The Top 15 Unmissable Day Trips from Cabo
Add these 15 best Cabo day tours to your list to see more of the beautiful Baja California peninsula.
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With a stunning coastline, easily accessible attractions, and nearby towns, there’s a wealth of amazing day trips from Cabo waiting to be explored. Beyond the area’s luxury resorts and lively nightlife, the surrounding Baja California Sur region offers so much more than Cabo can give. From charming colonial towns and pristine beaches to stunning natural parks and thrilling wildlife encounters, there’s something for every traveller.
Not just a premier vacation destination but also the perfect launching point for an incredible day out, getting around Cabo is easy. Whether you’ve rented a car or are reliant on public transport, there’s a wealth of stunning destinations just a short journey away. Day tours are a very popular way to see more of the beautiful Baja California peninsula for those on a budget or without a car.
More from Cabo
The best day trips from Cabo
We’ve compiled this complete guide to the best day trips from Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo to help you see more than just the city on your trip.
1. Swim with whale sharks in La Paz
Jump in the water alongside the largest fish in the sea on a whale shark swim from Cabo. Huge carpet sharks, whale sharks are gentle giants, attracted to the warm waters in the Sea of Cortez in the winter months. Swimming with whale sharks in La Paz is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and one of the best day trips from Cabo.
It’s just over 2 hours drive to La Paz where you can transfer to a boat and enter the specially regulated whale shark zone. Only licensed companies and trained guides can enter the zone, making this one of the most ethical places in the world to swim with whale sharks. It’s also possible to combine this tour with other nearby attractions including pristine beaches, remote islands, and other wildlife spotting opportunities.
2. Sail to Isla Espíritu Santo
While not as popular as whale sharks, you can also swim with sea lions in La Paz. The most popular spot is near Espíritu Santo Island, a stunning island and protected reserve known for its diverse marine life, sprawling beaches, scenic hiking trails, and beautiful glamping sites.
Spend a day cruising around Isla Espíritu Santo and the surrounding protected area, snorkelling on colourful coral reefs, kayaking on the turquoise waters, or picnicking in secluded bays. Isla Espíritu Santo is about 1 to 1.5 hours by boat from La Paz, so be sure to factor this into your itinerary after the drive from Cabo.
3. Touch a grey whale in Magdalena Bay
Witness mother and baby whale approach your boat in search of contact at the protected grey whale lagoon, Magdalena Bay. A rare exception to the no-touching rule, the whales here seek out human contact. Grey whales migrate to the calm waters here in the winter months, which is the best time for whale watching in Baja.
Magdalena Bay is fairly far from Cabo so a whale watching day trip from Cabo to Magdalena Bay will usually include a night in one of the nearby port towns as well as our round-trip transportation.
4. Explore San José del Cabo’s colonial centre
Los Cabos is connected by the coastal Tourist Corridor. At one end, the lively party town of Cabo San Lucas attracts Spring Breakers and vacationers alike. While San José del Cabo on the other end offers a more relaxed and sophisticated vibe.
If you’re staying in Cabo San Lucas, we’d highly recommend day-tripping to San José del Cabo’s colonial centre. Explore the cobbled streets lined with colourful papel picado (Mexican flag bunting), stopping off at independent art galleries, boutique stores, and artisanal markets. This charming old town has a vibrant artistic scene and the Thursday evening Art Walk is not to be missed.
The sprawling beaches in the city’s Hotel Zone are much quieter than those found around Cabo San Lucas too.
5. Find hidden gems in Cabo San Lucas
If you’re based in San José del Cabo, Cabo San Lucas is worth visiting too. With iconic attractions like the El Arco sea arch and secluded Lovers Beach, the most southerly tip of the peninsula at Land’s End makes for a great day trip from Cabo.
The town itself is home to some amazing hidden gems too. With a wealth of local restaurants serving authentic cuisine, a small Museum of Natural History, and the charming Church of Saint Luke, this bustling city centre is worth the trip from San José del Cabo.
6. Dive in Cabo Pulmo National Park
If you’re looking for the best SCUBA diving in Cabo, head straight to Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park. A UNESCO World Heritage site and protected marine park east of Cabo San Lucas, Cabo Pulmo is one of the best day trips from Cabo for divers. Enjoy breathtaking visibility and epic encounters with marine life like bull sharks and sea lions on a diving trip to Cabo Pulmo National Park.
Don’t worry if you’re not SCUBA certified. There are plenty of companies offering snorkel tours to Cabo Pulmo where you can still enjoy the pristine reef and variety of marine life from the surface.
7. Explore Baja’s capital of La Paz
A vibrant city with a more authentic feel than Cabo, La Paz is the charming capital of Baja California Sur. Its compact old town is home to the historic Catedral de Nuestra Señora de La Paz, several small museums, and authentic local restaurants. Walk the Malecón, a seafront promenade home to marine-themed sculptures, perfect for a leisurely stroll or bike ride.
The area around La Paz is simply stunning. Visit Balandra Beach, a stunning bay of 7 golden beaches which have been voted the best in Mexico. Paddle in the shallow turquoise waters and see the iconic mushroom rock, El Hongo. Pick up a trail and enjoy hiking to scenic viewpoints and secluded coves.
La Paz is easily accessible on a day trip from Cabo but, with so much to see and do, you may wish to stay in the area for a few days.
8. Hike in the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains
Nestled in the middle of the state of Baja California Sur, to the north of Cabo, the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range offers scenic hikes, diverse wildlife, and hot springs, including El Chorro and Santa Rita.
Spend a day hiking in Fox Canyon (Cañónde la Zorra), following stunning trails to hidden waterfalls and secluded swimming holes.
The small town of Santiago is the gateway to the Sierra de la Laguna mountains. It takes about 1.5 hours to drive from Cabo.
9. Shop in Todos Santos
Todos Santos is one of Baja California Sur’s two Pueblo Mágicos, small ‘Magical Towns’ known for their rich cultural and historical aspects. Todos Santos has a vibrant arts scene with a relaxed, bohemian atmosphere. Spend a day wandering the cobbled streets, which are lined with colourful buildings and a great variety of shops and markets.
A cool surfing town, the beaches attract visitors keen to catch a wave, with sprawling beaches and consistent surf. The town is also popular with yogis, offering a range of wellness experiences and yoga studios.
A day trip from Cabo to Todos Santos is easy via public transportation, car, and tour, as the drive is only an hour.
10. Surf at Cerritos Beach
Learn to surf at Cerritos Beach, a popular beach destination on the west coast. With consistent swell, the sea here is perfect for surfing and other water sports. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, you can rent a board (or bring your own) and catch a wave to a backdrop of stunning coastal views.
If you’re not a surfer, Playa Cerritos is still worth the day trip. It’s a sprawling golden beach with a variety of amenities, including sun loungers, umbrella rentals, and food vendors.
11. Try windsurfing in Los Barriles
Nestled on the East Coast (locally called the East Cape or Cabo Este), Los Barriles is a small town known for its relaxed atmosphere. The town is a hotspot for water sports, particularly kiteboarding and windsurfing, due to the reliable winds in the area. Sport fishing is also possible with travellers visiting from all over for the chance to catch large pelagic species, including tuna, marlin, and Mahi Mahi.
The town centre itself is a popular vacation spot with those who like to get off the beaten path, offering restaurants, cafes and bars serving affordable and authentic local cuisine.
12. Kite surf at La Ventana
La Ventana is known as the best place in Baja for kitesurfing, offering year-round waves perfect for gliding over. Hike the scenic Punta Gorda Trail, visit the secluded Hot Water Beach (Playa Agua Caliente), and take in stunning views of the coast and Cerralvo Island.
La Ventana is also a secluded spot that attracts a wealth of marine life. Large schools of migrating mobula rays and manta rays are found here and it’s possible to swim with them in season (which runs between Spring and Summer).
La Ventana is around 2.5 hours’ drive from Cabo, located just east of La Paz. It’s an easy day trip but we’d recommend spending some time in the area as it’s home to some of the best beaches and hikes in the region.
13. Snorkel along the Tourist Corridor
Home to some of the most luxurious oceanfront hotels in Cabo, Cabo’s Tourist Corridor lines the coast between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo.
Gordo Banks sits just off the coast here. Home to a large sea mount, this is a popular dive spot for shark and ray sightings. It’s also possible to snorkel along the reef here. If you’re looking for the best snorkel spots, snorkel at El Chileno and Santa María Beaches offer protected bays perfect for snorkelling.
14. Spend the day out at sea
You don’t always need to stay on land for amazing day trips from Cabo. Take a boat tour in Cabo from the marina and explore the area’s stunning coastline. See famous landmarks like El Arco and Lovers Beach or go snorkelling at Pelican Rock, a popular dive site right in Cabo San Lucas’ bay. If partying’s more your thing, you can join a cruise with drinks and enjoy an authentic lunch buffet with views of the coast. Book a trip at sunset for the most romantic atmosphere.
Our personal recommendation: humpback whale watching in Cabo is not to be missed. Every year, acrobatic humpbacks migrate to the waters around Cabo, putting on a display of skilful breaches and slaps. On a whale watching boat trip in Cabo, you can get up close to these incredible creatures and witness scenes normally only seen on the TV.
Multi-day trips from Cabo
There are several places in this list that we’d really recommend spending multiple days in rather than just visiting on a single day trip, including Magdalena Bay and La Paz. There are some destinations where the distance from Cabo makes it pretty impossible to visit in one day so you really need to spend a night or two to enjoy the area. Plus, it’s more sustainable to spend a little time in each place. You can spend money locally, combat tourism leakage, and reduce carbon emissions from long round-trips.
15. See blue whales in Loreto
A sleepy resort town, Loreto is home to a relaxed town centre with shops, restaurants, and a Malecón that offers stunning ocean views.
The sprawling Loreto Bay National Park sits off the coast here, home to volcanic islands, underwater landscapes, and some of the region’s most diverse wildlife. This is one of the best places in the world to see the largest whale in the world and blue whale watching in Loreto should not be missed – although there’s only a short window between January and March each year.
Loreto is fairly far from Cabo so, if you don’t plan to visit, it might be best to plan to spend a few nights here.
Multi-destination trips from Cabo
Multi-day trips from Cabo are a great option for those who don’t want to have to do a lot of organisation. These tours are often themed by interests like kayaking, surfing, or whale watching. Here are the best trips that visit multiple destinations from Cabo:
Cabo Day Trip FAQs
We’ve answered these frequently asked questions to round off this post and ensure you have all the information you need to plan fun and stress-free day trips from Cabo.
How to do a day trip from Cabo?
For flexibility, rent a car in Cabo and explore at your own pace. Most destinations are accessible via well-maintained roads, but it’s a good idea to check local driving conditions, especially for more remote areas like Magdalena Bay and Cabo Pulmo.
Several of the places on this list can be reached via public transportation, especially the towns closer to Cabo.
Guided tours are a great option for those who don’t want to have to organise everything themselves, are on a budget, or can’t or don’t want to drive.
What are the best day tours from Cabo?
The best day tours from Cabo, which can be enjoyed from any base in Los Cabos, include swimming with whale sharks in La Paz, exploring the town centre, and visiting the beautiful Balandra Beach. You can also visit La Ventana and its stunning bay or Isla Espíritu Santo National Park while you’re in the area.
What are the best day trips from Cabo San Lucas?
From Cabo San Lucas, great day trips include exploring Todos Santos or learning to surf at Cerritos Beach. Other options are snorkelling at Chileno and Santa Maria Beaches in the Tourist Corridor, diving at Gordo Banks, and hiking in Fox Canyon. It’s also worth visiting San José del Cabo with its colourful, colonial centre and artistic vibe.
What are the best day trips from San Jose del Cabo?
From San José del Cabo, some of the best day trips include exploring the East Cape, where Cabo Pulmo National Park offers world-class snorkelling and diving and Los Barriles offers watersports and quiet beaches. Alternatively, head into the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range for scenic hiking. You can also head to Cabo San Lucas for a quick getaway, explore the town, take a boat tour, and enjoy the stunning ocean views.
What are the best multi-day trips from Cabo?
For multi-day trips from Cabo, consider visiting Magdalena Bay or Loreto for unforgettable whale watching experiences. Each offers epic marine encounters with blue and grey whales. You’re bound to want to spend multiple days going out on the water in search of these gentle giants.
What are some tips for taking a day trip from Cabo?
Read next:
The 32 Best Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas
Where to Eat in Cabo San Lucas: 25 Best Restaurants
The 18 Best Beachfront Hotels in Cabo
How to Get Around Cabo: 10 Modes of Transport
An Ethical Guide to Humpback Whale Watching in Cabo
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