CABO'S EL ARCO
If Cabo San Lucas had hired a Madison Avenue advertising agency to develope a logo that would represent the town, it is unlikely they could have come up with anything more successful than El Arco. This magnificent geographic landmark, also known by it's English name "The Arch", is without question the most commonly used postcard to represent Cabo, and is almost synonymous with the town itself.
El Arco is the huge granite arch that sits at the Land's End on the west end of Cabo San Lucas Bay. It is amazing that such a unique landmark would represent not only the town of Cabo San Lucas, but also the very south end of the spectacular 800 mile long Baja Peninsula. Along the entire west coast of Mexico there isn't another rock formation that can match El Arco's grandeur.
Centuries ago pirates used to hide behind El Arco in Cabo San Lucas Bay awaiting merchant ships heading down the west coast. Pirate ships cruising the area today are usually loaded with tourists on an all-you-can-drink tour of the bay.
One of the cool things about El Arco is that it is approachable. Visitors can boat past it, swim or snorkel under it, and even walk under it in the sand at very low tides. There probably isn't a better photo opportunity in Cabo than snapping a shot of your friends in front of El Arco.
From a distance El Arco doesn't look that large. But up close and personal, or standing underneath it, it becomes obvious how big it really is. Climbing the Arch is against the law, and probably more than just a little dangerous.
Visiting El Arco is easy. Small Mexican boats called 'pangas' make regular trips to El Arco all day long, at very competitive prices. These pangas can be hired either in the Cabo San Lucas Marina, or along Playa El Medano, Cabo's main beach.
Some people use the excuse of seeing the Arch to plan a 2 or 3 hour mini adventure. Since El Arco is located just around the corner from Lover's Beach, it can be fun to take the tour of the Arch in the boat, and then get dropped off at Lover's Beach for an hour or two of beach fun. The part of Lover's Beach you see when getting dropped of is only a small portion of a rather large beach that sits behind the drop off point.
Making the El Arco / Lover's Beach excursion a success usually involved bringing a cooler of food and drinks, sunscreen, towels and masks and snorkels. Cameras are also fun because the area near the Arch and Lover's Beach is so beautiful.
A word of warning. Lover's Beach faces two completely different oceans. The east end of the beach faces the beautiful and usually tranquil Sea of Cortez. This is actually where the Sea of Cortez begins. On the west side of Lover's Beach lies the Pacific Ocean, along with large swells and dangerous waves. Swimming only on the Sea of Cortez side is recommended.
So whether you just take a one hour round trip panga cruise to El Arco for a picture, or spend a few hours checking out the Arch and Lover's Beach, you haven't done Cabo until you've done El Arco!