Baja, Mexico -- Billfish Capital of the World

As you may have guessed, fishing is our passion and the primary reason for our annual trek to Cabo San Lucas. 10 years ago, my husband was perfectly happy with a two lb bass. Then, he had his first taste of deep-sea fishing and a fighting marlin struggling to free itself. That was the end of fishing as he knew it! Spoiled? You bet! Thanks, Cabo!!

Quick Tips:

If you're not into fishing, try snorkeling at Chileno or Santa Maria Bay - both sites are out on the corridor. The 28 mile stretch of road between San Jose Del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas is known as the Corridor. There are also several beautiful golf courses or you can take a trip to the lighthouse on an ATV!

Best Way To Get Around:

Cabo is the perfect walking town -- most things are within walking distance and I have never felt afraid, even late at night. Taxis are plentiful and have set fares that are posted on the window if you do not enjoy walking or are heading out the corridor. There are also buses that transit the corridor and they are clean, airy, and cheap! However, brush up on your Spanish as many of the bus drivers do not speak English. If you decide to rent a car, be sure to accept the Mexican auto insurance because most US auto insurance will NOT transfer to a rental car in Mexico!

This resort is the third and newest of the Pueblo Bonito group. It is a long way from town, definitely not within walking distance. Cab fare is $12 one way. They do offer a free shuttle that runs every hour from Sunset Beach to Pueblo Bonito Rose, but they are not permitted to drop you off in town and you must ride all the way to Rose. The resort is gorgeous -- built on a hillside with lush landscaping and overlooking the Pacifico! They have golf-cart type people movers to take you from your condo to the lobby, or the pool, or the restaurant. These carts are life-savers!

Best Things Nearby:
The resort is somewhat isolated but has a wonderful primary pool as well as another smaller pool, a hot tub, a deli, and a full service restaurant.

Best Things About the Resort:
It's brand new! Construction is ongoing and more units are being added.

Resort Experience:
We arrived about 3pm and our unit wasn't quite ready so they directed us to the "hospitality" table for our welcome packet. We were invited to join them for a sales (they didn't use the "s" word) tour and we declined. Then the pressure began to build . . . they finally got the message! I made the mistake of mentioning that my sister and her husband would be joining us when their flight arrived, and we adjourned to the bar for refreshments until our condo was ready. When my sister arrived and we finally met, she informed me that the "hostess" told her that I wanted her to sign up for the tour so we could get a discount on fishing; in fact, she told her I insisted that she sign up for the tour! NOT FAIR, Sunset Beach!! I would NEVER make plans for someone else! We cancelled the tour but it left a very bad taste! I understand the sales game, and lying has never induced me to buying timeshare. There is a huge difference between agressive and pushy!

Our condo was huge and even though it was only a one-bedroom unit, there was plenty of room. The bedroom had two double-beds, a full bath, a sitting room, and a patio. We've stayed at many resorts in Cabo, and this was the most comfortable bed I've had yet! The kitchen was well-furnished and the living-room, dining-room combination also had an adjoining patio. The couch was a sleep sofa and my sister said it was very comfortable. Most surprising of all, I was delighted to find the unit contained a second full bath off the entry hall! How often do you find 2 full baths in a 1BR condo? With more than one couple occupying the unit, this was very much appreciated! WAY TO GO, SUNSET BEACH!

The resort staff was very friendly and accommodating. They had games and pool activities, and we enjoyed the resort.

Our only objection was the remoteness of the location and the extra expense incurred to get to town. Figure $50 a day for taxi fare if you go to town twice, once to the Marina for fishing and again in the evening for dinner.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

There are many fine dining experiences in Cabo with the accompanying price tag! I've chosen two of the lesser priced restaurants for you to try! The Shrimp Bucket is a delightful restaurant and the imperial shrimp is wonderful--huge shrimp wrapped in bacon and grilled to perfection! Location is right on the marina, and it is very relaxing to watch the boats as you dine.

While El Squid Roe is probably classified as more of a drinkery than an eatery, they have excellent food, reasonably priced, and it is definitely served with a flair! The waiters are quite entertaining and the whole crowd gets in on the act.

When you arrive at the Marina just before dawn, it has an almost carnival-like atmosphere! The boats are jockeying for position as they wait for their precious cargo (tourists), people are milling about searching for the boat they've chartered, and the excitement is contagious! Once aboard, you have your choice of fishing the Sea of Cortez which is generally calm or the Pacific Ocean which typically is a little choppier. Billfish can be found in either location -- the skipper knows where they are! Trolling is the preferred method and you haven't experienced excitement until you watch the mate hook a huge Marlin or Sailfish and hand the pole to his guest! The fight is on as the fish jumps time after time and dances across the water on his tail trying to break loose from his captor!

We just concluded our 10th annual trip to Cabo San Lucas. It has grown tremendously from the sleepy little fishing village of 10 years ago to a bustling town full of magnificent condo timeshare facilities! Of course, the prices have increased dramatically too . . . just as everything else you enjoy in life has become more costly! The fleet has been encouraging "catch and release" for the last several years in an effort to maintain its billfish population.

There are also several golf courses to entice those who do not savor fishing, and a variety of other activities such as ATV tours, swimming, snorkeling and DRINKING! Cabo San Lucas is a party town and the bars are crowded until the wee hours of the morning! Our Mexican hosts are gracious and fun-loving and very entertaining! There is an amazing array of restaurants. Food is becoming fairly pricy.