Day trips are popular options for visitors to the area, and one of the better ways to spend a lazy day in Los Cabos is by renting a car and visiting the series of beaches that line the Tourist Corridor between the two cape cities. Some of these beaches are well-traveled, some are virtually deserted and all offer plenty of scenic Sea of Cortez views. So whether you're looking for solitude, romance, fun in the sun or you just want to kick back in some of the area's most beautiful settings, this is a wonderful way to enjoy a day in paradise.
One of the first stops as you leave Cabo San Lucas should be at Playa Las Viudas. Also known as Widow's Beach and Twin Dolphin Beach, this is a great place for a romantic walk along the shoreline. The volcanic rock formations that dot the beach make for many arresting images, and this is a mandatory stop for amateur photographers. Nearby Playa Santa Maria is, along with Chileno Bay, one of two best corridor beaches, and provides excellent swimming and snorkeling. You'll have to bring your own mask and fins, however, as there are few rental facilities here. An alternative option is to go through Cabo charter companies like Slippery Lizzard and Amigos del Mar, which offer snorkel trips to Santa Maria and Bahia Chileno.
The beautiful blue waters of Chileno Bay. — Photo courtesy of Slippery Lizzard Sportfishing
Chileno Bay, unlike Santa Maria, boasts some very good facilities, including an onsite dive shop. Motorized water sports rentals like wave runners aren't allowed here, so despite the fact that this is one of the more popular beaches in the corridor, it still retains an easy-going charm. The swimming, snorkeling and diving are terrific here. Playa Bledito is a little farther up the coast, and is more colloquially known as Tequila Cove. This beach is ringed by several large resorts, so rental equipment, restaurants and restrooms are all within easy walking distance. Romantic horseback rides are also an option.
Palmilla is one of the more famous beaches in the corridor, primarily because of the nearby One & Only property that is perennially ranked as the best resort in all of Mexico. One & Only is quite exclusive, but Playa Palmilla is open to the public and offers parking and restroom facilities. Palapas have been installed to provide some shady spots in the sand, and water-based rentals like snorkeling and kayaking are available. Playa Costa Azul, just off the highway as you drive into San Jose, is a very good surfing beach. Bring your board or grab a table at Zipper's, order the BBQ ribs and a bottle of cold Victoria, and enjoy the show. This is the Los Cabos version of endless summer.