There are beach destinations, and then there are places where the landscape practically dares you to get out and explore it. Los Cabos falls firmly into the latter camp. At the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Sur peninsula, the region sits between the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean, with great sweeps of desert, cactus-covered mountains and an immensely photogenic coastline in between.
It means that while spending an afternoon horizontal beside the pool is always an option, Los Cabos rewards travellers prepared to venture a little further. One day might involve hiking through a mountain canyon; the next, bouncing across the desert by ATV before cooling off with a snorkel in gin-clear water. Here are some of the best ways to experience its wilder side.
Take to the trails
Away from the coastline, Baja California Sur quickly reveals just how rugged it is. Hiking trails lead through rocky desert terrain, deep canyons and vast open landscapes that feel a world away from Los Cabos’ resorts.
For some of the region’s most spectacular scenery, head towards the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range, a dramatic wilderness of peaks and canyons rising above the peninsula. Routes range from accessible walks to more challenging hikes and bouldering adventures, making it possible to see another side of Baja whatever your pace.
Head off-road
When walking feels altogether too sedate, there’s another way to tackle the desert. Los Cabos’ dusty arroyos, sandy tracks and wide-open terrain make it prime territory for ATVs and dune buggies.
Guided excursions head deep into the Baja backcountry, climbing across rugged trails and sweeping through desert landscapes before, on some routes, emerging beside the Pacific. It’s noisy, dusty and considerably more exhilarating than your average sightseeing tour.
Dive into the blue
The geography of Los Cabos gives it something of an unfair advantage when it comes to water. The region sits at the meeting point of the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez, meaning the coast plays host to everything from laid-back sailing trips to high-octane watersports.
Snorkelling offers a glimpse beneath the surface in protected marine areas, while fishing charters head into waters that have long made Los Cabos a favourite with sport fishers. Back above water, there are plenty of ways to make the most of the coastline, whether that means kayaking, taking to a paddleboard or sailing into the sunset with the desert silhouetted behind you.
Explore the desert differently
Not every adventure needs an engine. Horseback rides along the Pacific coast offer a slower way to take in the landscape, following sandy trails before reaching the surf, while camel rides through the desert make for one of Los Cabos’ more unexpected excursions.
For a different perspective again, zipline courses cross cactus-lined canyons from above, while guided nature walks offer a closer look at the wildlife and ecology of this unusual meeting point between desert and sea.
And when daylight disappears, there’s little reason to hurry back indoors. Camping and glamping experiences allow travellers to spend the night out in Baja’s wilderness, beneath skies largely untouched by light pollution. After a day spent racing across sand dunes, hiking mountain trails or swimming in the Sea of Cortez, it’s a fittingly dramatic way to finish.
Find your own adventure
Los Cabos might be famous for its beaches, but the best way to understand the destination is to move through it. Hike it, ride it, sail around it or plunge beneath the surface – this is a landscape built for doing rather than simply looking at.
Reaching it is easier than it used to be. Condor now flies from London to Los Cabos via Frankfurt, putting the south of Baja California Sur a day's travel away, with good reason to look ahead and book early.
To find out more see visitloscabos, and to book flights with Condor visit condor.com
