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LOS CABOS

Paradise Found: Los Cabos, Where the Desert Meets the Sea

BY DUANE WELLS

Situated on the southern end of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, Los Cabos is a traveler’s paradise. Comprised of two distinct towns — Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo — and connected by the scenic 20-mile Tourist Corridor, Los Cabos offers stunning beaches, exceptional boating activities, sumptuous resorts, fine dining and a thumping nightlife.

Los Cabos serves visitors an intoxicatingly strong cocktail of adventure, luxury, wellness and relaxation. Of the many attributes for which Los Cabos is celebrated, its beaches reign supreme.
 

Perhaps the most iconic and well-known beach in this slice of Baja heaven is Playa del Amor, also known as Lover’s Beach. A secluded Shangri-la tucked beneath the famed El Arco rock formation, this blissful haven (accessible only by boat) is most notable for its golden sands, tranquil waters and the possibilities for romance it inspires. That said, Playa del Amor’s calm waters are well suited to more than canoodling -— they’re also ideal for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking, while the sands are a sunbather’s Eden.
 

Just a short walk away from Playa del Amor is Playa del Divorcio, or Divorce Beach. As the name suggests, the beach offers a wholly different and more dramatic experience. Known for its crashing waves and rugged coastline, swimming is not recommended at Playa del Divorcio, as the waters are known to be rife with powerful riptides. Still, the sands offer beachgoers a chance to witness the majesty and power of the sea, and to also capture some infinitely Instagrammable images.
 

Other popular beaches in Los Cabos include Medano Beach, known for its gentle waves and for being a hub of activity, complete with beachfront bars, restaurants and water sports rentals. For snorkeling and diving enthusiasts, Chileno Beach is a prime destination with crystal-clear waters and abundant marine life. Also, there’s Palmilla Beach, which provides the perfect backdrop for paddleboarding, listening to the waves or watching the whales breach.
 

Speaking of whale watching, it is one of Los Cabos’ most popular experiences, particularly from mid-December to April, when the Sea of Cortez becomes a playground for migrating humpback and gray whales. It makes for a rare and wonderful opportunity to witness these majestic creatures up close in their natural habitat, an experience not to be missed on a getaway to this corner of the world.

 

Similarly, fishing is yet another major draw in Los Cabos -— so much so that the destination is often called the “Marlin Capital of the World.” Anglers from around the globe flock here for the chance to catch marlin, dorado, tuna and more. Meanwhile, the annual Bisbee’s Black & Blue Marlin Tournament, held every October in Cabo, is one of the richest fishing tournaments in the world, attracting both amateur and professional fishermen alike.
 

Additional water activities in the Los Cabos area include surfing (Los Cabos is widely thought to have some of the best surf spots in Baja), as well as scuba diving and snorkeling in the Sea of Cortez or Cabo Pulmo National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. If you haven’t yet had your fill of fun in the water, there’s also parasailing along Cabo’s scenic coastline, jet skiing and -— as previously mentioned — paddleboarding. But if that all sounds a bit active for your tastes, there are also sunset cruises complete with dinner and live music, where guests can luxuriate in breathtaking views of the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean while sipping a cool margarita at sunset. (No effort required.)
 

Back on dry land, Cabo’s offerings are equally enticing, particularly with the resorts. In recent years, Los Cabos has become a mecca for luxury hotels. Of the many grande dame properties to grace the destination, the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal makes a particularly strong statement.
 

Accessed through the private Dos Mares tunnel that is carved into the mountainside, the Waldorf is set on 24 acres. This exclusive retreat offers oceanfront rooms with private plunge pools, an award-winning spa and fine dining restaurants like El Farallon, which is known for its fresh seafood and cliffside setting.
 

Similarly dramatic is the One&Only Palmilla, which opened in 1956. Perched at the edge of the Baja Peninsula, the One&Only Palmilla offers 174 spacious cliff-side havens with sweeping sea views that are enveloped in privacy and an old-world Mexican charm. The hotel also has an award-winning 27-hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus, an expansive spa and a private beach (Pelican Beach) complete with floating beds, private beach cabanas and dedicated butlers, among other compelling amenities.
 

Elsewhere in Cabo, the Viceroy Los Cabos, which was included on Travel + Leisure’s 2024 list of the World’s Best Hotels, is an architectural stunner located near the historic colonial streets of San José del Cabo. This outstanding property offers every amenity imaginable, as well as six restaurants and one of the only rooftop bars in Cabo with a view of the Sea of Cortez.
 

New hotels adding to the magic of the area include the recently opened Nobu Hotel Los Cabos, which offers a blend of Japanese minimalism and Mexican warmth, coming with stunning ocean views and a world-class Nobu restaurant. There’s also the Solaz Resort in Cabo San Lucas, part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection Resort brand, boasting a striking contemporary design and a unique art collection. And, there’s the Four Seasons Los Cabos at Costa Palmas, located near the picturesque fishing village of La Ribera, on the East Cape of Baja California Sur.   
 

Finally, the dining and nightlife scene in Los Cabos is as vibrant and colorful as its daytime activities. If you haven’t visited Cabo in a while, forget what you thought you knew and prepare to be wowed. In fact, Mexico’s current food scene is so impressive that the Michelin Guide — which debuted in the country in 2024 — awarded 16 restaurants with one star and two with two stars, while including a host of others in its Bib Gourmand category.
 

One restaurant earning a Michelin star was Cocina de Autor at Grand Velas Los Cabos, helmed by two-Michelin-starred chef Sidney Schutte, whose menu celebrates fresh local ingredients with unexpected pairings like chocolate and clam to great acclaim. Other notable nods in Los Cabos went to Flora’s Field Kitchen at Flora Farms — a rustic, farm-to-table restaurant serving dishes made from fresh, organic ingredients grown right on the farm — as well as Acre Resort, a stylish restaurant, bar and hotel set on a 25-acre property surrounded by palm trees and organic gardens, where innovative dishes are made with locally-sourced ingredients. Michelin recognition notwithstanding, there are many memorable dining options in Los Cabos, from taco tours to the classic Baja cuisine of Edith’s and to the Mexican street food of El Luchador located inside of the JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa.
 

Cabo’s evolving nightlife scene continues to draw tourists. While stalwarts like Cabo Wabo Cantina, founded by rock legend Sammy Hagar, still pack the house with live music and an energetic dance floor, newer favorites like the OMNIA Day Club Los Cabo offer a more upscale experience with world-class DJs and stunning ocean views. Also creating a high-energy atmosphere for revelers is El Squid Roe, located in the heart of Cabo’s vibrant nightlife district, which has previously attracted the likes of Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg and Drake.
 

Simultaneously, nightlife alternatives like Jazz On The Rocks, which is Los Cabos’ first jazz club, have made an impression. Set atop the esteemed Sunset Monalisa restaurant, the club features daily live jazz harmonies, breathtaking views of the Cabo San Lucas Arch, the culinary wizardry of Chef Héctor Morales and innovative mixology. Even the arts have gotten into the local nightlife scene, with numerous galleries and studios tucked away among the town’s charming streets, showcasing the work of local and international artists at evening events in San José del Cabo.
 

What’s your definition of paradise? Does it involve awesome sunsets? Magnificent beaches? A temperate weather year-round climate? A plethora of entertainment options? If any of those things are the case, then Los Cabos will fit the bill for you.

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