Cabo San Lucas -- A Playground for Everyone

Cabo San Lucas is located at the end of the longest and most majestic peninsula in the word. It is identified by the world-famous rock arch formation "El Arco" – a geographic landmark where the Pacific meets the warm water of the Sea of Cortes. It sits at the tip of Land’s End where the sea, sun, and desert join to create an unbelievable landscape of unspoiled beauty.

Upon arrival at the Los Cabos International Airport, we were inundated with hoards of timeshare representatives. They offered round-trip fares into town plus a whole lot more, including free dinners, discount on activities, etc. It took a firm "no" before they left us alone. The airport is 26 miles (43km) from Cabo by Carretera Transpeninsular, known as 'the Corridor', a well paved highway along a picturesque stretch of Baja's most spectacular coast. The coast features azure blue Pacific Ocean, rock outcroppings, white sand beaches, and arid desert-like landscape, with a scattering of oceanfront championship golf courses clad in velvet green. The Corridor is also home to a range of elegant hotels and luxury resorts.

My expectation of Cabo San Lucas was of a tranquil fishing village -- it is no more. Although the town still remains small and charming with a population of less than 100,000, it's no longer the remote playground reserved solely for private yacht owners who seek perfect climate and marlin fishing at its best. Cabo was far from remote and growing rapidly -- its famous nightlife draws party seekers, high rollers, those in search of memorable vacations and unforgettable hangovers, and those who wish for a quiet, romantic, and relaxing secret hideaway.

Cabo has also got miles and miles of sugar white sand beaches -- the kind beach lovers dream of -- on both the Pacific coast and the shoreline of the Sea of Cortez. The beaches include the main beach at Playa Medano, the quiet Playa del Amor (Lover's Beach), and countless unpopulated quiet coves. Water sports are everywhere, including water skiing and snorkeling at either the beautiful bays of Santa Maria or Playa Chileno. Sport-fishing here is touted as unparalleled in the world. There are marlin of the blue, black, and striped varieties, sailfish, dorado, tuna, wahoo, roosterfish, and endless varieties of bottom fish and surf fish. With a blissful 78 degrees F average year-round temperature and an annual 350 sunny days, Cabo makes for an unbelievable vacation spot for everyone. "Muy bonito!"

Quick Tips:

Because Cabo San Lucas does not use street numbers, do not be afraid to ask for directions. The locals are friendly, although they remember places by the nearest cross street and then leave you guessing from there. It can take some getting used to.

If you intend to seek out secluded beaches, currents may be strong at some so ask your concierge for advice when choosing a beach.

Best Way To Get Around:

You can explore the town on foot. Public transportation is available, too. If you are going to one of the beaches or resorts on the corridor by bus, the main bus stop is on the corner of Blvd Lázaro Cárdenas. Bus drivers will also stop on request at any of the beaches or hotels along the Corridor. Car rentals were also available; however, with a fast growing population and only four stop lights, the streets of Cabo were challenging to navigate at times. Parking can be difficult; there was a free public car park at the southern end of Blvd Marina. My preferred mode of transportation was by taxi, which were inexpensive and abundant, available at major hotels and taxi stands.

Pueblo Bonito Rose Resort and Spa is part of the elite Pueblo Bonito Resorts, with 260 Junior and Luxury Suites featuring private balconies with views of tropical gardens, fountains, pool, and ocean views. With its rose walls and white domes reminiscent of a luxurious Mediterranean resort, the structure is suggestive of the architecture of the Greek islands and Roman villas. Pueblo Bonito means "beautiful village" (and it’s appropriately named), Rose describes its rosy hued exterior. It’s located on the El Medano Beach (the town's only safe swimming beach), with a breathtaking expanse of shoreline and white beach at its feet, the azure waters of the Sea of Cortez, and a spectacular view of El Arco as its backdrop.

The huge lobby of this exquisite resort is awash in priceless antiques, the walls adorned with 350-year-old Flemish tapestries and the floors shimmering in expensive marble. The resort oozed with luxury and upscale facilities; it offered fine cuisine, bountiful amenities, impeccable service and ideal location; whirlpool, children’s pool, tennis court, valet parking, a deli, and gift shops. From the lobby, walk through the large glass doors out to an awesome rectangular fountain with a huge Romanesque statue standing guard; just beyond, there’s a large free-form swimming pool surrounded with flagstone deck, swaying palms, and wandering pink flamingos, white cabanas, and white-and-pink padded lounge chairs. The resort has a state-of-the-art fitness center with a specially cushioned aerobics floor. And the crowning glory here is the beautiful "Spa-at-the Rose," a world-class spa in a world-class setting where one can rejuvenate and be pampered.

Our accommodation was at a Royal Suite, exquisite and beyond first-class. Enviably located at a corner of the sixth floor, it was a luxurious Mediterranean-style two-bedroom/two-bathroom suite with approximately 1000 sq ft, awash in rich colors and well-appointed with frescoes, columns, and marble flooring throughout. It had a full service kitchen with an eating counter topped in Mexican tile and a separate dining room with huge round stone table sitting for eight. There was an abundance of space in the living room furnished with soft sofas and big glass doors that led out to the surround balcony overlooking the swimming pool, garden, and breathtaking view of the azure blue ocean and El Arco (the rocky Land's End as the icing on the cake). The luxurious master bedroom was huge with a comfortable king size bed, bathroom with a whirlpool tub, and glass doors that opened onto the balcony. The second bedroom was furnished no less comfortably. It was a truly memorable experience. The staff around the pool were polite and always at the ready. The resort had two ocean view restaurants with incredible cuisine: Mare Nostrum and award-winning L'Orangerie. Dining here is very expensive.

A few blocks away is Cabo’s town center, with bargain shopping, varied dining, and throbbing nightlife. There’s a big grocery store (super mercado) with a bakery and pastries that took my diet into a spin.

Cabo San Lucas abounds with many places to eat -- from taco stands to elegant gourmet dining. But if fresh crustaceans are what you crave for, there was no other place but The Shrimp House Restaurant. It specializes in shrimps served either hot or cold boiled in purified water and accompanied with three dipping bowls of simple sauces; cocktail sauce, melted garlic butter and hot spicy Mexican with slices of limón – a local version of a crossed lemon and lime. For a seafood lover such as myself, all I wanted was shrimps and I was indulged with a plateful of delicious plump ones, peel and eat the size of small lobsters. Wow what could be better. Shrimps here were scrumptiously succulent and could not be fresher, catch of the day by trawling commercial fishermen in the medium deep waters of the Sea of Cortez and along the Pacific Coast of Mexico.

Although, the menu was limited; choices include half kilo to one kilo of shrimp and lobster prepared in a variety of styles and combinations. Prices is very reasonable and serving generous -- range from US$8.85 for an order of five jumbo shrimp, $12.95 for a combination of 1/4-kilo lobster tail with 1/4 kilo of medium shrimp, to $33.30 for a kilo (figure around two lbs.) of jumbo sized shrimp. The most popular combination was the 1/4-kilo lobster tail and three jumbo breaded shrimps for $12.95. No salads, no desserts. This was not a place for either carnivores or for sweet tooth. Beverages covers a wider selection; soft drinks, Mexican beers, one brand of red house wine, one brand of white house wine, margaritas, piña coladas, lime and strawberry daiquiris, tequila 1800, Special Canadian Club, and (watch out!) the Bulldog (the house drink). The margaritas were served in huge glasses, inexpensive and were too tasty and delicious to only have one.

The Shrimp House had a nice tropical casual ambience, colorful decor with wood tables and comfortable padded wood chairs; the air conditioning was perfect to balance the very humid air out on the street. The staff was nice and attentive. When we were having lunch, we were assaulted with a timeshare offer by someone who obviously had connections with the restaurant; he was pleasant, but somewhat pushy, with an offer that was very difficult to decline. However, we were too seasoned to be convinced.

The restaurant was easy to find located in the center of town at the Blvd. Madero across from Plaza del Sol and Baskin and Robbins. For perfect shrimp and lobster at non-tourist prices, good service and no desserts, you can’t beat The Shrimp House Restaurant.

The nightlife at Cabo San Lucas pulsates early and continues into the wee hours. Drinking in the streets and on the beach is acceptable. Beach side bars are prolific and very popular, but there is only one place to be if you like frantic socializing and hyperactive dancing in Cabo: Mexico's #1 nightclub "El Squid Roe".

El Squid Roe is located in downtown, an icon of the Cabo night scene and a premier destination for party-seeking tourists. It is a three-story dance hall and restaurant of pulsating energy and stand room only the night we were there. The brightly painted walls and ceilings were adorned with humorous signs and colorful neon lights. The mood was energetic, the beat pulsates, the crowd contagious and friendly. The atmosphere was crazy/anything goes, so don’t be shy. Standing in the center of the main floor on a sturdy platform was the DJ who played great music mixes, rapped, and sang with the rhythm, moved the groove, and coaxed everyone to let go and join the fun. The perimeter was separated by metal railings, behind padded benches backed with platforms ideal for dancing were poised against the wall.

There were lots of active table dancing in the middle and ecstatic dirty dancing on the dance floor, hooting and spectators hanging over the upstairs railing. Waiters togged up with tequila bottles hanging from a six shooter belt were very animated, they fought their way through the throngs of crowd, they enticed and arm twisted equipped with spray tanks of tequila and jello shooters (definitely 100% lethal) a prescription for a menacing day-after headache.

Located across from the Hard Rock Cafe, El Squid Roe is not for the timid and the pedantic, but hey you are on vacation in Cabo, so let loose- go with the flow. It is a voyeur's dreamland, a surreal and outrageous place where one can acquire a hangover very easily. Non-stop fun, drinking and dancing from the moment we entered this club. All age groups frequent this restaurant and bar with no dress code, come as you are. Minors are allowed until 10:30pm before the real party begins.

The azure blue water around Cabo San Lucas beckons. Water activities are varied, from water skiing to kayaking, to snorkeling or scuba diving. The nutrient-rich warm water of the Sea of Cortez is a marine sanctuary and natural habitat to different species of fish--triggerfish, anglefish, goatfish, parrotfish, and more.

At Los Cabos shores there is no shortage of snorkel spots for snorklers delight. There were many snorkel tours to choose from, and we decided on the Surf Rider Adventures suggested by the concierge desk at The Pueblo Bonito Rose. A short taxi ride to the marina took us to the Surf Rider dock, where we began the four-hour snorkeling and sightseeing tour. There was the pre-requisite picture taking in front of the boat before we hopped on board to the beat of salsa music, and an endless supply of pina colada.

The friendly "Captain" started the tour at Lands End, where we got a glimpse of Lover’s Beach. He skillfully navigated the spectacular rocky outcroppings of El Arco for a very fantastic close encounter with the sea lion colony basking under the sun, and taking pleasure in all the attention they get from tourist boats badgering their territory. We had a picturesque vista of the fabulous hotels on Playa Medano and an eyes view of the luxury resorts and golf courses along the Corridor as we headed for a quick look of the beautiful moon-shaped Santa Maria bay.

Our snorkeling destination was the Playa Chileno located on the Corridor between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Playa Chileno Bay was a spectacular wide cove with fairly flat white sand beach shallow for many yards from the shore and crystalline blue water that's ideal for diving, swimming, and best of all snorkeling. There was a reef on one side of the cove extending about a half mile out. Surf Rider anchored in the middle of the beautiful bay.

We were outfitted with snorkel gears, and after a brief dive instructions we were ready and anxious to explore. With our flippers and gears, we dove, headed closer to the reef for a closer encounter with marine life. There was an abundance of underwater show and colorful tropical fish. When my seven-year-old tired of snorkeling we headed back to the boat, where he delighted in feeding schools of fish hovering next to the vessel.

Tour included: mask, fins, snorkel, life jacket, certified guide service, lunch (chicken teriyaki and meat kabob), snacks (potato chips, pastries, and fresh fruit), and beverages (pina colada, margarita, purified water, sodas). The tour was a family adventure. Although the crew were very attentive and made sure everyone had plenty to drink (the pina coladas were delicious and not watered down), they were not careless, loud, or rowdy. Tour times: 9am – 1pm price is about $50 US per person. Don't forget to bring your sunscreen and camera.