Spotlight: Cabo

At the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula are the two small towns of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Between these two towns is Mexico’s most interesting corridor of world-class resort properties. Cabo San Lucas, famous for its oceans teaming with sport fish and whales features a large marina. This is also the center of the region’s famous nightlife.

Farther east is San Jose del Cabo, with quiet, picturesque streets and buildings, small restaurants and cantinas, lovely folk-art boutiques and a laid back atmosphere. Just off shore, the green blue waters of the Sea of Cortés are dotted with the famous stone formation of El Arco that so distinctly graces the shoreline. Here, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Gulf of California, the rich and famous come to play.

The 20-mile road between the two towns is known as the Tourist Corridor, forming an extended recreational playground. Here, the desert comes to an abrupt halt and disappears into the sea. The four-lane highway between the communities of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo is lined with championship golf courses and luxury resorts that stretch in every direction along the sandy beach. The area is also home to a well-developed arts community.

The surf here is heavy. The convergence of the waters creates giant swells, and the currents are colder than one might expect at this southerly latitude. The desert landscape is a startling and stark contrast to the azure blue water. The cacti, yuccas and creosote bush in this mountainous setting are home to deer, bighorn sheep and antelope as well as big cats like mountain lions. Truly this area forms one of the most magnificent ecological regions of the world.

Although the resorts and million dollar mansions leave no doubt that the financial resources of the world have found a home here, there is also much for those interested in ecotourism to see and do. Tour operators offer jeep safaris into the mountains and deserts, through the canyons and riverbeds of the mostly dry, arid landscape. However, here and there you will see freshwater flowing down the mountainsides from underwater aquifers that provide cool waters to local wildlife. Kayaking, ATV tours, zip lines, and educational eco-tours will give every member of the family an activity to enjoy.

The Baja calls the visitor to spend time out-of-doors. The waters here are known worldwide for
trophy deep-sea fishing and several professional tournaments are hosted here each year. Charters are readily available at very reasonable day rates. Surfing is also a popular pastime with the crowd that follows the endless summer, and lessons are available here in an atmosphere friendlier to the novice than that found in Southern California or Hawaii.

No fewer than ten spectacular beaches await the visitor to Cabo San Lucas, ideal for romantic walks, kayaking, picnics and photography. Not all are ideal for swimming because of the infamous undertow that results from the strong currents, but swim spots are plentiful and well-marked. If golf is your game, Cabo offers up a selection of world-class courses. Indeed, the area is known as one of the world’s premier golf destinations. Set against the Sea of Cortés, many of the courses have few equals for spectacular locale.

As one might imagine in such a setting, the nightlife, dining and spa facilities in Cabo are first rate. The dining is excellent not only at the resorts, but in the village taverns and restaurants. Local cuisine is authentically Mexican and wonderfully prepared. The numerous venues for late night dancing and partying cater to an upscale crowd as well as to a more relaxed clientele, so take your pick. It’s all here in Cabo.