It is believed that Cabo San Lucas was first dwelled by the Pericu Indians and their ancestors thousands of years ago. They fought the Europeans from Spain, who in 1533 tried to conquer the land. But in 1697 the Indian resistance succumbed and the first permanent Spanish settlement on the peninsula, a Jesuit mission was founded on Loreto.

The history tells us that although it was indeed Hernan Cortez who lead an expedition looking for gold in the waters of Cabo San Lucas, it was Francisco de Ulloa, Hernan Cortez’ navigator, who first discovered the Sea of Cortez.

The cape at San Lucas was used later on by the pirates as a hideout to ambush the galleons that sailed from Acapulco to the Phillippines after having been loaded with Mexican gold and silver.

In 1587 after Thomas of Cavendish, a British pirate, had sacked the "invincible" galleon Santa Ana, King Philip II of Spain chartered soldiers and Jesuit missionaries to begin colonization of California to protect Spanish shipping.

Pearls were found in the area and other settlements were established along Baja. In 1730 Jesuit padre Nicolas Tamaral founded a mission Jose del Cabo to the north. The slaughter of padre Tamaral and his party by the Pericu Indians has been memorialized in a mosaic in the church of San Jose.

Although Cabo San Lucas started to grow as a fishing town, it remained underdeveloped for many more years. By 1930’s the access to the area was restricted to small planes due to its hostile routes.

After World War II some Hollywood elite discovered Cabo San Lucas and wealthy and famous clients with yacht and private airplanes overflowed the area. By 1950, Bing Crosby, Phil Harris, Desi Arnaz, and The Duke had built the exclusive hotel Las Cruces on the East Cape.

In 1974, the completion of the transpeninsular highway that stretched more than a thousand miles from cabo san lucas to the U. S. border ignited the growth of Cabo San Lucas. International developers and the Mexican tourist agency, Fonatur began investing massively in the region.

In the 1980's the modern 300 slip marina in Cabo San Lucas and the international airport at San Jose were built , creating more endless possibilities for the destination. Nowadays, the area features world-class developments and attracts the same sportsmen, leisure-seekers, honeymooners and families.