Tips for travel to Los Cabos

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Introduction

Dining & Entertainment

Entry Requirements

Money & Emergency

Weather

Map

Fun Things To Do

Health & Safety Links

Flight Overview

Introduction

The hundreds of luxury hotel rooms along the Corridor north of Cabo San Lucas have transformed this formerly rustic and rowdy outpost. Although it retains boisterous nightlife, Cabo San Lucas is no longer the simple town Steinbeck wrote about. Once legendary for big-game fish, Cabo San Lucas now draws more people for its nearby world-class fairways and greens. This has become Mexico's most elite resort destination. Travelers enjoy a growing roster of adventure-oriented activities, and the nightlife is as hot as the desert in July. A collection of popular restaurants and bars along Cabo's main street stay open and active until the morning's first fishing charters head out to sea.

San José del Cabo, with its pastel cottages and narrow streets lined with flowering trees, retains the air of a provincial Mexican town. The main square, adorned with a wrought-iron bandstand and shaded benches, faces the cathedral, which was built on the site of an early mission. San José is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with a collection of noteworthy cafes, art galleries, interesting shops, and intriguing small inns adding a newly refined flavor to the central downtown area.

What To Do

With its great sands and fascinating marine life, Cabo San Lucas should be one of the most attractive spots in Baja. Above all there's the huge rock arch at Finisterra - Land's End, where the Sea of Cortés meets the Pacific - an extraordinary place, with a clear division between the shallower turquoise waters on the left and the profound blue of the ocean on the right. A colony of sea-lions lives on the rocks roundabout. Only the adventurous can walk over the rocks to the arch (from Solmar Suites) but there are plenty of trips out here from the marina, most of which take in one of the small surrounding beaches, more often than not Playa del Amor, which boasts strands on both seas.

Around the marina, down the nearby streets and along the Playa Médano, the town's closest safe beach, hawkers constantly tout trips in glass-bottomed boats, fishing, waterskiing, paragliding or bungee jumping, and will rent anything from horses to off-road quad bikes to jet skis and underwater gear. Competition is fierce, prices change and places come and go, so shop around. Scuba diving and snorkelling are perhaps the most rewarding of these activities, though the best sites (out towards Finisterra) can only be reached by boat. For gear rental, snorkelling trips and scuba courses, check out the many companies along Blvd Marina, especially in the plazas. Or simply rent a snorkel and fins at the marina, take a water taxi to Playa del Amor, and swim back to Pelican Rock, where the underwater shelf is home to schools of tropical fish. Experienced divers shouldn't miss the rim of a marine canyon also off Playa del Amor, where unusual conditions at 30m create a "sandfall" with streams of sand starting their 2000-metre fall to the canyon bottom. The most popular dive is to Cabo Pulmo, the giant coral reef (though this is more easily reached from San José), where some of the larger members of the underwater food chain make their home.

Dining

The absolute local favorite is Manuel's Tamales, a street stand selling traditional treats of cornmeal stuffed with meat or cheese, then steamed in a cornhusk. Look for him on weekend nights on the corner of Lázaro Cárdenas and Zaragoza. Streets to explore for other good restaurants include Hidalgo and Lázaro Cárdenas, plus the Marina at the Plaza Bonita.

Mi Casa - The building's vivid cobalt-blue facade is your first clue that this place celebrates Mexico, and the menu confirms that impression. This is one of Cabo's most renowned gourmet Mexican restaurants. Traditional specialties such as manchamanteles (literally, "tablecloth stainers"), cochinita pibil, and chiles en nogada are menu staples. Fresh fish is prepared with delicious seasonings from throughout Mexico. Especially pleasant at night, the restaurant's tables, scattered around a large patio, are set with colorful cloths, traditional pottery, and glassware. It's across from the main plaza.

Tequila - Contemporary Mexican cuisine with a light and flavorful touch is the star attraction here, although the garden setting is lovely, with rustic equipal furniture and lanterns scattered among palms and giant mango trees. Try the specialty, shrimp in tequila sauce. Other enjoyable options include perfectly seared tuna with cilantro and ginger, ribs topped with tamarind sauce, and baked lobster with tequila sauce. Vegetarians can enjoy bell peppers stuffed with ricotta in tomato sauce, or one of several pasta dishes.

The Restaurant - It may just be called "The Restaurant," but there's where simplicity ends, and the extraordinary begins. Where Los Cabos is known for its pricy dining, this is one Restaurant that is worth the price. Start off with a cocktail before dinner in The Lounge, the casually elegant bar area bordering Las Ventanas' stunning pool, lit from above with a constellation of tin stars illuminated by candles. When you move into the dining area, you'll get a sense of the Las Ventanas signature service -- such as, should you be wearing black, you'll be given a black napkin. As remarkable as the service is, the dining itself is even better. First courses may include Ensenada steamed mussels, served in coconut milk with a hint of chile árbol and a dash of tequila, or a stone crab salad with baby watercress, mango, phillo, and sweet mustard sauce. The constantly changing menu of main courses generally includes an ample selection of seafood, including lobster, done in creative presentations, but their grilled rack of lamb with garlic potatoes, or prime filet mignon in a cabernet sauce, is as good as you'll find anywhere. A stellar selection of premium wines is served, and dress is resort attire. You have your choice of alfresco dining on the patio, or in indoor, air-conditioned comfort.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

Entertainment

Cabo San Lucas is the nightlife capital of Baja. After-dark fun centers on the casual bars and restaurants on Bulevar Marina or facing the marina, rather than a flashy dance club scene. You can easily find a happy hour with live music and a place to dance, or a Mexican fiesta with mariachis.

Mexican Fiestas & Theme Nights -- Some larger hotels have weekly fiesta nights, Italian nights, and other buffet-plus-entertainment theme nights that can be fun as well as a good buy.

Sunset Watching -- Come twilight, check out Land's End, where the two seas meet. At Whale Watcher's Bar, in the Hotel Finisterra, you'll get a world-class view of the sun sinking into the Pacific. The high terrace offers vistas of both sea and beach, as well as magical glimpses of whales from January to March.

Cabo Wabo Cantina - Owned by Sammy Hagar (formerly of Van Halen) and his Mexican and American partners, this "cantina" packs in youthful crowds, especially when rumors fly that a surprise appearance by a vacationing musician is imminent. Live rock bands from the United States, Mexico, Europe, and Australia perform. One of Cabo's few air-continued dance venues, it's especially popular in the summer months. When there isn't a band, a dance club-type sound system plays mostly rock and some alternative and techno. Overstuffed furniture frames the dance floor.

Money

Banks & ATMs
Banks in Mexico are rapidly expanding and improving services. They tend to be open weekdays from 9am until 5pm, and often for at least a half day on Saturday. In larger resorts and cities, they can generally accommodate the exchange of dollars (which used to stop at noon) anytime during business hours. During times when the currency is in flux, a particular bank may not exchange dollars, so check before standing in line. Some, but not all, banks charge a service fee of about 1% to exchange traveler's checks. However, you can pay for most purchases directly with traveler's checks at the establishment's stated exchange rate. Don't even bother with personal checks drawn on a U.S. bank -- the bank will wait for your check to clear, which can take weeks, before giving you your money.

Travelers to Mexico can easily withdraw money from ATMs (automated teller machine) in most major cities and resort areas. In most resorts in Mexico, the use of ATMs is perfectly safe -- just use the same precautions you would at any ATM. Universal bank cards (such as the Cirrus and PLUS systems) can be used. This is a convenient way to withdraw money and avoid carrying too much with you at any time. The exchange rate is generally more favorable than that at a casas de cambio. Most machines offer Spanish/English menus and dispense pesos, but some offer the option of withdrawing dollars. The Cirrus (tel. 800/424-7787) and PLUS (tel. 800/843-7587) networks span the globe; look at the back of your bank card to see which network you're on, then call or check online for ATM locations at your destination. Be sure you know your personal identification number (PIN) before you leave home and be sure to find out your daily withdrawal limit before you depart. Also keep in mind that many banks impose a fee every time a card is used at a different bank's ATM, and that fee can be higher for international transactions (up to $5 or more) than for domestic ones (where they're rarely more than $1.50). On top of this, the bank from which you withdraw cash may charge its own fee.

Traveler's Checks
Traveler's checks are something of an anachronism from the days before the ATM made cash accessible at any time. Traveler's checks used to be the only sound alternative to traveling with dangerously large amounts of cash. They were as reliable as currency, but, unlike cash, could be replaced if lost or stolen.

You can get traveler's checks at almost any bank. You can also get American Express traveler's checks over the phone by calling tel. 800/221-7282.

Visa offers traveler's checks at Citibank locations nationwide, as well as at several other banks. Call tel. 800/732-1322 for information. AAA members can obtain Visa checks without a fee at most AAA offices or by calling tel. 866/339-3378. MasterCard also offers traveler's checks. Call tel. 800/223-9920 for a location near you.

If you choose to carry traveler's checks, be sure to keep a record of their serial numbers separate from your checks in the event that they are stolen or lost. You'll get a refund faster if you know the numbers.

Credit Cards
Credit cards are a safe way to carry money: They also provide a convenient record of all your expenses, and they generally offer relatively good exchange rates. You can also withdraw cash advances from your credit cards at banks or ATMs, provided you know your PIN. If you've forgotten yours, or didn't even know you had one, call the number on the back of your credit card and ask the bank to send it to you. It usually takes 5 to 7 business days, though some banks will provide the number over the phone if you tell them your mother's maiden name or some other personal information.

Charges will be made in pesos, then converted into dollars by the bank issuing the credit card. Generally you receive the favorable bank rate when paying by credit card. However, be aware that some establishments in Mexico add a 5% to 7% surcharge when you pay with a credit card. This is especially true when using American Express. Many times, advertised discounts will not apply if you pay with a credit card.

Dear Visa: I'm Off to Los Cabos! -- Some credit card companies recommend that you notify them of any impending trip abroad so that they don't become suspicious and block your charges when the card is used numerous times in a foreign destination. Even if you don't call your credit card company in advance, you can always call the toll-free emergency number if a charge is refused -- a good reason to carry the phone number with you. But perhaps the most important lesson is to carry more than one card on your trip; if one card doesn't work for any number of reasons, you'll have a backup.

Emergency

Emergencies Police (tel 1/143-3997 or 142-0361); hospital (tel 1/143-1594).

Fun Things To Do in Los Cabos

Attractions & Activities

Los Cabos Attractions

Los Cabos, one of the world's finest golf destinations, offers an ample and intriguing variety of courses to challenge golfers of all levels.

The reason so many choose to play here is not just the selection, quality, and beauty of the courses, but the very reliable weather. The courses highlighted below compare to the great ones in Palm Springs and Scottsdale, with the added beauty of ocean views and a wider variety of desert cacti and flowering plants.

Palmilla Gold Club -- The original Cabo course is now a 27-hole layout. The original 18 holes are known as the Arroyo; the new holes are the Ocean 9. It's a bit of a misnomer -- although the newer holes lie closer to the water, only one has a true ocean view, with a spectacular play directly down to the beach. You must play the Arroyo for your first nine holes, then you choose between Mountain and Ocean for your back nine. If you play this course only once, choose the Mountain, which offers better ocean views. The signature hole is the Mountain 5; you hit over a canyon, then down to the green below over a forced carry. This is target golf, on a Jack Nicklaus course that was constructed with strategy in mind. A mountaintop clubhouse provides spectacular views.

Cabo del Sol -- The Ocean Course was the second Jack Nicklaus course constructed in Los Cabos. Its dramatic finishing oceanside holes make it the "Pebble Beach of Baja." It is much more difficult than the Palmilla course, with less room for error.

Don't be fooled by the wide, welcoming 1st hole. This is challenging target golf, with numerous forced carries -- even from the red tees. Seven holes are along the water. The signature hole is 17, which runs by the water with a forced carry. Cabo del Sol offers another option, the Desert Course.
Cabo Real -- This Robert Trent Jones, Jr., design is known for its holes along the Sea of Cortez, which sit high on mesas overlooking the sea; exceptional among these is the frequently photographed 12th. Jones designed the course to test low handicappers, but multiple tees make it enjoyable for average players as well. The par-72 layout is 6,945 yards long and was designed with professional tournament play in mind. The most famous hole is the 14th, right on the beach near the Meliá resort.
The Raven Club -- The front and back nines are the work of members of the Dye family, so the course plays like two different courses. Characteristic of Dye designs, it has deep waste bunkers, subtle terracing up hillsides, and holes built into the natural desert terrain. The most challenging hole is the 607-yard, par-5 7th hole, around a lake; it's the longest hole in Mexico. The course is designed to offer a variety of play options, from a short course played on front tees to a super-long course with numerous bunkers and hazards. The whole course was redone in 2002 by the Dye family, Although the layout is essentially the same, some greens have moved slightly and some holes are a little shorter than before, but all of the bunkers and hazards have remained, and the course is now considered even better.

El Dorado Gold Course -- A Jack Nicklaus Signature course at Cabo Real, El Dorado is a links-style course in the Scottish tradition. The layout is challenging -- 7 holes border the Sea of Cortez, and 12 are carved out of two pristine canyons. The oceanview holes are not the only water; manmade lakes are also a part of the scenery. El Dorado bills itself as the "Pebble Beach of Baja" -- but then again, so does Cabo del Sol. You decide.

The Arch of Poseidon
This 204-foot rock formation is a symbol of Baja California Sur. During low tide, visitors can walk on an eroded passage through the rocks. You will see large clusters of rock formations that were carved into fantastic shapes by wind and sea.

Desert park
Take a venture through a series of interconnected paint brushed trails within the boundaries of the Cabo Real Natural Desert. See the beautiful mountains of the desert and the sapphire blue waters of the Sea of Cortez. Discover marine fossils, such as giant clams, fish and snails.

San Jose del Cabo / Cabo San Lucas
Stroll through the streets along Paseo Mijares through charming courtyards, ornate brick worked and preserved buildings, and a beautiful tropical. See Iglesia de San Jose's twin steeples, the 18th-century Jesuit mission, Mission Viejo and the museum of fine Mexican arts and crafts.

La Candelaria
Nestled in the mountains is the old village of Candelaria, the center for the ancient practices of witchcraft. It is known for the abundance of exotic palms, bamboo and mango trees. Capture the views traveling up and down the mountain.

Los Cabos Activities

Sportfishing - The fishing here lives up to its reputation: Bringing in a 100-pound marlin is routine. Angling is good all year, though the catch varies with the season. Sailfish and wahoo are best from June through November; yellowfin tuna, May through December; yellowtail, January through April; black and blue marlin, July through December. Striped marlin are prevalent year-round.

Beaches - All along the curving sweep of sand known as Medano Beach, on the east side of the bay, you can rent snorkeling gear, boats, WaveRunners, kayaks, and windsurf boards. You can also take windsurfing lessons. This is the town's main beach and is a great place for safe swimming -- as well as people-watching from one of the many outdoor restaurants along its shore.

Beach aficionados may want to rent a car and explore the five more remote beaches and coves between the two Cabos: Playa Palmilla, Chileno, Santa María, Barco Varado, and Vista del Arco. Beaches other than Medano are not considered safe for swimming, though many people don't heed the warning. Experienced snorkelers may wish to check them out, but other visitors should go for the view only. Always check at a hotel or travel agency for directions and swimming conditions.