7 Days in Cabo: The Complete Los Cabos Itinerary

Overview

Los Cabos is not one town. It's a corridor of about 20 miles connecting Cabo San Lucas to the south with San José del Cabo to the north, with a string of resorts, championship golf courses, and protected swimming coves in between. Add a colonial art town (Todos Santos) an hour north on the Pacific side, and a laid-back state capital (La Paz) two hours further, and you've got a destination that can fill a week without repeating itself.

This itinerary runs Sunday through Saturday for easy flight alignment, though it works regardless of what day you arrive. Days one and two settle you into Cabo San Lucas and the immediate waterfront. Days three and four push out to sea and over to San José del Cabo. Day five is a full day trip to Todos Santos on the Pacific. Day six is the La Paz run. Day seven is your recovery day before a morning flight out. Adjust the sequence based on your resort location and what's booked. Whale watching runs December through mid-April; if you're visiting during that window, slot it into Day 3 instead of the sunset cruise.

Most visitors base out of one resort for the full week. If you're staying in the Corridor, you're within a 15 to 25 minute drive of both town centers, which keeps flexibility high. Staying in Cabo San Lucas means easy marina access. San José puts you closer to the airport and the quieter gallery district. A rental car is worth it if you plan to do the Todos Santos or La Paz days on your own terms. Otherwise, guided tours handle the transport and are a reasonable trade of cost for convenience.

Day by day

Day 1: Arrive and get your bearings at the marina. Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) is in San José del Cabo, about 45 to 50 minutes from Cabo San Lucas by prepaid shuttle or private transfer. Skip the rental car pickup on arrival day; you won't need it until Day 5. Check in, drop your bags, and head straight to Médano Beach. It's the main swimmable town beach, lines with beach clubs and water sports rentals, and it's a five-minute walk from most Cabo San Lucas hotels. Spend the afternoon in the water or at a beach club chair. In the evening, walk the marina boardwalk, pick a restaurant above the water, and call it an early night. You're on vacation time now.

Day 2: Spend the morning on a Land's End boat tour. Water taxis leave from the marina and from Médano Beach, running you out past the sea lion colony at the base of the granite headlands to Lover's Beach on the Sea of Cortez side. The water there is calm enough for swimming and snorkeling. The Pacific side of the same spit, called Divorce Beach, has serious surf and no swimming. The El Arco arch frames perfectly at low tide. Budget two to three hours. Back in town by noon, grab lunch, then either rent a jet ski or paddleboard off Médano for the afternoon. If you need a slower start after travel, this is the day to sleep in and let the resort pool be the activity. The evening is wide open for the marina nightlife or a quiet dinner.

Day 3: Get on the water for a half-day sportfishing charter or a sunset dinner cruise. A sportfishing half-day runs four to six hours and gets you past the 100-fathom line where marlin, dorado, tuna, and wahoo move depending on season. October and November see the highest concentrations around the Bisbee's tournament grounds, but there's good fishing year-round. If fishing isn't your thing, book a sunset cruise instead: a catamaran circles out past the arch as the sky goes orange over the Pacific, and most include an open bar and food. Both options depart from the Marina Cabo San Lucas. If you're visiting December through mid-April, consider whale watching here instead of the fishing charter. Humpbacks and gray whales pass through the Sea of Cortez during that window and a morning whale watch out of the marina is one of the better wildlife experiences in North America.

Day 4: Drive or take a taxi up to San José del Cabo. The town center is about 30 minutes from Cabo San Lucas, and it reads like a different world: Spanish colonial architecture, an 18th-century mission church on the main plaza, and a gallery district that runs roughly 15 blocks east of downtown. The Thursday Art Walk (November through June, 5 to 9 p.m.) is the peak version of this experience, with galleries open and street food vendors out, but the district is worth walking any day of the week. Costa Azul beach, just south of town, is the Cabo surf hub and the place for a surf lesson if you've never tried. The break called Old Man's at Acapulquito is the standard beginner spot. In the afternoon, swing through the Corridor on the way back, stop at Chileno Beach or Santa Maria Beach for a late swim, both are Blue Flag protected coves with calm water and good snorkeling off the rocky edges.

Day 5: Full day trip to Todos Santos. Leave by 8 a.m. to get the most out of it. The drive north on Highway 19 from Cabo San Lucas takes about an hour and routes through desert terrain and date palm oases before dropping into the Pacific-side foothills where Todos Santos sits. The town is a Pueblo Mágico, a federal designation for towns with notable cultural and historical character. The gallery scene is legitimate, the food is good, and the pace is slow. Cerritos Beach, a few kilometers south of town, has a swimmable section plus a beginner surf break and a beach club with chairs. This is the one long driving day of the week; if you rent a car, it costs half what a guided tour charges and gives you flexibility to leave when you want. Back in Cabo by 5 or 6 p.m.

Day 6: La Paz day trip. This is your longest drive, roughly two to two and a half hours each way north on Highway 1. La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, and it operates on a different frequency from Los Cabos. The malecón is a waterfront promenade lined with seafood restaurants and palapa bars; the pace is local and unhurried. The main draw is Balandra Beach, a shallow turquoise lagoon about 20 minutes north of the city center. The water is calm, warm, and often so clear it doesn't look real. The state reserves access, so entry is managed and the beach stays uncrowded. If you want to add a swim with whale sharks or sea lions, that can be arranged through La Paz-based operators (seasonal, roughly October through March for whale sharks). Leave Cabo by 7 a.m., arrive at Balandra by 10, spend three to four hours, have lunch in La Paz, and drive back by late afternoon.

Day 7: Rest, resort, and repack. If your flight is in the afternoon or evening, you have time for a morning round of golf in the Corridor, a spa treatment, or a final Médano Beach session. The Corridor courses run peak-season green fees of roughly $250 to $450 per round including cart. Most resorts have spa facilities on-site; a 60-minute massage typically runs $120 to $180. If checkout is noon and your flight is evening, ask your resort about late checkout or left-luggage service. SJD airport is about 45 to 50 minutes from Cabo San Lucas; budget an hour for the drive and another 90 minutes minimum for check-in and security. Leave yourself margin.

Where to stay

Cabo San Lucas is the right base if you want walkable marina access and nightlife. Sandos Finisterra sits just above the marina with direct access to the Médano Beach corridor, and its cliffside position gives you Land's End views from the resort. Pueblo Bonito Blanco is right on Médano Beach, which means you're steps from the water sports rentals and beach club scene. Playa Grande Resort and Grand Spa is at Land's End itself, positioned above the Pacific-facing beach (which is dramatic to look at but not swimmable). Breathless Cabo San Lucas is adults-only with marina views and a strong pool scene.

The Tourist Corridor makes sense if you want a quieter resort environment and still reasonable access to both towns. Hacienda Encantada at km 7.3 sits above the Sea of Cortez with a full spa and multiple restaurants. Grand Fiesta Americana Los Cabos All Inclusive Golf and Spa is at km 10.3, well-positioned for golfers, with a kids' club for families. Le Blanc Spa Resort is adults-only and ultrachic, on the upper end of the corridor, with a strong spa and butler service.

San José del Cabo is the quietest option and closest to the airport. The Hilton Vacation Club Cabo Azul is on the San José hotel zone beach, suites with an infinity pool. Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos is a full all-inclusive with five pools and eight restaurants, positioned in the hotel zone between the two towns. Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf and Spa Resort is adults-only with access to the Puerto Los Cabos marina, which is more relaxed than the Cabo San Lucas marina.

For a seven-night stay, all-inclusive pricing typically runs $300 to $700 or more per person per night depending on the property and season. Peak season is November through April. Mid-range resort rates in the $350 to $500 per person per night range cover the Hacienda Encantada and Grand Fiesta Americana tier. Budget accordingly.

Book these ahead

Sportfishing charter: In peak season (November through April) the marina fills up fast. Book your fishing half-day at least two to three weeks out, four to six weeks if you're visiting around the Bisbee's tournaments in October or November. The half-day rate for a shared boat runs approximately $150 to $250 per person; a private panga for two to four anglers runs $400 to $700. Confirm what's included: most charters cover bait, gear, and licenses but not fish cleaning fees or gratuity.

Sunset cruise or whale watch: The best sunset cruises on catamarans book out several days to a week ahead in season. If you're visiting December through mid-April, a whale watching tour is worth prioritizing at the same time. Both depart from the Marina Cabo San Lucas and run two to three hours.

La Paz whale shark or sea lion swim: If you want to swim with whale sharks (roughly October through March) or sea lions (year-round but more reliable in cooler months), book through a La Paz operator before you leave home. These tours run early morning from La Paz, which is why you need to be on the road from Cabo by 7 a.m. Pricing runs approximately $80 to $140 per person depending on the operator and what's included.

Golf tee times: December through March weekend mornings fill 30 to 60 days in advance at the most popular Corridor courses. If golf is on your list, lock in tee times before you finalize other reservations. Ask your resort's concierge whether they have a preferred-access arrangement with any nearby course, as hotel guests often get priority availability.

Airport transfer: SJD airport has no reliable rideshare pickup. Book a prepaid shuttle or private transfer before you arrive. Round-trip private transfers from SJD to Cabo San Lucas typically run $80 to $130 depending on the provider. Your resort's concierge or booking team can arrange this.