Cabo San Lucas vs San Jose del Cabo

If you’re looking for fun, sun, and fabulous food, Los Cabos has you covered. But the two cities that make up this beautiful part of Mexico have very different vibes. Here’s what you need to know about Cabo San Lucas vs San Jose del Cabo before planning your next trip.

Marlynn and I just returned from a week-long stay in Los Cabos, and it was magical.

I mean, just look at that pic above of the Arch. We snapped that during a sunset cruise, which also featured some breathtaking whale sightings. And that was just day 2!

We also spent some quality time feasting on local tacos, visiting some of the area’s best restaurants, and checking out the best beaches.

But one of things that struck us the most about this beautiful part of Mexico was the contrast between the two main cities of Los Cabos.

Each has a personality and vibe all its own. And each is worth a visit for various reasons. Here’s our guide to the key differences between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

What makes up Los Cabos?

Many people think Los Cabos—or the shorter Cabo—is synonymous with Cabo San Lucas. And they’re half right. Los Cabos is actually a municipality that’s made up of two separate cities: Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

In between is what’s called the tourist corridor, which is pretty much it sounds like. It’s a 20-mile coastal stretch of land full of upscale, beachfront resorts and restaurants, along with shopping areas and supermarkets.

The Cabo San Lucas Vibe

When I was in college, the first and most important question every Friday night was, “Hey, where’s the party?” If you’re in Los Cabos, the answer is “Cabo San Lucas.”

This city is the epicenter of the Los Cabos social and nightlife scene. The centrally-located marina is at the heart of it. Surrounded by lively bars and restaurants, the marina area of Cabo San Lucas never sleeps. In fact, we could easily hear the music from the clubs throbbing well into the early morning hours from where we were staying, about a mile and half away.

So, if you’re coming to Los Cabos to party, chances are you’ll enjoy it here. But the music issue is a real one. So if you’re a light sleeper, you may want to consider staying somewhere a bit further out.

That said Cabo San Lucas is much more than just its party scene. It has lovely beaches, a thriving food culture, and a host of activities from kayaking to sailing excursions to food tours.

The San Jose Del Cabo vibe

If Cabo San Lucas is the area’s party capital, San Jose del Cabo is its more laid-back, artistic cousin. Full of boutique galleries, shops, and restaurants, San Jose del Cabo has a calm, almost tranquil vibe. It has less traffic, less people, and less noise overall.

In short, it has less hustle bustle than Cabo San Lucas, a quieter pace of life, and a bit more of an artist feel.

But this is still Los Cabos, so if you’re the type of person who likes their culture with a side of cocktail, you’ll find a few walk-up margarita bars located strategically throughout San Jose del Cabo.

Activities in Los Cabos

Los Cabos gets about 340 days of sunshine a year. So it’s no surprise that outdoor activities abound here. But your options will differ depending on what part of Los Cabos you’re visiting.

Things to do in Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas is all about fun in the sun. And there are plenty of activities you can do during the day, before the energy of the nightlife kicks in (more on that below).

If the idea of kicking back, chilling at the beach, and catching some rays appeals to you, then you have several options. But there aren’t a whole lot of beaches where you can just stroll up and lay down a towel. That’s because the current is fairly strong in the area, making swimming in open water risky.

Instead, some of the best beach experiences can be had at various clubs along the water. Marlynn and I spent an afternoon at SUR Beach House, located about a 10-minute walk east of the Marina and next to The Office bar. Here, you can reserve a small table and chairs on the sand, complete with table-side service. You can also order food and drinks from a full menu, and take a dip in a cordoned-off area of the sea. It’s a great way to relax in the sun.

These types of beach resorts also offer access to various rentals, like kayaks and jet skis. You can sign up before you enter the club, then choose a time for your rental.

If you really want to get out on the water, you can reserve a spot on a sunset sailing cruise. These are offered as either private excursions or as part of a larger group, which is a bit cheaper. The one we took had about 12 people in all. The cruise includes food and drinks and lasts about two hours. And if you’re lucky, you may even spot a whale or two. In our case, we saw a mama and baby whale, and well, it was truly awesome!

🐋 Pro Tip: We visited in February and the guide on our cruise said that was the best month for whale watching. Other good months include January and March.

You can also take smaller water taxis to visit some of the areas top beaches and other sites. These include the famous Arch, along with Lover’s Beach, and the adjacent (and larger!) Divorce Beach, as well as the sprawling Medano Beach. These taxis cost about $25 for a round trip.

And if you’re into food, consider reserving a spot on a local taco tour. These roughly two-hour walking tours include stops at about half a dozen eateries, where you can sample a range of different types of tacos, as well as other specialties.

Things to do in San Jose del Cabo

One of the things San Jose del Cabo is famous for is its weekly art fair. Each Thursday evening, local artisans display their work during what’s known as the “art walk.” And it’s just what it sounds like. You can take in all the sights and sounds as you leisurely walk among the different stalls and galleries.

The pieces range from paintings and drawings to handmade jewelry, sculptures, and more. And many of the downtown streets are closed to traffic during this time, adding to the peaceful atmosphere.

The city also has its own marina. While smaller and less bustling than the one in Cabo San Lucas, this one is great for daytime strolls or bike rides along the water.

And if you like shopping, you’ll find plenty of cute shops and souvenir stores throughout the city. In fact, you could easily spend hours simply wandering from store to store, to find just the right memento to bring back.

The food scenes

Both Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo have vibrant food cultures, but each is different. Cabo San Lucas has more varied options. You can find everything from street tacos to fine dining, and much more in between.

During our stay, we sampled some delicious tacos during a special two-hour walking tour. The tour focused on an area few blocks just away from the marina, but the difference between the touristy areas and this section of town was worlds apart. Our guide told us that this is where locals would come to eat, and that you could get fabulous tacos here without the fabulously high tourist prices.

And he was right. The ones we had were about half the cost of those closer to the water. But you could taste the difference, both in the care that was used to make the tacos and also in the freshness of the ingredients.

But you can also have some truly luxurious meals in Cabo San Lucas. Located about a 10-minute drive east is the seafront restaurant Cocina del Mar. Situated on terraced platforms overlooking the water with breathtaking views of the Sea of Cortez, Cocina del Mar is worth it just for the scenery. But the food we had was amazing as well.

Other great places to dine in Cabo San Lucas include Metate, which features a serene outdoor courtyard, tasty food and drinks, and good live music at dinnertime, as well as Casa Martin, set a bit in the hills above Cabo and featuring a range of local and other dishes.

And if you’re in the mood for even more tacos, check out Motherflower. Located a few minutes’ walk from the marina, this traditional, cozy eatery features tacos for less than $5 each. In fact, they were probably our favorites of the whole trip.

The food scene in San Jose del Cabo is a bit more subdued, with fewer options. But you can still eat very well at a variety of small restaurants and other eateries.

If you have a sweet tooth, we recommend trying out Ruba’s Bakery. This deceptively large space looks small from the front, but opens up to include a bar and full restaurant in the back. However, the real treats here are the baked goods. From doughnuts and pastries to cakes and cookies, it’s worth a visit. Even if you just have a few minutes, it’s a great spot to pop in for a pastry and a coffee before the art walk.

For dinner, check out Come a Casa. The cuisine is Italian and the name translates to “like at home”. At peak times, the place is bustling and boisterous, which adds to the buzzy feel. But when you’re seated, the staff makes you feel like you’re the only table in the place. It’s an interesting way to experience Italian food through the lens of local ingredients.

And if you’re looking for something a bit more casual, stop by one of the aforementioned taco and margarita to-go stands situated throughout the city.

🍤 Pro Tip: Check out our food guide to learn more about the best places to eat in Los Cabos.

The nightlife

The nightlife in Cabo San Lucas vs San Jose del Cabo is well, like night and day. Cabo San Lucas is popular for spring breakers, and there’s a reason. The marina area is packed with bars, like Senor Frogs, Squid Roe, and the famous Cabo Wabo . And these places are usually packed themselves by the time evening rolls around. Most days, the party continues until the early morning hours.

🍹Pro Tip: If you want to experience the Cabo San Lucas nightlife without the marina crowds, head over to The Office. This open-air bar is about a 10-minute walk from the marina, but feels like a world away. Plus, it’s right on the water, so you can grab a table on the beach and watch the sun go down.

When Marlynn and I strolled around the area during the daytime and saw the apartments right above the marina, we both looked at each other and asked how anybody staying there got any sleep. But if you’re going to Cabo San Lucas and you plan on staying right in the heart of the action, then sleep probably isn’t your priority!

By contrast, San Jose del Cabo is quieter. You can still enjoy a nice night out over some drinks, but you won’t find the large chain bars or throbbing club music scene. So it really depends on what type of experience you’re looking for.

Many visitors choose to stay in neither city, instead opting for one of the many resorts that line the tourist corridor between the two. The benefits are that you’re close enough to visit either city via a ride share trip, but far enough away to not be woken up by the sounds of nightlife emanating from Cabo San Lucas.

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