activities
wild adventures with a pinch of Baja magic
At the very tip of the Baja peninsula, where the deep waters of the Pacific Ocean meet the Gulf of California and the desert meets the sea, that’s where you’ll find Los Cabos. Translated as ‘the Capes’ from Spanish, the municipality of Los Cabos embraces not only one, but three capes: San José del Cabo, Cabo San Lucas and Cabo del Este, the latter also known as the Cabo Pulmo. The three capes couldn’t be any more different from each other: Cabo San Lucas is a mecca for party-animals and resort lovers, San José del Cabo as its artsy sister with the historical centre, art galleries & a well-known food scene and Cabo del Este, the wild child with surf, free camping and beaches as far as the eye can see.
Staying at Whale Tales Hostel, you’ll walk easily into the beating heart of San José del Cabo or you’ll hop on a bus to Cabo San Lucas. For those with a (rental) car, even the deserted beaches of the East Cape are within reach: while following the Camino Cabo del Este, you’ll see those endless beaches in no time.
San José del Cabo
visit the historic center
While the history of San José del Cabo goes way back, back to times when the native Pericú were still roaming the area called «Añuití», when Spanish conquistadores were looking for pearls and pirates hid their bounty in the bays of Los Cabos. The historical city centre of San José hasn't witnessed the pirates nor the Pericú, but its colorful neo-colonial buildings are remnants of the Spanish influence on the Baja peninsula. During the evenings, when the skies turn pink, twinkling street lights illuminate the brightly colored architecture and street vendors crowd the popular Plaza Mijares, the historical centre of San José del Cabo is an unmissable sight to see.
Good for: strolling around / evening walks & open air activities / admiring the architecture / visiting art galleries & shopping / restaurants, coffee shops and bars
Thursday Art Walk + Art Galleries
Every Thursday evening, the historical streets of the city centre become the background to the famous Art Walk: galleries open up their doors, local artists install their works on the main square and the streets are buzzing with a mixture of locals, tourists and the occasional street entertainment. Terraces are full, the smell of street food lingers in the air and the atmosphere couldn’t be better. Strolling around the historical centre and checking out the vibes during Art Walk is one of our favorite things to do in San José del Cabo.
Need more art? Visit Casa Ballena / Chelamica (chela + ceramica) workshop at Casa Musa
Mercado Orgánico
The ideal place to relax and enjoy the vibe on a Saturday morning: small stalls selling their organic fruits and vegetables, you’ll find handmade souvenirs, second hand books, free dance classes and some very, very delicious food. Tip: the empanadas of Arrabalito always sell out fast!
From November until April, every Saturday from 8 AM until 1 PM
hiking / walking / cycling
Nature lovers can eat their heart out in Baja California Sur and we’re not only talking about the beaches. Close to San José del Cabo lies the Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere Reserve, a biosphere reserve with plenty of walking trails to explore. (And some other hidden gems, we promise!) You could also spend some days biking the Cape Loop, or choose one of the shorter mountain bike trails nearby. A personal favorite close by is the hike up the Cerro de la Chiva, which offers you the best sunset views of the city. Guess what? The entrance to the path is just a short walk from the hostel.
Close to San José del Cabo: Hike or bike up Cerro de la Chiva / Go birdwatching and walk around the Estero de San José
Whale watching
One of our favorite things to do during the whale migration season is going to Playa del Estero in the afternoon, installing ourselves on a blanket with some snacks and watching the humpback whales breach out of the water right in front of you. If you’re into having a closer look, there are plenty of whale watching boat tours to choose from. Hell, you could even make it a full-on whale watching expedition, if you’d combine a visit to Los Cabos with gray whale season in Bahia Magdalena & the San Ignacio Lagoon, blue whale season in Loreto and as a bonus, not really a whale but what’s in a name anyway, swimming with whale sharks in La Paz.
Whale watching season: from mid-December until mid-April, with the best time to see whales is around February - March
Living the beach bum life
Some of the best things in life are free, and so are the beaches in San José del Cabo! Whether you want to catch some waves, pop on a snorkel mask and feel like Jacques Cousteau or just enjoy an ocean breeze on your skin, you’ll have your pick of beaches to choose from. You’ll probably have to come back for another trip to visit them all anyway.
Surf in Costa Azul / Swimming and snorkeling at Playa Palmilla, Chileno, Santa Maria & Las Viudas, which are all Blue Flag beaches by the way.
Cabo San Lucas
Hike Cerro del Vigía
One of our absolute favorite things to do in the Los Cabos area is the morning hike up to Cerro del Vigía, the highest hill of the rugged rock formations around the Arch at Lands’ End. The hike is on private property and only accessible during the mornings, when Enrique and his dogs take you all the way up top for a magnificent view of Cabo San Lucas, the marina, the mountains behind and the beaches below.
Good to know: Enrique hikes up everyday, except on Saturdays. Normally at 8 AM, but the time might change during the summer months.
Visit the marina & pick a beach
You can’t come to Cabo San Lucas and not visit the marina. A highlight for many, but for us a good way to score a water taxi or go beach hopping. Or both! While you can just walk around and end up at el Médano beach or Playa Empacadora at the opposite ends of the marina, you could also find a water taxi to take you all the way to Playa del Amor or Playa del Divorcio. The most iconic beaches of Cabo San Lucas, only accessible by boat. Prices increase depending upon the amount of beaches you want to visit and you’ll let them know when to pick you up for your ride back to the marina. Oh, sightseeing of the famous Arch is almost always included!
Beach tip: Playa del Divorcio is only accessible from Playa del Amor, but the arrival there can be a bit bumpy due to the waves. Put your bikini on and bring a dry bag or just practice stepping off a swinging boat. You’ll get wet soon anyway!
Whale watching
The whales love passing by the piece of ocean in front of Cabo San Lucas and finding a boat to take you up close shouldn’t be a hassle. However, once a whale has been spotted, it might get very, very busy on the water.
Top tips: Fewer boats are out in the early morning, so it pays off to rise early.
Since you don’t want to partake in unethical practices, make sure to book a SEMARNAT-licensed whale watching tour with a responsible company!
Snorkeling / Kayaking / Stand Up Paddle Boarding / Sportfishing
Grab a snorkel to discover the underwater world at Pelican Rock or rent a paddle board and practice your balance on the waves of the Pacific. Go on a kayak tour around El Arco or just have a swim at one of the Blue Flag beaches. You can’t visit Los Cabos without seeing, tasting and feeling the ocean!
Snorkel tip: Our favorite snorkeling spots are the area around Pelican Rock in Cabo San Lucas itself and Chileno Bay & Playa Santa Maria in the Tourist Corridor between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.
Cabo del Este
Deserted beaches
Endless strips of beaches, dunes, prickly plants and the ocean. Whale watching from the beach during winter, surfing in summer, swimming when the waves are not too big, a whole lot of beach bumming awaits in Cabo del Este.
Good to know: to get there, you’ll need a vehicle. Even though the road might be rough, a 4 Wheel drive isn’t needed, but comes in handy.
Surfing
Summer months are the top months for surfing in Baja California Sur and even though we don’t surf ourselves, we can assure the surfers amongst you that the East Cape area is one of the places to be. If you want your waves accessible by public transport, you can always check out the waves at Playa Costa Azul or head out to Playa Cerritos in Todos Santos.
Popular breaks at the East Cape: Punta Arena on the northern edge of Cabo del Este / Shipwrecks / Punta Gorda / Nine Palms
Wild Camping
All beaches are public in México, which means that ALL beaches need to be accessible to the people whenever they want. This is sadly not always the case, but more than true on the East Cape beaches. Bring your tent, enjoy the beach, watch the stars and wake up for sunrise… to do it all over again the next day. Best of all: it’s free!
Leave no trace: as always, be a responsible traveller and don’t leave anything but footprints
EN 
ES