Both Cabo and Jamaica have plenty of things to offer–everything from beautiful beaches and resorts to lots of natural attractions and great food. When it comes to picking between these two destinations for your next tropical vacation, it can be a tough choice.
Take a look at this breakdown of Cabo vs. Jamaica to help you make the best decision for you.
Cabo vs. Jamaica Quick Picks
Cabo vs. Jamaica Cost: It’s a tie!
Cabo vs. Jamaica Safety: Cabo
Cabo vs. Jamaica Beaches: Jamaica
Cabo vs. Jamaica: Overview
The main difference between Cabo San Lucas and Jamaica is that Jamaica is an island in the Caribbean, while Cabo is a town on Mexico’s western coast.
Cabo has a lot to love, with laidback vibes and stunning scenery. This resort city is located on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, along the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez.
Cabo has become a very popular destination due to its breathtaking landscape, secluded and rocky beaches, delicious cuisine, interesting activities including hiking and surfing, rich history and culture, and vibrant nightlife. It also offers a range of places to stay, with most being fairly upscale.
If you’re looking for beautiful white sand beaches, swaying palm trees, and tons of activities, Jamaica is a wonderful choice. Additional perks are the friendly people, stunning sunsets, great food, and drinking rum punches on the beach!
The tourist regions of Jamaica cater to all tastes. If you want miles of white sand beach, Negril is ideal. If you want to hop off your plane and be on the beach in 30 minutes, or if you love a good nightlife scene, consider Montego Bay. If you want to do lots of outdoor activities, look at Ocho Rios. Wherever you stay, you’ll have a huge selection of things to do to choose from.
Jamaica offers a diverse range of accommodations, from inexpensive options to family-friendly resorts to luxury adults-only and all-inclusive resorts.
Cabo vs. Jamaica: Beaches
Both Cabo and Jamaica have plenty of beaches, but these beaches aren’t the same. Depending on what vibe you’re looking for, you might prefer one area’s beaches over the other.
Cabo Beaches
Cabo has sandy beaches that are lined by rock formations and cliffs, which makes for a striking landscape. The water is either the Sea of Cortez or the Pacific Ocean, both of which have a deep blue color. It is also much rougher than that in Jamaica.
In fact, Cabo beaches are famous for powerful undertows which can make it dangerous for swimming and some watersports. Because of that, you need to be careful when choosing a beach. The main swimming beach is Medano Beach. However, this rougher water also means that you can surf here.
Jamaica Beaches
With over 635 miles of coastline, Jamaica has some lovely and well-known beaches, such as Frenchman’s Cove, Doctor’s Cove Beach, and Seven Mile Beach (often considered the most beautiful beach in all of Jamaica). These beaches are very tourist friendly and offer tons of amenities, so you can stay all day. They are also often crowded, but there are some more secluded beaches.
Beaches in Jamaica have soft white sand, palm trees, and beautiful turquoise water. The water in Jamaica is also calm and clear, making it perfect for swimming, watersports, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
Cabo vs. Jamaica: Cost
Both Cabo and Jamaica can be affordable or expensive depending on when you visit, where you stay, and what you do.
The cost of a stay in Cabo can range drastically. Depending on the level of luxury you’re looking for, you can spend anywhere from $1000 to $3500 or more for a week at a hotel or resort. Again, you can do a lot to either increase or decrease that price point, so keep that in mind. Activities such as scuba diving or excursions will add to the cost. Food costs vary as well.
The cost of a trip to Jamaica also varies greatly. People spend anywhere from $1200-$4000 per person or more to stay at an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica for a week, but you can also find budget-friendly hotels. There are plenty of free or low-cost activities as well as expensive excursions, and there are affordable local places to eat as well as fine dining restaurants.
In addition to that, the cost of flights needs to be factored in as well. It’s very easy to find flights to Jamaica and you can often get great deals. There are plenty of flights to Cabo as well, but they can be more expensive.
To save money on either destination, look for deals online and travel during the shoulder or offseason. It can also be helpful to talk with an expert travel agent, who may have access to special discounts.
Cabo vs. Jamaica: Weather
The weather in Cabo is more variable than in Jamaica, with slightly cooler weather in the winter. However, it’s still beautiful and warm year-round.
Cabo Weather
Cabos is dry with lots of sunny days.. Since it gets just 10 inches of rain per year, you can be sure that you won’t spend your holiday in a hotel because of showers. Average temperatures range from a high of 80 and low of 61 in January to a high of 94 and low of 81 in July.
Between May and November, tropical storms and hurricanes can occur. The best time to visit Cabo is generally said to be May or June. In these months, the winter crowds have moved out and the threat of summer storms is still low. August and September tend to see the worst weather. However, you can also consider October or November as another shoulder season alternative.
Jamaica Weather
Temperatures in Jamaica are warm year-round, but there are definitely better times to visit. The best time to visit is the island’s dry season, which runs from mid-December to mid-April and features tons of sunshine. However, this is also peak season, so prices and crowds can be higher.
Jamaica’s rainy season is between May and November. If you don’t mind some frequent rain showers, then this isn’t a bad time to visit either. In fact, the island is at its greenest during these months. However, this is also Jamaica’s hurricane season and while they are rare, they do still occur. August, September, and October are when Jamaica is at its highest threat of hurricane-developing storms, so if you visit then, stay aware of changing weather conditions and get travel insurance.
Cabo vs. Jamaica: Accommodations
Both Cabo and Jamaica have a wide variety of excellent places to stay, from small affordable hotels to vacation rentals to family-friendly resorts to adults-only and all-inclusive resorts.
Cabo Resorts
Grand Velas Los Cabos
Located just 35 minutes from the Cabos International Airport, Grand Velas Los Cabos is known for its friendly staff and amazing restaurants.
Accommodations here are also praised, as they’re both stylish and spacious and feature spectacular ocean views, as well as welcome bottles of wine in addition to 65-inch flat-screen TVs and Jacuzzi tubs.
One of the main draws to this particular resort is the seven excellent restaurants, which keep guests coming back time and time again. There are also plenty of amenities including three-tiered infinity pools, kids’ and teens’ clubs, evening entertainment, a spa, a fitness center, and a beach (although swimming in the ocean is not permitted here). Twenty-four-hour personal concierge service is also available.
Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort
One of the best Cabo San Lucas all-inclusive resorts for golfing is Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort. Located just three miles southwest of downtown Cabo, it is the perfect spot for a secluded golf getaway.
The resort offers more than 200 rooms and suites, all of which are decorated with neutral colors and include free Wi-Fi, minibars, and satellite TVs.
Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort has five restaurants and a great range of facilities to keep guests entertained, including pools, a spa, a golf course, and a two-and-a-half-mile-long sandy beach. (As with many resorts in the area, swimming in the ocean is not permitted at the beach.) Also, its proximity to downtown gives you access to all the sights and nightlife there.
Marquis Los Cabos All-Inclusive Resort & Spa
Marquis Los Cabos All-Inclusive Resort is located just seven miles southwest of San Jose del Cabo and features lovely accommodations that are all fitted with private terraces or balconies, separate showers and bathtubs, fully stocked minibars, satellite TVs, and free Wi-Fi.
This all-inclusive adults-only resort features gourmet dining at a selection of five on-site restaurants and a range of amenities including a selection of bars and lounges, three infinity pools, a beautiful beach, and a spacious spa.
Jamaica Resorts
Sandals Resorts
There are 7 adults-only all-inclusive Sandals resorts in Jamaica: Sandals Dunn’s River, Sandals Royal Plantation, Sandals Negril, Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean, Sandals South Coast, and Sandals Ochi.
Each of these luxurious resorts is set on a stunning beach and thoughtfully designed for the ultimate in romantic honeymoons or couples’ escapes. They feature a huge variety of complimentary watersports including snorkeling and scuba diving; land activities such as tennis and golf; multiple amazing pools; a fitness center and a spa; and a wide range of restaurants and bars.
You’ll also find an extraordinary array of amazing accommodations, many of which feature upscale amenities like oversized soaking tubs for two, private plunge pools, and butler service. Honeymooners love the dreamy overwater bungalows. To help you choose the best one, check out our article on the best Sandals resorts in Jamaica.
Half Moon Resort
This elegant resort near Jamaica’s famous Montego Bay hosts celebrities, royalty, and everyone else on its breathtaking stretch of the Caribbean. A family-run hotel, Half Moon Resort features something for everyone, especially couples.
Foodies will love the fresh, locally sourced ingredients, used to create traditional Jamaican food and other delicious offerings at 4 restaurants. The romantic Sugar Mill Restaurant is one of the top restaurants on the island.
Choose from rooms, suites, or large villas with private pools and butler service. Enjoy 5 bars, multiple pools, watersports, golf, tennis, horseback riding, a fitness center, a playground, and a spa.
Cabo vs. Jamaica: Things to Do
Both Cabo and Jamaica offer a wide variety of things to do, but Jamaica might have a slight edge here.
Cabo Activities
Cabos has a lot to offer. The various landscapes allow for enjoying mountain hikes, leisurely rests on sandy beaches, and trails through the desert. One of the main attractions is observing blue whales that migrate from Alaska. The best place to see these whales is El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, a beautiful rock formation with amazing views all around.
If you’re looking for a bit of adventure, then you’ll want to spend some time at Wild Canyon Adventures. This is an adventure park deep in the Cabo canyons. You can ride in ATVs along the canyon bottoms or take the high road and experience the park on the zipline course.
Despite the water being too rough for swimming off some beaches, Cabo does offer water sports, including snorkeling, scuba diving, and surfing. There’s also shopping, dining, and nightlife available.
Jamaica Activities
There are tons of things to do in Jamaica. Many people spend a lot of their time in Jamaica on the beach, but it’s not all just sunbathing and relaxing. Water sports are very popular due to the clear and calm water. You can go kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, parasailing, and jet skiing. You can also take banana boat rides and glass-bottom boat tours.
Snorkeling and scuba diving are excellent here. You can snorkel right off the beach in Montego Bay along thriving coral reefs that are just offshore. Or visit the Montego Bay Marine Park, which allows snorkeling and scuba diving in its protected waters that are home to a wide variety of marine life. You can also go swimming with horses.
Jamaica also offers a variety of jungle safari tours that take you deep into the lush rainforests, where you’ll get to see some of the island’s abundant wildlife. You can also go ziplining through the rainforest, or rafting on a river. There are also historic sites to tour and local towns to explore. In the evening, there is plenty of vibrant nightlife to enjoy, especially in Montego Bay.
Cabo vs. Jamaica: Safety
Recently there has been an increase in violent crime across Jamaica. And although it rarely happens to tourists, this has caused the U.S. State Department to issue a Level 3 “reconsider travel” alert for Jamaica. However, thousands of people visit here every year without issue. For more information, check out our article “Is Jamaica Safe?”.
Cabo, on the other hand, is considered to be a bit safer, with a Level 2 “exercise increased caution” alert. The city has safer areas, which are the areas most frequented by tourists. However, both the airport and downtown are known as hotspots for petty crime like pickpocketing, so you’ll want to keep an eye on all your belongings. It’s also not safe to drink the tap water in Cabo.
Regardless of which destination you ultimately choose, just remember to practice basic safety protocols and you should have a great time.
Cabo vs. Jamaica Verdict: Which is Better, Cabo or Jamaica?
The choice is really up to you. Both Cabo and Jamaica have plenty to recommend them, but they are fairly different. Which one is better for you will depend on the type of vacation you want to have.
Now that you’ve read our comparison of Cabo vs. Jamaica, which is on the top of your list? Let us know in the comments! And if you’d like help planning your trip, feel free to reach out to one of our trusted travel advisors!