The area known as “Los Cabos”, or “The Two Cabos” contains both Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. Most tourists don’t even realize that these two areas offer something completely unique from one another, depending on what you are looking for. So which one should you visit? Keep reading to learn all about travel to Cabo San Lucas vs San Jose del Cabo!
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Both of these areas are picturesque… beautiful, warm, and sunny beach locales with a desert vibe. But that’s about where the similarities end. Though little more than 30 minutes distance apart, Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo couldn’t feel more different!
Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo
The Los Cabos municipality is made up of two individual towns: Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. When deciding whether to stay at San Jose del Cabo vs Cabo San Lucas, there are a few key factors to consider.
Cabo San Lucas
A few decades ago, Cabo San Lucas was a small fishing village. Nowadays, Cabo San Lucas is certainly the trendier of the two areas, filled with souvenir shops, restaurants, lively bars, and famous dance clubs.
The vibe of Cabo San Lucas is very party-esque, young, and festive. During Spring Break weeks, Cabo San Lucas is typically packed with college students.
Cabo San Lucas is built right on the marina, meaning that you are not only near beautiful beaches but also right next to where many of the boat tours depart. Day trips to Arch Rock and Lover’s Beach are a short water taxi away.
Dinner cruises and party boats depart almost directly outside of some hotels. Snorkeling adventures and whale watching cruises are popular, and tour guides are friendly and enthusiastic.
It’s hard to have a bad time here. If you are someone who likes a lively scene, easy walkable access to tours, shops, and restaurants, then Cabo San Lucas might be for you.
One thing to note, the SJD airport, where most tourists from North America will fly in, is roughly 45 minutes away. So you will need a rental car, taxi, or shuttle to get to your hotel.
San Jose del Cabo
San Jose del Cabo is the quieter of the two towns, and is much less traveled by tourists. It is a quaint and more authentically “Mexico”, in terms of architecture and population. Less locals speak English and the area is not meant to cater to foreigners.
There are still plenty of great restaurants, shops and bars to be found in San Jose del Cabo. But, they are more likely to be local mom-and-pop style on this end of town.
San Jose del Cabo offers gorgeous and open-to-the-public beaches, with easy turnoffs and free parking all along the freeway. But I found that personally I needed a car in San Jose del Cabo, in order to explore the various beaches.
Be aware that most tours will depart from Cabo San Lucas, so check if transportation adds an extra cost for any tours you book. You’ll want to allow 30-45 minutes to reach the other side.
It is definitely possible to find resorts in San Jose del Cabo, so if you want a private beachfront experience you can find it here, too. But San Jose del Cabo is less densely packed and overall more quiet and calm. I noticed several golf courses in the area as well, so if you like to golf, this is your place.
This area also hosts a weekly art walk, with interesting and affordable (and more authentic!) souvenirs every Thursday night.
San Jose del Cabo is roughly 15 minutes from the SJD airport.
So Which is Better?
When choosing between Cabo San Lucas vs San Jose del Cabo, it really depends what you’re looking for. Every traveler is different and prioritizes different things.
If you prefer to be close to tours and nightlife, choose Cabo San Lucas. If you want to let lose and party, Cabo San Lucas is for you.
If you want to relax and blend in with the locals, choose San Jose del Cabo. For peace and tranquility, San Jose del Cabo is the place.
My best advice, after years of traveling to Baja Sur in Mexico and experiencing both areas many times over, is to rent a car and visit both. I think they are both wonderful and unique for their own qualities.
I love the peacefulness of San Jose del Cabo but also appreciate the walkability and outgoing nature of Cabo San Lucas. San Jose del Cabo is the tranquil and serene little sister of the wild and exciting Cabo San Lucas.
I hope that this article helps you choose which area is right for you! When choosing Cabo San Lucas vs San Jose del Cabo, it al comes down to personal preference. But they are both absolutely lovely to explore.
You might also be interested in: A Baja Sur Road Trip Itinerary
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Which area would you prefer? Cabo San Lucas or San Jose del Cabo?
Couldn’t agree more. We’ve been going down for 25+ years. Prefer San Jose, but always spend some time in Cabo as well. They are both great. Just different. San Jose is like a Mexican version of a Colorado mountain town. Cabo is Vegas with an ocean.
Ha! I love that comparison! “Vegas with an ocean”.
I appreciate the input, especially from someone who has been going for so long! First time for me was maybe 10 years ago, so you’ve got 15 years of visits over me. Glad to hear you’re still enjoying it.