Exploring Historic San José del Cabo: History, Food, Art & My Cabo Day Trip
Exploring San José del Cabo: What I Learned Visiting Historic Downtown
If you're visiting Los Cabos, don't make the mistake of thinking the entire experience begins and ends at your resort.
On my first trip to Mexico, I absolutely wanted the beautiful resort experience Cabo is known for—the ocean views, pools, restaurants and time to relax. But I also wanted to see more of the destination I had traveled all that way to visit.
That's what brought me to San José del Cabo.
After spending time exploring historic downtown, I realized this is an easy addition to a Cabo itinerary for travelers who want history, art, shopping, great food and a chance to see another side of Los Cabos.
And there were a few things I learned along the way that I wish I had known beforehand.
So if you're considering a day trip from Cabo San Lucas to San José del Cabo, here's what I recommend doing, where I would consider staying, what I would bring—and one transportation mistake I would definitely avoid.
QUICK GUIDE
Best for: History, food, art, photography and shopping
What to bring: Secure crossbody bag, sunscreen, portable charger and compact camera
Don't miss: Historic downtown, murals, artisan shops and the restaurant scene
My biggest tip: Give yourself enough time to actually explore instead of treating downtown as a quick photo stop
First: Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo Aren't the Same Experience
This is probably the first thing I'd want a first-time visitor to understand.
Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo are both part of Los Cabos, but you can have two very different experiences between them.
If your Cabo itinerary revolves around your resort, beaches and ocean activities, adding San José del Cabo gives you a completely different type of day.
The historic center is where I'd go for architecture, galleries, restaurants, murals, shopping and history.
The area itself has a history stretching back centuries. San José del Cabo's mission was founded in 1730, long before Los Cabos developed into the international resort destination travelers recognize today.
That history was one reason I was glad I came.
I wasn't interested in flying to another country, seeing only the inside of a resort and going home.
I wanted to learn something about where I was.
Is San José del Cabo Worth a Day Trip From Cabo San Lucas?
I would absolutely include it in a Cabo itinerary if you enjoy food, history, art, shopping or photography.
The key is not overplanning it.
I would give yourself several hours and build your day around a few priorities rather than trying to visit everything.
My ideal itinerary would look something like this:
Historic downtown → architecture and murals → local shopping → smoothie or coffee → more exploring → early dinner or dinner reservation.
That's enough structure to keep you from wandering around wondering what to do next, but still gives you the freedom to stop when you find something interesting.
And you probably will.
Start by Walking Historic Downtown
One of the easiest things to do in San José del Cabo also ended up being one of the most enjoyable:
Walk.
Don't immediately rush from one attraction to another.
Look at the buildings and architecture. Pay attention to the signs, courtyards, greenery and artwork. Walk into shops that catch your attention.
This is also where I'd take most of my photographs.
If you're creating travel content, you'll find plenty of backgrounds without having to manufacture them. I found colorful streets, restaurants, artwork and interesting architectural details simply by exploring.
My photography tip
Don't only photograph yourself in front of landmarks.
Capture the details that tell the story of the destination: the streets, restaurant entrances, murals, signs, food, handmade products, architecture and wide shots showing what the neighborhood actually looks like.
Those images will help you remember the destination much better than 20 nearly identical posed photographs.
Don't Skip the Art
Even if you're not someone who normally visits art galleries, keep an eye out for the art throughout San José del Cabo.
The historic center is known for its Gallery District, and the city's popular Art Walk takes place seasonally on Thursday evenings. The event traditionally runs from November through June, although I recommend checking the current schedule before planning your trip around it.
But you don't need to visit during an official Art Walk to appreciate this part of San José del Cabo.
Look for murals as you walk.
Some of my favorite visual discoveries were simply things I noticed while exploring rather than attractions I had specifically planned to find.
TIP: If photography is important to you, leave extra time in your itinerary for this. It's very easy for a planned 20-minute walk to become an hour when you start discovering interesting places to photograph.
Stop for a Smoothie or Coffee
This sounds simple, but I recommend doing it.
It can get hot walking around, and taking a break gave me an opportunity to actually enjoy my surroundings instead of constantly moving.
I stopped for a smoothie, and it became one of those small travel moments I genuinely enjoyed.
Find a café that catches your attention, sit down, cool off and enjoy being there.
It's also why I wouldn't schedule your San José del Cabo itinerary down to the minute.
Leave room to discover something you didn't find on Google beforehand.
Look for Handmade Glass and Local Shopping
Save some room in your schedule—and possibly your luggage—for shopping.
One thing I recommend looking for is handmade glass.
You'll also find galleries, boutiques, artwork, accessories and decorative pieces throughout the historic area.
Instead of immediately buying the first souvenir with “Cabo” printed across it, take your time.
I think the best travel purchases are the things that remind you of the destination because of where you found them, not simply because the destination's name is printed on them.
If you're flying home, just remember to think about how you'll transport anything fragile before purchasing larger glass pieces.
That's one of those small practical details that's very easy to forget while shopping.
Plan Around the Food—Seriously
Here's something I would do differently when planning another visit:
I'd research restaurants before arriving.
San José del Cabo has a much more significant culinary scene than some first-time visitors may realize.
The MICHELIN Guide's Baja California Sur selection includes multiple restaurants in and around San José del Cabo, including Ruba's Bakery, Lumbre, LÍMO Heritage Kitchen at Suelo Sur, Acre, Flora's Field Kitchen and CARBÓNCABRÓN, among others.
So don't automatically assume you should eat at your resort before coming downtown.
Make food part of the excursion.
If there's a particular restaurant you want to experience, check its hours and reservation requirements before your trip rather than hoping to walk in.
Should You Stay in San José del Cabo Instead?
After visiting, I realized there's another way you could structure a Los Cabos vacation.
Instead of making San José del Cabo a day trip, stay here for part of your trip.
That could make sense if your priorities are: history, restaurants, art galleries, shopping and being able to walk around downtown.
A Hotel I'd Consider: Tropicana Los Cabos
One property I'd look at is Tropicana Los Cabos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton → Check Rates
What makes Tropicana interesting isn't simply the hotel itself—it's the location.
Hilton places the property in San José del Cabo's historic district next to the downtown square, with the city center, galleries, Mission San José del Cabo and Plaza Mijares nearby. The hotel has 70 rooms and suites along with restaurants, bars, a heated pool and wellness amenities.
That makes it particularly interesting if the historic side of Los Cabos is one of the main reasons you're visiting.
Prefer the Resort Experience?
Then do exactly what I did: enjoy the resort experience and dedicate part of your trip to exploring San José del Cabo.
You don't necessarily have to choose between the two.
COMPARE SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO HOTELS & RESORTS →
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What I Recommend Bringing for the Day
After actually doing this excursion, I wouldn't bring a large bag or a bunch of unnecessary equipment.
You want to be able to walk comfortably.
Here's what I would bring:
Secure crossbody purse: Choose something that completely closes and can stay close to your body.
GoPro or compact action camera: Particularly useful if you want video without constantly using your phone.
Chest mount or discreet wearable camera mount: Helpful for hands-free footage while you're walking.
Portable charger: Maps, transportation apps, photos and video can drain your phone faster than expected.
Sunscreen: You'll likely spend a significant portion of the day outdoors.
Hat and sunglasses: Especially useful during daytime exploring.
Comfortable shoes: This is not the day I'd choose uncomfortable shoes just because they look good in pictures.
Small amount of cash + payment card: I wouldn't carry more cash than I expect to need.
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If You're Creating Content, Bring a GoPro
This is probably one of the most useful tips I can give another content creator.
You don't need your phone in your hand every second to get good travel footage.
A small action camera such as a GoPro can capture excellent walking footage while being much less cumbersome.——> Amazon
A chest mount can also capture natural POV footage while leaving your hands free.
I prefer being discreet with electronics when I'm walking around unfamiliar places, so I wouldn't recommend unnecessarily displaying your phone throughout the entire excursion.
That's not specific to San José del Cabo.
It's simply a travel precaution I use anywhere I'm unfamiliar with my surroundings.
And remember: you don't have to capture everything.
Sometimes the best thing you can do for your travel content is put the camera down for five minutes and actually experience the place you're trying to document.
The Uber Mistake I Don't Want You to Make
Now for the lesson I really wish I'd known beforehand.
I almost paid more than I should have while trying to pay cash for an Uber.
I want to be careful about how I describe this because I'm talking about my particular experience, not making a statement about every Uber driver or transportation experience in Los Cabos.
But it taught me something important that I think is worth passing along.
Check the fare displayed in your app before paying.
Uber does support cash payment in eligible parts of Mexico. For a cash trip, Uber says the amount to collect is displayed through the app, and riders receive a receipt.
Don't rely solely on someone verbally telling you what you owe.
Look at your app.
Verify the amount.
Then pay.
That simple step could prevent an unnecessary disagreement or overpayment.
After my experience, I personally prefer paying through the app when that option is available.
Uber also identifies cashless payment, GPS trip tracking and other in-app features as part of its safety system.
My transportation checklist
Before getting into the vehicle, I would:
Confirm the license plate → confirm the driver → confirm the destination in the app → keep the ride active in the app → verify the final fare before paying.
And if there's a fare disagreement, I'd rather address it through the platform than get into an argument.
That's a lesson I'll carry into future trips.
A Few Precautions I'd Use Anywhere I Travel
I didn't spend the day walking around afraid, and I don't think that's how you should experience a new destination.
But being relaxed and being careless are two different things.
There are a few precautions I use when traveling that I'd recommend here as well.
Keep your purse closed and close to you. Don't pull out large amounts of cash. Be aware of where you put your phone after taking a photograph. Verify your transportation information. Don't leave valuables unattended.
And don't broadcast your exact location on social media in real time.
You can still create beautiful travel content without telling the internet exactly where you are at that moment.
Enjoy it first.
Post it later.
How I Would Plan the Perfect San José del Cabo Day
If I were planning this experience again, this would be my formula:
Start in historic downtown.
Spend the first part of the visit walking around and seeing the architecture before getting distracted by restaurants and shopping.
Find the murals and galleries.
Take your photographs, but also spend some time actually looking at the artwork.
Browse the shops.
Especially look for handmade glass and pieces that you won't find everywhere else.
Take a smoothie or coffee break.
Sit down. Cool off. Recharge.
Keep exploring.
Some of the best finds will probably be things that weren't originally on your itinerary.
Finish with a great meal.
Research your restaurant beforehand and make a reservation if necessary.
That's a full experience without trying to cram 15 attractions into one afternoon.
Is San José del Cabo Worth Visiting?
If you're already traveling to Los Cabos and you're interested in experiencing more than your resort, San José del Cabo deserves a place on your itinerary.
Go for the history.
Stay for the food.
Look at the art.
Browse the shops.
Find something handmade.
Take plenty of photographs.
But most importantly, give yourself enough time to actually experience it.
What San José del Cabo Taught Me About My First Trip to Mexico
This was my first time visiting Mexico.
I came expecting beautiful beaches and a vacation.
I certainly found those things.
But I'm glad I didn't stop there.
Exploring San José del Cabo made me curious about the country beyond what I had already seen. Learning a little of the history, walking through downtown, discovering the artwork and experiencing the food gave me a completely different appreciation for the trip.
And that's the part I value most.
A great trip shouldn't only give you beautiful pictures.
It should leave you wanting to understand more about the place you just visited.
Mexico did that for me.
This was my first visit.
It definitely won't be my last.
Until the next adventure,
Jessica Holland
Jessica Holland Travels
