Each year, Hispanic Heritage Month pays tribute to the vibrant culture that has heavily influenced both Mexico and the United States. While other specific communities have dedicated months honoring their contributions, such as Black History Month in February, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, and Pride Month in June, Hispanic Heritage Month is spread across two months to overlap several Latin American Independence Day celebrations.
The month-long celebration begins on September 15th, coinciding with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua’s Independence Day, followed the next day by Mexico’s celebration, Chile’s on the 18th and Belize on the 21st. Hispanic Heritage Month also includes Dia de la Raza, Indigenous Peoples Day, celebrated on October 12th in Mexico, before coming to an end on October 15th.
Each year on September 15th, crowds gather in the main plaza of Cabo San Lucas to kick off the celebration with live music, food and beverage stalls, dancing in the streets and a reenactment of the “Cry of Dolores,” when a Catholic priest in Dolores instructed his congregation to revolt against the Spanish rule, igniting the rebellion.
Those in search of a historical and traditional celebration on the other side of the tourist corridor will find a reenactment in addition to carnival rides, food and drink booths, traditional music and a fireworks display in San Jose del Cabo.
Year round, visitors to Los Cabos can choose from a vast array of cultural activities and experiences to celebrate the rich heritage of the Hispanic-Latino people.
Cabo City Tours is owned and operated by locals to teach visitors the area’s pre- and postcolonial history of Cabo San Lucas, established in 1730 by Spanish explorers as the continent’s southernmost Jesuit mission. The 90-minute tour takes participants even further back in Los Cabos history with tales of the indigenous Pericu people who inhabited the area for centuries before permanent European settlers arrived. Proceeds from the tours go towards educating local children and preventing the rise of organized crime in Los Cabos.
In the early 1500s, Spanish explorers were looking for routes around the Americas to reach Asia and utilized the freshwater Río San José as a final stop for supplies before crossing the Pacific Ocean. Privateers like Francis Drake were lured to the area by these treasure ships and hid behind rock formations like The Arch to ambush the galleons and steal their loot. Contemporary travelers can cruise the Sea of Cortes with Wild Cabo Tours to hear the tales of explorers and pirates who sailed these waters centuries ago.
Once the largest town in Baja California Sur in the late 18th century, El Triunfo is now a ghost town. When gold and silver were discovered in the mountains, mines were built and the town’s population surged but most of the residents left when the mines closed in 1926. The town’s colonial buildings have been restored and transformed into restaurants and cafes. Visitors can learn the local history at Museo de Plata or get an up close look at period musical instruments from the town’s heyday as a cultural center. A trip to El Triunfo is not complete without a visit to the old mining grounds where visitors can see what daily life was like for the miners, visit their mausoleums and climb to the mirador lookout for a panoramic view of the town and surrounding mountains.
Los Cabos is teeming with educational experiences and historic landmarks that allow visitors to dive deeper into the area’s rich history and culture.
