10 Cool Cabo San Lucas Facts: They Might Surprise You!

Los Cabos is a stunning vacation spot. It’s a place we keep returning to – and writing about!

But there’s way more to Cabo than endless sunshine, great places to stay and breathtaking beaches. Dig deeper and you’ll discover a lot beneath the surface – from Cabo’s intriguing pirate history to hidden secrets strewn across its landscape.

Ready to discover something new?

Here are 10 fun facts about Cabo San Lucas that might surprise you – whether you’re a regular visitor or planning your first Cabo adventure!

1) There are many different (and confusing!) “Cabos”

2) You can devour the world’s most expensive taco in Cabo

While most visitors are content savoring mouthwatering shrimp and other tasty tacos at the many affordable local taquerias, those looking to splurge should check out the Grand Velas Los Cabos resort.

Here, you’ll find this decadent creation – made with gold-flaked Kobe beef, Beluga caviar and black truffle brie cheese, all wrapped in a gold-infused corn tortilla. It’s the ultimate culinary indulgence if you crave the extravagant!

3) Cabo is a celebrity hotspot

Cabo has been attracting the rich and famous ever since its earlier days as a humble small fishing village. Rumor has it that Ernest Hemingway, a deep-sea fishing enthusiast, was among the first celebrities to drop a line into Cabo’s waters.

The trend continued in the 1950s, with Hollywood greats like Bing Crosby, John Wayne and Lucille Ball making their way here by private plane or boat – the only options at the time.

Rocker Sammy Hagar also fell for Cabo’s charm, opening his famous bar Cabo Wabo in 1990. It’s still going strong, serving up his equally famous Baja tequila (which he sold to Campari in 2008 for a whopping $100 million).

Today, A-listers like Jennifer Aniston (who’s a fan of the One & Only Palmilla), George Clooney, Will Smith and Justin Timberlake retreat here for its privacy, luxurious resorts, striking scenery and close access to the U.S.

Pssst! Did you know there’s a stunning nature reserve known as the San Jose del Cabo Estuary? No? Well, that’s because it’s one of Cabo’s best-kept secrets.

This freshwater lagoon is a vital habitat for a wide array of bird species, making it a paradise for birdwatching enthusiasts.

At the estuary, you can spot an impressive variety of birds, from herons and ospreys to frigate birds, white-faced Ibis and bright Yellow Hooded Orioles.

5) Sportfishers make big money!

Sportfishing in Cabo is the stuff of legends, with anglers from across the globe flocking here every October for the Bisbee’s Black and Blue tournament.

This is no ordinary fishing contest – it’s where the biggest payouts in the sport happen.

Competitors reel in blue and striped marlin, yellowfin tuna and dorado, with jackpots often soaring past $4 million. In 2022, the stakes reached an all-time high, with teams vying for a jaw-dropping $11.6 million cash purse – the largest ever in any fishing tournament worldwide.

Yep, it’s a chance to hook not just a big fish, but big money too!

Bet this got your attention! You’ll be glad you know this fact about Los Cabos before going.

Weather in winter

Cabo’s weather in February is a little warmer, with daytime temps ranging between 73 F and 86 F and an average low of 60 F at night.

Water temperature

The ocean temperature is also cool for swimming in winter, maybe even too cool, depending on your tolerance.

The best months to visit Los Cabos for warm ocean temperatures are October and November. With water visibility extending up to 80 feet (sometimes 100 feet), these are also the best months for scuba diving.

Dry sunny days

One of the great things about the weather in Cabo, however – no matter when you visit – is its year-round sunshine, with over 350 days of sunshine annually.

Plus, winter brings low humidity to this desert destination, so you can soak up the sun daily during your vacation without it feeling muggy.

7) You can’t swim at many Los Cabos beaches

Cabo’s golden sand beaches look inviting. But don’t be fooled – many aren’t safe for swimming due to powerful undertows and strong waves.

Beaches on the Pacific Ocean side of the Baja Peninsula are especially dangerous.

Medano Beach is the most popular beach in Cabo San Lucas and the go-to spot for safe ocean swimming. A few other beaches – like Santa Maria Bay (along the Corridor), Lover’s Beach (at Land’s End) and Playa Palmilla and El Ganzo Beach (in San Jose del Cabo) – also offer good swimming conditions.

You’ll also find several cool beach clubs strung along Medano Beach and El Ganzo Beach.

But even at these swimmable beaches, always heed the colored safety flags.

8) Wow! There are rare underwater sandfalls

The waters around Land’s End (where the Sea of Cortez meets the mighty Pacific) and El Arco (Cabo’s iconic rock arch) hide some fascinating geological surprises.

Among them are deep submarine canyons like San Lucas Canyon, which boasts rare underwater sandfalls.

First spotted in 1959 and later made famous by French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, these “rivers of sand” tumble down the canyon walls in a mesmerizing display.

9) Cabo San Lucas was a hideout for pirates

Back in the 16th and 17th centuries, Cabo San Lucas wasn’t a sand-and-sea playground – it was a pirate’s dream!

Swashbucklers made the area’s coves and caves their hideout, plundering treasure-laden ships bound for Europe.

The most legendary loot? The siege of the Santa Anna by the English privateer Thomas Cavendish, nicknamed “The Navigator.”

A Spanish merchant ship, the Santa Anna was a 600-ton galleon packed so full of riches, it had no room for cannons to defend itself. And Cavendish’s haul was so enormous, it’s said that one of his ships, mysteriously lost at sea, still hides untold riches in the depths of the Sea of Cortez.

10) The average hotel room costs over $500 USD a night

Here’s one of those Los Cabos facts that might make your wallet cringe.  Cabo is crazy expensive – the most expensive destination in Mexico, actually.

According to the Los Cabos Hotel Association, the average hotel room will set you back over $500 USD a night. At many luxury beachfront resorts, a night’s sleep can cost $1,500 to $2,000!

Good cheap hotels? They’re hard to come by.

But you can still score a nice air-conditioned room for between $100 and $200 a night at Los Milagros, a sweet 12-room boutique hotel in downtown Cabo San Lucas. Step into its courtyard, lush with tall palm trees and vibrant flowers, and you’ll feel like you’ve stumbled upon a hidden oasis – which you have! It even has a small plunge pool.

Bump up your budget a bit and you can rest your head at even more charming but still affordable boutique hotels, like Casa Bella Boutique Hotel and The Bungalows Hotel.

Now you know some quirky and less-known Cabo San Lucas facts!

Cabo is full of surprises, from its pirate past to its luxurious indulgences. These fun tidbits show there’s always something intriguing about Cabo – and allow you to impress your fellow Cabo lovers with your insider knowledge!