Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas is the tender port at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez. The famous Arch (El Arco) is visible from the ship and the water taxi ride to shore passes right by it. The beach scene, nightlife, and restaurant options are all solid.

Medano Beach is the main beach, walkable from the tender pier, and it's the full Mexican resort experience — vendors, music, and waiter service right on the sand. The snorkeling at Pelican Rock is surprisingly good for a mainland Mexican port, and whale watching (December-April) is world-class.

The reality: Cabo is a tender port, which means your day starts with a 15-20 minute boat ride. On rough weather days, tender service can be delayed or cancelled entirely. Also, Cabo is expensive by Mexican standards — it's priced for the LA and Arizona resort crowd, not for backpackers. Still, the natural beauty and weather (300+ sunny days/year) are hard to beat.