Things to do near the Médano Beach hotels: what you can walk to, and what to see from the water

From the Médano Beach hotels you can walk to the swimming beach, to Marina Cabo San Lucas and its restaurants, and to the Puerto Paraíso mall. Corazón Cabo, Casa Dorada and ME Cabo sit 0.6 to 0.8 km from the nearest boarding dock in a straight line, about 2 minutes by car without traffic. The Arch is the one thing you can't reach on foot: it is 1.9 km from the marina by water, and a 2-hour boat ride covers it.

How far is each Médano hotel from the marina?

These are straight-line distances from each hotel to the nearest boarding dock in the marina, with the drive time without traffic. At rush hour the drive takes longer; on foot, the straight line is the shortest the walk can be.

The first five are close enough to walk. From the three Riu hotels at the far end of the beach, a car ride into town makes more sense. All of them are in transfer Zone 3; the hotel guides have a page for each one.

Swim at Médano Beach

Médano Beach is Cabo San Lucas' swimming beach. It faces the bay, sheltered by Land's End from the Pacific swell, and it holds Blue Flag certification. Check the flag before you go in and swim inside the marked areas, because water taxis and yachts move along the beach all day.

Swimming conditions change along the sand. RIU says the swimming area is about 2 km from its Riu Palace Baja California, so if you are at the east end, ask the hotel where the marked area is closest.

Every beach in Mexico is federal property, so you can lay a towel anywhere for free. The beach clubs charge for loungers, shade and food. Our Médano Beach guide has the flag colors, the beach-club rules and what to bring.

Eat at the marina restaurants

The marina restaurants are an easy walk from the west end of Médano. These are the six we cover, with hours as of October 2026 (confirm before you go):

Captain Tony's is the early one, built for people heading out on the water. Nicksan has been serving sushi in Plaza de la Danza since 1994, and Lorenzillo's has a terrace over the marina. Three of them are also boarding points: the Chaparral 28 and Bayliner 30 meet you by Captain Tony's, the Azimut 45 at Baja Cantina and the Sea Ray 65 at Fisherman's Landing. The full rundown is in our guide to Cabo marina restaurants.

Walk the marina and Puerto Paraíso

The marina is the inner harbor of the bay, next to downtown Cabo San Lucas, with a boardwalk running along the docks. It is the place to look at the boats and get your bearings before a charter.

Puerto Paraíso is the mall on the marina, with indoor stores on several levels and a side that opens onto the docks. It is handy for air conditioning in the middle of the day and for anything you forgot to pack. Our shopping guide covers the craft stalls and what else is near the docks.

See the Arch from the water

From Médano you see Land's End across the bay, and you can't walk out to it. The Arch is 1.9 km from the marina, and the standard 2-hour Arch & Land's End route covers the whole tip of the peninsula:

The route also passes Divorce Beach, on the Pacific side, which is for photos from the boat because of the surf and undertow. Then it comes back along Médano, so you see your own hotel from the water.

The Pelican Rock stop is the easy snorkel: 2 hours, a morning departure, about 30 to 45 minutes in the water. The CONANP conservation fee for the protected area is included in our charter price.

Watch the sunset from the bay

From the sand at Médano the sun sets over land, not over open water. A 2-hour sunset charter rounds Land's End to the Pacific side and faces the sun as it drops toward the Cabo Falso lighthouse.

On the way back you come along Médano as the hotel lights come on. Yachts that leave from the marina can stay anchored in the bay until 10 PM, so you can sit off your own beach after dark. Our sunset cruise guide has sunset times for every month.

What about the kids and the dog?

A few things from the hotel guides that change plans:

• Casa Dorada has a pet-friendly policy, so you can stay on Médano with your dog.
• Riu Santa Fe has the Splash Water World water park, which Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas guests can also use.
• ME Cabo, Breathless and Riu Palace Baja California are adults only.

For a family boat day from Médano, the family experience is built around calm water, shade and room to move, usually 3 hours.

Which yacht fits a Médano stay?

Since most Médano guests walk to the marina, the choice comes down to group size. Two-hour prices, per boat with 16% IVA tax included; a 15% crew tip is suggested and not included.

Each yacht boards at its own dock in Marina Cabo San Lucas; your exact dock and a map link come on your boarding pass.

How to plan a Médano day around the water

Swim in the morning when the beach is quiet, take the boat out to the Arch around midday or for sunset, and walk to a marina restaurant afterward. Or flip it: an early snorkel at Pelican Rock, then the beach.

Pick a date and a yacht in the planner. We reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time, and you pay through a secure Stripe link once the date is confirmed in writing. We are an independent booking agency with no affiliation to the hotels named here.

Yachts in this guide

Sea Ray 36Express cruiser · up to 12 guestsfrom $659 / 2 hPontoon 38Double-deck party pontoon · up to 18 guestsfrom $869 / 2 hSea Ray 40Flybridge yacht · up to 12 guestsfrom $879 / 2 hSea Ray 55Flybridge motor yacht · up to 15 guestsfrom $2,129 / 3 h

Questions people ask

What is within walking distance of the Medano Beach hotels?

The beach itself, Marina Cabo San Lucas, the marina restaurants and the Puerto Paraíso mall. Corazón Cabo, Casa Dorada and ME Cabo are 0.6 to 0.8 km in a straight line from the nearest boarding dock.

Can you walk from Medano Beach to the Arch?

No. The Arch is at Land's End, across the bay, and the way to see it is from the water. It is 1.9 km from the marina, and our 2-hour route passes it along with Pelican Rock, the sea lions and Lover's Beach.

Is Medano Beach good for swimming?

Yes. It faces the calm bay, sheltered by Land's End, and holds Blue Flag certification. Check the flag on the day and swim inside the marked areas, away from boat traffic.

Are the Riu hotels within walking distance of the marina?

They are farther out. Riu Palace Baja California, Riu Santa Fe and Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas are 2.1 to 2.5 km from the nearest boarding dock in a straight line, 7 to 9 minutes by car without traffic.

Plan your day on the water

Pick a yacht, the hours and the food in the planner. A written reply within 2 hours, 8 AM to 8 PM Cabo time.

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