Highlights in Los Cabos
Baja's beautiful coast
San Jose del Cabo, the larger of the two, is a quaint town of small
streets, shaded plazas and colonial buildings housing restaurants and shops.
Though it's become a major international tourist destination, San Jose del Cabo
has managed to retain its feel of a Mexican village. Most of the development has
been along the beach, where the major hotels and tourist-oriented businesses are
clustered. Away from this tourist section, many buildings, such as the mission,
date back to the 1800's when the town was founded by Jesuits. Quieter and less
congested than its neighbor, San Jose del Cabo is a great place to go for a
relaxing vacation in a beautiful, historic setting.
If you're looking
for more excitement, however, head for Cabo San Lucas. Originally a small
fishing village, this seaside town has become a center of tourist activity--a
bustling, crowded resort area, packed with modern hotels. Cabo San Lucas offers
every day-and nighttime activity you can imagine, from world-renowned
sportfishing and diving to rowdy clubs and discos. Cabo Wabo, a nightclub opened
by members of rock group Van Halen, is one such hot spot. It attracts big-name
acts, and if you're lucky, you might catch an impromptu jam session by the
owners.
Though the town itself can be hectic, Cabo San Lucas's beaches are
tranquil and lovely. Be sure to check out El Arco (The Arch), a natural rock
arch located at the southernmost tip of the peninsula, Land's End, where the
Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez meet. El Arco is the most famous of the many
unusual rock formations and tunnels that have been sculpted in offshore rocks by
the waves at this confluence.
Water sports abound in Los Cabos. Diving and snorkeling are
spectacular, with intriguing underwater rock formations and 60 to 70 feet of
visibility. Surfing is another big draw; there are a number of good spots around
Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, such as Chileno, Boca del Tule, and
Monuments--the place to go when a swell is hard to find elsewhere. And if you're
there in the autumn, you're in for a treat: whale watching. The autumn migration
brings the gray whale south to the warm Baja waters for the winter, where they
mate, play, and give birth.