A Love Letter to Cabo

Thanks to Casa Dorada, Alaska Airlines, and the Mexican Board of Tourism I was once again in Cabo San Lucas. My trip was with other agents and was from May 21 to May 25...and it was wonderful!

The weather was perfect, low 90s during the day and probably dropped to mid to low 60s at night. There was some wind, but who cares when you're in Paradise?

Cabo in the area of Cabo San Lucas has grown so much I hardly recognized it. There is a WalMart, a Sam's Club and a CostCo. Last time I was there there was only a small Mexican supermarket. Now there is everything, which makes staying in a NOT all inclusive resort very user friendly. Casa Dorada hosted my stay, and I had a beautiful, 1 bedroom suite with a full kitchen, living room, dining area, 1 bedroom, huge bathroom, and two balconies...one just off the living room and one from my bedroom. WiFi is included free starting June 1.

Other great properties that offer one and two bedrooms and full kitchen are Villa La Estancia and Villa de Palmar...to name two I like a lot.

There are now hotels of every level that stretch from the airport in San Jose de los Cabos to the town of Cabo San Lucas...and beyond. For those who golf, there are many courses of all playing levels and costs. One of the most famous is the one next to The One and Only Palmilla.

For those who fish, as is said in Spanish, "No se diga mas!" LOTS of great fishing and it is very easy to arrange for a day (or several) of fishing. Many of the hotels will cook your catch for you.
The seared tuna we had at La Esperanza was caught the day before...and you could tell how fresh it was. The food in Cabo is fabulous! In the town of Cabo San Lucas there are restaurants of all styles, types and prices, just as there are bars of all types. Of course there is a Sr. Frog; Cabo Wabo is still there, although I heard it has been purchased by Sky Vodka. Squid Row is there, still. Of course you can find Starbucks, but you can also find a lovely Italian owned restaurant that serves deserts and martinis. There is shopping on the beach from the vendors...bothers some people, I love it! There is a shopping mall with Tiffanys and Cartiers. There are club stores, banks with branches in the U.S., there is pretty much everything you can think of to make you feel like you never left home...but there is the beach and the ocean and the feeling of sun and relaxation that you can only find in Cabo...the best of all worlds and a two hour, non-stop flight from LAX.

This was a wonderful FAM trip, because I was allowed to see and sample a little of everything. We took an outback trip in a Mercedes Benz 4w/d vehicle...you can see a photo of it here. Kind of like an old Dodge Power Wagon...but bigger. This took us out in an undeveloped part of Cabo to look at plants and animals and hike a little. We stopped and tasted some tequila and our guide, Polo, explained to us the ritual for salt, lime and tequila as though he were a Zen master. Trust me on this, and I have had SOME experience, buy good, sipping tequila and forget the lime and salt routine! And no, good tequila is NOT Cabo Wabo brand OR most Jose Cuervo! Look for Don Julio, Tres Generacions, Cazadores or Herredura...all are from good to excellent.

There is so much to do in Cabo. Of course the usual beach stuff...parasailing, horseback riding on the beach, beach volleyball, jet skis and the glass bottom boats and sunset cruises.

However, go closer to the airport, to the town of San Jose del Cabo, and you will find something closer to the true feeling of being in Mexico. San Jose del Cabo has a pretty, clean town square with a church and government buildings. It is calm and peaceful and has shops with everything from high end silver jewelry to inexpensive souvenirs, and in amongst all of that, some real, high quality art pieces. There are also some wonderful restaurants. One night, we went to a restaurant called Tequila to dine. You walk into the restaurant and out into a beautiful patio with tables and chairs and the sky for a roof and trees with mangos hanging off them covering it all. Very romantic, excellent REAL Mexican food, a great place to relax and unwind...and there is no pressure to rush your dinner. It is the Mexico I remember and have always loved.

Across the street from Tequila is a real French bakery that also sells ice cream. YES, I wanted to go! NO, I didn't! This was not only a hotel viewing trip, it also seemed to be the eating/drinking tour! I couldn't have eaten one more bite!

The town of San Jose del Cabo is about a $5.00 cab ride from the beautiful Barcelo Los Cabos Palace Deluxe, which is all inclusive. I would still splurge one night and go dine at Tequila...some things are priceless.

Parts of Cabo, most parts, actually, do not have swimable beach. Hotels located on Medano Beach (where Casa Dorada is) do have swimming beaches. Most of the beautiful beaches are open ocean and there is strong undertow and rip tides. If you are told not to swim in the ocean, heed the warning.

Other beautiful hotels I visited were La Esperanza and The One and Only Palmilla. Neither are all inclusive, both are expensive...and worth it. Of course we were invited to see Barcelo Los Cabos Palace Deluxe again and have lunch with them. I loved the hotel as much this time as when I saw it in January. It is big, it is beautiful, and their food is remarkable!

We had a wonderful snorkel trip to Chileno Bay. The trip leaves from Cabo San Lucas Marina and is about half a day, including snorkel time and lunch. The food and drinks were, again, wonderful. There is nothing like sitting on the bow of a catamaran, drink in hand, listening to The Eagles coming off the sound system and watching the world go by. It was a really "Jimmy Buffett moment"! And did I snorkel?? As a matter of fact, NO! I am a desert girl and I don't swim in the ocean, not even too crazy about pools, and hate getting my face under water...but I love being on small boats and I loved the trip and would do it all over again just for the fun of being out on the water.

Other things to do include a zip line adventure, hiking, whale watching in season, turtle release in season, and swimming with the dolphins and other dolphin programs.

If this sounds like a love letter to Cabo, it is. However, as in all love affairs, there is always ONE THING about the beloved we would change if we could. My only complaint about Cabo, and, unfortunately, most of the beach destinations of Mexico, is the time share people. They are everywhere, they are pushy, and the are relentless. All you can do is say no. Time shares are seldom a good buy. For the amount you pay for your time share, plus maintainance and other charges, you could have a lovely vacation where ever you choose, whenever you choose. Would I not go to Cabo because of this? No, I would go anyway, but I would be firm but polite with the time share people...as often as I needed to be.

Signs to watch out for are people offering you free transfers (transfers are ALWAYS included in my packages); free trips, free dinners, free breakfasts. Nothing is really "free" if you have to give up several hours of your valuable vacation time to listen to a time share pitch.

So, go, have fun, do all the fun things there are to do...and be polite but firm to the time share people.

Until next time,
Sonia
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