Cabo San Lucas travel guide -- with wowing rocks, top beaches, glass blowing, shopping and a peaceful mission
- Cookie & Keller
- May 16, 2014
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 11
BAJA TRIP OFFERS FAST GROWING CABO SAN LUCAS
AND QUIET AND ARTSY TODO SANTOS
STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS
PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER
"The Carpe Diem Kids"
At the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, where desert landscapes meet the deep blue of the Pacific, Cabo San Lucas delivers the kind of getaway that feels both effortless and unforgettable.
Famous for the dramatic rock formation El Arco, this vibrant coastal town blends sun-soaked beaches, world-class marine life, and a lively atmosphere that keeps travelers coming back.
Whether you're chasing adventure on the water, indulging in fresh seafood by the marina, or simply soaking in a golden sunset, Cabo offers a little bit of everything without ever feeling overwhelming.
REMEMBER that bittersweet Eagles song of the 1970s, "Hotel California"?
The song may refer to a hotel in the sleepy little town of Todos Santos, which means "all saints." Ironic, given the attraction to the place from the not-so-saintly musicians of the day.
Besides the Eagles, many other other rock stars stayed there, including Crosby Stills and Nash. Of course Keith Richards married Patti Hansen there. But the genesis of the famous song can't be authenticated.
Above, top, . And Todos Santos is proud of its beautiful mission church. |
Cabo San Lucas travel guide, overview
FIRST, CABO SAN Lucas. The rock formations of this lovely place on the Baja California tip are legendary. We'd explored them before, along with many other tourist boats full of anglers (the sport fishing is world class), snorkelers, and other varieties of sun seekers. All of us reveled in the peace and beauty, spiced up by the region's reputation for fun.
Baja California peninsula, in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur, is home to "Los Cabos" -- Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo.
Above, the bathroom of Hotel California, below, is a throw-back to 1970s hippy days. |
The bay of Cabo San Lucas was once a base for pirate vessels waiting to pounce on Spanish treasure ships. Even fifteen years ago, it was little more than a fishing and canning village occasionally visited by adventurous sports fishermen. Its beach escapes, fabulous snorkeling, parasailing, scuba and sea exploration now recommend it to wealthy second-home owners. And it has its own "outback," complete with camels. A few of our group took the camel trek, actually riding on the beasts as they photographed indigenous flora and fauna.
Cabo is also famous for its glassware. We visited a factory, and stopped at a lovely vista to sip a margarita or two. Salsa -- both the dance and the sauce -- is an artform in Cabo; lively music echoed from the hotel lobbies and pools.
CABO NATIVES are proud of their dolphins, too, claiming these smart and graceful creatures flirt with and communicate with those who venture into the water to swim with them. In winter, Cabo boasts that it has the best whale watching on the Pacific, but I'd put our San Diego whale watching ventures up against theirs. Still, the peninsula is known for its superb spots to view migrating whales. Human travelers -- including golfers from all over the world -- come to Cabo for its inviting greens, many with splendid sea views.
Cabo's colorful history includes many shipwreck stories, and you can still dive for vestiges of the doomed vessels. Scuba aficionados seek out ruins around Pelican Rock, Land's End, Neptune's Finger, Sand Falls, and other imaginative names.
WE WERE happy we'd chosen the trek to Todos Santos, a small coastal town at the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, on the Pacific side of the Peninsula. It's only an hour's drive north of Cabo but it's another world -- quiet, unspoiled, with mango, avocado and papaya trees downtown.
The trip to Todos took us past gorgeous new hotels designed for U.S. and European tourists. Condos attract ex-patriots, college students on breaks and time share owners, all discovering the Baja. Arriving in Todos Santos, we were greeted by friendly people, quaint galleries and shops, the famous and popular Hotel California with its unique bathrooms, and a beautiful old Jesuit mission. The Jesuits settled in the 1700s, and the church is well loved. We walked past an artful sculpture arcade honoring town founders and leaders. We admired restored colonial buildings from the last century and enjoyed ice cream in the zocalo -- town square -- a colorful gathering spot.
THE TOWN is a haven for artists, craftsmen, surfers and travelers seeking adventure, nature and what some call "Mexico's healthiest lifestyle." Todos attracts hikers, surfers, wildlife enthusiasts, kayakers, snorkelers and birders, too.
The two destinations are radically different. While Todos Santos' waters are quiet, Cabo's bay boasts high-powered, radar-equipped fishing yachts. Multi-million-dollar second homes are going up in prime vantage points, fringed by thousands of transplanted palms.
WHILE TODOS Santos felt authentic and Mexican, our Cabo San Lucas travel guide recognizes that this booming tourism oriented city feels more like the U.S. than part of Mexico. We spoke to content ex-pats who bragged about a mammoth Wal-Mart, new restaurants and a choice of fancy bars. Puerto Paraíso, an enormous mall on the marina, has everything one can purchase in the states.
Each place has much to recommend it, but you'll decide which suits your fancy best -- Cabo San Lucas or Todos Santos. And you can always visit them both.
More information:
Both Cabo and Todos Santos offer many tour options including with Trip Advisor and Viator: tripadvisor.com; viator.com
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