San José del Cabo VS Cabo San Lucas – Wich is better?

The «Los Cabos» area or «The Two Cabos» contains Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. Most tourists don’t even realize that these two areas offer something completely unique from one another, depending on what you are looking for. So which one should you visit? Keep reading to learn all about Cabo San Lucas vs. San Jose del Cabo!

Both Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo are picturesque – beautiful, warm, and sunny beach locales with a desert vibe. But that’s about where the similarities end. Though little more than 30 minutes apart, Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo couldn’t feel more different!

The Los Cabos municipality is made up of two individual towns: Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. When deciding whether to stay at San Jose del Cabo is Cabo San Lucas, there are a few key factors to consider. Let’s dive in!

Cabo San Lucas

A few decades ago, Cabo San Lucas was a small fishing village. Quiet, sleepy, and full of locals. Nowadays, Cabo San Lucas is undoubtedly flashy and lively! It’s the trendier of the two areas, filled with souvenir shops, restaurants, lively bars, and famous dance clubs. Swanky resorts line the oceanfront.

The vibe of Cabo San Lucas is very: Spring Break.» This area is young and festive. During actual Spring Break weeks, Cabo San Lucas is typically packed with college students walking the streets in all levels of sobriety (or lack thereof). In a word, it’s wild.

Cabo San Lucas is built right on the marina, meaning that you are not only close to beautiful beaches but also right next to where many boat tours depart. Day trips to Arch Rock and Lover’s Beach are a short water taxi away.

Dinner cruises and party boats depart almost directly outside of some hotels. Snorkeling adventures and whale watching cruises are also popular, and the tour guides are friendly and enthusiastic in my experience. It’s hard to have a bad time here. If you are someone who likes a lively scene with easy walkable access to tours, shops, and restaurants, then Cabo San Lucas might be for you. One thing to note, the SJD airport, where most tourists from North America will fly in, is roughly 45 minutes away. So you will need a rental car, taxi, or shuttle to get to your hotel.

San Jose del Cabo

San Jose del Cabo is the quieter of the two towns and is much less traveled by tourists. It is a quaint and, more authentically, «Mexico» in terms of architecture and population. Don’t worry; locals speak English, and the area was meant to cater to foreigners.

And that’s the beauty of it! There are still plenty of great restaurants, shops, and bars to be found in San Jose del Cabo. They are more likely to be local mom-and-pop style on this end of town. Additionally, developments such as Serena Residences are the first in this area, which means you can enjoy all the natural beauties and places without a dozen of people next to you.

You can enjoy the downtown by bike and enjoy the folkloric architecture of their buildings. The town offers gorgeous and open-to-public beaches, with easy turnoffs and free parking along the freeway. It is definitely possible to find luxury resorts in San Jose del Cabo, so if you want a private beachfront experience, you can find it here too. But San Jose del Cabo is less densely packed and more quiet and calm overall. The place has several golf courses in the area, so if you like to golf, this is your place.

This area also hosts a weekly art walk, with exciting and affordable (and more authentic!) souvenirs every Thursday night. Even an organic market where local farmers sell their fresh products to the people. San Jose del Cabo is roughly 15 minutes from the SJD airport.

So Which is Better?

When choosing between Cabo San Lucas vs. San Jose del Cabo, it really depends on what you’re looking for. Every person is different and prioritizes different things. If you prefer to be close to tours and nightlife, choose Cabo San Lucas. Cabo San Lucas is for you if you want to let loose and party. If you want to move to Los Cabos, San José is the best place to start. If you’re going to relax and blend in with the locals, choose San Jose del Cabo. For peace and tranquility, San Jose del Cabo is the place.

We love the peacefulness of San Jose del Cabo but also appreciate the walkability and outgoing nature of Cabo San Lucas. San Jose del Cabo is the serene little sister of the wild and exciting Cabo San Lucas.

I hope that this article helps you choose which area is right for you! When choosing Cabo San Lucas vs. San Jose del Cabo, it all comes down to personal preference. But they are both adorable to explore.