At the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico, Cabo San Lucas is a desert playground at the edge of the Pacific Ocean where a fulfilling array of activities on land and sea beckons to be explored. The reasons for Cabo’s popularity are its sun-kissed beaches, rich cultural heritage, thriving culinary scene, and sensational variety of family-friendly activities. It offers an unforgettable endless-summer experience for families seeking a harmonious blend of relaxation and adventure—whatever the season.
Cabo is steeped in a rich history shaped by Spanish exploration. Once a target for pirates during the 17th and 18th centuries because of its remote location, Cabo eventually transitioned to a relatively isolated fishing village until the 1950s. The transformation from a modest fishing village to a tourism hotspot has steadily gained momentum since the 1970s.
When my family and I had the opportunity to travel to this world-class beach retreat for a wedding, I knew it would be worth the trip. Our getaway to one of Mexico’s most popular travel destinations turned out to be a deep immersion in natural beauty. Cabo’s scenic landscapes comprise an awe-inspiring backdrop of glistening beaches and turquoise waters interspersed with rugged desert terrain and iconic rock formations.
Cabo is also easily accessible from many U.S. cities through direct flights with short travel times, making it a convenient destination for family-friendly travel. For such minimal travel hassle, we felt like we were worlds away in this magical beach sanctuary by the sea.
Cabo offers bountiful activities and outdoor adventures for travelers of all ages. For water-lovers, snorkeling in Playa Santa Maria, Chileno Bay, and Land’s End is a must. Composed of otherworldly rock formations erupting from the sea, Land’s End is particularly alluring. The best snorkeling here is near the famous El Arco de Cabo, Pelican Rock, and Neptune’s Finger. Kids also love seeing the sea lions at Land’s End.
For a leisurely break from physical activity, we booked a whale-watching tour. Observing the awe-inspiring enormity of the majestic gray whales and humpback whales in their natural habitat was the perfect way to entertain both children and adults.
To amp up the adrenaline once again, we headed to Wild Canyon Adventure Park to experience the thrill of zip-lining over a Baja forest canopy hundreds of feet up in the air. For an action-packed ride unlike any other, we booked an ATV tour that took us off-roading along Los Cabos’s dusty, cactus-adorned desert trails. Depending on your adventure preference, you have the option of going full throttle or slowing it down with a simple beach cruise in an ATV.
It’s also fun to take a camel ride desert tour of the Baja desert or coastline. And for some great exercise, there are mountain bike and hiking trails along Land’s End in Cabo to explore el Cerro del Vigía.
Cabo also boasts an impressive culinary scene that features a delightful fusion of traditional Mexican flavors, international influences, and fresh local fare. La Lupita Tacos and Mezcal is hands-down my favorite place to dine in Cabo. It’s the go-to spot to sample some of the region’s traditional Mexican cuisine with a modern twist. My husband and I savored every bite of our Peruvian ceviche, esquite, santo pastor tacos, and flan. They are also known for their extensive selection of mezcal, which is a traditional Mexican distilled spirit crafted from agave.
When You Go
During our trip to Cabo, we stayed at the Hacienda Del Mar Resort. The hotel provided a family-friendly experience in a picturesque location along the stunning coastline of the Sea of Cortez. To add to the family-friendly atmosphere, there were multiple pools with options for both adults and children, including shallow areas for younger kids and a water slide. The resort offers a kids’ club that organizes supervised activities such as Spanish classes, piñata decorating, and water polo: HaciendaDelMar.com.mx.
