Cabo, One of My All-Time Favorite Beach Destinations
One of my all-time favorite beach destinations is one most people in the Midwest have never visited. It’s a desert setting, with lots of sunshine and no humidity, fabulous marine life, and a wide variety of activities for every activity level. It’s also a golfer’s paradise.
“Where are you talking about” you ask. Well, it can correctly be called Cabo, Los Cabos, Cabo San Lucas, and San Jose del Cabo.
Los Cabos, or Cabo, consists of three distinct areas; San Jose del Cabo (where the airport is located), Cabo San Lucas, and the 22 mile stretch of beach in between called the Corridor.
Cabo San Lucas is a modern resort community, located on the tip of the Baja Peninsula and is where the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez meet. San Jose del Cabo is a picturesque 200 year old traditional Mexican town.
Growth in the area has been thoughtful. Resorts and developments must submit an ecological impact study prior to obtaining building approval. Officials place a high priority on conserving the pristine beaches, incredible variety of wildlife and casual desert-meets-the-sea atmosphere.
Los Cabos is known primarily for golf, marlin, and whales. Any of these is reason enough to plan a vacation here.
Los Cabos is the “Marlin Capitol of the World”. There are more striped marlin caught within 20 miles of Los Cabos than anywhere else in the world.
There’s also an abundance of mahi mahi, yellow fin tuna, and wahoo. It’s strictly catch and release for marlin, but you can keep the tuna and dorado. A full day of fishing averages $400 a boat, and a half day is anywhere from $80-$120 depending on boat size.
From January to April 11,000 gray whales come here to calve. There are a wide variety of ways to watch the whales, from the relatively inexpensive to full day excursions with private planes and price tags to match.
Los Cabos is a diving paradise. Whale sharks, hammerheads, devil rays, sea turtles, groupers (up to 500 pounds!), puffer fish and dolphins are some of the species readily available for viewing.
There’s snorkeling, wind surfing, water skiing, kayaking, surfing, and sailing, as well as sunset cruises, and horseback riding.
Don’t miss the Sea Lion colony at Lands end, and everyone will enjoy the glass factory, where you can purchase a one of a kind souvenir.
The golf courses in Cabo are simply fantasti. The greens are gorgeous, the surrounding scenery is breathtaking. The views of the Sea of Cortez are just mesmerizing.
Tom Weiskopf designed the eighteen-hole Cabo del Sol Desert Course. There are three Jack Nicklaus designed courses. There are twenty-seven holes at Palmilla, eighteen holes at the Eldorado Golf Club at Cabo Real, and eighteen holes at the Cabo del Sol Ocean Course. Robert Trent Jones designed the Cabo Real Golf Club.
Low handicappers will find the courses challenging and will appreciate the skill and genius that went into their designs. Less experienced players will enjoy the challenge.
Vacationers in Cabo have 11 months of rain-free days and many resorts have collaborated with the golf courses to offer discounts.
I’m off to Cabo in January 2018, won’t you join me?
Joy Gawf-Crutchfield owns and operates The Joy of Travel.