The highlight of Cabo San Lucas is El Arco (the Arch) and the nearby Lover’s Beach. As we could see both of these from the Island Princess Cruise Ship, and we have both been to Cabo San Lucas in the past, we opted to skip an excursion, or any type of tour and just go ashore.
El Arco (the Arch) – carved by the ocean currents this majestic rock formation is probably the most recognized landmark in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
It’s a tender port, meaning the ship dropped anchor and we were taken on tenders (small power boats) for the 10-minute trip to shore. The Princess Cruise staff handled the tender process very smoothly. From there we simply walked around, enjoyed coffee, lunch and the local ambience of Cabo San Lucas.
Best seen in photos:
Practical Information:
- Cabo San Lucas is more commonly referred to simply as “Cabo.”
- Water taxis will take you from the marina to either the arch or to a beach for $10.
- Most of the water in Cabo is safe to drink.
- Average year-round temperature is 26C (78F) increasing in the summer up to 38C (100F).
- The official language is Spanish, although many people speak English.
- The currency is the Mexican Peso. While many places will accept US Dollars, the change will be given in pesos.
- When I lived in San Francisco, many years ago, Cabo was my favourite getaway destination. It has an active nightlife that we didn’t get to enjoy by cruising. We did, however, get to visit a variety of other spots like our prior port of Puntarenas Costa Rica. From here we stopped in Los Angeles where many of the passengers disembarked. We stayed on until Vancouver.
- You can read about our overall reflections of the cruise, or have a look at these 25 Tips for Cruising on Princess that Everyone Should Know
Read next: 20 Picturesque Cruise Ship Ports Around the World
How many times have you been to Cabo San Lucas? What’s your favorite thing to do there?
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Of Course We Visited a Coffee Plantation in Costa Rica
Anna
June 8, 2016 at 9:16 pmstunning pics. I am also planning a trip there..
Cheers
Anna
Rhonda Albom
June 9, 2016 at 10:19 amIt’s a fun city for a day or a week.
Rhonda Albom
June 2, 2016 at 10:13 amSe llama El Arco y es un icono de la ciudad.
Charles
June 2, 2016 at 1:52 amLovely photos – beautiful!
Rhonda Albom
June 2, 2016 at 10:35 amThanks Charles
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit
June 1, 2016 at 6:43 pmThis little Aussie has never been to Cabo! But I’ve heard about it.
I did go to Aruba recently which is a LOOOONG way from Australia and took 36 hours to get there, Does that count?
Rhonda Albom
June 2, 2016 at 10:31 amIt was when I used to live in California that Cabo was a more frequent destination. As for Aruba, we went there also, on the same cruise about 4 days before Cabo.
Photo(Geo)grapher
June 1, 2016 at 3:54 amBeautiful place and great photos. Lovely post
Rhonda Albom
June 1, 2016 at 9:57 amI love Cabo San Lucas. and thanks.
eileen g
May 30, 2016 at 12:00 amthe flea market looks like a lot of fun for souvenir buying and window shopping. I love the skeleton. I have yet to visit a part of mexico i haven’t really liked. Cabo is definitely on my list.
Rhonda Albom
May 30, 2016 at 7:27 amCabo is quite a bit built up, these photos were slightly off the beaten track.
Suze - Luxury Columnist
May 29, 2016 at 9:58 pmI’ve never been to Cabo but the marina looks lovely and the Day of the Dead masks are very striking
Rhonda Albom
May 30, 2016 at 7:26 amWhen I used to live in San Francisco, Cabo was our favorite getaway destination.
Sally@Toddlers on Tour
May 29, 2016 at 9:01 pmLooks like a great stop, sometimes I think it is just fun to wonder about a city and see what you happen upon. It is often the best way to discover the real vibe of a place.
Rhonda Albom
May 29, 2016 at 9:43 pmI completely agree, especially in a town like Cabo, where I have been before and already seen the highlights.
Anda
May 29, 2016 at 9:09 amThe question at the end of your post made me smile: “How many times have you been to Cabo San Lucas?” None! I live right around the corner from Mexico and still have never been to Cabo San Lucas. Somehow this destination fell through the cracks of our travel planning. The area seems beautiful, but it’s a little too dry for my taste. I prefer more the southern part of Mexico, like Cancun and Cozumel. Beautiful pictures!
Rhonda Albom
May 29, 2016 at 1:02 pmWhen I lived in San Francisco it was one of the places we went to often, for a weekend, or several day get away. I love Cancun, but it is more of a longer commitment. Cabo is easy.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
May 29, 2016 at 1:17 amWonderful, wonderful, wonderful. It’s to bad that I wasn’t able to go this cruise. Soon I will be on Carnival’s newest ship the Vista. I’m really looking forward to it.
Cruisn Paul
Rhonda Albom
May 29, 2016 at 1:01 pmThis one was 19 days from Ft. Lauderdale to Vancouver Canada. You, my cruising friend, would have loved it. The Panama Canal was fascinating.
Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields
May 29, 2016 at 12:29 amMexico is at the top of our travel wishlist. The problem is, David wants to hire and car and drive there, and I am really concerned about doing that. Maybe I’ll try to talk him into a cruise first. I know what you mean about NZ not letting you bring your souvenirs home. We have the same strict quarantine in Australia – like NZ for good reasons.
Rhonda Albom
May 29, 2016 at 1:00 pmCabo San Lucas is on the end of the Baja peninsula, so if you were doing a driving trip to Mexico, you might not get here. As for bio-security, yes you would know the same restrictions.
Lyndall
May 28, 2016 at 4:42 pmI haven’t visited Cabo but it looks lovely. Can’t believe how cheeky and close that sea lion was – I guess food is a big drawcard!
Rhonda Albom
May 29, 2016 at 12:59 pmWhere else is he guaranteed a meal?
Lydia C. Lee
May 28, 2016 at 9:46 amLove the fruit barrow shot – looks great!
Rhonda Albom
May 29, 2016 at 12:59 pmFresh and delicious.
Lexa Cain
May 28, 2016 at 7:33 amSo pretty! The little place reminds me of cities in Egypt – only without the death masks and the mountains. And we have dolphins but no sea lions. I love the pic of the pelicans and sea lion waiting for handouts like dogs begging for table scraps! So cute! Thanks for the great pics!
Rhonda Albom
May 29, 2016 at 12:58 pmInteresting, now I really want to get to Egypt.
Comedy Plus
May 28, 2016 at 2:51 amI’ve never been here before. Been in many places in Mexico but not here. I hear it’s quite a lovely vacation spot.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Rhonda Albom
May 29, 2016 at 12:58 pmIt is lovely, and a quite modern in some ways.
Alex J. Cavanaugh
May 27, 2016 at 11:58 pmLots of hungry critters waiting for leftover fish.
Is it because of the animal products used that you wouldn’t be able to take one of those masks into New Zealand?
Rhonda Albom
May 29, 2016 at 12:58 pmThey waited so patiently too. As for the masks, it was the untreated wood as well as the animal products. New Zealand has some of the strictest bio security in the world.
Hilary
May 27, 2016 at 9:43 pmHow lovely to have a day of ‘rest’ and a good wander through the port and enjoy a relaxing coffee and lunch … fascinating … cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
May 29, 2016 at 12:57 pmIt was a really enjoyable day, low pressure and delicious food (and we all know I love my coffee.)