Beach Los Cabos, Baja California Sur Municipality of Los Cabos Los Cabos
A horseshoe cove on the Corridor with calm, clear water, a reef at both rocky ends and a free lot, restrooms and lifeguards.
From Cabo San Lucas: 15 min by car (13 km by road) How to get there ↓
Near here
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Plan your visit to Bahía Santa María
Where to stay near Bahía Santa María
Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Bahía Santa María.
Tours to Bahía Santa María
Day trips and guided outings from Todos Santos often include Bahía Santa María; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Tours from Cabo San Lucas
Cabo Beach Camel Ride, Mexican Buffet and Tequila Tasting
★ 4.9 (9,309) · From US$74
How to get to Bahía Santa María
- From Cabo San Lucas: about 15 min by road (~13 km)
- Nearest airport: Los Cabos (SJD), 1 h 17 min by car to Todos Santos
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Tours from Cabo San Lucas, near Bahía Santa María
Tours, prices and ratings from Viator, checked weekly. We may earn a commission if you book.
About Bahía Santa María
Bahía Santa María, or Santa María Bay, is a horseshoe-shaped cove on the Tourist Corridor east of Cabo San Lucas, in the municipality of Los Cabos. It lies near km 12 to 13 of Highway 1, about 13 km from Cabo San Lucas and a drive of roughly 15 to 20 minutes. Two rocky headlands of granite and volcanic rock, covered with cactus, curve around a beach of coarse sand, with no hotels on the shore itself.
The cove is one of the two classic snorkeling stops on the Corridor, along with Chileno Bay a little over a mile to the east. Water is calm and clear most mornings. Fish gather around the rocks at both ends, among them angelfish, sergeant majors, parrotfish and butterflyfish, and the sandy middle of the bay is where rays and sea turtles are sometimes seen. Operators warn that surge can push swimmers against the coral near the rocks, so it is best to enter from the sand and stay clear of the stone.
Several travel sources call the bay a protected marine sanctuary, and one operator says it has had protected status since 1973, with fishing restricted. Rules can change, so check the signs at the entrance before you go in. The beach has restrooms, public showers and lifeguards, but few palapas, so arrive early or bring an umbrella, along with water, snacks and water shoes for the coarse sand. Whales pass offshore from about December to April.
How to get to Bahía Santa María
Drive from Cabo San Lucas: 15 min, 13 km
Santa María Bay is on Highway 1, the Tourist Corridor, around km 12 to 13, roughly 13 km and 15 to 20 minutes' drive east of Cabo San Lucas; look for the "Playa Santa María" sign. A free parking lot sits a few hundred metres from the beach, off the highway. Rideshare and taxis work along the Corridor, and boat tours from the Cabo San Lucas marina also stop in the bay.
Directions to Bahía Santa María on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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From the nearest cities to Bahía Santa María
- Cabo San Lucas · 13 km by road, 15 min
- San José del Cabo · 22 km by road, 20 min
- La Paz · 172 km by road, 2 h 30 min
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Before you go to Bahía Santa María: hours, prices and tips
- Best time of day
- Mornings have the calmest water and best visibility. December to April is cooler with whales offshore; July to October has warm water and strong visibility. Cabo Adventures · checked Oct 2026
- What to bring
- Palapas are limited and food vendors are not guaranteed: bring water, snacks, an umbrella and water shoes for the coarse sand. Restrooms, public showers and lifeguards are on site. Cabo Adventures · checked Oct 2026
- Rules
- Enter the water from the sand, not the rocks: surge can push swimmers into the coral near the rocks. Cabo Adventures · checked Oct 2026
Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.
Visiting Bahía Santa María: what to see and do
Snorkel along the rocky ends of the cove, entering from the sand rather than the rocks.
Look for angelfish, sergeant majors, parrotfish and butterflyfish near the rocks.
Swim in the calm water in the morning, when visibility is best.
Watch for rays and sea turtles over the sandy middle of the bay.
Spot humpback whales offshore from roughly December to April.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Bahía Santa María
Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Bahía Santa María.
Tours & activities
Day trips and guided outings from Todos Santos often include Bahía Santa María; with a local guide you can get there without a car.
Rental cars
Pick up a car at SJD (Los Cabos): about 1 h 17 min by road to Todos Santos, then 73 km more to Bahía Santa María, on your own schedule.
Flights
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Los Cabos (SJD), about 1 h 17 min by road from Todos Santos, the base for Bahía Santa María.
Travel insurance
If you plan on swimming or surfing at Bahía Santa María, check that your policy covers it: some plans leave adventure activities out.
Mobile data
Signal can drop away from Todos Santos: download a map of the way to Bahía Santa María before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.
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When to go to Bahía Santa María mild
Bahía Santa María shares the climate of Todos Santos, 73 km away. The best months to visit are March, April, May, and December.
Bahía Santa María is best for swimming and time on the water in the warmest months (July, August, and September); in the rainiest ones (August, September, and October) expect storms in the afternoon.
See the month-by-month climate of Todos Santos
Weather in Bahía Santa María now and the next 7 days
Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Chance of rain is the day's highest.
The closest Pueblo Mágico: Todos Santos
Todos Santos is the Pueblo Mágico closest to Bahía Santa María, with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Closest to Bahía Santa María
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Bahía Chileno · Beach · 2 km away
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Playa El Médano · Beach · 9 km away
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El Arco de Cabo San Lucas · Landmark · 10 km away
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Playa del Amor · Beach · 10 km away
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Playa del Divorcio · Beach · 10 km away
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Cabo San Lucas · City · 11 km away
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Marina Cabo San Lucas · Landmark · 11 km away
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Centro Histórico de San José del Cabo · Landmark · 19 km away
Near Bahía Santa María
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Cabo San Lucas · City
15 min drive · 13 km -
San José del Cabo · City
20 min drive · 22 km
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Lists with Bahía Santa María
Beaches in Baja California Sur · 12 Beaches near Cabo San Lucas · 7Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.