21 Non Touristy Unique Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas

Heading to Cabo San Lucas and want to do more than party and lay by the pool?

In this post, we’ll share 21 off-the-beaten-path and unique things to do in Cabo San Lucas, that most tourists won’t do. As well as a comprehensive guide to the area for independent travellers, staying outside of the all-inclusive resorts.

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 If you find anything in this post that is incorrect or outdated please let me know in the comments so I can update it for other readers.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 Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas, often referred to as simply ‘Cabo’ is a resort city at the southern tip of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur.

One of Mexico’s most iconic tourist destinations, Cabo sits alongside the likes of Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Carmen.

If you’ve heard of Cabo, it’s probably in one of two capacities.

As a raucous party destination, with rounds of tequila shots for breakfast, all-you-can-drink margaritas and a constant thrum of terrible techno music.

Or, as a luxury hideaway for high-end travellers and Hollywood high rollers, visited by the likes of Jennifer Aniston, George Clooney and even the Kardashians.

It’s true, Cabo is both of these things, but it’s also so much more than that!

Resort towns aren’t typically our favourite destinations (spoiler alert: Cabo still doesn’t top any charts for us). But if I had to choose one resort city in Mexico, it would undoubtedly be Cabo.

There are rugged desert landscapes, gorgeous beaches and some fantastic hiking opportunities. If you take a few steps away from the busy tourist area, you’ll find an authentic downtown offering a glimpse of real Mexican life, and delicious and affordable local cuisine.

If you’re willing to give Cabo a chance, read on for 21 unique things to do in Cabo San Lucas, to get off the beaten path.

Cabo San Lucas vs San Jose del Cabo 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 southernmost municipality in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur.

Los Cabos constitutes a number of different towns, but the two largest and most well-known 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 these two towns 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

Our experience in Cabo San Lucas

Before we arrived in Cabo San Lucas, I had managed and lowered my expectations.

Although we don’t mind a drink or a dance every now and then, we are not massive partiers, and we certainly don’t stay in luxury, all-inclusive resorts. I knew it was going to be very Americanized, and full of tourists.

Cabo San Lucas was everything I expected it to be.

It was loud, chaotic, full of gringos, with nightclubs lining the streets and beaches. You couldn’t walk down a street without someone offering you a tour, a souvenir, or even weed.

Everything was written in English, and all the locals spoke English. Everything came priced in US Dollars and the prices in the tourist areas were exorbitant.

All the typical holiday activities were on offer, from swimming with dolphins (a cruel, unethical experience), to jet skiing and parasailing, or hair braiding and massages on the beach.

All-inclusive resorts lined the coast, like parallel universes where visitors enter once and leave only for their flight home.

But despite all this, I’ll be honest, we didn’t hate it!

Sure, all the things I said above were true, and Cabo San Lucas isn’t topping any list of favourite places in the world for us.

But I always make it our mission to see the best of the places we visit, touristy or otherwise. And there are a lot of things to love about Cabo.

If you take the time to research and seek out unique Cabo experiences, go in with the right expectations, and make an effort to get off the beaten path, you might just like it too.

Sustainable travel in Cabo San Lucas

Getting to Cabo San Lucas

✈️ FLYING INTO CABO SAN LUCAS

The nearest airport to Cabo San Lucas is the SJD – Los Cabos International Airport.

This commercial airport is located in neighbouring San Jose del Cabo. There are direct flights from many cities around the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Do not get confused with the CSL – Cabo San Lucas International Airport. This is a small aerodrome, used primarily for private jets.

🚐 GETTING FROM THE AIRPORT TO CABO SAN LUCAS

Cabo San Lucas is around 45+ minutes away from the airport, depending on traffic.

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 Cabo San Lucas via San Jose del Cabo and the Tourist Corridor. 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 which was super affordable at around $20 USD each.

• 🚐 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 Cabo San Lucas.

🚗 COMING FROM OTHER PARTS OF BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR

If you’re coming from other parts of Baja California Sur, you can easily drive yourself to Cabo San Lucas if you’ve rented one (we highly recommend it), or you can use the inter-city bus system.

The Aguila bus connects Cabo San Lucas 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 Cabo San Lucas is located here, just outside the main centro area.

Getting around Cabo San Lucas

🚗 WITH A RENTAL CAR

Do you need to rent a car in Cabo San Lucas?

Short answer: not really. This is one place in Baja where you can get by without renting a car.

However, if Cabo is 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.

There are so many things to do around the outskirts of Cabo San Lucas, in neighbouring San Jose del Cabo and in the southern part of the state more broadly. A car gives you flexibility and control over your itinerary, but it’s not strictly necessary if you plan to spend most of your time in Cabo San Lucas itself.

👣 WITHOUT A RENTAL CAR

Cabo San Lucas is very walkable.

Medano Beach, the Marina and the main tourist centre are very compact. It’s also possible to walk into the more local downtown area, with an easily navigable grid layout.

If you’re tired, hot or going a bit further, Uber and DiDi are available for very affordable prices. Taxis ply the town but can be a lot more expensive.

If you want to head down to the Tourist Corridor to some of the other beaches, or into San Jose del Cabo, you can use the Ruta del Desierto bus which is affordable and frequent.

Unique things to do in Cabo San Lucas

1. Juan More Taco food tour

One of the most unique things to do in Cabo San Lucas is a food tour with Juan More Taco.

Cabo was our first destination in Mexico, and while we knew the food in Mexico was going to be delicious, we really didn’t know too much about the cuisine, what to eat or where to find it.

This was compounded even more by the fact that in Cabo San Lucas most of the restaurants are catered to tourists, and there aren’t too many local eateries (until you know where to look).

So we decided to go to the best source of information – the locals!

Juan More Taco runs a street food tour around Downtown Cabo San Lucas, with a guide teaching you about Mexican cuisine and showing you around a number of different local spots.

You get to sample a range of local dishes, which are all included in the tour cost as well as non-alcoholic drinks.

The food tour is offered multiple times during the day, or for a dinner tour at night (which we did).

Our guide Pamela was friendly, knowledgeable and spoke great English. She led us to 8 different spots, and oh my goodness they were good!

I’m not going to give away all the locations, as the best part of the tour was not just discovering the restaurants, but having a local there with you to tell you more about the dish, what it pairs with and how you eat it.

We tried everything from tacos to sopes, tamales and empanadas. From restaurants, tiny taco shops, and street carts. We ended the night with dessert, trying homemade paletas (popsicles) and churros. A tequila tasting was included too!

We never would have known how to find these restaurants, or which dishes to try without the insights from Juan More Taco. We couldn’t recommend this tour enough, and would encourage you to do it as early on in your trip as possible!

We spent the remainder of our days in Cabo San Lucas revisiting our favourite spots from the tour (and feeling like bosses knowing exactly what to order, and how to eat it!).

🌮 Book your Cabo San Lucas food tour here

2. Hike Mt Solmar with a group of dogs

If you told me I would go to Cabo to hike up a mountain with a group of dogs I wouldn’t have believed you! But this is completely possible, and such a fun thing to do in the area.

Mt Solmar (also known as Cerro del Vigía) is a rocky peak that rises above the popular Lands End area in Cabo San Lucas.

The land 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.

Being massive dog lovers, we were in doggy heaven!

Around 20 dogs of all shapes and sizes led the group up the mountain, and we had so much fun cuddling all of them and enjoying the spectacular views from the top.

The hike got the heart rate going, and the final stretch was a very steep incline (with a bit of a rock climb!). But it was so worth it.

It took around two hours all up, and it was the perfect start to the day.

To get all the details about the hike, including where it starts from, what time etc. check out our Mt. Solmar post.

🥾 Read our Mt Solmar guide here

3. Lands End and El Arco

The marketing image for Cabo, 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!

Visiting El Arco is definitely not a unique thing to do in Cabo. In fact, it’s one of the most popular and touristy things to do in the area.

But I can’t leave it off the list, as it really is a naturally stunning area and no visit to Cabo would be complete without seeing it!

Instead, I want to share a few ways you can visit El Arco that don’t involve a booze cruise or a private yacht.

Lands End is a rocky cape jutting off Cabo San Lucas, marking the southernmost point of the Baja Peninsula. The area is accessible only by boat.

In addition to The Arch and other really cool jagged rock formations, there are two beaches in Lands End:

• ❤️ Lover’s Beach (Playa del Amor): calm and safe for swimming and snorkelling, sheltered inside the Bay of Cabo San Lucas.

• 💔 Divorce Beach (Playa del Divorcio): exposed to the Pacific Ocean with rough waves and strong currents, that are not safe for swimming.

Every tour operator in Cabo offers an experience at El Arco. Here are some of the best ways to visit the arch:

🚤 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, 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.

4. Explore Plaza Amelia Wilkes and the Downtown area

The tourist heart of Cabo is centred around the Marina and along Medano Beach. But if you head a few streets away from this area, you get a more authentic, local Cabo.

The streets are quieter, the food is cheaper, menus are not in English and you’re more likely to hear Mexican music than the bassy party music coming out of the beach clubs.

Plaza Amelia Wilkes is a good place to start. The open plaza has some lovely gardens, and the surrounding streets have gorgeous colourful buildings with plenty of papel picado (the decorative hanging paper flags).

It was a great place for a stroll and had a much more relaxed feel than the other parts of Cabo we visited.

You can also pop into the Natural History Museum, a small museum showcasing the cultural and geographical history of Cabo.

Be sure to check out some of the amazing local restaurants in this area too.

The Los Cabos Municipal Tourism Office has recently released a ‘Ruta #CaboInstagrameable‘ self-guided walking route with fun sites around the city to snap a photo. Instagram isn’t the be-all, end-all, but this is a nice way to explore a lesser-discovered area of the city, and there are some great murals, monuments, and buildings to discover along the route.

5. Visit a quieter beach

The main beach in Cabo, Medano Beach, is lined with resorts, rowdy beach clubs, vendors selling all kinds of souvenirs and many many tourists.

It is a beautiful beach, offering stunning views out to Lands End and we can see why people like it. But when we visited (in December, peak season) it was a pretty full-on experience!

If you want to enjoy the stunning beaches Cabo has to offer, but without the crowds, there are other great options to choose from:

• 🏖️ Playa Santa Maria: a sheltered bay around 20 minutes from Cabo San Lucas. The sand here is more pebbly, which some people might enjoy, and it’s possible to rent equipment like paddleboards. This is a nice place to snorkel from the beach.

• 🏖️ Playa El Chileno: a little further up the coast, this beach offers calm waters and less noise! You can snorkel from the beach here too, and there are usually some vendors renting gear.

• 🏖️ Playa Palmilla: this beach is closer to San Jose del Cabo, but was one of our favourites in the area. It’s a rocky bay, sheltered from the big waves making it calm enough to swim and snorkel.

All of these beaches have car parks if you have a rental car.

If not, it is very easy to catch the Ruta del Desierto bus, which runs from Cabo San Lucas along the Tourist Corridor and can stop at any of these beaches along the way.

Alternatively, grab an Uber in Cabo to the beaches, and when you are ready to leave there are usually taxis hanging around if you can’t find an Uber.

6. Hike Cerro de la Z

If you’re wondering where the locals go in Cabo San Lucas, it’s Cerro de la Z.

Another popular hike, this 2.1 km / 1.3 mi out-and-back trail starts in the affluent neighbourhood of Pedregral.

You can drive or Uber to the trailhead. It’s also possible to walk from town which would add on a mile or two to your hike.

Short but steep, you’ll incline on a mostly paved trail, before reaching a closed observatory at the summit that offers some stunning views of the Pacific side of the Cabo coast.

There is not a lot of shade, so we would recommend doing the trail first thing in the morning, or later in the evening when it is cooler. The sunset views are fantastic from up here!

If you go in the late afternoon, you’ll be joined by tons of locals finishing work, walking their dogs and friends catching up. It’s a really nice way to experience Cabo off the beaten path without other tourists around.

Wear sturdy shoes, bring lots of water and keep an eye out for snakes. This is the trail map on AllTrails.

7. See sea lions at the marina

Now I know you’re probably thinking visiting the Marina is definitely not one of the non touristy things to do in Cabo. You’d kind of be right, given the Marina is at the heart of the tourist area.

However, if you can dodge the hawkers selling tours and the bars offering 2-for-1 shots out the front, it’s worth having a look around.

Besides playing the obligatory game of ‘which yacht would I choose if I was a millionaire’, the Marina is a great place to spot wildlife.

Many times throughout our stay we got to watch playful sea lions hanging around. They were often following fishing boats in hopes of a scrap, or trying to hoist themselves up onto the docks, at the objection of the security guards.

We had a hilarious moment on New Year’s Eve when we were down on the marina, watching a security guard doing his patrols with his torch. His beam landed on a whole squad of sea lions sprawled out on the dock, who immediately knew they’d been caught and made a quick and awkward escape back to the sea!

The best time to wander around the Marina is at the end of the day just before sunset. This is when all the fishermen return from a day at sea, and you can see them cleaning their catch with sneaky pelicans swooping down for a snack, and noisy sea lions chasing them around in the water.

8. Walk a rescue dog

If hiking Mt Solmar with the dogs has you craving more puppy time, why not volunteer a few hours to walk a rescue dog?

The Los Cabos Humane Society is a fantastic local animal shelter that has been working in Cabo since 1992. They do amazing work rescuing street dogs and cats, as well as providing free veterinary care, sterilizations and vaccinations to low-income areas around Cabo.

In addition to donating, visitors are encouraged to visit the shelter to take a doggy for a walk. Rescue dogs need plenty of love, attention and exercise and this is a great way to help out. They have limited hours throughout the week for walks, check the latest on the Los Cabos Humane Society website.

If you’re more of a cat person, you can visit the cattery to socialise and cuddle the cats.

9. Go humpback whale watching

The waters around the Baja Peninsula are one of the best places in the world for whale watching.

The waters off the coast of Cabo are best for spotting humpback whales in particular.

Between December – April each year, humpbacks migrate to the warmer waters of the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez. If you head to any beach around Cabo during this time, you’re almost guaranteed to spot a whale splashing offshore!

These playful and acrobatic creatures put on a spectacular show, and are one of my favourite whales to see. They are often seen breaching out of the water, smacking their fins and tails on the surface and splashing around, sometimes with newborn calves.

Although it is very easy to spot whales from land, nothing beats getting up close and personal with these incredible animals on a whale watching tour.

Taking one of these tours is admittedly a popular thing to do in Cabo San Lucas, and boats are known to crowd whales around the busy El Arco area. To avoid contributing to this type of tourism, choose a sustainable tour company:

• 🐋 Whale Watch Cabo is one of the best companies in the area for ethical whale watching. With a strong focus on conservation and involvement in research projects, they always adhere to strict standards when it comes to safely approaching and watching the whales.

• 🐋 Cabo Trek is another fantastic option for ethical whale watching. They are one of the only tour companies certified by the World Cetacean Alliance and operate under strict guidelines to ensure the safety and comfort of the whales.

We’ve got a complete guide to whale watching in Cabo, covering everything you need to know about seeing humpbacks.

• 🐋 Book with Whale Watch Cabo
• 🐋 Book with Cabo Trek

10. Swim with sharks

Not many visitors to Cabo can say they’ve swum with sharks. Be one of the few, by joining one of the most unique things to do in Cabo San Lucas!

If you love the ocean, and you’re up for a thrilling but safe experience, you have to add this to your Cabo itinerary.

Cabo sits at the meeting point of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, one of the most diverse marine environments in the world. Deep banks, strong currents and an abundance of fish to feed on make this one of the best places to see a number of unique shark species.

Blue sharks, silky sharks, mako sharks and hammerhead sharks are the most commonly sighted in the area. These species are quite rare and not commonly found in many diving locations.

And you can swim with them!

Cabo Shark Dive is an experienced local operator that offers swim with sharks tours. They don’t use cages or feed the sharks, and they prioritise safety for guests and sharks.

You don’t need to be a certified diver or even a free diver. Anyone can join the tour, as long as you can use a snorkel.

The tours are usually half-day experiences leaving from the marina, where you’ll head out into the ocean to find some sharks. The team at Cabo Shark Dive are extremely familiar with the area and has great insights into where to find different species depending on the time of year, currents, weather etc. Don’t forget that sharks are wild animals though, and no-one can ever guarantee encounters.

Seriously one of the most incredible and unique experiences you can have in Cabo! Swimming with sharks is one of the most exhilarating and memorable travel experiences I’ve ever had.

🦈 Swim with sharks in Cabo here

11. Take a cooking class

Once you try some authentic Mexican food on your taco tour, you will definitely want to know how to recreate it at home!

On top of learning how to make delicious salsas, tacos and Mexican drinks, taking a cooking class is a really great cultural experience.

There aren’t a lot of tours that allow you to genuinely and authentically connect with local people. A cooking class gives you this opportunity and is a great non touristy thing to do in Cabo San Lucas.

The legends at Juan More Tacos, who run the food tour I mentioned also have a cooking school, Cookin’ Cabo. We highly highly recommend their class.

After meeting at their location in downtown Cabo, you’ll visit the market to shop for fresh local ingredients. You’ll then head to the chef’s home, 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 Cabo San Lucas cooking class here

12. Visit San Jose del Cabo

San Jose del Cabo is the other popular town in Los Cabos.

Many travellers choose to base themselves there, but if you’re staying in Cabo San Lucas, you have to at least visit San Jose for a day.

San Jose del Cabo is the quieter, more sophisticated Cabo. It’s less party, more culture. The layout of the town is quite different to Cabo San Lucas, with the downtown area set a few miles back from the beach. The town has a much better balance of locals vs tourists and is not as tourist-centric.

Although there are a number of activities in San Jose del Cabo, the best thing to do is just walk around and explore. We thought San Jose was a much prettier town than Cabo San Lucas, and it’s a great example of a colourful, lively Mexican centro.

The Art District, a historic area in the centro, is just 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.

There are some delicious tacos in San Jose del Cabo that you should sample too!

If you’re visiting in the peak period between November – June, make sure you plan for a visit on a Thursday when the Art Walk happens. The galleries in the Art District stay open until 9:00 pm, some offering wine and nibbles to encourage people to get out and appreciate the art and creativity happening around the region. It’s a super lovely way to spend an evening and you should easily be able to get an Uber back to Cabo San Lucas.

🌈 Get our full guide to San Jose del Cabo here

13. Have a paddock-to-plate meal on an organic farm

Hidden past San Jose del Cabo is a lush agricultural area called Las Animas.

Rows of produce grow in an otherwise arid landscape, and you can sample it straight from the source at a number of organic farms.

More than just a meal, visiting one of these farms is an excursion! Best done with your own rental vehicle, you could also hire a taxi or driver for a few hours.

The farms have stunning rural properties with lovely gardens, animals and farmland to explore. Each has a beautiful on-site restaurant with seasonal menus serving fresh, organic produce from the farm.

• 🌻 Flora Farms is the most well-known of these farms, but I will admit, has become quite a popular attraction for expats and frequent visitors. It is foreign-owned, and it felt quite Americanised. In peak season, this definitely doesn’t feel like an off-the-beaten-path option.

• 🌻 Los Tamarindos is a Mexican-owned and operated farm in the same area, offering a more authentic local experience. Although the prices here are also quite a bit higher than your average Cabo restaurant, the food quality is fantastic with freshly sourced ingredients from their sustainable farm.

There is one other farm in the area, ACRE, which is worthy of its own place on this list…

14. Visit ACRE

Do you know how some places just have the vibe? ACRE has it.

Part farm, part dog rescue centre, part farm-to-table restaurant, part treehouse resort and part animal sanctuary, ACRE is Cabo institution.

This 25-acre green oasis filled with palm trees, orchards of mango trees, fresh produce and happy animals has grown from a simple restaurant on a fertile plot of land to an iconic, sustainable establishment.

Located around 40 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas, it’s best accessed with your own vehicle, and well worth the drive.

If you haven’t chosen to stay a night or two in their stunning treehouses, you can visit for a meal. Their restaurant offers breakfast, weekend brunches, lunch and dinner in a lush, Baja-styled space.

But the best part of ACRE is getting to visit their dog rescue centre, ACRE Dogs.

Visitors are encouraged to pop into the centre between 8 am – 6 pm daily to share some love with the sweet rescue pups. You can cuddle these cuties, give them socialisation, and you never know, maybe find someone to adopt and take home with you!

There is also an animal sanctuary, housing farm animals like donkeys, cheeky goats and even peacocks. The sanctuary is open 8 am – 5 pm, and the ACRE team will gladly introduce you to the crew.

15. Go hiking at Fox Canon in Santiago

Cañon de la Zorra or Fox Canyon is another gorgeous hiking trail in the Los Cabos area.

Located in the tiny town of Santiago in the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range, the canyon sits on the property of a local ranch, Rancho Ecologico Sol de Mayo.

The best part of the canyon is the huge waterfall, Cascada Sol de Mayo.

The scene feels out of place in the dry, arid desert with a waterfall cascading over a rocky cliff into a huge pool below. With giant boulders and huge palms, it is a gorgeous desert oasis and a completely different landscape from the coast of Cabo.

There are trails leading to the lower level to the pool, or take the upper route to see where the waterfall begins. You can follow the riverbank as deep into the canyon as you like.

This was one of our favourite non touristy activities in Cabo San Lucas. I still pinch myself looking back at the photos. It was so spectacular, it felt like we had landed on a completely different planet to the touristy Cabo.

If you’ve got your own vehicle, you can easily drive yourself to the ranch. A 4×4 is recommended as the roads are quite soft and sandy in parts, but standard vehicles do make the trip. You’ll need to pay a small entrance fee to the ranch to access the trails and waterfall.

If you don’t have a car or aren’t confident to tackle the roads or trails, you can take a tour from Cabo. You’ll have the transport taken care of and have an experienced guide familiar with the area who will teach you more about the environment, allow you to get deeper into the canyon and off the usual trails.

• 🥾 Book a guided hike to Fox Canyon and Cascada Sol de Mayo here
• 🌵 Plan a DIY day trip with our guide to Cascada Sol de Mayo

16. Soak in hot springs

Also located in the Sierra de la Laguna near Santiago, Santa Rita Hot Springs is another oasis in the desert experience.

Located inside a scenic desert canyon, thermal waters heat natural rock pools. We spent hours relaxing against giant boulders, admiring the lush palm-filled landscape. When we got hot, we jumped into the cold river running adjacent to the pools, and then repeated the process!

If you’ve got your own vehicle and are driving to the waterfall at Fox Canyon, it’s possible to combine both activities on the same day. The hot springs are on the property of another local ranch, and you’ll need to pay an entrance fee to access them.

Otherwise, you can join a tour focusing solely on the hot springs. The tour company that runs the waterfall tour also offers one here. You’ll get the same benefits as above. Transport taken care of and a local guide who is very familiar with the area and can take you further into the canyon than you might be comfortable going on your own.

• ♨️ Book your hike and hot springs tour here
• 🌵 Plan a DIY day trip with our guide to Santa Rita Hot Springs

17. Release baby sea turtles into the ocean

I told you Baja was full of amazing ocean experiences! Another special marine species you can encounter around Cabo are sea turtles.

From July – September, Olive Ridley and Green Sea Turtles (locally known as Black Turtles) come ashore to varying Pacific beaches to lay their eggs.

Sadly, only a very small number of these hatchlings will survive. Nearly all species of sea turtles are endangered, and these guys need a helping hand to keep their population numbers stable.

Rancho Carisuva is a local ecotourism farm that has a turtle conservation program. During nesting season, their staff patrol the beaches nightly to find the nests and move the eggs to a safe location secure from poachers and predators.

Around 45 days later, the hatchlings break out of their shell and are ready to start their life in the big blue. You can be part of their first steps, releasing the new babies into the ocean.

We have done a turtle release on a number of occasions (including in nearby Todos Santos) and it’s a really special experience watching these little fellas make their way out into the world.

The tours are led by a marine biologist, and you will be given a briefing on how to safely interact with the hatchlings. It’s very important that the safety of the turtles is put before tourists, so please don’t forget this is not a photo opportunity! Do not touch the turtles!

Given their location is quite remote, the tour includes pick-up from your hotel in Cabo.

🐢 Release baby sea turtles in Cabo

18. Hike with donkeys at a donkey sanctuary

Rancho Carisuva runs another important conservation project. This time for a very different kind of Baja creature – donkeys!

The image of the donkey is iconic to northern Mexico and I think many people (myself included) figure there is an abundance of them.

However, populations of Mexican donkeys have severely declined in the past few decades. Overwork and abuse in rural settings, as well as the modernisation of agriculture, have seen donkey populations decline from over 1.5 million in the 1990s to around 300,000 today.

Baja Brewing Co, a pioneer in the craft brewery scene in Baja, collaborated with Rancho Carisuva to start the Donkey Sanctuary. The brewery’s mascot is a donkey, and they help fund the important work of rescuing donkeys in need and increasing populations around Baja.

If you want to get up close with these sweet animals, one of the most unique Cabo experiences is to go hiking with a donkey at the ranch.

They’ll pick you up from your accommodation in Cabo and take you to their ranch (you can self-drive if preferred). One of their guides will lead you on a hike on their property, a gorgeous piece of untouched desert that meets the coastline.

You’ll have a donkey accompany you for your walk. No one rides the donkeys, and the guides will choose whichever burro is keen to go for a walk. You can feed the donkeys and give them lots of love and attention.

Donkeys are stubborn and a bit dopey, so you’ll have a lot of fun navigating the hike with them. They are gentle and sweet animals and this is an amazing way to interact with them in an ethical way.

🫏 Book your donkey hike here

19. Explore remote beaches in the East Cape

One of the last remaining stretches of untouched coastline in Los Cabos is in the East Cape (aka Cabo Este). Classified as the area between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo Pulmo, there is only one road running to this remote area.

The Camino Cabo Este is a long, bumpy dirt road running along the coastline, that is accessible only to 4×4 vehicles (or a lot of confidence and good driving skills in a smaller car).

The difficulty of access has kept this region largely undeveloped with a pristine desert landscape falling into the sparkling Sea of Cortez. Hiding away in the East Cape are some of the most beautiful beaches in Cabo, amazing surf breaks and just a handful of boutique hotels.

If you’ve got the time and you’re really looking to get off the beaten path in Cabo, we would recommend staying a few nights here. We stayed at NEST Baja and it was absolute bliss.

If you’ve only got a day free, you can rent a 4×4 vehicle and explore the area solo. The drive itself is part of the adventure, navigating the bumpy track, with epic ocean views and wild donkeys wandering behind your car.

The closest beaches to Cabo are Playa East Cape and Playa Los Zacatitos. There is a great restaurant near Zacatitos, Zac’s Bar and Grill, and the whole area is full of donkeys! Both of these beaches would be accessible without a 4×4, given it hasn’t rained recently.

If you really want to get into the heart of the East Cape, head towards La Fortuna, which has a handful of restaurants (just don’t rely on them being open!). Nine Palms, Shipwrecks and La Fortuna are all gorgeous beaches that have seasonal surf breaks.

20. Snorkelling or diving in Cabo Pulmo

Although there are plenty of snorkelling and diving opportunities around Cabo San Lucas, if you’re serious about experiencing the best of Baja’s underwater world, you have to go to Cabo Pulmo.

This protected marine area is home to the largest reef in Baja and hosts an abundance of marine life. You can expect to see turtles, rays, sea lions, sharks, and a variety of colourful fish.

If you visit during the cooler months (December – April) you might even be lucky enough to see or hear humpback whales underwater!

The town of Cabo Pulmo is worlds away from busy Cabo San Lucas and a very non-touristy place. There is just a handful of sandy streets, a couple of local restaurants and that’s about it! If you’re lucky enough to find Tacos & Beer open with their very fluid opening hours, don’t miss a post-dive feed!

If you’ve got a rental car, you can drive yourself to Cabo Pulmo for the day and join a snorkel or dive tour in town. However it is quite a long way (2+ hours), and you will definitely be tired after being in the water.

So unless you can stay a few nights (which we did and recommend), this is one activity where we suggest joining a tour from Cabo.

There are snorkelling or scuba diving options. Both include transport from your accommodation in Cabo and lunch in Cabo Pulmo after your time out on the water. Snorkellers will visit 3 to 4 sites on the boat, and divers will do a two-tank dive.

• 🤿 Book a Cabo Pulmo snorkel tour
• 🫧 Book a Cabo Pulmo scuba dive tour

21. Take a day trip further afield

Some of the activities mentioned above could be considered day trips, but all of them are still within the Los Cabos municipality.

There are so many other amazing day trips outside of the region too! We have an entire post dedicated to the best day trips from Cabo San Lucas, but here’s a sneak preview of some of the must-dos.

🐋 Swim with whale sharks in La Paz: no matter what you read, you can’t swim with whale sharks in Cabo. You’ll need to travel two hours north to La Paz, on the Sea of Cortez to swim with the biggest fish in the sea! Join a tour with an ethical company like Cabo Trek. 

• 🐋 Book a whale shark tour
• 🐋 Read our guide to swimming with whale sharks in La Paz

🏖️ Visit Balandra Beach: also located in La Paz, Balandra is considered the best beach in Mexico! A complete contrast to the rough beaches of Cabo, this calm and shallow bay is home to seven different beaches, swirling white sandbanks and some amazing hiking trails. Self-drive if you’ve got your own vehicle, otherwise join a tour from Cabo.

• 🏝️ Book a tour to Balandra Beach
• 🏝️ Read our Balandra Beach guide

🦭 Swim with sea lions at Isla Espiritu Santo: another La Paz-based activity, Espiritu Santo Island is a UNESCO-protected island in the Sea of Cortez. Stunning beaches, rugged desert landscapes and diverse marine life, this is the best place to swim with sea lions in Baja. Join a tour from Cabo that includes transport and your boat tour.

• 🦭 Book a tour to Isla Espiritu Santo
• 🌈 Read our La Paz guide

🏄🏽‍♀️ Surf at Cerritos Beach: less than an hour from Cabo San Lucas is one of Mexico’s best surf breaks. Cerritos is one of the few swimmable beaches on the Pacific Coast and is a great place to spend the day whether you’re a surfer or not. Self-drive if you’ve got a vehicle, and explore the small town of El Pescadero too.

• 🏄🏻 Book a surf tour to Cerritos Beach
• 🏄🏻 Read our Cerritos Beach guide

🌈 Explore Todos Santos: this charming pueblo magico (magic town) is just an hour from Cabo San Lucas. One of the prettiest towns in Baja, Todos Santos has an amazing café culture, chic boutiques and a great art scene. Self-drive if you’ve got a car, otherwise join a tour that will showcase the culture and history of the town.

• 🌈 Book a tour to Todos Santos
• 🌈 Read our Todos Santos guide

Where to eat in Cabo San Lucas

Our top tip for eating in Cabo is to get away from Medano Beach and the Marina.

We could not believe the prices in the beach clubs and restaurants around here, and we’re not sure the quality of the food was worth it either!

Just a few streets back from this area, you will find some local gems.

Better food, for a cheaper price – what’s not to love?

We ate some mouthwatering al pastor tacos, fish tacos, ceviche and some delicious margaritas for a fraction of the price!

We ate so well that we decided to write a whole post about the best local restaurants in Cabo San Lucas!

Where to stay in Cabo San Lucas

Unless you want a very expensive luxury resort or a cookie-cutter all-inclusive, it’s actually quite difficult to find nice accommodation in Cabo San Lucas.

San Jose del Cabo takes the cake for sustainable, boutique options.

However, there are a couple of decent hostels and hotels in Cabo that have a more independent, boutique vibe. Unfortunately, most are concentrated in the downtown area, and not on the beachfront.

BUDGET OPTIONS

• 💰 Mayan Monkey Hostel – one of the funkiest hostels I’ve ever seen, complete with a rooftop pool, bar and restaurant, free breakfast, a calendar of social activities and modern rooms. It is a party vibe, so consider if it’s a good fit for you.
  • $20 + USD per night check prices Hostelworld

• 💰 Sofia Hostel – a laidback hostel that is top-rated, with basic but clean facilities. It’s within walking distance of the Marina and Medano Beach and includes a delicious free breakfast daily. If you don’t want a party hostel, this is the best option.
  • $20 + USD per night check prices Hostelworld

• 💰 Cabo Inn – an affordable but private option with no shared rooms or bathrooms. Cabo Inn is a colourful, Mexican-style hotel in the heart of downtown, we stayed here. It’s basic and a little scruffy, but it has a lot of character and we liked it. For something really unique, book one of their open-air rooftop palapa rooms.
  • $40 + USD per night check prices Hostelworld

MID-RANGE OPTIONS

• 💰💰 Los Milagros – a lovely, affordable option. Rooms are basic but light and airy. The suite is better value with a kitchenette. The rooftop courtyards are a quiet oasis from the hustle and bustle, one of them has a pool too.
  • $100 + USD per night check prices Booking.com | Expedia

• 💰💰 Cabo Vista Hotel – huge rooms with a lovely earthy style, each with a private kitchenette. There is a small pool, and the exterior of the building is covered in gorgeous climbers. Centrally located and an easy walk to the centro/marina area.
  • $110 + USD per night check prices Booking.com | Expedia

• 💰💰 Castillo Blarney Inn – a very unique boutique hotel, with an Irish influence paired with the desert landscape. Perched up on a hill, the views over the bay are magnificent. Every room category has a kitchen, with light and bright décor.
  • $120 + USD per night check prices Booking.com | Expedia

HIGH-END OPTIONS

• 💰💰💰 Lumina at Cardinal Cabo San Lucas – a relatively new option, this is a seriously stylish choice! All rooms are apartment style, with kitchenettes. There is a stunning rooftop pool and communal area, with amazing views of Cabo. My top pick! ⭐️
  • $150 + USD per night check prices Booking.com | Expedia

• 💰💰💰 Casa Palo Verde – at first glance the location is a bit further out of town, but this hotel certainly makes up for it! Superb reviews, friendly staff and thoughtful touches like beach gear to borrow. Every room is a self-contained apartment style with a kitchen, and you’ll have everything you need for a comfortable stay.
  • $200 + USD per night check prices Booking.com | Expedia

• 💰💰💰 Bahia Hotel & Beach House – Bahia is a great boutique option near the beach, avoiding the obnoxious all-inclusives. The hotel is connected with Sur Beach House on Medano Beach, and guests get free access. It has beautiful aesthetics and design throughout. Think white, light and bright earthy tones and textures.
  • $300 + USD per night check prices Booking.com | Expedia

Final thoughts on Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas is a funny place. If you are an independent, adventurous traveller it’s probably not going to be your scene. But no trip to Baja Sur is complete without visiting for at least a few days!

If you come with the right expectations and the willingness to try and get off the beaten path, you might actually enjoy it as we did!

I hope this list of non-touristy and unique things to do in Cabo San Lucas has given you some inspiration on how to escape the tourist traps and see a different side of Cabo, that most visitors don’t see.