Where to Stay in Cabo San Lucas

Mexico › Best Areas to Stay in Cabo San Lucas
Updated: June 25, 2024

My Favorite Hotels
• Cabo San Lucas: Waldorf Astoria
• Along the Corridor: One & Only Palmilla
• Budget: Casa Bella
• For families: Casa Dorada • Hilton
• Couples: Esperanza
• Beach: Hacienda

Big blue sky and white clouds touch the teal blue ocean with an infinity pool overlooking it in Cabo San Lucas Mexico.

The gorgeous infinity pool at the Hilton Resort on the Los Cabos Corridor.

Best Areas to Stay in Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas is a resort city located on the southernmost tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. It is famous for its dramatic rock formations and the landmark arch (or El Arco) at Land’s End.

The city and downtown are well known for its lively beaches, luxurious beachside resorts, and renowned nightlife. Medano Beach is located in the center of Cabo San Lucas and is one of the best beaches.

Deep-sea fishing is popular in the summer, while whale watching is best between December and March. Travelers enjoy many water activities, including surfing, parasailing, skydiving, jet skis, water skiing, paddleboarding, and banana boat rides (an inflated banana-shaped boat that’s pulled behind a powerboat).

Cabo’s marina is splendid, and its promenade is a great place to stroll, relax for a drink, enjoy casual or fine dining, or shop at the Luxury Avenue Boutique Mall. Excursions depart from the marina for popular day trips, including to Lover’s Beach, accessible only by boat.

Along a 20-mile stretch, northeast following the coast, between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, is the Los Cabos Corridor with stunning beaches and a handful of luxury mega-resorts.

Best Places to Stay in Cabo San Lucas

a mountain curves into view from the beach outside a resort.

The view of Land’s End and El Arco from Medano Beach at Casa Dorada.

A cruise ship and boats sit on a teal-blue water by a beach.

Medano Beach.

Best Areas in Cabo San Lucas for…

  • Best Area in Cabo San Lucas for First Timers: Medano Beach
    Medano Beach is located smack dab in the hub of activity in Cabo San Lucas and is one of the best beaches. It boasts excellent swimming and water sports and is convenient to all downtown amenities. The beach has beautiful white sand and turquoise water. This is the beach if you like jet skis and banana boat rides. There are many eateries on the beach or at the beachfront hotels, as well as cantinas, beach bars, and options for fine dining.

    Hotels on Medano Beach are mostly luxury hotels, with the best rooms and suites featuring gorgeous views of El Arco and Land’s End. Numerous hotels, like the wonderful Bahia Beach Hotel, are within a block or two of this beautiful beach.

  • Best Area in Cabo San Lucas for Families: Los Cabos Corridor
    The Los Cabos Corridor is the area between Cabo San Lucas (a resort city) and San Jose del Cabo (a quaint town center with art galleries and quiet beaches). It stretches for twenty miles along rugged coastline, with stunning beaches and a few luxury mega-resorts.

    Large resorts along the Corridor are great for families and appeal to every age. Try the Hilton Los Cabos, which has excellent pools, including a kid’s pool with a slide and a beach with safe swimming in a sheltered cove roped off for the little ones.

    For a more extravagant holiday, the One & Only Palmilla caters to its guests. It offers experiences and activities for children, such as surfing lessons, paddleboarding, kayaking, cooking classes, and Spanish lessons. The Kids Club is available for guests 4 to 11 years old and has a childcare center for the little ones.

  • Best Area in Cabo San Lucas for Couples: Marina
    The marina in Cabo San Lucas is centrally located and peppered with restaurants, bars, shops of all kinds, and tour companies for diving, fishing, and excursions to Land’s End.

    An arched rock sits in the ocean.

    The view of El Arco at Land’s End from our boat trip.

    Bright green and black polka dotted fish.

    Some of the fish we saw snorkeling.

    A boat excursion to El Arco (the arch) and Lover’s Beach is incredibly romantic. The beach at El Arco has two sides. Lover’s Beach on one side is great for swimming and snorkeling. The second beach, Divorce Beach, faces the Pacific Ocean and is unsafe for swimming.

    A large sculpture of a swordfish.

    Swordfish sculpture at the marina.

    Deep sea fishing is popular and a favorite excursion for couples. Most local restaurants will cook your catch of the day with their practice of “you hook it, we will cook it.”

  • Best Areas in Cabo San Lucas without a rental car: Medano Beach or Downtown
    Stay at Medano Beach if you want to be on or near this lively and beautiful beach. Stay in downtown Cabo for cheaper accommodations and eateries, including easy access to local street food stands serving tasty homemade food. Both the Medano Beach area and downtown Cabo are compact, easy to explore on foot, and within walking distance of each other.

    A pink awning reads, "Las Guacamayas" restaurant.

    Las Guacamayas taco stand in downtown.

    Taxis are widely available in Cabo San Lucas and the Los Cabos area. Rates are negotiable.

    Water taxis are available at the downtown marina in Cabo San Lucas for rides to famous beaches like Medano Beach or Lover’s Beach at El Arco. Fares are $15-20.

    • The 4 Best Areas in Cabo San Lucas for Tourists

    1. Medano Beach (or Playa El Medano)

    People walk along Medano Beach in Mexico.

    Medano Beach, looking toward Land’s End.

    Medano Beach is touristy and the hub of Cabo San Lucas. This beach is abuzz with activity, boasting two miles of golden/white sand, gentle waves, warm waters, and safe swimming. There are many beachside restaurants and bars – a few with live entertainment. Some of the area’s favorite activities are sunbathing, jet skiing, or banana boat rides.

    Accommodations along the shoreline are primarily upscale hotels, with some all-inclusive resorts. Cantinas pepper the beach with a party-like atmosphere and are often lively, loud, and busy. Shopping is limited to large resort gift shops or the vendors who patrol the beach with their wares like shirts, jewelry, and handicrafts.

A resort with multiple pools, tennis court, and lounge chairs, next to the ocean.

The amazing pools at Casa Dorada.

  • The Best Hotels on Medano Beach: Hacienda • Casa Dorada

    • 2. The Marina

    Three men walk on a pedestrian path next to the marina and parked boats.

    Parked boats at the marina and the wide pedestrian path around it.

    The busy and vibrant Marina in Cabo San Lucas offers boat trips and world-class sport fishing. Large yachts and fishing boats use the docks, and water taxis offer trips to Lover’s Beach.

    A tall thatched-roof open-air restaurant overlooks the ocean.

    Cocina y Cantina open-air restaurant with views of the ocean at Hacienda.

    The marina is one of the main tourist areas, with its picturesque harbor and assortment of hotels, restaurants, shops, and luxury boutiques.

Two infinity pools sit by the ocean.

Two levels of infinity pools at Hacienda and views of Land’s End.

  • Best Hotel near the Marina: Hacienda (the front entrance of the hotel is steps from the marina while the back of the hotel is nestled on Medano Beach).

    • 3. Downtown Cabo San Lucas

    bright woven blakets and metal wall fish art hang outside a small store.

    Stall in downtown Cabo San Lucas.

    Downtown Cabo San Lucas is a great budget choice. If you want to be near the nightclubs and experience more local culture, this is the spot to stay. Vendors with open-air stalls sell jewelry, pottery, and Mexican handicrafts.

    A plater of tacos.

    Our delicious tacos (duck with mole in blue corn tortilla and druken barbacoa) at La Lupita Taco & Mezcal in downtown.

    Simple and authentic restaurants, including taco stands, can be found downtown and offer great eats. The hotels in the downtown core are typically budget hotels. Accommodations may be impacted by the noise from the numerous bars and all-night dance clubs.

Lounge chairs sit next to a bright blue pool.

The charming pool at Casa Bella.

  • Best Hotel in Downtown Cabo San Lucas: Casa Bella

    • 4. Los Cabos Corridor

    Surfers prepare to hit the waves.

    The beach along the Los Cabos Corridor in front of The Cape resort.

    The Los Cabos Corridor is a 20-mile stretch of resorts along Baja’s spectacular coastline that connects the cities of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. The Corridor is best known for its seaside luxury resorts, scenic beaches, rugged landscape, and first-class golfing. Playa Santa Maria and Chileno Bay are two fantastic beaches in the Corridor that are great for swimming and snorkeling.

The One & Only Palmilla on the Los Cabos Corridor.

9 Best Hotels in Cabo San Lucas

1. Waldorf Astoria – Pedregal

Hotel phone: +52 624 163 4300
A tree root headboard sits on a wall in a hotel room.
Incredible beachside resort built on a cliffside accessed by the longest private car tunnel in Mexico. Sandwiched between the bluffs and the ocean are the hotel’s rooms, suites, and restaurants. All guest rooms have a large outdoor patio with a private plunge pool and a soaking tub in the bathroom. The interiors are sophisticated, with open-beam ceilings and elaborate wood-crafted headboards. Expect unparalleled service at their four restaurants, four pools, beachfront champagne bar, and lavish first-class spa. The beach faces the south and is unswimmable as the water currents are too strong, but the swimmable Medano Beach is a 5-minute drive away. Centrally located and walkable to Cabo’s downtown shops and the marina (although it feels like you are far from the buzz of downtown, and the staff will give you a ride on a golf cart through the tunnel).

2. One & Only Palmilla – Los Cabos Corridor

Hotel phone: +52 624 146 7000
A blue pool sits next to chairs in a cafe.
This hotel is perched above the spectacular rugged coastline in the Los Cabos Corridor (between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo) in the prestigious neighborhood of Palmilla. The hotel is classy, elegant, and serene, with impeccable service, including private butlers. Gorgeous palm-lined, manicured walkways connect each of the beautiful villa-style buildings where guest rooms overlook the ocean. Four superb restaurants are onsite, including the Michelin-starred Seared and Suviche, featuring Japanese fusion. Guest rooms are stylish, with colorful artwork and spacious marble bathrooms; some suites feature oversized bathtubs. There are two infinity pools: one is for adults only, and the other for families, plus a kids’ club program and daycare center. Their massive Spa features 40+ treatments, including romantic nighttime massages for two under the stars. The beach cabanas are delightful, and the waters are safe for swimming and surfing. The award-winning 27-hole golf course boasts four lakes and stunning ocean views.

3. Hacienda – Marina & Medano Beach

Hotel phone: +52 624 163 3100
An infinity pool over looks a beach and ocean.
Exceptional and upscale family-style resort with a relaxed vibe situated on swimmable Medano Beach with fabulous views of Cabo’s famous arch, El Arco. The location is central and in a gated community, super convenient to restaurants, shops, and groceries. Queen and King Studios have a kitchenette (600 sq ft), while the spacious two-bedroom apartments (2,000 sq ft) offer a full kitchen and living room. There are two infinity pools: one is adults-only, and the other is a family pool. Beachgoers can rent paddleboards, kayaks, and snorkel equipment. The luxury spa and top-notch gym offer complimentary fitness classes, and the hotel has one of the best restaurants in town.

4. Casa Dorada – Medano Beach

Hotel phone: +52 624 163 5757
A large bed sits in a hotel room next to the balcony with a view of the ocean.
Fantastic family-friendly resort on the lively shores of Medano Beach and convenient (10-minute walk) to dining and shops in downtown Cabo San Lucas. This all-suite hotel has two large pools that weave through a courtyard of palm trees and chaise loungers featuring a swim-up bar, hot tub, children’s pool, and kids’ playground. Casa Dorada offers a private beach club, valet parking, onsite fitness center, and full-service spa. Onsite dining options include 12 Tribes (their open-air restaurant with views of El Arco), a sushi bar, and a Mexican eatery. All guest rooms are modern and have kitchenettes, a small dining table, sofa, Nespresso machine, and a tiled terrace with outdoor seating. One- and two-bed suites, plus the penthouse, all feature a full kitchen with a large fridge.

5. Hilton – Los Cabos Corridor

Hotel phone: +52 624 145 6500
A bed with a woven headboard sits in a hotel room.
Splendid, family-friendly resort located in the Los Cabos Corridor, halfway between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, with one of Cabo’s only cove-protected beaches that’s safe for even the tiniest of tots. Hilton has exceptional pools with two swim-up bars, an infinity pool with views of Tequila Cove, and a kids’ pool with a water slide. The hotel’s beach bar is on a gorgeous, private white-sand beach. There are fabulous swings and reserved lavish cabanas. The restaurants are excellent, and guests can dine privately on the beach. The hotel has 264 guest rooms and suites that feel light and airy. They are well-suited for families or groups and have adjoining room options. The “Altamar” room category is the best one with ocean views, premium patio furniture, and is on the highest floors. Resort amenities include a 24-hour fitness room, movement studio with classes, full treatment spa, tennis courts, coffee bar, and 200+ tequila bar.

6. Esperanza – Los Cabos Corridor

Hotel phone: (855) 331 2226
A fish painting hangs on the wall of a hotel room.
Impressive and romantic cliffside hotel that’s chic and elegant. Guest rooms have luxury touches like massive bathrooms with dual showers, walk-in closets, high ceilings, and some boast a jacuzzi on your private terrace. Room categories range from standard to casitas, up to villas (the largest) with butler service and can sleep 9. The property is private, with two secluded beaches, though they are not swimmable. Five palm-fringed pools, including two adults-only pools, suit every traveler. One of their four restaurants, Cocina Del Mar, has spectacular views, dining tables that jut out over the rocks and ocean below, and a focus on seafood and local Baja ingredients. There are two gyms, tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts, and their fitness studio offers yoga classes. The redesigned award-winning Spa offers half-day wellness journeys inspired by the Aztec medicine wheel, steam cave, hot & cold plunges, and salon & nail bar.

7. The Cape – Los Cabos Corridor

Hotel phone: +52 624 163 0000
A view of the ocean from a hotel room balcony.
Sleek, modern, and luxurious hotel with impressive views from their 161 guest rooms. There are two oceanfront pools: an infinity pool with a swim-up bar and a saltwater pool. The trendy rooftop lounge has stunning views and offers light bites, craft cocktails, and local beer. Their top-notch spa is carved into the stone cliffs and includes a salon. Guest rooms are modern with natural wood accents and blue tones, some with a freestanding copper bathtub or a private plunge pool, and all have a balcony. Their largest accommodations sleep between 6 to 8 people: three-bedroom residences (sleeps 6), penthouse villas (sleeps 6), or oceanfront surfer residences (sleeps 8). The upscale seafood restaurant and Mexican-American eatery overlook the sea. There’s a good-sized gym, with fitness classes for a fee available on the rooftop or beach. The Cape Hotel is on Monuments Beach, where experienced surfers ride the waves. It’s a 15-minute drive to downtown Cabo San Lucas.

8. Casa Bella – Downtown

Hotel phone: +52 624 143 6400
A hotel room with orange colored walls and a light blue ceiling.
Friendly and affordable hotel in central downtown surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and several nightclubs. This Spanish-style hotel with arched doors and bold colors offers rooms with Mexican-tiled bathrooms, colorful décor, and rustic wood furniture. Rooms have a mini fridge and air conditioning, but no TV. The hotel’s inner courtyard is rustic and filled with trees, plants, and a small pool. There’s a continental breakfast provided. It’s a 3-minute walk to Cabo’s vibrant and lively nightlife and a 10-minute walk to the marina.
downtown Cabo San Lucas.

9. Bahia Beach Hotel – Near Medano Beach

Hotel phone: (844) 321 9636
A minimal hotel room with a floor to ceiling wood headboard with lights.
One block from Medano Beach in downtown Cabo San Lucas, this contemporary 81-room hotel has a hip and popular restaurant. Guest rooms are modern, with bright, whitewashed walls, rainfall showers, and polished concrete floors. Poolside Suites have a king bed, a patio jacuzzi, and direct swimming pool access. Their onsite restaurant, Bar Esquina, has craft cocktails and live music. Bahia Beach Hotel offers standup paddleboard rentals and tours, snorkeling, kayaking, sunset cruises, and wave runners at their beach club. SUR Beach House is the hotel’s elegant beach club with a restaurant and a daily DJ on the shores of the Sea of Cortez. The beach is a 3-minute walk or 30-second golf cart ride, and it’s a 5-minute walk to the marina and luxury shopping.