Travel Guide: Los Cabos & Baja California
Baja California with its mesmerizing desert landscapes and rich marine life, is one of the most compelling and popular destinations in Mexico. I flew in to San Jose Del Cabo where I met a couple of friends that had arrived a few days earlier. Los Cabos is referred to San Jose Del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, they both offer their own special blend of boutique hotels, beach activities and top-notch restaurants.
Twenty miles apart, colonial San José del Cabo clings to its Mexican heart and soul; narrow side streets with sleepy cantinas and art boutiques. I definitely preferred the vibe in San Jose Del Cabo, the port town of Cabo San Lucas has become a nonstop fiesta machine packed with souvenir stalls, cigar shops, and theme bars. If you want nightlife you'd definitely want to stay in San Lucas. Off the coast, the stunning rock formation of El Arco marks Land's End.
We wanted to see Balandra beach, which is located right outside La Paz, and decided to rent a car and do a little road trip. Balandra is aboslutely breathtaking and is supposed to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico. Pearl white sand frames a lagoon bounded by rust colored hills, filled with the sort of turquoise water seldom seen outside of Quintana Roo. It’s an absolutely magical setting.
About halfway between La Paz and Los Cabos you'll find the charming town Todos Santos, one of Baja's colonial towns and a world apart from Los Cabos. We decided to stop here on our way to Balandra beach and wandered around the cobblestone streets lined with tiny artisian shops and refurbished haciendas in the old part of town. In 2006 Mexican government designated Todos Santos a Pueblo Mágico - one of just 100 or so small towns honored for its natural beauty, cultural riches or historical relevance.
Another highlight of our trip was a day trip to Lovers Beach, Divorce Beach and El Arco. Situated just of actual Land’s End in Cabo San Lucas, these are accessible only by boat. The names Lovers and Divorce beach comes from the water being pretty calm on one side and rough on the other. On the Lovers beach side the water is pretty calm and nice for swimming, while the less romantically Divorce beach overlooks the Pacific and has rip tide, undertows, and big scary waves.
Top Restaurants:
- Acre
- Flora Farms
- La Lupita
- Pithayas
Best beaches:
- Playa Balandra (La Paz)
- Playa Del Amor (Lovers Beach / Divorce Beach)
- Playa Santa Maria
- Bahia Chileno