What the Pacific side of Cabo is actually like
Terrasol Beach Resort sits on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas. Playa Grande is on one side, Grand Solmar is on the other. The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is steps away on the same Pacific beach.
This is open ocean. Waves roll in from across the water, the scenery is dramatic, and the sunsets are the best in Cabo because you are facing west with nothing between you and the horizon. From December through April, humpback whales migrate through these Pacific waters, and guests at Terrasol frequently spot them directly from the beach or from their condo.
The main tradeoff: the Pacific beach here is not a swim beach. The surf is strong and there are rocks. You swim in the resort pool at Terrasol, not in the ocean. That is a real consideration if ocean swimming is a priority.
The Pacific side makes the most sense if you:
- Want dramatic oceanfront views and west-facing sunsets
- Are visiting during whale watching season (December through April)
- Prefer a quieter, resort-style environment without beach-bar crowds
- Want to stay in a privately owned condo and book direct without platform fees
What the Sea of Cortez side of Cabo is actually like
The Sea of Cortez side of Cabo is anchored by Medano Beach, the main swimming beach in the city. The Baja Peninsula blocks the Pacific swell here, so the water is calm, warm, and easy to enter. You can swim, paddleboard, snorkel near the glass-bottom boats, and rent water equipment right off the sand.
Medano Beach is also where most of the beach bar scene happens. If you want music, vendors, frozen drinks, and a lively beach atmosphere, this is where you find it. The Cabo marina and downtown restaurants and shops are a short walk from this stretch of beach.
The Sea of Cortez side makes the most sense if you:
- Want to swim in the ocean, especially with children
- Are visiting for the beach bar and nightlife scene
- Want to walk to downtown, the marina, and restaurants
- Prefer being in the center of the tourist activity
Where El Arco fits into this
El Arco, the famous rock arch at Land's End, sits at the point where the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez meet. You reach it by water taxi from Medano Beach. Lover's Beach, the calm-water cove at Land's End, faces the Sea of Cortez. Divorce Beach, just around the point, faces the Pacific and is much rougher.
Both beaches are a short water-taxi ride from Medano Beach. Guests staying on the Pacific side at Terrasol typically hire a cab or Uber to Medano Beach first, then take the water taxi from there.
Can you stay on the Pacific side and still do Sea of Cortez activities?
Yes, easily. The drive from Terrasol Beach Resort to downtown Cabo and Medano Beach is roughly 10 to 15 minutes by cab or Uber, depending on traffic. You are not stranded on the Pacific side.
Most Terrasol guests do a mix. Mornings at the resort, then a trip to Medano Beach or downtown for the afternoon, then back to the Pacific side for sunset. The sunset from the Terrasol beach or from a Pacific-facing condo is genuinely worth coming back for.
Pacific vs Sea of Cortez for whale watching
The Pacific side is the better position. Whale watching boats depart from the Cabo marina (on the Cortez side), but the whales travel the Pacific waters along the cliffs and past the Terrasol stretch of beach. Terrasol guests regularly see humpback whales from the beach or from their condo balcony between December and April, with no boat required.
If whale watching is a reason you are visiting Cabo, the Pacific side is the right base. See our whale watching rentals for the best-positioned condos.
Pacific vs Sea of Cortez for families
If swimming in the ocean is important to your kids, Medano Beach on the Sea of Cortez side is the easier choice. The water is calm and safe, with no real undertow concern.
If your family is comfortable with pool swimming and you want a quieter setting, the Pacific side works well. Terrasol Beach Resort has a pool, and the Pacific beach is good for walking, building sandcastles away from the crowd, and spotting marine life.
For families that rent a Terrasol condo, a common setup is: pool and Pacific beach during the resort days, one or two trips to Medano Beach during the week for ocean swimming and El Arco.