Cabo vs. Cancun: Which Is Finest?

Deciding between Cabo San Lucas or Cancun in your subsequent Mexican getaway might be difficult, as each are stunning seaside locations with quite a bit to supply vacationers. 

Beneath we’ll evaluate Cabo versus Cancun, together with which vacation spot is healthier for households, for partying and for motels.

Earlier than making a variety, it is useful to know some background details about every vacation spot.

Cabo San Lucas — typically known as Cabo — is situated on the western coast of Mexico, on the very tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. Cabo‘s principal airport is the San Jose del Cabo Worldwide Airport, which is a few 35-minute drive from downtown Cabo San Lucas. Cabo has a tropical desert local weather and, on common, will get lower than 10 inches of rain per 12 months (with its rainiest months sometimes in August and September).

Cancun is situated on the east coast of Mexico, dealing with the Caribbean Sea. The primary airport, Cancun Worldwide Airport, is a few 30-minute drive from Cancun’s resort zone.

Cancun has a tropical local weather and, on common, will get greater than 52 inches of rain a 12 months (with its rainiest months sometimes in September and October).

Now that the fundamentals, beneath is a deeper dive into what units the locations aside.

When deciding between Cabo or Cancun for a household journey, you must first take a look at flight size from residence. As an example, should you’re flying from Los Angeles, a direct flight to Cabo is 2.5 hours in comparison with about 4.5 hours to Cancun. Likewise, should you’re flying from New York Metropolis, a direct flight to Cabo is about 6.5 hours in comparison with 4.5 hours to Cancun. Particularly should you’re flying with youthful kids, it might make sense to select Cabo or Cancun primarily based on which vacation spot has a faster flight.

Each locations have a number of family-friendly resorts — in Cancun, family-friendly resorts embrace:

In Cabo, family-friendly resorts embrace:

For Cabo, most of the family-friendly resorts (such because the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos) are situated in or close to San Jose del Cabo quite than downtown Cabo — this can be a vital profit for households since San Jose del Cabo has a popularity for being extra relaxed and fewer party-centric than downtown Cabo. Additionally, San Jose del Cabo is simply a 20-minute automobile trip from the airport, so there can be much less time in a automobile with the children after your flight. 

Whereas we’ll go into which vacation spot is healthier for partying beneath, Cancun has a popularity for being occasion heavy year-round (notably throughout spring break), which is not perfect for household journeys. Cancun’s occasion popularity, in addition to the laid-back setting of San Jose del Cabo, suggestions the size in Cabo’s favor for household journeys. 

Adults trying to occasion could have no downside having enjoyable in both Cabo or Cancun, as each locations have a number of adult-only motels. As an example, Breathless Resorts & Spas, recognized for its all-inclusive, adults-only, and generally club-like environment, has places in Cabo and Cancun which can be good for adults trying to spend their journey imbibing. 

Nonetheless, In case you’re trying past your resort, Cancun has extra nightlife choices — downtown Cabo is comparatively small. Whereas there are a couple of bars and golf equipment in Cabo the place you possibly can dance into the late hours of the evening, Cancun has a “occasion zone” (known as Punta Cancun) recognized for its membership, bar, and music scene. And should you’re in search of enjoyable on spring break, U.S. Information & World Report ranks Cancun as the highest spring break vacation spot on the planet, with Cabo rating fourth.

In case you’re trying to keep at a luxurious resort, Cabo has some unbelievable choices, together with:

Given the luxurious resort choices and hefty value tags, it isn’t stunning that Cabo is in style with celebrities, together with Oprah Winfrey, Justin Timberlake, Cameron Diaz, and George Clooney. 

Whereas Cabo beats Cancun in luxurious resort choices, Cancun has considerably extra motels than Cabo and a greater variety of places to remain — corresponding to close by Playa del Carmen or Tulum. 

You possibly can’t go mistaken selecting between Cabo and Cancun in your Mexican getaway. Cabo is a greater possibility for luxurious journey and households, whereas Cancun beats out Cabo for nightlife and partying. Nonetheless, particularly should you’re touring as a household, you must analysis flight time and continuous service. In case you’re in search of the shortest flight, households on the West Coast could go for Cabo and households on the East Coast could go for Cancun.