WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS · BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR
Cabo San Lucas — the most romantic destination in Mexico
El Arco at sunset. Cliffside restaurants over the Pacific. Desert light that turns golden an hour before dusk and stays there. Cabo does romance at a level that's difficult to explain until you've seen it. This is the complete guide — whether you're planning a destination wedding, a honeymoon, or a proposal.
300+
Days of sunshine per year
20 min
SJD airport to most resorts
Oct–May
Ideal wedding season
#1
Mexico luxury resort destination
When to get married in Cabo
November – April
Peak Season- →75–85°F, near-zero rain probability
- →Gray whale migration (Dec–Apr) — stunning backdrop
- →Best light for ceremony and photos
- →Highest resort rates and demand — book 12–18 months ahead
October & May
Shoulder Season- →Still excellent weather — warm days, minimal rain
- →20–30% lower resort rates than peak
- →Fewer tourists — venues and vendors more available
- →Whale shark season begins in October (La Paz day trips)
June & September
Transition- →Heat building (June) or tapering (September)
- →Humidity higher, occasional afternoon clouds
- →Good value if schedule allows
- →Have indoor backup plan confirmed
July – August
Avoid for Weddings- →Hurricane season — active weather possible
- →High heat and humidity
- →Some resorts reduce operations
- →Not recommended for outdoor ceremonies
Best resorts for a Cabo wedding
All four have on-site wedding coordinators, dedicated ceremony spaces, and can handle full event logistics.
Waldorf Astoria Pedregal
Most DramaticThe most spectacular wedding setting in Los Cabos — a private cliffside enclave accessible only by tunnel or boat. The open-air Arrecifes Ballroom overlooks the Pacific with no obstructed views. Ceremonies on the tidal pools at sunset are unforgettable.
- ·Intimate — max ~200 guests
- ·Dedicated wedding coordinator
- ·Private tunnel access
- ·El Farallón for rehearsal dinner
Esperanza
Most IntimateBoutique and refined — Esperanza's ocean-view terrace and garden spaces are designed for intimate ceremonies of up to 150 guests. The property feels private and unhurried. Ocean-view casitas with plunge pools make it a natural honeymoon continuation.
- ·Boutique feel, adults-focused
- ·Award-winning spa on site
- ·Ocean-view casitas
- ·Best for 30–120 guests
Grand Velas Los Cabos
Best All-InclusiveGrand Velas handles weddings at scale without sacrificing quality. Their all-inclusive format simplifies budgeting for large groups — guests know their costs upfront. The beachfront terrace and open-air chapel are stunning.
- ·All-inclusive format
- ·Best for large groups 100–300
- ·Beachfront ceremony sites
- ·Wedding packages include coordinator
The Cape
Best ModernThompson Hotels' design-forward property sits on a bluff above the Sea of Cortez with direct views of El Arco and Land's End. The rooftop terrace and Don Manuel's restaurant make exceptional ceremony and reception venues for couples who want a contemporary aesthetic.
- ·Design-forward aesthetic
- ·Rooftop terrace with arch view
- ·Don Manuel's for the reception
- ·Best for 20–80 guests
Best resorts for a Cabo honeymoon
Different priorities than wedding venues — here it's about the room, the views, and the intimacy of the experience.
Waldorf Astoria Pedregal
Nothing in Cabo matches the drama — cliffside suites, private beach, a restaurant suspended over the Pacific.
Esperanza
Ocean-view casitas with private plunge pools, outstanding spa, and a scale that feels genuinely intimate rather than resort-standard.
Nobu Hotel Los Cabos
Striking architecture, Nobu's world-class dining, and the pool terrace is one of the most photographed in Mexico.
The Cape
Bluff-top views of El Arco, sleek Thompson Hotels design, rooftop dining at Don Manuel's. Best for design-forward couples.
Marquis Los Cabos
Adults-only all-inclusive on the Corridor — excellent value for honeymooners who want no surprises on the bill.
Most romantic restaurants in Los Cabos
These aren't just good restaurants — they're experiences designed around the setting, the light, and the moment.
El Farallón
CliffsideSuspended over the Pacific on a cliffside at the Waldorf Astoria Pedregal — the most romantic table in Los Cabos. Fresh seafood, crashing waves below, stars above. Reserve weeks in advance.
Sunset Monalisa
Sunset ViewThe Tourist Corridor's most iconic sunset dining. Mediterranean cuisine on a terrace facing directly west — time your reservation for the golden hour and watch the sun drop into the Pacific.
Don Manuel's
RooftopRooftop at The Cape with El Arco and the Sea of Cortez below. The tasting menu and cocktail list are exceptional. One of the most visually striking dining settings in Cabo.
Flora Farms
Farm-to-TableA 25-acre working organic farm in the foothills above San José del Cabo. Garden-side tables, farm-to-table cuisine, and a setting that feels nothing like the resort strip — genuinely special for a romantic evening.
Best honeymoon experiences in Cabo
Private Sunset Cruise
A private catamaran around Land's End with El Arco at golden hour is the quintessential Cabo romantic experience. Most operators offer champagne and appetizers on deck. Book a smaller vessel for a truly private feel rather than a group sunset cruise.
Whale Watching
December through April, gray whales migrate past the Cabo corridor and birth in the lagoons north of La Paz. A small-boat whale watching tour is an extraordinary experience — these animals approach boats out of curiosity, often within arm's reach.
Chileno Bay Snorkeling
The best snorkeling in Los Cabos — a protected marine reserve with calm water and impressive reef fish, rays, and sea turtles. Most easily accessible by water taxi from the marina or as part of a snorkeling tour.
Whale Shark Snorkeling, La Paz
Two hours north of Cabo, La Paz is one of the only places in the world where you can reliably snorkel with whale sharks in open water. Available October through April. A full-day couple's excursion that most guests call the highlight of their trip.
Todos Santos Day Trip
A 45-minute drive north through the Baja desert leads to one of Mexico's most charming Pueblo Mágico towns — working art studios, mezcal tastings, the legendary Hotel California, and Cerritos Beach for the Pacific surf and sunset.
Couples Spa
The Esperanza Spa and the Waldorf Astoria's RED spa are both world-class. Book a couples treatment that includes time in the thermal pools with ocean views. The Esperanza spa tunnel leads directly to a private beach.
PLANNING NOTE
Legal ceremony in Mexico vs symbolic ceremony
Many Cabo destination wedding couples choose a legal ceremony at home — a simple civil ceremony at the local courthouse in the weeks before travel — and a symbolic ceremony in Cabo. This simplifies the Mexican legal paperwork considerably (which requires apostilled documents, blood tests in some cases, and a civil judge appearance) while still allowing the full beach ceremony experience.
If you want your Cabo ceremony to be the legal marriage, your resort wedding coordinator will have established relationships with a local civil registry judge and legal translator. The major luxury resorts handle this routinely. Build in 3–4 additional months of lead time for document processing.
Either path works. Most couples who do the symbolic-only Cabo route say the ceremony itself felt completely real — the sunset, the arch, the setting — and the paperwork formality afterward barely registered.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cabo San Lucas a good place for a destination wedding?
Yes — Cabo San Lucas is one of the top destination wedding locations in the world. The combination of dramatic scenery (El Arco, cliffside ocean views), world-class luxury resorts with dedicated wedding coordinators, consistent sunny weather from October through June, and direct flights from most major U.S. cities makes it an exceptional choice. The Waldorf Astoria Pedregal, Esperanza, and Sunset Monalisa are among the most sought-after wedding venues in all of Latin America.
What is the best time of year for a Cabo wedding?
November through April is ideal for Cabo weddings — temperatures hold at 75–85°F, skies are reliably clear, and the desert light at golden hour is extraordinary. October and May are excellent shoulder months with smaller crowds and lower resort rates. Avoid July through September (hurricane season) for outdoor ceremonies, though many resorts offer contingency indoor venues. The winter months also coincide with gray whale migration — a spectacular backdrop for late-January and February weddings.
Do I need a marriage license to get married in Mexico?
Yes. Getting legally married in Mexico requires civil registration — both partners must appear before a Mexican civil registry judge. Required documents typically include valid passports, birth certificates (with apostille certification), blood test results (some states require), and completed application forms. Most Cabo resorts with wedding programs work with local legal coordinators who handle this process for you. Alternatively, many couples have a legal ceremony at home and a symbolic beach ceremony in Cabo.
What is the best resort for a Cabo honeymoon?
The best Cabo honeymoon resorts are Waldorf Astoria Pedregal (most dramatic setting — cliffside, accessible only by tunnel or boat), Esperanza (boutique, intimate, ocean-view casitas), The Cape (modern luxury on a surf-view bluff), Nobu Hotel (celebrity-favorite, stunning pool terrace), and Marquis Los Cabos (adults-only, all-inclusive, excellent value). For couples who want art and culture nearby, staying in San José del Cabo's boutique hotel district puts you steps from the Art Walk galleries.
What are the most romantic restaurants in Cabo San Lucas?
El Farallón at the Waldorf Astoria Pedregal is considered one of the most romantic restaurants in Mexico — suspended over the Pacific on a cliffside, fresh seafood, incredible views. Sunset Monalisa on the Tourist Corridor offers panoramic sea views with the best sunset timing in Los Cabos. Flora Farms in San José del Cabo is a working organic farm with an exceptional farm-to-table menu in a garden setting. Don Manuel's at The Cape has a dramatic rooftop terrace overlooking the Sea of Cortez and El Arco.
What are the best honeymoon activities in Cabo?
Top honeymoon activities in Cabo include a private sunset cruise around El Arco (book a catamaran for two), couples spa treatment at the Waldorf Astoria or Esperanza spa, a private sportfishing charter on the Sea of Cortez, snorkeling at Chileno Bay or Santa María Bay, a day trip to La Paz for whale shark snorkeling (October–April), a drive to Todos Santos for the Hotel California and Pacific coast, and a farm-to-table dinner at Flora Farms. Private experiences — sunset cruises, private beach dinners — are widely available and elevate the honeymoon considerably.
Can you get married on the beach in Cabo San Lucas?
Yes, beach weddings are common in Cabo. Médano Beach in the marina is the most accessible and can accommodate large groups. The Corridor beach stretches in front of most major resorts — Esperanza, The Cape, and Grand Velas all offer private beach ceremony setups on their property. For more dramatic photography, some couples arrange sunset ceremonies with El Arco visible in the background from the water side (requiring a boat). Most resorts on the Tourist Corridor have dedicated beach ceremony sites.
How much does a destination wedding in Cabo cost?
Cabo wedding costs vary widely by resort and guest count. A small intimate ceremony (20–30 guests) at a mid-range resort can run $10,000–$25,000 all-in. A full luxury wedding at the Waldorf Astoria Pedregal or Esperanza with 80–100 guests can reach $80,000–$150,000+. Most luxury resorts require a minimum spend on food and beverage, and room night minimums for the wedding block. Working with a local Los Cabos wedding planner is strongly recommended — they have established vendor relationships and know resort pricing intimately.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
Book flights, hotels & activities
Best of Cabo earns a commission on bookings made through these links at no extra cost to you.
Start Planning
Your golden hour in Baja is waiting.
Get the full Best of Cabo travel guide — itineraries, insider picks, and the towns you shouldn't skip.
Best of Cabo covers five Baja California Sur destinations — Cabo San Lucas, San José del Cabo, La Paz, Todos Santos, and Cerritos Beach — with 20+ curated resorts, 25+ restaurants, and every major activity category, all personally researched.