Planning a trip to Los Cabos and looking for swimmable beaches? While many of Cabo’s beaches aren’t safe for swimming, we explored five stunning spots where you can dive right in!
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Los Cabos, Mexico is a famous beach destination, but surprisingly, not all beaches here are safe for swimming.
Many visitors are shocked to find that strong waves and dangerous undercurrents make a lot of the beaches unswimmable – even at high-end resorts like the Waldorf Astoria Pedregal, where even dipping a toe in the water isn’t recommended.
However, if you’re willing to explore by renting a car (our top pick for the most freedom) or taking Ubers, you can find some stunning, swimmable beaches that are safe to enjoy.
Safety is key, and it’s important to know where you can swim before diving in.
This guide is here to help you make the most of your time and create the perfect Cabo itinerary based on your preferences, whether you want to hit all the beaches like we did, or just find the one that’s perfect for your travel style.
To help you plan, here’s a breakdown of our top 5 swimmable beaches, each with its own vibe and unique features: Chileno Beach, Santa Maria Beach, Lovers Beach, Palmilla Beach, and Medano Beach.
Keep reading to find out which beach is the best fit for you, and what hotels with swimmable beaches you might want to book in Cabo!
Beach Safety 101: Flag System
Los Cabos (this is a combo of Cabo San Lucas and the slower-paced San Jose del Cabo) sits between the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. While the Pacific side tends to be too rough for swimming, the beaches along the Sea of Cortez are generally safer.
Before diving into all the beach details, let’s talk safety. Most beaches in Los Cabos use a flag system to show whether it’s safe to swim:
- Red flags = Dangerous. Stay out of the water.
- Yellow flags = Caution. Be careful while swimming.
- Green flags = Go ahead! Safe for swimming.
- White flags = Jellyfish alert.
Always check the beach flags before heading into the water.
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Lovers Beach: Best for a Boat Trip
Lovers Beach (also known as Playa del Amor) is a must-see when visiting Cabo, and chances are, you’ll end up here as part of a boat tour to El Arco, one of the area’s most famous landmarks.
El Arco (the Arch) is made of granite and is the southernmost tip of Baja Sur California. It’s also known as “Land’s End.”
You actually need to hop on a boat to get here, since it’s not accessible by foot or car. Shared boat prices usually range from around $10 to $80 USD per person, depending on what type of boat you choose and how good you are at bargaining.
When you book your boat tour (either beforehand or directly at the Marina) make sure it includes a stop at Lovers Beach, because some tours of El Arco just stop near the arches without letting you off at the beach. So be sure to speak with your tour operator beforehand to be clear.
We did a Cabo San Lucas Arch tour with Gregory’s Tours for ~$18 USD per person, and it included a stop at Lovers Beach, one of the few swimmable spots in the area.
It wasn’t a private tour, but we were visiting in September during the low season so it turned into a private tour.
On one side of the drop-off point, you’ve got Lovers Beach, which is swimmable, and on the other side is Divorce Beach (Playa Divorcio), located on the Pacific side, where the waves are way too dangerous.
Keep in mind that Lovers Beach is not always open—availability depends on weather and ocean conditions. Be especially cautious during hurricane season (May to November) when the waters are rougher.
Lovers Beach feels otherworldly with its massive rock formations – it actually reminded us a bit of the beaches in La Digue, Seychelles.
While you can swim here, it’s also a great place to just relax and people-watch, as it’s quite a popular stop. Weekends in Cabo get packed, and Lovers Beach is no exception, so if you’re looking for smaller crowds, aim for a weekday.
Be warned – they sell overpriced coconuts here with lukewarm water. I was craving a cold “coco frio,” but I still ended up paying $10 USD for the small coconut because I was just that thirsty.
I recommend bringing your own cold drinks and snacks, but it’s also not a bad idea to support the locals.
How to Get to the Beach: The only way to reach Lovers Beach is by boat, so budget for a tour. Boat tour prices can range from ~$10 to $25+ USD per person, but most include a visit to El Arco as part of the package, so well worth it!
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El Medano Beach: Best for Socialites
El Medano Beach (Playa El Medano) is one of the most popular swimmable beaches in Cabo, and it’s packed with restaurants, beach clubs, and vendors selling everything from salsa bowls to jewelry to massages.
Some people complain about being approached too much by vendors here, but in our experience, they were all respectful. Once we said “no,” they wished us well and moved on. If you’re looking for souvenirs, you might find some great items from the beach vendors.
This is also the place to be if you enjoy beach clubs and nightlife. We saw people playing beach volleyball, and there are tons of beachfront restaurants – “The Office” is one of the most famous ones to check out.
Where to stay beachfront?: Breathless Cabo San Lucas Resort & Spa is an adults-only accommodation right on Medano Beach!
How to Get to the Beach: Parking costs 60 Mexican pesos (~$3 USD) for the day, and it’s free to enter the beach. Be sure to budget for food, drinks, beach clubs, and any souvenirs you want to pick up along the way.
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Palmilla Beach: Best for Seclusion & Shade
Palmilla Beach (Playa Palmilla) is a peaceful spot where you’ll find plenty of space and shade thanks to the free palapas, which are first come, first served. It’s a longer beach, perfect if you want a bit of solitude.
One warning – the parking lot here is made of sand and pebbles, which can be risky if it floods.
Our car got stuck in the flooded sand after parking, and it took a lot of effort (and some help from friendly locals with a strong rope and a big truck) to get us out.
First, we were trying to shovel ourselves out, but the water just kept seeping in and under the car, sinking it further. Then we tried blocking the water with some rocks and tried shoveling out the water that was underneath the car. Again, this did not work.
I’m telling you so if you ever find yourself in this situation (which hopefully you won’t), you won’t waste your time with these methods and just skip to asking for some help. The locals are kind!
Palmilla Beach was gorgeous and quiet. It truly felt like a paradise looking out at the beautiful ocean views and being able to get right in.
Where to stay beachfront?: One & Only Palmilla is a beautiful resort with separate access to Palmilla Beach.
How to Get to the Beach: Free parking (just watch out for any flooding) and free entry.
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Chileno Beach: Best for Snorkeling
Chileno Bay Public Beach (Playa el Chileno) was my husband’s favorite, and it’s hands down the best beach for snorkeling in Cabo.
The parking lot here is paved, so no sinking car issues, and there’s a boardwalk that leads you right down to the beach.
The snorkeling here is incredible – we saw huge fish right by the shore at around 10 am, and the water is so clear that you don’t even need a snorkel to see the sea life.
If you’re not into snorkeling, you can still enjoy the beach’s rocky tide pools and chill atmosphere.
There are also life jackets for rent if you’re planning to swim out further.
Also, you can find bathrooms and showers near the parking lot.
When we returned to the beach closer to sunset, there were a lotttt more beachgoers and much less fish by the shore. So, we definitely recommend checking out this beach early in the day!
Where to stay beachfront?: Check out Chileno Bay Resort!
How to Get There: Free to enter, but renting life jackets or snorkeling gear costs ~100 – 200 Mexican pesos (~$5 to $10 USD).
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Santa Maria Beach: Best for Relaxing Views
Santa Maria Beach (Playa Santa Maria) is a quiet, scenic spot with a stunning cove and smooth rocky sand.
It’s my personal favorite, and while it’s pretty low-key now, you can tell that as the surrounding resorts get built up, it’s going to get more crowded in the future.
It has a large, paved parking lot so you can easily park your rental car without running into issues.
There’s a long boardwalk before you hit the sand, and also like Chileno Beach, Santa Maria has restrooms and showers available.
We noticed a lot of boat tours anchoring offshore, but the passengers didn’t come onto the beach itself, although they were snorkeling in the water.
The first time we came to Santa Maria Beach we came in the morning and there were very few people. By the time we returned around sunset, there were still very few people. & that’s my kinda beach 🙂
Where to stay beachfront?: Montage Los Cabos is set right here along Santa Maria Beach.
How to Get There: Free parking and free entry.
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Conclusions
With a little planning and an eye on those beach flags, you can make the most of your time in Cabo’s stunning swimmable beaches.
If you’re driving to these spots, be sure to follow the road signs—they’ll guide you to the best beach access points. We found that relying on Google Maps sometimes led us through private resorts, which wasn’t where we wanted to end up!
Whether you’re after a social scene, snorkeling adventures, or a quiet spot to relax, there’s probably a beach here that you will enjoy in Los Cabos.
That said, staying beachfront often comes with a hefty price tag. But don’t worry—you don’t have to stay at those luxury resorts to experience the best of Cabo’s beaches!
Renting a car is an affordable and easy way to get around, giving you access to these stunning spots without paying for a high-end hotel. There are plenty of budget-friendly accommodations just a short drive away, so you can See the World, Save a Dollar.
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