About Los Cabos

Down Baja California Sur along the sunny western shores of Mexico, a magical destination exists to please every traveler – the Los Cabos region. The area comprises a wonderful playground spanning the southern tip of the 1,000-mile-long Baja Peninsula, offering dramatic landscapes, marine sanctuaries and a seemingly endless array of world-class restaurants and nightlife to satisfy and surpass expectations for anyone on vacation. Quaintly nestled at the southern tip of the peninsula, Cabo San Lucas rests at “Land’s End” where the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean meet in friendly combination to present the town’s utmost elegance and fun. Resort living is at its pinnacle, beckoning the traveler to stay in luxury five-star accommodations in warm weather year-round, boasting the best in amenities and plush decadence.

Cabo San Lucas is well-versed as the epicenter of activities, with the sprawling and bustling Medano Beach as the hub to play around and engage in just about any type of watersport including kayaking, fishing, scuba and riding jet skis. For a more subdued experience, take a quick trip to Cabo Pulmo Marine Park where multiple encounters snorkeling with marine life bring unlimited smiles. A storied history runs through the bloodline of the area too, as myriad local museums show off indigenous artifacts, culinary delights appease and lively shopping districts can be plied with an open wallet and reckless abandon. Come and immerse yourself into the soul of the Baja. You’ll take back much more than who you came with.

History

Though most tourists coming to the Los Cabos region are intimately familiar with the nightlife partying of Cabo San Lucas or have felt the breezes along the sleepy stretch of San Jose del Cabo, many aren’t aware of the long and storied history of the native culture that runs through the veins of the Baja landscape. Early Spanish conquerors of Mexico encountered three tribal groups – the Pericues, the Guayacaras, and the Cochimes. Cave paintings throughout the region reflect the native life and culture, notably at El Faro Viejo lighthouse, Plaza Amelia Wilkes and Misión de San Jose. More than 50 places have survived over the years. You can find trails of native mural paintings, notably in Miraflores and Los Barriles. In 1535, Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortez attempted to colonize the peninsula but had no luck due to conflict and the inability to grow crops. After 150 years, the Spanish Jesuit missionaries came to spread religion to the Baja region and established a number of missions that can still be accessed today: Misión Santa Rosalía de Mulegé (1705), Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó (1697), Nuestra Señora del Pilar de la Paz (1733) and Misión Estero de las Palmas de San José del Cabo Añuití (1730). Wonderfully sublime inland towns capture the indigenous background as a stroll through any of the streets in Miraflores or Santiago will transport you back in time to a much simpler age. Next time you visit, take a moment and give respect to the antiquity of the area you explore. 

Aquarium of the World

Mexico’s shores along the Baja Peninsula are an epicenter for marine splendor. Jacques Cousteau once termed the Sea of Cortez “the world's aquarium.” Specifically, he was referring to Cabo Pulmo Marine Preserve, as no doubt Cousteau was mesmerized by the variety of diverse ecosystems he encountered. Cabo Pulmo is both a small village as well as a 7,751-acre Marine Protected Area housing hundreds of different vibrant tropical fish species including Sergeant Majors, pufferfish and angelic butterflyfish as well as sea creatures such as gigantic manta rays, sword-nosed marlin, toothy sharks, groupers and even sea turtles.

Diving and kayaking excursions are must-do activities, giving you a chance to spot breaching Gray or Bryde’s whales during the winter season as they make their migratory push northward. Snorkeling spots outside of Cabo Pulmo include friendly and safe coves at Chileno Bay, Santa Maria Bay and Pelican Rock at Land’s End. Warm water temperatures in the 70s and 80s year-round invite visitors to sample the ecosystems – all that matters is how deep you want to go. Add to that a phenomenal fishing opportunity to enjoy the experience and you’ll be wondering where else in the world offers so much diversity of marine life.

Environmental Protection & Sustainability

What Tourism Cares looks for: Mission-focused on small business, non-profits, social enterprises and other community-led initiatives that offer unique, hands-on cultural experiences, products, and services for travelers.

Cabo Pulmo, is a perfect example of eco-tourism at its finest. The region is ideal for those seeking for the quieter, more natural side of Los Cabos.

A leading purveyor of environmental protection and sustainability, Los Cabos defines the new age of ecotourism. Impressively, 42% of the Baja California Sur territory exists as a protected natural area. Conservation-minded trips and tours are abundant in the area, most notably through the sea turtle initiative. Each year, sea turtles including Hawksbill, Olive Ridley, Leatherback, and Loggerhead species nest on the same beaches that tourists enjoy.

A select number of hotels in Los Cabos have special preservation programs to protect the fragile turtle eggs and make sure that once hatched, the baby turtles make it safely out to sea to thrive and survive. Guests of these hotels are often welcomed to help lead the newly hatched turtles to shore and fend off would-be predators.

Los Cabos also features a total of 25 Blue Flag beaches, a special certification given to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators by the Foundation for Environmental Education. Visitors looking to travel to the area and partake in conservation initiatives are welcomed in a friendly fashion.

Those looking to get away into the countryside can hike, mountain bike or backpack through the Sierra de La Laguna Mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where there’s a very good shot at coming face to face with roadrunners, native foxes, and even deer.

Celebrities in Los Cabos

Glitz and glamour define the Los Cabos lifestyle, and the rich and famous know it as visiting celebrities in Los Cabos are a recurrent affair. Top stars including Drew Barrymore, George Clooney, Cameron Diaz, Jessica Alba, Oprah Winfrey, and Justin Timberlake frequent the Los Cabos shores to explore, kick back and imbibe like any other tourist traveler. Many visitors on vacation wonder where celebrities stay, but celebrity sightings are common at many of the luxury hotels and resorts such as the One&Only Palmilla, Westin Los Cabos Resort villas and Spa and Esperanza. A solid game plan to encounter a movie star is to frequent any of the high-end stores where movie stars shop, such as at the shops at Palmilla, or by checking out all the hot spots of the flashy nightlife of Cabo San Lucas including Cabo Wabo, Lorenzillos and Lover’s Beach. Remember to keep your cool as chances are they are on vacation as well, taking in the peace and serenity of the Los Cabos lifestyle. Who knows, maybe you’ll have your chance meeting with a true Hollywood star. This is definitely the perfect place to go stargazing.

Fun Facts

It’s been said that you can never take in the whole Baja experience in a lifetime, and rightfully so, as the region is bursting with fun facts and an interesting history. Meaning “The Capes” in Spanish, Los Cabos is lined with secluded coves, jutting points and is bolstered by wonder from all sides. El Arco, or “The Arch,” is a prominently unique structure that sits as the iconic natural landmark at “Land’s End”, where the Sea of Cortez meets the currents of the Pacific Ocean in a beautiful mixture of turquoise waters amidst a backdrop of stunning granite mountains.  Celebrities visit the stretch for its luxurious hideaways and lavish resorts. The rich and famous have been visiting Los Cabos since it was a small fishing village, attracting even renowned author Ernest Hemingway.

Sportfishing is legendary here, where the most expensive and most gratuitous payout of any fishing contest in the world takes place – the Bisbee’s Black and Blue – as anglers from around the world compete to catch the largest blue and striped marlin, yellowfin tuna, and dorado. Jackpots can exceed $4 million. Other interesting things to know about the area include that it was one of the favorite places that Jacques Cousteau dove to document and study marine life in his television series. And rockers, listen up – Legendary rock star Sammy Hagar chose this place to open his bar – Cabo Wabo, which coincidentally is the name of his famous Baja tequila offered right at the bar.