Los Cabos is at the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula, it has become synonymous with luxury and a place where Mexico’s finest resorts serve up genuine hospitality amid immersive nature.
We would like you to know there's more to Baja California Sur than just five-star amenities. Beyond a polished facade, surprisingly diverse and rugged landscapes lead to discovery and adventure, from the Sierra de la Laguna’s towering waterfalls to the cultural contrasts of the town of El Triunfo.
A Cabo must-see: The Arch of Cabo San Lucas. © Luis García
These are our top tips for the best ways to spend a day at sea, or traversing the desert and coasts.
Play in the Sierra de la Laguna
Just a 90-minute drive north of San José, the landscape of the Sierra de la Laguna mountain ranges changes from arid shrublands to lush pine and oak forests, showcasing diverse ecosystems that earn this swath of the peninsula its UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status. Here, privately owned ranches protect the landscape while breathing life into the region's traditions and history through their eco-tourism practices. In rural San Dionisio, explore traditional Baja California Sur life at Rancho Ecológico El Refugio, an eco-ranch providing a picturesque base for hiking and swimming adventures in the bordering canyon. We work with a Virtuoso on-site connection V-Cabo Luxury, to plan regional excursions, stopping at the ranch for tours and a lunch featuring handmade flour tortillas and garden-grown vegetables. Just up the road, a short half-mile canyon hike leads to the 40-foot waterfall at Rancho Ecológico Sol de Mayo. Dive into crystal-clear waters at the waterfall's base for a revitalizing swim, then cap the day with a picnic amid granite boulders.
Sol de Mayo waterfall, a soothing escape from the Cabo hustle. © Luis García
Seek Nature in La Paz
A desert-meets-ocean drive two hours north from Los Cabos lands you in La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur. Here, in the Sea of Cortés, the UNESCO World Heritage site Isla Espíritu Santo provides a sanctuary for sea lions, turtles, and other marine life. Certified tour operators on pangas (small fishing boats) have exclusive access to the island, allowing visitors to snorkel, kayak, and hike the coastal trails – and even sleep under clear skies. We work with Virtuoso on-site connection Journey Mexico and can set up a luxe glamping overnight experience on Espíritu Santo. Being under the stars will remind you that they still exist, so dont miss this extraordinary experience.
You can do organized day trips to Balandra Bay, known for clear, shallow waters, white-sand dunes, and the iconic rock formation El Hongo de Balandra (Balandra’s mushroom). This is just a 30-minute drive from downtown La Paz, the bay's allure extends from the sea to the desert, where hiking trails lead to panoramic vistas.
Desert meets the Sea of Cortés. © Luis García
See Giants in the Sea of Cortés
Between January and March, Gray Whales swim in the Pacific Ocean’s warm waters, where females come to birth their calves. "The most exclusive encounters with Gray Whales begin with a private helicopter or turboprop flight to the whale sanctuary in Magdalena Bay. In this natural protected area, around an hour’s flight from Cabo San Lucas, the stage is set for close but respectful wildlife encounters with cow-calf pairs – that many say is a "life-changing experience."
Back in Cabo San Lucas, why not take in an ocean safari, starting at the famous El Arco rock arch, with its resident sea lion colony, then sailing in search of more marine mammals? Guests can snorkel and free dive alongside marine biologists and, if they’re lucky (and at a safe distance), near mako or blue sharks.
Equally wondrous as swimming companions, whale sharks come to the Sea of Cortés from October to April. These colossal fish, the ocean’s gentle giants, are harmless to humans.
A humpback whale in the Sea of Cortés. © Getty Images
Explore the East Cape’s Reefs and Swells
North of San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur’s remote stretch of desert merges with the Sea of Cortés; there, national marine park and UNESCO World Heritage site Cabo Pulmo shelters the region’s thriving coral reef. Guests staying at the 141-room Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas often make the 45-minute drive to Cabo Pulmo or travel there by private yacht and panga boat alongside certified dive masters.
In addition to divers, surfers and spectators make their way to the East Cape from April to October, seeking right-hand point breaks at beaches such as Shipwreck, La Fortuna, and Nueve Palmas. We can organize individual lessons or the full surfing experience for travellers with dedicated instructors, beach tents, packed coolers, and professional photographers and videographers.
The East Cape beckons to sunbathers, surfers, and explorers. © Luis García
Stroll the State’s Historic Pueblos Mágicos
A one-hour drive up the Pacific Coast from Cabo San Lucas, Todos Santos, one of Mexico’s pueblos mágicos, captures hearts with its distinct mix of bohemian and rancho style. Spend the better part of a day there, starting with coffee at Cafe Taller 17, followed by boutique shopping at Nomad Chic and Pronto Muy Pronto, before lunch at Oystera or Jazamango. For a more active adventure, join an organized hike to the four-mile Sugar Port Trail for spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. Then watch the sun disappear into the horizon at The Green Room while diving into tuna tostadas and chilled micheladas, or end the day at La Confianza nursing a glass of Vena Cava’s pét-nat merlot.
Located a two-hour drive north of San José but worlds away from the region’s other attractions, El Triunfo was once the thriving centre of the peninsula's gold and silver rush but closed its mines in 1926, leaving behind only 300 or so residents. In recent years, the near ghost town has emerged as part time capsule, part cultural rising star. Among its historic treasures: the 150-foot-tall Ramona smokestack, rumored to be a Gustave Eiffel creation, and the Museo del Vaquero de las Californias (MUVACA), which chronicles more than 300 years of rancho culture.
For assistance booking your trip to Baja California Sur & Los Cabos Mexico, get in touch here.
