So you are planning a vacation to Mexico? There is more to Los Cabos than many people realize and you will want to consider and there are plenty of reasons why Los Cabos is now the #1 tourist destination on the west coast of Mexico. There is just about something to please everyone. Whether you are into luxury, eco-travel or a mixture of both, there are so many options to pick from. First, a little geography is important. Los Cabos is made up of two main towns and the surrounding areas of the tip of the Baja Peninsula.

San Jose del Cabo is the town your flight will arrive. It is a quiet quaint town full of charm; with a great history giving it the feeling of “Old Mexico”. The other town and what people are most familiar with is Cabo San Lucas, or as it is simply known as, “Cabo”.

Connecting these two towns is the Corridor, a long strip of the highway of about 22 miles, along with the coast of the Sea of Cortez, known as the Gulf of California. It has many great beaches, golf courses, resorts and adventure activities.

Los Cabos has so many things to offer: world-class golf, sports fishing, and surfing, which are the main attractions. You can enjoy a wide variety of spa services, whether you have them in the privacy of your vacation villa or you can reserve in the luxury hotel you are staying in. Shopping is also a must, as many of the finer jewelry, clothing, cigar and tequila stores, or maybe the artesian shops for those Mexican goodies.

Award-winning fine dining is another special treat Los Cabos will delight you with. From Cabo to San Jose, making a choice as to where to dine will be a difficult task, because there really are so many wonderful places to choose from.

The beach, the sun, the nightlife, the activities, plus everything else I have mentioned previously, is that until now, Los Cabos has been famous for and let us not forget the rock formations located at Lands End better known as the “Arch”.

Yet there is another side of Los Cabos that you may not be too familiar with, and this is what makes it truly magical. You would never expect a place of such sophistication and elegance could also have such a quiet and rustic side. This is why Los Cabos is so unique. It has something special for all types of people that have totally different vacation styles.

Los Cabos is located in the desert and surrounded by mountains and the Sea of Cortez on one side and on the other, the Pacific Ocean. There are places in Los Cabos where you can literally see where these two meet. Not only do the Sea and Ocean meet in Los Cabos, so do the desert, beaches, and the tropics. Cabo is just miles south of the Tropic of Cancer. This creates a truly amazing landscape and a lifestyle full of contrasts.

We have sunny blue skies more than 80% of the year and when I say sunny, I mean we rarely have clouds in the sky except over the distant mountains, called la Sierra del la Laguna. We are surrounded by light all the time and fantastic sunsets, sunrises, star-filled nights and breath-taking full moons.

Other than the months of August and September, (which is hurricane season), I would say we have perfect weather. It is not too cold not too hot, nor is it extremely humid or dry. We are truly blessed.

For nature lovers, you can plan to visit during the whale migration season, that year after year come to our side of the world looking for warmer waters, or, maybe you would like to bring your binoculars, sit quietly and look at the many different bird species that are permanently in this area. A quick trip to one of the estuaries or out to the desert will let you see many of the species that migrate to Los Cabos during the cold weather of the North. You will be surprised at the number of birds you will hear and see as they sing away. Cardinals, Orioles, quail, dove, egrets, heron, owls and woodpeckers are some, to mention a few.

Continuing with nature; whether finding one of many nearby deserted beaches, horseback riding or hiking into the foothills or up into the mountains, only 5 -10 air miles from Los Cabos, is another topic that deserves exploring. A desert oasis’s with palms, waterfalls and hot springs in several different directions.

You would never believe you are so close to Cabo, as you go deep into the silence of the desert. It is an ecological wonder where cacti, palms and pine trees grow side by side. The animal life you may encounter will be some foxes, coyotes, raccoons, kangaroo rats, chipmunks, jackrabbits, deer, and maybe even a roadrunner here or there. You must bring a camera because you will want to capture your experience and encounters.

About 50 miles northeast of the airport of San Jose del Cabo, lays the small village of Cabo Pulmo, it is a natural sanctuary and a nature lovers´ heaven. Cabo Pulmo was named a Protected National Park by the Mexican Government in 1995. It contains the largest coral reef in the Gulf of California and it is one of the most successful examples of marine conservation in Mexico. It is so rich in Marine life; it is worth the rugged day trip. We have our own tropical rainforest underneath these crystal clear waters.

Going back to why visit Los Cabos, well, I could go on and on with more reasons why, but for now, I think I have given you a few of many good ones; just to whet your appetite.

You will have to vacation to this part of the world to experience for yourself and decide if I have given it justice or not. I invite you with welcoming arms, until next time.

Susana Bancalari