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There is a long-standing myth in the travel industry that when people book a luxury resort or an all-inclusive in Mexico, they put on their wristband, park themselves at the swim-up bar, and don’t see the outside world until their airport transfer arrives a week later.

While that might be true in some Caribbean destinations, a fascinating new report proves that Los Cabos operates completely differently.

According to Rodrigo Esponda, the Director of the Los Cabos Tourism Trust (FITURCA), an overwhelming 80% of visitors actively leave their hotels to experience the destination. They are not just staying behind the resort gates.

Why are travelers so willing to leave the comfort of their five-star pools? If you are planning your itinerary, here are the top 5 reasons why Cabo tourists are venturing out, and why you should too.

1. The World-Class Culinary Scene

This is the number one reason cited by FITURCA for why tourists leave their properties. The gastronomy in Los Cabos has exploded. You simply cannot confine yourself to a hotel buffet when you have Michelin-starred chefs, hidden courtyard taco stands, and massive farm-to-table compounds just down the road. Places like Flora Farms, Acre, and the incredible dining venues in the San José del Cabo Gallery District are pulling foodies out of their resorts every single night.

2. Hunting For Swimmable Beaches

Because Los Cabos sits at the turbulent intersection of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, the water directly in front of your luxury resort might actually be closed for swimming due to dangerous rip currents.

To get that perfect, safe ocean dip, tourists are packing up and heading to the protected coves. Blue Flag-certified spots like Chileno Bay, Santa Maria Beach, and the energetic Medano Beach are massive daily draws for travelers who want to safely swim in the ocean.

3. The “Two Towns” Contrast

Los Cabos is not a single city; it is a dual-destination connected by a 20-mile highway. If you are staying in the high-energy, nightlife-heavy marina district of Cabo San Lucas, you are eventually going to want a change of pace.

Tourists regularly leave their hotels to make the 30-minute drive north to San José del Cabo to experience the historic colonial architecture, the quiet plazas, and the famous Thursday night Art Walk. You get two completely different vacations in one trip.

4. Ocean Safaris and Megafauna

You can’t experience the “Aquarium of the World” from a lounge chair. The waters off the coast of Baja are home to some of the most spectacular marine life on the planet.

From December to April, tourists flock to the marinas to board small pangas and luxury catamarans to watch 40-ton humpback whales breach, or they take the day trip up to La Paz to swim alongside massive whale sharks.

The ocean excursions here are simply too good to skip.

5. The Desert Adventure Factor

Cabo offers a geographic anomaly: the ocean crashes directly into a rugged, mountainous desert. Travelers are leaving their manicured resort grounds to experience the wild side of Baja. Whether it is riding ATVs through the sand dunes of Migriño, hiking down into the lush oasis of Fox Canyon to swim under a 40-foot waterfall, or riding camels along the Pacific cliffs, the surrounding landscape demands to be explored.

Check out the area

When you book your next trip to Los Cabos, definitely enjoy the incredible hospitality and luxury your resort offers.

But make sure you budget the time and the pesos to step outside the gates.

As 80% of visitors have already figured out, the real magic of Baja happens when you start exploring.