In a land known for its inexpensive travel destinations, Los Cabos, Mexico, is one of the priciest. Los Cabos is also one of the most popular, as travelers are willing to pay handsomely for what the area has to offer: fine beaches, world-class restaurants, sumptuous resorts, excellent golf courses, lively nightlife and some of the best sportfishing in the world.
Los Cabos resorts are a place for frequent celebrity sightings. John Travolta, Jennifer Aniston, George Clooney, Susan Sarandon, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon and Britney Spears are among Los Cabos' multiple celebrity visitors.
Los Cabos (the Capes) is not actually a town: It's the name Mexican tourism officials bestowed upon two once-remote Baja California communities—Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo—and the stretch of coast, known as the Corredor Turistico (Tourist Corridor), that connects them.
Los Cabos' atmosphere is quite different from other parts of Mexico. Visitors from the U.S. will find Los Cabos more familiar and perhaps comforting: English is common—it even appears on signs—and the streets and buildings have been spruced up.
Los Cabos is set apart from other resort destinations in Mexico such as Cancun or Puerto Vallarta by its climate, geography and terrain. Visitors to Los Cabos are lured by its sandy beaches, dramatic rock formations and desert landscapes. Los Cabos visitors go not only to bask in the temperate climate but also to be active: to play golf, go deep-sea fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling, to whale-watch and to explore Baja off-road.
Location
As your ship approaches Los Cabos, the dry, brown Baja California landscape gives way to an oasis of lush resorts and golf courses. Cruise ships call at Cabo San Lucas, anchoring offshore. Passengers are tendered to the dock at Muelle Principal (main dock), next to the modern, full-service Marina Cabo San Lucas.
The marina itself has restaurants, bars, tour and fishing operators, a state-of-the-art cinema, an Internet cafe, pay phones, restrooms, duty-free shops and a modern shopping mall. Phone the Marina at 143-1251. http://www.igy-cabosanlucas.com.
Tour operators have stands at the marina and will beckon you to take a glass-bottomed-boat ride, dive or snorkel tours, or an all-terrain-vehicle (ATV) or horseback ride. Timeshare salespeople are prevalent. Taxis and tour buses await passengers in the marina's parking lot, but many visitors take advantage of the facilities right in front of them.
The beaches there also have beach toys, including Jet Skis, banana boats, parasailing and so on. A second shore-shuttle route goes directly to Playa Medano and some of its 24-hour-happy-hour restaurants and bars right on the sand.
A large artisans market at the marina sells souvenirs, although there's more variety in the downtown shops. There are numerous high-end artisans shops throughout town, as well as a crafts markets where you'll find loads of fun Mexican souvenirs. From the marina, it's a five-minute stroll to Boulevard Marina, the heart of downtown Cabo San Lucas.
Shore Excursions
Consider signing up for the excursions offered by your ship. They may not be the least expensive way to see the area, but you won't have to waste your limited time making arrangements yourself—and you won't have to worry about missing the ship, which often does not stay a whole day in port. Some cruise ships remain in port 8 am-6 pm, others 6 am-1:30 pm; still others have different schedules.
Typical shore excursions are a tour of the artists' colony of Todos Santos, a lunch or dinner yacht cruise, a ride in an ATV over the dunes, horseback riding or snorkeling off the coast. Check with your ship's shore-excursion staff or your travel agent for additional information.
If your ship is staying a half-day or longer in port (few actually do), consider booking a rental car for your day ashore before even embarking on your cruise. Because cab prices are sky-high in Cabo, having a prearranged set of wheels will allow you to explore destinations such as the artists' colony of Todos Santos, on the Pacific side, or just hop around to beaches, shops and restaurants in San Jose, the Corridor and Cabo San Lucas without paying a fortune in cab fare.
