Medano Beach is the beach in front of downtown Cabo San Lucas, and the town's main swimmable one. Here is what to know before you plan a wedding or a photo session on it. Last updated: September 2026.
Medano Beach is the beach most people picture when they think of Cabo San Lucas. It curves along the bay right in front of downtown, with the marina at one end and Land's End in view, and it's the town's main swimmable beach. As a Cabo couples and engagement photographer, it's one of the places I photograph most.
If you're considering Medano Beach for your wedding, your photos, or a session during your trip, here's what to know about the place, the light, and the timing.
| Where | Along the bay in front of downtown Cabo San Lucas, with the marina at one end and Land's End in view |
| Water | Calm enough to swim, which is rare on this coast |
| In town | Your guests can walk to the marina and the restaurants |
| Wedding spaces | Resorts and beach clubs along the sand host ceremonies on their terraces |
| Best light | The last hour before sunset, or early morning; avoid the middle of the day |
| The catch | It is a busy beach, with beach clubs, vendors and people to plan around |
Why Medano Beach works
Two things make Medano special. The water is calm enough to swim, which is rare on this coast, and the beach sits right in town, so your guests can walk to the marina and the restaurants. For a wedding, several resorts and beach clubs along the sand host ceremonies on their terraces, and the view toward Land's End gives every wide shot a landmark people recognize.
For portraits, it's the classic Cabo look: turquoise water, soft sand, and the arch on the horizon.
The honest part: it's a busy beach
Medano is the beach in front of downtown, which means there are beach clubs, vendors, and people enjoying the sand. That's part of its charm, but it's also something I plan around. I scout the beach ahead of time and pick angles that keep the background clean, and I keep the couple or the family above the busiest strip.
If you want a totally private stretch of sand, we shoot early in the morning or choose a quieter beach nearby, and you'd never guess from the photos that Medano is a short walk away.
The light and the timing
The bay faces the town, so the light behaves differently than on the Pacific side. The last hour before sunset is the sweet spot: the sun drops behind Land's End, the water turns warm, and the crowds start to thin. Early morning is the other gem, soft and quiet before the beach fills up. I avoid the middle of the day, when the light is harsh and the sand is hot.
If your wedding is at a resort along Medano, we can plan the portraits around that window. My guide to building a wedding timeline around golden hour shows how I time the day.
Planning a Medano Beach wedding or session
If your venue is along Medano Beach, tell me the resort and the date and I'll plan the photography around the light and the beach's rhythm. For a couples or family session, we can meet on the sand and keep it relaxed. Curious what photographers here charge? My guide to wedding photographer costs in Cabo San Lucas lays out honest market ranges. And if you're still exploring locations, my guide to the best places for engagement photos in Cabo covers the alternatives. For a wedding here, my destination wedding photography in Los Cabos walks through how I cover the day.
