Cabo
San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and the East
Cape, collectively known as Los Cabos, is
one of Mexico's premiere vacation and retirement destinations. And for
good reason. Cabo has everything: world-class resorts, an active
expatriate community, adventure, nightlife, shopping, fishing, all
manner of water sports, golf and above all fabulous beaches and a
perfect climate. The only thing missing is you!
Los Cabos is unique in its
striking desert landscape, dry climate and great outdoors unspoiled
beauty. Visitors are surrounded by a dramatic backdrop of endless
cactus desert, cinnamon-colored mountains, miles of white sandy beaches
and clear, azure waters. It is one
of Mexico's most popular tourist destinations.
Basically there are four areas included in the resort. The two towns of
Cabo San Lucas and San Jose
del Cabo which are approximately 20
miles apart, The
Corridor, a 15 mile (give or take) stretch of lovely
beaches sprinkled with luxurious beachside resorts between San Lucas
and San Jose, and The East
Cape. These areas together are known as "The
Capes" or Los Cabos in Spanish, and are located in
the State of Baja California Sur at the very tip of the Baja California Peninsula.
Of
the four areas, Cabo San Lucas is the best known
and the more visited destination, although the International Airport,
which is the arrival point for most tourists, is located in San
Jose del Cabo.
Cabo San Lucas is different in many
ways from other "Mexican Riviera" counterparts along the Pacific coast.
Because of its geographical separation and isolation from mainland
Mexico, the Cabo tourism industry has developed closer ties with the
U.S. (mostly the west coast) than to the rest of Mexico. A conspicuous
"north-of-the-border" atmosphere and attitude give the area an
appealing cultural duality. Although, there's no denying the resort's
strong "Mexico-by-the-sea" atmosphere.
Once used as a frequent provision stop for pirates awaiting passage of
the Manila Galleons, today Cabo San Lucas is one of
Mexico's top resorts, with some of Mexico's finest hotels. In the last
30 years, it has evolved from a sleepy hideaway for fisherman and yacht
owners into one of Mexico's most popular resort destinations, with
exclusive homes and mansions, a wide selection of hotels, and world
class dining.
Cabo San Lucas is a boom town
which has emerged in the last ten years. Some dusty streets still
prevail, but don't let that fool you. This is the town most people
think of when they think of Los Cabos or "Cabo".
Cabo boasts some fine restaurants,
sophisticated shopping, a large marina, and a very active nightlife. Cabo
is tops with fisherman, divers, and those wanting to enjoy the resort
life. Nearby Medano Beach is a heavenly stretch of calm, crystal clear
water, and white sand beach. Just off shore is Los Arcos - the area's
signature landmark, and one of the world's most awesome natural wonders.
San Jose
del Cabo is a picturesque, colonial city of meandering
streets and lush palm groves, with the languid pace of a Mexican
colonial village. The area was first visited by Cortes himself in 1535
and served as a mission stop for centuries.
Today it is a town of 60,000 people, including many US and Canadian
expatriots, and is the seat of the municipal government. The town has
charming courtyard restaurants, small shops and boutiques, a very hip,
historic art district, small hotels and a lovely tropical estuary,
Estero San Jose. The atmosphere here is subdued compared to the more
rowdy and nightlife-orientated town of Cabo San Lucas.
The Corridor
Between these two towns is the Transpeninsula Highway, also know as The Corridor, which
is the site of many of Cabo's uber-luxurious resorts and most of the
golf courses, not to mention some of Baja's most beautiful beaches and
coves. Most of the hotels here offer a more "exclusive" feeling than in
the towns at either end of Los Cabos. If you're staying on The Corridor and
want to visit either town you can rent a car, get a taxi or use the
very reliable buses that run regularly to San Lucas and San Jose.
East Cape
The Un-Cabo. It's the place to be when you don't want to be around many
other humans. Wake up and hear nothing but waves. If you want
to get away from it all, the East
Cape is the place for you. Just northeast of San Jose del Cabo,
The East Cape
boasts miles and miles of pristine beaches, including one of the
world's best for wind surfing. While the old, slow-paced and remote East Cape still
exists, it is quickly yielding to development, including a new luxury
resort village and marina.
Today, Los
Cabos attracts a broader range of visitors than ever before,
and has gone to great lengths to diversify its offering of activities
and attractions. Los Cabos continues to attract
outdoor enthusiasts who flock here for world-famous fishing,
outstanding diving, surfing, snorkeling, kayaking, horsebackriding,
desert adventures and world class wind surfing.
The area
draws beach lovers, golfers, honeymooners, families, and
"eco-tourists". Of course, most visitors ultimately come here for
Cabo's famous sun and sea.
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The
famous Cabo arch at land's end

Big
smiles no matter the bar size

View
of Cabo's harbor

Along
the corridor is beautiful Santa Maria beach

Medano
Beach view from the hotels

High
speed start of a Cabo fishing tournament

Walk
along the marina
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