Destination Guide: San José Del Cabo
THE GIST
San José del Cabo is the second largest city in Los Cabos, behind the very well-known Cabo San Lucas. If you’re slightly disoriented because you just read the word Cabo three times in one sentence and wonder what the difference is, you’re not alone.
San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas are two different resort areas on the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula. San José is about 20 miles east of Cabo San Lucas and pretty much a 20-minute, straight-shot drive from the airport. Think of San José as the simpler, more laid-back destination of the two; with a more historic downtown, quieter nightlife, and a classier, old-school vibe, it attracts less hustle and bustle from tourists and vendors but still offers the best of Cabo: beautiful beaches, great restaurants, and amazing resorts.
THE PEACH + THE PIT
The best thing about San José del Cabo: the overall casual, friendly vibe.
San José feels laid-back in every sense of the word, from the pretty-but-not-too-pretentious resorts to the unassuming downtown area to the pleasant locals who are actually nice to tourists. Even its more hip and trendy restaurants or hotels feel tasteful and classy rather than showy or overrated. The city strikes a wonderful balance of offering plenty to do, eat and enjoy without the sometimes overwhelming buzz of a popular, busy destination.
The best thing about a casual, friendly vibe is that you get to match it. Take advantage of all the amenities your resort has to offer. Maximize your time at (or rather, in) the pool. Make new friends at the hotel bar or get to know the locals who graciously serve you. Explore the main street or go out for a delicious meal. Treat yourself to a spa visit. Whatever you do, it’s the ideal location just to sit back, relax, and get away.
The worst thing about San José del Cabo: the beaches aren’t swimmable.
While the long stretch of sandy beaches in San José is beautiful, unfortunately, the water is often too rough and the undercurrent too dangerous to actually swim in. That’s not to say it’s impossible to find a swimmable beach, but you’ll have to seek one out, and it may not be convenient to get to. If this is your main priority, check out Tulum or Puerto Vallarta for safer, more swimmable beaches.
Because most beaches in the San Jose del Cabo are closed to swimmers, that means most beaches will not be crowded — so if you only like to go to the beach for the sand and the views, you’re in luck. The problem is, especially during summer or fall, when you’re most likely to visit for warm weather, it’s usually too hot in Mexico not to be constantly dunking yourself in some kind of body of water. And it doesn’t help that once you stick your feet in the ocean, you’ll realize it is quite literally the perfect temperature...the one you dream of swimming in. The temptation will be real to immediately dive in, but don’t do it. Just go back to the hotel pool, swim up to the bar, and forget about the beach.
THE HIT LIST
FLORA FARMS
Flora Farms is one of those hip, trendy spots mentioned above. It’s a unique and popular place that draws tourists to the area, and it certainly lives up to the hype. Just up the hill from San José, Flora Farms is a 25-acre organic working farm tucked away in the foothills. Every inch of the farm is lovely, from Flora Farms Grocery to the Shoppes to the Farm Bar. And there’s so much to explore on the grounds, like farm tours or cooking classes or even a spa. But Flora’s Field Kitchen alone is worth the visit.
Yes, Flora’s is the “bougie” and “basic” spot where all the 20-something girls go for brunch. But it’s so much more than that.
Not only is the restaurant (which is obviously farm-to-table) completely charming, but the food and cocktails are delightfully fresh, beautifully made, and absolutely delicious. With a seasonal menu, the Field Kitchen serves what they make, raise and grow on the farm...and you can taste the difference. Whether you go for the fluffy eggs full of fresh herbs, the lemon ricotta pancakes (which you definitely should), a gorgeous bloody mary with more vegetables on top of it than you’ve eaten all weekend, or a wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza, you will not be disappointed.
LA LUPITA TACO & MEZCAL
With locations in both San José and Cabo San Lucas, La Lupita seems to be one of the more happening spots in downtown San José and comes highly recommended. It’s colorful and lively and fun.
but most importantly,
this place serves up some of the best tacos you’ll ever eat.
source: lalupitatym.com
With over two dozen tacos on the menu, you will want to try every single one. Each is skillfully constructed in terms of ingredients and flavors; so thoughtfully and interestingly made. They are gourmet but extremely affordable, and just so tasty. You can keep it simple with classics like santo pastor (a must) or chipotle shrimp, or you can get wild with suckling pig or shredded beef tongue. Whichever tacos you choose, the only regret you will have is not ordering more.
THE HIDDEN GEMS
CABO AZUL RESORT
When you go to a resort city like San José, it’s no surprise that you often end up spending most of your time at the resort itself. So choosing where to stay is really important. Cabo Azul may not be a resort that comes to mind — it’s not a well-known name like the Viceroy, a popular boutique hotel like Cabo Surf, or a 5-star luxury resort like Palmilla. But it’s a wonderful, more affordable option that you’ll be pleasantly surprised by, which makes it a hidden gem.
Cabo Azul is perfect for a low-key weekend getaway or a relaxing girl’s trip, and has pretty much everything you need for a pleasant, enjoyable resort vacation.
The hotel feels grand when you walk in, with a big open-air lobby and beautiful oceanfront grounds. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful. The rooms and villas are clean and spacious. There’s a full-service, tranquil spa. There’s casual poolside dining at Flor de Noche (more A+ tacos), as well as a Javier’s Restaurant on site (which serves amazing gourmet Mexican cuisine). And there are several large, sprawling infinity pools complete with cabanas, day beds in the water, and a swim-up bar with decent drinks — which taste a little better at daily happy hour 2-for-1 prices.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
TIPPING
While pretty much everywhere accepts credit cards, it’s a good idea to carry some cash with you while you’re in Mexico, if only just to tip those serving you. The restaurant waiters, bartenders, drivers, and hotel employees that’ll help you throughout your stay work extremely hard, often for a low minimum wage that doesn’t compensate them enough. And if they aren’t tipped in cash, they may not see much of the tip, so carry some pesos to make sure your tip is actually going to them. For the best exchange rates, visit or call your local bank to order pesos before your trip. Many places, especially at the resorts, will also accept US dollars as tips.
WHEN TO VISIT
Cabo tends to have the most ideal weather in October - November; the humidity and precipitation drop off and leave you with sunny, 75-degree days. But if you don’t mind some muggy heat and plan to be in the pool most of the time anyway, head there in the offseason during the summer to save some money and enjoy a less crowded experience (at times, you’ll feel like you have the whole hotel to yourself)! Pro tip: if you go during the offseason or even during COVID while capacity is lower, be sure to ask about upgrades at your resort — you just might find yourself in the penthouse suite for a deal you can’t turn down.
until next time, cabo
by Carly Weaver
Carly, a New-Jersey-native-turned-Los-Angeles-local, has worked in digital marketing for the past decade doing everything from copywriting to creative production to brand strategy. But she’s always had three great loves: food, travel, and writing. That’s where Ogden Pacific comes in.
All-time favorite travel story? That time she slept in a drawer in a Florence hospital. All-time favorite meal? Well, as a decidedly unemotional person she’s been moved to tears by a single bite of food more than once...so let’s not even go there right now. All-time favorite destinations? The Jersey Shore for Springer’s Homemade Ice Cream and pure nostalgia. The British Virgin Islands for endless crystal clear seas and some of the nicest people on earth. Montana for that clean, crisp, mountain air and $2 Moose Drools enjoyed over dive bar shuffleboard. And Italy for literally...every...single...thing. Including that bite of burrata she cried over.
She’s here to help inform you, guide you, entertain you, and inspire you to find your next all-time favorite trip. (And also to help make sure you don’t end up in a drawer while you’re there.)