Things to do in Los Cabo

Things to do in Los Cabo

Cabo San Lucas Bay image: commons.wikimedia.org

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EXPLORE MEXICO: 10 BEST THINGS TO DO IN LOS CABOS (MEXICO)

At the southern tip of Baja California Sur, where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez, Los Cabos is a thriving tourist region that has finally caught the world's attention.

The Los Cabos Corridor between the main cities of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo is a succession of tempting coves with calm waters for snorkelling or swimming.

On these beaches, you can see whales in the distance from November to April.  Resort hotels have opened up along this coastline in the blink of an eye, furnished with luxurious spas and golf courses that are among the best in the country.

Cabo Pulmo National Park is within the boundaries of Los Cabos and is a habitat for endangered sea turtles and coral reefs, while El Arco de Cabo San Lucas is an impressive natural monument at the tip of the Baja peninsula, California.

Let's explore the best things to do in Los Cabos:

1. THE ARCH OF CABO SAN LUCAS

the arch of cabo san lucas
Image:  commons.wikimedia.org

 

Without hesitation, the first thing to do in Los Cabos is to book a boat trip to Lands End next to San Lucas.  Here sinuous granite formations mark the point where the Sea of Cortez joins the Pacific Ocean.  The arch of the same name is a natural portal with a circular plan, and if the tides collaborate, you can disembark to go through it. The arch is just one of a multitude of surreal natural landmarks, including the Window to the Pacific, a rectangular hole in the cliffs where you can see across the ocean, and Neptune's Finger, a narrow stack that resembles a giant digit. of a submerged hand. Fur seals inhabit this rocky shoreline and you must pass by groups of them basking in the sun on the rocky ledges.

2. CABO PULMO NATIONAL PARK 

tribune.travel/los-cabos/cabo-pulmo-national-park/
Image:  tribune.travel/los-cabos/cabo-pulmo-national-park/

 

Divers will put this marine reserve firmly in their plans, but on land, you can also pack a snorkel and flippers and drive northeast from San Lucas or San José.  You'll be off the grid in this unpopulated region, and that's half the fun.  The coastline alternates between mighty granite headlands and gentle coves, and the interior is all big skies and cacti. The national park has been created to protect a chain of coral reefs, and if only for snorkelling, the wealth of marine life in these waters is astounding.  Sometimes you can literally be engulfed in schools of fish.  Five of the seven species of sea turtles reside here, while on the reefs (11 varieties of coral), you'll see extravagant molluscs among the multicoloured parrotfish and butterflies.

3. LOVER’S BEACH

Lovers Beach
Image: flickr.com/photos/kirt_edblom/24599341671

 

The north-facing beach at Lands End, Playa del Amor, is made up of the granite rocks that form "El Arco." Facing the Pacific and its roaring surf, Playa del Amor is a serene cove where boats drop day-trippers to lounge on the sand, snorkel in the crystal-clear waters, rock climb, and take the best photos of this incomparable place.  If you need more room to stretch out, Divorce Beach is right behind and lapped by the waves of the Pacific. Swimming is not allowed on this side, but there is a generous stretch of sand and the sunsets are heavenly.

4. DIVING

Diving with Whale Shark
Image:  commons.wikimedia.org

 

Los Cabos is the best there is for experienced divers.  There are brilliant reefs with impressive wildlife and where you can drift with the currents, and bull shark dives are available in Cabo Pulmo.  Curious sea lions may approach you, and if you don't think twice before diving into the depths of the Cabo San Lucas Submarine Canyon, you will witness the strange natural phenomenon of the "Cascadas de Arena". Here the sand cascades down the cliff, propelled by currents and the slight movements of tectonic plates. Are you new to diving? Cabo Pulmo and the Corredor have sheltered coves where newcomers can enter the water from the beach.  Diving companies in Los Cabos also offer tailor-made trips to La Paz in October to swim with whale sharks.

5. WHALE WATCHING

Whale Watching
Image:  flickr.com/photos/vastlk/99425635

 

From December to April Los Cabos is on the migratory route of humpback whales that swim to the tropical waters of the Pacific coast of Mexico to give birth.  As we have mentioned, in these months you can find a cape along the Corridor and you will most likely see a fin or tail if you are patient.
There is a directory of businesses that offer whale watching expeditions.  Companies like Whale Watch Cabo are so confident that you'll see whales in this five-month window that they offer follow-up complementary tours if you don't see anything on the first trip.  Many boats also have hydrophones installed so you can hear humpback whales singing.

6. GOLF

Golf course
Image:  yourgolftravel.com/golf-holidays/mexico-baja-california

 

In a short time, Los Cabos has become the best place to play golf in Mexico.  Seven of the top fifteen golf courses in Mexico listed in Golfers Digest in 2016 were based in Los Cabos. This is amazing when you think that the first course didn't open until 1987. Many of the luxury courses have taken advantage of the Corridor's once-empty shoreline, where the rough is dotted with mesquite and cacti.  A green fee will set you back $375 USD at peak times from January to May, but a demanding golfer with little skill will find it worth every penny.  After a round in Cabo del Sol, you can watch the ocean from the terrace of the hacienda-style clubhouse.

7. SANTA MARIA BEACH

Santa Maria Beach
Image:  flickr.com/photos/160866001@N07/48423535546

 

Playa Santa María is a crescent-shaped cove protected by two promontories. These keep currents out, so even when other beaches are choppy, Playa Santa Maria is normally calm and clear.  Like the rest of the Los Cabos Corridor, there has been an increase in construction on Playa Santa Maria.  A new bathroom and a car park have taken over from what was previously a dirt track.  But in early 2018, the beach still has an uncharted feel, even when boatloads of snorkelers arrive in the early afternoon.  There are no vendors, and only a small set of palapas, so it's best to come prepared.

8. WIRIKUTA CACTUS BOTANICAL GARDEN

Wirikuta Cactus Botanical Garden
Image:  Wirikuta photos by David de Los Angeles wirikutacactusgarden.tumblr.com

 

On five hectares, this attraction in Puerto Los Cabos has more than 1,500 varieties of cacti and succulents from around the world.
The Wirikuta Cactus Botanical Garden is planted as a kind of tribute to desert plants, with 1,000,000 specimens arranged in strips and concentric circles.  Wirikuta also has a magnificent sculpture garden with works by some of the heavyweights of Mexican modern art such as Gabriel Macotela, José Luis Cuevas and Manuel Felguérez.  On Wednesday nights the park is the scene of authentic Huichol dance and acrobatic shows, with surprisingly high production values.

9. SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO ART WALK

San Jose Del Cabo Art Walk
Image:  ©Chuck Smith  rove.me/to/cabo-san-lucas/san-jose-del-cabo-art-walk

 

On Thursday nights in the peak season (November to June), San José shows its creative side with an art walk from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This event was created to attract people to the art district, a group of galleries and art shops located in the blocks behind the church.  As the art walk has gained momentum, the city has turned the main street, Calle Álvaro Obregón, into a car-free street, which has helped create a more pleasant atmosphere.  As many as a dozen neighbourhood galleries, such as the Frank Arnold Gallery, Desertica, and Casa Dahlia, participate in the event, hosting lectures, wine soirees, meet and greets, and live music.

10. KITCHEN

Almejas chocolatas
Image: la-cocina-mexicana.com/recetas/entradas/almejas-chocolata-al-natural

 

One of the quirkier but appetizing local specialities is almejas chocolates, in which seasoned clams are cooked on a bed of pebbles topped with flaming rosemary sprigs.  Needless to say, the fish and shrimp tacos are a much-appreciated treat, and there are a variety of stews and soups made with shrimp, lobster, and giant sea snails (abalone). Calamari is also abundant, and the regional way of cooking it is by seasoning it with coriander seeds, garlic, cumin, oregano, and pasilla chilli before frying it in butter.  And if you're the hungry first thing in the morning, you can get a tamale from Güemes, a bag of corn dough stuffed with chicken, pork, raisins, and olives.

In Conclusion

The Los Cabos corridor has more than enough adventure, sites and activities to make a trip to Mexico more than worth the effort and time and should be on everyone's bucket lists.

 

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