A Love Letter (with a Side of "No Gracias") to Cabo's Beach Vendors Look, I get it Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas is paradise, the sun is blazing, the margaritas are calling, and you're just trying to make a living in one of the most competitive tourist spots on Earth. But holy guacamole, the vendor parade feels like a non-stop flash mob sometimes! One minute you're finally zoning out with your spouse, pretending the real world doesn't exist, and the next, a cheerful guy with a tower of hats is standing over your towel like, "Amigo, you need this sombrero it's magic!" Spoiler: It's not magic; it's just very persistent. I've said "no gracias" so many times I started feeling like a broken record, and each polite rejection somehow makes me the bad guy who just crushed someone's dreams. It's exhausting, and it turns what should be pure relaxation into a game of vendor dodgeball. That said, here's the constructive part from someone who genuinely wants to support local folks (and might even splurge if the vibe is right): Let the beautiful handmade jewelry, the colorful sarongs, or those killer tamales do the talking! Imagine a chill setup like Hawaii's swap meets tables lined up, folks browsing at their own pace, no high-pressure sales pitch every 30 seconds. Vendors could hang back a bit, flash a friendly smile, and only engage when someone shows real interest. It'd give tourists breathing room to actually fall in love with the products instead of feeling cornered into a forced buy. The hardworking sellers deserve better than constant "no"s, and we visitors deserve a few uninterrupted minutes of beach zen. A little salesmanship class (or just some designated browsing zones) could turn those interactions from interruptions into delightful discoveries. Cabo's already got the magic let's not chase it away with too much hustle. ¡Salud to finding that perfect balance! read more

Playa Médano is a very popular beach in Cabo San Lucas, and we visited during Christmas week in December. The weather was genuinely nice, warm but not overly hot, which made it comfortable to be outside for a while. That said, the experience was mixed. The waves were pretty strong, which could be due to the Pacific influence or the constant traffic from nearby boats. Not ideal if you're looking for calm water. The biggest downside was the nonstop vendors. My husband sat on a towel on the sand and was constantly approached to buy massages, blankets, jewelry, etc. It became overwhelming, and after about an hour he was clearly fed up. It made it hard to relax or enjoy the beach. What really left a bad impression, though, was seeing a very young puppy tied to a beach umbrella with no shade or water. I shaded her for a bit and brought her water. Eventually the owner came back, but it was pretty upsetting and felt unnecessarily cruel. Overall, Playa Médano has nice weather and a lively atmosphere, but between the aggressive vendors and what we witnessed, it wasn't as enjoyable or relaxing as we hoped. read more

A beautiful beach adjacent to the port of Los Cabos that caters to tourists primarily and features sandy turquoise blue water with lots of great food and drinks lined along the beach. read more

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For starters, Medano Beach was STUNNING...with the view of the peninsula (including the famous "The Arch"!), and the turquoise waters!!! So why are the reviews not all 5's? Here's why. MEXICAN VENDORS. Way too many Mexican vendors walking up and down this strip, hassling the guests on the beach! It got to the point that it was a damn satire...and my husband and I just started to laugh. Back to the beach. It's really a shame because the views were beyond amazing...one of the most spectacular beaches I've ever seen. Obviously, a tourist trap...and hence, all the vendors!! I will say, however, that I was shocked to witness just how powerful the Pacific waves were! This is one of the more swimmable beaches in Cabo San Lucas, and it still felt a bit too dangerous to me. I had to have my husband hold on to me when I went into the water...because not only did the waves just suck you right into the water, the water level drops so fast, so deep!! I read there's been tourist deaths on this beach (not just one either!). So just be warned...be careful when you step into these waters! I hate to punish this stunning beach for the Mexican Vendors, but I have to deduct at least a star for that. Such a damn nuisance! I can let it go for the dangers of the Pacific waters and waves. So yeah, this beach is beautiful, but quite dangerous. read more

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I came to this beach near sunset to check it out!! Located not far from downtown Cabo San Lucas, there were still plenty of people here. They were here for the boat procession that was coming in for Day of the Dead. Lots of boats had lights, fireworks, different colors, etc. And by the time this started, this whole area had gotten really crowded, everyone showed up for this. It was a very interesting experience!! read more

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I'm not much of a beach guy, but I had a down day during a fishing trip, and my buddies wanted to do beach-y stuff (jet skis, liquor, talent), so we visited Playa el Medano. I spent about a half-hour, then caught a cab over to the Walmart to pick up snacks and fishing line. I am the definitely the dad of that group. My friends enjoyed the beach. I bought supplies. We all got what we wanted. read more

During our most recent Carnival cruise last year, our group had the pleasure of experiencing the coastline of Playa Medano in Cabo San Lucas, thanks to a knowledgeable tour guide who welcomed us and gladly provided an insightful exploration of the area with his bicycle taxi. As we strolled along the city streets we finally reached the Playa Medano beach with stunning views of the ocean and our cruise ship visible in the distance which added to the beautiful scenery. The cost of the city tour was $25 but we added a tip and treated him to the meals we experienced since he was so kind and was like part of our group. The complete tour lasted about an hour and we highly recommend it. While we didn't have the opportunity to dine at any local specialty restaurants, our time spent touring Cabo with our city guide was a delightful and memorable experience. Overall, our visit to Playa Medano and Cabo San Lucas in its beauty, served as a serene and enjoyable stop during our cruise excursion, offering a glimpse into this beautiful coastal town. read more

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Playa El Medano is the main beach for the waterfront tourist hotels in Cabo San Lucas. When I went (July 2023) swimming wasn't all that possible on a regular basis. The currents were strong and the swells were temperamental. Half the time the red flags were up. A rather arduous situation, as I was staying at the Pueblo Bonito Rosé which is basically on the beach. I got to enjoy some lovely views, but that's the extent of it. Plenty of beach front restaurants and clubs line the main beach...all very touristy. The locals tend to hang out on either ends of the beaches. "Medano Beach - (Playa el Médano) is the main safe swimming beach in Cabo San Lucas and the most popular. It begins at the east side of the harbor and extends along Cabo San Lucas Bay all the way to Villa del Palmar. Playa El Médano (The Dune Beach) Medano Beach encompasses several miles of safe swimming beach beginning at the east side of the harbor entrance all the way to Villa del Palmar on the east end of the bay. Close to town, Playa El Médano (Medano Beach) is the main and most popular Cabo San Lucas Beach. Here, hotels, bars and restaurants compete for space, offering all the goodies most people come to expect from a prime tourist destination." - Stolen from : https://www.loscabosguide.com/item/medano-beach-cabo/ The great #TouristTrap read more

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I still rate this beach 4 stars for its beauty, nice weather and iconic vista with the arch Los Arcos but this 3 stars update is to caution swimmers. I nearly drowned 3 years ago, the wave was so strong it pulled me away to sea, I am not a swimmer so I thought I was going to die but what happened to my husband today was so scary, he said out of nowhere a wave knocked him down n just sucked him in n another wave pulled him out so far he had to use all his strength to swim back. His mouth was full of sand and he might have swallowed some, it was awful, I join him later n he would not let me go into the ocean more than 5 minutes n only knee deep. The hotel supposedly had a lifeguard on duty but none was found. If you're not a real swimmer don't attempt to swim too far from the shore, it is dangerous n I'm shocked nobody posted any warning sign. I think I might just stick to Florida or Waikiki, the waves are more gentle, maybe that's why there are no surfers here. Most people just hang around the pool drinking margaritas! The weather is so amazing except for the 1st day rain, everyday is a perfect 78F w a fragrant ocean air that lullabies you to a nap. read more

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Great fun, beautiful water, and nice beach! Good vibes, not overly crowded but busy and lively! My little cousins saw a lot of fish near the shore! read more

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This is the most popular swimmable beach in the area it seems. We only got to walk around it, didn't sunbathe nor go in the water as we didn't have our swimsuits with us. It's a very busy beach versus the others that are more quiet and chill, with much less establishments around. Here there are tons of overpriced restaurants and bars all over the place, and it's near a big mall. At the mall the gelato tasted so weird, not at all authentic, not like Gelato in Portland. Expect locals to try to sell you stuff constantly. It's annoying but they're just trying to make a living, so tipping still works if you don't want to buy stuff. We passed by a bar in which we heard an announcer say that Kristen left her baby and husband at home in order to shake what she's got on stage in Cabos lol, this was followed by a ton of leering guys cheering her on. Yeah....we kept on walking lol. Definitely this is the party beach if that's what you seek. Please check out my pics and video. The poor lizards being thrown in the water may be entertaining for some, but not for the cute little scared creatures! I will tip him to NOT throw them! read more

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Great beach where you can actually get in the water, just make sure you know how to swim before you dive further in lol. Lots of vendors so might get bombarded if you act on one lol, but it is Mexico so not a big deal. Safe beach with lots of people enjoying the weather. read more

Playa El Medano - Beaches Near Me - Cabo San Lucas, BCS

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The beach was directly behind the hotel we were staying at, Breathless Cabo San Lucas. As we have been told it is probably one of the more safer beaches in Cabo. The water is so clean, you can literally see your toes in the sand. We were lucky enough to have a section of the beach reserved for guest of Breathless. The beach is a public beach so it does get pretty packed. Along the shore they also have several other hotels so it does get pretty packed. You must be cautious because they have some strong waves but it is not too bad. We enjoyed our time there and we were able to walk the beach. Be aware they are plenty of beach vendors but it is not a big deal, just say no and they will go on there way but trust me they are plenty. read more

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The beach is beautiful and the water is clear and warm. There's hundreds of vendors just walking and almost harassing you to buy stuff. They're trying to sell you JET SKIS WATER TAXI ATVS ... DRUGS.. you name it. Honestly I was so ANNOYED.. I would suggest staying is San Jose del cabo which is like 25 min on the other side because this beach is basically for single people looking to hookup and do drugs. We came to taboo restaurant and lounge one night and we had like 10 guys ask if we wanted "PARTY FAVORS" meaning drugs.. it was super uncomfortable and annoying. Also the cops are in on it with these sellers so they don't care. They're targeting the tourists to get all the money possible out of you. I will NOT BE COMING BACK TO CABO. I hate it here. My resort was beautiful but there's no point if you feel unsafe everywhere you go when you're here. read more

Playa El Medano - Beaches Near Me - Cabo San Lucas, BCS

In A Nutshell: -Playa El Medano is an okay beach. -This is the main beach in Cabo that is fairly long, but narrow in size. -You can get to the beach several ways, either by taking a taxi or Uber, walking from the marina or Pedregal or if you are staying in one of the hotels along the beach. -The view of the Sea of Cortez/Pacific Ocean are nice. -The view of the Arch & Lovers Beach is also very nice. -Make sure you wear sandals on the sand b/c it will burn your feet if you don't! -It's advisable to pay the $10 for an umbrella, which the person will stake into the ground for you in your desired chill spot. -The waves aren't strong, but the undertow can be powerful. Overall, this was a nice, average beach to chill on in Cabo. read more

Playa El Medano - Mucho sol. - Beaches Near Me - Cabo San Lucas, BCS

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Love the clean sand, cool ocean water, and the view of the rock formations at Medano Beach. But the positives of Medano Beach can get overshadowed by the never ending parade of vendors that are constantly coming up to you to sell their trinkets. Photo opps with iguanas, henna tattoos, braids, bracelets, crafted bowls, rides on banana boats, blankets, etc are just a few of the items/services that the vendors are selling. For all the days that I spent at Medano beach, I have yet to find any vendor there that sells ice cream or popsicles- the items that I truly want while sun tanning on the beach. Also, Medano Beach can get very crowded, but I never had any trouble finding a spot. You just have to make a trek along the beach to find an empty spot. Medano Beach is definitely a bustling and lively beach, which may or may not be your cup of tea. On a side note, the fireworks at Medano Beach on July 4th is amazing!! The show of fireworks came on around 9pm and didn't last for a long time, but the view was perfect. Very exciting to be standing on the beach and getting a super close view of the fireworks exploding in the sky. read more

This super touristy trap beach is overall decent. The beach is relatively clean, water warm, but the waves and breaks were a bit strong for Lils or those weak swimmers. There's tons of vendors always trying to sell you something. Even if you end up dining on the beach at one of the many restaurant and bars you'll still be approached. No one is immune or safe from the barrage of locals trying to put necklaces on you, give you a fake tattoo, or braid your daughters hair. Pro tip: HAGGLE. We got our boys each a super simple necklace and a bracelet that the guy initially wanted $25 each. We offer him $10 he said no, but kept trying to get more. We enjoyed our cocktails and said no thank you and he eventually caved in. Better for him to make a sale than not. read more

Girls- do you know that feeling when you go to Vegas and know a bunch of dogs trying to holler at you and you try your best to avoid them but they're always sooooo pushy and persistent? Well that's what medano beach is. All the vendors are so damn pushy and annoying. I get it, it's your living and you gotta make money to live, but seriously who the heck wants to buy all the dumb crap?! At least sell something useful and appealing, not junk. The only thing that is useful are the mango lady, the umbrella guys (they even go get a bucket of beer for you for $18 usd, yes it's a rip off but you're on vacation). They need a taco lady, hot dog vendor, snacks vendor and maybe some other cool shit. People want food not junk, I don't need a hat, I want a taco on the beach. Not stupid knickknacks like a wooden bear or a parachute of Spider-Man. Besides the constant bombard of vendors, the beach is actually nice and clean. Water is clean and warm. Lots of water sports as well. I would love to relax without every 5 seconds someone trying to sell me something. Eyes closed means I'm trying to relax and not interested. They should have a sign, do not disturb. Note: buy one thing and they allllll swarm around you like flies! read more

Playa El Medano - Beach - Beaches Near Me - Cabo San Lucas, BCS

This is the main beach in Cabo and a short walk from the downtown shopping areas and marina. Lots of people trying to sell random things, but it's a really pretty beach with nice sand and clear water. There are roped off areas safe for swimming, as water taxis and jet skis are riding around all day. There are also restaurants and hotels on the beach where you can buy food and drinks, so you could spend your whole vacation on this vast strip of sand. read more

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I've explored many beaches in the world. A combination of resort lined shores and natural elements is what you'll find at Playa el Medano. The water is warmer than expected and varies in blue depending on your location. The sand between the private sands of the resorts and the actual shore lines is rather rough. However against the shore and at the resorts the sand is soft. The only thing that is weird about Medano is all the locals that walk around trying to sell gifts. Some gifts are legal and some aren't. read more

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Great beach for tanning, drinking, swimming and enjoying the hot Cabo weather! The beach is located just west of Mango Deck, where all the locals hang out. We came here two separate days and rented an umbrella for $10 and used out hotel towels. The guy that rents you the umbrella will even fetch you whatever drink you want, for a small tip of course. I had great time here. *Rent umbrella for $10 *Buy a mango on a stick from one of the beach vendors for $4. Worth it! read more

Playa El Medano - Medano Beach - Beaches Near Me - Cabo San Lucas, BCS

Before coming to Cabo, I was dreading this beach based on everyone's reviews on how crowded and touristy it is. After having visited the Chileno beach, Santa Maria beach, Balandra Beach in La Paz, however, I surprise myself by finding the Medano beach as my personal favorite. Here's why: 1) It's a lively beach with tons of people to watch and/or meet 2) If you're bored, you can sign up for one of the snorkeling tours, take a boat ride to visit the arch, or a water taxi to get to the lover's/divorce beach. The marina is also a quick bus ride (or 20 mins walk) away 3) If you're hungry, there are numerous restaurant options to choose from 4) The scenery is very unique--unlike many other beaches, here's where you get to see the arch and other beautiful rock formations as well as the beautiful turquoise water and white sands where you're laying to get your tan 5) The waves here aren't that strong. This may depend on the time of year, but when I was there at the end of November timeframe, the current was calm enough to get a good swim in. 6) For those who don't have a car and are staying in Cabo San Lucas, this beach is much easier to get to than the ones in the corridor (i.e., Chileno and Santa Maria) I went there multiple times with and without my beach umbrella, and I never find myself bored here. On my next visit, I'll definitely have to hit it up again. read more

Hundreds of annoying vendors. Could not relax for 30 consecutive seconds without being harassed for massages jewelry henna tattoos etc. It was so annoying my day was ruined I literally got no peace, vendors never stopped. They were more vendors than tourists and the same ones would come over and over and over again All selling the same crap. I couldn't wait to get back to my cruise ship fast enough read more

So I've visited Mango deck millions of times and always had a great time (sometimes too much fun ) this time by accident of an Uber driver we ended up in medano beach. We asked and they said they had chair and table rentals and drinks so we decided to stay. We started the day with a 1 hour massage and that was amazing !!! Then Beto gave us a great spot to sit and people watch . It was perfect ! Then the waiter "Mosco" offered us 2x1 drinks which we happily accepted . He was a little off with the instruction . I kept asking for one thing he would say another , this happened several times but didn't think much of it. Then when the bill came he had totally forgotten about the 2x1 drink specials .... Like it never existed . Charged me for full price , which wasn't what he said . I was so upset !! I am from Baja so took it extra bad!!! Anyway I went to talk to their supervisor who charged me half of what this dude was saying . I left so angry. My friend then got held hostage (almost) for the rental price of the chair. Anyway my point being that mango deck, the office , etc will give you a better experience of that of wondering off to try and be like the locals . read more

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Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Medano Beach is the main beach in Cabo. It's main selling points are its convenient location (right next to the hotels), but also that it is protected by Land's End Cape, so that the breakers are more subdued, making Medano a safer place to swim. Technically, Medano faces the Sea of Cortez and not the Pacific Ocean. Plenty of places along the beach to book parasailing, wave runners or a glass-bottom boat tour (even if the truth is that you really never see anything from the little windows in the boat's floor). It seems that the Princess Cruise liner which drops anchor daily near the beach dwarfs everything else around. Nice clean sand (litter is completely non-existent). What is interesting is how the color of the sea can vary so dramatically over the course of the day: ranging from muted green to brilliant aqua. The beach vendors are fairly mellow and not too pushy. However, I remember one vendor peddling drugs. He would flash a bag of weed at you and if you said no thanks, he would say how about "blow", and if you said no, he would then say "well, how about ecstasy?". Even though "No!" was the response to that last question, there he was again the next day, asking the same questions! Aside from that, security is rock solid on the beach, in the hotels and in town. Cabo is a very safe place. A few restaurants are located along the beach, ready to quench your thirst for tequila. One beach restaurant advertises an all-day happy hour. Of dubious taste is that restaurant's "Alcoholic's Wheel", looking something like the "Wheel of Fortune". One thing for sure, just about everybody on the beach is drinking throughout the day, except apparently for Jens. Perhaps somebody can clue me in as to how you can drink at noon and not feel burned out for the rest of the afternoon and evening. I preferred to stick to my "agua mineral" (sparkling water). read more

Medano beach is probably the most popular beach in Cabo. There are many restuarants on one side of the beach, many of which have dining areas on the beach! A short walk from the restaurant side is a better place for tanning and just relaxing on the beach since it's farther from the restaurants' noise! The clear water at Medano beach is also a plus! There are areas where you can catch water taxis for tours too! And there's different water activities you can do here! One thing you'll notice here is the many vendors that stroll along! They sell random stuff like bracelets, plates, and etc.They also offer services like hair braiding and temporary tattoo. We didn't see any street food vendors when we were here though. The downside is that it's kinda hard to enjoy and relax on this beach with all the vendors, but the upside is that they are NOT pushy or aggressive when it comes to selling their products and services. Just shake your head or give them a simple "no" and they'll leave you alone. read more

Playa El Medano - Vendors at the beach! - Beaches Near Me - Cabo San Lucas, BCS

This beach is friendly for tourists. It's clean. It does get crowded. It was nice in December because it wasn't too hot. The weather had a good temperature and the sound was comfortable. It's not a very spacious beach. There are restaurants and hotels around the beach. I had a nice time swimming in the water and the view is nice on a sunny day. I had a Mexican food meal with chicken fajitas and fish tacos for lunch. It is very touristy and you will feel like you are in California. read more

Playa El Medano - Beaches Near Me - Cabo San Lucas, BCS

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Oh how I miss 1976, the 1st time that I walked on this then deserted beach. Before the marina, the hotels, junk vendors, parasails & jet skis. I hitchhiked from La Paz. The road was dirt most of the way. Stayed at a family's house cruddy guest room. Memories can be so romantic. The sandy beach is still wonderful. The water is always warm, the surf is gentle. The view of the rocks out at the point still amazes. For a modicum of peace away from the mob of pushy junk vendors walk to the northern end past the river wash. If you want your own peaceful 1976 beach experience go to Todos Santos. 45 minute drive up the pacific coast. read more

We stayed in downtown Cabo San Lucas so this was a good place to spend a relaxing couple of hours getting our tan and r+r on. It's not a very far walk from downtown, all you have to do is walk through the marina until you hit the beach or you can go through the town to reach the beach, too. The beach itself is pretty nice with clean sand and really clear waters. The view of the Sea of Cortez is beautiful and it's kind of cool seeing these huge cruise ships on the horizon and the little water taxis zip by. The beach is pretty long so it won't be hard to find a spot for yourself. There are restaurants, bars, and supermarkets pretty close to the beach so if you feel like you need something, it's not too far away. The downside to this beach is the number of peddlers. They are all nice and some are actually fun to talk with, but you'll get approached every 3-5 minutes asking if you would like to buy something. Most of the peddlers are closer to the beachside bar and lounge chairs for rent, so if you want to avoid them you can set up further away. Additionally, no free chairs or beach umbrella available--they are all for rent at $10 per umbrella. It's a nice and convenient beach and I would have went back if I had more time in Cabo. read more

Playa El Medano - Afternoon on Medano Beach. Great lighting. - Beaches Near Me - Cabo San Lucas, BCS

There are so many things to do at this beach--glass bottom boat ride to el arco, $30/hour massage, tube ride behind a boat, parasailing, umbrella and chaise lounge rental, vendors selling snacks, jewelry, sunglasses, henna tattoos, souvenirs, and more. Beautiful sunsets. Inexpensive parking. read more

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Lots going on at this beach - especially when cruise ships are anchored in the bay. Water sports, water taxis, glass bottom boat rides to the arch, tropical fish reef and restaurants/bars. It's all good. There are also vendors all over the beach offering everything from hair braids to blankets to jewelry to tshirts and hats. All there for you with your feet in the sand. read more

Playa El Medano - Almost there... - Beaches Near Me - Cabo San Lucas, BCS

Wow. I would rename it "sketchy beach". Beach chairs, scammers and party people are found here. In that order. You have been warned. We did find a water taxi to the Arch for 10 bucks a person. Our hotel wanted 89 bucks per person. Be prepared for the hustlers. Bargains and fun to be had. 10 minute walk from the marina. Whatever you want, I am certain you can find on this beach. Legal or not. read more

This is a great beach to visit. There were families, locals, tourist enjoying the sun, sand and water. The waves were really calm so it was nice to relax in the water. There are vendors that come around selling food or hats and jewelry. You can enjoy music from the nearby hotels that host pool parties. On New Year's Eve it's a great place to gather to watch the fireworks. read more

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This is really the only public beach on whole island. Most of the other locations are private or you have to take a water taxi to. Don't get me wrong the beach here is beautiful, clear blue water, nice kept white sands, but it is a very small stretch of beach. You will probably end up getting into some kind of excursion while on the beach. We did end up using one of the water taxis which is about $20 round trip, which takes you to two other small beaches Divorce Beach and Lover's Beach. read more

Medano beach is great depending on what you are looking for. It is definitely a touristy area with lots to do. For drinking and partying you have mango deck. For good food and drinks, I recommend Bar Sur right on the beach. You can get a massage on a deck overlooking the beach at Massages at the sand bar for really good pricing (probably my favorite activity). They have paddle boards and water bikes available at Cabo sup. Beware there are A LOT of vendors on the beach and they can be pushy. Just say no thank you and turn away. Also, DO NOT buy fruit from the vendors. A lot of times they are out in the sun for hours on end and they still sell them, I would know, I got food poisoning from it . read more

It's a decent beach. The only thing that's bothersome is the random vendors coming up to you selling the same junk they've been trying to sell to you and it doesn't change. I agree with some of the reviews here that they should start selling more useful stuff like food. I don't need plates, sombreros, or pieces. I want some elote, chips with hot sauce, and fruit seasoned with Tajin. read more

Beautiful beach, but it's hard to relax when there are so many people trying to sell things to you. I know it's their job, so I tried to be nice and calm. The good thing is they aren't pushy, so just say no thanks or shake your head and off they go. We hopped on a boat from Baja's tour for para sailing right off the beach. The waves were pretty large at one end of the beach and really dangerous, almost saw a kid get swept under but thank goodness for life guards around! If you walk the opposite way the waves are more under control and you can chill out that way to be safe. read more

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Probably the most visited and possibly most popular beach in Cabo San Lucas. The farther from town the nicer it tends to be. The sand away from the ocean is soft - and can be hot during midday. Closer to the water, the sand is more hard-packed. The water itself is reasonably warm and fairly clear but can get choppy when the wind blows and even unsafe to be in during hurricane season. There are many vendors on the beach - all desperately trying to sell something to every person who passes by. In addition to some long established businesses and local private boat owners hoping to take people on fishing trips or parasailing or out (sometimes in a glass bottom boat) to see the Arch or some of the less accesible beaches or sell discounted tours or other local excursion and activities (including riding horses right there on the beach), there are MANY individuals hawking all sorts of products (like hats, cigars, and jewelry, henna tattoos, artwork, and various other souvenir and gift items that might entice tourists, along with pitches for marijuana, cocaine, and all sorts of other drugs. Many of these people not Mexican but illegal aliens without papers or permission to even be in the country let alone be selling anything. Prices offered (and accepted after negotiation) are usually lower than in town. This is also often true regarding massage services offered by many competing companies with tents clustered in one section of the beach with employees of each unformed in different colored "scrubs" probably to help differentiate them. The massages here tend to be quite good and quite cheap ($20 USD for up to 90-minutes being fairly standard - and sometimes you can negotiate even better deals than that). It's quite common to see cruise ships parked offshore this beach (but their passengers are usually taken to the Marina). There are also some good places to eat on the beach - often as good as yet also usually cheaper than those in town. In front of the resorts are areas reserved for their members and guests - but all beaches in Mexico are "public" and owned by the government, so you can walk or sit almost anywhere you like at almost any time. For "beach snobs" )and locals) there ARE nicer beaches to go to but this is one of the best known - and worth at least checking out - including by those staying at one of the resorts right next to it. My favorite time to be on this beach is before 8am - when very few others are on it (and the "sales force army" has yet to arrive). read more

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This was our first time in Cab and we had high expectations of the beaches, meaning great weather, cool beach water, food and drinks. Three out of four isn't bad. There were a number of restaurants and drinks you could try and feast. The weather was gorg despite us being there in the middle of spring break with the college kids. LOL However, what was disappointing was how rough the waves were on the beach. I was afraid to go just in more than 10 feet because it felt like you were going to be pulled in.I did jump in and get a little wet but I didnt stay long. We saw a lot of kids playing by the edge of the water. The ambience of the beach was fast paced and not that relaxing during spring break of course. Its true, most of Cabo was locals trying to sell us souvenirs and timeshares which was annoying after the first hundred times. LOL However, the four stars are for it being a beach with clean water and sand, great weather and gorgeous views. Despite all the negatives I would return in a NY minute. LOL read more

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Review is for the whole scene here including all the beach front bars, the water taxis, the jet ski availability and nearby accommodations. And oh yeah, the gazillions of people trying to sell you stuff, which is the only detractor. All in all, this is one of the better locations to hang out in Cabo. The Marina is alright, but you get just as many people selling you stuff and much less in partying or entertainment (at least until the sun goes down). If you came to Cabo for a non-stop party, then Medano is definitely the place to be. The wave runners and other water sporty rentals make it a good place for recreation and the water taxis give you easy access to the marina for a pretty decent price. I'll get around to reviewing the individual locations, some of which are very cool, but at this point I would say that if I go back to Cabo, I am booking one of the places on Medano Beach. You could come here to relax, but then if you wanted to relax, why come here? When in Cabo..... read more