San José del Cabo & Los Cabos Tours
Discover the best San José del Cabo and Los Cabos tours and things to do at the tip of Baja California: cruise to the iconic El Arco rock arch, watch whales breach in Cabo San Lucas bay, snorkel the clear coves of Santa María and Chileno, ride an ATV across the desert, sail into a golden sunset, and stroll the galleries of the San José del Cabo art district. Compare top-rated experiences and plan the perfect trip.
Explore San Jose del Cabo by interest
Whatever brings you to San Jose del Cabo — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in San Jose del Cabo
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
El Arco
The rock arch.
Whales
Winter migration.
Santa María Bay
Snorkel cove.
Desert Trails
ATV country.
Sunset Sails
Golden hour.
Camel Safari
Beach & desert.
Art District
San José old town.
Lover’s Beach
Land’s End.
Los Cabos in 3 days
- 1Day 1: El Arco & sea
- 2Day 2: desert & ATV
- 3Day 3: old town
- 4Whale season
Los Cabos on the water
- 1El Arco cruise
- 2Snorkel bay
- 3Whale watching
- 4Sunset sail
Local awayEl Arco
The rock arch.
~20 min awaySanta María Bay
Snorkel cove.
Full day awayCabo Pulmo
Coral reef park.
Local awayBaja Desert
ATV trails.
~1 hr awayTodos Santos
Artsy pueblo.
~30 min awayCabo San Lucas
Marina & nightlife.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every San Jose del Cabo visitor asks before booking.
Winter (Dec–Apr)
The best time, with warm, dry days, whale season and peak sunshine.
Spring (Mar–May)
Warm and pleasant, with whales into April and fewer crowds later.
Summer (Jun–Sep)
Hot and humid with warm seas; great value and top sportfishing.
Hurricane season
September and October carry the highest storm risk; insurance is wise.
Whale season
Mid-December to mid-April is prime for whale watching.
Peak season
December to April is busiest, with the best weather and whales.
One day
El Arco and a snorkel bay.
Three days
Add the desert and the old town.
Five days
Add whales, Cabo Pulmo and Todos Santos.
On the water
Cruises, snorkeling and fishing.
For wildlife
Whale watching in winter.
With kids
Glass boats, snorkeling and camels.
Tours & transfers
Guided tours with pickup are easiest for cruises, the desert and whale watching.
Taxis & rideshare
Taxis link San José del Cabo, the corridor and Cabo San Lucas.
By boat
Boats are the way to reach El Arco, Lover’s Beach and snorkel coves.
On foot
San José’s old town and the Cabo San Lucas marina are walkable.
Getting there
Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) is near San José del Cabo.
The corridor
The Tourist Corridor between the towns holds many resorts and beaches.
Pesos & dollars
Los Cabos uses the Mexican peso, though US dollars and cards are widely accepted.
Book ahead
El Arco cruises, whale watching and sunset sails fill up in winter — reserve in advance.
Sun protection
The Baja sun is intense — bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and water.
Beware the beaches
Some beaches have strong surf; snorkel at the calm, protected bays.
Whale season
Visit December to April to catch the whale-watching season.
Bring a dry bag
A waterproof bag protects valuables on boat and snorkel tours.
El Arco & sunset cruises
Popular cruises sell out — book ahead.
Whale watching
Winter whale tours fill up — reserve early.
Snorkel trips
Santa María and Cabo Pulmo trips book out — reserve ahead.
ATV & desert
Off-road tours fill up — book early.
Sportfishing
Charters sell out in peak season — reserve ahead.
Winter dates
December to April is busiest — reserve everything ahead.
El Arco cruise
Around $40–70 for a boat cruise to El Arco.
Whale watching
About $50–90 for a whale-watching boat tour.
Snorkel trip
Roughly $45–90 for a Santa María or Chileno snorkel tour.
ATV tour
Around $60–110 for a desert ATV adventure.
Sunset sail
About $60–100 for a sunset dinner cruise.
How to save
Join group tours, travel in summer, and book combos.
San Jose del Cabo through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Whales & sun.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Book ahead.
- Best for
- Warm, quieter.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Great time.
- Best for
- Value & fishing.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Hot, humid.
- Best for
- Quiet, cheap.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Storm risk.