Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Viva la Mexico!
It’s the dead of winter and we all could use a little break from the cold. So I’m taking you on a trip south of the border to a magical place called Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Vámanos!
On President’s Day weekend a bunch of my best friends and I traveled to Cabo for our beautiful friend Kristen’s bachelorette party! It was an incredible celebration for our girl, and such a fun and memorable trip. We dined on the beach, boated around the bay, and danced the night away!
Honestly, I’ve been wanting to go to Cabo since the cast of Laguna Beach traveled there for Spring Break… and that aired when I was in Middle School. Based on their epic experience, and the many years it took me to get there, the bar was set very very high. But I can now say understand why it’s such a popular destination. You will love it for having all the best aspects of a relaxing beach vacation paired with the most fun and lively set of clubs and restaurants.
While I highly recommend it for a bachelorette party location, it also works as a couples trip, a solo holiday, a family vacation, or with a group of friends. For any celebration, Mexico knows how to make you feel welcome, and how to throw a party. If you are considering a trip to Cabo read more for all of my helpful planning tips and recommendations.
Getting There
Fly into SJD (San José del Cabo International Airport) where you can take a quick ride to the hotels in the San José area, or have a driver take you 40 minutes downtown to Cabo San Lucas.
I really enjoyed this airport. It’s easy to navigate, not too crowded, and has a variety of food options. Plus, if you’re waiting for your car at the arrivals exit you can grab a margarita and catch a tan at one of the several outdoor bars outside the airport!
Travel Tips!
Stay a few days: From New York this is a fairly long amount of travel (6+ hours there, 5 hours home) plus you need to pack your passport and clear Customs. Feels like enough of a reason to stay a few days! Four days would make it worth your while.
When to go: Cabo is the perfect winter destination. If you’re planning to travel to Mexico February was a nice time of year! So much warmer than the Northeast but not too hot or humid where it feels uncomfortable. Pack some light beachy clothing, sunglasses, SPF and you will be all set!
Book a Covid Test for your return: In order to enter the U.S after visiting Mexico you must provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test. I highly recommend that you pre-arrange to be tested at your home to be as convenient and least interruptive as possible. There are many local services that do this now, but usually your hotel or rental concierge can help arrange.
Where To Stay
There are a number of amazing hotels and home rentals in Cabo.
We stayed in the Pedregal Villas which I highly recommend. We booked our weekend at the Villa Perla de Law which was one of the coolest homes I’ve ever stayed in, and easily the largest!
It’s a large gated community full of mansions, which were clean and beautifully cared for, and it boasted some of the most gorgeous panoramic views of the ocean. We were spoiled by welcome drinks and fresh guacamole on the first day, tons of amenities, and a daily maid service which meant essentially no clean up required upon our exit.
I swear pictures don’t do this place justice. It was epic!
Need more options to explore and lust over? Here are just a few of the best hotels in Cabo San Lucas!
Biggest Splurge
Some more Top Hotels
Things to Do
Great weather, beautiful scenery, and a nation full of tequila makes for the perfect playground for a bachelorette party or vacation.
In our long weekend we jumped from one fun activity to the next, and boyyyy did we have fun. From whale watching, to hanging by the pool with a margarita, to clubbing all night long. Cabo offers a lot of choices! Here are a few ideas based on our weekend.
Boat Day
Hop on board! The boat was my favorite activity of the weekend. We spent the day cruising around the beautiful bay, taking in the scenery and super yachts, sipping on drinks, and watching whales jump out of the sea.
There are plenty of different options for boat rentals but I loved the company we worked with. They were a full service charter where we didn’t have to worry about anything from the moment we stepped aboard. We were greeted with some fresh watermelon juice cocktails and homemade guacamole, delivered shots and glasses of champagne, and later they grilled fresh shrimp fresh tacos along with a whole lunch.
Make sure you check out some of the cool rock formations in your boat ride around Bahia San Lucas, like Pelican Rock and the Arch of Cabo San Lucas.
The boat was plenty big enough for all of us, with separate indoor and outdoor spaces spread across a top deck and lower level.
Wouldn’t be a bach if you didn’t see one of these bling pool rings.
Party at Mango Deck
I have really never been anywhere like Mango Deck before. The place is an absolute party, and perfect for a group outing. Our group had a table right in the middle of all the action, on the beach close to the stage. I’ve truly never laughed so hard in my entire life than when our friend Michelle won the “sexiest girl on the beach competition” and the attention of every male in Cabo San Lucas.
A few more places to keep the party going downtown!
Here are some options for going out at night, and places to DANCE!!
Mandala (reserve a table)
Where To Eat
I love Mexican food, it’s one of the few cuisines that I can crave constantly and rarely get bored. I was so excited to go back to Mexico because the last time I was in Cancún I stayed at an all inclusive resort without exploring other food too much. I was ready to branch out and try some more authentic cuisine.
Before traveling to Cabo myself I had watched many friends, acquaintances, and influencers travel there. I took note of some of the best restaurants and added them to my list. This trip we had a packed schedule and less opportunities to dine out, but here were the best meals of the weekend!
Dinner at The Office
I didn’t know that when we arrived at The Office on The Beach we would be getting both dinner and a show. But this place was a ton of fun!! Great spot for groups, the food was good, and the entertainment was super interactive. Our bride was pulled on stage to compete in a dancing musical chairs competition, and she of course was a crowd favorite! It was also a great location for hopping to other bars in town afterward.
Home with a Private Chef
My favorite meal of the trip was right in our casa. On our last evening in Cabo San Lucas we enjoyed a delicious meal made by a private chef. The dinner included freshly made jalapeño margaritas, guacamole, carnitas tacos, and grilled veggies. Everything was cooked perfectly.
And after consuming about 6 slices of Domino’s the night before I needed some nutrition!
And here are some of the best restaurants I hope to dine in on my next visit!
First and foremost on the list, Flora Farms seems like a truly amazing experience beyond just dining. Depending on where you are staying it may be best to make a day trip out of it. There is a lot to do! Located in San Jose del Cabo about 45 minutes from downtown, this restaurant offers fresh and organic farm to table food. There is also a bar, hotel, grocery, spa and shoppes!
Fine dining, beachfront at the Nobu hotel
Farm to table dining and cooking classes
Fine dining at the Waldorf Astoria
Small authentic restaurant with a pretty incredible menu
Incredible dining from Enrique Olvera (the world renowned chef behind Pujol and Cosme)
Appropriately named the Drunken Sailor, for its marina location and the seafood forward menu
Beach house inspired Mexican cuisine with dreamy views of the sea
Vibrant dining experience in a jungle setting
Adiós, Mexico
It was a fantastic trip, and I hope to return to Mexico again soon. I’ve been hoping to visit San Miguel Allende, Mexico City, and Tulum within the next few years. This trip just made me even more excited to plan out those future visits, because I love this country.
Shout out to our bride, her amazing MOH, and our expert group of party planner friends for planning an amazing weekend. It went by way too quickly, but I guess that’s what happens when you’re having fun!
I leave you with this gorgeous sunset I couldn’t walk away from.
I hope this post has either convinced you to book a trip to Cabo or to take a mini-break with tacos and margaritas. After all, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere!
Xx Gab
Complete Guide to exploring the neighborhoods around London, England. Sharing the best restaurants, tourist spots, shopping districts and hidden gems from Notting Hill to Marleybone!