Trails » International Travel » Mexico Travel » Cabo San Lucas » Cabo San Lucas Vacation Planning

Cabo San Lucas Vacation Planning

Cabo San Lucas Vacation Planning
Cabo San Lucas is an internationally recognized tourist attraction in Mexico. Cabo San Lucas translates into "Cape Saint Lucas" in English and actually does mark the final piece of terrain where the Baja California peninsula meets the Pacific Ocean. The enclave is notable as a prime resort area for beaches, water sports, recreation and nightlife. Americans should learn the rules of international travel prior to making the trip to Cabo San Lucas.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:
  • Plane ticket Passport Mexico tourist card Lodging Transportation
  • Plane ticket
  • Passport
  • Mexico tourist card
  • Lodging
  • Transportation
Step 1
Apply for and secure a U.S. passport or passport card. You will need this documentation to re-enter the United States from Mexico. The passport application requests basic information, identification, photographs and fees. You may begin the process at major post offices and expect to receive the passport within six weeks. Beyond the passport, alert your physician, cell phone provider and bank of plans to travel. Your home bank should allow you to exchange currency for pesos without expensive fees.
Step 2
Book a flight to Los Cabos International Airport from a major U.S. city. Large carriers do offer nonstop flights between the United States and Los Cabos. Los Cabos Airport is actually in San Jose del Cabo, which is 30 miles northeast of Cabo San Lucas. You will purchase a tourist card on the flight, which indicates that you will not stay in Mexico for longer than 180 days. The peak period for air travel to Cabo San Lucas runs from November through April.
Step 3
Decide upon and secure ground transportation. Mexican car rental agencies require that you are at least 25 years of age and carry a valid driver's license from any municipality. Mexican law also stipulates that insurance coverage is included with the rental. Expect a value-added tax to be tacked onto your bill. Major car rental companies operate out of Los Cabos International Airport.
Step 4
Select lodging according to your interests, budget and transportation needs. Hotels and resorts line the Pacific and Gulf of California (Sea of Cortes) beaches. Cabo San Lucas is ideal for nightlife, while San Jose del Cabo is a more conservative resort town. The Corridor is an exclusive 18-mile oceanfront transition point between the two and is marked by Federal Highway 1.
Step 5
Prioritize and execute your things-to-do list while vacationing at Cabo San Lucas. El Arco, or The Arch, is the area's most significant landmark and is a rock formation at the southernmost point of Baja California. The area provides a variety of beaches for all crowds, with two of the most notable being Lover's Beach and Medano. Recreational enthusiasts will enjoy playing rounds of golf at The Corridor, kayaking, snorkeling or taking all-terrain vehicles into the desert. Whales migrate toward Los Cabos from January into March and can be watched from Magdalena Bay. Anglers should also investigate fishing charters into the coastal waters to lure marlin, tuna, mahi mahi and mackerel.

Tips & Warnings

 
Outdoors enthusiasts may consider making the drive from Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas. This is a distance of 1,065 miles via Mexican Federal Highway 1 through Baja California. You cannot take a U.S. rental car into Mexico; you must use your own vehicle or pick up a rental in Tijuana. You will also purchase the tourist card at Tijuana. The drive offers spectacular views of mountain ranges, valleys and geologic formations.
 
Outdoors enthusiasts may consider making the drive from Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas. This is a distance of 1,065 miles via Mexican Federal Highway 1 through Baja California. You cannot take a U.S. rental car into Mexico; you must use your own vehicle or pick up a rental in Tijuana. You will also purchase the tourist card at Tijuana. The drive offers spectacular views of mountain ranges, valleys and geologic formations.
 
Use common sense when traveling internationally. Mexican roads are often treacherous and lack service. Stay close to Federal Highway 1 throughout the peninsula and purchase gasoline whenever it is available. Lost tourists are always targets for thieves and pickpockets. Do not venture deep into the Baja California desert without a knowledgeable guide.
 
Use common sense when traveling internationally. Mexican roads are often treacherous and lack service. Stay close to Federal Highway 1 throughout the peninsula and purchase gasoline whenever it is available. Lost tourists are always targets for thieves and pickpockets. Do not venture deep into the Baja California desert without a knowledgeable guide.

Resources

Article Written By Kofi Bofah

Kofi Bofah has been writing Internet content since 2010, with articles appearing on various websites. He is the founder of ONYX INVESTMENTS, which is based out of Chicago. Bofah enjoys writing about business, finance, travel, transportation, sports and entertainment. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Write for Trails.com

  • Editor's Pick

    5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

    5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

    Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...

    More National Parks...

  • Popular Article

    National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

    National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

    Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...

    More National Parks...

  • Featured Destination

    Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

    Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

    When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...

    More Camping Basics...

Hotel Finder

Destination
Check-in
Check-out
Adults (18+ yrs)
Children (2-17 yrs)
Get Rates and Availability

Outdoor Gear & Equipment

ALL NEW Trails Gear Store powered by:

Trail Finder

US Map

Search by Keyword