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Los Cabos

Where the desert meets the sea

By Dave Shultz

There are some places in the world that you know you will return some day.  The southern part of Baja, Mexico is one of those places.  Baja is separated into two states, Baja Norte (North) and Baja Sur (South).  If you travel south on Hwy. 1 along the Pacific coast, you will end up in the Los Cabo area.  The most famous city there is Cabo San Lucas but San Jose del Cabo is running a close second and if you fly into the Los Cabos Airport, you have to drive through San Jose del Cabo to get to Cabo San Lucas.  For those yearning for more peace and quiet, keep going up the coast past Cabo San Lucas to the Colonial village of Todos Santos.

Los Cabos

The 20 mile long corridor between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas makes up the bulk of the Los Cabos area and is rapidly becoming the preferred destination because of the new luxury hotels and golf courses springing up along the coast.  When you add almost perfect weather to the fabulous blue water of the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez, you get the formula for a perfect vacation.

The newest addition to the luxury hotels along the corridor is the Fiesta Americana with almost 300 luxury rooms, meeting space for over 1,100 people, a ballroom, five break-out rooms and a theme party room.  The most incredible feature of this property is that every single room has an equally magnificent view of the Sea of Cortez.  Three restaurants are available, ranging from fine dining to casual poolside dining and among the five swimming pools is a swim up bar.

There are two golf courses on the grounds of the Fiesta Americana including the famous Jack Nicklaus designed Ocean Course, ranked in Golf Magazine’s list of “Top 100 Golf Courses in the World.”     Jack himself says of the course, “The greatest three finishing holes of golf anywhere in the world.”  The combination of desert, ocean surf and impeccably manicured greens make this a golfers dream.

Cabo San Lucas

Fonatur, the largest marina in Baja Sur is the centerpiece of Cabo San Lucas.  The waters that once held pirate galleons and merchant ships, now house the luxurious yachts of the rich and famous that live in the hills overlooking the marina.  There are also lots of commercial vessels and if you have a taste for deep-sea fishing, charters are easy to arrange and success is almost guaranteed. 

Over 800 species of sea life inhabit the waters around Baja and one of the most sought after for it delicious flavor is the Dorado or Mahi Mahi.  If you’re lucky enough to land one, the crew of your boat will fillet them on the spot to take back to your hotel where the chef will prepare the freshest gourmet meal you will ever eat.  As you head back to the marina in the afternoon, your boat will proudly fly the colorful flags indicating the type and quantity of fish you caught that day. 

Sportfishing is still one of the main attractions here and every year in October, the Bisby Fishing Tournament draws fishermen and fans from all over the world.  Marlin is the quarry for the tournament and the prize money amounts to over two million dollars.  Several hundred boats depart each morning of the three day tournament in hopes of landing a prize Marlin that can weigh up to 1200 pounds.  Landing one of these monsters can require a grueling 12 hours of very hard work.  Success depends on the skill of the fisherman and the boat captain and the outcome is never certain until the end.

The most famous and most photographed landmark of Cabos San Lucas is El Arco (The Arch) that sits at the tip of Land’s End.  This is the exact spot where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez and is at its most spectacular at sunset.  The best way to view El Arco at sunset has to be the Sunset Cruise on the Kaleidoscope, a huge and incredibly stable catamaran that takes guests out every evening to sip margaritas, beer or wine for two hours to watch the sun drop behind the distinctive rocks at Land’s End. 

Even though the sun is setting, the day if far from over.  Cabo San Lucas is definitely a party town and there are numerous choices for dining, dancing and enjoying the bustling nightlife.  If you are really brave, stop by Margaritaville, right on the marina and try one of their famous margaritas.  It arrives in a hand blown glass the size of a dinner plate and will present a real challenge to finish it.  By the way, the record stands at seven glasses drunk in one sitting.  Don’t try to break it if you want to enjoy the rest of your vacation.

Before you leave Cabo San Lucas, a visit to the Fabrica de Vidrio (Blown Glass Factory) is a must.  Whether it's just a souvenir piece or an entire glassware collection, this is the place to find it.  Before picking out your glassware, step into the factory and watch the craftsmen creating the pieces you see find on the shelves.  You might just find that special piece being made as you watch.  Take it with you or have them ship it home.  Each piece is unique and the variety is fabulous.

After a long day of shopping the local markets, stop at Pancho's, the restaurant owned by John and Mary Bragg for some of the best local cuisine in Cabo.  If you're really brave, have a shot of Rattlesnake Tequila from the bar.  The bartender will dip your shot straight from the jar with a rattlesnake coiled in the bottom.  John and Mary will probably stop by your table to visit and toast your bravery.

San Jose del Cabo

Founded in 1730 by the Jesuits on a mesa overlooking the Rio San Jose, San Jose is a quieter version of Cabo San Lucas.  The pace may be slower here but world-class hotels, restaurants and shopping abound.  The downtown area maintains its Colonial charm while housing modern shopping plazas, beautiful hotels and gourmet restaurants.   All of this is overseen by the original mission erected by the Jesuits; beautifully preserved and still in use today.

One of the most recent additions in the heart of San Jose is Casa Natalia, owned and managed by Nathalie and Loic Tenoux.  With only 18 rooms, this European style hotel is both charming and intimate.  Each room is decorated with a unique motif and is named after the decoration instead of numbered.  Rooms like Sandia, Azul, Luna, Sol, Conchas reflect their decorations and all are designed to be private and comfortable. 

Casa Natalia houses Mi Cocina, a gourmet restaurant featuring Nouvelle Mexican-Euro cuisine prepared by one of the few female chefs in Mexico.  She emphasizes seafood, grilled meats, poultry, pastas, garden salads and handmade desserts that are almost too beautiful to eat.

Todos Santos

If you're really searching for a traditional colonial village typical of Baja Sur, a one hour trip up the coast from Cabo San Lucas brings you to Todos Santos.  This laid back artist community definitely reflects the slower side of Baja life.  You'll actually see signs declaring "Gone Fishing.  Be Back Manana,"  and you learn that Manana doesn't mean 'tomorrow', but 'not today'.  It's also home of the Hotel California made famous in the '70's by the Eagles.  Stop for a photo op under the famous sign and then visit the gift shop across the street for a souvenir t-shirt.

Another favorite activity is visiting the traditional candy shops for a variety of handmade sweets.  They're the perfect snack to tide you over till dinner and aren't overly sweet so they won't spoil your appetite as you stroll down sleepy streets and visit unique little art galleries.

Also, be sure to visit the mission Nuestra Señora del Pilar de La Paz.  Founded by father Jaime Bravo in 1723, the church still stands today, but is
known as Nuesta Señora del Pilar de Todos Santos.

Of course, the best way to see anyplace new is with a local guide and there's nobody more qualified than the Cabo Travelers Advisors.  They can arrange any of the activities above and a whole lot more, and don't worry if you don't have time to see all the sights of Los Cabos.  Deep in your heart, you know you will be back again.

Contact Information:

Fiesta Americana
KM. 10.2 Carretera Transpeninsular
Desarollo Cabo del Sol
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, 23410, Mexico
(800) FIESTA1
http://www.fiestamericana.com 

Ocean Course
KM 10.3 Carretera Transpeninsular
Cabo San Lucas, Baja, California Sur, 23410, Mexico
001-52-114-582-00

Kaleidoscope
El Medano Beach Near "The Office" Restaurant
011 52 114 87318
Fax: 011 52 114 34050
http://www.caboland.com/kaleidoscope/

Fabrica de Vidrio (Blown Glass Factory)
011-114-30120
http://www.loscabos-tourism.com/cabo/glassfactory/

Pancho's Restaurant
Hidalgo & Emiliano Zapata s/n
Cabo San Lucas, Baja, California Sur, 23410, Mexico
011-52-114-3-09-73
http://www.panchos.com/
bragg@panchos.com

Casa Natalia
Boulevard Mijares N. 4
San Jose del Cabo, Baja, California Sur, 23400, Mexico
888-277-3814
http://www.casanatalia.com

Cabo Travelers Advisors
Plaza Jose Green Loc. 6-C
San Jose del Cabo, Baja, California Sur, 23400, Mexico
http://www.cabocta.com

Photos by Dave Shultz

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