A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cabo San Lucas vs. Hope for Nightlife, Couples, Food, and Hiking

Should you visit Cabo San Lucas or Hope?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cabo San Lucas and Hope can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas is a idyllic, wild, and adventurous city. Many visitors also come to Cabo San Lucas because of it's amazing beauty. Other reasons to visit include food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches. See Cabo San Lucas travel costs.

Hope

Hope is a small, friendly, and local town. It's also known for hiking. See Hope travel costs.

Cabo San Lucas and Hope: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cabo San Lucas or Hope?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Cabo San Lucas. Although Cabo San Lucas and Hope are both popular with visitors, Cabo San Lucas has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Cabo San Lucas is more touristy than Hope and is popular for its beautiful coastline, all-inclusive resorts, and vibrant nightlife scene. It is also home to Land's End. Hope is popular for its chainsaw carvings and being the filming location of "Rambo."

How is Cabo San Lucas different from Hope?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Hope and Cabo San Lucas. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Cabo San Lucas or Hope?

Cabo San Lucas is very good for its historical sights. However, Hope is not known for its sights and museums.

Cabo San Lucas is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several historical sights in the area such as the Church of Saint Luke and San Jose del Cabo.

Hope offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. You can check out Hopes Art Gallery, The Sunshine Valley Tashme Museum, or the Hope Museum.

Is the Food Better in Cabo San Lucas or Hope? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Cabo San Lucas is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Hope is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Cabo San Lucas. If you step away from the all-you-can-eat buffets in the resorts, and the tourist hot spots, you'll find some excellent local Mexican cuisine and nice fine dining restaurants. Fresh seafood and local produce make the dishes unique.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Hope. There's a decent selection of casual restaurants with basic dishes and local cuisine.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Hope Better for Nightlife?

Cabo San Lucas is a world-class destination for nightlife. However, Hope is not known for nightlife and partying.

People head to Cabo San Lucas just to party. It has a long reputation of being one of Mexico's best party destinations. There are wild, all-night dance parties, crazy and crowded clubs, and music that lasts well into the morning. The best nightlife can be found in the blocks around Plaza Bonita, near the marina boardwalk.

Most people don't head to Hope specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. It's a small town but there are some local pubs and bars.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Hope Better for Resorts?

Cabo San Lucas is a great city for its luxury resorts. However, Hope is not a resort destination.

Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Cabo San Lucas. Many of the resorts are along parts of the coastline where it's not safe to swim. If you really want to enjoy swimming at a beachfront property, make sure you do some research in advance. Medano Beach is a nice area to consider.

Hope is not a resort destination.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Hope Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Cabo San Lucas is a great city for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Hope is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There is a nice variety of marine life that makes scuba diving and snorkeling great in Cabo San Lucas. There are many snorkeling and scuba diving excursions that go out on half day and full day trips. Some of the best snorkeling is found at Cabo Pulmo, which has the only living coral reef in the Sea of Cortez.

Hope is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Hope Better for Beaches?

Cabo San Lucas is a great city for its beaches. However, Hope is not a beach destination.

Cabo San Lucas is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. Because of the water conditions, it's not safe to swim at many of the beaches in the area. This is particularly true on the Pacific side of the city. Many people consider Medano Beach to be one of the best in the area, but also nice are Lover's Beach, the ironically named Divorce Beach, and Chileno Beach.

Hope is not a beach destination.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Hope Better for its Old Town?

Cabo San Lucas is a great city for its historic old town. However, Hope does not have a historic old town.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Cabo San Lucas. San Jose del Cabo is an "old town" that's a bit outside of town. It's particularly nice to visit on Thursdays when there's a nice market.

Hope does not have a historic old town.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Hope Better for Hiking?

Both Cabo San Lucas and Hope are destinations which offer superb hiking.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Cabo San Lucas. It's not hard to get out into nature and you'll find many great hiking trails that go through varied and beautiful landscapes.

Many visitors go to Hope for the hiking trails. There are a range of hikes in the area, like more challenging routes such as Hope Mountain and Wells Peak. For a more casual hike you can check out Rotary Trail, Thacker Marsh Trail, and the Othello Tunnels.

Is the Shopping Better in Cabo San Lucas or Hope?

Cabo San Lucas is a great city for shopping. However, Hope is not known for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Cabo San Lucas. There are many great shopping areas where you can pick up souvenirs or other interesting items to remember your trip. There are mall, markets, and boutique vendors that sell a variety of products.

If you're looking to go shopping, Hope has some nice offerings. It's a small town, but there are places to peak up anything you may have forgotten.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Hope More Beautiful?

Cabo San Lucas is a world-class destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Hope is not a destination known for its beauty.

Many visitors also come to Cabo San Lucas because of it's amazing beauty. Beautiful beaches, stunning natural beauty, and striking landscapes make this a world class tropical destination.

Hope is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Hope Better for Families?

Both Cabo San Lucas and Hope are superb to visit with kids.

Cabo San Lucas is a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love the snorkeling, boat rides, and kid-friendly cuisine. There are many places where kids can get up close and personal with animals, such as Wild Canyon’s Kingdom or camel riding. You might even be able to see migrating whales during your visit. Surfing, fishing, and hiking are also popular in the area.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Hope is very family-friendly. Kids will love enjoying the outdoors just as much as the adults. You can also visit the Hope Museum or the Coquihalla Gorge.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Hope Better for Couples?

Cabo San Lucas is a world-class destination for romance. Also, Hope is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its romantic activities.

For those traveling as a couple, Cabo San Lucas has plenty to offer. It has long been a favorite honeymoon destination and couples who enjoy a beach paradise with wildlife, diving, and outdoor adventures will appreciate Cabo San Lucas. There's also amazing Mexican food and world class resorts.

Hope is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples who enjoy adventures and nature will love a few days in this beautiful area.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Hope Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Cabo San Lucas and Hope are superb places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Cabo San Lucas. It's a popular tourist destination, and there are a number of hostels and activities that backpackers will enjoy.

Many backpackers visit Hope. There are many camping and backpacking opportunities in the area.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Hope Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Cabo San Lucas is very good for times when you don't have a car. However, Hope is not known for its public transit.

While Cabo San Lucas offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Buses make up the main form of public transit. They are called Subercabos and run between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Hope. There is no public transit in town.

Is Cabo San Lucas or Hope a more walkable city?

Cabo San Lucas is a great city for its walkability. However, Hope is not known for its high level of walkability.

Cabo San Lucas is very walkable. The town is relatively easy to walk around with many things close together.

Hope is generally not very walkable. The town is relatively walkable, but you'll likely want to get into the surrounding area where most of the activities are.

For even more information, also check out Is Cabo San Lucas Worth Visiting? and Is Hope Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hope or Cabo San Lucas?

How long in Cabo San Lucas or Hope?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Cabo San Lucas and Hope. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Cabo San Lucas than in Hope. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Cabo San Lucas, and 2-3 days is enough time in Hope.

Families should spend more time in Cabo San Lucas than Hope. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Cabo San Lucas, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Cabo San Lucas than Hope. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Cabo San Lucas that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Cabo San Lucas than Hope if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Cabo San Lucas.

One day in Cabo San Lucas or Hope?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Cabo San Lucas. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

In Hope, you'll find . Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Cabo San Lucas or Hope?

Cabo San Lucas is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the nightlife. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Hope is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Cabo San Lucas or Hope?

Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the adventurous destination of Cabo San Lucas. This city offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Hope. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Cabo San Lucas or Hope?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the scenic city of Cabo San Lucas. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Many people spend one week here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.

Travelers enjoy the when visiting the town of Hope. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cabo San Lucas and Hope, we can see that Cabo San Lucas is more expensive. And not only is Hope much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hope would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hope and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Cabo San Lucas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cabo San Lucas than you might in Hope.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cabo San Lucas Expensive? and Is Hope Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cabo San Lucas or Hope?

Cabo San Lucas has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Hope. When comparing the sizes of Cabo San Lucas and Hope, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.