Cañon Costa Azul
Another popular option is hiking up the canyon from the start of Playa Costa Azul.
It’s a short drive from downtown San Jose del Cabo to reach the trailhead, and from there you head away from the coast up into the canyon.
There are two different trail options:
- 🥾 Steeper shorter trail: inclines to a set of radio towers with beautiful ocean views. It is 7.2 km / 4.4 mi return.
- 🥾 Longer flatter trail: heads further into the canyon but it is flatter. It is 8.4 km / 5.2 mi return.
Both trails are out-and-back and you will turn back and return the same way you came.
Along the second trail, you will come across Canopy Costa Azul, an adventure park that will take your canyon hike to the next level!
They offer an experience that involves a series of zip lines, a suspension bridge and repelling down the canyon. You could opt to hike into the park, complete the course, and then hike back out.
🌲 Find out more and book ziplining at Canopy Costa Azul here
Mt Solmar
This hike is in Cabo San Lucas, but it’s definitely worth travelling for.
One word – dogs!
Mt Solmar is a rocky peak that rises above the popular Lands End area in Cabo San Lucas.
The land where the trailhead is located is private property. But most days, a local man called Enrique leads a group up the mountain. Enrique owns a dog training centre on the land and brings along some of the dogs for the hike.
If you’re looking for views, this is one of the most incredible vistas in all of Los Cabos. You can see the Bay of Cabo, the marina, the unique rock formations of Lands End, and many stunning beaches below.
We’ve got a full guide to hiking Mt Solmar, with details on the days and times Enrique runs the tour, where to meet and what to expect.
5. Hit the beach
Wondering what to do in San Jose del Cabo when it’s hot? Hit the beach!
Going to the beach is one of the quintessential things to do in San Jose del Cabo, and is a completely contrasting experience from going to the beach in Cabo San Lucas.
The beaches are wide, vast and empty, whereas in Cabo San Lucas they are jam-packed with chairs, towels and vendors.
Many beaches in Los Cabos are not safe for swimming and are very rough and wavey. Always be aware of the currents. However, there are some options I’ll share below if you want to swim.
Playa Costa Azul / Playa Hotelera
Known by a few names, Playa Costa Azul is a long stretch of sand that is the closest beach to the centro of San Jose del Cabo.
The area of the beach nearest to the town is generally referred to as Playa Hotelera, but it is all the same beach.
If you want to walk between the town and the beach, this is where you will end up, and this trail on AllTrails is the best one to follow.
The rips and currents are quite strong here, with pretty big waves. It’s better for a walk than a swim, the beach is a huge open patch of golden sand, that is practically empty.
Resorts do line the beach, but it is so wide it doesn’t feel like they are encroaching, and there aren’t the noisy bars and persistent vendors you find on Playa Medano in Cabo San Lucas. You can enjoy some peace here as you sunbake or stroll along the sand.
Sunsets from here are pretty beautiful too! Depending on the time of year, the sun won’t set exactly over the water, but it is a beautiful view watching it go down below the desert mountains in the distance and light up the sky across the bay.
Playa Acapulquito & Playa Pescadito
If you’re a surfer, Playa Acapulquito or neighbouring Playa Pescadito is the place to be with some of the best waves in the area.
Whether you’re experienced, or a newbie you can rent boards or take lessons at Mike Doyle’s Surf School in Acapulquito, or Surf In Cabo on Pescadito.
The beach is aptly home to the Cabo Surf Hotel, and for a chilled-out, beachside lunch, don’t miss the Cabo icon, Zipper’s Bar & Grill.
Playa Palmilla
Playa Palmilla is the best beach in the San Jose del Cabo area for swimming. A sheltered, rocky bay, it is protected from the biggest of the waves and is a good spot to snorkel too.
It is about 15 minutes from downtown San Jose del Cabo, so you’ll need a car or an Uber/taxi to get here. Alternatively, you can jump on the Ruta del Desierto bus for a few pesos.
The area feels very exclusive, with lots of luxury resorts and villas, but it is a public beach, and there is a car park right on the sand so don’t be scared away.
We spent a lovely afternoon here, and were lucky enough to spot some very playful humpback whales very close to shore splashing around!
East Cape Beach
For a truly quiet beach, jump in the car, cross the bridge over the San Jose Estuary and head for East Cape Beach.
This is the starting point of the remote and beautiful coastline known as Cabo Este or the East Cape.
I would highly recommend a few days in this isolated area, but if you’re short on time, visiting East Cape Beach gives you a good taste of what this part of Los Cabos has to offer.
This was home to the popular Buzzards Bar & Grill, but this is sadly permanently closed.
Playa El Chileno
About halfway along the Tourist Corridor between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas is Playa El Chileno.
Calm waters inside a bay, this is another great option for swimming. You can also snorkel here near the rocks, and there are usually vendors renting gear on the beach if you don’t have your own.
There are toilets and showers at the entrance to the beach.
Chileno and the next beach, Santa Maria, are much closer to Cabo San Lucas. The proximity means they can be a little busier than the beaches closer to San Jose, but they’re still quieter than Medano Beach!
Playa Santa Maria
This beach is much closer to Cabo San Lucas than it is to San Jose del Cabo, but if you want to do some snorkelling from the beach, it’s one of the best spots in the area.
Situated inside a sheltered bay, the beach is calm and safe for swimming and snorkelling. You can usually rent equipment like paddleboards on the beach as well.
The sand here is more pebbly and coarse rather than powdery. There is a car park, toilets and showers on the beach. There are rarely food or drink vendors here so BYO.
6. Have a farm-to-table dining experience
Hidden away across the estuary, in the small neighbourhood of Animas Baja is a lush oasis of green.
Rows of organic produce grow in the shadows of palm trees, and there are multiple opportunities to sample it straight from the source!
Flora Farms, ACRE and Los Tamarindos are three very popular farm-to-table style restaurant experiences in San Jose del Cabo.
Each offers a beautiful on-site restaurant with seasonal menus serving fresh, organic produce from the farm. The setting of each is simply stunning, with gorgeous décor, lovely gardens and a farm to wander around.
Flora Farms
Flora Farms has grown exponentially and become one of the most popular things to do in San Jose del Cabo.
It is very Americanized, full of tourists, with exorbitant prices. We had some eye-wateringly expensive iced coffees and got out of there as fast as we could!
However the setting was beautiful, and we really enjoyed wandering around the grounds.
I can totally see why it is popular, but beware it is not a very Mexican experience.
Los Tamarindos
We didn’t make it to Los Tamarindos (after spending all our money on two coffees at Flora Farms!), but if I had my time again I would opt for this farm.
Mexican-owned, we have heard this is a more authentic local experience.
Again, it’s on the expensive side for restaurants in San Jose del Cabo, but worth it for a high-quality organic dining experience.
Acre
ACRE is another option, with a very unique, architectural design.
Featuring a restaurant and bar, unique treehouse accommodation, plenty of farm animals roaming around for a cuddle and a diverse calendar of events in a lush, jungle setting.
They’ve recently opened a dog rescue centre, ACRE Dogs, on the property too. Even more reason to visit!
7. Go whale watching
Baja California Sur is one of the best places in the world for whale watching.
Each year between December – April, whales migrate to the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez off the coast of the Baja Peninsula.
San Jose del Cabo (and the entire Los Cabos coast) is an amazing place to spot humpback whales in particular.
One of the most special things to do in San Jose del Cabo is to get a closer look at the whales on a whale watching tour.
Most whale watching tours in Los Cabos depart from the marina in Cabo San Lucas. This is 45 minutes away from San Jose del Cabo and the whale watching area here can get very crowded. Most boats go out near The Arch, so there is noise, music, boat taxis and tons of tourists.
There are a handful of tour operators who depart from the Puerto Los Cabos marina, which is actually in San Jose del Cabo, and you’ll look for whales around this area of the Sea of Cortez instead. It’s a much quieter experience, as you won’t be surrounded by other boats.
There are usually fewer whales around San Jose del Cabo, but because there are fewer boats in the water, you usually have lengthier and closer interactions with any whales you find.
Wherever you decide to go whale watching, please choose an ethical operator:
- 🐋 Cabo Trek: one of the only tour companies certified by the World Cetacean Alliance. Their main tour departs from Cabo San Lucas, but they offer a second tour that departs from the marina in San Jose del Cabo.
- 🐋 Salty Cabo Excursions: they don’t have the same certification, but Salty Cabo offers small-group, ethical tours from the marina in San Jose del Cabo. They offer a really unique sunrise whale watching tour, almost guaranteeing you’ll be one of the only boats on the water! If an early wake-up is a no-go, they’ve recently added a sunset option too.
- 🐋 Book Cabo Trek (departing from San Jose del Cabo)
- 🐋 Book Salty Cabo sunrise tour (departing from San Jose del Cabo)
- 🐋 Book Salty Cabo day tour (departing from San Jose del Cabo)
- 🐋 Book Salty Cabo sunset tour (departing from San Jose del Cabo)
8. Do a food tour
If you want to sample the best tacos, eat where the locals do and learn more about Baja cuisine, you have to do a food tour with Juan More Taco!
We did one of their tours in Cabo San Lucas and thoroughly enjoyed our experience visiting different restaurants and food stalls around the city.
Their guides are knowledgeable, friendly locals who will lead you around San Jose del Cabo and teach you all about the food you are trying. Including how to eat it, which can sometimes be confusing if you’re not in the know!
They run their tours twice daily, at lunchtime or in the evening for dinner.
We highly recommend doing the tour as soon as you arrive in San Jose del Cabo so you can return to your favourite spots in the proceeding days.
Book a 🌞 lunchtime taco tour or an 🌝 evening taco tour
9. See the iconic ‘El Arco’
The marketing image for Los Cabos, El Arco or The Arch is a rock formation in the Lands End area. If you’ve seen photos of Los Cabos, you’ve seen The Arch!
Lands End is a rocky cape jutting off Cabo San Lucas, marking the most southern point of the Baja Peninsula. Despite not being in San Jose del Cabo itself, I think it’s definitely worth a visit.
In addition to the arch-shaped rock and other cool jagged rock formations, there are two beaches in Lands End. Lover’s Beach (Playa de Los Amantes) and Divorce Beach (Playa del Divorcio).
Lover’s Beach is calm and safe for swimming and snorkelling, sheltered inside the Bay of Cabo. Divorce Beach is exposed to the Pacific Ocean with rough waves and strong currents. You can walk along the sand between the two.
The area is accessible only by boat. There are hundreds of tour operators offering slightly different versions of essentially the same thing. The main variations are:
🚤 WATER TAXI DROP-OFF
- The cheapest and most independent way to visit the arch is to take a water taxi that is part tour, part transport. Departing from the Marina in Cabo San Lucas, you’ll spend about 30 minutes cruising around Lands End and viewing The Arch from the boat. You will then get dropped off at Lovers Beach, where you are free to walk between here and Divorce Beach. You coordinate a pickup time with the captain, and they will come back in a few hours to collect you.
🛶 KAYAK TO THE ARCH
- A really unique way to see El Arco is to kayak from Cabo San Lucas. This kayak tour gives you some time to explore both the beaches and even a short snorkel stop. A really different and active way to visit Lands End that combines a couple of activities in one if you’re fit.
🛥️ GLASS BOTTOM BOAT CRUISE
- A scenic boat cruise in a glass-bottomed boat takes you from the Marina in Cabo San Lucas out to Lands End. You’ll have time to view and photograph El Arco, as well as other rock formations like Pelican Rock where pelicans and sea lions hang out. You’ll see both beaches from the boat, and the transparent boat means you can watch the fish and marine life underwater. This will take less than an hour and you won’t get off the boat.
*Note that all tours depart from Cabo San Lucas. Some will include hotel pick-up from San Jose del Cabo, but some may require you to get yourself to the meeting point.
- 🚤 Water taxi to El Arco with free time on Lovers Beach and Divorce Beach
- 🛶 Kayak tour to El Arco and Lands End (tip: beat the crowds at sunrise!)
- 🛥️ Scenic glass bottom boat cruise to El Arco and Lands End
10. Go snorkelling
The waters of Los Cabos are sparkling blue and crystal clear most of the year, full of fish and all kinds of marine life.
If you want to snorkel in San Jose del Cabo, you have two options:
- DIY snorkelling off the beach
- Taking a snorkel tour on a boat
DIY snorkelling
There are a handful of beaches around San Jose del Cabo with reefs close to the shore. You can walk in and snorkel from the beach, without the need for a boat.
We would recommend packing some snorkel gear. If you don’t have any, you can buy them from large supermarkets around Cabo and from most markets and souvenir shops. Sometimes there are vendors renting gear on the beach, but you can’t always rely on this.
The best places to snorkel from the beach are:
- Playa Palmilla
- Playa El Chileno
- Playa Santa Maria
Snorkel tours
Snorkelling from a boat can get you to better spots offshore, and is just a fun activity to do. Being out on the water in Cabo is absolutely gorgeous and it’s a great way to spend a few hours.
In terms of snorkel tours from San Jose del Cabo, there are a lot of different options:
- 🤿 San Jose del Cabo Ocean Safari. This ocean safari tour is part snorkelling part whale watching part marine life looking around San Jose del Cabo. Its focus is finding large pelagic marine life, like whales, rays, sharks, sea lions etc. to observe, and jumping in to swim with them if it’s safe. A truly epic ocean adventure.
- 🤿 Combine a trip to El Arco and Lands End with snorkelling in this area. You’ll depart on the boat from Cabo San Lucas, but this tour includes pick-up from your accommodation in San Jose del Cabo. You can tick off two activities in one – seeing El Arco and snorkelling.
- 🤿 Take a snorkel tour that departs from the marina in San Jose del Cabo and visits different sites, rather than from Cabo San Lucas. This is a fantastic way to get away from the hordes of boats and tourists snorkelling around Cabo San Lucas. This tour is a fantastic option and focuses on remote and quiet dive sites in San Jose and the East Cape.
- 🤿 A snorkel and kayak combo tour. Another tour that allows you to tick off two activities in one. This tour picks you up from your accommodation in San Jose del Cabo and drives to Playa Santa Maria. You’ll kayak to Playa El Chileno and snorkel in the calm waters of the bay.
- 🤿 Taking a day trip to Cabo Pulmo. This really is the best place for snorkelling in the area, but it’s a big commitment as it’s a lengthy drive (2 hours each way). This snorkel tour includes transport, lunch and 3-4 stops for snorkelling on the boat.
- 🦈 San Jose del Cabo ocean safari
- 🐠 El Arco and Lands End snorkel combo tour
- 🤿 San Jose del Cabo remote snorkel experience
- 🛶 Snorkel and kayak combo tour
- 🐢 Cabo Pulmo snorkel day trip
11. Stroll through the estuary
Technically not an estuary as it doesn’t flow to the sea and it’s entirely fresh water, this beautiful wetlands area is the green heart of San Jose del Cabo.
The estuary is a protected area and bird sanctuary and is a great spot for a stroll.
There are boardwalks and walking paths through the area to explore. However, be prepared for the paths to be cut off if you visit around the wet season when the estuary floods.
This location is a great spot to start, with a small boardwalk and viewing platform to get a beautiful view of the lush palms growing around the freshwater source.
There are walking trails from here, but we couldn’t find them when we visited – the estuary was flooded and a few tracks were cut off, so maybe that’s why we missed it. Let me know if you have more luck than we did!
Alternatively, you can walk along Playa Hotelera all the way to its eastern end, and you will be able to see the estuary if it is full enough. It doesn’t connect with the ocean (it’s freshwater), but there is a very small strip of sand that divides the estuary and the ocean. This location is a good point to pop into your map.
12. Historical and cultural walking tour
If you want to learn more about the history and culture of San Jose del Cabo and the Baja Peninsula, this historical and cultural walking tour gets fantastic reviews.
I’ll admit, I never really associated Baja with history. My mind wandered to the Mayans of Southern Mexico and the Aztec Empire in Central Mexico.
But the Baja Peninsula has a rich and interesting history of its own.
Your local guide Cristian will provide a raw and authentic view of the history of Los Cabos. As well as modern-day culture and society in Cabo, and give you an insight into some of the impacts mass tourism has had on the area.
This San Jose del Cabo walking tour is a great way to learn about the real Cabo, outside of the resorts. The tour is offered in the morning or in the evenings (perfect for the warmer months).
🌜 Book your historical and cultural walking tour here
13. Take a cooking class
If you want to recreate all the delicious Mexican cuisine when you get back home, you should take a cooking class in San Jose del Cabo.
In addition to learning some new culinary skills, cooking classes are great cultural experiences. You get to hang out with a local for an afternoon and get authentic insights into the destination.
There aren’t a lot of tours that allow you to genuinely and authentically connect with people, so a cooking class is a fantastic thing to do.
This tour is run by Cookin’ Cabo. They are a secondary company of the legends at Juan More Tacos, who run the food tour I mentioned.
You’ll meet at the local market in San Jose del Cabo and shop for fresh local ingredients. Experiencing a market with a local is so much better, as you can understand more about the produce you’re seeing.
You’ll then head to the home of your chef, where you’ll learn to cook a number of Mexican dishes. They have a rotating roster of dishes each day of the week, so you can check in advance which day you’d like to book.
👨🏽🍳 Book your San Jose del Cabo cooking class here
14. Visit Cabo San Lucas
Just 45 minutes down the Tourist Corridor is the rowdier of the two Los Cabos resort cities – Cabo San Lucas.
Not everyone’s scene, and if you’re reading this post chances are you are making San Jose del Cabo your base in Los Cabos to avoid Cabo San Lucas.
Despite the tacky tourist traps, thumping music and drinking competitions, Cabo San Lucas is worth visiting for at least a day.
In addition to visiting the iconic El Arco that I mentioned, and hiking Mt Solmar with some cute dogs, there are plenty of unique things to do in Cabo San Lucas.
The town doesn’t have the same charming, historic feel as San Jose del Cabo (it’s a lot younger), but it’s still worth wandering around for a few hours.
While it’s not our cup of tea, you can’t deny the lavish luxury of Cabo San Lucas is impressive.
There are enormous yachts in the marina, fancy resorts with unique architectural designs, boujee beach clubs and designer stores. It’s worth seeing, and appreciated more so knowing you can return back to peaceful San Jose del Cabo at the end of the day!
It’s not all touristy though. There are some incredible local restaurants here with cheap and authentic tacos. The further you walk away from Medano Beach and the Marina, the more local life you’ll experience.
🌈 Get our full guide to Cabo San Lucas here
Day trips from San Jose del Cabo
I have an entire post dedicated to the best day trips from Cabo, it would be remiss of me not to mention a few of them here.
San Jose del Cabo is an amazing town, but you should definitely dedicate a couple of days to exploring the surrounding areas of Baja California Sur.
Here are a couple of must-do day trips, that are all under 2 hours from San Jose del Cabo.
15. Hiking and hot springs in Santiago
Away from the coast is a hidden desert oasis with rivers, waterfalls and hot springs, in the tiny town of Santiago.
Worlds away from the touristy and developed Los Cabos, Santiago was one of the most picturesque places we visited in all of Baja.
While there are miles of hiking trails, hidden swimming holes and desert camping opportunities, there are two main attractions that are a must-visit on a day trip.
- 🌵 Cascada Sol de Mayo: aka the Sol de Mayo Waterfall is located in the Cañon de la Zorra (Fox Canyon). The waterfall is located on the property of a local ranch, so you need to pay a small fee. A short walk from the entrance you’ll find the gorgeous waterfall flowing into a huge pool, perfect for swimming. You can also explore further upstream above the waterfall.
- 🌵 Santa Rita Hot Springs: a gorgeous set of natural thermal pools. The scenery here is literally like an oasis from a movie, it is spectacular. The pools are actually hot (so many ‘hot’ springs aren’t), and you can find a comfy rock to lean back and relax. There is a cold river running adjacent to the pools, so when you’re ready to cool off, jump in the river!
If you’ve got your own rental car, you can self-drive. It’s about 1 hour from San Jose del Cabo to Santiago, and the attractions are a little further out of town. There are a lot of unpaved roads around here, so a 4×4 is handy, but not strictly necessary unless it’s been raining recently.
Otherwise, join a tour to Sol de Mayo Waterfall or Santa Rita Hot Springs tour that picks you up from San Jose del Cabo and takes care of all the arrangements.
- 🌵 Book a tour to Sol de Mayo Waterfall
- 🌵 Book a tour to Santa Rita Hot Springs
- 🌵 Plan a DIY day trip to Santiago with our guide
16. Go snorkelling or scuba diving in Cabo Pulmo
I know I already touched on this in the snorkelling section, but Cabo Pulmo is very worthy of a second mention!
There is no better place to go snorkelling or diving in Cabo than Cabo Pulmo.
A huge national marine park, this protected area is home to some of the most pristine reefs in North America. You have a good chance of seeing turtles, rays, sea lions, sharks and even whales in season (December – April).
The town itself is also worth visiting for a glimpse into the past of the old-school Baja pre-mass tourism. There are a few dusty streets, a couple of local restaurants, some cabañas to rent and that’s it.
If you’ve got your own rental car, you can drive yourself to Cabo Pulmo for the day. If you’ve got a 4×4, you can drive via the East Cape which is a bumpy but very scenic drive. Otherwise, you can go via the highway which takes around 2 hours.
It is a very long drive if you’re spending the day in the water, so we would actually recommend a tour for this activity, unless you can allocate a few nights to stay in Cabo Pulmo.
There are snorkel or scuba dive tours that depart from San Jose del Cabo.
- 🐠 Book a snorkel tour to Cabo Pulmo
- 🐠 Book a scuba diving tour to Cabo Pulmo
- 🐠 Plan a DIY day trip to Cabo Pulmo with our guide
17. Day trip to Todos Santos
One of just two pueblo magicos or magic towns in Baja California Sur, Todos Santos is a charming, creative hub with a gorgeous historic centre.
It’s well worth staying in Todos Santos as part of your trip, but if you’re short on time it’s an easy day trip from Los Cabos. From San Jose del Cabo, it’s around 90 minutes driving.
If you’ve got your own rental car, you’ve got the freedom to drive yourself there and explore the town and surrounding beaches. Our top recommendations for a day in Todos Santos:
- 🌈 Wander aimlessly around the pretty streets
- ☕️ Have a coffee at Doce Cuarenta or La Esquina
- 🌮 Enjoy delicious tacos for lunch from Santo Chilote or El Poblano
- 🥾 Hike at Punta Lobos
- 🏄🏽♀️ Stop by Cerritos Beach for a swim or surf
Otherwise, if you don’t want to drive you can join a tour with transport. The tour hits all the highlights of Todos Santos, as well as lunch at the iconic Hotel California.
Where to eat in San Jose del Cabo
San Jose del Cabo has a really great dining scene. Full of aesthetic cafes, funky restaurants and wonderful farm-to-table experiences.
Many of these popular options can be on the more expensive side. But don’t worry! We found some amazing local taco spots that were just as delicious and affordable, and created a guide to the best tacos in San Jose del Cabo!
Here’s a brief summary of some of our favourite food spots:
- 🐠 Tacos El Memo – the spot for fish tacos! They have a range of fish and seafood options, with delicious creamy sauces and salsas delivered to your table.
- 🫔 Tamales Doña Nina – a San Jose institution, Doña Nina serves up delicious and affordable tamales from her food cart in Plaza Mijares.
- 🌮 Taqueria El Fogon – mouthwatering meat tacos cooked in a smokey haze on a grill. Try tacos with carne asada and arrachera. The papa rellena was amazing too.
- 🍻 Baja Brewing Co – an obligatory stop on your San Jose del Cabo exploration, try a range of craft beers on tap.
- ☕️ Coffee LAB – good quality coffee, a great place to sit and work for a few hours with healthy food options like loaded toasts, smoothie bowls and paninis.
🌮 Find the best tacos in San Jose del Cabo
Where to stay in San Jose del Cabo
San Jose del Cabo has some beautiful accommodation options at a range of budgets. Whether you’re looking for something in the Art District, or on the beach, here are some of our top picks.
BUDGET OPTIONS
- 💰 Desert Heart Hostel – a relatively new hostel in the centre of the Art District, there are clean and modern private rooms and dorms. The hostel has a communal kitchen, lots of areas to hang out and work and a cute hostel cat!
- $20 USD + per night check prices Hostelworld
- 💰 Hotel Posada Señor Manaña – where we stayed and loved! It is budget-friendly accommodation without the dorms, all rooms are private with private bathrooms. Housed in a lush, open courtyard decorated with artwork, fairy lights, palm trees and a few friendly cats. We loved the vibe here and the location was perfect. Recent reviews are very mixed, but if you want a private, budget room, I don’t think you can go past it.
- $60 USD + per night check prices Hostelworld
- 💰 Surf Hostel Cabo ‘The Riptide’ – this property has mixed reviews. It is in a great location in downtown San Jose del Cabo and offers affordable dorm accommodation. It is basic but clean, and of course, has a big focus on surfing.
- $20 USD + per night check prices Hostelworld
Hotel Posada Señor Manaña
OPTIONS IN THE ART DISTRICT
- 💰💰 Lumina at Cardinal San Jose del Cabo – this new option has received rave reviews. Large, modern and sleek apartments in an amazing location near the plaza. The apartments are very spacious and fully self-contained. The rooftop infinity pool has some great views!
- $150 USD + per night check prices Booking.com | Expedia
- 💰💰💰 Drift – an industrial-style boutique hotel decorated in a minimal style, featuring polished concrete, raw stone and plenty of neutral colours. Rooms are centred around a palm-filled courtyard with a swimming pool, and there is a rooftop terrace and mezcal bar onsite.
- $200 USD + per night check prices Booking.com | Expedia
- 💰💰💰 Casa Natalia – exuding the historic charm of San Jose del Cabo, Casa Natalia is an 18-room boutique hotel on the plaza. Rooms are spacious and bright with Mexican art and décor. The property has a beautiful courtyard and pool, and the onsite restaurant Mi Cocina is one of the best in town.
- $200 USD + per night check prices Booking.com | Expedia
OPTIONS ON THE BEACH
- 💰💰 Rustico Lounge – situated literally in the sand on the shores of Playa Costa Azul, with the most amazing views, Rustico Lounge oozes laidback Baja beach vibes. There are cabins with bathrooms and kitchens, as well as tipis that share bathroom and kitchen facilities.
- $150 USD + per night check prices Booking.com
- 💰💰💰 El Ganzo – technically located on the marina, a private beach club is just a stone’s throw away. El Ganzo is a trendy boutique hotel with the most amazing rooftop infinity pool in Cabo, and airy and spacious modern rooms, most with water views.
- $350 USD + per night check prices Booking.com | Expedia
- 💰💰💰 Cabo Surf Hotel – located on the popular surfing beach Playa Acapulquito, Cabo Surf Hotel offers all the amenities of a resort, with a boutique feel. Featuring a range of hotel-style rooms, many come with ocean views and some with outdoor spas on the terrace. There is a surf school on-site if you want to up your surfing game!
- $550 USD + per night check prices Booking.com | Expedia
Final thoughts on San Jose del Cabo
There are so many great and unique things to do in San Jose del Cabo.
It offers the perfect taste of the Los Cabos experience that attracts so many tourists each year. Yet you can still get a (slightly) more authentic insight into Mexican life and culture than down the road in crazy Cabo San Lucas.
We hope you fall in love with the colourful streets and lively plaza as much as we did!
OUR LOS CABOS TRAVEL GUIDES
- ⚖️ Choosing Between Cabo San Lucas vs San Jose del Cabo
- 🥾 12 Amazing Cabo Day Trips
- 🏨 16 Unique and Boutique Hotels in Los Cabos
- 🐋 Humpback Whale Watching in Cabo
- 🏖️ 21 Non Touristy Unique Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas
- 🌯 14 Best Local Restaurants in Cabo San Lucas
- 🐶 Mt Solmar – Hike a Mountain with Dogs in Cabo San Lucas
- 🌴 17 Best Things to Do in San Jose del Cabo Travel Guide
- 🌮 Where to Find the Best Tacos in San Jose del Cabo
OUR BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR TRAVEL GUIDES
The Comments
kelly
I have never had an interest in visiting Cabo, so I had no idea the nearest city to the airport was such a gem. Thank you for a quick and to-the-point guide to San Jose Del Cabo. Your article sums up perfectly the culture and vibe of this city. You cut thru all the clutter, unlike all the other blogs and videos I have seen thus far, focusing on budget friendly basics with a few splurges mixed in. The one tour you added is exactly what we were looking for! No interest in glitzy expensive tours with coach buses. Just the right mix of text and pictures – pictures with purpose and not random pics to fill space. Thank you for a such a great article!
Sally
kellyHi Kelly, thankyou so much for your kind words! I’m glad the post was helpful, and I really appreciate your positive feedback. San Jose del Cabo is a completely different world from Cabo, and you definitely shouldn’t be put off visiting! It is very charming and avoids all the big resorts, and touristy parties you find in Cabo San Lucas. I completely agree with you about the tours, they have to offer something we can’t do ourselves, and there’s no need for the glitzy coaches or boats you often find around Cabo! Hope you have a wonderful time in SJD! All the best, Sally xx
Carrie
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and beautiful descriptions of San Jose del Cabo! My husband and I will be traveling with two other couples to the area in early April for a week and I will tuck away ideas from your blog for our trip! I appreciate the way you authentically describe the place and the focus is truly on the experience of being there and having a meaningful cultural experience, even if you are in a touristy area. Some other blogs I’ve read seem to focus a bit more on the outfits the bloggers are wearing and who they know, so yours really stands out to me! We will be staying at Las Olas condominiums, and we are hoping that it will be a wonderful experience. Thanks again for your wonderful information!
Sally
CarrieHi Carrie, thank you so much for your lovely comment and kind words. I am so glad you found the post helpful! It can be difficult to convey the feeling of a place with words, but I hope I was able to do that for you 🙂 San Jose is a gorgeous little spot, despite being busy, and there are so many ways you can get away from the ‘usual’ tourist activities. It sounds like you have a fantastic trip lined up, and I hope you all have a great time. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any more questions. Sally xx
Jenna Taylor
Hi there,
My name is Jenna Taylor and I’m a travel writer. I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog content recently, and I wanted to reach out about potentially guest blogging for you.
I have plenty of experience writing original articles on travel that perform well on Google searches and help bring traffic to the website they’re published on. Plus, I often collaborate with other businesses which usually results in positive recurring deals for everyone involved.
If you like what you hear so far, please let me know so we can chat more about the details!
Sally
Jenna TaylorHi Jenna,
Thanks for reaching out and your comment. I appreciate the interest, but I’m not taking on any guest posts at the moment.
All the best,
Sally
Anders
I like several of the ideas but am utterly confused regarding the locations and directions provided in the article. I found myself toggling back and forth between this article and Google Maps, trying to find the places mentioned. Not much luck.
Sally Rodrick
AndersHi Anders, you may not have noticed that I have a custom Google Map for Baja California Sur with all the recommended activities, hotels, restaurants etc. pinned for you. The problem you’re describing is something every traveller faces when planning a trip, and resolving it (i.e. creating a custom map) takes time and effort, so I sell this as a product: https://sallysees.ck.page/products/baja-california-sur-google-map