Los Cabos
Las Ventanas Al Paraiso
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Palmilla
Los Cabos is one of Mexico's fastest growing resort areas, poised to become Mexico's leading upscale tourist destination. Hollywood first discovered it in the post-World War II years when stars went down for the sport fishing and to relax in privacy. That Los Cabos has been discovered is no surprise.
There is so much here, in a pristine desert and marine environment of startling natural beauty. There is world-class sport fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, yachting, sea kayaking, surfing and windsurfing. The golfer has four spectacular courses to choose from including Los Cabos premier course, the 18-hole Robert Trent Jones II course adjacent to Las Ventanas al Paraiso. Excursions into the unspoiled desert landscape and whale watching are among the other activities enjoyed in the warm sun that shines year-round. Visitors experience the natural charm and quaintness of Old Mexico in the town of San Jose del Cabo, where there are excellent restaurants as well as many shops with silver jewelry, hand-painted vases and other artistry. On the other end of the cape is fun city, Cabo San Lucas, teeming with restaurants, cafes on the sand, curio shops and boutiques, and nightclubs and bars with dancing and music into the wee hours.
Lay Of The Land:
Located at the southern tip of Mexico's 1,000-mile-long Baja Peninsula, Los Cabos combines a starkly beautiful desert landscape with one of the richest marine environments encompassing both the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez (the Gulf of California, which is an arm of the Pacific extending north to within 75 miles of the U.S. border). The Sea of Cortez is an underwater wonderland, teeming with extraordinarily abundant and diverse sea life. The desert is a mosaic of color and texture with forests of saguaro cactus and indigenous plants such as the boogum and elephant trees that exist only here, sand dunes of Saharan proportions, and stunning rock formations. The dramatic rock outcropping at the tip of the cape known as "El Arco" (The Arch) has become the immediately recognizable symbol of Los Cabos.
The Tourist Corridor:
Los Cabos -- "The Capes" -- is the general name given to the area but it refers more specifically to the "tourist corridor", the 20-mile-long area of white-sand beaches, hotels and resorts between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.
Weather:
The warm, arid climate of the Baja Peninsula, where average annual rainfall is only about 10 inches, results in beautiful sunshine 350 days a year in Los Cabos.
Sportfishing:
Los Cabos is one of the worlds great sportfishing destination. The varieties of fish, in an area so compact and accessible, is unequaled anywhere else. It is particularly famous for its concentration of swordfish, marlin and sailfish, and is known as "The Marlin Capital of the World." In addition to big trophy fish, you can catch everything from Dorado (mahi mahi) and tuna to roosterfish, halibut, wahoo and corvina.
Snorkeling & Scuba Diving:
The Sea of Cortez is a colorful underwater world of beauty and wonder with living coral reefs, sand falls, ocean canyons, old shipwrecks to explore -- and everything from tropical and schooling fish to hammerhead sharks, moray eels and turtles.
Sailing And Sea Kayaking:
Los Cabos is a recreational sailors dream with endless undeveloped coastline, small islands and open waters to explore. Los Cabos is also a world-class sea kayaking destination with coves, inlets, water caves and beaches that are only accessible by kayak. This is an excellent place to learn sea kayaking skills, too, since the seas are generally calm.
Windsurfing & Surfing:
Los Cabos is a windsurfers paradise with good wind action, particularly from November through March. And surfing is excellent on the Pacific without the crowds -- and fighting for waves - typical of the surfing spots in northern Baja close to the California border.
Golf:
Los Cabos is evolving into one of Mexico's leading golf destinations with four spectacular courses and more coming. They are being designed by the biggest names in golf course design: 18-hole Palmilla and 18-hole Cabo del Sol are Jack Nicklaus courses, while additional Nicklaus courses are being planned; 18-hole Cabo San Lucas Country Club is by Pete Dye; and the 18-hole course at the new five-star Las Ventanas al ParaEDso, the premier course in Los Cabos, was designed by Robert Trent Jones II.
Local Towns & Villages:
Several towns and villages, easily reached on day trips, offer history, shopping and more. Todo Santos, originally a Jesuit mission and plantation, today is known for its fishing industry, fruit orchards and handmade crafts; it is a beautiful 50-mile drive up the Pacific coast from Cabo San Lucas through a desert landscape with a backdrop of jagged mountains. Miraflores, about 25 miles from Santiago, about 35 miles from San Jose del Cabo, is another quaint Baja village with the areas only zoo. About 124 miles north of San Jose is the main town and capital of Southern Baja, La Paz; originally a pirates haven, Italian missionaries built a church here more than 500 years ago and today it offers history, shopping, restaurants and more.
Shopping:
A colorful and diverse selection of handmade artisanry is sold in the shops including silver jewelry, hand-painted vases, wrought-iron candleholders, ceramic figures and masks, flowing Mexican dresses, and carved wood objects.
Night Life:
Los Cabos is alive with food, music and dancing. Cabo San Lucas at night has been called Cabo San "Loco" with its many happening bars, clubs, discos and live music. San Jose del Cabo is known for its fine restaurants and nightclubs with live dance bands and other entertainment.
