Why go
The setting is unlike the rest of Mexico: cactus desert running straight into deep blue water, with sunshine on most days of the year. The hotels are the main draw. Along the coast road known as the Corridor there is a run of large, very polished resorts with fine spas, golf and restaurants.
The sea is full of life. Humpback whales arrive in winter and can often be seen from the shore, and the rock arch at Land's End, by Cabo San Lucas, is the picture everyone takes home.
When to go
November to May is dry, warm and clear. Whale season runs from about mid December to mid April, and Christmas, New Year and Easter are the busiest and most expensive weeks. June and July are hot and good value.
August to October is hot, humid and the storm season, with September the most likely month for a hurricane. Prices are at their lowest then, and some restaurants take a break.
Where to base yourself
San José del Cabo is the quieter, older town, with a colonial square, galleries and good restaurants, and it is closest to the airport. Cabo San Lucas, about 45 minutes from the airport, has the marina, the nightlife and the boats. Most of the top hotels are on the Corridor between the two, and for more seclusion there is the East Cape, about an hour north-east of the airport on the Sea of Cortez.
Choose your hotel by its beach. Much of this coast has heavy surf and strong undertow, and the Pacific side beyond Land's End is never safe for swimming. The reliably swimmable spots are Palmilla, Santa Maria Bay and Chileno Bay on the Corridor, Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas, and the calmer East Cape. Many famous hotels sit on beaches that are for walking only, so we always check before we book.
What we would build into your trip
A private boat to the arch and Lovers Beach early in the morning, whale watching with a small-boat operator in season, and snorkelling at Santa Maria or Chileno Bay. We would add dinner at one of the farm restaurants outside San José, and an evening at the town's Thursday art walk, which runs from November to June.
With a spare day, drive an hour up the Pacific coast to Todos Santos for its galleries and lunch, or go east to the reef at Cabo Pulmo for some of the best diving in Mexico.
Good to know
Beaches use a flag system. Green means safe to swim, and red or black means stay out of the water, whatever it looks like. All beaches in Mexico are public, so even a resort's own stretch of sand can have day visitors and vendors.
Book your airport transfer ahead and walk straight through the arrivals hall, where timeshare sellers pose as transport staff. La Paz, about two hours north by road, pairs well with Los Cabos for a quieter few days on the water.