Head-to-head for families
Cancun or Los Cabos for families?
Families score Cancun 8.8 out of 10 across the year against 7.2 for Los Cabos, mainly on families and exploring solo.
Kids in tow changes the maths: pool time, short transfers, food everyone will eat and day trips that survive a nap schedule.
Quick verdict
Cancun for families, exploring solo, beaches. Los Cabos for dramatic desert scenery.
Cancun, Mexico
8.8/10
28C to 33C all year, sea 26C to 29C
Los Cabos, Mexico
7.2/10
Desert meets ocean, golf, marina nightlife and whale watching.
Rated for families
Out of five on each criterion. Highlighted rows are the ones that matter most to you.
| What matters | Cancun | Los Cabos |
|---|---|---|
| NightlifeBars, clubs and late-night energy | ||
| BeachesSand quality, water clarity and swimming | ||
| Food sceneRange, quality and local character | ||
| FamiliesKid-friendly resorts, pools and day trips | ||
| RomanceCouples, honeymoons and adults-only stays | ||
| Things to doExcursions, culture and day trips | ||
| All-inclusiveChoice and value of all-inclusive resorts | ||
| Value for moneyWhat a typical day actually costs | ||
| Easy and safeComfort for first-time visitors | ||
| Exploring soloHow easy it is to get out on your own | ||
| Flight accessDirect routes and flight time from North America |
Side by side
| Factor | Cancun | Los Cabos |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 29C | 25C |
| Rainfall | 60mm | 5mm |
| Sea temperature | 26C, swimmable | Varies by season |
| Beach quality | Wide white sand, calm Caribbean | 3 out of 5 |
| Getting there | under 5 hours from most of North America | 2h 30m from Los Angeles |
| Typical cost | All-inclusive value most of the year | Expensive |
| Between beach days | Chichen Itza, Tulum, cenotes, Isla Mujeres, reef snorkelling | Dramatic desert scenery, Whale watching Dec to Apr |
Book your Cancun trip
- Check Cancun hotel ratesLive all-inclusive and boutique pricesOpen
- Browse Cancun toursChichen Itza, cenotes, Isla Mujeres and moreOpen
- Get an airport transfer quoteFixed price, 20 minutes to the Hotel ZoneOpen
Prefer a plan first? Build a free day-by-day Cancun itinerary.
Where Los Cabos genuinely wins
- Dramatic desert scenery
- Whale watching Dec to Apr
- Strong golf and luxury scene
Pick Los Cabos if your budget is open and you specifically want what only it offers: dramatic desert scenery.
What catches people out
- Many beaches are unswimmable
- Expensive
- Very little greenery or culture
The Cancun edge
Cancun lets you actually swim off the beach, all year, for far less per night.
Cancun is the rare beach destination that also works as a base. The airport is one of the busiest in Latin America, the transfer to your hotel takes twenty minutes, and within two hours you can be swimming in a cenote, climbing a Mayan pyramid, snorkelling the second largest reef on the planet, or eating cochinita pibil in a downtown market for the price of a coffee elsewhere. That combination is why we keep building these comparisons and keep reaching the same conclusion.
Cancun wins for you? Start here.