el Medano Beaches

Playa el Medano is one of the premier beaches in Cabo San Lucas and is well-known for swimming and surfing opportunities. Additionally, its stunning beauty attracts tourists and backpackers from all over North America. Meaning the dune in English, El Medano stretches two miles from the northeast side of the Los Cabos harbor along Bahia San Lucas all the way to Villa del Palmar. El Medano Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the area, and it is often referred to as the best beach in Cabo by locals and tourists alike.

Playa el Medano was first discovered in 1537 by Francisco de Ulloa, the navigator for the famous explorer Hernán Cortés. Between 1565 and the early 1800s, Medano Beach was a pirate's haven, as buccaneers waited to ambush Spanish ships returning from Philippines. Today, el Medano is the best beach in Cabo that offers an array of activities in and out of the water, including swimming, parasailing, and beach volleyball. Visitors can enjoy the nearby restaurant in between activities, or simply rest and sunbathe while enjoying the views of El Arco and other formations along Land’s End.

In addition to being a good swimming spot, Playa el Medano also offers adventure water sports. From kayaking to riding the small waves by catamarans, there are plenty of things to do at El Medano. There is an array of rental facilities for numerous water sports, and the rental huts provide good-quality sailboats, ski boats, and other watercraft such as jet skis. Visitors can also choose to rent a boogie board and surf the gentle waves. Other popular activities at Medano Beach include banana boating, parasailing, and volleyball, and there are several beach volleyball competitions held in el Medano. Tour operators at the beach also arrange diving and snorkeling trips to sites near El Arco and the Land's End peninsula.

Because the beach is near downtown Cabo, you will find plenty of restaurants and Mexican bars within easy reach. Known for its party atmosphere and all-day happy hours, el Medano has some of the finest bars in the area, and many tourists enjoy margaritas or pints of cold beer at Las Palmas, Mango Deck, and Billygan's Island, among others. In this urban setting, you will also find numerous beach vendors selling everything from palapas, inflatable rafts, and beach gear to silver jewelry, unique tattoos, and hair accessories.

With so many things to do here, many travelers find that el Medano is the best beach in Cabo for them. El Medano is easily reached on foot from downtown Cabo San Lucas, and the array of activities and amenities near the beach means that you’ll find everything you need to spend a full day relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water.