Cruise Mexico: 5 Things To Do On A Whim While At Port In Cabo San Lucas
Today’s lecture begins with a question: would you rather be gazing out at this…
…or this…
Don’t change your answer out of concern for my feelings when you find out the first photo is the current view from my bedroom window in wet and cold Seattle. Trust me, no offense taken – I’d rather be in Cabo too! Which is precisely why I’ve spent the past several hours looking at hot porn. And by that I mean photos and videos of warm destinations, although certain beach attire comes dangerously close to crossing over into the other kind. It’s also why I’ve selected “5 things to do on a whim while at port in Cabo San Lucas” as today’s topic.
But before we get into that, here’s a brief introduction into cruising to Cabo.
Cruising To Cabo: An Introduction
Cabo San Lucas is a lively resort town popular with Americans located at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. It’s included on many Mexican Riviera and some Panama Canal and repositioning cruise itineraries. There is currently no cruise terminal in Cabo, so cruise passengers are ferried from where their ship is anchored in the open waters to the Cabo San Lucas Marina via smaller tender boats. While the tender process can be a bit of a hassle, once you arrive at the marina, there are a plethora of activities available nearby that require no pre-planning. Here are my top five…
5 Things To Do On A Whim While At Port In Cabo San Lucas
1. Board A Boat
My suggestion for you to board a cruise ship to then board a tender boat to then board a tour boat may cause you to wonder if I departed a previous life to grow sea legs where I once sported a pair of pectoral fins. But hear me out.
Perhaps the most iconic backdrop in Cabo San Lucas is el arco or “the arch,” a limestone archway carved over millions of years by erosion, wind, and tides. And the best way to see the arch, as well as the abundant sea life that surrounds it, is via a smaller tour boat.
There are many options available, from water taxis to sail boats to glass bottom boats to kayaks, in many different price ranges from as little as $10. Most of these short boat excursions can be easily booked on the spot right at the marina where you’ll exit your tender boat from the cruise ship. Go here to get a sense of the variety of tours available (or to book in advance if you prefer to do that).
2. Shop
While I personally hate shopping almost as much as video game music and dental drills – especially if it involves my reflection in a full-length mirror under fluorescent lights in aspirational, but ill-fitting short shorts, “I’m no Jessica Simpson” (I’m not so sure Jessica Simpson is Jessica Simpson anymore either, but I digress) – I get that some people love it. Well you’re in luck! From the Puerto Paraiso mall to hundreds of small local shops and locals selling their wares, there are ample shopping opportunities at and around the marina.
If you want a souvenir authentic to the local area, consider a beaded mask, a Huichol yarn painting, a blown glass piece, a sarape (colorful blanket-like shawl), or a pair of huaraches (Mexican sandals).
3. Eat
I adore eating even more than I hate shopping. And while it’s not for everyone, I happen to devour cruise food like I’m only ever served workhouse gruel à la Oliver Twist when I’m at home in Seattle. I mean, I LOVE it: “[cruise] food glorious [cruise] food!”
But on my last cruise that anchored in Cabo, a 21 day full-transit panama canal sailing from New Orleans to Seattle with Cabo being our last port, even I was getting a little surfeited with ship food. Thankfully there’s no shortage of restaurants (both authentic and those catering to tourists) and food vendors to satisfy your “real food” cravings. Fish tacos and fresh guac are particularly popular, but you might also consider trying tamales fajados, smoked marlin, or charred chocolate clams. Provecho!
4. Hit Medano Beach
Walk or take an inexpensive pedi-cab to the popular Medano Beach, an expansive soft-sand beach lined with resorts, clubs, restaurants, and vendors. From there you can rent a chair and umbrella, participate in water sports (there are many vendors offering rental equipment and gear), sip a Mexican beer or fruity cocktail, get a massage (see #5 below) or do what we did:
Walk the Beach
Dig a Giant Hole (then dive into the giant hole)
And Gaze Out at the Beautiful Views
5. Get A Massage
If you’ve said, “no thank you” approximately 4,000 times over the first few days of your cruise to offers to sign up for spa services, you may have lost the muscle memory in your mouth to form the word “yes.” Have your cruise companions taunt you with chocolate before you get off the ship in Cabo, “yes! yes! yes!” so you’re well practiced to hit a massage tent on the beach for a relaxing treatment that will cost you far less than what you would pay on the ship.
Extra Credit Bonus Tips For Cruising To Cabo San Lucas
- U.S. dollars and credit cards are generally accepted in the tourist areas of Cabo San Lucas. Check with your credit card company for any international fees.
- It’s acceptable to haggle over prices with vendors in Cabo. While Americas aren’t used to doing this, give it a try. It can be fun and save you some serious cash.
- While the official language is Spanish, most locals also speak English due to the tourism industry and large number of American ex-pats living in the area.
- The temperature is warm year round in Cabo, averaging in the high 70’s and low 80’s in the winter and the low 90’s in the summer. August sees the highest average temperatures, while January the lowest. Remember a sun hat and sunscreen.
- August, September, and October are the rainiest months in Cabo, although the area only averages around 13 days of rain per year. Sounds good to this Seattle gal!
- Avoid cruising to Cabo over spring break if you’re a party pooper (or just looking for a more serene day at the beach).
- Disembark your ship earlier in the morning to avoid crowds.
- If you’re a planner and prefer to pre-book shore excursions, but want to avoid costlier cruise line tours, Viator (owned by Trip Advisor) is a great option. You can find a list of excursions for Cabo San Lucas here.
Final Thoughts On An Easy, Flexible, And Fun Port Day In Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas is a place known to many for energy. For revelry. Where you feast on Mexican food to soak up Mexican tequila. But it’s also a place with a natural beauty unmatched almost anywhere. With a vibrant culture. A place with something for everyone. Even if you decided to get off your cruise ship on a whim.
The above photo is of “H,” my teaching/travel assistant and son, as he contemplated having to leave this perfect place. With sand warm on his toes and sun warm on his face. Thinking about his return to Seattle after 21 glorious days at sea. And now it’s time for me to disembark from memory lane and return to my real life in Seattle too. But first, one final spectacular view of Cabo…
May you find yourself on a cruise there very soon! And with that…
Class Dismissed.
Homework (10 points): Check out my other Mexico port posts here. And don’t forget to subscribe to the blog and follow Prof. Cruise on social media:
