When comparing Cabo San Lucas vs Cancun, which do you go for?
It is no secret that Cabo San Lucas and Cancun are two of the most popular Mexican tourist hotspots.
They both boast some of the best hotels, cuisines, and landscapes of outstanding natural beauty.
When considering where the best place in Mexico to stay for the sea, sand, and suntans; it’s between these two.
Cabo San Lucas vs Cancun
Admittedly, neither spot can truthfully claim to have the quietest areas for the relaxing traveler, but the differences between the two places are down to the culture and attitude.
Who knew that having a different ocean could change so much? Let’s pit these spots against each other to see which you should visit.
Cabo San Lucas
The popular spot at the tip of the Baja California Peninsula is a mainstay for the classic American road trip.
Outdoor restaurants, Lover’s Beach and El Arco are extremely popular places to see in Cabo for Americans and Mexicans alike.
However, there are some downsides to the great Baja beaches. Some have a dangerous undercurrent that tourists have sometimes been ignorant of.
Also, the area isn’t as built up as Cancun; which to some travelers is a benefit. We’ll let you decide!
Is It Safe To Go To Cabo San Lucas?
Cabo San Lucas is one of the world’s prime vacation spots for good reason.
Accommodation choices range from ultra-luxury retreats to down-to-earth glamping getaways, with levels of hospitality to match.
There are plenty of resorts and Mediterranean-style outdoor restaurants and swimming pools.
However, although it is considered one of the safe places to visit in Mexico, The state in which it is situated, Baja California Sur, has high levels of crime when you check the statistics.
This is true for the rest of the state, but the locations near the southern tip including La Paz and Cabo are very safe and there’s no need for concern.
What you should concern yourself with is whether you can drink the water, whether you can swim in certain areas, and the local wildlife such as snakes and scorpions.
Most visits by foreigners are trouble-free, but for more information on Cabo, visit the page: is Cabo San Lucas Safe for more info.
Is Cabo San Lucas Expensive?
Compared with the average prices in Cancun, Cabo is slightly cheaper.
Although Cabo is more expensive than the likes of Puerto Vallarta, Cancun is one of the most expensive places to stay on average in the whole country. Compare Puerto Vallarta vs Cabo San Lucas here.
The average daily cost (including bed and board) for a trip to Cabo is around $36 (USD) per day, which is a steal compared with locations in the Caribbean such as the Dominican Republic for instance.
For a two-week stay at place such as Fairfield Inn by Marriott in Cabo, the average is $997 (USD) per person.
That’s very cheap when you consider the fact that it isn’t part of a package from a holidaymaker, but a completely independent booking directly with the hotel, and average prices are still low.
Consider the incredible landscape and the riches on offer, and you’ll be crying out for a cheap holiday to Cabo.
How To Get To Cabo San Lucas?
Cabo is famous for having serene landscapes and the best beaches in Mexico, so it’s no surprise, especially when the airport lies within touching distance of the main resorts.
You can catch flights from many of the major American airports, but also some Canadian flights too. If you’re from outside North America, you’ll have to catch a connecting flight.
The airport is quite small, but it’s still a 2 terminal international airport nonetheless. One of the best ways of discovering Baja California however is by driving the peninsula.
The 1,600-kilometre route going through two regions can be done safely with a coach or by bus hopping.
This was a regular scenic driving route for American tourists in the 50s, but it has been known to be dangerous in recent years.
It’s also possible to reach the Baja Peninsula via a ferry from Topolobampo to La Paz. If you are planning on renting a car in Cabo be sure to book in advance to get the best deals.
Cheapest Time Of Year To Go To Cabo?
The cheapest and arguably most pleasant time to visit Cabo is from May to June when the wintertime crowds have gone home and the summertime storms have yet to hit.
October and November are also nice months for a visit, but you’ll need to begin your hotel search now if you want to save money.
See these swim-up rooms for a more luxury stay! Also, if you’re into whale watching, plan to visit between mid-December and mid-April.
If you like to fish, look to come in late summer or fall. Keep in mind: Pacific hurricane season runs from mid-May to November.
Though Cabo typically only experiences tropical storms during the hurricane season, the city has seen hurricanes make landfall in the region, most notably Hurricane Odile in 2014.
Cabo is hot all year round, so doing some research maybe a year in advance at months such as November will save you some money. You can also do a last-minute vacation in May/June and save money too.
See this guide on the best time to visit Cabo to learn the best months and cultural event happening that may help you decide when to go.
Cancun
Cancun and the Quintana Roo region attracts millions of visitors a year, with its incredible cenotes and world-class clean beaches.
Mexico is the second most visited country in the western hemisphere, so Cancun has to be the most popular resort town in the western hemisphere without taking into account the Caribbean islands.
Cancun itself has more resorts and hotels than Cabo San Lucas so there’s more choice, but that also means it can be busy during the popular times of the year.
Is It safe to travel to Cancun?
Cancun is known for its safety compared to other spots in Mexico.
It’s within the region Quintana Roo, which borders Belize and can be considered an important traveler spot for those backpacking Central America and beyond.
However, Cancun does have its crime.
It isn’t the perfect haven for safety that most people consider it to be.
The important distinction to make is that it is safe compared to its neighbors, and it is safe in the resort areas and airport.
You may feel safer in the confines of your resort, but it can get overcrowded during peak times. For more information about the general safety in Cancun, visit page: Is Cancun safe? today.
Best time to go to Cancun
The popular beach resorts of Cancun, the Riviera Maya, and Tulum has a tropical climate which results in dry and pleasant winters and hot, humid, and often rainy summers.
Most visitors head here in search of the sun during the winter blues, so December to April is the busiest period.
November can be quite busy too, but the temperatures don’t reach as high as around January.
Officially, the region’s hurricane season runs from June to mid-November with the most active months being September and October. January is the best time of year to visit Cancun!
It is the dry season and the temperatures and humidity levels are very pleasant. However, it is also the busiest time, making it one of the more expensive times of the year.
See this guide for the full low down on the best time to visit Cancun and learn about other cultural event happening that may help you decide when to go.
Is Cancun Expensive?
Compared with the average prices in Cabo, Cancun is a lot more expensive.
This is due to Cancun’s popularity and the demand increasing prices too in most cases higher than the national average.
It comes as no surprise though, since it’s also because Cancun has some of the best high-end luxury hotels in the country too.
If you had to guess where the most expensive hotels are in Mexico, you’d probably say Mexico City or Cancun.
The average daily cost (including bed and board) for a trip to Cancun is around $97 (USD) per day, which is almost triple the average for Cabo San Lucas. See these budget hotels in Cancun for more!
For a two-week luxury stay in Cancun, the average is $4,092 (USD) per person. Expensive, isn’t it?
For a quarter of this price, you can have a cheap luxury getaway on the Pacific Coast.
However, in most cases, you get what you pay for in Cancun. Some of the best hotels and restaurants in the world are here. Not to mention, some of the best Mexican street food stands can be found here.
Beaches in Cancun
Cancun has had some issues recently with migrating seaweed clogging up popular beach shorelines.
Over 4,000 tons of Sargasso had to be physically and painstakingly removed by the Mexican Naval service across June, July, and August as the problem reaches fever pitch.
However, the problem has now been officially dealt with, as the government promises no more seaweed for the rest of 2020 back in October.
Some of the best beaches in the Cancun area include Playa Delfines, Tulum Beach, Playacar Beach, and Playa Maroma.
You can even try comparing Playa del Carmen vs Cancun here if you are thinking of exploring the Riviera Maya region.
Make sure to bring some cash with you when you visit these beaches but also don’t have cash or wallets lying around for petty thieves to pick up. Try picking up a neck wallet or equivalent to conceal valuables.
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Cabo San Lucas vs Cancun
Cabo San Lucas has its own unique charm, with natural wonders and slightly less-developed landscapes.
If you’re looking for the best nature getaway, then Cabo is the best.
However, if you’re looking for relaxation and money isn’t an issue; Cancun is the most popular resort town in Mexico for a reason.
If we had to pick between these two though, we would choose Cabo. It makes for a more relaxing stay in one of the quieter tourist spots in Mexico and the prices are crazy low.
The only issue is how far away from the rest of Mexico it feels.
Cancun has the benefit of major tourist attractions if anyone is sick of staying in their resorts.
Chichen Itza is a huge selling point for Cancun. Book your holiday to Cabo or Cancun today!
Why not read this guide to backpacking Mexico if you want a different outlook of the country and to compare more places to visit in Mexico.
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