Amor Beach
Boat-access only — El Arco's golden shore awaits
About
Playa del Amor sits at the very tip of the Baja Peninsula, tucked beneath the famous granite arch of El Arco de Cabo San Lucas. The beach is short — roughly 150 metres — but it punches well above its size: golden sand meets turquoise Sea of Cortez water on one side, while the raw Pacific pounds the opposite shore. A sea lion colony hauls out on the nearby rocks, close enough to hear but far enough to respect. It's one of the few places on earth where two oceans meet, and the contrast between the calm Cortez side and the violent Pacific side is immediate and striking.
How to get there
Playa del Amor is reachable only by water taxi from Cabo San Lucas Marina — a five-minute ride that runs daily, approximately 07:00 to 17:00. There is no road, no car access, and no parking at the beach itself; leave your vehicle in town and head to the marina to board. Water taxis do not permit dogs on board. Note that services are suspended during high swells, so check conditions before you go.
Who it's for
For couples
The romantic vibe here is earned, not marketed — a short boat ride, a beach almost entirely enclosed by a granite arch, and turquoise water lapping golden sand make it a genuinely intimate stop, especially on a weekday morning before the day-trippers arrive.
For families
Families with older children who can snorkel will get the most from the Cortez side, but note there is no lifeguard, the Pacific side is off-limits for swimming due to year-round rip currents, and the water taxi boarding is not wheelchair accessible — plan accordingly and supervise young children closely near the water.
Our take
Feet in the sand, eyes on the screen
The Pacific side of Playa del Amor is dangerous — rip currents run year-round, there is no lifeguard, and swimming there is not an option. Get that clear before anything else. With that understood, the Sea of Cortez side is genuinely spectacular: 150 metres of golden sand, turquoise water, a granite arch overhead, and sea lions barking on the rocks nearby. The boat-only access keeps it from becoming completely overrun, though it does get busy by mid-morning. Come on a dry-season weekday, take the first water taxi out at 07:00, and you'll have the beach largely to yourself for an hour. Skip August through October without hesitation — hurricane season makes the whole trip unreliable and potentially unsafe. Worth the five-minute ride for almost everyone; just respect the Pacific side and the wildlife.
What to do
The Sea of Cortez side offers solid snorkeling — clear turquoise water, marine life, and the dramatic granite base of El Arco just metres away. Cabo Excursions, about 1 km from the marina, runs dedicated snorkel trips and clear-boat tours that pass directly through the arch. El Arco de Cabo San Lucas itself, just 0.1 km from the beach, is the main event: the granite formation frames the horizon in a way that rewards simply sitting and watching the light shift.
The arch shot from the Cortez-side waterline is the defining image — golden sand in the foreground, turquoise water mid-frame, granite overhead.
The Pacific-facing Divorce Beach offers a stark, moody contrast with raw ocean and rock, best photographed from the dry sand in the late morning light.
Where to eat
There are no restaurants on the beach itself, so eat before you board or pack your own supplies. Back at the marina end, Puerto San Lucas, Wizzie's, Tequila Shark, Taba BBQ, and Bagatelle Los Cabos — all within 1.2 km — cover everything from casual bites to Mediterranean and seafood menus. Plan to be back on the water taxi well before 17:00 if you want a proper sit-down meal ashore.
Where to stay
Solmar Hotels & Resorts, 1.5 km from the marina, is the closest base and puts you steps from the water taxi departure point. Wyndham Cabo San Lucas Resort (1.6 km) and Hotel Tesoro (1.7 km) are solid mid-range options, with Siesta Suites and Hotel Dos Mares both within 1.8 km for travellers watching their budget.
Photography
The arch frames perfectly from the Cortez-side shoreline at mid-morning, when the sun is high enough to light the granite without harsh shadows — position yourself at the water's edge with the arch overhead for the classic shot. The sea lion rocks on the Pacific-facing side offer dramatic contrast photography, but stay on dry land and use a zoom lens.
Good to know
Do NOT swim on the Pacific-facing side — known locally as Divorce Beach — where rip currents run year-round and there is no lifeguard on the beach. Stay on the Sea of Cortez side for any water activity. Keep a respectful distance from the sea lion colony on the rocks; approaching or disturbing them is prohibited. Avoid August, September, and October entirely: hurricane season brings dangerous swell and frequent water taxi suspensions.
Map
Nearby places
Puerto San Lucas
Wizzie's
Tequila Shark
Taba BBQ
Bagatelle Los Cabos
Solmar Hotels & Resorts
Wyndham Cabo San Lucas Resort
Hotel Tesoro
Siesta Suites
Hotel Dos Mares
El Arch of Cabo San Lucas
Snorkel en Cabo San Lucas - Cabo Excursions
Clear Boat Cabo San Lucas - Cabo Excursions
Things to see around Los Cabos
El Arco de Cabo San Lucas
The granite arch itself, visible from and surrounding the beach.
Cabo San Lucas Marina
Departure point for water taxis, with restaurants and sport-fishing.
Playa El Médano
The main swimmable town beach, reachable by water taxi continuation.
Frequently asked
The information on this page is provided for guidance only and may evolve. Access conditions, safety and infrastructure can change without notice. Always check official sources before traveling.
Other beaches in the region
More beaches in Baja California Sur
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Photo credits
Sources and licenses for the photos shown above.
- Photo 1 — osdarin · source · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Photo 2 — Thelmadatter · source · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo 3 — Thelmadatter · source · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo 4 — calwolfe · source · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Photo 5 — eurimaco · source · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Photo 6 — Pedro Iván Hernández… · source · CC BY-SA 3.0