Category: Los Cabos Travel Guide

Let’s examine the two hottest Mexican travel destinations and compare them head to head against each other! Let’s take a detailed look at these great travel destinations and you can decide which is better for you.

Location-

Cancun and the Mayan Riviera is like the Florida of Mexico. With it’s jungle terrain, white sand beaches and Mayan ruins you have great options. Due to it’s eastern location it has long been the destination for eastern/central USA, Canada and Europe. With so many non stop flights from these major cities it is no wonder why it is the #1 destination for Mexican tourism.

Los Cabos has traditionally attracted the western USA and Canada. If Cancun is Florida then Cabo is México light with a California twist. With the expansion of flights to the Eastern cities they have recently seen a massive change to the number of people visiting from the east. Also surprising is how easy it is to get to Los Cabos. iCabo is closer to Texas than California and due south of Phoenix and in the Mountain time zone.

Verdict- Cancun wins in ease of travel, but Cabo is less crowded due to this location difference. Plus so many have done Cancun so many times that Cabo is a refreshingly delightful change.

Resort Choices-

Cancun is the largest tourist destination by far in all of Mexico. In fact they recently surpassed over 101,000 rooms and climbing annually with 3,000 currently in construction in the state of Quintana Roo. They have plenty of rain and ground water for endless expansion plans. The far majority of the oceanfront resorts are all inclusive hotels. They have a wide variety of prices and styles. If you prefer all inclusive properties you will love Cancun and Riviera Maya. People tend to stay put at their resort as a result or take a crowded tour bus to the Disneyesque cultural centers, underground rivers and cenotes.

Los Cabos is still small in comparison but growing. Only recently have they seen the large international resort chains like Ritz Carlton, Marriott, Four Seasons, Montage and Hard Rock etc… opening there. Currently there are approximately 21,000 hotel rooms and much more spread out than the Cancun area. This is changing and the number of new properties is growing at an alarming rate considering the lack of rain and ground water in this desert on the beach.

Verdict- Cabo wins this category. While there are more choices in Cancun there are mainly only All Inclusive options. So Cabo has a wider choice of newer and in some cases much more luxurious resorts in which to choose. Unless huge mega resorts are your thing Cabo has a boutique feel to it. Tulum is an alternative to the mega resorts and also Isla Holbox, Cabo has many small boutique hotels that are affordable alternatives and the surrounding Pueblos offer great boutique options as well.

Climate

Cancun

As you would expect in a jungle you have warm and moist which means more rain and more bugs. There are 112 rainy days and over 51” a year but like Florida it doesn’t rain the whole day. The gorgeous beaches however have been suffering from an excessive bloom of sargassum which has really put a damper of the beach experience.

he most ideal climates in the world. Sometimes called Scottsdale on the beach. Being a dry desert in the tropics is unusual plus there are tall mountains that also bring winds that keep it cooler during the summer. With barely 12 days a year of rain and an annual rainfall less than 9 “ it is a dry climate and guaranteed sunshine with less creepy crawlers and barely a mosquito. Cabo has a longer peak season as a result.

Verdict- Climate is a personal choice and is easily influences by where you are coming from as well as the time of year you are traveling. Overall Cabo wins with a milder dryer climate with less bugs.

Safety-

Cancun has a higher homicide rate than average for Mexico in general. For the average tourist it remains a stable and safe destination for all who visit. Unless you are putting yourself in drunken state at the wrong side of midnight at the bad part of town the odds are slim you will have any problems in Cancun.

Cabo had a spike in drug related crime back in 2018 but has since seen a below normal homicide rate. The economy has survived the pandemic and the road to recovery is strong.

Verdict- Cabo wins the Safety comparison. In a recent study Mexicans were asked to rate the safety of their home cities. Cabo is the second safest while Cancun is dead last. Keep in mind both destinations are safer than the average large city in the USA but that isn’t hard is it? The size difference makes Cabo a safer option but Cancun is fine for family vacations in comparison to the rest of the world.

Cuisine-

Cancun and the Riviera Maya has mostly all inclusive resorts that cater to quantify over quality. There are some notable exceptions but these come at a great price bump. I find that all inclusive resorts are good if you plan to stay put at your resort and not explore the local flavors.

Cabo in contrast has a wider variety of resorts that are not all inclusive. The options for both Mexican and international are quite exceptional. Historically Cabo catered to the wealthy and they demand great food. Los Cabos delivers as well as Todos Santos, La Paz, San Jose and the expanding options in the East Cape.

Cabo again wins this category.

Beachs and Adventuring

Cancun has one of the largest coral reefs in the Atlantic and the diving is definitely world class. There is the concern of pollution from cruise ships and the recurring sargassum issue. The once white sandy beaches have been clogged with rotting sargassum for years. The resorts have to rake the beaches everyday. The amount of tourist flocking to this area makes it difficult to find nature without crowds. The Mayan ruins are simply amazing but are also quite crowded. The reason it is so popular is because of it is easy to get to location and because it has natural beauty.

Los Cabos has a mountainous terrain spilling into its sandy beaches and craggy bays. With both the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez easily accessible you have one of the greatest yachting destinations on the planet. There are many ways to adventure including above land and below the surface. I crowded reefs at Cabo Pulmo, endless bays and beaches with few others make this an ideal place to get back to nature.

Verdict- Both are great but the Baja has more diversity with less crowds.

Final Verdict-

Both Cancun and Los Cabos are two of the worlds most popular destinations for a reason. Both bring you amazing travel options. But if you want to get away from the resorts and explore the culture and natural beauty of Mexico, Los Cabos edges them out in most every way. Of course as much as we try to be unbiased we are not impartial judges. We are Cabosfinest and this is how we see it.

This is what happened, well sort of, don’t quote me.

The tip of the Baja was a dangerous and desolate destination known by a few Pericu natives. Scrounging for seeds, roots, and shellfish in the waterless desert was not exactly luxurious.

After Cortez raided México, and the Spanish Galleons laden with stolen New World riches for the crown, Pirates appeared. Sir Francis Drake was the first known taker and was called the ‘scourge of God’ by the Spaniards. Later on, in 1587 Thomas Cavendish another particularly scourge sailor lay in wait for the heavily leaden 700-ton Spanish galleon Santa Ana and made pirate history.

The fearsome Jesuits made inroads in 1697 and were hated and later extinguished by the oppressed locals. Replaced by the barely more tolerable Dominicans in 1773. They at least knew how to farm and brought some vines. Come 1804 the Spanish crown divided the Baja into North with Franciscans and South with the Dominicans but it hardly mattered. The Mexican American War ended and the Baja was saved from those northern squatters who didn’t see the value of the slim pickings. After the Gold Rush ended up north gold was discovered in Triunfo just south of La Paz and a new influx of craggy smelly miners spilled into the Sierra de la Lagunas. A few even made some dough but most just discovered tequila. Could be worse for sure.

By the 1950’s the lower Baja was still pretty isolated. The fortunate few who called this paradise home lived by simple means, paid no tax nor had much law. Except for the common decency prerogative that is really all one needs. Taking care and treating each other with respect requires no government assistance. One day they spied a small single prop plane bringing some rich dude that wanted a marlin. Not any small catch but a big fat ornery Black Marlin. Unfortunately, he was very wildly successful and retold his tale of an adventurous monster-slaying in Cabo. And THAT was the beginning of the ruin.

Turns out his story went viral and the in-crowd of Hollywood took notice. Bing, Lucy, the Duke plus a bunch of oilmen from Texas started their own private clubs which they eventually called hotels for local jurisprudence’s sake. Things remained idyllic for quite some time since there were no crowds due to the fact that you couldn’t just fly Southwest on budget. Then to make the trip to the tip of the Baja took grit, determination, and most important cash, lots of mullah in fact. You either flew private or floated in a boat big enough to get there and back without support which meant no gas – no go. The few new places to stay were legendary in style, Hotel Las Cruces outside of La Paz, Hotel Palmilla in San Jose, the Hotel Cabo San Lucas at El Tule were all private social clubs pretending to be hotels. Then they built the Hacienda on Medano, Twin Dolphin beside Santa Maria, Solmar, and Finnestera on the Pacific side of Cabo.

The wild idea of building cliffside mansions at the Pedregal began at the same time as the Marina, the inter-peninsular highway, and statehood in 1974. This was the beginning of the modernization of this once-forgotten formerly isolated and desolate Cape.

Now it became possible for the middle class to drive down or fly commercial but what really escalated things was the invention of Timeshare. Blue-collar folks could stumble off the cruise ship and pony up a few thousand and own a week each year. Once they sold out the first timeshare they added more and once that sold out they kept at it ’til every available beach between Cabo and San Jose became either a hotel, an RV park, oceanfront houses and or golf courses. Jack Nicklaus has been credited for both promoting and destroying the Cape. Since fishing was so excellent back in the day, catching a whopper in the morning with time to tee off in the afternoon was the two-sport day. Then of course there was the nightlife. Squid Row opened on a dirt road not too far from the Giggling Marlin and then Sammy got in on the game and opened Cabo Wabo in 1990.

By the time this drunk narrator got wind of Cabo, it was 2004 and the place had just scored Costco. Should have bought more land back then when it was still $8 a meter square. Do miss the open beaches and fence-free trail riding as well as the quiet drive to San Jose for some authentic chili rellenos. Now 17 years later here I sit with a half-empty bottle of El Jimador, a cooler of remaining Modelo Especiales, and a tightly rolled spliff with my loyal companion Oakley and my lovely, lovely reminding me to be a better boy.

Well, that’s what happened – sort of.

It has been a long year but we are seeing so many positive effects from the slow down. The natural beauty that attracts tourists from around the world has had a chance to regenerate and renew. The break has been a hardship but we have all pulled together and are Cabo Strong.

We encourage you to come on down for some well-deserved fun in the sun Cabo Style. The beaches have never looked better, the fisheries have had a chance to renew, the golf courses are in impeccable shape as well as the resorts. While tourism came to a crawl, the developers have taken the opportunity to remodel and you can be sure they are ready to make your next visit magical.While the occupancy rates have definitely taken a hit, Los Cabos has enjoyed a steady stream of die-hard loyal fans and we thank you for helping us during these times. You have helped us survive and thrive. The feeling around town is one of optimism and gratitude. You can rest assured that Cabo is back and ready to serve.Our team at Cabos Finest has been diligently working to bring you the latest and greatest of the various ways to have fun in this desert paradise by the Sea. We have been exploring the peninsula to bring you the finest activities, restaurants, beaches, resorts, new developments, and old historic videos that tell the story of Los Cabos. Whether you want to book a luxury yacht, explore an unknown beach, try the best tacos, sip the finest Mezcal or renew at the top spas we have you covered in our library of hundreds of informative videos.Of course, our primary business is real estate. Please enjoy our website that will effortlessly break down the options so you can find the ideal place to call home. Whether you want a vacation rental, a fractional winter home, or to make the move permanently we are here to assist. Our real estate videos take you inside the finest estates, beachfront villas, affordable condos, and golf course properties. While Los Cabos features some of the most exclusive and expensive oceanfront developments, you don’t have to be a billionaire to own here. Let us guide you to your perfect option, whether that is a long weekend, a season, half the year, or a permanent move.Living in Los Cabos is much easier than you may imagine. We often call it Mexico Light with a California twist. We have all the comforts of home, the advantage of a convenient location, some of the best weather on the planet, an abundance of natural beauty and wide-open spaces, and best of all – happy people living and loving the Los Cabos lifestyle from all over the world.So Por Que No? Why not book your next trip today? You may just decide to stay. That is what we did 17 years ago and that was the best decision we ever made.

Los Cabos holds a vast array of wonder and excitement for all ages and interest groups. Come play in our gorgeous Paradise! Most find this a habit they cannot refuse. 

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It’s a healthy habit, stick with it, return frequently and repeatedly, invest and stay as long as you can and desire. From timeshare, villa, or resort rentals to investment properties, your ways to experience Los Cabos stretches on and on. Cabos Finest is here for you, your knowledge, and your needs.