Los Cabos Overview
 In
the Cape Region of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, the towns San
José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas are collectively referred
to as Los Cabos. They are connected by an 18-mile (29-kilometre)
four-lane highway stretch of hotels and beaches called The Corridor.
San José del Cabo is mostly a retirement and fishing community,
and is more laidback than Cabo San Lucas. Cabo San Lucas has the
same population of permanent residents as San José del Cabo
(approximately 25,000), but most of the 300,000 tourists that go
through the Los Cabos region every year head straight for Cabo
San Lucas, making it the party capital of the area.
The climate in Los Cabos is warm with plenty of sunshine all year
round. The peak tourist season is November until March with January
being the coolest month at an average temperature of 86F (30C),
and June being the hottest month with an average temperature of
104F (40C). During the months of February to July, virtually no
rain falls in Los Cabos, while August through October is the time
to expect tropical storms.
San José del Cabo
The town of San José del Cabo is built on a hill a mile
north of the seaside. It is more traditional than Cabo San Lucas,
due in part to the fact that it was originally settled by Jesuit
Missionaries. Today, San José is a pretty retirement community
and the seat of the region’s municipal government. The Los
Cabos International airport is 8 miles (13 kilometres) north of
San José del Cabo and those who are traveling by land must
pass through the quiet town to reach Cabo San Lucas.
 As
of yet, San José has no marina or harbor. Anyone wishing
to do some fishing, kayaking, surfing, snorkeling, or diving must
make arrangements with local outfitters. Hotels are always ready
to help out with reservations for guided tours. The freshwater
Rio San José
merges with the Pacific Ocean in a 125-acre estuary just east of
town. The Estero de San José
is truly one of the most beautiful sights in Los Cabos, and must
not be missed! The area’s best swimming beach, La Playita,
is just east of San José del Cabo in the Pueblo La Playa
Village.
The Mayan Palace Golf
Los Cabos is a 9-hole championship course in the hotel zone
along the seashore beside San José. This course was created
by the Government of Mexico’s development agency (Fonatur)
and designed by Mario Shedjnan. It is always maintained with
great care and is meant for both intermediate and beginner golfers.
The club also has tennis courts, a pool, a pro shop, a restaurant,
a bar, and a caddy shack.
The Presidente Inter-Continental Los Cabos is a newly renovated
and expanded 400-room resort that offers free greens fees at the
nearby municipal course. It also has three pools, two swim up bars,
three lighted tennis courts, and hot tubs.
 The
Corridor
The Corridor between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas
has four of the best golf courses in Los Cabos, plus one private
club. Beautiful undeveloped beachfront is accessible from almost
any point on this stretch of highway but not all beaches alongside
the Corridor are good for swimming. Playa Costa Azul is one of
the best swimming beaches in The Corridor, located west of San
José del Cabo.
The 4 world-class golf courses in The Corridor are Cabo
del Sol, Palmilla, Cabo
Real, and the Eldorado.
The Cabo del Sol Resort features the famed Ocean Golf Course,
designed by Jack Nicklaus, as well as the Tom Weiskopf–designed
Desert Course. The Fiesta Americana Grand is located on-site,
while the Sheraton Hacienda Del Mar features lush, Mediterranean-influenced
condo suites and a three-level pool.
Palmilla Resort and Golf Course is
possibly the finest championship golf available in Los Cabos. It
has 27-holes of 3 9’s: the Ocean, the Arroyo, and the Mountain
courses. The Palmilla Hotel is the Cape Region’s very first
resort, built in 1956 by the son of the former Mexican President.
This 114-room hotel has broad ocean views, swaying Coconut Palms
and cherry red Hibiscus bushes covering the immaculate grounds.
The Cabo Real Resort is a 3000-acre resort community featuring
the Cabo Real Golf Course, designed
by Robert Trent Jones Jr., and Jack Nicklaus’ Eldorado.
Of the 5 hotels to choose, the Westin Regina stands out as the
most expensive resort to have ever been built in Mexico. Completed
in 1994, it is artistically designed both in its architectural
lines and colors. There are 255-rooms and suites, all of which
are blessed with dramatic ocean views. The crowning glory of this
resort is the magnificent ocean-side pool and the Zen garden that
overlooks it.
The Tom Fazio-designed, 840-acre Querencia
Golf Course is the only private club in Los Cabos. It maintains
a secluded feel despite the 250 homes, condominiums, and villas
located on the grounds. The 2600 sq. ft. Clubhouse and the 12-acre
modern practice area are some of the The Querenica’s best
features.
 Cabo
San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas has a more lively nightlife than San José Del
Sol and as such is more frequented by tourists. The 300,000 tourists
who frequent this little town mostly descend during the November
through March peak.
Cabo’s harbor and marina make it a major destination for
cruise ships and boating enthusiasts. Due to the harbor’s
heavy boating traffic, Cabo San Lucas is the only city in Mexico
with a protected 14 sq. mile (36 sq. km) marine reserve designed
to preserve the area’s biodiversity.
Half a mile north of the Cabo city limits, is the Cabo
San Lucas Country Club. The dramatic rock formations that
grace the most southerly point of the Baja Peninsula (referred
to as Land’s End), are visible from each fairway, making
sightseeing on this course a real hazard to the game. Also available
on the grounds, are tennis courts, swimming pools, and fitness
clubs. Admirably, the 746-acre Cabo San Lucas Country Club helps
preserve the Cape Region’s limited potable water by recycling
the grey water from the hotel through a system of duckweed ponds
until the water is ready to be used for irrigation of the grounds.
There are plenty of reasons why over a quarter of a million tourists
visit Los Cabos every year: great golf,
premier accommodations, swimming
all year round, and majestic scenery. If your goal is a memorable golfing
holiday, consider staying at the resort affiliated with the
course you intend to play. If partying in the Mexico sun is your
objective, stay right in the heart of Cabo San Lucas (but remember
that the airport is an hour drive from here, so be sure to make
travel arrangements to avoid unnecessary hold ups). For the most
relaxing vacation, book accommodations in the mellow little city
of San José Del Sol. The Corridor’s full access to
the seaside is ideal if your desire is to walk on endless stretches
of undeveloped beach. Wherever you stay, and regardless of the
style of beach vacation you seek, Los Cabos will greet you with
warmth and treat you to the best Mexico has to offer!
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