General Info

About Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas, the neighboring town of San Jose Del Cabo, and “The Corridor” in between are collectively called Los Cabos. Los Cabos is located on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, about 1,000 miles south of San Diego, California. Whereas Cabo San Lucas is a more tourist-centered, American-style resort town, San Jose del Cabo is more traditional and laid back. Los Cabos is known for having excellent weather with about 300 days of sunshine a year—so there is really no bad time to visit. Temperatures are in the 80s or 90s all year round with low humidity.

The months of December through March are slightly cooler and August through November can bring an occasional tropical storm. You can read more about the local climate and view a Los Cabos weather report here.

How to get there

Los Cabos is easily accessible with direct flights on Alaska Airlines from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle; on American from Chicago, Denver and Dallas; and on Continental from Newark and Houston. The main airport is about 30 miles northeast of Cabo San Lucas and taxi fare to your hotel downtown will cost about $20 to $40. You can rent a car at the Los Cabos airport with your U.S. driver’s license, however, driving can be challenge, and getting pulled over by the local police for “speeding” is not uncommon. If you are only venturing out to local restaurants, then take a taxi or hire a car and driver for about $50 per day. For day trips like surfing, the surf instructors will pick you up in a van.

Seasonal Information

Although there is no “high season” in Los Cabos due to its mild weather all year round, lower rates can be found in hotels in the summer season, June to October.

Events

Several of the major events in Los Cabos revolve around sportfishing. The spotlight in this field is taken by Bisbee’s Black & Blue Marlin Jackpot Tournament, which kicks off in late October. The week before is taken up by the Gold Cup Sportfishing Tournament, making this fortnight a difficult one in terms of lodging availability. The twin towns celebrate their patrons at the Festival of San Lucas on October 18; expect parades and street fairs. In the nearby town of Todos Santos, the two-day Festivale de Artes in late January is a showcase for the work of local artists.

Where to Stay

A group who wants to be in Los Cabos during Spring Break (end of March), for example, has several options:

Destination Clubs

Los Cabos is the most saturated destination club location by number of homes. To see a map of all the destination club home locations, check out our new map widget. Here is an overview of destination club properties in Los Cabos:

Luxury Fractional Ownership and Private Residence Clubs

Los Cabos does not lack options when it comes to luxury accommodations. If you are open to consider fractional options, private residence clubs offer excellent alternatives for the discerning traveler.

Other Luxury Accommodation Options

Several luxury hotels are available in Los Cabos. The Villas at Esperanza, for example, are available for rent. A four bedroom villa rents for an average of $3,200 per night, while hotel suites average $900 a night.

Many private villas are available in Los Cabos for short term rentals. A few places to start looking for villa rentals are:

• Cabo Villas features an extensive listing of villas and resorts in the Cabos area.
• Come to Cabo provides an extensive listing of rental properties in various neighborhoods.
• Sun Cabo is a comprehensive rental resource with plenty of luxury villa listings, and it includes detailed maps of the Los Cabos.
• Los Cabos Guide offers detailed descriptions of the main resort.
• Cabo San Luca Villas is another resource for villa rentals and resort overviews.

There are also many luxury resorts in the area. Tablet Hotels is helpful in researching these.

Esperanza, an Auberge Resort - Esperanza is located at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, four miles outside of Cabo San Lucas, where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. Privacy and seclusion are among Esperanza’s biggest draws. There are 50 casitas and six luxury suites, all with private terraces and ocean views.

One and Only Palmilla Resort- Palmilla is built on a promontory above the ocean, with easy access to the beach below, right on the tip of the Baja California, where the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. The guest rooms are stylish and comfortable, with flat-screen satellite TVs set amidst tasteful, contemporary Mexican decor, and personal butler service is provided to all rooms. Other amenities include a restaurant run by Chicago celebrity chef Charlie Trotter, a Jack Nicklaus golf course, and a sprawling indoor/outdoor spa and fitness center.

Las Ventanas al Paraiso- This resort is famous for its luxurious grounds and high-level clientele. Rooms, the smallest of which is over 900 square feet, include jacuzzi tubs, adobe fireplaces, slippers woven out of sea grass, and floors and headboards inlaid traditionally with pebbles. Most suites boast their own terrace and some feature open air showers or an open air tub. Every room comes with its own telescope. Las Ventanas hosts the largest fresh water pool in the country with a swim-up bar, as well as a world-class spa offering holistic therapies like the healing crystals and Javanese massage and skin-care therapy. Booking policies at Las Ventanas can be quite restrictive; a three-night minimum stay is required for all weekend bookings except during January and March, when a four-night weekend minimum applies. Friday arrivals require a six-night minimum stay and Saturday arrivals require a five-night minimum. Other major holidays have restrictive booking requirements as well.

Things to Do

Los Cabos is best known for deep-sea fishing, surfing, golf, beaches and nightlife. The downtown area offers an abundance of tourist shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

If you are a true golf fanatic then check out The Markers, a golf-centered destination club with 36 luxury residences.

Where to Eat
Fine dining is in no short short supply, and to make restaurant decisions, Helium Report recommends the Forbes Traveler dining list for Los Cabos. They selected the most luxurious restaurants in the area, based on reviews by the travel gurus at Frommer’s. A more general focus on the Mexican food experience can be found with the Food Network’s Top 10 Foodie Things to Do in Los Cabos.

1. Visit the salsa bar at Felix’s 2. Try a traditional Mexican breakfast 3. Dine at tables in the sand 4. Feast on fish tacos 5. Enjoy a fresh margarita 6. Eat lobster 7. Drink tequila at Sammy Hagar’s bar 8. Go marlin fishing 9. Sample wahoo, bonito, amber jack, and other types of fish 10. Have a picnic on the beach

Best Golf Courses

• Cabo del Sol Golf Club – 7,100-yard Ocean Course in the Corridor area. Listed as one of the Top 100 Courses in the World by Golf Magazine. Greens fees are $220 to $275. Ph. (624) 145-8200
• Cabo Real Golf Course- Challenging 6,945-yard, Trent Jones, Jr. course near Melia Cabo Real Hotel in the Corridor area. Green fees are $220 for 18 holes; after 3pm rates drop to $150. Ph. (624) 144-0232
• El Dorado Golf Club, Jack Nicklaus signature course with beautiful ocean and canyon scenery. Greens fees are $256; after 2pm they drop to $178. Ph. (624) 144-5451

Best Beaches

• El Arco- whale-watching site, snorkeling, the famous El Arco landmark is part of the Monuments Beach.


• Playa del Amor (Lover’s Beach)- beautiful beach, good swimming.


• Land’s End- scenery, amazing rock formations, nature preserve.


• Playa Palmilla – sheltered waters good for diving, swimming.

Insider Tips

• There is superior snorkeling in Cabo, especially from June to November, when the water is clearest. On a good day visibility can get up to 100 feet. The Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park is a great place to snorkel – it is an expansive 20,000 year-old reef, home to thousands of marine species. Snorkeling equipment can be rented for about $10/day. Try Gray Line at (624) 146-9410.


• Scuba diving trips are about $45-$100 a day, depending on length of dive and number of people. Call Amigos del Mar at (624) 143-0505. If you need scuba certification, you can probably take a one-day course at your resort for around $100 and then get open-water certification for around $400.


• A fun day trip from the Cabo area is driving up to Todos Santos where you will find great surf spots, quiet beaches and local art galleries. If you are there on October 12th you can enjoy an annual festival honoring the town’s patron saint.

Surfing is another popular attraction in the Los Cabos area with year-round warm water and tons of great breaks. Check out Surfline for a map of surf spots with review, directions and tips.

Have any useful Los Cabos insight? Please share it with us at tips@heliumreport.com