In addition to regular stories on all things that make the Southwest shine, each month The Best of the Southwest is taking readers on an easy weekend getaway, sharing the ultimate itinerary for a destination either a quick drive or short flight away, in a column we call Field Trip Friday. Today’s field trip: Cabo San Lucas.
Cabo San Lucas musts:
- Reserve a stay at Pacifica, an adults-only resort with a boutique vibe and lush, walkable atmosphere
- Hit the greens at Quivira, named one of the top five courses in Mexico
- Experience swimming with whale sharks with Cabo Adventures
Destination: Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas is the jewel in the austere crown of Baja California Sur. The region boasts temperate Mediterranean-like weather (especially throughout the winter and spring), as well as miles of sandy white beaches, crystal-blue water, and accommodations tailored to every type of traveler. It was also recently named among the top places to go in 2025 by none other than the “New York Times.” Hollywood has also embraced the region among the most enchanting places on the planet. Both the big A-listers like Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Aniston have vacation homes there and reality shows are shelling out big bucks to film their biggest series on the Cabo beaches (we see you, “Real Housewives of Orange County,” “Selling Sunset,” and “Vanderpump Rules”!).
Marine life to the max
Beyond the LaLa Land love for Cabo, the marine life is so diverse and abundant in the region that Jacques Cousteau himself nicknamed Cabo “The aquarium of the world.” The clear waters are home to nearly 1,000 types of fish and nearly three dozen marine mammals with everything from sea lions and turtles to dolphins and reef sharks. It also happens to be one of the best places in the world to whale watch, with humpback and gray whales especially active in the area from mid-December until April. Whale sharks occupy the region from October to April, and occasional sightings of blue whales, orcas, sperm whales, minke whales and pilot whales occur from time to time as well.
Eats and retreats you cannot beat
The region is also a growing destination for all things food, with a host of authentic Baja California cuisine as well as an elevated take on steakhouse, modern American and even Asian cuisine thanks to the high-end resorts in town.
Oh, and the resorts! A major benefit of visiting Cabo is the sheer number of all-inclusive resorts and guest homes wherein guests can wine, dine and enjoy downtime. This includes doing all things luxurious and fabulous for an upfront cost that includes a litany of activities and dining delights with the option to add on adventures and extravagances — hello, golf, spa, and whale watching. All this designed around the desired vacation itinerary, which makes planning the budget so much easier than other destinations.
Getting There: Several flight options
The Aeropuerto Cabo San Lucas Internacional aka the Cabo San Lucas International Airport is ultra convenient if traveling into the area from nearly anywhere in the Western United States. It is especially convenient for those traveling from Phoenix, Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver, San Francisco, Seattle, Houston, Vancouver, or Salt Lake City are there are daily, non-stop flights to and from each hub.
Stay: Tailored for families, friends and all-around fun
Choosing where to stay is part of the fun of any trip to Cabo. There are hundreds of options, so it is best to tailor the hotel to the type of vacation one desires. Oh, and look for those that explicitly say “all-inclusive” on the website.
If traveling with kids or teens, it is paramount to find a resort with both kid- or teen-friendly activities as well as some for the parents to enjoy with them or on their own. Sunset Beach is an especially nice option for these travelers. First, the hotel is 100% suites versus a combination of rooms and suites, which means added space for one’s brood. Second, the hotel has a dedicated teen center, and it is beyond your wildest imagination. It has both an arcade and video games as well as a movie theatre and karaoke. They even thought to load the space with teen-centric refreshments and snacks, as we all know how picky they can be, even on vacation.
Sunset Beach also has both a dedicated kids pool with safe, interactive games and activities tailored to kids ages 4 to 11 and both a lunch buffet and a fancy version of a food court, because again, picky eaters (and yes, there are organic and health-conscious choices along with some of the naughtier fun stuff).
There is also an impressive effort to cater to parents as well, with five other pools on property, one of which is located on the roof of the resort with 270-degree views of the ocean. This pool — Sky Pool — is limited to adults only and boasts a swim-up bar, day beds, cabanas and an all-around Hamptons kind of vibe. There is even a dedicated fine dining concept for people aged 16 and over on the property, LaFrida. The restaurant serves award-winning authentic Mexican fare that rivals the impressive plating and array of flavors one would expect from celebrity chefs known for the genre of food like Richard Sandoval or Jose Andres. And yes, there is a spa as well, and it is a doozy.
If on a girls’ trip or traveling with one’s sweetie, Pacifica — located next door to Sunset Beach and similarly situated along a magnificent private white sand beach — is a dream reservation. The entire property is strictly limited to adults and has a very “boutique resort” vibe. Everything is intimate and ultra-walkable through breezeways and gorgeous-lit paths. Yet, as cozy as it is (do not sleep on the heart-shaped glass art pieces lovingly hung from the trees or other sophisticated art installations throughout the walkways), the space manages to be ever-so-extravagant in quality, depth and breadth of its service, amenities, food and drink, and architectural accents.
The best room to book is one of the many offerings in The Towers on property. Think of these chic enclaves as part of a hotel-within-the-hotel. The Towers at Pacifica comprise 47 guest rooms and suites with private terraces in two buildings, accessible with a special guest key. Towers lodging includes 12 suites, among them a majestic presidential suite and six suites with private plunge pools. Guests in The Towers also enjoy a VIP lounge with 180-degree ocean views that are perfect for whale watching, especially in the morning, as well as 24-hour certified butler service. These sensational stewards can even draw guests an aromatherapy bath that is piping hot when they get back from the day’s activities, pool time or dinner.
No matter the room one chooses to book, all guests should take advantage of the Armonia Spa on property. Armonia is Spanish for “harmony,” which is fitting given the level of bliss one will feel after enjoying a day of pre-treatment indulgences that range from sauna and steam to Swiss and mist showers to hydrotherapy paths and even a cold plunge. The treatments available are even more mind-blowing. Dining on property is similarly blissful thanks to Peninsula, Siempre, Pescados, Refresca and Partidos.
Peninsula is the property’s insanely gourmet and chicest enclave. It excels at ultra-fresh seafood and organic ingredients. Siempre celebrates all things Mediterranean but with a Mexican flavor twist. Pescados is casual yet elegant, offering sushi with an ocean view. Refresca, as the name suggests, is all about the drinks. Visit this spot anytime, but especially if seeking to explore mezcal and tequila with a knowledgeable guide. Partidos is an elevated take on a sports bar, with ample televisions playing every type of sport and game under the sun (or moon if in prime time).
Oh, these two resorts are also ideal because they are part of the same hospitality family, which comes with some pretty big benefits.
What does this mean?
Pacifica’s all-inclusive plan includes not only Pacifica’s four restaurants but also the restaurants at both Sunset Beach and Quivira Steakhouse, which is located at the Quivira Golf Club. Similarly, Sunset Beach guests have some access to Pacifica’s eateries (remember, there is an age limit!) and also to Quivira.
Oh, speaking of Quivira, that is another overall benefit.
Resort guests and residents of Quivira are the only folks on the planet who have exclusive access to book tee times at this eye-popping golf course. How good is it? It has not only been ranked among the top five courses in Mexico repeatedly but “Golf Digest” named it one of the top 100 courses in the entire world.
Finally, these resorts have one other major bonus: Location. Location. Location. Both are just a 10-minute drive to the Cabo Marina.
Play: Swim with whale sharks and experience “The Aquarium of the Sea”
Let’s talk Cabo Marina.
This massive, ultra-safe space just off the water’s edge and seconds from The Arch (more on those in a moment) serves as the epicenter of entertainment in the area.
It is best to work with a formal, licensed outfitter in advance to plan all adventures that depart from or near the Cabo Marina as the best will offer transportation to and from one’s hotel and explain any fees (there are often water fees, usually only a few dollars) as well as provide expert instruction and safety equipment as needed. Among the best is Cabo Adventures.
Cabo Adventures has nearly 50 tour options in the area, all with guides, gear, and local expertise. They offer both public and private tour options that run the gamut. Of note, during the winter and spring months are all of the extraordinary whale watching and whale shark swimming adventures. While whale watching is self-explanatory, many may be new to the concept of swimming with whale sharks, or to whale sharks at all.
First and foremost: do not be scared. Yes, they are sharks. However, despite being the biggest technical fish in the world as they can grow to about 60 feet, they are plankton eaters. Their teeth are so tiny, that they only use them to filter as they cannot even chew.
That being said, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to swim with these gentle giants. Cabo Adventures offers the opportunity, including all transportation and snorkel gear as well as lunch in between, from December to mid-April each year, which is the same timeframe for the best whale-watching tours.
As it relates to wildlife, Cabo Adventures also offers the chance to swim with dolphins, trek across the desert on a camel and snorkel or SCUBA dive in “The aquarium of the sea.”
Of course, all water tours pass The Arch, which many will recognize from Instagram. The Arch is a distinctive rock formation that marks where the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico meet and is one of the most photographed backdrops in the world.
Even if not wanting to expressly see whales, swim with whale sharks, or strap on snorkel or SCUBA gear, Cabo Adventures has a host of sailing adventures on catamarans, sailboats and even private yachts as well.
They also have land adventures!
There are both ATV and UTV treks across the region’s desert terrain, which are dusty but worth it for the adrenaline rush. A favorite since its inception has also been the Cabo zipline and rappelling adventure, which can be paired with an ATV or UTV trek and takes guests through the heart of a UNESCO-protected biosphere reserve and also gives adventures the chance to climb rock walls and hike across a suspension
bridge.
Feeling a little less adventurous in the physical sense? Cabo Adventures also offers cultural and art tours of the region as well as city and historic tours.
Final tip: Like State Farm, Cabo Adventures often gives an online discount to those who choose to bundle and save more than one adventure booking, meaning if guests want to book a few things while visiting, they give anywhere from 20% to 30% off depending on time of year and the type of adventure.
To learn more, visit visitloscabos.travel.