The fascinating landscapes of Baja California shape the face of Mexico: In its dimensions, the Mexican peninsula surpasses the Apennine Peninsula of Italy. At the southern tip of Baja California is the Los Cabos district. A holiday region with extensive sandy beaches, lively coastal towns and untouched natural formations. Coastal highlights of Mexico’s largest peninsula await you here.
Tourist highlights of Los Cabos
At the beginning of the 20th century, Los Cabos was hardly developed for tourism, but now about two million visitors a year are drawn to the Mexican region who spend their sunny holidays here. The recreational opportunities range from golf or diving holidays to classic sightseeing. Los Cabos has long since become a tourist hotspot in Mexico. Arguments for this are provided by the multifaceted nature as well as the cultural travel highlights in the cities.
Two major cities are located in the heart of Los Cabos: San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Their characteristics could not be more different. While San José del Cabo with its approximately 135,000 inhabitants presents itself as a rather quiet cultural travel destination, Cabo San Lucas, home to about 200,000 inhabitants, stands for a lively tourist destination with a wealth of resorts and nightlife options. The two cities are separated by about 30 kilometers. They are connected by the Los Cabos Corridor, through which Highway Carretera Federal 1 runs. So it is hardly surprising that the tourist life of Los Cabos is concentrated between the two cities that are closely connected in terms of infrastructure. The corridor also scores with its attractive proximity to the sea.
San José del Cabo has a grounded and picturesque feel, with striking examples of historic colonial architecture – such as the old Jesuit mission Misión Estero de las Palmas de San José del Cabo Añuití. It was built around 1730 and is one of the most architecturally striking buildings in the city. You can get an insight into the regional arts and crafts scene in the galleries of the art district as well as from the artisans in the city’s plaza. Whether it’s an upscale marina or a wild nightlife, they characterize the city of Cabo San Lucas. Between beach parties and high society, the lively counterpart to San José unfolds here. A wide range of restaurants, shops and boutiques await you on site.
Special natural worlds
The southern tip of Baja California, known as Los Cabos, covers an area of about 3,760 square kilometers. On the west coast lies the Pacific Ocean, while on the east are the foothills of the Gulf of California . In short: Extraordinary coastal landscapes await you in Los Cabos. The local nature is characterized by a fascinating mix of beaches, the mountain landscapes of the Sierra de la Laguna and the vast deserts of the state of Baja California.
A natural landmark of the region is the rocky archway El Arco de Cabo San Lucas. Here, the rock opens up into the sea like an arch – a photogenic natural formation that symbolizes the special landscapes of Los Cabos. The local rocks that mark the southern tip of Los Cabos and Baja California rise up to 60 meters into the air. Not only tourist visitors, but also special residents of the animal world, such as the sea lions, feel at home here. Not far from here are two of the most beautiful beaches in the region: Playa del Amor and Playa del Divorcio, also known as the beach of lovers and the beach of the divorced.
The extensive beaches in Los Cabos and its corridor are among the natural highlights of the holiday region. Not all beaches are suitable for swimming, after all, the beach of the divorced is known for its intense currents. Instead, the Playe El Medano with its comparatively calm crystal clear water or the Playa el Chileno not far from the resorts on the corridor are recommended for beach vacationers. Whale watching is also popular in the holiday region. Especially between December and April, where dolphins, gray whales and co. can be discovered. Many of the professional tours depart from Cabo San Lucas. A fascinating contrast to the coast and beach is provided by the mountain landscapes of the Sierra de Laguna with their hiking routes to the Solmar mountain, to which guided hikes are also offered.
Culinary highlights of Mexican cuisine
The restaurants of a big city like Cabo San Lucas range from traditional Mexican cuisine to Japanese cuisine and Mediterranean cuisine with their specialties. But of course, the local Mexican cuisine is the culinary highlight of Los Cabos. Fresh fish is high on the menus due to the proximity to the sea. The maritime specialties range from fish tacos, fresh mussels to fish soup with beans and rice. Tamales, tacos and cooked beef dishes are also popular. The city of Cabo San Lucas, in particular, has renowned restaurants serving traditional Mexican cuisine. There are good restaurants to discover in a wide variety of price categories. Curious travelers have a lot to discover in Los Cabos: from two contrasting cities to the beautiful nature and the culinary highlights of Mexican cuisine.
