The Top 5 “Must-Do” Los Cabos Excursions (And 2 You Can Probably Skip)

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If you’re staring at a long list of Cabo tours and feeling FOMO creeping in, you’re not alone.

As we at The Cabo Sun see it, a great Los Cabos trip isn’t about cramming in ten excursions — it’s about picking a smart mix that shows you the sea, the desert, and the culture without wasting time (or money) on tourist traps.

Here’s our curated hit list of the top 5 “must-do” Los Cabos excursions — plus 2 you can probably skip and what to do instead.

1. Sail To El Arco At Sunset (Don’t Just Grab The Cheapest Boat)

You absolutely have to see El Arco at Land’s End… but how you do it makes or breaks the experience.

The bargain-basement option is a quick glass-bottom or water taxi loop from the marina. Fast, cheap, and fine if you’re short on time — but it’s basically transportation with a view. Our breakdown of glass-bottom boats explains exactly what you’ll actually see and why most loops clock in at about 45 minutes.

If you can swing it, level up to a sunset sail or upscale clear-boat cruise that combines:

• Close-up views of El Arco, Lover’s Beach, and the sea lion colony
• Open bar and snacks (or full dinner on some sails)
• That ridiculously good Pacific sunset backdrop

Think of the Arch cruise as your “headline” photo op. A nicer boat, better timing, and fewer blaring speakers turn it from a box you tick into one of the core memories of the trip. If marine life is your priority, pair your Arch outing with a separate snorkel-focused tour instead of relying on the boat’s tiny glass window.

2. Go Whale Watching In Season (December–April)

If you’re visiting between December 15 and April 15, whale watching jumps straight to the top of the list. That’s the official season when licensed operators can run tours, with peak action usually January–March.

A few pro tips from our whale-tour guides:

• Pick your boat type. Smaller zodiac-style boats feel more adventurous and get you closer to the water; bigger catamarans are calmer, have bathrooms and bar service, and are better if you’re prone to seasickness.
• Go with a reputable, eco-minded operator. Look for naturalist or biologist-led tours and clear rules about not crowding the whales.
• Dress for wind, not just sun. It can feel chilly out on the water even on a warm day.

Done right, this is one of those “see it once and remember it forever” experiences — and a far better use of time and money than any captive dolphin show (more on that below).

3. Snorkel Chileno Or Santa Maria (Plus Cabo Pulmo For Super-Fans)

Los Cabos isn’t a “jump in anywhere” swimming destination, but it is home to some genuinely great snorkeling if you know where to go.

For 90% of travelers, your must-do is a day at Playa Chileno or Santa Maria Bay along the Tourist Corridor. These protected coves usually offer calm, clear water and loads of fish, and we’ve called Chileno a cleaner, more relaxed alternative to busy Médano in several guides.

How to do it:

• DIY by car or Uber and arrive early (around 9 a.m.) for a few quiet hours before the tour boats anchor offshore.
• Or book one of the popular two-bay snorkel tours that hit both Chileno and Santa Maria in a single outing.

For serious snorkelers and divers, Cabo Pulmo National Park belongs on the radar. It’s a protected marine park with one of North America’s oldest coral reefs and some of the best biomass in the region — but it’s also a 2–3 hour drive each way from the main resort zone, so it’s a full-day commitment.

Our take:

• Casual travelers & families: Stick to Chileno/Santa Maria; you’ll get plenty of fish and fun without the long haul.
• Underwater obsessives: Save a day for Cabo Pulmo with a licensed local operator and treat it as your big “expedition” experience.

4. Rip Through The Desert On A UTV (But Watch The Fine Print)

Cabo is famous for that desert-meets-ocean landscape, and nothing shows it off like an off-road UTV (side-by-side) tour through cactus-lined trails and out onto wild Pacific beaches near places like Migriño as part of these land tours.

A few things to know before you book:

• UTV > ATV for most visitors. Side-by-sides have seatbelts, a roll cage, and proper seats, making them safer and more comfortable, especially for families or nervous riders.
• Expect extra fees. Many tours advertise a tempting base rate, then add a park/land-use fee (often cash-only) and optional-but-not-really-optional insurance when you check in.
• Photo packages are a whole thing. Operators often ban personal cameras on the trail, then upsell a pricey photo bundle at the end.

We still consider a desert UTV run a must-do because the scenery is incredible and the adrenaline rush is real — just ask for the all-in price in advance and budget for fees so you’re not fuming instead of grinning in your goggles.

5. Balance It Out With San José Del Cabo’s Art Walk & Farm-To-Table Scene

If you only see Cabo San Lucas and the marina, you’re missing half the destination. We’ve called Los Cabos a true “two-in-one” getaway for a reason: Cabo San Lucas brings the energy, while San José del Cabo delivers cobblestone streets, galleries, and a much more local vibe.

Your must-do cultural night looks like this:

• Thursday Art Walk (November–June). Streets in the historic Gallery District close to traffic, galleries throw their doors open, and you can wander between sculptures, paintings, live music, and street food from about 5–9 p.m. (it’s one of the most popular things to do).
• Farm-to-table dinner after. Spots like Flora Farms and Acre have helped turn Los Cabos into a global farm-to-table hotspot, with organic gardens, wood-fired menus, and serious cocktails just outside town.

Make reservations well in advance, treat it as your “big night out,” and you’ll walk away with a very different picture of Cabo than the bar-strip stereotype.

2 Excursions You Can Probably Skip

Skip: Captive “Swim With Dolphins” Programs

We know these are heavily marketed, but they’re less and less aligned with how Baja is evolving as a wildlife destination. In a recent piece, we broke down why captive dolphin attractions are one of Cabo’s most overrated experiences and pointed travelers instead toward wild encounters in places like Cabo Pulmo.

If you’ve got the budget for an animal experience, we’d much rather see you on an ethical whale tour or snorkel trip where the wildlife is free to come and go on its own terms.

Skip (Or De-Prioritize): Camel Rides

Are the camel rides along the Pacific fun? Sure. Are they uniquely “Cabo”? Not really. Camels are an imported novelty here, and most camel experiences are structured as short rides wrapped in long briefings, tequila tastings, and photo-package upsells.

If your time or budget is limited, we’d put camels in the “nice if you’ve done everything else” category and prioritize UTVs, hiking, or a Mexican cooking class instead — all of which connect you more directly to the actual landscape and culture.

Putting It All Together

For a balanced first-timer itinerary, aim for:

• 1–2 sea days (Arch cruise + whale watching in season + snorkeling)
• 1 land-adventure day (UTV or similar)
• 1 culture/food night in San José del Cabo

Then use our deeper guides on snorkeling, whale tours, farm-to-table dining, and avoiding tourist traps to fine-tune the details and pick specific operators that match your style.

Do that, and you’ll leave feeling like you truly saw Los Cabos — not just the inside of your resort and a random bus tour.