Let’s examine the two hottest Mexican travel destinations and compare them head to head against each other! Let’s take a detailed look at these great travel destinations and you can decide which is better for you.
Location-
Cancun and the Mayan Riviera is like the Florida of Mexico. With it’s jungle terrain, white sand beaches and Mayan ruins you have great options. Due to it’s eastern location it has long been the destination for eastern/central USA, Canada and Europe. With so many non stop flights from these major cities it is no wonder why it is the #1 destination for Mexican tourism.
Los Cabos has traditionally attracted the western USA and Canada. If Cancun is Florida then Cabo is México light with a California twist. With the expansion of flights to the Eastern cities they have recently seen a massive change to the number of people visiting from the east. Also surprising is how easy it is to get to Los Cabos. iCabo is closer to Texas than California and due south of Phoenix and in the Mountain time zone.
Verdict- Cancun wins in ease of travel, but Cabo is less crowded due to this location difference. Plus so many have done Cancun so many times that Cabo is a refreshingly delightful change.
Resort Choices-
Cancun is the largest tourist destination by far in all of Mexico. In fact they recently surpassed over 101,000 rooms and climbing annually with 3,000 currently in construction in the state of Quintana Roo. They have plenty of rain and ground water for endless expansion plans. The far majority of the oceanfront resorts are all inclusive hotels. They have a wide variety of prices and styles. If you prefer all inclusive properties you will love Cancun and Riviera Maya. People tend to stay put at their resort as a result or take a crowded tour bus to the Disneyesque cultural centers, underground rivers and cenotes.
Los Cabos is still small in comparison but growing. Only recently have they seen the large international resort chains like Ritz Carlton, Marriott, Four Seasons, Montage and Hard Rock etc… opening there. Currently there are approximately 21,000 hotel rooms and much more spread out than the Cancun area. This is changing and the number of new properties is growing at an alarming rate considering the lack of rain and ground water in this desert on the beach.
Verdict- Cabo wins this category. While there are more choices in Cancun there are mainly only All Inclusive options. So Cabo has a wider choice of newer and in some cases much more luxurious resorts in which to choose. Unless huge mega resorts are your thing Cabo has a boutique feel to it. Tulum is an alternative to the mega resorts and also Isla Holbox, Cabo has many small boutique hotels that are affordable alternatives and the surrounding Pueblos offer great boutique options as well.
Climate
Cancun
As you would expect in a jungle you have warm and moist which means more rain and more bugs. There are 112 rainy days and over 51” a year but like Florida it doesn’t rain the whole day. The gorgeous beaches however have been suffering from an excessive bloom of sargassum which has really put a damper of the beach experience.
he most ideal climates in the world. Sometimes called Scottsdale on the beach. Being a dry desert in the tropics is unusual plus there are tall mountains that also bring winds that keep it cooler during the summer. With barely 12 days a year of rain and an annual rainfall less than 9 “ it is a dry climate and guaranteed sunshine with less creepy crawlers and barely a mosquito. Cabo has a longer peak season as a result.
Verdict- Climate is a personal choice and is easily influences by where you are coming from as well as the time of year you are traveling. Overall Cabo wins with a milder dryer climate with less bugs.
Safety-
Cancun has a higher homicide rate than average for Mexico in general. For the average tourist it remains a stable and safe destination for all who visit. Unless you are putting yourself in drunken state at the wrong side of midnight at the bad part of town the odds are slim you will have any problems in Cancun.
Cabo had a spike in drug related crime back in 2018 but has since seen a below normal homicide rate. The economy has survived the pandemic and the road to recovery is strong.
Verdict- Cabo wins the Safety comparison. In a recent study Mexicans were asked to rate the safety of their home cities. Cabo is the second safest while Cancun is dead last. Keep in mind both destinations are safer than the average large city in the USA but that isn’t hard is it? The size difference makes Cabo a safer option but Cancun is fine for family vacations in comparison to the rest of the world.
Cuisine-
Cancun and the Riviera Maya has mostly all inclusive resorts that cater to quantify over quality. There are some notable exceptions but these come at a great price bump. I find that all inclusive resorts are good if you plan to stay put at your resort and not explore the local flavors.
Cabo in contrast has a wider variety of resorts that are not all inclusive. The options for both Mexican and international are quite exceptional. Historically Cabo catered to the wealthy and they demand great food. Los Cabos delivers as well as Todos Santos, La Paz, San Jose and the expanding options in the East Cape.
Cabo again wins this category.
Beachs and Adventuring
Cancun has one of the largest coral reefs in the Atlantic and the diving is definitely world class. There is the concern of pollution from cruise ships and the recurring sargassum issue. The once white sandy beaches have been clogged with rotting sargassum for years. The resorts have to rake the beaches everyday. The amount of tourist flocking to this area makes it difficult to find nature without crowds. The Mayan ruins are simply amazing but are also quite crowded. The reason it is so popular is because of it is easy to get to location and because it has natural beauty.
Los Cabos has a mountainous terrain spilling into its sandy beaches and craggy bays. With both the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez easily accessible you have one of the greatest yachting destinations on the planet. There are many ways to adventure including above land and below the surface. I crowded reefs at Cabo Pulmo, endless bays and beaches with few others make this an ideal place to get back to nature.
Verdict- Both are great but the Baja has more diversity with less crowds.
Final Verdict-
Both Cancun and Los Cabos are two of the worlds most popular destinations for a reason. Both bring you amazing travel options. But if you want to get away from the resorts and explore the culture and natural beauty of Mexico, Los Cabos edges them out in most every way. Of course as much as we try to be unbiased we are not impartial judges. We are Cabosfinest and this is how we see it.
