Santa Maria Beach
Santa Maria Beach, Cabo San Lucas: Address, Phone Number, Santa Maria Beach Reviews: 4.5/5
Santa Maria Beach
Santa Maria Beach
4.5
About
A pristine white sand beach offering spectacular snorkeling.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Santa Maria Beach
The area
Address
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
16 within 5 kms
Blu
154
1.5 km€€ - €€€ • Seafood • International • Vegetarian Friendly
Rosato
101
1.6 km€€€€ • Italian • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Sushi Sky Bar
54
1.6 km€€ - €€€ • Japanese • Asian
Peninsula By Night
33
1.5 km€€ - €€€
COMAL Restaurant at Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection
179
2.2 km€€€€ • Mexican • Latin • Seafood
De Cortez Grill and Restaurant
424
2.4 km€€€€ • Steakhouse • International • Grill
Tomatoes Restaurant
241
2.6 km€€ - €€€ • Mexican • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Pitahayas Restaurant
455
2.7 km€€€€ • Asian • Fusion • Vegetarian Friendly
Sports Bar at Sheraton Grand Hacienda del Mar
1
2.5 km
Mestizo del Mar
253
4.1 km€€€€ • Mexican • Seafood • International
Attractions
9 within 10 kms
Contribute
Popular mentions
4.5
1,296 reviews
Excellent
831
Very good
345
Average
92
Poor
23
Terrible
5
KellyRemington
Grande Prairie, Canada48 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
This was by far our favorite beach between Santa Maria and Chileno (we still enjoyed Chileno and it's worth visiting). The beach was not crowded (weekday) and was very clean with gentlemen collecting garbage out of the sand throughout the day with their homemade sand scoopers.
The sand was coarse so I do suggest wearing water shoes to walk around the beach or in the water. Also we ended up setting up shop all the way to the right side of the beach where the snorkeling is best. It's a bit of a hike in the sand with all your gear but if you plan on doing lots of Snorkeling i do recommend heading to the far right.
The snorkeling was great, we got to see a great variety of fish, large schools of fish....starfish, loads of sea urchins (large spine and short spined), puffer fish, yellow tailed tangs, parrot fish, angel fish, and several other types.
You can also rent chairs, umbrella and boogie boards, but they won't set it up of bring it for you if you choose to go far away from their post. We did lug all our items to the far right side and came back for the rented items.
Bathrooms were not super clean and didn't have toilet paper so I suggest you bring some and don't forget your shoes for the boardwalk.
There is no food there so bring lots of water, snacks and lunch in a cooler bag.
We had our 2.5 year old toddler with us, and she loved going to that beach. The water also seemed warmer than Chileno beach. The waves were less aggressive and she enjoyed playing in the surf a lot more. We brought buckets and shovels and a light coloured umbrella for entertainment.
I do suggest hat and rashguard (uv shirt) as some of us got bad sunburns from snorkeling. We brought our masks and snorkels (no fines as we forgot them) and it was great.
The sand was coarse so I do suggest wearing water shoes to walk around the beach or in the water. Also we ended up setting up shop all the way to the right side of the beach where the snorkeling is best. It's a bit of a hike in the sand with all your gear but if you plan on doing lots of Snorkeling i do recommend heading to the far right.
The snorkeling was great, we got to see a great variety of fish, large schools of fish....starfish, loads of sea urchins (large spine and short spined), puffer fish, yellow tailed tangs, parrot fish, angel fish, and several other types.
You can also rent chairs, umbrella and boogie boards, but they won't set it up of bring it for you if you choose to go far away from their post. We did lug all our items to the far right side and came back for the rented items.
Bathrooms were not super clean and didn't have toilet paper so I suggest you bring some and don't forget your shoes for the boardwalk.
There is no food there so bring lots of water, snacks and lunch in a cooler bag.
We had our 2.5 year old toddler with us, and she loved going to that beach. The water also seemed warmer than Chileno beach. The waves were less aggressive and she enjoyed playing in the surf a lot more. We brought buckets and shovels and a light coloured umbrella for entertainment.
I do suggest hat and rashguard (uv shirt) as some of us got bad sunburns from snorkeling. We brought our masks and snorkels (no fines as we forgot them) and it was great.
Written 19 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Christian C
6 contributions
May 2022 • Family
Cabos Santa MarÃa beach is a tourist place in Mexico, the beach has a horseshoe shape and is surrounded by rocky cliffs covered with cactus, I highly recommend this place that is very impressive, it is a place that you can spend with your family, since it is you can swim, dive and see the brightly colored fish found on this beach, the water is crystal clear, it is a quiet place, I used to go a lot with my family, but with the pandemic we already went out for a walk, but In these vacations we will go again to visit this beautiful place in Los Cabos.
Written 3 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jolie J
Gatineau, Canada261 contributions
Feb 2022
Very pretty beach, especially the area to the right where it's more quiet and I could find some shade between the rock formations. You can rent chairs and umbrellas. No food is available. There are bathrooms and showers (but no tp so bring your own). I snorkeled on the right side, saw lots of fish but that's it, aside from dead coral. The water in Feb was cold but doable.
To get there, I took the purple Dusierto bus from downtown Cabo San Lucas (I asked the driver to let me know when we arrived). To get back, cross the highway and wait on that side of the road (no bus shelter). Wave the bus down.
To get there, I took the purple Dusierto bus from downtown Cabo San Lucas (I asked the driver to let me know when we arrived). To get back, cross the highway and wait on that side of the road (no bus shelter). Wave the bus down.
Written 20 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
skink
Falls Church, VA482 contributions
Mar 2022
Santa Maria beach about 11 kilometers from Cabo San Lucas is a wonderful alternative to Medano Beach if you want a peaceful, restful beach with no vendors. You can get there by private car, public bus (37 MXP and a walk), or Uber (200 MXP). There are chairs and umbrellas to rent and plenty of space to spread out on this gorgeous, uncrowded beach. There are no bars or restaurants on the beach so if that is your preferred scene, Medano Beach is still the place for you. There is excellent snorkeling near the rocks on the right side of the beach so bring your gear. It is a quiet, peaceful oasis if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Cabo San Lucas.
Written 25 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Gates P
Toronto, Canada76 contributions
Feb 2022
Nice small beach with swimmable waters. Not too crowded in the middle of the week. Lots of tour boats however from Cabo San Lucas. Clear waters, some snorkeling. A long walk to the bathrooms and not very clean!!! No shade in parking lot. Chairs and umbrellas available to rent. I think Chileno is a better beach.
Written 13 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Em T
Calgary, Canada36 contributions
Dec 2021 • Family
We had a great time here. Took a taxi from Gregorytour from our hotel. Arrived before 10am and were one of the first groups on the beach. They have umbrellas for rent for $14 (won’t budge on the price). We didn’t get one and didn’t need once since we were in the water most of the time snorkelling. The snorkelling was decent! Clear water and a few different types of fish. Snorkelling tours park at this location. No lockers for belongings, we dug a hole under our beach towel and put our phones and money in there. Seemed pretty safe with tourists all around. The review before this said there are no vendors on the beach. There was when we were there but they ask once and then leave you alone. Since the water isn’t swimmable in front of most resorts I recommend Santa Maria for a day trip. The sand is very coral-ly and rough on the feet so walk to the water and swim to where you want to go. Enjoy!
Written 30 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Carochi
Mexico City, Mexico42 contributions
Dec 2021 • Family
Certified beach which means no sales persons annoying anyone, but aldo means you need to bring your own food and beverage
Quizá la mejor playa de San José
Quizá la mejor playa de San José
Written 21 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Worldwide Dave
Meridian, ID524 contributions
Oct 2021
We have been to Santa Maria Beach 3 times now.
Vibe: Laid back, chill
Access: Closer to Cabo San Lucas than Chileno, but not as good IMHO
Would I go again: Yes if showing people around town
Santa Maria has more coral sand than Medano or Chileno. You really need aqua socks or similar or else very tough feet. It is fun to snorkel here, but not as many fish IMHO as Chileno or Pelecano.
Vibe: Laid back, chill
Access: Closer to Cabo San Lucas than Chileno, but not as good IMHO
Would I go again: Yes if showing people around town
Santa Maria has more coral sand than Medano or Chileno. You really need aqua socks or similar or else very tough feet. It is fun to snorkel here, but not as many fish IMHO as Chileno or Pelecano.
Written 23 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Bill H
10 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
Wow, looks like it was once a beautiful beach! Now just a resort surrounded by lots of construction noise and way too much boat traffic. I’d recommend going elsewhere. This place just sucks!
Written 23 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Lukas
Milan, Italy1 contribution
Aug 2021 • Business
Nice place, very friendly staff but a rip off. But they charged us 14% too much. Couldn’t show the exact bill. It was fun though
Written 23 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Steve L
Dexter, MI9 contributions
Is there still snorkel rental on the beach? Not sure if COVID has shut this practice down
Sfumo
Westfield Center, OH14 contributions
We are going to Cabo in March with our 5 and 8 year old. I don’t think we will rent a car, any suggestions for traveling and adventure with kids this age? Is it safe?
crabbclaws2016
Los Angeles, CA32 contributions
Walking to this beach is too far from most hotels - take a taxi or Urber - or if you wish the city bus.
Free parking if you drive - families welcome
Keri B
mapleton, ut8 contributions
We're coming to Cabo on a cruise in 2 weeks I've been there before but I want to do something different I keep reading about good snorkeling spots in Santa Maria and Juliano how's the best way to get there and do both of these locations rent snorkeling equipment there??
crabbclaws2016
Los Angeles, CA32 contributions
Agreed forget urber here it’s more like a gypsy cab system - take a regular cab - u may be able to arrange with the driver to return and pick U up. No gear, towels etc. it’s a lovely little local spot- lifeguard on duty. U might be able to rent umbrella too. Bathrooms new and big for changing clothes
The next exit past also has a beach equally nice and equipped the same
I’ve read the walkway at Santa Maria Beach is 5-10 minutes and over a mile long! Can anyone tell me if Santa Maria is significantly longer than Chileno?? I have issues that prevent my walking more than 10-15 minutes at a time. Thank you.
Christine K
Ocean View, DE26 contributions
No its really about the same.
Tjanoka62
Anoka, MN2 contributions
Do they have kayaks on site for rent?
sacosta2018
Kansas City, KS3 contributions
you probably can at the marina. Our sail boat had them for us with paddle boards.
Admiten llevar mascotas?
Lourdes542
Guatemala City, Guatemala57 contributions
No estoy segura, pero creo que no. No và ninguna mascota. Pero en Playa El Médano sà permiten.
Rainxiaor
New York City, NY49 contributions
Are the palapas free to use in the winter (December)? Seems like the reviews are conflicting. We are going for Christmas week and wondering do we need to bring our own umbrellas.
cacoecarol
Ventura, CA38 contributions
I went in November and they were free, bring your own food and drinks
Cristy T
3 contributions
Puedo llegar a la playa en transporte público?? O es necesario llevar tu propio auto?
vick
Mexico City, Mexico14 contributions
Casi no hay transporte público, al manos yo no vi alguno. Un taxi te podrÃa llevar y Desconozco los costos. Lo más cómodo es llevar tu propio auto y conocer varias playas. Saludos
Nikzleez
Prince George, VA625 contributions
What is the best way to get here to snorkel from San Jose del Cabo? We are open to a tour company, but if it as just as easy/economically advantageous to just take a cab or transportation service that is fine too....but we need a no hassle way to get back too.
Deb H
Strathmore, Canada64 contributions
Easy enough to catch the bus there. Also there are taxis waiting everywhere outside your buildings. tell them to pick you up at a certain time and they will. We have always just rented a car while there.
Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Maria Beach
- We recommend booking Santa Maria Beach tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 31 Santa Maria Beach tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Santa Maria Beach:
- Los Cabos Snorkeling Tour to Chileno Bay and Santa Maria Cove (From €66.46)
- Snorkeling Catamaran Tour at Santa Maria Bay (From €65.51)
- 3Hr Private Yacht Cruise in Cabo As if you were aboard your own Private Yacht.Al (From €712.12)
- Small Group Tour of Los Cabos (From €66.46)
- Beach Hopping Snorkeling Discovery in Los Cabos (From €84.50)
- Hotels near Santa Maria Beach:
- (0.01 km) Montage Los Cabos
- (1.84 km) Live Aqua Private Residences Los Cabos
- (2.09 km) Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection
- (1.55 km) Grand Fiesta Americana Los Cabos All Inclusive Golf & Spa
- (2.73 km) Hacienda del Mar Los Cabos Resort, Villas & Golf
- Restaurants near Santa Maria Beach:
- (1.47 km) Blu
- (1.58 km) Rosato
- (4.08 km) Mestizo del Mar
- (2.42 km) De Cortez Grill and Restaurant
- (2.72 km) Pitahayas Restaurant