We just returned from a week long stay in Cabo San Lucas at the Villa del Arco Resort & Spa. We were there from Feb. 9th – 16th. My husband and I first visited Cabo almost 15 years ago for our honeymoon. It was so breathtakingly beautiful that we had been itching to go back ever since. We had actually booked a trip back for our 10 year anniversary, but unfortunately, Cabo was ravaged by a Category 3 hurricane 2 weeks prior to our departure forcing us to relocate our trip to Rivera Maya on the east side of Mexico.
The tourist sections of Cabo San Lucas are essentially broken into two sides; the resort district along Medano Beach on the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific side. The infamous arch is actually what divides the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. When we first stayed in Cabo, we stayed on the Pacific side at Pueblo Bonito’s Sunset Beach; a lovely resort that has undergone massive expansion since our stay there 15 years ago. I highly recommend this resort if you want to stay on the Pacific side for a more quiet vacation away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. Another resort worth checking out on the Pacific side that is closer to town is the Grand Solomar. This is the hotel we were going to stay in if we didn’t have to cancel our trip 5 years back.
The Pacific side is beautiful and is most notorious for it’s gorgeous sunsets and massive ocean waves. While the beaches are beautiful and more secluded, the ocean is not swimmable due to rough surf. None of the resorts on the Pacific side allow you to swim due to the dangerous under toe and enormous waves crashing on the shoreline. If you don’t mind skipping out on swimming in the ocean, this side of Cabo makes an excellent choice. If you like laying on the beach, you won’t be hassled by any beach vendors either, which is a huge positive! However, if you are a beach person like my husband and myself and want to be able to swim in the ocean, the resorts along the Sea of Cortez may be more appealing to you. This was our main reason for choosing a resort along Medano Beach. While it is a swimmable beach with minor waves, the current can be strong at times and there is a steep drop-off. I remembered this from last time, so I made sure we had floats to use so we could safely swim and enjoy the ocean even though we could barely touch the ocean floor 5 feet from the shoreline. Another reason for selecting resorts along Medano Beach is their proximity to the marina and downtown area, which allows you to more freely explore all Cabo has to offer. The downtown area is a short 10-15 minute cab ride from Villa del Arco or it can be accessed via the beach by walking about a mile or so. There are some great beach bars along the way such as Tabasco’s and The Office. If you want to be a little closer to the action, then you may want to check out Pueblo Bonito’s Resorts: Rosa & Blanco.
Sea of Cortez 
Pacific Ocean