Local Secrets: 19 Unique Things to Do in Cabo San Lucas

1) Ride a camel

2) Swim with whale sharks in Cabo

Snorkeling with tropical fish is fun. But swimming alongside whale sharks? That’s next-level.

These gentle giants are the largest fish in the world – growing up to a jaw-dropping 65 feet long – and southern Baja is one of the few places in the world where you can swim with them.

They’re endangered, so encountering one in the wild is a rare and unforgettable privilege. We’ve done it three times now, and each experience has been absolutely mind-blowing.

Whale shark season runs from October to February.

The boat tours depart from La Paz (about a 2-hour drive from Cabo San Lucas), making it a full-day adventure. But trust us – it’s totally worth it!

Another option? Cabo Trek’s 9-hour whale shark day trip (also with transfers) is 5-star-rated and includes a stop in Todos Santos on the way back.

Or if you’re already in La Paz, these small-group whale shark tours (limited to six snorkelers) by La Paz VIP Tours get top marks.

3) Go flyboarding on Medano Beach

This is more like something out of a sci-fi flick than a water sport.

Flyboarding is basically a jet pack using water. And the pack is attached to your feet.

The pressure of the water catapults you into the air and allows you to hover up to 72 feet above the waves.

Flyboarding is one of those cool things to do in Cabo San Lucas that you can brag about to your friends (if you’re into that). Because you can bet they haven’t tried it yet!

It was only invented in 2012, but people are already big aficionados of this crazy water sport.

The best (and really, only) way to do this in Cabo San Lucas is by getting flyboard lessons off Medano Beach – where expert instructors walk you through how to master the flyboard itself. Well, if not master, at least get to grips with it.

Medano Beach, by the way, is the area’s main beach (with most of Cabo’s beach clubs) and the most popular beach for water sports.

4) Cruise in an all-glass boat to Land’s End

There are a wealth of beautiful natural attractions in Cabo San Lucas – one of the most iconic is El Arco. 

Literally “the Arch,” this is one of several rock formations set at the southern tip of the peninsula in an area referred to as Land’s End. It’s where the Pacific Ocean meets the Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez).

While you could take any old water taxi leaving from the Cabo San Lucas Marina or Medano Beach, there are better, more memorable ways to make the crossing. 

One of these is by going on a completely see-through glass bottom boat tour. You can spot abundant marine life swimming all around you as you cruise along the coastline.

(There are also private luxury yacht tours that take you to Land’s End and elsewhere if you’re traveling with a group of friends or family, or want a special boat trip.)

Bet you didn’t think Cabo was a great place for hiking? Think again!

Lace up your runners (or hiking boots) – and get ready to experience a completely different side of Cabo on a 5-mile canyon hike in the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range, about a 90-minute drive from Cabo San Lucas. 

We’ve done this hike three times on guided tours that include hotel transfers and lunch:

• Twice with Cabo Outfitters
• Once with High Tide Los Cabos (see their hiking tour)

(You can also choose a private Fox Canyon hiking trip.)

The trail follows a winding sandy riverbank in the Canyon of the Fox, strewn with giant granite boulders and shaded by soaring Mexican fan palms. We’ve seen frogs, doves, butterflies – and even a snake!

The best part is circling back to the Sol de Mayo Waterfall, which tumbles 45 feet down into a large crystal-clear pool. A dip is just the ticket for cooling off! 

If you feel adventurous, you can jump into the deep water below. Or simply wade in from lower down. 

Post-hike, we’ve always headed to a local taqueria in Santiago or Miraflores towns, where a frosty beer (or marg!) and fresh home-made tacos await.

If you love hiking and getting off the beaten path, this adventure is one of the most unique, scenic and fun things to do in Los Cabos!

Pssst! You can head straight to the waterfall pool (just a 15-minute hike), or do a longer trek to more secluded swimming spots further up the canyon riverbed, before finishing up at the Sol de Mayo Waterfall.

7) Stay in a treehouse

Have you ever stayed in a treehouse? No? Here’s your chance!

Acre is a unique resort in Los Cabos that’s part farm, part animal sanctuary, part farm-to-table restaurant and part resort – spreading out over 25 acres near San Jose del Cabo.

The walls are mesh screen, covered on the outside with branches, allowing dappled sunlight to filter through.

Inside, there’s a king-size bed, a small bathroom and a closet with bathrobes. Out on your covered deck, an outdoor shower invites you to lather up while listening to birdsong. (And, of course, you get WiFi!)

With palm fronds swaying in the breeze around you, it feels like you’re staying in a lush desert oasis.

Acre is #3 on Cosmopolitan magazine’s list of the 46 sexiest hotels in the world.

It’s fabulous, and if you don’t stay here, at least eat here one of your days in Cabo.

8) Sail on a pirate ship

Okay, so the beach is fun, and sleeping in a treehouse is definitely fun, too. But finding unique things to do in Cabo San Lucas with kids can be tricky.

But there’s one way to win over your (especially younger) kids – sailing on a pirate ship!

Two pirate ships ply the waters around Cabo.

One is the Cabo Legend, a 100-foot, twin-masted wooden sailing ship. This one definitely looks the part.

Then there’s its twin vessel – the legendary, 96-foot-long Buccaneer Queen.

You can jump aboard either of these pirate ships and exclaim “Shiver me timbers!” as you take to the high seas.

Combine your pirate ship adventure with whale watching and the whole family will be glued to the rails, keeping an eye out for humpback whales breaching and slapping the water with their tails.

Just off La Paz, Espiritu Santo Island, a UNESCO-recognized nature reserve, is home to a lively sea lion colony.

You’ll see the sea lions basking on the rocks. But the real fun begins when they slide into the water to play – and you snorkel right alongside them.

They’re very curious and playful. We were amazed at how they liked to swim right up to our masks, almost touching noses, before doing a quick U-turn and darting away in a swirl of bubbles!

10) Drive an ATV in the desert

So you’ve ridden a camel, swum with whale sharks and snorkeled with sea lions. And you’re craving still more adventurous things to do in Cabo! Then it’s time to don a crash helmet and rev up for an ATV or UTV desert adventure!

Obviously, you won’t be tearing out solo. That would be madness.

11) Try sandboarding at Mogote Dunes

Flyboarding (#3 above) is certainly one offbeat way to get your kicks in Cabo. But how about sandboarding?

This desert sport (like snowboarding, but with sand) makes the most of the steep coastal sand dunes around La Paz for exhilarating results.

All you have to do is join a sandboarding tour with an expert guide who’ll whisk you off to El Mogote, around 20 minutes outside La Paz. The otherworldly landscape there makes for a unique spot to get started with this adventure sport.

As you’re near the coast, you can wash off all that sand (it really gets everywhere!) with a much-deserved dip in the sea afterwards too.

12) Taste tacos on a Cabo taco tour

Going to Mexico without trying the local tacos is a travesty. Tacos are the “meat-and-potatoes” of Mexican cuisine!

In Cabo, you can find many taco varieties – tacos de carne asada, tacos de carnitas, tacos al pastor… the list quite literally goes on and on.

With Cabo being by the sea, shrimp and fish tacos are especially popular.

It’s actually a bit of a travel hack: Take the tour early on in your trip and you’ll know where you’ll want to return to!

You might be on vacation in a dreamy destination, but you still may be missing your pooch back home. (We’ve all been there.)

So why not make friends with a local pup – and help make a difference to dogs in Cabo too?

The Los Cabos Humane Society runs a local dog refuge that would love you to volunteer to take a rescue dog out for a walk. Non-touristy things to do in Cabo don’t get much cuter (or fuzzier) than this.

Not a dog lover? Don’t worry.

If you’re a cat person, there are also opening times when you can go visit the cats to play and cuddle them.

14) Go ziplining

If you like your trips filled with exhilarating activities, then a Cabo must-do is ziplining.

There are three places in Cabo to do this.

Canopy Costa Azul

One is with Canopy Costa Azul in the Costa Azul area, near San Jose del Cabo.

The operators have been in the ziplining biz here for over a decade. (See their eco-adventure ziplining tours.)

Theirs is a family-friendly spot with a series of zip lines that cut through a desert canyon setting. There’s a little bit of hiking involved between the ziplining stations, but that adds to the adventurous feel. 

You could opt to rappel down a cliff (if you like). But you will have to wobble across a suspension bridge as part of the experience!

Wild Canyon

For added adventure, a second option is to spend the day at the Wild Canyon Adventure Park.

With a day pass, you get unlimited access to zipline rides – and you can ride UTVs and try bungee jumping as well.

It’s a bit of everything and a neat addition to your list of unique things to do in Cabo San Lucas for anyone who likes lots of outdoor highs.

Cabo Adventures

And then there’s Cabo Adventures. They offer ziplining on the longest zipline in Cabo – all 1,640+ feet of it. 

The added amazingness of this zipline is that it takes you across the wild landscape of the UNESCO-protected Boca de la Sierra biosphere.

Their tour combines ziplining with a 20-minute UTV ride.

15) Join the Art Walk

Now, what if you’re looking for unique things to do in Cabo San Lucas for couples? How about soaking up the creativity of the area?

This means art – and there’s plenty of that in the downtown area of San Jose del Cabo.

San Jose del Cabo has a growing Gallery District, featuring a number of galleries that display an array of sculptures, paintings, prints, photography and jewelry. 

To promote the district – and encourage people to wander through the art galleries – there’s the San Jose del Cabo Art Walk. It’s free and takes place every Thursday evening between November and June.

Live music is played on the streets, galleries serve up free glasses of wine or sangria and the whole atmosphere is festive.

Joining the Art Walk is something you must do in Cabo! We always go each year – and then dine out at a fine restaurant in San Jose del Cabo afterwards.

16) Release baby sea turtles

Cabo San Lucas is home to five of seven species of endangered sea turtles – hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback, Olive Ridley and green turtles. 

A number of local grassroots organizations help to protect these turtles, which are particularly vulnerable during their nesting and hatching season. 

Want to help out? 

You can join a heartwarming tour by Cabo Outfitters to release your very own adopted baby turtle into the sea. Talk about adorable! And being good for the planet…

We’ve gone with Cabo Outfitters on other tours, like their hiking one (see #6) and their top-rated kayaking tour. And we really like their experienced guides and how they arrange their tours. 

You can also check out the turtle release conservation program operated by Rancho Carisuva at Playa Migrino, on the Pacific side near Los Cabos.

The prime turtle season is between July and September, but Olive Ridley turtles still come to lay their eggs right up to January. The baby turtles hatch about 45 days later.

17) Dive down to see underwater sand falls

Unusual things to do in Cabo San Lucas don’t get much more unusual than witnessing a sand fall. And not just any sand fall – we’re talking about an underwater sand fall.

Say what?

A sand fall occurs when sand accumulates around rocks and begins to fall, pretty much like a waterfall.

But sand falls can happen underwater, too. When strong underwater currents move sand from a higher shelf to a lower depth, they can naturally create a sand fall.

There’s no better place to see one than in Cabo.

In the early 1960s, famous undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau first discovered an underwater sand fall that plunges down a 3,000-foot wall into the abyss near Land’s End in Cabo San Lucas Bay.

To watch the cascade, we recommend going with a reputable scuba diving outfit. (Read our post on scuba diving in Cabo San Lucas, where we cover the best dive operators.)

One caveat is that you’ll need to be qualified to scuba dive down to 100 feet, as the sand fall starts at a 90-foot depth. Otherwise, get your training in and do this your next time in Cabo.

18) Try tequila with chocolate

Tequila is synonymous with Mexico. What’s maybe less known is that chocolate too originated in Mexico.

And what better way to excite your taste buds than experience both at the same time? Well, almost at the same time, anyway.

Tasting a selection of tequila and some of the best Mexican chocolate around is a great way to spend your time, we’d say.

19) Go horseback riding on the beach

Possibly the easiest way to get in touch with your inner romantic is saddling up and galloping along a beach on a horse.

Actually, you may not be galloping – especially if you’ve never ridden before – but that doesn’t mean this isn’t an amazing experience in Cabo San Lucas.

You don’t have to be an expert at all.

This horseback riding tour is for everybody, from advanced to beginner. Guides are there to make sure you’re safe (and doing things right) the whole time. 

This outdoor adventure takes you and your trusty steed along the golden shores of Migrino Beach, with its coastal cliffs and sand dunes. The two-hour ride ends with a taste of blue agave tequila before you go off on your merry way.

---