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| Ranking Among Int'l Cities/Regions: #16 |
| Venturers: 6 |
| Mid-Venturers: 6 |
| Centrics-Venturers: 7 |
| Centrics-Authentics: 7 |
| Mid-Authentics: 8 |
| Authentics:9 |
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• Lover’s Beach faces the Sea of Cortez but its Pacific side is called Divorce Beach
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| • The U.S. Marines occupied Los Cabos during the Mexican-American War (1840s) |
| • Baja California is the world’s longest peninsula |
| • Gray whales travel 6,000 miles to winter in the waters around Los Cabos |
| • Baja California (Lower California) was separated from the U.S. state in 1848 |
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An angler’s dream
Los Cabos, at the southern end of the Baja California peninsula, facing the Pacific to the west and the Sea of Cortez to the east, attracts visitors with a wild and wonderful terrain that combines the charms of mountains, desert and endless beaches — plus the luxury resorts, fine restaurants and golf courses added by modern mankind. But its real lure (pun intended) historically has been fishing. Locals have long made their living at sea. Gringos discovered the opportunities after World War II and began bringing their seriously obsessed friends along for the chance to land a few big ones. And, the rest is history.
About Los Cabos
Los Cabos comprises four parts: two towns and the so-called Tourist Corridor (a strip of beachfront resorts), plus a less-developed outpost called the East Cape. Cabo San Lucas, the southernmost town, facing west onto the Pacific and south onto the Sea of Cortez, is the liveliest of the towns. It is the place to go for the happening nightlife, lots of restaurants and shops, the most challenging of the water sports (it’s the Pacific out there), plus a range of boat trips, whether for sightseeing, themed cruises or fishing in the Pacific. Here visitors see the signature Los Cabos landmark, El Arco, a stone arch formed where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific. To the northeast on the Sea of Cortez — and at the other end of the 20-mile Tourist Corridor, San Jose del Cabo, once an 18th century mission town, is picturesque and charming. In its modern iteration, it presents a relatively sedate face with concerts in the village square, crafts markets, eclectic dining choices, boutique hotels and galleries selling works created locally as well as abroad. The aptly named East Cape is a 40-minute drive up the eastern side of Baja California. Local fishermen still pursue their time-honored trade in this still-rustic area. Nevertheless, visitors more interested in fish or water sports than resort amenities will be drawn to the East Cape to fish with a hook and line, or admire the fish by snorkeling or diving to see some of the more than 200 species that are protected in the Cabo Pulmo Marine Park.
Los Cabos is a year-round destination and, these days, attracts visitors with widely varied interests. It also has a history of attracting the rich and famous in search of luxury and privacy.The locals are friendly and welcoming, but even the tourist office cautions visitors about Mexican driving, saying “something happens when driving time comes.” The bottom line: The car has the right of way, not pedestrians, and speed limits are not well enforced. Be warned.
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• If sport-fishing is your strong suit, enter the annual bullfish tournament (October). The entry fee, covering a team of six, is $4,000.
• Go parasailing, available at El Medano Beach.
• Take on the surf at the Costa Azul at San Jose del Cabo on the Sea of Cortez. Or, for the most daring of all, try windsurfing on the Pacific Ocean.
• Go scuba diving. Take guided dives, and have lessons if necessary.
• Seek out the liveliest late-night nightlife in Cabo San Lucas. Or, if you want something less wild, ask your concierge about romantic places where you’ll hear soft music or other establishments featuring Mexican folk dances.
• Take an ATV tour into the area’s wilderness and into sand dunes near the ocean.
• Take a guided two- or three-day kayak expedition that may include a trip to the Isla Espiritus Santos off La Paz or a variety of activities such as diving, hiking or snorkeling. You can camp on the white sandy beaches.
• Sign on for an extended whale watching experience. On a day trip, you can fly to Magdalena Bay for a chance to see gray whales when they are calving. Or, stay a few days in Magdalena Bay, with Loreto as your base camp, to have more chances to interact with the gentle giants.
• Hike or bike in the rugged desert landscape.
• See the East Cape, the part of the Los Cabos destination that is less visited. More rustic than the rest of Los Cabos, it features fishing lodges, dive shops and camping sites. It is a place for Jeep tours into the desert plus jet skiing, scuba diving and, especially, windsurfing for those who are serious about this sport.
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• Charter a cruiser for off-shore sportfishing. Depending on the season, you may reel in any of these: black marlin, blue marlin, cabrilla, dorado, jack, tuna, roosterfish, sailfish, sierra, snook, stripped marlin, wahoo or yellowtail.
• Snorkel at just about any beach.
• Make a day journey — or overnight — to La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur and once the pearl fishing capital of the world. It is another place to snorkel and watch whales.
• Take a cruise aboard a tall ship called the Buccaneer Queen, which plies the waters around Cabo San Lucas. This “pirate ship” also is available for charter.
• Rent a wave runner at El Medano Beach for a fun way to get around the bay at Cabo San Lucas.
• Saddle up for a horseback journey into the hills, across desert sands or on the beach, your choice.
• Take a cruise around the bay at Cabo San Lucas and into the Pacific Ocean. Some cruise options include dining or dancing, or music and drinks.
• Kayak around scenic points such as the Chileno and Santa Maria beaches or the protected marine park, Cabo Pulmo. Weather and season may determine your options.
• Swim with dolphins at the Cabo Dolphin Center. Sign on to participate in its trainer-for-a-day program. Budding trainers must be at least 12 years old.
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• Enjoy every tidbit at the Los Cabos Culinary Festival in December.
• Tee off at any of the gorgeously situated golf courses along the 20-mile Tourist Corridor.
• Laze around any of a number of beaches (www.visitloscabos.org/beaches.html), but be aware it is not safe to swim at all of them.
• Find out if Los Cabos lives up to its billing as a place to find fine dining. See www.hotelsvisitloscabos.org/dining.html.
• Join a whale watching excursion off the coast of Los Cabos if you are in the area when they are, January to March.
• Take your opportunity to sample the spa services and relax big time.
• Board a catamaran for a dinner cruise around Cabo San Lucas Bay.
• Take a day trip to Todos Santos, a small town that has become an enclave for artists, accessible only by dirt roads. Drop in at the famed Hotel California.
• Shop for crafted jewelry, designer clothes, original artworks and regional handicrafts, cruising the shops in both San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.
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