Dozens of cream-colored stretches pad the golden shores of this peninsula like soft ramps easing you into Tropic of Cancer waters. Los Cabos’ beautiful beaches come in many shapes, sizes and personalities, from the private horseshoe nestled away beneath the palm shade to the wide-open expanses bustling with fun, drinks, tourists, and plenty of activities under the sun.
The Pacific edge of Baja is known for big waves and a choppy ocean, and while it’s worth exploring, most of the inviting beaches line the more sheltered waters of the Sea of Cortez. Look for the little blue beach signs and kilometer markers off the highway-they’ll tell you what activities are offered at which beach – and for 20 miles from Cabo San Lucas to San José del Cabo, hidden and not-so-hidden coastal nooks consistently line this spectacular Corridor.

The Main Scene

If you are staying in Cabo San Lucas, you are only a few minutes away from the sweeping dunes and broad expanse of Playa Médano, the main beach in Cabo. Between the Hacienda del Mar and Meliá San Lucas hotels, beyond the dozens of restaurants, souvenir shops, and sports equipment rentals, you will find a large placid bay ideal for just about everything wet, especially swimming (keep an eye out for Jet Skis). Day or night, you will find lots of action at Playa Médano.

In San José del Cabo, Playa Hotelera is a little less crowded and easily accessible from the hotels. This is a great spot for tanning, jogging or even a sunset horseback ride.  Be careful of the pounding surf when swimming.

At Playa Palmilla, a protected cove inside the tranquil bay at the beach, lies the most spectacular rock formations - perfect for your photo album.  Spend the day relaxing on the beach, swimming, snorkeling, diving, or any other family activity.  Snorkeling and diving equipment can be rented at the dive shop located just before the hotel grounds.  There are also several restaurants available.  The beach is located at Punta Palmilla, just outside San Jose del Cabo.  Follow the signs to Hotel Palmilla at Km. 27. 

Off the Corridor, turn into the entrance for the Meliá Cabo Real Beach & Golf Resort and then turn left past the Hilton Los Cabos & Golf Resort to Playa La Concha, known as “shell beach”. This secluded spot is ideal for couples and families, and offers all the conveniences to keep you comfortable under the Mexican sun.

Ocean Thunder

If you prefer crashing thunder, exhilarating surf, and dramatic breaks, you are in luck.  Interspersed among the sedate coves that line the Los Cabos Corridor are a number of intense stretches of beach.

Two kilometers south of San Jose del Cabo is a half mile stretch before Palmilla Bay that is a world famous surf break called Costa Azul, locally known as “zipper's beach”.  It is a beautiful spot that attracts surfers.  In fact, annual competitions are held here.  If you have always wanted to learn to surf, stop in at the surf camp for a lesson or two.  Quench your thirst at the nearby convenience store.  Nearby, Playa Acapulquito offers a little more of the same – great surfing, people watching, and stunning scenery.  This is another spot where you should be careful swimming.

At Km. 22, take the old highway ending in a secluded but expansive beach called Playa Buenos Aires.  Stretches of the road are rough and might require a four wheel drive.  Proceed with caution – the drive is an adventure in and of itself.  Here you can horseback ride for miles through the surf or whale-watch in the winter.  The water is too rough for swimming, but good for the experienced body surfer.  If rough surf appeals to you, seek out Playa Los Arcos which is ideal for body surfers.  But be prepared, because the road from the highway to the beach is very rough.  Remember to bring your lunch!

Back in Cabo San Lucas, Playa Solmar is the first beach on the Pacific side of the peninsula.  This wide stretch of white sand beach faces the Pacific Ocean and runs from the rocks at Land s End to the base of Pedregal to the West.  Known for its unpredictable crashing waves, this beach can be dangerous, but amazingly beautiful. Playa Solmar is secluded, close to town, and is a delight for photographers.  This beach is ideal for strolling, but not for swimming.

Leave it all Behind

Like Yin and Yang, on the other side of the cliffs is the secluded Playa del Amor, or "Lover's Beach". To get to Playa del Amor, you will have to paddle a kayak or take a water taxi. It is that inaccessibility that keeps it quiet and protected for only the most courageous adventurers. Step out onto this mind-blowing paradise boxed in by vertical granite walls and facing back onto the beaches of Cabo San Lucas and you will feel like you have discovered a new side of the planet. The cliffs above continue below the surface, providing sheltered homes for marine life and some of the best snorkeling and diving in Los Cabos. Just a short distance away is El Arco, the dramatic arched rock you will recognize from famous photographs.

Playa Santa Maria has been called one of the most beautiful beaches, located along the Corridor. A crescent-shaped cove nestled into the mountainous shoreline, Playa Santa Maria is a perfect swimming beach with great snorkeling and diving.

Playa Las Viudas, or "Widow's Beach", also known as Twin Dolphin Beach named for the nearby hotel offers a surprisingly secluded stretch of heaven on earth. Perfect for picnics and loaded with teeming tide pools make a snorkeler's paradise - just what the doctor ordered. Another mile up the road is Playa Chileno, with freshwater showers, great swimming, and water skiing. For the best view, bring or rent snorkeling equipment and head underwater to capture the natural beauty of this beach.