Fodor's Los Cabos: with Todos Santos, la Paz and Valle de Guadalupe

17 ULTIMATE EXPERIENCES

Los Cabos offers terrific experiences that should be on every traveler’s list. Here are Fodor’s top picks for a memorable trip.

1 El Arco At Land’s End

These towering granite formations let you know you’ve arrived at the tip of the Baja Peninsula where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. Accessible only by boat, El Arco (the Arch) has become the region’s emblem. (Ch. 3)

2 Todos Santos

This típico town on the West Cape is a perfect day trip and home to a growing expat community, cozy lodgings, and great eateries. (Ch. 6)

3 Whale-Watching

Gray whales migrate to Los Cabos every year from December through April, down Baja’s coast and up to the east, making for a memorable viewing. (Ch. 3, 6, 7)

4 Shopping

Stock up on hand-painted tiles, pottery, cigars, tequila or mezcal, pure vanilla, straw hats, embroidered clothing, hand-blown glass, silver jewelry, and fire opals, plus beaded crafts of the Huichol people.

5 Sailing

Find sailboats docked at the Cabo San Lucas Marina and take a tour along the region’s ultrablue waters. (Ch. 3)

6 Marina Golden Zone

Peruse upscale shops at Luxury Avenue and enjoy fine dining at Cabo’s downtown marina. Stroll along the boardwalk for stunning sea views and dine in a traditional Mexican-style cantina. (Ch. 3)

7 Nightlife

A major spring break destination, downtown Cabo is known as a party zone, but you can also opt for low-key outings in San José del Cabo. (Ch. 3, 5)

8 Desert Excursions

Venture through the Baja desert atop a friendly camel, sail across the canyon on a zipline, cruise the sandy basin on a mountain bike, or take a thrilling ATV tour among desert and cacti.

9 Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park

Stretching 5 miles from Pulmo Point south to Los Frailes, this national park encompasses the only living hard coral reef in North America. (Ch. 6)

10 Seafood

Cabo is famous for its seafood, especially dishes like chocolate clams, fish tacos, smoked marlin, and lobster.

11 Sportfishing

Cabo San Lucas is nicknamed the Marlin Mecca, but there are over 800 species of fish here. Sportfishing remains one of the area’s most popular pastimes.

12 Beaches

In Los Cabos, soft, sandy beaches stretch for about 50 miles beside the turquoise and navy waters of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez.

13 Golfing

One of the world’s top golf destinations, Los Cabos has courses throughout the area by big-name designers like Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf.

14 Surfing

Los Cabos, with its warm seas, offers both intense and gentle waves, focused in the Pacific coast, the East Cape, and the Cabo Corridor.

15 Gallery Hopping

Stroll the charming cobblestone streets of San José del Cabo where colorful banners hang over a historic downtown that is home to high-end art galleries and a weekly Art Walk, November to June. (Ch. 5)

16 Spas

Get pampered at one of the many resorts with spas offering scenic outlooks and extensive body and beauty treatments.

17 Farm-to-Table Dining

In Ánimas Bajas, trendy organic restaurants like Flora Farms, Los Tamarindos, and Acre offer the chance to dine right on the picturesque farm where your food was grown. (Ch. 5)

WHAT’S WHERE

dingbat Cabo San Lucas. Cabo has always been the more gregarious, outspoken of the sister cities. The sportfishing fleet is anchored here, and cruise ships anchored off the marina tender passengers into town. Restaurants and bars line the streets and massive hotels have risen all along the beachfront. Here you’ll find the towering Land’s End Rocks, and the famed landmark, El Arco.

dingbat The Corridor. Along this stretch of road, which connects San José to Cabo San Lucas, exclusive, guard-gated resort complexes have taken over much of the waterfront with their sprawling villas, golf courses, and upscale shopping centers.

dingbat San José del Cabo. The smaller, quieter, and more traditional area of Los Cabos has colonial architecture, an artsy vibe, and quality restaurants. Just minutes away are golf courses, boutique hotels, and luxury resorts, plus the community of Ánimas Bajas where organic farms are producing extraordinary dining experiences.

dingbat Todos Santos. Only an hour north of Cabo San Lucas, Todos Santos lies close enough to be part of Los Cabos experience—but still be that proverbial world away. This típico town on the West Cape is home to a growing expat community, as well as some cozy lodgings and restaurants.

dingbat La Paz. The capital of southern Baja is a big little city, one of the most authentic on the peninsula. La Paz is a laid-back community with excellent scuba diving and whale-watching. Its lovely oceanfront malecón features a number of good restaurants and hotels.

dingbat East Cape. One of the last undeveloped stretches of sandy serenity in the area lies east of San José del Cabo along the Sea of Cortez, to north of Punta Pescadero, Los Barriles, and Rancho Buena Vista and is home to the beautiful Cabo Pulmo National Park.

dingbat Baja California. The beaches and seafood of Rosarito, Ensenada, and Puerto Nuevo in the northern stretches of the Baja peninsula, close to the U.S. border, draw surfers, RV’ers, and the spring break crowd; the Valle de Guadalupe provides respite and fantastic vineyards.

Best Beaches in Los Cabos

PLAYA DEL AMOR (LOVER’S BEACH)

Water taxis, glass-bottom boats, kayaks, and Jet Skis all make the short trip out from Playa El Médano to this frequently photographed patch of sand, which is backed by cliffs and Cabo’s most iconic landmark: El Arco. (Ch. 3)

PLAYA EL MÉDANO

Cabo San Lucas’ main swimming beach is also one of its most popular. Known as a party beach, it’s much like a daylong parade route fueled by buckets of beer, powerful margaritas, and that carefree feeling of being on vacation. (Ch. 3)

LA RIBERA

Off the beaten path, this white-sand beach on the East Cape is perfect for kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming, and snorkeling away from the crowds. It’s also known for its fishing tournaments and proximity to Cabo Pulmo. (Ch. 6)

BAHÍA CHILENO

Halfway between San José and Cabo San Lucas, Chileno is easy to find thanks to well-marked signs. It skirts a small, crescent-shape cove with aquamarine waters perfect for swimming and a reef where you can snorkel among colorful fish or explore tide pools to the east. It is consistently ranked one of the cleanest beaches in Mexico. (Ch. 4)

PLAYA COSTA AZUL

Cabo’s best surfing beach runs 3 km (2 miles) south from San José’s hotel zone along the Corridor and connects to neighboring Playa Acapulquito in front of Cabo Surf Hotel. Surfers usually congregate in summer when waves tend to be the largest. Swimming is not advised due to strong currents and rocks. (Ch. 4)

PLAYA BUENOS AIRES

This wide, lengthy, and accessible stretch of beach is one of the longest along Cabo’s Corridor. Much of it is unswimmable, but it’s a great spot for quiet runs or walks. You can also rent water-sports equipment here and sometimes spot whales breaching from January to March. (Ch. 4)

PLAYA LAS VIUDAS

Just west of Bahía Santa María along the Corridor, the small Widow’s Beach has tide pools, a shallow reef, and rock outcroppings that create private areas and natural tabletops in the sand for beach picnics. (Ch. 4)

BAHÍA SANTA MARÍA

Part of an underwater reserve and protected fish sanctuary, this broad, horseshoe-shape beach has placid waters that are ideal for snorkeling. The cove is surrounded by rocky, cactus-covered cliffs but there’s no shade, so you might want to bring an umbrella and your own supplies. (Ch. 4)

PLAYA MONUMENTOS

At eastern end of Playa El Médano, this point break popular with surfers is best viewed from Sunset Monalisa restaurant perched on the cliff. (True to the restaurant’s name, it’s a great place to be when the sun goes down.) The powerful waves mean it’s not a good swimming beach. (Ch. 4)

PLAYA PALMILLA

Multimillion-dollar villas and the ritzy One&Only Palmilla resort line this serene beach, protected by a rocky point that makes for calm water and the best swimming near San José. It attracts surfers to the offshore Punta Palmilla farther out to sea. (Ch. 4)

PLAYA ESTERO

At the mouth of San José del Cabo’s lush estuary that starts at the north end of Hotel Zone, this beach is home to more than 350 species of wildlife and vegetation and can be explored on foot or via kayak. (Ch. 5)

PLAYA LOS CERRITOS

If you’re visiting Todos Santos, the best beach nearby is Playa Los Cerritos, famous for its surfing. It’s great for beginners thanks to consistent but not overly powerful waves, and wading is possible near shore. The beach conveniently has a restaurant, bathrooms, and surf shops, but can get a little congested on weekends. (Ch. 6)

What to Eat and Drink in Los Cabos

FARM-TO-TABLE MEALS

Just outside San José, you’ll find farms producing fresh, beautifully green organic produce. Acre, Flora Farms, and Los Tamarindos are top farms in Ánimas Bajas, where you can enjoy Baja Sur’s magical garden bounty. If you’re near Todos Santos, check out Jazamango.

GUEMES TAMALES

While tamales may be known across Mexico, the guemes variety are specific to the Baja Peninsula. Made with pork or chicken, olives, and raisins, the steam-cooked corn wrappers are similar to the Cabo version called fadados prepared with stewed chicken, corn dough, and local seasonings.

MEZCAL, TEQUILA, AND DAMIANA

A locally made liqueur is the herbaceous damiana made from the dried leaves and stems of the damiana herb. You’ll also find mezcal and tequila tastings easily at top restaurants and resorts. Although there are at least five local Cabo tequilas, most of the good stuff hails from Jalisco.

CHILAQUILES

Whatever you do, don’t call these breakfast nachos. This traditional Mexican brunch favorite consists of fried tortilla chips smothered in salsa verde, crumbly cotija cheese, and eggs.

TROPICAL FRUITS

Mango, guava, and pitahaya are used as key ingredients in desserts, salads, salsas, and cocktails at regional resorts and restaurants. The pitahaya cactus fruit, a bright pink-and-yellow dragonfruit that blooms in desert regions, is served on its own, in cocktails, infused into dishes, and even makes its way into jellied candies, jams, and marzipan.

TACOS DE PESCADO

Fish tacos originated in Baja California, so a trip here without eating one or two (or many) is just wrong. Grilled or fried local catches are piled on a corn tortilla and topped with shredded cabbage, cilantro, salsa, lime, and a dribble of a mayo-based sauce.

OAXACAN MOLE

Renowned for the complexity of its flavors, this dark red or brown sauce is typically served over enchiladas, chicken, and tamales. Made with chocolate, nuts, chilies, raisins, and more, it has a smoky, sweet flavor.

ALMEJAS CHOCOLATAS

Chocolate clams are neither cooked in nor taste like chocolate; their name derives from their dark brown shells. The meaty clams are a flavor-packed delicacy often roasted and seasoned with rosemary.

ZARZUELA DE MARISCOS

There are numerous versions of this Baja-style seafood stew, but it always has a mix-and-match combination of clams, crab, shrimp, cod, sea bass, red snapper, or mahimahi, along with requisite white wine, garlic, and spices.

CEVICHE

Beautiful presentations of fresh raw fish marinated in lime juice are the perfect way to try Baja’s fresh fruits de mer. The poolside favorite is often made with white fish, lime, tomatoes, jalapeños, cilantro, and peppers.

FRIED LOBSTER

Lightly battered fried lobster is a good treat to try alfresco overlooking the sea from which it came. A world-famous version is served in Puerto Nuevo.

What to Buy in Los Cabos

HANDBLOWN GLASS

Artisans at The Glass Factory of Cabo San Lucas (Fábrica de Vidrio Soplado) turn crushed recycled glass into exquisite figures in deep blues, greens, and reds. It’s as fun to watch the glass items being crafted as it is to select a colorful piece to take home.

TAMARINDO CANDIES

Made from tamarind fruit and wrapped in a corn husk, these small, sweet-and-sour chewy treats are a good way to bring back the local flavor of Mexico. They are traditionally sold on a stick, to be enjoyed as a lollipop, but there are many bite-size variations. For a little spice, try the jelly version rolled in chili powder.

PAINTED TALAVERA TILES

Colorful Talavera tiles, a craft introduced to Mexico by the Spanish, are usually hand-painted and glazed, and come in striking geometric patterns of ochre, cobalt, and scarlet. Like many other souvenirs you will find in Los Cabos, they are usually made elsewhere in Mexico, but they are popular gifts and can brighten up a walkway, porch, or kitchen. You can buy them in the shops of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo.

FIRE OPAL

As its name suggests, this bright red-orange stone dazzles like a fiery flame. You can buy it in various forms of jewelry such as rings, necklaces, and pendants, from local vendors at Plaza Artesanos or in the Gallery District of San José del Cabo.

HAMMOCK

What’s a beach trip without lazing away in a hammock, cold drink in hand? The woven hammocks you buy in Los Cabos may well hail from the Yucatán, but they are a useful purchase for the beaches you’ll encounter—and your favorite quiet spot back home. Find them at Plaza Artesanos, which beckons with stalls featuring handicrafts and curios.

DAMIANA LIQUEUR

Sure, tequila and mezcal can be found in abundance, and Los Cabos’ finest restaurants have tastings that may inspire you to take some home, but if you’re looking for something truly local, try damiana, a sweet, herbaceous liqueur made here in Baja Sur. The production of the sugarcane and damiana plant-based liqueur dates back to the time of indigenous inhabitants, who believed it to be an aphrodisiac and relaxation aid. Its bottle is modeled after an Incan Goddess.

FINE ART

Downtown San José’s Art District is a must for art lovers. Here, you can stroll through more than a dozen fine-art galleries to find the perfect decorative piece. Pick up a one-of-a-kind painting or sculpture from Galeria Corsica, highlighting Mexican artists, during one of the area’s art walks, held each Thursday from November to June.

HUICHOL CRAFTS

The Huichol, or Peyote People, of Nayarit and Jalisco are known for their ceremonial use of the hallucinogenic drug peyote; their visions, thought to be messages from God, are represented in their colorful, intricately beaded and woven designs on votive bowls, jewelry, bags, and prayer arrows. The price of these pieces can range from $5 to $5,000 depending on quality of the materials and the artist’s skill. Spot their distinct rainbow of mesmerizing patterns in shops in Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo.

HANDMADE RESORT WEAR

A custom-designed bathing suit or dress from a local boutique is the perfect purchase for soaking up the sun here. A favorite boutique for locally made clothing and accessories is Eclectic Array, which has locations in the hotel zone of San José del Cabo, Flora Farms, and the marina in Cabo San Lucas. All of their products are made by local Mexican artisans, and their colorful woven camera straps and dog collars are popular gift items. Pepita’s Magic of the Moon is another excellent boutique that’s stood the test of time with its one-of-a-kind clothing. Plaza del Pescador is another good stop for clothing shops.

GOODIES FROM FLORA FARMS

Artisanal salts, fresh produce and herbs, plus flowers, candies, pots, and candles can be found at Flora Farms Grocery, the store attached to the well-loved Flora Farms. However, shopping is just part of the experience at the working farm, grocery, kitchen, and spa. You can also get a spa treatment in the open air and dine on fresh produce in a magical garden setting. Flora Farms, along with a host of farm-to-table dining experiences, is located just a short drive from San José del Cabo in the Ánimas Bajas.

ARTISANAL SOAPS

Santo Cabo’s pampering, natural line of beauty and apothecary products are a must for wellness enthusiasts, and perhaps the best way to bring the scents of Los Cabos home with you. The local company is best known for their beautiful bar soaps and hand lotions made using regionally grown organic ingredients (think: aloe and cucumber, peppermint and red reef clay, or rosemary and grapefruit). Shops in San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas as well as Flora Farms carry the line.

Weddings

Mexico is a growing wedding and honeymoon destination. Many area hotels—from boutiques to internationally known brands—offer honeymoon packages and professional wedding planners. Although Mexican law dictates that an obligatory civil ceremony must accompany the big event, you can get married in a house of worship, on a beach, at a hotel chapel, or on a yacht or sailboat.

Choosing the Perfect Place. Los Cabos is a popular Mexican wedding and honeymoon destination. Many couples choose to marry on the beach, often at sunset because it’s cooler and more comfortable for everyone; others opt to marry in an air-conditioned resort ballroom.

Consider booking an all-inclusive, which has plenty of meal options and activities to keep your guests busy before and after the main event.

Beach Wedding Attire. Some brides choose a traditional full wedding gown with veil, but more popular and comfortable—especially for an outdoor wedding—is a simple sheath or a white cotton or linen dress that will breathe in the tropical heat. Some opt for even less formal barefoot attire such as a sundress.

Weddings on the beach are best done barefoot, even when full gowns are worn. Choose strappy sandals for a wedding or reception that’s not on the sand. Whatever type of attire you choose, purchase it and get any alterations done before leaving home. Buy a special garment bag and hand-carry your dress on the plane. Don’t let this be the one time in your life that your luggage goes missing.

The groom and any groomsmen will want to bring their own wedding attire since there are few places in Los Cabos that rent formal suits.

Time of Year. Planning according to the weather can be critical for a successful Los Cabos wedding. If you’re getting married in your bathing suit, you might not mind some heat and humidity, but will your venue—and your future in-laws—hold up under the summer heat? We recommend holding the ceremony between November and February. March through June is usually dry but extremely warm and humid.

By July the heat can be unbearable for an outdoor afternoon wedding, and summer rains, rarely voluminous in Los Cabos, begin to fall here around the same time. Although hurricanes are rarer along the Pacific than the Caribbean, they can occur August through late October and even early November. For an outdoor wedding, establish a detailed backup plan and purchase wedding insurance in case the weather does not comply. Generally insurance will cover the cost of a wedding tent if your outdoor party experiences rain.

Finding a Wedding Planner. Hiring a wedding planner will minimize stress for all but the simplest of ceremonies. A year or more in advance, the planner will, among other things, help choose the venue, find a florist, and arrange for a photographer and musicians.

The most obvious place to find a wedding planner is at a resort hotel that becomes wedding central: providing accommodations for you and your guests, the wedding ceremony venue, and the restaurant or ballroom for the reception. You can also hire an independent wedding coordinator, which you can find easily online by searching Los Cabos wedding. Be sure to ask for references.

When interviewing a planner, talk about your budget and ask about costs. Are there hourly fees or one fee for the whole event? How available will the consultant and their assistants be? Which vendors are used and why? How long have they been in business? Request a list of the exact services they’ll provide, and get a proposal in writing. If you don’t feel this is the right person or agency for you, try someone else. Cost permitting, it’s helpful to meet the planner in person.

Requirements. A bona fide wedding planner will facilitate completing the required paperwork and negotiating the legal requirements for marrying in Mexico. Blood tests must be done upon your arrival, but not more than 14 days before the ceremony. All documents must be translated by an authorized translator from the destination, and it’s important to send these documents by certified mail to your wedding coordinator at least a month ahead of the wedding.

You’ll also need to submit an application for a marriage license as well as certified birth certificates (bring the original with you to Los Cabos, and send certified copies ahead of time). If either party is divorced or widowed, official death certificate or divorce decree must be supplied, and you must wait one year to remarry after the end of the previous marriage. (There’s no way around this archaic requirement, still on the books, designed to ensure that no lingering pregnancy remains from a former marriage). The two getting married and four witnesses will also need to present passports and tourist cards. Wedding planners can round up witnesses if you don’t have enough or any.

Since religious weddings aren’t officially recognized in Mexico, a civil ceremony (matrimonio civil) is required, thus making your marriage valid in your home country as well. (It’s the equivalent of being married in front of a justice of the peace). Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo each have one civil judge who performs marriages, a good reason to start planning months in advance. Often for an extra fee, the judge will attend the site of your wedding if you prefer not to go to an office. Civil proceedings take about 10 minutes, and the wording is fixed in Spanish. Most wedding planners will provide an interpreter if you or your guests don’t speak the language. For a Catholic ceremony, a priest here will expect evidence that you’ve attended the church’s required pre-wedding sessions back home. If you’re planning a Jewish wedding, you’ll need to bring your rabbi with you, as Los Cabos has no synagogues. Another option is to be married in your own country and then hold the wedding event in Los Cabos without worrying about all the red tape.

Same-sex civil unions are either allowed or recognized in every state in Mexico; it is legal in both Baja California and Baja California Sur.

Kids and Families

Los Cabos and Baja don’t necessarily leap to mind when planning a vacation with the kids. (This isn’t Orlando, after all.) It’s not that the region is unfriendly to children, but enjoying time with the kids here does take some advance preparation and research.

PLACES TO STAY

Except those that exclude children entirely, many of Los Cabos’ beach hotels and all-inclusive resorts cater to families and have children’s programs. A few offer little more than kids’ pools, but several of the big hotels and their wealth of activities go way beyond that and make fine options for families with kids. Our top picks:

Dreams Los Cabos has an active Explorers Club for children ages 3–12. The climbing wall, splash park, playground, sandcastle contests, video games, and weekly campout adventures are always a crowd pleaser. Older kids will appreciate tennis, Euro-bungee, volleyball, and games.

Grand Velas houses the best spots for kids and teenagers in Los Cabos. Exclusively for children ages 4–12, the Kids’ Club teaches little ones how to make piñatas, jewelry, masks, and kites. The Teens’ Club, for ages 13–18, has a dance club, juice bar, pool table, Ping-Pong, karaoke, and private gaming pods. These supervised services are open all day, and are free to hotel guests.

Hilton’s Cabo Kids’ Club is geared toward kids 4–12, with a splash zone, arts and crafts, minigolf, movies, and an outdoor playground. For teens, there are engaging activities like cake decorating, painting, crafts, and even kid-and-teen spa treatments at Eforea Spa. Babysitting service is also available so parents can get some alone time.

Vacation Rentals: Apartments, condos, and villas are an excellent option for families. You can self-cater (a big money saver), spread out, and set up a home away from home. If you decide to go the apartment- or condo-rental route, be sure to ask about the number and size of the swimming pools and whether outdoor spaces and barbecue areas are available.

BEACHES

If you have visions of you and your family frolicking in the surf, revise them a bit. Many Los Cabos–area beaches are notoriously unsafe for swimming, so your day at the beach will be relegated to the sand.

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