Picture this: no crowds, no roads and no way in except by private plane or yacht. Just turquoise water, sport fish practically jumping into the boat and a handful of Hollywood’s biggest names sneaking away to enjoy it all in total privacy. That was Los Cabos in its earliest days as a tourism destination and the glamour those first visitors fell for is still alive today. Here’s how a remote fishing village became a bucket list escape and how you can experience that same Hollywood-era magic on your next trip.

First-Class Flights: Where the Stars Went to Disappear

Back in the 1940s and 1950s, long before infinity pools and world-class spas defined the region, the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula was barely known outside a small circle of adventurous travelers, with no roads in and no ways for outsiders to find it. For silver-screen stars looking to completely vanish from the spotlight, that isolation was everything. Bing Crosby was among the very first to trade movie sets for marlin fishing. John Wayne followed close behind and soon power couples like Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball were making the trip as well. Those early fishing trips grew into a full-scale Hollywood obsession, putting Los Cabo on the map as the ultimate retreat for celebrities. 

Hideaways & The Highway to Paradise

As word spread through Hollywood’s inner circles, short visits became long getaways and eventually someone decided Los Cabos needed somewhere fabulous for guests to stay. In 1956, Abelardo Rodríguez Jr., son of a former Mexican president, and his wife, actress Lucille Bremer, opened Hotel Palmilla in San José del Cabo, one of the first resorts to open on the coastline. That same property exists today as the One&Only Palmilla, still one of the most sought-after addresses in Los Cabos. Book a stay here and dine at Lucille’s Kitchen, the resort’s restaurant named for the actress whose star power helped turn this quiet corner of Baja into a resort destination.

Tiered stone patio and outdoor dining tables outside of Breeze Restaurant at the One&Only Palmilla resort overlook crashing waves in San José del Cabo, Mexico.

Over in Cabo San Lucas, a different set of pioneers were falling for the raw beauty of Land’s End, the dramatic point where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortés. They built some of the town’s first beachfront hideaways right on that stretch of coast and that same oceanfront legacy is proudly carried on today at Solmar Resort. 

Want the full old-Hollywood experience? Splitting your trip between each property is a great way to bookend a fabulous Los Cabos getaway.

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Passengers lounge on large cushions on the front deck of a luxury catamaran boat cruising toward Land's End and the Arch of Cabo San Lucas in Mexico.
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Los Cabos Paradise
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(1) A white sportfishing boat cruises through blue water past the famous Arch of Cabo San Lucas in Los Cabos, Mexico, (2) Passengers lounge on large cushions on the front deck of a luxury catamaran boat cruising toward Land's End and the Arch of Cabo San Lucas in Mexico., (3) A woman and young girl walk down a vibrant street lined with shops and restaurants in San José del Cabo, Mexico.

Relax Among the Stars

Ask anyone who's spent a weekend here: Los Cabos still has a way of making you feel like you've found something special. Decades later, it’s no longer a secret, but the things that made it special are still very much intact. Here’s how to experience a little bit of that old-Hollywood story for yourself:

  • Hook a Marlin: Head out on the water with Pisces Sportfishing, a veteran Cabo San Lucas charter outfit fishing the exact spots that drew Hollywood icons decades ago.

  • Sail Past the Arch: Book a sunset cruise with Cabo Adventures on a luxury catamaran, taking in the dramatic golden cliffs just like early yachtsmen did.

  • Wander San José del Cabo: Spend an afternoon exploring the historic Gallery District, where cobblestone streets lead you past vibrant courtyards and local art shops.

  • Soak Up the Nightlife: Drop by Cabo Wabo Cantina, started by rock legend Sammy Hagar after he fell hopelessly in love with the local way of life. More than three decades later, celebrity sightings are still common and it remains one of the liveliest nights out in town.

From Hollywood’s first fishing trips to today’s Instagram-worthy sunsets, the appeal of Los Cabos hasn’t changed much. It’s still the kind of place that makes you want to stay just a little longer, except now all you need is a flight, not a fortune. The fishing is still top tier and the seas are still unreal. The only thing missing is you.

Browse Low Cabos’ collection of resorts and boutique retreats, some with roots stretching back decades, to find your perfect place to stay. When you’re ready to fill in the rest of your itinerary, check out our Visitor Guides for more ways to plan the trip of a lifetime.