When it comes to traveling on a dream vacation to Mexico, people often choose between Cabo San Lucas or Cancún. Both cities have a lot to offer and excite with their unique vibes.
Cabo vs Cancun – The Cost
Both places have similar prices when it comes to accommodation and food. However, they can vary depending on the time of the year, peak season, and so on. In both cities, you can spend hundreds of dollars a night for luxury accommodations or find more modest rooms if you are on a tighter budget. You can also expect to pay more when you are in the heaviest touristy areas on your trip. The cost of your plane ticket will vary based on your starting point which may make a big enough difference for you.
Cabo vs Cancun – The Beaches
Paradise beaches are what make both destinations so desirable. Yet there is a significant difference in how they look.
Cancun has beautiful, sandy beaches that stretch for miles along the shore. As it’s located in the place where the Gulf of Mexico connects with the Caribbean Sea, the water is warm and has a turquoise color.
It’s a perfect place for those who enjoy swimming and fancy water sports.
Los Cabos beaches are rougher in comparison to Cancún. The sandy beaches are decorated with various rock formations. The Sea of Cortez, which surrounds Los Cabos, has water with a deep blue color.
The waters of Los Cabos are famous because of powerful undertows. Because of that, you need to be careful when choosing a beach. The main swimming beach is Medano Beach.
Cabo vs Cancun – The Food
Cabo San Lucas offers a lot of touristy food spots. If you have a car, you can also check out towns nearby to try genuine Mexican cuisine from the region. San José del Cabo is a perfect place to savour local tastes. To connect with nature, you should visit two organic farms located nearby: Flora’s Field Kitchen and Los Tamarindos.
Some of the most popular foods from Los Cabos are:
- smoked marlin,
- Mexican chocolate clam,
- Pitahaya,
- Shrimp and Fish Tacos.
As Cancún focuses mostly on all-inclusive experiences, most hotels offer breakfast and lunch. In the area, you can savor dishes from Mexican and international restaurants. Local spots open after 2 p.m. and serve meals until midnight.
While savouring Cancún’s cuisine, don’t forget to pick typical food from the region:
- Marquesitas,
- Castacán,
- Salbutes,
- Panuchos,
- and much more.
Cabo vs Cancun – Accommodations
In Cancún, the most popular place to stay in the so-called Hotel Zone. The area includes over 100 hotels and resorts that range from 2-5 star hotels. Many are resorts with extra amenities with several all-inclusive options.
Cabo also has a pretty great choice of hotels and all-inclusive resorts but not as extensive as in Cancún. The level of luxury in Cabo tends to be higher.
In both locations, you can easily find Airbnb villas and apartments.
Cabo vs Cancun – Climate
Los Cabos is much drier, and there are more sunny days than in Cancún. With 10 inches of rain per year, you can be sure that you won’t spend your holiday time in a hotel because of showers. The annual average temperature is 27 degrees Celsius. Between May and October, tropical storms and hurricanes can occur.
Cancún has a tropical climate with 250 sunny days per year. The rain falls mostly in the wet season, between May and October. During the year, the average temperature is 28 degrees Celsius.
Cabo vs Cancun – Things To Do
Los Cabos has a lot to offer. The various landscapes allow for enjoying mountain hikes, leisurely rests on sandy beaches, and trails through the desert. One of the main attractions of this place is observing blue whales that migrate from Alaska. There are also multiple options for water sports amateurs, such as snorkeling, surfing, or visiting an underwater waterfall.
Cancún offers a vivid nightlife and great shopping experiences with upscale shopping malls such as La Isla and Luxury Avenue. It’s worth visiting two paradise islands located nearby, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel. Chichen Itza is a place located two hours from Cancún. It used to be the capital of the Mayan civilization. The other city worth a visit is Tulum.
Lovers of water sports can enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving at the Caribbean Sea coral reef.
Cabo vs Cancun – Nightlife
Cancún is famous for its vivid nightlife. In nightclubs, you can purchase an open bar bracelet that gives you entry to the club and unlimited drinks. If you like bar crawling, you should choose one of many bar hopping tours on which you can visit various nightclubs in one night. Coco Bongo, Señor Frogs, and Mandala are the most popular spots for tourists.
Los Cabos is a perfect place for those who want to hide from the party lifestyle. You can experience calmer romantic attractions here, such as Mexican guitar concerts, rooftop bars, or wineries. Colonial architecture and old cobblestone streets give this place a unique charm both day and night.
Cabo vs Cancun – When to Visit
Even though the hurricane season starts in mid-May, you can still visit Los Cabos without meeting a crowd between May and June. October and November are also a good choice, but remember to book your hotel a bit earlier to not overpay.
If you want to observe whales in Los Cabos, the best time to choose is mid-December and mid-April.
The best time to arrive in Cancún is between December and April. It’s a peak season but the flights are very cheap. The perfect weather makes it a great spot for a winter beach getaway. Between mid-March and early April, the place is packed with tourists because of the spring break, so you should avoid travelling here at that time.