Visit our 2022 Day Pass Article

The benefits of living in Los Cabos are legion. There’s the year-round sunshine and beautiful beaches, of course, not to mention the amazing cuisine, unique cultural celebrations, and wide variety of incredible outdoor adventures.

But there’s also another benefit that far too few locals and seasonal residents take advantage of…convenient access to first-class (in some cases, world-class) beachfront hotels and resorts.

Fact is, you don’t have to be a tourist to enjoy the region’s stunning collection of hotels and resorts (a list, by the way, that now includes Waldorf Astoria, Four Seasons and Nobu). That’s what day passes are for! Day passes in the area typically offer access to swimming pools, hot tubs, and beaches, as well as food and drinks, and in some cases even spa services. Basically, it’s the resort experience without the overnight stay.

This being 2020, many of the better known day pass destinations have suspended their programs for the time being. Breathless Cabo San Lucas Resort & Spa, which has gained a reputation in recent years as one of top pool party/day pass spots (and has offered excellent rates to locals), is not currently selling day passes. Omnia Dayclub in San José del Cabo, another pool party mecca, has yet to reopen. The list goes on and on.

But although the options are not what one might expect in a typical year, locals and seasonal residents seeking a vacation for a day still have some excellent choices.

With that in mind, here’s a look at some of our favorite day passes in Los Cabos right now.

Cabo Villas Beach Resort & Spa

Cabo Villas benefits from a perfect location, smack dab in the middle of the action on Playa El Médano, Cabo San Lucas’ largest and most popular beach.

And as far as day passes go, Cabo Villas is the current king of the local day pass scene. The resort offers six separate day pass packages, each of which are tiered in terms of pricing, access and services.

The basic offering is the Resort Pass, which for only $29 offers an all-day poolside experience with loads of extras (listed below):

• Reserved poolside lounge chair & umbrella
• Access to two outdoor pools
• Pool towels
• Poolside food and drink service
• $20 food and beverage credit for WetBar or Aleta Restaurant
• 20% discount on spa services
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Complimentary valet parking
• Must be booked 24 hours in advance

Given the prime beachfront location, however, devotees of the day pass lifestyle may want to upgrade to the Cachet Beach Pass, which at $79 is a bit more pricey, but includes what amounts to a “front row seat” on Médano Beach at the Cachet Beach Club, with gorgeous views of Land’s End and Cabo San Lucas Bay, plus plenty of discounts and services:

• Reserved pool or beach lounge chair & umbrella
• Access to two outdoor pools
• Pool towels
• Pool and beach side food and beverage service
• Beach Club access (lounge chairs & umbrella)
• $20 food and beverage credit for WetBar or Aleta Restaurant
• $40 food and beverage credit for Cachet Beach Club
• 20% discount on spa services
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Complimentary valet parking
• Must be booked 24 hours in advance

Other day pass options at Cabo Villas include a Spa Ritual Pass ($29) with access to sauna, steam room, hot tub, and locker rooms; a Spa Relaxing Massage Pass ($69), which is effectively the spa pass with a 30-minute relaxing massage included; a Beach Cabana Pass ($198 for two people), which offers a swankier beachfront experience, from the cabana to upgraded food and beverage discounts; and a Heart of Cabo VIP Pass ($298 for two people), which is basically the best of all their day pass offerings rolled into one.

Choose the one that fits your budget or mood for the day.

Av. del Pescador, Playa El Médano, Cabo San Lucas, (624) 143-9166, www.cabovillasbeachresort.com. Day pass price: $29 to $298 USD, depending on the package.

Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort

Those who’ve spent time on Los Cabos’ East Cape may already be familiar with this benchmark family-owned property, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2021. Certainly those who follow the local fishing scene will know the name, since the resort plays host to Bisbee’s annual East Cape Offshore each August.

Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort is built on underground thermal hot springs, which fuels the excellent “must try” onsite hot tub. This beautifully landscaped resort has much more to offer day pass visitors, however, from the secluded beach and large pool area to picturesque seating at El Navegante – the onsite restaurant – where menu items are like as not made from family recipes handed down for generations. $20 credit on food and drink is included with the day pass price.

The gazebo-set pool (billiards) and ping pong tables, meanwhile, are an added attraction for those with kids.

105 Hwy. 1, Spa Buenavista, Buenavista, East Cape, (624) 142-0099, buenavistaresort.mx. Day pass price: $30 USD.

Cerritos Surf Town Beach Hotel & Spa

If you love surfing in Los Cabos, then you know the best wintertime breaks are off Pacific side beaches like Los Cerritos, San Pedrito and La Pastora. The first, commonly known as Cerritos, is a long-time favorite of locals; not just for the surfing, but as a tranquilo weekend getaway from Cabo San Lucas. The surfing is excellent here, however, and the inspiration for Cerritos Surf Town Hotel & Spa, the best day pass destination on the beach.

Like many day pass options, this one comes with a food and drink credit ($20), plus access to the swimming pool and hot tub. Shaded tables overlook the beach, and extras like surf lessons and board rentals are available for those who don’t mind leaving the comfort of the pool for more active pastimes in a far larger pool (AKA, the Pacific Ocean).

The sunsets are amazing here, so don’t leave too early.

Hwy. 19 Km. 67, Playa Los Cerritos, El Pescadero, (624) 160-0881, www.cerritossurftown.com. Day pass price: $40 USD.

Hotel Tesoro Los Cabos

This property has a long and tangled history in Cabo San Lucas. There are still a few grizzled expats who refer to it as Plaza No Glorias after one of its previous incarnations (and there have been a few, from Costa Real and Plaza Las Glorias to a brief period of Wyndham branding after it became El Tesoro).

That said, the central marina-front location is hard to beat, and the views of the marina and bay beyond from the rooftop Skypool are objectively gorgeous. The swim-up bar and hot tubs here are pretty sweet, too.

Day passes have gone up in price in recent years, but still remain an incredible value. Day pass hours here are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – call it the Cabo version of a work day – and include access to the pool and hot tubs, plus cabanas, lounge chairs and towels, as well as free Wi-Fi and basically all the food and drinks you can handle (unlimited national drinks, breakfast buffet and lunch).

It’s definitely one of the best day passes in Los Cabos right now.

Blvd. Paseo de la Marina, Cabo San Lucas, (624) 173-9300, www.tesoroloscabos.com. Day pass price: $55 USD.

Visit our 2022 Day Pass Article

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Saludos from Co-Founders…

Chris Sands – Writer  and Michael Mattos