Why is Los Cabos the Fastest Growing Destination in Mexico?

My experience in Los Cabos was actually my very first experience in Mexico. I was attending a wedding of a dear friend of mine. When he mentioned the destination was Mexico, I got even more excited! What I did not realize was that I was one of over 3.9 million people who visit Los Cabos every year. And of that number, 6% are visiting for a wedding. We stayed at a luxurious and all inclusive hotel called Paradisus Los Cabos. It was magical to see whales every single day from the view. And of course, the wedding was fabulous. So, what makes Los Cabos the fastest growing destination in Mexico? Let’s find out. Vamanos!

Where is Los Cabos and how can I get there?

Los Cabos is located on the very tip of the 1,000 mile long Baja California peninsula. This gives is prime location as it is close to both the Pacific Ocean, and the Sea of Cortez (also known as the Gulf of California). The land portion of the peninsula is a mix of mountainous desert, giving a land and sea flair that very few can compare. Los Cabos has two main cities, Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, which we will dive into further down in our journal.

A visit here is usually one of two ways. Flying into Los Cabos International Airport on one of its 500 weekly flights from North America destinations is one of the fastest ways. This was the route I took, with nonstops from Dallas and Phoenix, and gave me a gorgeous view of the mountains as we landed. The airport is closest to the town of San José del Cabo, which we will reference later. The other way to visit is via a cruise, where you can often find Los Cabos on cruises to the Mexican Riviera or Baja Mexico. Note that cruises will have to tender you, likely in Cabos San Lucas, as Los Cabos has strict sustainability rules which even include “visual pollution” such as billboards being banned.

Is Los Cabos safe to visit?

CARTE ATLAS advises all travelers to become aware of the International Travel Advisory Map from the U.S. Department of State. This map lists out the levels of travel. As of the publication of this blog post, the Mexican state of Baja California Sur carries a Level 2 “exercise increased caution” advisory from the U.S. State Department. That is the same level assigned to France, United Kingdom, and even Antarctica. Once you are educated on the level, you can decide if you wish to visit where millions of voyagers do each and every year.

Will there be safe drinking water?

Always assume there to not be safe drinking water, and ensure you use bottled water. Ask any restaurants if they have bottled water. Ensure you bring your own bottled water from your cruise ship or purchase bottled water from a local market.

When is the Best Time to Visit Los Cabos?

As with most of Mexico, you will find a variety of festivals and travel occurring from November into May. The temperatures give Los Cabos a mild to warm weather period, avoiding the hot summer, and with plenty to experience during this time. You will likely see a higher influx during school holiday seasons, which at CARTE ATLAS we try to avoid when we work with you and your timeframes. Whales are often visitors to the region and are most common in December into April.

CABO SAN LUCAS – Where Luxury Meets The Sea

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The Icon of the Baja

Most people will see the beautiful archway by the sea as their vision of Los Cabos. This arch is located in Cabo San Lucas. My friends and I chartered a boat and explored the waters off of Los Cabos, with our first stop being El Arco (also known as Land’s End). As it stood three stories tall, our boat approached for the perfect view. You can only access the arch by boat, and we saw plenty of boats, kayaks and yachts enjoying the view as well. Perhaps they are headed to Lover’s Beach of Divorce Beach after their viewing. As for us, we went into the Pacific and saw beautiful coastlines, enjoyed a fabulous lunch, and even saw whales!

In fact, the marina is a popular place to be. There are plentiful yachts for days of leisure, as well as boats for sportfishing out in the Pacific Ocean. The Bisbee’s Black and Blue Tournament occurs in October and has prizes for marlin catches, with up to one million in prizes even. Whale watching tours are also quite popular during the time of migration. December through April you will see the most arrive. Even the Whale Shark (which is not a whale by the way) can be found in the area during select times. A visit to Cabo San Lucas most definitely means going out on the waters to enjoy the views. If you prefer staying on land, the Plaza Amelia Wilkes gives great shopping opportunities and culinary finds.

City of Food & Fun

While enjoying Cabo San Lucas, it is always a good idea to try to local cuisine. The great news is that being right on the ocean has its perks. You can enjoy lobster-stuffed chiles rellenos. Sushi is also heavily present with strong Japanese-Mexican fusion right on your plate. And sunsets on the water go perfectly with dinner with a view, and wine from the Mexican region of Valle de Guadalupe. You will also find a fun club atmosphere as the night arrives, making this a popular place for a Gal Trip or a Pal Trip.

I highly recommend checking the latest and greatest Michelin Guide as Mexico features quite a few, with some in Los Cabos region. From luxury to farm-to-table, the icons of Cabo San Lucas are not just in its nature, but in its cuisine as well.

San José Del Cabo – Cultural Finds Await

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The Art of Los Cabos Awaits

While Cabo San Lucas is the maritime and late night joy of Los Cabos, you will find San José del Cabo to be a cultural immersion unlike any other. A renowned Art District awaits you and a walking tour of the area comes with plenty of finds. Galleries, shops, and festivals take over with stunning artwork at the heart. Thursday’s see the town become an open air art market with plenty to enjoy, and perhaps decide to take home for yourself!

The art is in the architecture as well, with the Mission San José del Cabo standing tall since the 18th century as a beacon of the city. You will find cobblestone streets and buildings with whitewash greeting you as you explore the city further. This also makes the town the perfect place for photography. For lovers of the art, of perhaps for the photo shoot of your dreams, San José del Cabo provides art in all forms.

Your Farm-To-Table Reservation

While the towns are different in feel, the one theme they share is a passion for food. Michelin Guide is a great place to explore and see what latest and greatest have called San José del Cabo home. Both meat and seafood make time here, with smoked technique used at the finest restaurants. You fill find more Farm-To-Table restaurant styles here and in the surrounding area than you can enjoy in one trip. That means you just have to come back!

Scenic Route – Your Luxury Stay is Ready for Check-In

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Where Luxury has Checked In

Between the two cities of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo sits the Scenic Route. It is along here you will find a majority of the luxury hotel stays ready and waiting for you. While there are select luxury resorts in the cities, they are limited. My stay at the Paradisus Los Cabos was along this route. The reason we explored the cities first in this journal entry was to ensure you knew which town you’d like to be closer to, if you had a preference. Both airports in the area can accommodate private jets, making your arrival even more special.

Luxury is a focal point for Los Cabos and they have excelled at it since the beginning. Similar to other destinations like Puerto Vallarta, Hollywood stars found Los Cabos to be a great escape from the social atmosphere of California. Ever since, luxury has continued to grow and stay, especially along the Scenic Route. You will find abundance of attentive staff, stunning views, and award winning resorts and restaurants along this route. Michelin-starred chefs cater to the clients here and are worthy of the experience.

Luxurious Activities Await in Los Cabos

Private Villas are also a luxury find here. After staying in a private villa in my New Year’s holiday in Puerto Vallarta, I an attest that this brings a certain luxury that should be experienced. A private chef, exclusive views and pools, and the people you decide to invite and enjoy are all great reasons. Add in the beauty of land & sea that makes Los Cabos world renowned, and you have a holiday worth remembering.

Along this route, as well as within the cities, you will find 18 golf courses to enjoy. These golf courses bring sea to desert to mountain views all while playing on award winning and celebrity designed courses. Enjoy view of the Pacific Ocean or Sea of Cortez, along with the mountain range Sierra de la Laguna, all while partaking in the best golf can offer.

There are plenty of beaches as well along the Scenic Route. One note is that due to the location, about 43% of the beaches are considered swimmable. Our beach at our hotel was small and sectioned off to ensure our safety and experience was enjoyable. This is something to note if you do plan to go out into the waters. If you plan to simply enjoy the views from your resort or from the beach, there are plenty of options.

Exclusivity Expands

North of Cabo San Lucas you will find the Pacific region, and north of San José del Cabo you will find the East Cape. Both of these regions are starting to see luxury resorts enter their area. It is unlocking new and exclusive feeling styles of luxury set along the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. We passed by multiple newly opened resorts in the Pacific region on our yacht day trip.

LGBTQ+ Traveler – A Feeling of Welcome

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Pride is a celebration in Los Cabos. You will find Pride festivals in June, with a parade, marches and fairs during that time frame. Specific hotels even cater to the LGBTQ+ Community as a welcoming place for them to enjoy. You will find brunches at select restaurants during that time, and plenty of welcoming activities for the community. Select resorts will even host celebrations during the month of June.

Los Cabos ensures to take part in LGBTQ+ training and is active in multiple organizations such as Queer Destinations, IGLTA, Codisex, Trans BCS, and Aliadxs. With over 700,000 visitors and community members who identify as LGBTQ+, the Los Cabos region takes time & effort to ensure the community is welcome. After attending an LGBTQ+ wedding, and enjoying a yacht cruise and resort stay with multiple friends within the community, not once did I feel ill at ease. While each can experience is different, I ensure any region that takes part in our community gets special notation. Los Cabos surely and truly does.

Explore More of Mexico

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