Best things to do in San José del Cabo (Baja California Sur, México): a travel guide with everything you need to know

Quieter, more artistic and bohemian than its partying and well-known neighbor Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo is an ideal city to base your exploration in Los Cabos, close to the airport and some of the best beaches in the area.

In this guide, we try to reflect everything to see in San Jose del Cabo with specific itineraries in 1, 2, or 3 days with practical suggestions, where to stay and even where to eat so you can make the most of your trip.

Check out our complete guide to Baja California Sur if you are planning a trip to the area.

Basic facts for traveling to San Jose del Cabo

Language: Spanish

Currency: MXN ($) Mexican Peso (1$ equals 20$ MXN approx.). Check the updated exchange rate here

Population: 136,285 (in 2020)

When to visit: You can go all year round, although in our opinion the best time to go is from November to April, when there is the possibility of seeing humpback whales and the weather is good enough to enjoy the beaches. We detail more about when to go to San Jose del Cabo in this section of the guide.

How many days: Minimum one day, but ideally 2 or 3 days to get to know Cabo San Lucas as well. In this section we share specific itineraries for San Jose del Cabo to help you organize your trip.

How to get there:  There are some international flights to Los Cabos International Airport, or you can fly first to Mexico (Cancun or Mexico City are usually the cheapest options), and from there to Los Cabos. We recommend you use flight comparators such as Skyscanner and Kiwi and be flexible with the dates to get the best possible price. More details in this section of the guide.

Visa: With a US, Canadian, European or UK passport it is not necessary to obtain a visa. Upon arrival in Mexico, it will be enough to show your valid passport, and depending on your departure date, you will be given up to a maximum of 180 days. Although Mexico does not require a passport with at least 6 months validity, some airlines do, so it’s better to comply.

Where to stay: Ideally, you should stay in the heart of San Jose del Cabo or, if you prefer, in a hotel on the beach. We give you more details and options in the Where to Stay in San Jose del Cabo section of the guide.

What to bring: A good travel insurance (in this link we give you a 5% discount on the one we always carry) and here is the list of what you must have in your backpack for this trip

Getting around: The best option is to rent a car. There are bus and public transport connections but they do not reach all places so if you can it is better to rent a car to move around freely. More info on how to get around San Jose del Cabo in this section of the guide.

How much it costs: From 1200 MXN (60$)/day per person (approx.) depending on the type of accommodation, meals and how much you want to explore the surroundings. More budget information in this section of the guide.

Internet connection: If you are visiting for a few days, your phone supports eSIM and you don’t want to complicate things, we recommend Holafly eSIM (unlimited data, 5% discount with the code RANDOMTRIP) or Airalo eSIM (limited data, but cheaper, 15% discount with the code RANDOMTRIP15). Otherwise, the cheapest way is to get a local SIM (we recommend Telcel). More info here

Vaccines: there are some recommended vaccines if you travel to Mexico, you can check them here

Time zone: UTC -7

Where is San Jose del Cabo

San José del Cabo is a tourist city in the area known as “Los Cabos“, the name given to the southern part of the Baja California Sur peninsula in western Mexico. Those who speak of Los Cabos usually refer to Cabo San Lucas, its most famous and touristic destination, and to the capital of the municipality, San José del Cabo. Los Cabos is also the municipality that encompasses these two places and a few others. Here you can see the location of San Jose del Cabo within Mexico:

Here you can see a more detailed map of the Los Cabos area, where you can see Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo (and further north, other tourist areas of Baja California Sur such as La Paz or Todos Santos):

When to visit San Jose del Cabo

In our opinion, the best time to visit San Jose del Cabo is during the winter months, from December to April, which coincides with the migration of various types of whales and when in San Jose del Cabo you will be able to see humpback whales up close and with weather good enough to enjoy the beaches.

Also, if you are going to Los Cabos between November and June and you only have one day to visit San Jose del Cabo (if you are making base in Cabo San Lucas, for example) try to coincide your visit on a Thursday to enjoy the ArtWalk, an art event we will tell you about later in this guide that takes place every Thursday in San Jose del Cabo during those months.

To decide the best time to go to San Jose del Cabo, there are 3 main factors: the weather, the marine fauna and the tourist demand, which we detail below.

Weather in San Jose del Cabo

The climate in San Jose del Cabo is quite hot and with very little rain, as you can see from its desert landscapes. During the summer, temperatures rise to the point of being uncomfortable, reaching peaks of 40º between May and October. From June to November, it is also hurricane season, so it is best to avoid those months.

Here is a summary table of the weather in San Jose del Cabo to give you an idea of what to expect:

Weather chart in San José del Cabo (Baja California Sur) with temperatures and rainy days per month:

Month	Minimum temperature	Maximum temperature	Water temperature (average)	Rainy days
January	16º	26º	23º	2
February	16º	27º	22º	1
March	17º	28º	21º	0
April	19º	30º	21º	0
May	22º	32º	22º	0
June	24º	33º	23º	1
July	26º	34º	26º	3
August	26º	33º	28º	6
September	25º	33º	29º	6
October	22º	33º	28º	2
November	20º	30º	27º	1
December	17º	27º	25º	2
Month	Minimum temperature	Maximum temperature	Water temperature (average)	Rainy days

Marine fauna in San Jose del Cabo

One of the great attractions of San José del Cabo is the possibility of seeing humpback whales that arrive here on their migratory routes.

The best season to see humpback whales in Los Cabos is usually between January and March, although the official season runs from December to April and the humpback whales usually start arriving in November.

Tourism demand in San Jose del Cabo

The times of highest tourist demand (and therefore, when we will find more people, more lines, more expensive prices and more complications in going to the most famous restaurants or places) are:

• Summer (June to October): besides being school vacation time in many countries and increasing demand (and prices), it is the rainy season.
• Easter Week (March/April)
• National holidays (November, December)

So we recommend you avoid those dates if you want to enjoy the city more calmly and with better accommodation prices.

Important festivities in San Jose del Cabo

If you want to be in San Jose del Cabo for the biggest parties of the year, don’t miss out:

• Traditional festivities of San José del Cabo (March): a week of concerts, gastronomy, horseback riding, etc.
• Day of the Dead: October 31, November 1 & 2
• Mexican Revolution (November)
• Christmas and New Year’s Eve (December)

Summary: Best months to visit San Jose del Cabo

Based on the above, if you are looking to visit San Jose del Cabo with less people, good weather and reasonable prices, the best months are November, December, January, February, March and April.

How to get to San Jose del Cabo

The closest airport is Los Cabos International Airport (about 20 minutes drive from San Jose del Cabo), which has some international flights or you can also fly first to Mexico (Cancun or CDMX are the most common and cheapest options), and from there to Los Cabos.

In our case, we flew to Los Cabos airport from Cancun, on the Yucatan Peninsula, at the other end of Mexico. We used the low-cost airline Viva Aerobus, on a flight that had a stopover in Toluca (near Mexico City) but without having to get off the plane (a quick 30-minute stopover). The flight from Cancun to Toluca took about 2h30, and from Toluca to Los Cabos about 2h.

The other nearby airport (La Paz) is only 2h20 from San Jose del Cabo, so it can also be an option.

We recommend that you use flight comparators such as Skyscanner and Kiwi and be flexible with dates to get the best possible price.

Los Cabos International Airport is a 20-minute drive from San Jose del Cabo so if you have a rental car (something we recommend to explore Baja California Sur) it is very easy since you can pick it up right there, as we did at Randomtrip. If you don’t have a car, you can take a Ruta del Desierto bus that connects Los Cabos airport with San Jose del Cabo, or hire a transfer (starting at 39$ per vehicle)

Do I need a visa to travel to Mexico?

For people with USA, Canada, UK and European passports it is not necessary to obtain a visa. Upon arrival in Mexico, it will be enough to show your valid passport, and depending on your departure date, you will be given up to a maximum of 180 days.

Although Mexico does not require a passport with at least 6 months validity, some airlines do, so it’s better to comply.

Are there any mandatory vaccinations for travel to Mexico?

There are some recommended vaccines if you travel to Mexico, you can check them here

How many days to stay in San Jose del Cabo

To visit San Jose del Cabo we recommend 2 to 3 days, so you can visit not only San Jose del Cabo but also Cabo San Lucas, although if you are staying in Cabo San Lucas and want to see the center of San Jose del Cabo, one day is enough.

In this section we share specific itineraries of San Jose del Cabo to help you organize your trip.

Things to see and do in San Jose del Cabo

Map of San Jose del Cabo

Here we include a Google Maps map that you can take with you on your smartphone to use during your trip with all the places we recommend to see in San Jose del Cabo in this guide:

Plaza Mijares (Mijares Square)

Plaza Mijares (Mijares Square) is the main square in the historic center of San José del Cabo. Its name comes from Lt. José Antonio Mijares, a Spanish military man (born in Santander) who obtained the required nationalization to serve in the Mexican Navy and participated in the battles of San José del Cabo, where he died in 1847.

There you can appreciate the kiosk in the center of the square and an open-air amphitheater where several cultural events are held throughout the year.

Being in the heart of San José del Cabo, this square is also the meeting point where locals and tourists mingle while strolling, eating ice cream, enjoying a terrace, contemplating one of the art galleries or shopping in one of the stores in the square and adjoining streets.

In addition, this square takes on special prominence on Thursdays when the Art Walk is held (which we talk about below in this guide) because in addition to the craft stalls and works of art that flood the square, the narrow streets of the Art Walk end here, among the smell of delicious tamales, live music and many people.

On the west side of the plaza is the Church of San José where the original Mission was established, which we will tell you about below.

Mission San José del Cabo

The history of all of California is marked by missions, used by settler priests to (forcibly) “evangelize” the native people, both in Alta California (now the United States) and Baja California (now Mexico).

Mission San José del Cabo, or Mission Estero de las Palmas de San José del Cabo Añuití, dedicated to San José, was founded in 1730 by Father Visitor José de Echeverría and Father Nicolás Tamaral. It was built on the site that the Pericúes (native population) called Añuití, 50 km south of the mission of Santiago de los Coras on the coast of the Gulf of California; five years later the mission was moved to the beach, but in that same year (1735) it was restored to the original site of San José del Cabo, where it is located today.

It is worth mentioning that this mission was the scene of the Indigenous rebellion of 1734, the strongest Pericú rebellion that took place in Old California, which encompassed all the missions in the extreme south and lasted until 1937, where Father Nicolás Tamaral died, a priest who in only his first year in charge of the Mission had forcibly baptized 1034 Pericúes…

In addition, the mission also suffered a fever epidemic that caused the death of most of the Indigenous population in 1769 and heavy floods in 1793 caused by rains that destroyed it (being rebuilt in 1799). Despite the state of decadence that the mission had in the XIX century, in 1822 it was able to repel the attack of the ship Independencia, which was commanded by Chilean insurgents. During this attack, the missionary temple suffered severe damage, which left it in very bad condition. In addition, also in 1918 the temple was heavily damaged by a cyclone but thanks to successive restorations it still maintains the original exterior facade.

Inside, there is a mosaic painting that represents an allegory of the indigenous rebellion in which Father Tamaral died.

Art Walk (on Thursdays)

The San José del Cabo Art Walk is a weekly event that takes place every Thursday from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm between November and June.

On that day, the studios and art galleries around Álvaro Obregón Street open their doors until 9:00 p.m. and invite visitors to enter, appreciate the works of art and, in some cases, even enjoy a drink and a snack. It is common for the galleries themselves to coincide Thursday with the opening of an exhibition or even an event with the artists present. Of course they do it not only to promote art but also to encourage the purchase of their works to those who are interested, so if you are looking for a beautiful piece of local art from Baja California Sur, this may be the right place for you.

The narrow streets of downtown San Jose del Cabo are flooded with people, there is live music, full terraces, a huge variety of paintings, sculptures, crafts, talks with the artists themselves and a great atmosphere that you should not miss.

In addition, in this “Art District” of San José del Cabo you will also find restaurants (some of them quite sophisticated) or bars where you can taste Baja California wines, tequilas or mezcal. If you are more of a beer lover, there is also Baja Brewing with delicious beers of their own production that we had already tasted in Cabo San Lucas.

Costa Azul Beach and Hotel Beach

Considered the surf capital of Los Cabos during the summer months, Playa Azul and Playa Hotelera are really the same beach but just have different entrances. In the winter, when the sea is calmer, you can enjoy swimming here although when we went on Randomtrip, in February, the swell was quite strong.

Several surfing competitions are held every year, but if you’re particularly fond of the sport, the best time to visit is in June, when the World Surf League hosts its annual Los Cabos Surf Open at Zippers, the break north of the creek (ideal for championships and more experienced surfers). If you’re not that experienced, head south to The Rock (for intermediate surfers) and Old Man’s (also known as Acapulquito Beach), ideal for beginners or longboarders.

Estero de San José del Cabo Municipal Ecological Reserve

Declared a Natural Protected Area in 1994, the Estero de San José del Cabo Ecological Reserve is one of the most important wetlands in the region, a natural jewel of fresh water and biodiversity where the waters of the Pacific and the Gulf of California converge and where several species find refuge.

It extends for approximately 50 hectares and is surrounded by palm trees, lagoons and marshy areas, which makes it an ideal habitat for more than 250 species of birds, both migratory and resident. Among them are species such as the white pelican, the Mexican duck and shorebirds that use the estuary as a resting place during their long migrations.

This ecosystem is not only valuable for its biodiversity, but also for its role in regulating the local climate and protecting against flooding. It is also an important site for the conservation of endangered species and for ecological recreation for visitors, who can enjoy nature trails, bird watching, and kayaking. Despite its ecological importance, the reserve has been threatened, facing several challenges in the face of rampant tourism and commercial development in Los Cabos, underscoring the need for long-term protection and conservation initiatives.

Humpback whale-watching

One of the main reasons to come to Los Cabos was to catch a glimpse of a humpback whale breach, the most photogenic and acrobatic of whales.

If you also want to do it, you can do it from both Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. Of course, in San Jose del Cabo there are fewer boats that do the whale-watching tours and the boats usually have to go to Cabo San Lucas, so our recommendation if you want to maximize your chances of seeing humpback whales is to hire the tour from Cabo San Lucas.

At Randomtrip we fulfilled our dream of seeing them up close as we saw not one, not two, but several jumps in a row on the two whale-watching tours we did from Cabo San Lucas with Whale Watch Cabo.

If you also want to live this magical experience we advise you to visit Los Cabos between December and April (which is when the humpbacks are passing through) and, very importantly, choose to do it with a responsible company (whale watching is happily regulated in Mexico) that prioritizes the welfare of the animals and complies with the official regulations. We recommend Whale Watch Cabo in Cabo San Lucas as we had a great time, with biologists on board with whom we learned a lot and who demonstrated a great commitment to the rules and to the animals.

There are several shifts to do the whale-watching tour (morning and afternoon) and since Cabo San Lucas is only half an hour away from San Jose del Cabo, you can easily go and come back on the same day of the tour.

Book your 2h30 responsible humpback whale watching tour with Whale Watch Cabo here

In our complete guide to Humpback Whale Watching in Los Cabos in a responsible way we tell you everything you need to know to do the humpback whale watching activity in Los Cabos with practical information about the best season to go, prices, who to do it with, how many days, whale watching rules and even where to sleep so that your experience is as special as ours was.

Humpback Whale Watching in Cabo (Baja California Sur, México) in a responsible way: everything you need to know

Beaches between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas

Between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas there are a number of beaches that you can enjoy on your trip to Los Cabos.

Acapulquito Beach

Playa Acapulquito is the surfing beach par excellence, if you practice this sport you can not miss it because it usually offers waves for all levels being the best time for surfing in the summer months. It is, therefore, home to many surfing competitions.

Free parking is also available

Palmilla Beach

The beautiful Palmilla beach, surrounded by coves protected from the wind, is actually closer to San Jose del Cabo. It is a fishing beach so you will see the occasional local boat out in search of fish to sell to the local resorts or restaurants.

Some sporting events take place here, such as the swimming leg of the renowned Ironman triathlon. Parking is free of charge.

You enter through a luxury resort complex Club Ninety Six but there is actually a public entrance to the beach here.

El Chileno Beach

We found El Chileno beach very beautiful, but also very crowded, not only with people arriving by car but also with tour boats that make a stop to snorkel here. It has fine golden sand and transparent waters.

It is also known for its marine life so there is good snorkeling although here if you have forgotten your kit, you can rent it. The truth is that they rent you everything: chairs (250 pesos), umbrella (300 pesos), snorkeling equipment (350 pesos with vest and fins), kayak (600 pesos) and paddle board (800 pesos). The beach has all kinds of services such as restrooms and showers. Parking is free.

If you prefer, book your 3-hour snorkeling tour from Playa El Chileno here (mask, snorkel and fins included).

Santa Maria Beach

Santa Maria beach is a beach known for snorkeling and marine life lovers (we already told you that it is essential to bring your own snorkeling kit for your trip to Baja California Sur, right?) which is mostly concentrated near the rocks. The beach has restrooms, showers and there is umbrella and chair rental service. Parking is free.

It is surrounded by two hills, has a horseshoe shape and the sand is not fine but somewhat coarse. In general the waters are calm but the day we went on Randomtrip, in addition to the fact that it was cloudy, there was a lot of waves, plus a lot of noise from the construction of a complex that was being built right on the beach… so it was not one of our favorites. We liked the beach we talked about next better.

Get inspired by the stories of our visit to Los Cabos

You can see the featured Instagram stories about our visit to Los Cabos here.

Where to stay in San Jose del Cabo

• Hotel Casa Ceci Inn (from 47$/night): simple rooms in the heart of downtown San José del Cabo with parking included to leave the car.
• Desert Heart Hostel (from 48$/night): close to the art district of San Jose (and its bars and restaurants) but in a quiet area where you can relax, this hostel is ideal if you come on a budget and stay in one of its rooms.
• Hotel Colli (from 83$/night): ideal rooms in a small 3-star hotel with the particularity of offering a free bicycle service to guests
• Marisol Hotel Boutique (from 117$/night): 10 suites and studios in small hotel near the beach and several restaurants
• Drift San José del Cabo (from 134$/night): designer rooms in a hotel with gardens and outdoor swimming pool
• Casa Natalia Boutique Hotel (from 233$/night): exquisite and carefully decorated rooms in a boutique hotel with an excellent location and swimming pool, restaurant and bar.

Exclusive accommodations in San Jose del Cabo

• Hilton Vacation Club Cabo Azul: stunning resort with a 5-star Mexican restaurant
• Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos: 5-star all-inclusive resort with lagoon-style pools, spa and fitness center
• Alegranza Luxury Resort will probably be one of the most exclusive accommodations in San Jose del Cabo (where, for example, Enrique Iglesias usually stays when he comes to Los Cabos).
• Viceroy Los Cabos Oceanview Apartment, a futuristic two-bedroom luxury apartment with private beach access
• One and Only Palmilla, 13 private luxury beachfront villas with private spa treatments, two swimming pools and several restaurants in the luxury complex

Find more accommodations in San Jose del Cabo on this link.

Where to eat in San Jose del Cabo

In Baja California Sur we ate very well, the main ingredients are fish and seafood and you will find them in a variety of ways: fish or shrimp with different types of tortillas (tacos, tostadas, burritos, quesadillas…), molcajetes, ceviches, aguachiles… One of the specialties of the area is the chocolata clam, a large clam that can be prepared in different ways.

The following are our favorite restaurants in San Jose del Cabo.

• Tamales Doña Nina: street tamales stand by the church, delicious.
• Armario, Art – Coffee – Bar: we had a bite to eat while having cocktails, good atmosphere and good cocktails.
• Baja Brewing: home-brewed beers in the heart of San Jose del Cabo’s Art District
• Tequila: if you are looking for something more fancy, this restaurant has a nice patio, tequila tasting (with more than 50 varieties) and dishes where tequila is also an important part of the garnish.

San Jose del Cabo itineraries

Things to see and do in San Jose del Cabo in 1 day

One day will not give you enough time for everything Los Cabos has to offer, but you can take advantage of it to visit several places and, if it is in season, to see the humpback whales. Depending on your arrival/departure time, you may not have time to do everything we suggest.

One-day itinerary in San Jose del Cabo

• Walk to the beach in the hotel zone and if the weather is good, take a dip.
• Humpback whale watching tour
• Walking through the historic center (if it is Thursday, with the Art Walk, all the better).

Things to see and do in San Jose del Cabo in 2 days

In two days you can see a lot, including a visit to Cabo San Lucas.

2-day itinerary in Los Cabos

Day 1: Arrival and humpback whale-watching tour in Cabo San Lucas. If you arrive early you can add another plan like a tour to the arch and the beaches of love and divorce in Cabo San Lucas. You can watch the sunset from the sea on the tour or at Solmar Beach.

Day 2: spend the day visiting San Jose del Cabo, both its historic center and its beaches, or the beaches between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

Things to see and do in San Jose del Cabo in 3 days

We consider 3 days the ideal amount of time to get to know Los Cabos (both Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo). Here is a 3-day itinerary:

3-day itinerary in Los Cabos

Day 1: Arrival and humpback whale-watching tour. If you arrive early you can add another plan like a tour to the arch and the beaches of love and divorce in Cabo San Lucas. You can watch the sunset from the sea on the tour or at Solmar Beach.

Day 2: spend the day visiting San Jose del Cabo, both its historic center and its beaches, or the beaches between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

Day 3: make the climb to Cerro del Vigia with Henrique first thing in the morning. If you have time to spare, you can enjoy other beaches in Cabo San Lucas, go to the Natural History Museum, etc.

Transportation: Getting around San Jose del Cabo

Once in San Jose del Cabo and in the center of San Jose del Cabo, the ideal way to get around is walking, since the distances are short in the historic center where most accommodations and restaurants are located.

But to move around the area of Los Cabos and go, for example, to the beaches on the way to Cabo San Lucas (or even go to Cabo San Lucas, to the whale tour for example), the easiest way to move around is by car (own or rented), so you can have the freedom to move around at your own pace and avoid wasting a lot of time getting around. In our case, we rented a car at the Los Cabos airport, where we landed, for our month-long trip through Baja California Sur.

We recommend using comparators such as Discover Cars to be able to compare prices and conditions quickly.

For the dates we wanted, we decided to rent with America Car Rental. The car (in our case, a small Nissan March quite new) worked perfectly, we had no problems and both the pick-up and return were fast and smooth. We can highlight the attention received by both the person of the pick-up and the one of the return, both treated us very well and gave us many tips (of Baja California Sur in the pick-up and of Oaxaca, our next destination, in the return). The price was 540 MXN (about 28$) per day, extending the insurance to have no excess.

Some tips when driving:

• Sometimes there are military controls, where you will have to stop and get out of the car and they will inspect the vehicle and ask you some questions (where are you coming from, where are you going, how long are you in the state, etc.). There is nothing to worry about, they are routine controls, just collaborate and that’s it. Randomtrip was stopped twice, both times without any problem.
• The roads are generally in good condition, but there are areas where there are potholes that if you go through them too fast you can damage the car: drive slowly, with caution and attention, and avoid driving at night.
• Animals sometimes cross the roads without warning: cows, roadrunners, etc. One more reason to drive slowly, with caution and attention, and avoiding the night where it is more difficult to see the animals in time.
• Always fill the tank before leaving, especially when you are going to make longer trips: sometimes it is not easy to find gas stations, or you find one but it is disabled because they are refilling the tanks, so you should always have extra fuel.
• Parking is usually not a problem, it can only be a bit more complicated in Los Cabos / La Paz, but even there we always find parking space easily. Many accommodations have parking as well.

In case you don’t want to (or can’t) rent a car, you have some public transportation options:

• In San Jose del Cabo, Cabo San Lucas and La Paz you can use Uber.
• Autobuses Aguila connects the main cities of the peninsula between Los Cabos and Tijuana.
• Within Los Cabos (connecting Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and the airport) you have Ruta del Desierto buses.

How to get from the airport to downtown San Jose del Cabo

Los Cabos International Airport is a 20-minute drive from San Jose del Cabo so if you have a rental car (something we recommend to explore the area, when we went the car rental was around 600 pesos/day approx) it is very easy as you can pick it up right there, as we did at Randomtrip.

The toll from Los Cabos airport to San Jose del Cabo costs 46 Mexican pesos.

If you don’t have a rental car, you can take a bus from the Ruta del Desierto that connects the airport to San Jose del Cabo, hire a transfer that will be waiting for you and take you to your accommodation, or pay for a cab.

How to have internet in San Jose del Cabo

To always have internet on your smartphone, the easiest and most convenient way (if your phone supports eSIM) is to buy an eSIM from Holafly, which has unlimited data (you get a 5% discount with the code RANDOMTRIP), or to buy an eSIM from Airalo, cheaper but with limited data (15% discount with the code RANDOMTRIP15)

The other option, cheaper but more cumbersome, is to buy a local SIM, which we recommend is from Telcel (the main telecom company in Mexico, with more coverage).

Safety: Is it safe to travel to San Jose del Cabo?

Los Cabos is the most touristic area of Baja California Sur, which is one of the safest states in Mexico, so you have nothing to worry about, beyond the typical precautions you should take when traveling abroad.

In any case, we always hire our Iati travel insurance (which also covers our belongings) which gives us more peace of mind. If you contract your travel insurance in this Randomtrip link, you will get it with a 5% discount.

Money in San Jose del Cabo: cards to save on commissions

To pay and withdraw money in Mexico while minimizing fees, we recommend the 2 cards we use in our case:

• Revolut: with the standard version up to 1000$ without commission on card payments (remember to always pay in local currency – Mexican pesos). Up to 400$ of withdrawals at ATMs without commission, from then on commission of 1%.
• N26: with the free version you can pay with your card without commissions in an unlimited way. For ATM withdrawals, you pay 1.7% commission, which you can eliminate by paying for the monthly plans You (the one we use) or Metal.

It is important to keep in mind that although your card does not charge a fee for ATM withdrawals, ATMs in Mexico do charge a fee for their use. The ones that charge the least are Banamex (31 pesos, 1.7$), Banco Santander (34 pesos, 1.8$) or Banco Azteca (34 pesos, 1.8$), so when withdrawing money try to withdraw as much as possible to save money.

Another important issue when withdrawing money at an ATM in Mexico: many times the ATM will ask you if you want the transaction to be done in local currency (Mexican pesos) or in your own currency (in our case, it was euros): always choose the local currency option, otherwise, it will apply an unfavorable exchange rate and you will be overpaying (as a hidden commission).

The above also applies to card payments (although the option almost never appears, on several occasions also when paying with a card in establishments we were shown an amount in euros instead of pesos). In our case it almost always happened to us with the orange CLIP terminals. If this happens to you, ask the person to charge you in Mexican pesos.

A bad practice in Mexico is that in any business where you want to pay with a card, they have the habit of asking you for your card and do the whole process themselves, passing you the terminal only to enter the PIN (in Mexico they call it “firma” or NIP). This means that sometimes, depending on the type of terminal, you do not see the amount and/or you are charged in the original currency of your card instead of in Mexican pesos – making you lose money because an unfavorable conversion is applied. Always ask nicely to be allowed to see the process to make sure you are charged the correct amount and in local currency.

Finally, some establishments charge an extra commission for payment by card (the times it happened to us, it was 5%), they always tell you before and if you do not see it when confirming the amount. In those cases, it is better to pay with cash.

Tipping: The tipping culture is very well established in Mexico, and although it is not and cannot be obligatory by law, it is in practice, since it is frowned upon not to leave a tip. It is recommended to leave a minimum of 10% (usually you will be asked at the time of payment, and if you pay by credit card, the terminal usually gives you the option of adding 10, 15 or 20% as a tip).

How much does a trip to San Jose del Cabo cost?

Making a budget is complex as it depends greatly on your type of trip: how many plans you want to include in your trip, if you are going to go to restaurants or cook to save money, the type of accommodation you are going to use… In any case, so you can get an idea, we leave below the average prices and what we consider as average price per day (we reiterate that these are ORIENTATIVE prices and may vary at any time):

• Flights/transportation within Mexico: From 1200 pesos (60$) from CDMX and from 3000 MXN (150$) from Cancun round trip flight without checked baggage with low cost airlines. Use flight comparators like Skyscanner and Kiwi to find the best price.
• Transportation: From 500 pesos (25$) per day for a basic car rental and insurance with excess.
• Accommodation: from 45$/night for a room with private bathroom or small apartment with kitchen. Find accommodation of all types and prices on Booking, with up to 15% discount.
• Restaurants: a multitude of options between 100 and 600 pesos (between 5$ and 30$) per person, for all tastes.
• Tickets: If you go in season, humpback whale watching tours cost about $89 per person.

In total, a weekend trip (2 nights) to San Jose del Cabo can cost you between 1200 and 1600 pesos (between 60$ and 80$) per person per day, with the cheapest lodging options, eating out in cheap restaurants and doing a humpback whale watching tour (not counting flights from abroad to get to Mexico).

Useful Apps to get around San Jose del Cabo

• Uber: taxi/VTC ordering app
• Google Maps(Android / iOS): is the one we use to save/classify all the places we want to go/we have been and as GPS both to orient ourselves on foot and if we rent a car. It also includes public transport information if there is any. You can see other people’s opinions of the places, photos, restaurant menus, telephone numbers to contact them, etc. You can also open our map with all the places included in this guide.
• Maps.me(Android / iOS): application similar to Google Maps but works offline (although Google Maps can also work offline, it works better) and in many cases has information that Google Maps does not have.
• Windy(Android / iOS / Web): essential app for our trips. It allows you to see forecasts of rain, clouds, wind, etc. to help you plan your days based on the weather (as there are places that lose a lot depending on the weather). Obviously the forecasts are not 100% reliable.

Tips for traveling to San José del Cabo as a responsible tourist

• If you are going to do the whale watching activity, choose to do it with a responsible company (whale watching is happily regulated in Mexico) that prioritizes animal welfare and complies with official regulations.
• Be responsible when visiting a place: a large influx of people to a certain site can have a negative impact so respect the rules, do not climb the tree/monument you are visiting, do not paint on the walls, avoid touching and, out of respect for the rest of the people visiting the place, do not make noise or “monopolize” the place with your photos.
• Take care of the natural monuments and respect the existing rules
• If you rent a car, respect the speed limits on highways.
• Avoid the use of plastic and do not throw trash away
• Do not be an accomplice to animal abuse: do not promote any attraction where animals are in captivity and/or used for human entertainment.
• Respect other people: don’t play your music loud, pick up your trash; don’t throw cigarette butts, etc. Leave the place better than you found it.
• Always travel with travel insurance: medical expenses, theft or problems with your plane on a trip can cost you a lot of money, so the ideal thing is to take out travel insurance. At Randomtrip we always use IATI and we recommend it. If you purchase your insurance through this link you have a 5% discount.

Checklist: what to pack in your backpack/suitcase for San Jose del Cabo

Here is a list of must-see items to bring with you on your trip to San Jose del Cabo:

• International plug adapter such as these as they use type A plugs (those with two flat parallel pins).
• A reusable water bottle like one of these to carry water with you all the time and void single-use plastic.
• Water Shoes as these ideal to carry always with you to avoid hurting your feet when entering the water or not touching the ground.
• Snorkel kit (mask and snorkel) like this, a must to bring on this trip and contemplate the seabed. Besides being more hygienic because you do not share your snorkel with anyone, in several places they do not rent the equipment and, even if they do rent, with a couple of times you already amortize the price of your own kit.
• Water proof dry bag like this one, very useful to keep your photographic equipment, cell phone and wallet safe from getting wet on the boat (whales sometimes blow near the boat or even hit the water with their fin or tail near the boat, and water can reach the boat).
• UV protection T-shirt like this because in some parts of the Mexican Caribbean it is forbidden or not recommended to use sunscreen / sunblock because its composition damages the marine ecosystem.
• Quick-drying towel such as one of these, which, in addition, does not take up much space in the backpack/suitcase.
• A hat or a cap (like this one) and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun
• A good camera to register your adventures. At Randomtrip we carry a Sony ZV-E10 and a Gopro Hero12 Black (for underwater pictures)
• A Power bank: taking so many pictures will drain your batteries, so it’s always a good idea to carry a good powerbank. At Randomtrip we travel with these 2 (Anker 20000 mAh and  Anker 10000 mAh), which allow us to charge both our phones and our cameras.
• Sun screen: the sun is strong in Baja California Sur so it is a must to take care of your skin. Always look for a Coral Friendly Sunscreen, i.e. one that protects your skin without harming marine ecosystems by avoiding ingredients such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are harmful to corals. Nor that it has been tested on animals.
• Mosquito repellent: like this one, it should have at least 15% deet
• First aid kit: In our first-aid kit there is always a medicine against seasickness (such as biodramine for seasickness on boats), antibiotics, anti-diarrhea medication (and a probiotic to recover more quickly), antihistamines, painkillers and antipyretics and, of course, travel insurance. If you hire your travel insurance with IATI using this link you will get a 5% discount

---

All set to start your trip to San Jose del Cabo? Bon Voyage, Randomtripper!