SURFING
WATERCRAFT
KAYAKING
PARASAIL
One of the most popular attractions in Cabo is its extensive range of water activities, drawing tourists from around the globe seeking both excitement and tranquility on the water. As the sun-drenched days give way to captivating sunsets, the waters of Cabo also become a playground for water sports enthusiasts. Jet skiing, parasailing, and paddleboarding are just a few of the thrilling options available for those looking to skim across the azure waters or soar high above the coastline, taking in panoramic views of iconic landmarks like the famous Arch of Cabo San Lucas.
For a more leisurely experience, visitors can explore the mesmerizing marine wonders beneath the surface through snorkeling and scuba diving. The Sea of Cortez, known as the "Aquarium of the World" by legendary oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, teems with diverse marine life, including colorful tropical fish, sea turtles, and vibrant coral reefs. Guided tours and diving excursions cater to both beginners and experienced divers, ensuring an immersive and safe underwater adventure.
Cabo's pristine beaches also invite travelers to unwind and soak up the sun. With numerous seaside resorts offering water activities such as kayaking, sailing, and stand-up paddleboarding, visitors can easily transition from the powdery shores to the refreshing ocean, creating an ideal balance between relaxation and recreation.
Whether you're a thrill-seeker, nature enthusiast, or someone seeking a tranquil escape, Cabo San Lucas presents a water-based paradise that caters to all tastes and preferences. The dynamic blend of adventure and serenity, set against the backdrop of breathtaking coastal landscapes, makes Cabo a must-visit destination for those looking to create unforgettable memories on the water.
If you're daring enough to take to the sky then maybe a parasailing tour is right up your alley. We've done it and enjoyed the thrill. There's just something about being up in the air and when you have all this beauty to look at we think you'll enjoy it, too! Here are several parasailing operators in Cabo.
If you walk along Medano Beach in Cabo, you'll find plenty of jetski and watercraft rental services - but you might find they're already booked or you may end up paying more than you should. Here's some folks to consider booking in advance. Bundling activities can also lower your cost.
For those that prefer self-powered water sports activities might we suggest a day of stand up paddleboarding or kayaking? Both get you up close and personal with the ocean, the rugged coastline, even local sealife like seals – and both make for great exercise. Check out these folks for tours.
“The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun." That's a quote from Duke Kahanamoku, the Hawaiian born Olympic swimmer famous for spreading the sport of surfing from Hawaii to Southern California and all around the globe. When you first meet Mario Beceril, owner and lead instructor at Mario Surf School, you can't help but get the feeling that he too subscribes to that belief. Mario could have taken the route many accomplished surfers have. Competing professionally for cash and notoriety. Instead, he opted to take his talents a different direction – teaching others and sharing his passion for the sport and the spirituality of the sea. In the ten plus years he's operated Mario Surf School hundreds of his students have gone from curious beginners to avid and accomplished surfers. If you've ever thought about giving it a try we can't think of a better place to do it, nor a better instructor.
A Mexico City transplant at age 12, Mario's school days took place in La Paz where his studies centered on a career in tourism. At age 16 part of that education included learning how to surf, and where did he do that? Cerritos Beach. The same beach he uses to teach his students because according to Mario, "It's a safe wave."
After graduating from college with a degree in foreign business, Mario moved to Todos Santos to follow his passion for surfing. After a few years of teaching for a small surfing business, he decided that he could best use his surfing and people skills by opening his own school. He's since perfected a method of teaching that's as simple as it gets. He calls it MIST – Mario's Infallible Surfing Technique.
Some of you may be familiar with the acronym, K.I.S.S.... Keep It Simple, Stupid! Mario apparently follows that philosophy. That commitment to simplicity that is at the heart of his teaching. Simplify a lesson by breaking it down into as few steps as possible and the learning process becomes easier. Less to think about, less to remember.
For beginners, Mario offers private lessons for individuals or groups. Fees range from $45 to $150+ per person for a wide range and duration of classes, from one hour beginner classes to 3 day clinics. For that you'll get a bilingual instructor, soft top board, rash guard or wetsuit and a shady spot to sit if the sun's too hot. If you want photos taken for your scrapbook, that can be arranged.
If gear is all you need, Mario has rentals available from boogie boards to full set-ups for serious surfers.
Serious, experienced surfers should take a look at Mario's Surfaris. These are full day trips to the East Cape north of San Jose del Cabo and to Punta Conejo north of La Paz. On these surfing tours, you'll be taken to some of the best surf breaks there are in southern Baja, and you'll do it comfortably and conveniently. You're picked up at your hotel by your guide, taken to some pristine breaks for a 3 hour surf session then it's a stop in either La Paz or San Jose del Cabo for lunch. You'll be back at your hotel around 2:00. Check current prices on Mario's website.
Take a two-mile long strip of sand, give it protection from most of the ocean's unpredictability, build a series of resort hotels, restaurants and bars and you have Medano Beach… the most popular stretch of coastline in Cabo San Lucas. This is where people come to play and one of the more popular ways to play is Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP). Where can you go to get started? Easy, CABO SUP and their Medano Beach water sports activities center.
Started by the husband and wife team of Lee and Meredith Vosburgh, CABO SUP is the first to bring SUP to Los Cabos. They're also the only SUP facility in Los Cabos that has Academy of SUP Instruction certified trainers, something that sets them apart from any competitors in the area – and a fact that makes them the premier SUP center on Cabo's famous Medano Beach. The Vosburgh's commitment to making the sport a permanent fixture in the water sports scene here in Cabo San Lucas is readily apparent and passionately pursued.
You bet. I've seen it. First-timers that ranged in age from 20-somethings to folks that you'd think might be better off in a rocking chair on the porch of a retirement home – they're all doing it. I watched while they took quick lessons. Then I watched while they took to the water like ducks, albeit ducks with long boards under their unwebbed feet. Not only did they make it upright, they paddled away with what seemed to be a real sense of confidence and big, goofy smiles on their faces. How so? Proper instruction by proper instructors.
Some of you reading this article will have already been to Medano Beach in Cabo. I'm willing to bet that those of you who did probably stumbled onto this stretch of sand sometime around noon, most likely after a long night at the clubs. Maybe you came for a bit of sunshine, maybe you came to remedy a hangover with a little hair of the dog or maybe you just came to do some people watching. That's how most folks experience Medano for the first time. I'm going to make a real strong suggestion here.... come early. Before the crowds, before the army of waverunners, batallions of banana boats, and plethora of parasailers and beach vendors come calling.
That's when I first met Lee Vosburgh… sometime between 7 and 8 in the morning. It was mid-December and the air was cool.Lee was quick to offer up a "good morning" that started a conversation about just how peaceful Medano Beach is during this time of day – something Lee says is the norm. He also shared with me the fact that morning is the best time to paddle since the waters are still calm and uncrowded. That led to an opportunity for me to shoot a quick video on the basics of stand up paddle boarding.
Right afterward, Lee and his team were soon busy teaching newbies or renting boards and paddles to already experienced paddlers.
If you still think you're not a candidate, watch the video below and you'll get an idea of why you should be and why a morning spent with CABO SUP on Medano Beach is a morning well spent.
