Top 5 Things You Can’t Miss Visiting Los Cabos This Winter (And How Long They’ll Take)

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We completely understand the ultimate vacation mindset. Some of us have decided that we are not moving any further than the exact distance between our comfortable hotel bed and our poolside lounge chair. When you pay top dollar for a premium luxury Los Cabos vacation, doing absolutely nothing for a week is a highly respectable strategy. You worked hard all year to escape the freezing snow and trade your winter coat for a swimsuit. There is absolutely zero shame in staying glued to your resort with a frozen margarita in your hand for seven straight days.

However, if you want to get off the resort property for a day or two and actually experience the absolute best things the Baja Peninsula has to offer, you need a solid game plan. You do not want to accidentally book an excursion that sounds like a quick trip but ends up keeping you on a hot bus for fourteen hours. Your vacation time is incredibly valuable, and every hour away from the pool needs to be completely worth the effort.

To help you plan the perfect itinerary, we are breaking down the top five must do activities for your Cabo trip this winter. More importantly, we are giving you the exact time breakdowns and local logistical tips so you know precisely how long you will be away from the swim up bar and exactly how long transportation will take.

1. The Famous Arch And Land’s End

You simply cannot visit Cabo San Lucas without taking a boat out to see the famous granite Arch at Land’s End. It is the absolute most iconic landmark in the entire destination, marking the exact spot where the Pacific Ocean officially meets the Sea of Cortez. You will sail past Lover’s Beach, barking sea lion colonies, and towering granite rock formations. Whether you book a luxury sunset catamaran or a quick glass bottom water taxi, seeing this natural wonder from the water is a mandatory vacation requirement.

The best part about this excursion is the incredible flexibility. You can easily do a super fast two hour quick strike mission if you just want a photo, or you can stretch it into a luxurious half day excursion with snorkeling and an open bar depending on the exact boat tour you choose.

• Transportation Time: Just 10 to 20 minutes to reach the main Cabo San Lucas Marina from most local resorts.
• Time Off The Resort: 2 hours to a half day. There are so many options available. You can grab a quick water taxi for a two hour sightseeing tour, or book a massive sailing catamaran trip. Either way, you will have plenty of time left to grab a fresh fish taco on the boardwalk before heading back to the pool.

2. Todos Santos

If you want to escape the massive luxury resorts and experience an incredibly authentic, deeply historic Mexican town, you need to visit Todos Santos. Designated as an official Pueblo Magico, this laid back desert oasis is packed with world class art galleries, cobblestone streets, and incredible farm to table restaurants. It completely avoids the heavy party atmosphere of Cabo San Lucas, offering a highly relaxed, bohemian vibe that feels like a completely different world.

• Transportation Time: Exactly 50 to 60 minutes of driving north on the smooth Federal Highway 19 from downtown Cabo San Lucas.
• Time Off The Resort: 6 to 8 hours. This is the perfect day trip. Rent a car, leave after breakfast, spend the afternoon browsing the boutique shops, and you will be back in time for sunset drinks.

3. San Jose del Cabo Art Walk

Los Cabos is actually split into two very different towns. While Cabo San Lucas is the high energy action hub, San Jose del Cabo is the quiet, highly cultural historic center. Every Thursday evening between November and June, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, the town shuts down the main streets for a massive Art Walk. You can stroll through the historic gallery district, drink local wine, and listen to live acoustic music in the main plaza. It is the ultimate cultured evening out for couples and families.

• Transportation Time: About 25 to 35 minutes driving northeast along the Tourist Corridor from Cabo San Lucas.
• Time Off The Resort: 4 to 5 hours. Head over right at five in the evening, walk the vibrant galleries, grab an incredible upscale dinner, and head back to your room.

4. Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park

If you are an ocean lover or a dedicated scuba diver, you absolutely must visit Cabo Pulmo. Jacques Cousteau famously referred to this area as the Aquarium of the World. You will snorkel or scuba dive over one of the oldest hard coral reefs in the Eastern Pacific, which is estimated to be roughly twenty thousand years old. The massive draw here is swimming directly alongside swirling schools of silver jacks, sea turtles, and diving to see the the famous resident bull sharks. Because it is a highly protected national park, it remains incredibly raw and untouched by mass mega resort development.

• Transportation Time: 2 to 2.5 hours each way from Cabo San Lucas. Just be aware that the final stretch includes unpaved, washboard dirt roads.
• Time Off The Resort: 8 to 10 hours. This is a massive full day commitment that requires an early morning departure, but the spectacular underwater views make the bumpy ride completely worth the effort.

5. Winter Whale Watching

Winter is the absolute best time to visit Los Cabos for one massive reason. From mid December through mid April, thousands of humpback and gray whales migrate directly down the Baja coast to breed in the warm waters, with peak sightings happening from January through March. Booking a luxury whale watching catamaran is a completely surreal experience. You get to watch these massive, incredibly majestic animals breach and play right next to your boat while you sip on a premium cocktail and enjoy the perfect winter breeze.

• Transportation Time: 10 to 20 minutes to reach the Cabo San Lucas Marina.
• Time Off The Resort: 3 to 4 hours. Most morning or afternoon tours last about two to two and a half hours on the water, leaving you the entire rest of your day to completely relax on the beach.