Beaches and Los Cabos are practically synonymous, so much so that first-time visitors may not know where to begin when it comes to sunny days 
spent on glorious stretches of golden sand.
What are the best beaches in Los Cabos? What is it that makes a great beach, anyway? Is it the views? The color and consistency of the sand? The availability of bars or restaurants? The conditions for activities like surfing, snorkeling and swimming?
All are interesting questions that go to the heart of any visit to Los Cabos, given that the region boasts over 100 miles of coastline, with more picturesque playas that the average tourist could see in a year.
As it happens, there is one objective measurement for beaches, in Los Cabos and elsewhere. That’s the Blue Flag program pioneered in the 1980s by the European based Foundation for Environmental Education, which judges beaches based on very defined standards of cleanliness, services and sustainability.
Blue Flags are not about beauty. They’re about signs, clean bathrooms, showers, handicap access, recycling bins, parking, and other practical concerns that can significantly enhance one’s experience at the beach.
But since every beach in Los Cabos is visually breathtaking, offering stunning Sea of Cortez or Pacific Ocean views, the availability of these basic services is a big deal when it comes to choosing where you want to spend your day in paradise…particularly if you’re traveling with children or people with disabilities.
The good news is that there are a lot of blue flags flying in cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, as well as along the 20-mile tourist corridor which connects them. As a matter of fact, Los Cabos has more blue flag beaches – 22 – than any other destination in Mexico.
For some context, the blue flag program is globally recognized, with beaches or marinas maintaining the stringent blue flag standards (it’s not a lifetime award) in nearly 60 different countries around the world. Mexico is currently in 13th place overall in terms of countries with the most blue flag beaches, claiming 63 nationwide. Baja California Sur, the state where Los Cabos is located, leads the way with 23 (again, 22 in Los Cabos alone!). The only other state that is close is Quintana Roo, the state where Cancun and the Riviera Maya is located, with 21.
Los Cabos’ blue flag supremacy is a rather new phenomenon. As recently as 2016, the municipality had only three beaches that had earned FEE’s blue flag stamp of approval: Playas Chileno, Santa Maria and Palmilla. The stunning growth of the program since then is a credit to the community at large, which has recognized how important beaches are to the tourism industry and has made a commitment to keep the local sands both beautiful and sustainable.
Many of the newer blue flag beaches in Los Cabos are in fact subsections of Playa El Medano, the two-mile stretch of gorgeous sand that is the center of social life in Cabo San Lucas. But blue flag beaches can be found in virtually every corner of Los Cabos, from popular city based locales to lesser known gems like El Surgidero and La Ribera, two East Cape playas conveniently close to where a new Four Seasons resort has recently opened.
With that in mind, here are the 22 blue flag beaches in Los Cabos as of 2021 (although we wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see a few more announced in June, when FEE traditionally announces new awardees):
Acapulquito
El Chileno
El Corsario
El Surgidero
La Gaviota
La Ribera
Las Viudas
Medano Breathless
Medano Casa Dorada
Medano Club Cascadas de Baja
Medano Hacienda
Medano ME Cabo
Medano Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos
Medano Pueblo Bonito Rose
Medano Riu Palace Los Cabos
Medano Riu Santa Fe
Medano Villa Del Palmar
Medano Villa El Arco
Medano Villa La Estancia
Monumento
Palmilla
Santa Maria
No need to rank them further. Visiting any of these sun-kissed meccas ensures you’re going to have a great day at the beach. And with summer fast approaching, where else would you rather be?
For more information about upcoming events, activities and attractions, and villa rentals in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.
Photo credit: Los Cabos Tourism Board
Upcoming Events Calendar
April
Semana Santa – Mar. 28 – Apr. 3
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Apr. 1, 8, 15, 22
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Apr. 2, 9, 16, 23
Todos Santos Film Festival – Apr. 15 – 18
May
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – May 6, 13, 20, 27
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – May 7, 14, 21, 28
El Dia de la Madre – May 10
June
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jun. 3, 10, 17, 24
Los Cabos Open of Surf – Jun. 3 – 7
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Jun. 4, 11, 18, 25
Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament– Jun. 10 – 12
July
East Cape Dorado Shootout Fishing Tournament – Jul. 17
Los Cabos Open of Tennis – Jul. 19 – 24
Ladies Only Fishing Tournament at Palmas de Cortez – Jul. 22 – 26
August
Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore – Aug. 3 – 7
Wahoo Gold Cup Jackpot Fishing Tournament – Aug. 21
September
Mexico Independence Day – Sep. 16
October
Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 10 – 14
Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 14 – 17
Bisbee’s Black and Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 19 – 23
November
Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers Rally – Nov. 1 – 13
Day of the Dead – Nov. 1, 2
WON Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 3 – 6
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26
SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 15 – 20
Revolution Day – Nov. 20
December
Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Dec. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
El Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe – Dec. 12
Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24
Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24
Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25
Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31
