Top 10 Souvenirs to Buy in Los Cabos

A long-ago travel survey found that the No. 1 activity for folks on vacation is shopping. Los Cabos is best known for its desert-meets-ocean splendor, but if you’re seeking something unique for that special someone (or yourself), here’s our pick of the top 10 souvenirs worth purchasing in Cabo.

By the way, if you’re short on time or stuck for what to buy, visit Artesun, the beautifully curated gift shop at Pueblo Bonito Rose Resort & Spa, and Pueblo Bonito Sunset Golf & Spa Resort. Here you’ll find one-of-a-kind gifts, accessories, and apparel designed with an elegant touch of Mexican flair. On display are swimsuits, cover-ups, bracelets, earrings, beach bags, clutches, sandals, and other distinctive items created by Mexican artisans exclusively for Pueblo Bonito Resorts.

Vanilla. Genuine Mexican vanilla extract is highly prized. It will add that authentic, rich touch to your baking recipes. Vanilla is available in grocery stores and markets large and small. Also, the duty-free section at the airport has high-quality organic vanilla for sale.

Straw hats. The Cabo sun is strong. Visitors are advised to shield themselves from the sun. The easiest way is to don a classic Panama hat or a hand-made straw hat. Football fans can buy a lacquered sombrero with the logo of their favorite NFL team emblazoned on the brim. These are widely available in downtown Cabo San Lucas.

Jewelry. For jewelry with south-of-the-border flair, the Sergio Bustamante art gallery in Puerto Paraiso Mall features silver- and gold-plated designs by the famed Mexican artist. The sun and the moon are used as motifs in his creations, which include bracelets, cufflinks, chokers, earrings, necklaces, pendants, rings and studs.

Tequila. The first distilled spirit on the North American continent, tequila is derived from blue Weber agave grown in the highlands of Jalisco. The most popular type is the blanco (white) version, which is generally used to make the Margarita, Cabo’s most popular cocktail. Check out the extensive tequila selection at La Europea in Cabo San Lucas; or purchase a bottle of tequila duty-free at the airport.

T-Shirts. LOTS to choose from. Peruse the selection of funky “No Bad Days” T-shirts at Latitude 22, a.k.a. the Roadhouse. Costa Azul Surf Shop, across the highway from a beach of the same name, carries high-quality custom T-shirts made in Baja. The Fire Department shop in Cabo San Lucas, across the street from McDonald’s, has a wide array of T-shirts in every size imaginable, most of which celebrate the volunteer “Bomberos” (firefighters). All proceeds benefit local charities. Within Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach and Pueblo Bonito Rosé you can find the Artesun boutique, which offers a wide variety of t-shirts and other clothing perfect for wearing in the warm weather of Los Cabos.

Tamarindo Candies. Available at local markets, this popular sweet-and-sour Mexican treat, made from the tamarind fruit, is shaped into sugar-coated balls, wrapped around a straw (like a lollipop), or packaged in corn husk. The flavor is very tart.

Cigars. J&J La Casa del Habano, tucked away on a Cabo San Lucas side street, is the most reliable source for authentic Cuban cigars. J&J’s friendly staff will guide you to just the right smoke (from mild to robust) in its walk-in humidor. Smokers can enjoy their purchases on a park bench in front of the store. It’s well worth stuffing a couple of these stogies in your suitcase.

Toiletries. Flora Farms, the highly regarded farm-to-table dining establishment outside San Jose del Cabo, has retail shops in San Jose as well as Cabo San Lucas that carry its exclusive Cabo Santo line of hand-crafted bar soaps, body lotions and scrubs, facial oils and moisturizers, toners and exfoliants and other specialty items. You can also find an exclusive line of organic products, including oils, moisturizers, and the already famous air fresheners in the Armonia Spa boutique at any of the Pueblo Bonito resorts in Los Cabos.

Ceramics. Hand-made and hand-painted by artisans in Oaxaca and Guerrero, colorful ceramics are cherished as keepsakes. Shops in the historic colonial quarter of San Jose del Cabo carry high-quality ceramic figurines as well as practical items, such as salt-and-pepper shakers. Another option in Cabo San Lucas is Artesano’s, a spacious warehouse filled with ceramics, including matched dining sets. For a quality selection of the best of everything, try La Coyota in Cabo San Lucas. Here, ceramics, striking pottery, glittering stars, treasures and folk art are artfully arranged in a private villa. This striking store is a “must visit” for unusual, colorful finds.

Beach blanket. Vibrant textiles are synonymous with Mexico, and so are top-quality beach blankets. Made in Sayulita along the Mexican coastline and available at Eclectic Array (three locations, including the Marina in Cabo San Lucas), the shop’s candy-colored recycled cotton beach blankets, inspired by traditional Mexican fabrics, say ‘hello’ to your body when you lay on them.

Plaza Bonita

Looking for one-stop shopping in downtown Cabo San Lucas a mere 10 minutes from Quivira Los Cabos? This shopping mall has an eclectic array of shops led by Ada’s Silver & Art, a family business that offers a great variety of objets d’art Arts from Oaxaca is known for its colorful textiles, Las Rocas carries hand-embroidered and woven items, while Dos Lunas is a good place to buy a hat, a visor or a tropical shirt.

Plaza Artesanos

A fixture in San Jose del Cabo, Plaza Artesanos is located in the center of the historic colonial city opposite the landmark church on Boulevard Mijares. This open-air marketplace, open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, boasts approximately 75 vendors who display 100% hand-made Mexican pieces, including, rugs, hand-stitched dresses, silver objects, and decorative housewares. There is ample parking nearby. Straw hats and beaded items to beach blankets and beach bags can be found here.