Best of
What is the best beach in Los Cabos?
Chileno Bay is the best beach in Los Cabos: protected, swimmable, snorkelable, with bathrooms and a free car park. Santa María Cove is better for snorkelling, Palmilla is calmer and larger, and Medano Beach is the only swimmable beach you can walk to from Cabo San Lucas. Every Pacific-facing beach is scenery, not swimming.
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Key facts
- Best all-round
- Chileno Bay, Tourist Corridor
- Best snorkelling
- Santa María Cove
- Best walkable
- Medano Beach, Cabo San Lucas
- Best with children
- Chileno Bay
- Never swim
- Any Pacific-facing beach
- All free
- Public access, no entry fee
| Option | Area | Swimmable | Snorkelling | Facilities | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chileno Bay | The Corridor | Yes | Good | Bathrooms, parking | Road, free |
| Santa María Cove | The Corridor | Yes | Best | Minimal | Road, small car park |
| Palmilla Beach | The Corridor | Yes | Fair | Parking, boat launch | Road, free |
| Medano Beach | Cabo San Lucas | Yes | Poor | Full — bars, loungers | Walkable |
| Lover's Beach | Land's End | Cortez side only | Fair | None | Boat only |
| Los Cerritos | Todos Santos | No — surf only | No | Surf school, café | Road |
The ranking, and why
1. Best for everyone
Chileno Bay
Protected water, gradual sandy entry, rock snorkelling at both ends, bathrooms, free parking. The only beach here that does everything.
Free
2. Best for snorkelling
Santa María Cove
A horseshoe bay with reef on both arms and the best fish life on the Corridor. Smaller car park, no facilities.
Free
3. Best for calm swimming, last mornings
Palmilla Beach
Larger, calmer and less crowded, with a boat launch. Closest of the three to the airport.
Free
4. Best for walkable town beach
Medano Beach
The only swimmable beach walkable from Cabo San Lucas. Also the loudest place in the region.
Free, loungers $15–$25
5. Best for the photograph
Lover's Beach
Boat access only, a sandbar inside the Arch. Swim on the Sea of Cortez side; the Pacific side is lethal.
$15–$25 water taxi
6. Best for beginner surfing
Los Cerritos
Near Todos Santos, and the one Pacific beach regularly used for surf lessons. Not a swimming beach outside the surf school area.
Free, lessons $60–$90
Frequently asked questions
Which beaches in Cabo can you actually swim at?
Chileno Bay, Santa María Cove, Palmilla and Medano Beach — all on the Sea of Cortez side. Pacific-facing beaches have heavy shore break, strong rips and no lifeguards.
Are the beaches in Los Cabos free?
Yes. All beaches in Mexico are federal public land and free to access. Chileno, Santa María and Palmilla have free car parks off Highway 1.
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