9 Things to Do in Cabo

Established in 1996, this 25-acre farm in the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains has become a leader in the region for organic, sustainable farming. In 2010, the pretty, open-air Flora Field Kitchen and Farm Bar followed, where the fruits of the farm are served for lunch and dinner and crafted into creative cocktails like the “Farmarita,” their version of a margarita made with heirloom carrot juice and Cazadores Reposado tequila. Go on a Sunday for an à la carte brunch with dishes like herb scrambled farm eggs and lemon ricotta pancakes. There’s also a small grocery where visitor’s can purchase freshly baked bread and produce.

Imagine crawling into a tiny, igloo-like hut filled with molten-hot rocks and having a shaman splash you with water and rub herbs all over your body. Sounds like an ancient torture method, right? It’s actually a Mayan ritual called a temazcal ceremony, and its benefits (increased circulation, clear skin, reduced stress) far outweigh the risks. We tried it at Playa Grande Resort in Los Cabos—where a treatment includes singing and chanting along to the steady beat of a drum— and left feeling ten times more relaxed than we have after any beachside massage.

Golfers from all over the world come to Cabo San Lucas for its optimal climate, unbeatable desert-meets-ocean scenery, and big-name links from the likes of Greg Norman, David Love III, and Tiger Woods. Of all the area’s nine public courses, our favorites include the Jack Nicklaus-designed Cabo Del Sol Ocean Course (which Nicklaus himself described as “the best golf property I’ve ever seen”), the Quivira Golf Course, whose 18 fairways span desert foothills and windswept dunes, and the Palmilla Golf Club, a course renowned for its challenging layout. Meanwhile, players considering private membership should look into Diamante Dunes, the No.1-ranked course in Mexico.

RELATED: 8 Best Golf Courses Around the Globe

One of the newest farm-to-table concepts in Cabo, Acre Baja is a more contemporary version of Flora’s Farm, with a design-forward space and an inventive food and cocktail program. All the menu items are prepared using ingredients grown on the surrounding 25 acres of organic farmland, and the rustic décor (twig pendant lights, handmade blue-and-white tiles, a lattice roof) is entirely sourced from local artisans. As for the eats, there are comfort-driven classics (whole roasted hen with pickled radish and soy jalapeno) and creative, Asian-inflected fare (crudo ceviche with lemongrass ice, fried chicken skin, and kaffir lime)—plus a cocktail menu designed by Danielle Tatarin, who owns the popular Keefer Bar in Vancouver. We'd recommend the Paloma Damiana, a tequila-based cocktail with grapefruit, damiana tonic, and salt.

RELATED: Mexico's Best All-Inclusive Resorts

Looking to inspire FOMO among your Instagram followers? Charter a boat (or better yet, a yacht) to El Arco, or “the arch,” Cabo’s rugged limestone formation at the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula. The iconic rock formation stands astride the point where the Gulf of California meets the Pacific Ocean—a spot commonly frequented by families of lounging sea lions and blue-footed boobies. Like we said: Insta gold.

When we think of the ultimate brain-off-bliss-out beach vacay, a place like Grand Solmar comes to mind. Situated on a prime swath of sand and backed by the craggy peaks of Land’s End, the 246-room resort has one of the most picture-perfect settings in all of Cabo. Park yourself on a sun lounger by one of eight pools or treat yourself to a massage at one of the seaside spa cabanas, where you’ll have the sound of waves crashing as your soundtrack. When hunger strikes, amble on over to La Roca, the hotel’s main restaurant, for savory seafood dishes and authentic Baja cuisine, or tuck into shrimp ceviche and sashimi salad at the Sushi Lounge. Guestrooms are hacienda-style and feature expansive balconies with commanding water views.

Whale sharks can grow up to 65 feet and weigh close to 75,000 pounds, but don’t worry— the aquatic giants only eat plankton and algae, which makes the prospect of swimming alongside them seem far less threatening. And if you sign up for a swim and snorkel trip through Cabo Expeditions, a certified guide will ensure you have a magical (not to mention, safe!) close-up encounter. Note: whale shark season in La Paz runs from early winter until late spring.

Cabo’s most famous nightlife destination is not for everyone. Case in point: when we went, there were people dancing on tabletops and double-fisting frozen daiquiris. But in terms of a scene, you’re not going to find a place with better dancing or people watching. Not into after-hours antics? Go during the day, when there’s a live band, delicious tacos, and a tamer crowd.

RELATED: Your Holiday Checklist for a Beach Getaway

If and when you tire of resort life, hit the road in the direction of Todos Santos, a bohemian artist-meets-surfer community an hour north of Cabo San Lucas. The beach town attracts a civilized crowd of California surfers and New York fashion types, most of whom can be found sipping mescal-based cocktails around the turquoise-tiled pool at the new Hotel San Cristóbal. Surfers will want to hit up the beginner-friendly breaks at Playa Cerritos, located about 20 minutes south of town, while travelers who prefer dry land adventures should hike to the top of Punta Lobos. Before heading back to Cabo, make a stop at Hierbabuena, an alfresco restaurant located within an organic farm.