The non-obvious essentials
Most of what you need for Los Cabos is what you would pack for any beach destination. The items below are the ones that get missed.
- Reef-safe mineral sunscreen — required at Cabo Pulmo, and chemical sunscreens are discouraged in the protected coves.
- A long-sleeve UPF sun shirt. On a boat the reflected UV roughly doubles your exposure and reapplication never keeps up.
- A light jacket or sweater for November to March evenings, when it drops to around 60°F.
- Closed shoes with a proper sole for ATV riding, camel tours and the Cabo Pulmo shoreline.
- Motion sickness tablets if you are booking whale watching or a fishing charter — the Pacific side gets choppy.
- Small bills in pesos for tips, water taxis and beach vendors.
Season by season
December to March: daytime shorts and a real layer for the evening. Add a rash guard or shorty wetsuit for snorkelling in 72°F water, or plan to rent one.
April to June: the easiest packing of the year. Light clothing, strong sun protection, nothing warm needed.
July to October: minimal clothing, maximum sun protection, and something that dries fast. Humidity is high and afternoon rain is possible from August.
What you can skip
Snorkel gear — every tour includes it and it takes up half a bag. A hairdryer, which every hotel has. Heavy hiking boots, unless you are doing the Sierra de la Laguna. Formal wear: even the expensive restaurants in Los Cabos top out at resort smart.