Hi! We’re award-winning travel writers (and former lawyers), published in outlets like USA Today, The Globe and Mail and Toronto Star. In 2012, we launched "Sand In My Suitcase," our luxury travel blog. We've explored all 7 continents (even Antarctica!) and share trip itineraries, cruise reviews and hotel finds so you can travel smarter and in style. Join thousands of travelers who follow our adventures — and get exclusive tips and fresh inspo delivered straight to your inbox!
Share
🎃 Cabo’s Weather is Playing Tricks This Halloween!
Published 14 days ago • 3 min read
Hola again fellow Cabo visitors!
Blame it on El Niño, climate change or the weather gods! Whatever... Cabo’s been kinda soggy and wet lately!
This year, October in Cabo certainly hasn’t been anything like the lovely, warm, sunny (and rain-free!) Octobers we’ve enjoyed on past visits.
First came Hurricane Rachel earlier this month — dumping heavy rain, closing beaches and the marina, and causing flooding and general havoc. Then a couple more hurricanes churned away offshore in mid-October.
And now there’s Tropical Storm Vance, adding to Cabo’s weather woes.
Yesterday (October 27), torrential rain made a mess of Cabo San Lucas’ streets, cars were swept away by floodwaters and people had to be rescued. Tough for locals — and hardly the Cabo vacation weather visitors hope for!
And the rain isn’t over yet!
More showers and thunderstorms are forecast through November 2, with Friday, October 30, looking especially wet.
The good news? Sunshine and drier weather should return around November 3rd.
So we’re crossing our fingers that November in Cabo will be back to its usual sunny self!
A heads-up about swimming in the ocean
If you’re in Cabo now or heading there soon, we’d recommend staying out of the ocean for the time being.🌊
Here’s why.
After heavy rain, water rushing through streets and arroyos can wash sewage (yes, poop!), bacteria and other nasty stuff into the sea.
And swimming in contaminated water can make you sick — think stomach bugs, skin infections and other unpleasant surprises.
Even if the water looks clear and inviting, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s clean.
A few precautions worth taking
Skip ocean swimming for now — Don’t go in. Public health sources advise staying out of the water for at least 72 hours after heavy rain. (See, for example, the L.A. County’s ocean water quality guidelines.) We’d follow the same precaution in Cabo.
Be careful with raw seafood — We’d give raw oysters, clams, mussels and locally caught raw fish (including ceviche) a miss for now. Shellfish can concentrate harmful bacteria and viruses from polluted seawater. Properly cooked fish from a reputable restaurant is a safer bet.
Pay attention to beach flags — Red flags mean no swimming, while black flags mean the beach is closed to swimming. Rough surf and rip currents can be hazardous even when the sun is shining.
Stick close to your resort during heavy rain — That restaurant across town (or up in the hills) can wait! If streets are flooding, don’t risk driving your rental car or taking an Uber out for dinner. Eat at your hotel or somewhere nearby until the roads are safe again.
Check local updates — Follow ZOFEMAT Los Cabos for beach conditions, closures and safety announcements.
Enjoy the pool!
In the meantime, stick to swimming in the hotel pool (assuming it’s clean and well cared for). And enjoy dinner at your resort when the weather turns nasty.
Here’s to Cabo’s sunshine returning soon!
Flying over Halloween? Leave your broomstick at home 🎃
Planning to fly to Cabo on Halloween? Even witches have to follow airport security rules!
According to the TSA, you can bring a jack-o’-lantern in your carry-on (minus the candle, of course). But that broomstick? It may have to go in checked baggage.
And while Halloween costumes are fine, you should leave realistic-looking toy weapons and anything resembling explosives at home.
🏨 Resorts — We use Booking.com for scoring a “wow” hotel in Cabo. (We love their flexible cancellation policy!) But lots of people swear by Expedia too.
By Janice and George | Luxury travel with a twist of adventure!
Hi! We’re award-winning travel writers (and former lawyers), published in outlets like USA Today, The Globe and Mail and Toronto Star. In 2012, we launched "Sand In My Suitcase," our luxury travel blog. We've explored all 7 continents (even Antarctica!) and share trip itineraries, cruise reviews and hotel finds so you can travel smarter and in style. Join thousands of travelers who follow our adventures — and get exclusive tips and fresh inspo delivered straight to your inbox!
Hello again fellow travelers, Have the ghosts, giant spiders and grinning pumpkins invaded your neighborhood yet? It’s that wonderfully weird time of year when perfectly sensible adults dress up as vampires and otherwise respectable front lawns become graveyards. Venture beyond North America, though, and late October and early November take on some fascinating twists! Mexico: A party for the dearly departed We find this tradition both beautiful and poignant. In Mexico, loved ones who’ve...
Hello fellow travelers! We’re going back to Sri Lanka! Okay, not for a while yet. But the flights are booked, the hotels are reserved — and we’re already getting excited. We’ve been before. We explored the ancient treasures in Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle — like climbing between Sigiriya’s enormous stone lion paws to reach its spectacular summit and Sky Palace. And we rode the Kandy-to-Ella train, truly one of the world’s most beautiful train journeys. We hung out the open door too on the...
Hello, hello! The lions are bullet-fast... “Hang on!” yells our safari guide, Pierre Mouton. Veering off-road, we crash after them through the bush. Just moments before, the pride had been sauntering slowly across a grassy plain – out for a stroll, we thought. But no, these lions are hunting. We’re on a “Big 5” safari in South Africa’s Sabi Sand Game Reserve. And, now, as we screech to a halt in front of them, we see they’ve already taken down their kill. Sitting fanned out like spokes in a...