Rent a car in Cabo San Lucas
What you need to know before renting a car in Los Cabos Every year for our holiday in Cabo, we rent a car for at least part of our trip. In the photo below, my husband and boys in the convertible we rented.
Taxis are very expensive in Los Cabos, so it's a good idea to rent a car if you plan to travel and visit real estate or take a trip to Todos Santos, San Jose del Cabo, La Paz, or any of the neighboring cities in Baja.
Driving a car in Mexico is very similar to driving in the US, so if you're not the most confident driver, don't worry, you'll have no trouble navigating Los Cabos if you consult a map before you leave on your trip. Although everything is in the metric system (so it's kilometres, not miles), speed limits, highway and street signs are clearly displayed and it's easy to get around. Be aware that there are some odd one-way streets and forks to get off the main highway and into the businesses along it, but if you have a navigator in the passenger seat to spot what's coming up, you should be fine.
Facts about car hire in Cabo San Lucas:
- You must be at least 24 years old to rent a car in Cabo San Lucas.
- You must have a valid driving licence and a major credit card.
- Mileage is usually included, but check with the booking agent.
- Ask about off-roading (not recommended unless you rent a 4WD).
- The cost of gasoline is about the same as in the U.S. (Unlike in the U.S., the gas tank is not always full. If it is not, you are simply required to return the vehicle with the same amount of fuel as when you rented it.)
- Local insurance can cost between $16 and $18 per day. Make sure you buy this insurance as your US-based insurance company may not cover you. Don't take a chance. Buy the insurance.
- Make sure you arrange your car rental with a US-based company, so that if you have problems or lose your keys, there will probably be an office nearby to help you solve the problem.
- You'll get better rates and avoid contractual misunderstandings due to language barriers if you book your rental car in Cabo San Lucas before you leave the US. We highly recommend this strategy and ALWAYS book our car online before we leave.
Charter a fishing boat
You can charter a fishing trip to Cabo San Lucas from $500 for a charter boat. The number of people in your group determines the size of the boat and, of course, the size of the boat determines the price. Make sure you know if lunch is included. Usually it is not. If not, you can buy sandwiches the night before or do some early shopping at the marina (there are many restaurants open before 6am that offer sandwiches). Make sure you take plenty of water with you. Fishing all day in the salty waters of the ocean will leave your mouth cracked and dry.
A good idea is to make your fishing trip to Cabo San Lucas a family friendly one. All the fish caught that day can be cleaned on the boat by the crew and cooked that evening, either by you or by a local chef. There's nothing like teaching a child or teenager to fish, especially when their efforts are rewarded at dinner that evening with fish they have caught themselves.
We recommend that you charter your boat before you arrive in Cabo, just as you would buy your plane tickets in advance.
If you like water sports, Cabo offers parasailing, jet skiing, snorkeling, windsurfing and scuba diving (check out the best scuba diving sites). With the incredible marine life found at Land's End (where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez), you'll want to bring an underwater camera and take plenty of photos.
If scuba diving isn't your thing, you can try your hand at snorkeling.
For those who are not certified divers, this snorkeling is beautiful, safe and a lot of fun.
Cabo Mexico offers mini-bike rentals so you and your family can ride around town. Beware of the traffic though. If you like quads, a guided ATV tour along the beach and off the beaten path to the old lighthouse is an interesting ride for the whole family. If you are young lovers or newlyweds, consider a romantic sunset horseback ride along the beach.
For golfers, Cabo Mexico offers many green courses. It has six championship golf courses, three of which were designed by golf pro Jack Nicklaus. There's nothing like playing golf in paradise.
Farniente experience
For the shopping enthusiast, Cabo is sure to keep you busy. Shops dot the town and side streets. There are shopping malls and the brand new and incredibly luxurious Puerto Paraiso Shopping Center, which is the best shopping in Cabo San Lucas. If you have kids, you can shop till you drop or even go on a shopping spree in Los Cabos, while the husband and kids stay at the mall and play video games or bowl at the Recorcholis arcade, which is on the top floor of the mall.
There is also a multiplex cinema with reclining leather seats. Movie tickets cost about half what they do in the US.
If you're looking for crafts, locals sell them along the beach, in various outdoor areas of town and at the marina (see photo at left). This is where your bargaining skills come into play. When locals tell you the price of an item, they expect you to make a counter-offer. Make a lower, but not insulting, offer. This back-and-forth game gives shopping an extra dimension.
Another fun activity in Cabo is to take a day trip. San Jose del Cabo, a quaint little town, is forty minutes north (near the airport). About two hours northwest of Cabo Mexico is Todos Santos (the site of the infamous Hotel California from the Eagles song of the same name). Look up information on where to stay if you decide to spend more time in this charming seaside town. Of course, the best way to see this charming town is to take a Todos Santos Tour, so you don't have to worry about hiring a car and driving here.
If romance is what you're after, you can take a sunset dinner cruise, a trip to Lover's Beach (which is near El Arco - 'the arch' at Land's End). For water lovers with children, consider a glass-bottom boat trip or even taking the kids on a pirate ship. You can also plan to visit all the beautiful beaches in Cabo San Lucas.
A fun thing to do as a couple or family is to swim with the dolphins in Cabo San Lucas. Nothing compares to this unique experience, and Cabo Dolphins offers a package for everyone, starting at age 5. My favourite is being a dolphin trainer for the day.
Another great site to see in Los Cabos is visiting the waterfalls and canyons of Baja or zip lining through the beautiful canopy of Costa Azul on the Zip tours in Cabo San Lucas.
A fun thing to do as a couple or with the family is to swim with the dolphins in Cabo San Lucas. Nothing compares to this unique experience and Cabo Dolphins offers a package for everyone, starting at age 5. My favourite is being a dolphin trainer for the day.
Another great site to see in Los Cabos is visiting the waterfalls and canyons of Baja or zip lining through the beautiful canopy of Costa Azul on the Zip tours in Cabo San Lucas.
Another experience not to be missed is whale watching in Baja. If you're in Cabo from January to March, when the gray whales migrate to Cabo to give birth to their calves, you absolutely must take a tour to see them frolic and break in the warm ocean waters.
If nothing suits you so far and you don't know what to do in Cabo, consider a trip to the Baja hinterland. There's plenty to explore and learn about the desert flora and fauna.
The nightlife in Cabo Mexico is comparable to other tourist towns. The cantina Cabo Wabo - Sammy Hagar's nightclub - is the most famous bar in town. Cabo Wabo offers a wide range of tequila, some of which are the finest in the world, including Sammy's Cabo Wabo tequila. Sammy's Cabo Wabo tequila is one of the finest in the world. Once you start drinking it and experiencing the subtle effect of tequila (which, unlike alcohol, is a mind-altering drug), you won't be satisfied with cheap tequila.
