Los Cabos occupies the southernmost tip on the Baja Peninsula, surrounded by the coastlines of the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez. The destination attracts travelers with its range of resorts, culinary offerings, golf courses, spas and wildlife. Los Cabos comprises two towns, Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, with a resort “corridor” running between them.
Travelers can access Los Cabos by flying into the Los Cabos International Airport (SJD). There are 500 weekly connections that serve more than 40 locations. The Los Cabos International Airport has just added new flights to San Diego, Seattle, Baltimore, Houston, Toronto and Washington D.C.
The international carriers serving the destination include American, Alaska, AirTran, Air Canada, Air Transat, United, Delta, Southwest, Westjet, Sunwing, Sun Country, Spirit, Virgin America, Frontier and US Airways. Also flying into Los Cabos are domestic carriers, such as Interjet, Aeromexico, Volaris, VivaAerobus and Aereo Calafia.
Hotels and Resorts
There are currently 15,000 hotel rooms and another 4,000 or so new rooms are set to open within the next three years. Los Cabos has 63 hotels and resorts for travelers to choose from, including the recently added JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa, Le Blanc Spa Resort, Mar Adentro Resorts & Residences, Grand Velas Los Cabos, Hard Rock Hotel and Chileno Bay Resort & Residences by Auberge. Looking ahead, the destination is preparing to welcome the Nobu Hotel, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Montage and Solaz in 2017.
Inside San Jose del Cabo
San Jose del Cabo makes up one part of Los Cabos, which should appeal to travelers looking to explore galleries, go shopping, or lounge on the beach. On Thursday evenings, from November through June, visitors can participate in the town’s Art Walk. The walk lets individuals explore different galleries and local restaurants with specials. San Jose del Cabo is also home to one of the area’s few swimmable beaches. This area allows travelers to enjoy a variety of soft adventure activities, including snorkeling, fishing and kayaking. The beach is very popular with locals on Sundays. Those interested in bird watching should visit the San Jose Estuary — the largest body of freshwater in the southern part of the Baja Peninsula. In this area, travelers can see not only migratory birds, but also marine animals, reptiles and other animals.
Other Ocean Experiences
The Sea of Cortez was deemed the “aquarium of the world” by none other than Jacques Cousteau because of the wide range of marine life living in its waters. The area is also known for deep-sea fishing, surfing, water sports, whale watching, and luxury boat and yacht charters. In 2017, Los Cabos will host the fifth Los Cabos Open of Surf and music event. Held at Zippers Beach, it will host competitions for men, women and juniors.
Whale watching is a popular activity in Los Cabos from December to March. Each year hundreds of whales migrate to the warm waters of the Baja Peninsula to give birth to their young. In all, there are eight whale species that travelers can view.
Wellness, Baja Style
Los Cabos has a plethora of luxurious and innovative spa options. The latest on this front is Grand Velas Los Cabos’ new Spa Atelier concept, which will be launched at the end of this year when the hotel officially opens. The Spa Atelier will complement the spa’s treatments with workshops designed to teach guests about skincare, nutrition, aromatherapy, and water and tea rituals. The 50- to 80-minute workshops — inspired by local Mexican culture and based on the principles of ancient Ayurvedic medicine — include The Tea Party, in which guests learn how teas and other natural ingredients can be beneficial for the body; Couples Workshops, tailored to suit what the specific couple would like to gain from the exercise; and the self-descriptive Custom Dosha Exfoliation and Healthy Kids Aromatherapy. Some of these are complimentary while others will be available at an extra cost.
The Culinary Scene
Los Cabos — San Jose del Cabo in particular — is a destination justifiably known for its seafood. There are several signature dishes here, including seafood tacos made with marlin and fresh shrimp. There are also Baja chocolate clams and varieties of ceviche created by international chefs.
Chef Enrique Olvera’s Manta Restaurant at The Cape, A Thompson Hotel, in Cabo San Lucas, has views of El Arco, Los Cabos’ iconic natural arch.
There are also several restaurants known for farm-to-table dining. At Huerta Los Tamarindos, guests can order a range of dishes from baked free-range Cornish hen to vegetarian chile relleno. The restaurant also hosts cooking classes. The session begins in the fields, where travelers gather their ingredients for the class. The chef then leads the class in the cooking process, after which the participants prepare a four-course meal in an outdoor kitchen, where they also dine on their own culinary creations.
Other dining options that focus on farm-to-table dinning are Acre and Flora Farms. At Acre, travelers can order charred octopus, vermouth-poached snapper and grilled fish pibil taco. Flora Farms specializes in free-range, hormone-free chicken and pork dishes, and also takes guests on farm tours Tuesday through Saturday.
For a taste of the international culinary scene, foodies should consider dining at Richard Sandoval’s Toro Latin Kitchen & Bar. Sandoval, a world-renowned chef who opened this restaurant in 2015, blends Pan-Latin cuisine with South American dishes. Also added in are Japanese and Chinese influences. Chef Enrique Olvera’s Manta that debuted last year at The Cape, A Thompson Hotel, in Cabo San Lucas, affords views of El Arco, Los Cabos’ iconic natural arch, to complement its al fresco seafood dining experience. Olvera celebrates Pacific Rim traditions, taking inspiration from his native Mexico, as well as Peru and Japan, while committing to using locally sourced ingredients.
At Auberge Resort’s Esperanza, Executive Chef Guillermo Gomez and Director of Food and Beverage Octavio Munoz, appointed earlier this year, preside over the hotel’s newest dining experience, Pesca Ceviche Bar, which offers guests freshly caught seafood and vast views of the Sea of Cortez. Guests can dine on made-to-order citrus-cured seafood dishes inspired by Latin and Asian flavors and sit at Pesca’s new hand-sculpted, ceramic ceviche bar. The new establishment also hosts an oysteria, serving chocolate clams. In total, the resort has six restaurants and bars and each month it presents new culinary experiences, such as cooking classes and tasting events.
Los Cabos is currently hosting the 11th annual Sabor a Cabo, an international gastronomy and wine festival that celebrates the Baja cuisine. The event, which was started in 2005 by Canirac Los Cabos, the national chamber of restaurants in the region, is held every December.