Notably, there were no new additions for the destination, as all 25 beaches maintained their Blue Flag status from the previous year. That means Los Cabos remains the leader in this category among all municipalities in México. 

What is a Blue Flag beach?

No, Blue Flags are not guaranteed for the long term, nor are they an aesthetic evaluation. Ocean views or the fineness of beach sand aren’t criteria for the FEE, the Copenhagen, Denmark based non-profit that created the Blue Flag program in 1987. Water quality is, however, as are cleanliness and certain signs and services. Blue Flag jury members check thoroughly the safety of onshore waters, to ensure no sewage or harmful bacteria is present. 

If a beach wants to receive a Blue Flag, it must also maintain essential services for visitors. These include clean restrooms, drinkable water for beachgoers, and trash facilities, with sortable bins for recycling. A map is also required showing where all these things are located, one of 33 individual criteria that a beach’s sponsors must meet before the coveted flag is awarded. Because sustainability is at the heart of the program, signs educating visitors on local flora, fauna, and ecosystems are also mandated. Free access to the public is also a prerequisite, but this is an unnecessary directive in México, where such access is guaranteed by federal law. 

Similar criteria – minus the free access – are used to judge marinas and tourism boats which are also eligible to earn Blue Flags from FEE. For 2024 and 2025, for example, México garnered 78 Blue Flag beaches, two marinas (both in Nayarit), and 40 tourist vessels (all in Quintana Roo).

How does Los Cabos compare to other Mexican destinations?

Los Cabos has for several years been the leader among Mexican beach destinations for Blue Flags earned. Even though Quintana Roo as a state now has more than Baja California Sur – where Los Cabos is located – that’s still true. Los Cabos accounts for all the qualified beaches in its state. Benito Juárez, the municipality home to Cancún and the closest correlation, has only 11 of its state’s 33 Blue Flags overall. That’s less than half the number garnered by Los Cabos. Riviera Maya municipality Solidaridad, with 15, is now its closest competitor.

What’s even more remarkable is that Los Cabos has built up its blue flag inventory in a relatively short amount of time. Only nine years ago, Los Cabos had but three Blue Flag beaches: El Chileno, Palmilla, and Santa María. This recent buildup is the case for Mexico, too. As recently as 2014, there were only five Blue Flag beaches in the country, including El Chileno in Los Cabos.

Nowadays, México boasts more Blue Flag-certified beaches, marinas, and boats than any other nation in the Americas. It has 120, vastly outpacing North American neighbors Canada, with 26, and the U.S., with only two. Mexico 10th internationally, behind European nations Spain, Greece, Italy, France, Portugal, Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany – and Turkey, which bridges Europe and Asia.

Which beaches now carry the Blue Flag banner in Los Cabos?

Here’s the full list of Blue Flag beaches in Los Cabos for 2024 – 2025:

Cabo San Lucas (14)

• El Corsario
• Hacienda 
• Médano Breathless
• Médano Casa Dorada
• Médano Club Cascadas de Baja
• Médano ME Cabo
• Médano Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos
• Médano Pueblo Bonito Rosé
• Médano Riu Palace Baja California
• Médano Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas
• Médano Riu Santa Fe
• Médano Villa del Arco
• Médano Villa del Palmar
• Médano Villa La Estancia

Tourist Corridor (8)

• Acapulquito
• El Chileno
• Grand Fiesta Americana Los Cabos
• Grand Velas Los Cabos
• Las Viudas
• Palmilla
• Paradisus Los Cabos
• Santa María

East Cape (3)

• El Surgidero
• La Gaviota
• La Ribera

It makes sense that Cabo San Lucas is the local leader in this category. Its most popular beach, Playa El Médano, is more than two miles long, and hosts numerous Blue Flag stretches that front beachfront resorts. If you’re a local or traveling with pets, it’s important to note that dogs (unless designated service animals) are not allowed on the Blue Flag portions of Médano Beach. In fact, that stricture is in place for all local Blue Flag beaches.

Other flag colors of note in Los Cabos 

However, blue isn’t the only hue seen on flags flying over Los Cabos beaches. Several other colors are also commonly used to indicate water conditions, not just overall quality and available services. Green flags, for example, confirm calm waters and thus safe swimming conditions – an important qualifier given that some of the region’s beaches are not swimming-friendly, either due to steep dropoffs in depth or, particularly on the Pacific Ocean side, because of strong rip currents. 

Red flags, by contrast, warn against swimming due to adverse conditions. White flags indicate the presence of jellyfish in the water, which can inflict painful stings. Black flags are the worst, though. No, it doesn’t mean pirates are lurking about, but rather that the beach is closed, a rare occurrence but a possibility during hurricane season in Los Cabos. 

So green and blue are the colors to look for. The first promises a great beach experience on the day you visit, and the second assures it remains sustainable for the future. However, that could all change next year when the Blue Flag jury returns to have another look.

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.

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Which option is most practical or affordable often depends on the situation, unless of course one immediately acquires a rental car, in which case the only worries are navigating local traffic (and Spanish language street signs) and figuring out where to park when in busy downtown areas of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. Over a dozen car rental brands, including Avis, Budget, and Hertz, offer service at the Los Cabos International Airport.

It bears noting, though, that renting cars for the entirety of one’s stay can be expensive, even when factoring in the money that would have been spent on other forms of transportation. Most visitors thus opt for a mix-and-match approach, choosing transportation services as needed based on factors like price, comfort, safety, and convenience.

Taxis vs. Uber

Uber is often the best option to get around Los Cabos. The service is as comfortable and secure as that provided by local taxis but you can track when your driver will arrive and the rides are much cheaper. Going from Cabo San Lucas to San José del Cabo, a 20-mile ride, costs US $50 (800 pesos) and up via taxi. The same ride with Uber will be about US $20 to $30 It’s hard to be precise since like in the U.S., Uber uses dynamic pricing that raises rates during rush hour and other high usage times. But even with this variability, it’s still much more affordable. 

However, Uber service isn’t available in all circumstances. The local taxi unions have political power and consistently seek to block competition, even when legal. A favored tactic, for example, is a blockade to prevent anyone from getting in or out of local hotels and resorts whose policies they disagree with. As a result of this hard-line approach, many resorts have caved and won’t allow Uber to pick up from their property. Confirm details with your driver to ensure onsite pickup is possible. 

For several years after Uber arrived in the area in 2018, drivers were allowed to drop off passengers but not pick them up from the airport. That’s no longer the case — both services are now permitted — allowing visitors to choose what is by far the cheaper option. An airport run from Cabo San Lucas will cost US $50 or so from Uber but US $80 to $100 via taxi.

Other airport transportation options

You can’t visit Los Cabos without going to and from the airport to your hotel or resort. As a rule, you should ask your lodging provider what method they recommend, as some local luxury properties provide this service free or at a very reasonable cost for their guests. If you find the cost quoted excessive you may opt for an alternative. But it’s advisable to check first. 

There are many private transport providers in Los Cabos. Shared shuttles are affordable at US $20 to $25 per person from downtown Cabo San Lucas — typically the farthest point served — and are fine when going to the airport for departure. But the service isn’t as enjoyable when arriving. Often you’ll have to wait at least half an hour for other passengers to clear customs, then the ride (with frequent stops) will take another hour or more to reach Cabo San Lucas. 

Private cars, SUVs, vans, or limos are thus preferred for comfort and expedience, but these are naturally more expensive. Expert to pay US $85 or more for a private SUV, for example, although if you’re traveling with family or friends, this option may not cost much more than you would have paid collectively for a shared shuttle. 

Buses vs. rental cars

The cheapest way to get around Los Cabos is via local buses. Everyone but the most adventurous will want to avoid the white buses, Transportes Colectivos, without creature comforts (sometimes it feels like the shocks are missing, too). These are for residents and visit off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods. The purple buses, Ruta del Desierto, are extremely comfortable and a good way to get from Cabo San Lucas to San José del Cabo for about US $4 to $5, or to resorts in the Tourist Corridor. This coastal corridor connects the cape cities and is home to many popular lodgings. 

For longer trips, Autobuses Águila charges extremely low fares for super comfy buses that show movies en route. Naturally, they’ll be in Spanish, but tickets are only about US $11 from Cabo San Lucas to Todos Santos, US $12 to Los Barriles, and US $22 to La Paz, with bus depots located centrally, for the most part. The Cabo San Lucas terminal is at Plaza Golden Palace.

The only issue with Águila is that once you get to road trip destination favorites like Todos Santos or La Paz, you’ll be back to square one in terms of getting around. Uber or taxis are again an option if you want to visit, for example, beautiful beaches in La Paz like Balandra or El Tecolote. But rental cars, which allow you to take road trips or see attractions on your schedule, are far preferable, if a bit more expensive. Yes, a U.S. driver’s license is acceptable for local driving. 

It’s important to note that the rate prices posted do not include insurance, which is highly recommended for driving in México. That will add another US $20 or so per day. If you’re staying at a small, budget-friendly hotel, you’ll also want to confirm that overnight parking is available. Local gas stations, meanwhile, are full service and tips are appropriate. There are no mileage charges but renters must refill the tank before returning the car.

Walking vs. water taxis

Walking is a great way to see the downtown areas of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. In the former, the city’s marina and Playa El Médano, its most popular beach, are centrally located and easily accessible on foot. However, walking from one end of the marina boardwalk to the other takes about 30 minutes. This is a particularly relevant fact for cruise ship passengers, who are ferried via tenders to the main dock (muelle principal), which is a very long walk from Médano Beach. 

Water taxi drivers are often seen soliciting fares on the marina boardwalk for those who’d like to take a shortcut. These small outboard-powered boats (called pangas locally) also provide a lower-priced albeit bare-bones alternative for Land’s End tours or trips to Playa del Amor (Lover’s Beach), which is only reachable via boat. 

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.

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Los Cabos has been a haven for celebrities since the very beginning. The first “tourists” didn’t arrive until the 1950s when the region’s first hotel was built. Because the couple behind it, Abelardo “Rod” Rodriguez Jr. and Lucille Bremer, had ties to Los Angeles and the film industry, celebrities were among the first to stay at the 15-room Las Cruces Palmilla (since renovated and rebranded as One&Only Palmilla). 

Los Cabos’ pioneer hoteliers had celebrity credentials

Lucille Bremer was a celebrity herself, having starred with Fred Astaire in “Yolanda and the Thief” in 1945. She played Yolanda. It was one of 10 films she acted in between 1942 and 1948 when she retired to marry the son of the former President of México. Such connections made him a celebrity, too. However, Rod had also burnished the family legacy by setting a speed record for flying from Los Angeles to Mexico City during his days as a test pilot.

But the people who came to visit, first at Rancho Las Cruces, their first resort near La Paz, and later at Palmilla, were some of the biggest film and television stars of the era, including John Wayne, Bing Crosby, Lucille Ball, and Desi Arnaz. U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower also visited. 

Why were these A-listers in their respective fields so eager to vacation in an undeveloped coastal area on the southern rim of the Baja California peninsula? The promise of privacy, proximity to Los Angeles, and access to private planes certainly helped. After all, the Transpeninsular Highway wouldn’t be completed until 1973, and the international airport wouldn’t open until 1977. In those days, the Baja California Sur was famed for its “fly-in” resorts featuring small landing strips, with fishing the primary lure.

But it helped that their hosts were also prominent, albeit to a lesser degree. 

Los Cabos is good for your love life … mostly

Los Cabos would eventually become known for romantic getaways, thanks to amenities like couples spa treatments and oceanfront dining. But the reputation was established before any of those things existed. The reason was the celebrity wedding between Rolling Stones’ lead guitarist Keith Richards and model/actress Patti Hansen, which took place at the Hotel Finisterra (now Sandos Finisterra) in Cabo San Lucas in 1983. Mick Jagger was the best man at the ceremony, which took place in the hotel’s Whale Watcher’s bar. A reception with mariachis was held later at a local trailer park.

This event had far-reaching implications. After hearing about it, Rock star Sammy Hagar was inspired to visit. Seven years later, he opened Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas with his then Van Halen bandmates. Hagar still holds annual birthday bash concerts at Cabo Wabo, and in the years since, countless rock and country music stars have performed there, discovering and falling in love with Los Cabos for the first time.

Marriages and romantic getaways have continued, too. Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez came to Los Cabos for a wedding in 2011. It wasn’t their own, but the paparazzi treated it as an event anyway. Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine famously married model Behati Prinsloo at Flora Farms (home to Michelin Guide tabbed Flora’s Field Kitchen) in San José del Cabo in 2014. Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, formerly married, “rekindled” their love during a Cabo trip in 2019. This time it didn’t take, though, and they soon returned in the company of others.

Love, meanwhile, probably wasn’t the primary motivation for the most famous pop culture moment to take place in Los Cabos, although there was plenty of sex involved. That was the infamous leaked sex tape featuring Kim Kardashian and then-boyfriend Ray J, filmed at Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection in 2007. 

Los Cabos is a good place to rest up before the big game … mostly

So rock stars and movie stars love Los Cabos. Turns out professional athletes do, too. Dallas Cowboys star quarterback Tony Romo got in trouble for visiting with girlfriend Jessica Simpson in 2008, but that was because it was before a big playoff game with the rival New York Giants, which his team lost. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones probably didn’t criticize him, though. He was in Cabo when he discovered he could buy the team in 1989. 

That was a successful Los Cabos vacation, as was the trip when Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay met then-Detroit Lions quarterback Matt Stafford. The two hit it off, a trade was arranged, and the Rams won the Super Bowl the next year. Also, a winning move was Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott’s decision to hold out for more money while “training” in Cabo in 2019. He subsequently received a six-year, US $90 million contract extension after his luxury sojourn at Diamante, the residential development in Cabo San Lucas where Tiger Woods has a home.

Woods also has a business relationship with Diamante, having designed two golf courses and opened a restaurant there. He’s currently working on a third course for Diamante’s Legacy Club. 

Yes, NBA stars past and present, from Michael Jordan to Lebron James, also like to spend time in Los Cabos. The latter loves it so much that he launched a Cabo inspired tequila brand, a celebrity vacation pastime in which he is not alone.

Los Cabos can be a lucrative investment

Sammy Hagar may have initially come to Los Cabos on vacation. However, between his Cabo Wabo nightclub and eponymous house tequila brand, the destination also proved lucrative from a business perspective. He sold a controlling interest in the tequila brand for US $80 million to Gruppo Campari back in 2007.

Actor George Clooney and his neighbor at the exclusive El Dorado development in Los Cabos, Rande Gerber, also turned a shared love of tequila into a commercial brand: Casamigos. They sold it for one billion dollars to Diageo in 2017.

Los Cabos remains better as a vacation destination than a business proposition. However, given the recent rise in luxury hotel and resort rates, and the skyrocketing cost of living – Los Cabos is now the most expensive place to live in Mexico – maybe Hagar and Clooney had the right idea.

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.

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However, there are plenty of hidden gems, too, including outstanding layouts in some unexpected places. 

The top golf destinations in Mexico

Golf locales like Los Cabos, the Riviera Maya and Puerto Vallarta aren’t just popular with tourists. They’ve also proven increasingly popular for the PGA, LPGA and LIV Golf Tours.  

Los Cabos 

Cabo is especially notable, as it’s the golf capital of Mexico and, indeed, all of Latin America. Eighteen courses are currently open, with up to six more being planned or under construction. With only one exception — the modest Vidanta course that started the golf trend in 1987 — all are world-class layouts from a who’s who of big-name designers, including Nicklaus, Norman, Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Fred Couples and Tom Weiskopf. Love’s links-style Dunes Course at Diamante in Cabo San Lucas is the most highly rated, peaking at 34th in Golf Digest’s listing of the “World’s 100 Greatest” layouts. However, it was a neighboring course, Woods’ parkland El Cardonal, that was chosen to host the first PGA event in Los Cabos, the World Wide Technology Championship in 2023, after it was moved from Mayakoba on the Rivera Maya due to drama surrounding the Saudi-backed LIV Tour (of which that course’s designer Greg Norman is CEO).

The TPC Danzante Bay Golf Resort in Loreto, another Baja California Sur destination, is also a must visit thanks to its Rees Jones design and stunning backdrops featuring offshore islands. 

Quintana Roo

The state of Quintana Roo isn’t far behind Los Cabos in its number of world-class golf layouts. It makes sense, since about 20 million people annually travel to its best-known resort area, Cancún. 

Like Los Cabos, the best courses in Cancún come from high-profile former players. Three-time major champion Nick Price crafted the world-class El Tinto Course at Cancún Country Club; another major champion, Tom Weiskopf, designed Puerto Cancún; and the greatest champion of them all, Nicklaus, laid out Riviera Cancún. 

Norman’s then-newly opened El Camaleón Mayakoba Golf Course became the first official PGA Tour event in Mexico following its premier on the Riviera Maya in 2007. Thanks to its mix of divergent terrains — from jungle and wetlands to coastline holes boasting Caribbean vistas — it’s one of the most memorable regional loops and now serves as a LIV Tour stop each year. It’s located just north of Playa del Carmen. Nicklaus’ Cozumel Country Club is the top golf spot on the eponymous nearby island.

Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta

Nicklaus put Los Cabos on the golfing map and then did the same for Nuevo Vallarta with his superb Bahía and Pacífico courses at Punta Mita; and Puerto Vallarta with his course at Vista Vallarta. Norman’s Vidanta Vallarta course also deserves plaudits, since it’s now the site of the oldest pro tournament in the country, the Abierto Mexicano de Golf. The event has been played since the 1940s, including at several locations and as a stop on several tours — Challenger, Nationwide and the PGA Tour Latinoamérica, to name a few — before it graduated to the PGA rota in 2022. 

Mexico City

Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City has hosted the National Open 18 times. In recent years, it has also played host to the WGC-Mexico Championship, treating galleries to the sight of golf balls sailing massive distances due to the course’s nearly 8,000 feet in elevation. Laid out by Scotsman Willie Smith during the Mexican Revolution and renovated by Percy Clifford in the early 1970s, it hosted the WGC event for only four years, 2017 through 2020, before it was moved due to pandemic conditions and then dropped from the rotation. It’s private, so it’s not playable unless you know a member. This, it should be mentioned, is an issue at many courses in Mexico City, including Nicklaus’ Bosques Real and Cañadas de Santa Fe courses.

Lorena Ochoa and LPGA landmarks

It’s worth noting that Mexico’s most accomplished golfer, retired star and World Golf Hall of Fame member Lorena Ochoa, has also been associated with domestically hosted tournaments. She is a three-time winner of the LPGA-sponsored Tres Marías Championship, held between 2005 and 2010 at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Tres Marías Residential Golf Club in Morelia, Michoacán. She never won her eponymous tournament, the Lorena Ochoa Invitational, contested between 2008 and 2017, which originally saw top money winners on the tour playing John Bredemus’ Guadalajara Country Club layout, considered one of the best in the country. But that might be because she retired in 2010, prior to the event’s relocation to the likewise acclaimed Lawrence Hughes and Percy Clifford-designed Club de Golf México in Mexico City. 

The legacy of the “Golden Amigo”

What quickly becomes apparent to anyone playing golf in Mexico is how many of the best courses were designed by the “Golden Amigo,” Jack Nicklaus. It’s all the more remarkable considering the 18-time major champion didn’t design his first course in Mexico until 1993, when he completed the first 18 of 27 holes at Palmilla in Los Cabos. 

In the three decades since, Nicklaus has crafted five more courses in Los Cabos; two at Puerto Peñasco in Sonora; and one each in Campeche and Mérida, among many others, including previously mentioned loops on the Riviera Maya and in Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta and Mexico City. All are of excellent quality. 

His El Jaguar course is a particularly underrated gem. Crafted around lakes, sacred Maya cenotes and ancient archaeological remains, Nicklaus’ 7,282-yard layout is a master class in integrating a course within its natural setting. The course features an unusual five par-3s and five par-5s to accommodate its picturesque routing. But it’s bookending par-4 holes at 9 and 18 that are among the best golf holes in the country. 

A brief history of Mexican golf 

As Nicklaus’ legacy suggests, just as in the United States, where Scottish immigrants played an outsize role in the game’s development, golf in Mexico has benefitted from international influences. The first golf links ever built in the country — the six-hole Santa Gertrudis course laid out at Orizaba in Veracruz in 1894 — was the work of Scottish employees at a local jute factory. A dozen more courses had been built by the mid-1920s, including layouts in Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey, Pachuca, Puebla and Tampico.

Another wandering Scot, Alister MacKenzie — best known for designing golf courses at Augusta National and Cypress Point — is also listed as the architect of record for Club Campestre de Tijuana. However, some sources alternatively credit prolific American designer William Bell. What is known definitively is that as part of the Agua Caliente Club property during the Prohibition Era, the course hosted a PGA tournament whose field included golf legends Gene Sarazen, Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen and Horton Smith. Sarazen, the winner, pocketed $25,000.

There’s no doubt regarding the number of courses Percy Clifford designed in Mexico. The esteemed Mexico City native is responsible for at least 40, including memorable loops at Club de Golf México in his hometown; Querétaro Golf Club; Los Tabachines in Cuernavaca, Morelos; and Bajamar in Ensenada, Baja California. As recently as 1980, it was estimated that he was responsible for designing half the courses in the country. He was also an exceptional golfer, winning the National Amateur six times and the National Open five times.

Bucket list holes and experiences

No country on earth has more awe-inspiring, one-of-a-kind golf holes than Mexico. The cliffside 17th hole at TPC Danzante Bay is probably the definitive bucket list golf hole and one of the few worldwide worth traveling to see in person. Set just south of Loreto in Baja California Sur, the bunker-wrapped, sheer, cliff-framed green for the 178-yard par-3 gives way to breathtaking panoramic views of the Sea of Cortez and offshore islands of Bahía de Loreto National Park. 

“I think most people would agree that the location of the 17th hole at TPC Danzante Bay is one of the most spectacular in the world of golf,” noted course architect Rees Jones rather modestly, after spending seven months on the iconic hole before the course opened in two phases in 2016 and 2017.

The “Whale’s Tail,” a par-3 at Nicklaus’ sublime Pacífico layout at Punta Mita is likewise celebrated, as it showcases the only ocean-based green in the world. The hole isn’t even in the actual routing, and is known colloquially as “3b.” But the 194-yard shot from the blacks is a must-try for visitors. However, if you want to putt, you’ll have to contrive to arrive during low tide, when the green is reachable via a stone pathway that’s usually underwater.

The Nicklaus-designed Quivira Golf Club is also notable for its magnificent coastal scenery. The par-4 sixth is the most famous, featuring a small rocky outcropping where players can aim for the green, itself jutting out from a cliffside above the crashing Pacific. For those who find the 310-yard tee shot daunting, don’t worry: there’s a comfort food station on the way up the mountain that will provide liquid courage. Or you can hit a safer shot into the fairway and follow it along its sloping route down to the sea. The par-3 14th, meanwhile, also requires a tee shot that risks a lost ball falling hundreds of feet into churning ocean waters below. But at 148 yards, it’s short enough that most golfers should be able to land the shot safely.

Oso and Lobo, two friends who are scratch golfers and have played most of Mexico’s 230 or so courses, consider the question to be one of quality plus amazing settings. They love the holes mentioned above, but other favorites include the 6th and 18th at Tres Vidas, an Acapulco loop from Robert von Hagge; number 2 on the same designer’s Laguna Course, one of three nine-hole layouts at Isla Navidad in Manzanillo; and the ninth hole at El Tamarindo, a David Fleming design also found in the state of Jalisco. It just goes to show that when it comes to lists of the best golf holes, it’s best to make your own.

What to know when planning a Mexican golf trip

Before you start planning the list of the Mexican golf courses you want to play on your next vacation, make sure you have tee-time access. Some golf courses are public, while others are restricted to guests staying at certain resorts. Golf in Mexico is expensive enough — the best resort courses cost $200 and up for greens fees — without factoring in luxurious hotel accommodations. 

Besides budgeting, your main concern should be ensuring your itinerary of courses doesn’t include an area covered by a travel advisory from the U.S. State Department. Los Cabos, Mexico City and the Riviera Maya are safe. But Mazatlán, home to several good golf courses including Robert Trent Jones Jr.’s Estrella del Mar, is currently a no-go. Sinaloa, the state where Mazatlán is located, is on the “don’t travel” list, as is Michoacán, where Nicklaus crafted 27 holes at the Tres Marías Residential Golf Club. 

So pay attention to these factors. Otherwise, just have fun, hit it straight and enjoy the views.

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.

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Fast-growing, though, isn’t a strong enough word. Not only has there been massive growth in the local population in recent years – the population of Cabo San Lucas nearly tripled between 2010 and 2020, and is ten times more than in 1990 – but luxury hotel brands seemingly can’t build new resorts here fast enough. Four Seasons has built two new resorts here since 2019 and in the interim new properties have been opened for big-name hospitality brands like Ritz-Carlton, Waldorf Astoria, and Nobu. Soho House, St. Regis, Park Hyatt, and Aman are expected to open properties here within the next year.

The average hotel room rate has risen to over $500 per night and guests at most hotels and resorts are treated to a level of indulgence far beyond what was typical in the smaller, less polished Los Cabos of 30 years ago. Hard as it may be to believe for first-time visitors, who take the chic accommodations and abundant amenities for granted, it wasn’t always like this. The unique brand of Los Cabos luxury that has now proven so attractive is the result of nearly 70 years of growth and evolution. 

Hotel Palmilla and the birth of Los Cabos hospitality

Before Abelardo “Rod” Rodríguez Jr. opened Hotel Palmilla (originally Las Cruces Palmilla and now One&Only Palmilla) in 1957, the only other lodging in the area was the small Casa Fisher guesthouse in central San José del Cabo. Rodríguez, the son of a former Mexican President, had something more ambitious in mind. His marriage to Hollywood actress Lucille Bremer had helped draw a celebrity clientele to their Rancho Las Cruces resort when it opened near La Paz in 1948. The formula worked for them at Palmilla, too. Soon after its opening, high-profile guests like Ernest Hemingway, Bing Crosby, John Wayne, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, and U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower were among those inhabiting Palmilla’s 15 rooms across 400 sprawling acres. This was the birth of Los Cabos’ reputation as an A-list getaway destination – even though tourism was still in its infancy. The transpeninsular highway wasn’t completed until 1973, and the Los Cabos International Airport didn’t open until 1977. 

The Hotel Palmilla (whatever name it has been known by) has been the region’s benchmark property and a trendsetter throughout its history. The succeeding owner Don Koll convinced Jack Nicklaus to come to Los Cabos to build the area’s first world-class golf at Palmilla in the 1990s. This set the template that continues in Los Cabos to this day. Not only must the best resorts offer access to a golf course from a renowned designer to their guests, but golf courses have also become the centerpiece of every major residential real estate development in the area.

The man who defined luxury hospitality in Los Cabos

One&Only Palmilla would also change the quality of cuisine in Los Cabos during the management heyday of the legendary managing hotel director Edward Steiner. Steiner was the first to elevate a Los Cabos resort to world-class status. However, that originally happened at Las Ventanas al Paraiso, which he oversaw beginning with its opening in 1997. A Los Angeles Times writer visiting the property a year later wondered, “This is Cabo?” The $475 per night price tag and the resort’s amazing service and amenities – validated by a AAA Five Diamond status – marked a sea change in the existing fishing-friendly, “party hearty” hospitality model. 

Outshone for the first time in its history, the newly rebranded One&Only Palmilla hired away Steiner in 2003 and he remained with the resort until 2012. The expansion of rooms (to 174) took place on his watch, as did the unveiling of a 25,000-square-foot luxury spa to compete with the holistic spa at Las Ventanas al Paraiso, the first of its kind in the area. Spas, naturally, soon became a specialty at every Los Cabos luxury lodging, with an “arms race” to see who could build the biggest, and provide the most pampering treatments. Montage now holds the record for the former, with a 40,000-square-foot wellness center. 

One&Only Palmila likewise upgraded its dining options, bringing in celebrated imported chefs like Charlie Trotter and Larbi Dahrouch; an example since followed, and responsible for the Michelin-star quality chefs now notable in present-day Los Cabos – from Martín Berasategui and Enrique Olvera to Sidney Schutte and Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

Steiner passed away in 2013, but his unique conception of luxury hospitality remains the standard by which all other regional hoteliers are judged. More importantly, by proving that Los Cabos could support a discerning luxury clientele, he laid the foundation for all the high-end hotel brands that would follow. 

Barefoot luxury and the value of location and one-of-a-kind experiences

Ocean views, beachfront access, pampering spas, swimming pools, and exceptional cuisine became the formula for all new hotels and resorts in Los Cabos – with world-class golf access also a must. However, the “only in Cabo” style barefoot luxury pioneered at Las Ventanas al Paraiso and One&only Palmilla wasn’t just about beautiful beaches and pampering service. It was also about special experiences. As Rodrigo Esponda, Managing Director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board, has noted of how the conception of luxury has evolved locally: “Luxury is to wake up and see a whale jumping out from the ocean right in front of you, or sleeping under a sky full of stars with shapes and lights you have never seen before, or savoring a dish of freshly caught fish, offered in the most kind, unique type of hospitality you’ve ever enjoyed before.

Leveraging Los Cabos’ spectacular blend of mountain, desert, and ocean scenery, and its location-specific charms – including marlin fishing, off-road explorations, and bucket list activities like whale watching – has, over time, been integrated into a type of resort experience that is necessarily different than that offered at any other destination. Las Ventanas al Paraiso, not surprisingly, is still a leader in this area, with curated experiences focused on romance and gastronomy. But it has plenty of competition. Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal in Cabo San Lucas has curated experiences, as do One&Only Palmilla, Esperanza, and every other upscale property worth its salt-rimmed, pool butler-delivered margaritas. 

In 2024, it’s no longer a question of whether guests prefer vacation pampering or an unforgettable adventure. They can have both, from spas as decadent as those enjoyed by Roman emperors to curated desert helicopter expeditions and private yacht excursions. Los Cabos’ best resorts have mastered an elevated approach to personalized and location-specific luxury that legendary figures like Rodriguez, Bremer, Koll, and Steiner would undoubtedly have approved. They helped to create the blueprint, after all.

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.

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When is hurricane season in Los Cabos?

Pacific hurricane season begins on May 15 and annually extends through the end of November. That’s almost half the year, but it bears noting that tropical storms are uncommon in all but three months: August, September, and October. Hurricanes – storms with wind speeds over 74 miles per hour – are even rarer. 

According to Mexico’s Servicio Meteorológico Nacional, the Pacific Ocean is projected to see 15 to 18 named storms this year, of which 4 or 5 may reach hurricane strength, with 3 to 4 achieving major hurricane status (Categories 3, 4, and 5; with wind speeds 111 mph and higher). However, that’s for the entire Pacific region. It’s not guaranteed that any of these potential storms will affect Los Cabos, although traditionally, at least one or two will.

What is the history of hurricanes in Los Cabos?

From a historical perspective, almost all of the most powerful storms ever to hit Los Cabos happened during September. La Inundación de 1939 and Hurricane Odile in 2014 occurred on the same day: September 14. Flooding from the former destroyed the few homes then built in Cabo San Lucas, an event memorably described in C.M. Mayo’s travelogue Miraculous Air: Journey of a Thousand Miles Through Baja California, the Other Mexico. The latter was the worst storm ever to hit Los Cabos, a Category 4 hurricane that caused more than a billion dollars in damage. 

Other noteworthy storms like Hurricane Liza in 1976 and Hurricane Paul in 1982 were also in September. In more recent years Hurricane Juliette in 2001 and Tropical Storm Lidia in 2017 took place the same month. Thus, this is the one month when vacationers should expect tropical storms to be a distinct possibility. This is borne out by average rainfall amounts in September (127 millimeters, or 5 inches), which accounts for over 44% of the average annual rainfall in Cabo San Lucas.

Storms in August and October are much less frequent but do happen. Just last year, for example, Hurricane Norma made landfall in Los Cabos on the late date of  October 21, knocking out power for many residents for the better part of a week. But there’s a reason that Cabo San Lucas’ biggest fishing tournaments are held in October. Not only are the conditions right to catch marlin, but the weather is typically hot and sunny. 

How do potential storms affect hotels, beaches, and activities?

In the rare event of a hurricane or strong tropical storm, several wrenches can be thrown into one’s vacation plans. The first is that the beaches can be closed, eliminating one of the most popular vacation activities. Not that you’d want to go anyway in such poor weather. The second is that the Cabo San Lucas Marina can be closed. As this is the locus of most area sailing, snorkeling, and fishing tours, these activities are likewise curtailed. For those taking Mexican Riviera Cruises with port calls in Cabo San Lucas, this could mean cancellation of one’s scheduled visit. Many outdoor restaurants will close, too, and the streets will probably also flood, as they almost always do during heavy rains since Los Cabos lacks adequate drainage. 

Los Cabos International Airport may also close until the weather clears. At the very least, some flights could be canceled. If your flight is one of those nixed, there could be a monetary loss, which is why some visitors buy an international traveler’s insurance policy.

Is travel insurance recommended?

Travel insurance generally covers money lost from missed flights and misplaced luggage. It may be a good investment if you’re visiting during September when storms are most likely.  Signing up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, meanwhile, is always recommended during hurricane season in Los Cabos. It’s free and lets you share your trip details with the U.S. Embassy. In return, you’ll get updates on safety and potential weather advisories or other emergencies. 

You’ll want to activate international roaming for your cellphone before traveling so that in the event of a hurricane, you can tell friends and family that you’re safe and having a more adventurous vacation than you bargained for. You won’t need the same emergency kit assembled by residents, but a waterproof bag to protect passports and other travel documents is a good idea. Your hotel or resort will take good care of you, with generator service in the event of power outages and Wi-Fi to post social media updates. 

There’s a U.S. Consulate office in Los Cabos, at The Shoppes at Palmilla, an upscale shopping center at Km. 27.5 in the Tourist Corridor. If you have questions during your trip, contact them at (624) 143-3566, or after business hours call 1-800-681-9374. To report an emergency, dial 911, like you would in the U.S.

Is it worth the risk to visit in September?

Although September is the only month when tropical storms are a relatively common occurrence in Los Cabos, there are reasons why this can still be a good time to visit. Hotel rates are typically lower. Thanks to seasonally warm water temperatures and high visibility, September is also peak diving season at sites like Cabo Pulmo. Fishing conditions are also excellent, for billfish like black, blue, and striped marlin and game fish like tuna and dorado (aka mahi-mahi).

How can you monitor potential storms? 

The National Hurricane Center monitors storm activity year-round for the Eastern Pacific region, of which Los Cabos is a part. This is the go-to source for updated information on storm tracking.

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.

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It isn’t the only new hotel to open in Los Cabos this year nor the first local foray for the famed ultra-luxury hospitality brand. Grand Velas Boutique Hotel, an adults-only all-inclusive property, opened its doors in January 2024. Four Seasons, meanwhile, unveiled its first regional resort at Costa Palmas, on Los Cabo’s East Cape, back in 2019. But these are only a few among the flurry of projects in recent years, resulting in hotels and resorts from acclaimed brands like JW Marriott, Nobu, Ritz-Carlton, and Waldorf Astoria. 

Even more are on the way. At least seven more new hotels from big-name hospitality brands are expected to open in Los Cabos by 2027. Several more could open this year. If that last sentence sounds cryptic, it bears mentioning that hotels are many years in the making. Plus, reputation counts in building brand loyalty in such a competitive environment. So new properties don’t open until rooms, services, and amenities are all judged ready.

With that in mind, here are the latest details and projected opening dates for these upcoming hotel projects.

New oceanfront accommodations in Cabo San Lucas 

The St. Regis Los Cabos at Quivira was first announced in 2017, so anticipation has had plenty of time to build. Will it finally open in 2024? That’s the plan, Forbes reports, with its 120 rooms and 60 residences expected to be unveiled later this year. The luxury hotel property sprawls across 33 acres along the Pacific Coast of Cabo San Lucas in the exclusive Quivira development. Infinity pools and a pampering spa are sure to be major attractions, although Quivira is best known for its spectacular Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, named one of the “world’s 100 best” by Golf Digest. The “Golden Bear” is in the process of building another course at Quivira, too.

Golf also promises to be a preferred activity option at the 300-room Grand Hyatt Los Cabos when it opens at Oleada in late 2026. Four-time major winner Ernie “Big Easy” Els has signed on to design the golf course there, which is expected to be completed in 2026, the same year the hotel opens. A 1,200-acre development, Oleada is nestled between Diamante and Rancho San Lucas, north of Quivira.

Upcoming hotel openings in the Tourist Corridor

The Cabo del Sol community — framed by the evocative whale-shaped Punta Ballena — has long been home to the notable regional resort Sheraton Grand Los Cabos, Hacienda del Mar. But suddenly, potentially within a calendar year, it’s receiving an influx of new luxury properties. The Four Seasons Resort and Residences Cabo San Lucas is already open and will soon be joined by the Park Hyatt Los Cabos at Cabo del Sol and Soho House and Beach Club. 

The members-only Soho House is projected to open by the end of 2024, with the soon-to-be trendy hot spot showcasing 70 rooms, plus an outdoor restaurant, beach club, and a seaside palapa bar. 

The Park Hyatt, by contrast, isn’t expected to open until early 2025. However, the 163-room upscale resort should be worth waiting for thanks to the gorgeous Gulf of California vantage points and amenities such as a trio of restaurants, a beach club, a spa, and a kid’s club. Pool areas should also be abundant, with two distinct “pool zones” and private plunge pools offered as a feature of some rooms and suites. Golf access, a Los Cabos specialty, is also expected.

Elsewhere in the Tourist Corridor, Kerzner International, which operates One&Only and Atlantis, is planning a neighbor for its acclaimed One&Only Palmilla – although the 120-room and 14-villa SIRO Palmilla resort isn’t expected to open until 2027. If the name sounds unfamiliar, SIRO is a new wellness-inspired brand from Kerzner. The first SIRO property opened in Dubai in 2024 and the Los Cabos property will be among the first six of an estimated 100 SIRO-branded resorts to be built worldwide.

What’s new (sort of) in San José del Cabo

Two so-called new hotels aren’t new at all, but rather iconic properties receiving renovation and rebranding. Upon reopening, the Hotel Perla in La Paz and the Tropicana Inn in San José del Cabo will receive the Tapestry Collection by Hilton imprimatur. The former property is not just iconic, but historic, as it was the first modern hotel in Baja California Sur and helped usher in the tourist age when it premiered in 1940. The 90-room grand dame is getting a $10 million facelift before it’s officially renamed Perla La Paz and opened to the public in winter 2024.

The Tropicana Inn, although not quite as historic as Hotel Perla has been a downtown fixture in San José del Cabo since 1985. The boutique 70-room resort will retain its Mexican art and accents, but receive some upscale touches courtesy of its in-progress makeover. The newly minted Tropicana Los Cabos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton will begin accepting reservations on January 31, 2025, as it celebrates its 40th anniversary.

“Both of these unique properties encapsulate the vibrant personality of La Paz and San José del Cabo respectively and we look forward to offering guests authentic experiences at each property as they explore Baja California,” notes Jenna Hackett, brand leader for Tapestry Collection by Hilton. 

Another luxury resort is coming to the East Cape

The Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos was never intended to be Costa Palmas’s only luxury accommodations option. Originally, Soho House was also expected to be built there before it was relocated to Cabo del Sol. 

However, another long-awaited project, this one by luxury hospitality brand Aman, will be seen through to completion, with the opening of Amanvari at Costa Palmas scheduled for 2025. Guests can look forward to five-star service and plenty of secluded beachfront as soon as next year, not to mention fine dining and pampering treatments at the signature Aman Spa.

Most of the private villas at Amanvari, priced at $13 million and up, have already been sold, and it’s rumored, per The Hollywood Reporter, that a small airport may be built at Costa Palmas to accommodate private jets. So this is another new Los Cabos resort that won’t qualify for the budget-friendly category.

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.

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During an announcement program of its 2024 selection for the country that aired live on YouTube on May 14, 157 restaurants were recommended, given special “Bib Gourmand” attention, or honored with one or two stars. Many of them were in Los Cabos or Baja California, which along with Mexico City, Oaxaca, Nuevo León, and Quintana Roo, were identified as the best culinary regions in Mexico.

Baja California’s new Michelin star eateries

Baja California, for example, is now home to three of the 16 one-star restaurants recognized by Michelin in México. Javier Plascencia, long noted as one of the nation’s top chefs, was awarded a star for Animalón, his restaurant in the renowned winemaking region Valle de Guadalupe. Conchas de Piedra and Damiana, also in Valle de Guadalupe, each received one star for the culinary mastery of chefs Drew Deckman and Esteban Lluis, respectively. Los Cabos, the popular vacation destination in Baja California Sur, received one star for Cocina de Autor, the Sidney Schutte-helmed restaurant at Tourist Corridor-based luxury resort Grand Velas. 

Schutte, like Deckman, is no stranger to Michelin stars. The former helped De Librije in Zwolle, Netherlands ascend from two to three stars, then opened a second location in Amsterdam, and got it two stars. Deckman, meanwhile, earned his first Michelin star while working at Restaurant Vitus in Germany. He also pleased the palates of plenty of Cabeños (Los Cabos residents) during his time operating Deckman’s at Havana in San José del Cabo, before eventually decamping for Baja California wine country in Valle de Guadalupe. The move seems to have worked out quite well.

What are Michelin stars?

What exactly does a Michelin star signify, you ask? According to Michelin, stars are only given to restaurants that use high-quality ingredients and consistently prepare their food to an exceptionally high standard. It’s a generic description for a very rare accomplishment. Gwendal Poullennec, Michelin’s International Director, explained it better by saying it honors restaurants that are not only among the best in their respective areas but also among the best in the world.

The Baja California peninsula, it should be noted, also scored four of the six awarded “green stars,” a category that represents restaurants with sustainable and eco-friendly practices. Acre and Flora’s Field Kitchen, beloved local members of San José del Cabo’s farm-to-table movement, each garnered a green star. So, too, did Conchas de Piedra and Deckman’s En El Mogor in Valle de Guadalupe. 

Many more peninsular restaurants were recognized in the “Bib Gourmand” category, which signifies eateries that provide great value relative to pricing. Of the 42 restaurants nationwide to receive this recognition from Michelin, eight were in Baja California: Carmelita Molino y Cocina in Tijuana; La Concheria, Sabina, and Humo y Sal in Ensenada, Casa Marcelo in Valle de Ojos Negros; Merak and Villa Torél in Villa de Juárez; and La Cocina de Doña Esthela in Valle de Guadalupe. Doña Esthela can add this award to the one it received from FoodieHub in 2015 for serving “the best breakfast in the world.”

High class food for a high class region

Los Cabos, which has the dubious distinction of being the most expensive area in México, also got some “Bib Gourmand” love from Michelin. Metate, a restaurant in Cabo San Lucas, and Flora’s Field Kitchen, the already mentioned food-to-table mecca in Ánimas Bajas, just outside San José del Cabo, were also noted for serving outstanding food at reasonable prices. So also was Cocina de Campo by Agricole in El Pescadero, a small community just south of Todos Santos. 

Michelin’s least prestigious prize, although still a great accomplishment, is simply to extend its imprimatur by “recommending” a restaurant. As in previous categories, many Baja California and Los Cabos-based dining spots qualified for the distinction. Los Tres Gallos, the wonderful traditional Mexican restaurant owned by Michel Zermeño and Fabiola Sánchez, with locations in Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, was recommended. Green star winner Acre was likewise singled out in this category, as were fellow San José del Cabo restaurants Lumbre, Omakai, and Ruba’s Bakery; Los Cabos Tourist Corridor standouts Arbol, Carbón Cabrón, Comal, Manta, and Nao; and Benno, Dum, Oystera, and Paradero in Todos Santos. 

Recommended eateries

In Baja California, Michelin recommended Misión 19, Oryx, and Tacos El Franc in Tijuana; Restaurant Amores in Tecate; Bruma Wine Garden, El Paisa, Madre, Malva, Manzanilla, Ophelia, Restaurante Punta Morro, Tacos Marco Antonio, Tacos Mi Ranchito El Fenix, and Taquería La Principal in Ensenada; Corazón D’Petra, Deckman’s en El Mogor, Envero en El Valle, Kous Kous, Latitud 32, Lunario, Olivea Farm To Table, and Primitivo in Valle de Guadalupe. Restaurante Amores was also acclaimed for its service and given Michelin’s Servicio Award for this often underappreciated aspect of the dining experience. 

Alas, no restaurants on the Baja California peninsula were awarded two stars. That honor was given to only two restaurants in the country – Pujol and Quintonil – each in Mexico City. That three Michelin stars were not awarded to any Mexican restaurant is perhaps defensible, given that there are only 138 such restaurants of this quality that have been identified worldwide. However, the fact that Mexico as a country received only 18 stars in total, while cities New York and Tokyo have a combined 274, is less defensible. Michelin’s Mexican selections were all well-judged by its anonymous inspectors. But it probably needed to make many more to signify Mexico’s status as a premier international food destination … which those who live here know to be the case. UNESCO, which declared Mexico’s culinary tradition an intangible cultural heritage, did a far better job of making this point.

On the plus side, there are fewer restaurants than there should be in which it will now be almost impossible to get reservations. So thanks for that, Michelin!

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.

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The green flag symbolizing the start of these iconic competitions typically drops in Ensenada, hence the city’s nickname: the Desert Racing Capital of the World. Forty-nine of the previous Baja 500 races began in Ensenada. So will the 2024 version, which kicks off on June 1 and will feature an estimated 280 racers in 45 classes. Competitors have 20 hours to log an official finish in the 483.06-mile course. Misleadingly, it’s not always 500 miles exactly, as the course can vary from year to year.

What to know about this year’s race

The BFGoodrich Tires 56th SCORE Baja 500 officially happens from May 29 to June 2. The first day, however, is dedicated to technical inspections of participating vehicles and pre-race celebrations on Boulevard Costero in Ensenada. An estimated 50,000 people turn out to see the cars, trucks, motorcycles, quad bikes, UTVs, and other off-road racers. Local vendors and sponsors are also represented on the “Manufacturer’s Midway,” which is free to the public.

The next day, Saturday, June 1, the race begins on Boulevard Costero, with vehicles departing every 30 or 60 seconds, depending on the competition class. Although 20 hours are allotted to finish, the winners in each class will need only about half that time. The course is routed as a loop race, with the finish line also in Ensenada. After the clockwise-running race through a large swath of Baja California, an awards ceremony will be held at 12:30 p.m. on June 2 in the Cathedral Hall at the Riviera del Pacifico Cultural Center. It’s located on Boulevard Costero near the starting line.

The Baja 500 is the second of four races that comprise the SCORE (Southern California Off Road Enthusiasts) World Desert Championship series. The 37th San Felipe 250 was run in March and the 5th Baja 400 is scheduled for September, followed by the 57th running of the Baja 1000 in November. All are set on the Baja California peninsula.

The history of off-road racing in Baja California

The Baja 500 and Baja 1000 races weren’t originally organized by SCORE but run under the auspices of the National Off-Road Racing Association (NORRA). Founded in 1966 by Ed Pearlman, Don Francisco and other enthusiasts of the sport, NORRA’s first Baja 1000 was held in 1967, running from Tijuana to La Paz. Francisco, the mapper of the original course, was a veteran of the Carrera Panamericana, the notoriously dangerous highway race that spanned Mexico from north to south before being canceled in 1955. It has since been revived, safely. Francisco’s more rugged off-road Baja 1000 routing and the first Baja 500 in 1969 helped to set the template for Baja-style desert racing while connecting it to a national tradition. 

NORRA, however, was removed as the sponsoring body for these races by the Mexican government in 1972. The Baja Sports Committee organized the Baja 500 in 1973 before SCORE’s long-time owner Sal Fish and promoter and former world land speed record holder Mickey Thompson took over in 1974. The first race on July 26 of that year was won by a Hollywood stuntman named Bobby Ferro, who drove a VW Sandmaster open-wheel race car. But for legal reasons, the race wasn’t referred to as the Baja 500 again until 1991. In the public mind, though, it was never anything else. 

The Baja 500 and Baja 1000 races have long fascinated Hollywood movie stars and famous race car drivers. Steve McQueen, James Garner and Paul Newman each tackled the Baja 1000, the latter setting the record for oldest-ever competitor when he was 80. The Baja 500 hasn’t drawn as many actors as the Baja 1000, but it has always been considered a serious test by the pros on the IndyCar and NASCAR circuits. Indianapolis 500 winners Parnelli Jones, Rick Mears and Danny Sullivan also tested themselves in the Baja 500, with the former winning the overall title twice. So, too, did noted Nascar drivers like Jimmie Johnson and Robby Gordon. Gordon was the most successful to do so, winning the Baja 1000 three times and the Baja 500 on four occasions, most recently in 2013. That doubled the record set by father, Bob Gordon, who won the Baja 500 in 1980 and 1987.

The defending champion returns

The headliner for this year’s race is Bryce “Golden Boy” Menzies from Las Vegas. The 36-year-old is the defending SCORE series Trophy Truck title holder — he has 10 career victories in the Trophy Truck division — and the defending 2023 Baja 500 overall champion. He and his Menzies Motorsports Ford Raptor all-wheel drive truck are sure to be favorites again, although the estimated list of 260 entrants also includes racers from around the world, including countries as far-flung as Australia, Indonesia and Japan. Mexico will also be represented, of course, with Tijuana native and Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame member Eric Solorzano among those seeking to dethrone Menzies in 2024. 

The course map for this year’s race has been released. So Baja California locals and U.S. visitors who make the 80-mile journey from the border to Ensenada now know where the finish line will be: on Boulevard Costero, in the same place as the starting line. 

For those who’d like to monitor the upcoming race online, SCORE International tracks results on its website. Live coverage is also featured on SCORE’s YouTube and Facebook social media platforms, with a recap forthcoming in the monthly SCORE Journal Digital Magazine.

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.

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The Riviera Maya, of course, is a major cruise ship destination in its own right. Of the 9.3 million people expected to take cruises to Mexico this year, nearly 35 percent are expected to visit Cozumel, making it the country’s top cruise port. But the Mexican Riviera, made famous by the participation of Princess Cruises in the iconic television series “The Love Boat” during the 1970s and 80s, retains its enduring allure, with three of its premier destinations – Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, and Puerto Vallarta – projected to be among the top five most visited ports in México this year.

How Many Cruise Ships Visit Cabo San Lucas and the Mexican Riviera?

The number of cruise ships that visit Cabo San Lucas varies from month to month and year to year. In 2022, for example, 276 vessels visited the Land’s End city, bringing more than 540,000 passengers. For the math-challenged, that’s an average of 1,956 tourists per ship. Of course, it bears noting that each cruise ship has a different capacity. Oceania Cruises’ Insignia, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ luxurious Seven Seas Grandeur and Seven Seas Mariner all carry less than 750 passengers. For Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Panorama and Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, by contrast, it’s around 4,000 each.

Each of these ships, by the way, visited Cabo San Lucas in January 2023, the busiest month ever recorded for the destination, with over 103,000 shipboard tourists. As did ships representing Princess Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian, and Viking Ocean Cruises. 

It was an atypical month in terms of volume, but instructive in that there are typically plenty of options, allowing prospective cruisers to choose the ship that best suits their budget, the number of days they want to spend aboard (five and seven-night cruises from California ports like Los Angeles and Long Beach are lengthy enough to include Cabo San Lucas), and the amount of port time they desire. Navigator of the Seas, for instance, is one of the few ships to offer cruises with overnight stays in the city.

What’s the Best Time to Visit the Mexican Riviera?

There’s only one season when cruise ships aren’t plentiful: summer. In 2023, seven port calls were recorded each month for June, July, and August, and only two cruise ships – Carnival Panorama and Navigator of the Seas – were regular visitors during this slow season. October through April, meanwhile, are the peak months, mirroring the traditional high season for Cabo San Lucas. These seven months saw 217 of the 254 cruise ship arrivals last year.

That’s not to say summer isn’t a good time to visit, as fares are often lower. But the options are limited. These months also fall within hurricane season (May to November), so there is a small possibility – particularly during September – that port visits can be canceled because of inclement weather. 

How Much Time Do Passengers Have Ashore?

Cabo San Lucas is a tender port, meaning cruise ships have to anchor in the bay and have guests ferried to a Marina dock where they can disembark. That’s because the Cabo San Lucas Marina can only accommodate boats up to 375 feet long and the average cruise ship is about 1,000. 

The time permitted ashore varies from ship to ship. A survey of cruise vessels arriving in April 2024 shows an average of about six hours for passengers to explore the destination. To get the most out of your port call, get in line early for tender transport. It takes only about 15 minutes to get from the cruise ship to dry land, but that doesn’t account for the time that can be spent waiting in line.

Best Shopping, Dining, and Activities Options

Most cruise ships have a list of approved shore excursions for which guests can sign up in advance. These range from snorkeling at Land’s End and fishing for marlin and other game and billfish to spending the day at a local luxury resort. The benefit of approved excursions is that there are no worries regarding overstaying one’s allotted time. The list of potential activities is lengthy, too. Cabo Adventures, which works with cruise ships, notes that all of its activities save those requiring trips to Cabo Pulmo or La Paz are available for cruise ship passengers. 

For those who want to explore at their own pace, the biggest and most popular local beach – Playa El Médano – is a favored destination. It’s accessible by following the marina boardwalk around from the cruise dock. This takes about 30 minutes, however, so water taxis are a convenient shortcut. You won’t need to solicit them either. Drivers’ voices will be among the many that vie for your attention on this popular waterfront promenade. 

Restaurants and souvenir shops abound on the marina boardwalk and nearby downtown area. Considering Cabo San Lucas’ reputation for great fishing, it should be no surprise that locally caught seafood is a specialty. Solomon’s Landing and Baja Cantina, long-time marina fixtures, are good places to experience this delicious ocean bounty. Mango Deck and The Office on the Beach also offer seafood and Mexican cuisine and are among the top drinking and dining destinations on Médano Beach.

Cabo Wabo Cantina, founded by Sammy Hagar and his then Van Halen bandmates in the early 1990s, is a popular downtown stop for waburritos, margaritas, and souvenir t-shirts. Cobalto Pottery and Zen-Mar Folk Art, located nearby, will appeal to shoppers of a more discerning bent. 

Yes, it is possible to visit San José del Cabo, the other cape city in Los Cabos. Buses, rental cars, taxis, and Uber will get you there. Rental cars allow more freedom and will prove cheaper than Uber and taxis, with the latter notable for their exorbitant rates. A U.S. driver’s license permits you to drive legally locally. The Gallery District is a preferred place to browse for those who make the trip. 

Pesos Vs. Dollars

Everyone takes dollars in Cabo San Lucas, so it isn’t necessary to exchange money before your cruise (not every ship provides exchange services onboard) or once you’ve come ashore. However, it’s certainly preferred for those who are budget-minded. Businesses in Los Cabos establish their own favorable exchange rates, so if you pay in dollars you’re likely to lose a few of them on every transaction. This transaction loss adds up. It may only cost you $20 or so during your day in port, but if your cruise features multiple Mexican port visits, pesos are a recommended investment. Visit your bank before getting underway for the best rate.

If you’re using credit cards, foreign transaction fees of 1% to 5% may be applied to each purchase. However, not all local businesses accept these types of payments.

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.

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