A nighttime view through green palm leaves of a lit up resort and pool below.

A family friendly destination; stunning mountains; an amazing, crystal blue ocean; and 350 days of sun per year!

Poolside at a hotel, with palm trees and desert environment beyond, from "Los Cabos: Part 2 - For the Adults!"

Now that traveling is opening up, are you itching to take not only a family trip but also a real girls’ trip (or guys’ trip) just to hang out and have a little fun? Well, I recently went on a trip to Los Cabos, Mexico, and though I enjoyed it with my family, I want to return there with my girlfriends as soon as they all can get away.

Los Cabos is one of my favorite new destinations in Mexico, and you may want to add it to your list for your next trip.

In case you all are unfamiliar with the location of Los Cabos, it makes up the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Sur. It is best to fly to Los Cabos in terms of getting there and many bigger airports have non-stops to Los Cabos.

In my opinion, Los Cabos has the best of both worlds. Sunny, dry heat paired with gorgeous views of mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other side. When people ask me to describe it, I always say it is like Arizona, but with an ocean view. What could be better than that?

For my trip to Los Cabos, I wanted to experience an all-inclusive resort and also a regular, non-inclusive resort, so we decided to stay at the all-inclusive Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa for the first half and then transfer to the JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa for the second half of our visit. Although I don’t like to pack up and move too much, for me, it is always fun to stay at one resort and then surprise yourself with a new resort to explore. 

So, here is where to stay and what to do on your next trip to Los Cabos.

Where to stay

Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa

Located on the Sea of Cortez, Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa is a AAA Four Diamond Resort that is all-inclusive and has over 260 private balcony suites facing the ocean. We stayed in one of these suites, and it was just heavenly. The best part about an all-inclusive is that you pay one price, and you can eat and dine at your leisure. Of course, there are upgrades if you choose, but for the most part, what is included is unlimited dining, unlimited drinks (this can add up on a girls/guys trip), 24-hour room service, pool, beach wait service and free WiFi. What’s not to love?

Two wine glasses and a wine bottle sit atop a glass table on a balcony overlooking palm trees at a resort, from "Los Cabos: Part 2 - For the Adults!"

Plus you can enjoy the beautiful pools with a swim-up bar, cabanas and all with a view of the beach. One note, the beach in Los Cabos can have a strong current, so it is advised you maybe dip your toes in the water but hang out laying on the beach, playing volleyball or just enjoying the beach view from the pools at the resort.

One fun way to really enjoy the views is a sunset dinner, and if you are wanting to sleep in after a night at the resort, room service is included. We ordered a beautiful breakfast with a Mexican twist and had a leisurely meal on our balcony facing the beach. It was the best way to start our morning! Afterward, we checked out the spa and had an amazing massage! We chose to stay in the spa, but if you want a massage on the beach, the resort has that option. And, who doesn’t want a massage on a beach?

JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa

After staying in the all-inclusive, we were ready to head to our next resort, the JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa. After experiencing the vibrant mood of the Dreams resort, the JW Marriott was a tranquil oasis with stunning views of the ocean. Both were different, but yet so beautiful, and it was great to experience two unique resorts.  

A long pool enclosed on the sides, but opens to the blue sky on the top, from "Los Cabos: Part 2 - For the Adults!"

The JW Marriott has rooms and suites, and we chose a room overlooking the ocean with a wonderful private balcony. But, in fact, the entire resort faces the ocean!  The best part was not only the pools, in which they have both freshwater and saltwater options, but also the swim-up bar. That was a big hit.  Also, they have a wonderful kids club if you are traveling with your family; but if with adults, they have an adult pool, as well.

What to eat

At the Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa, because it is all-inclusive, you can enjoy several meals on location. But it is always nice to explore the town, as well as enjoy the local flavors. Upon recommendation from some Los Cabos insiders, we were able to experience unique and special restaurants that are a “not to miss” when visiting Los Cabos.

Los Tamarindos

On a wooden table and cutting board sits a dish with a wooden spoon, a small plate of food, and a tall drink behind, from "Los Cabos: Part 2 - For the Adults!"Located in San José del Cabo, this special restaurant was like discovering a secret after driving on a dirt road and happening upon an oasis. We took a car service, and the car drove in the early evening to this amazing organic farm and restaurant that seemed to appear out of nowhere. It is located in a farmhouse dating back to the 19th century, and the farm and restaurant are located on what was a former sugar cane plantation. Early in the 2000s, the executive chef decided to help to create a sustainable farm, and thus the farm-to-table restaurant was born. The setting of the farm as your view, coupled with the Mexican architecture as you sit outside in the warm evening, was just stunning. To top it off, the food was so fresh, sustainable and was visually gorgeous. This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip, and I would highly recommend this gem of a farm-to-table restaurant when visiting Los Cabos.

La Revolución

On a wooden board, there is a tortilla, two small dishes of black dip, and a long slice of bread with various toppings, from "Los Cabos: Part 2 - For the Adults!"Located in the quaint, artsy town of San José del Cabo, the restaurant is located in a beautiful historic building that in of itself is like visiting a local chef’s home. The outside seating was so pretty, and the food was an explosion of unique organic and sustainable dishes that all are sourced locally. You can’t go wrong with booking a table at this restaurant, but it does get busy, so make sure to make reservations. And, don’t leave without trying the local favorite Mezcal cocktail, a blend of chili poblano liquor, sesame oil, citrus juice and green seed powder. After one sip, you will relax and know you are truly partaking in the culture of San José del Cabo.

AGAVE Kitchen

You can’t go to Los Cabos and not have a tequila. It’s a tradition and some of the best in the world is known to come from Los Cabos. Check out this fun and quaint restaurant in Los Cabos!

What to do

Cabo Adventures

Although Cabo Adventures is clearly designed for the tourist, this is a one-stop shop for almost every bucket list adventure that you want to explore in Los Cabos. The nice part is if you have a group of friends or family with different interests, you can sign up for so many different adventures, so everyone is doing what they want to do. We opted to sign up for the Electric Bike Beach Adventure in which we rode bikes in the desert and on the beach, but if we stayed longer, I would have jumped at the chance for several more adventures.

Some of the adventures that Cabo Adventures offers are:

  • Whale watching
  • Camel rides on the beach
  • Burro Safari Tour
  • Swimming with seals 
  • Swimming with whale sharks
  • Catamaran snorkeling…and more!

A group of people wearing orange life vests sit inside a boat and smile. In the background, the are great rocks that stick out from the ocean in article, "Los Cabos: Part 2 - For the Adults!"

Quick tip—Cabo Adventures was located about 1 ½  to 2 hours by car from Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa, but it was an easy ride and a great way to check out the land. That said, Cabo San Lucas is a very large city, so check out the distance from your hotel and allow yourself enough time when planning your adventures.

How to get there

Flying from any major airport is the best way to get to Los Cabos, and many cities have a non-stop flight. We traveled from Chicago, so it took about 4 hours non-stop to get from our hometown to beautiful and sunny Los Cabos. We went from gray skies and snow, to arrive and see a beautiful crystal blue ocean, palm trees and gorgeous sun! In fact, they say they have 350 days of sun a year! We were in heaven.

Colleen Kelly rides on an electric bike on a desert path, from "Los Cabos: Part 2 - For the Adults!"

Transportation when you get there

In my opinion, Los Cabos is a very large and spread out destination. So, that said, if you are planning on leaving the resort (some people don’t), I would definitely advise renting a car. Another option is to use a car service such as Uber or a private service. We used a car service as needed and found it a very easy way to get around Los Cabos.

Quick tip—Dollars are widely accepted almost everywhere, so no need to exchange your currency!  

Overall, if you are looking for one of my now favorite family friendly destinations in Mexico, put Los Cabos on your list. Like I said before, it is like Arizona but with an ocean and with 350 days of sun. You will be happy you did!

By: Colleen Kelly

Read the first article in this series: “Los Cabos: Part 1 – For the Kids!”

A WLS-AM 890 Chicago radio podcast about Los Cabos is featured on https://www.wlsam.com/round-trip-with-colleen-kelly/.

Click to subscribe to the Colleen Kelly Travel Newsletter.

Parent, travel writer, and seasoned traveler, Colleen Kelly grew up traveling all over the world. She has experienced the United States from coast to coast and has explored over 20 foreign countries. Her vast knowledge of travel brought her to realize the need for a new kind of travel experience and focus—one that is centered around the family.

As a family travel expert, Colleen doesn’t miss a beat as she offers her personalized tips to parents. Her fun-loving personality pulsates through every moment of the show. She is the ultimate modern-day parent who isn’t afraid to kick back, get a little messy, and have fun!

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