When is the best time to visit Los Cabos?+
From March to June and October to November, when it's warm, dry and the sea is a comfortable temperature. Winter here is cooler than most people expect — in January the air reaches twenty-five degrees, but the sea is only twenty-one and evenings are cold. July through September is hot, over thirty-four degrees, and the only season with real rain, including the occasional hurricane. Whales are present from mid-December to mid-April.
What's the difference between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo?+
Cabo San Lucas is the livelier town, built around the marina from which every boat departs, with clubs that run until dawn. San José del Cabo is a quiet colonial town with a plaza, a mission church and an arts district that holds a joint gallery opening every Thursday from November to June. Between them runs a thirty-two-kilometre corridor of large resorts and golf courses.
Can you swim everywhere in Los Cabos?+
No, and this is the single most important safety fact about the whole destination. Much of the beach along the corridor, and the entire Pacific coastline, has strong rip currents and swimming is banned there — look for a blue sign reading 'playa apta para nadar'. The safe spots are Médano in Cabo San Lucas, Chileno Bay and Santa María along the corridor, and the bay side of Playa del Amor. The Pacific side of that same beach, known as Playa del Divorcio, is genuinely dangerous.
How do I get to the El Arco rock arch?+
Only by water. The cheapest way is a water taxi, arranged directly at the marina dock or on Médano Beach — agree the price for the round trip, including waiting time, up front. Organised boat tours cost several times as much. Go early in the morning, when the sea is calm and the sun lights the arch from the front — in the afternoon you'll be shooting into the sun. Trips are cancelled when the swell is too rough to approach the arch.
Are there direct flights to Los Cabos from Prague?+
No, there's no direct connection. The trip means at least one, usually two, connections — typically via Madrid or Frankfurt to Mexico City, then a two-and-a-half-hour domestic flight, or via US airports. Total travel time is eighteen to twenty-two hours. Anyone connecting through the United States needs an ESTA authorisation even for transit only.
Is Los Cabos expensive?+
It's Mexico's most expensive destination, and prices are often quoted straight in dollars, since the region lives off American and Canadian visitors. Restaurants by the marina cost about what they would in California. You'll save money eating at stalls and small places in San José del Cabo, taking the Ruta del Desierto bus instead of taxis, and shopping at OXXO convenience stores. Taxis are by far the biggest expense — a trip between the two towns costs eighty dollars.
Will I see whales?+
From mid-December to mid-April, with high probability — humpback whales migrate here from Alaska to give birth, joined by fin whales and orcas. Boats leave the marina several times a day, and most operators offer a free repeat trip if you don't see a whale. The morning departure has calmer seas. Outside this season there are no whales, so ignore any tours offered then.
Do I need a car in Los Cabos?+
If you're staying in one of the towns and not venturing beyond El Arco and Médano, no. If you're staying on the corridor, or want to see Todos Santos, Cabo Pulmo or the remote beaches, you need one — taxis over those distances are prohibitively expensive. The cheap Ruta del Desierto public bus runs between both towns and the airport roughly every half hour and is enough for most visitors.
