PUNTA LOS CABOS

The Cape Region of Baja California Sur

~ East Cape - Los Barriles - Buena Vista - Cabo Pulmo – Santiago – Miraflores – San Bartolo ~

Stretching along the tip of the Baja Peninsula lays Punta Los Cabos

a vast destination comprised of contrasts.

Sparkling resorts, striking desert landscape, and a blend of the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez at the world famous Los Cabos Arch. Visitors are surrounded by a dramatic coupling of endless cactus desert, backed by cinnamon mountains, and bordered by miles of white sandy beach and clear, azure waters.

An excursion to Punta Los Cabos is an immersion into Baja – a sampling of the resort communities, solitary beaches, colonial mining towns & small villages, and one of North America’s most pristine undisturbed ecosystems.

The Punta Los Cabos peninsula shows many characteristics of an island, because it originated ten million years ago as an isolated portion of land. The coastline northeast of San José del Cabo offers rugged cacti-studded hills, gorgeous beaches, and true “middle of nowhere” scenery.

In the middle of the point, the Sierra de la Laguna dry forests of Sierra de la Laguna are home to some 224 species of plants, half the reptiles and amphibians in the entire Cape Region, and 96 percent of the region's mammals. Located on a peninsula that is mostly desert, these forests are an isolated oasis where a variety of unique species have evolved in isolation.

East Cape Los Cabos

Baja’s East Cape region is located on the southern part of Baja California Sur Peninsula, just minutes north east of Los Cabos Mexico is one of the world’s wealthiest and most diverse eco-friendly fisheries on the planet. The East Cape stretches for about 30 km from Punta Colorada north to Punta Pescadero, along lovely Bahía de Palmas.  East Cape’s two main communities, Los Barriles and Buenavista, are small villages 3 km apart.

Fishing here is outstanding – the area reportedly has the highest catch rate in the world! Whether fishing for tuna, Dorado, marlin, sailfish, roosterfish, wahoo or many of the abundant sportfish, the East Cape of Baja California and the Sea of Cortez is sure to satisfy any anglers’ itch.

This area is also renowned for its world-class windsurfing (bring your own gear!), and excellent surf spots. Check out Punta Arenas, a remote and secluded area catering to hard-core sports enthusiasts, beach campers, and those wanting a peaceful desert-by-the-sea escape.

Natural Beauty Caught between the most gorgeous surfing beaches in Cabo, close to the Tropic of Cancer, the East Cape is the last untouched landscape in Baja. Watch the desert mountains disappear into the sea - cactus merging with the surf. Enjoy the company of whales and dolphins while you fish in clear blue water off Punta Perfecta.

Seclusion Tucked away, far from the bustle of your active life, your vacation in East Cape Los Cabos offers you privacy set between the desert and the sea.

Cabo Pulmo

Just north of Santa Rosa, toward the coast at Rancho La Vinorama lies Cabo Pulmo. En route to Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, three spectacular photo vistas provide respites with endless views of white, sugar-sand beaches.No better example exists of rugged, unspoiled land that leads to a sea full of life - more than 800 species of marine plants and animals are dwellers at Cabo Pulmo.

Welcome to Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, the place Jacques Cousteau baptized “Aquarium of the World.”

The shallow bay of Cabo Pulmo boasts over 5 miles of secluded beaches, which stretch from Pulmo Point on the north end to Los Frailes on the south. The only living coral reef on the western shores of North America fans out in eight major reef fingers from the beach in front of the Resort. Teeming with many species of tropical fish, this reef and the waters south to the Bay of Los Frailes and north to Las Barracas has been designated a National Marine Park by the government of Mexico. Directly off the beach lies the wreck of El Vencedor, a tuna boat that sank in 1981 and now forms an artificial reef.

Tours & Treks

Snorkeling & Kayaking – Guided snorkeling tours include a professionally trained boat captain that knows where the wild things are! To explore Cabo Pulmo on your own, rent a Kayak which includes snorkeling gear, so you can slide off the sit-on-top kayak and snorkel the areas you discover (rentals are available at the Cabo Pulmo Resort).

Scuba Diving – Cabo Pulmo Marine Park is home to 10 major dive sites, starting near shore just south of the Cabo Pulmo Beach Resort and running in a northeasterly direction. Broad rows of coral heads continue, ending in about 70 feet of water - an astronomical number of nooks, crannies, and cavelets formed by the reef are home to an abundance of sea life & vegetation.

DIVERS TAKE NOTE!  Diving in Cabo Pulmo is known among professionals to be some of the best in the world for the abundant sea life in this protected park. Starting in June through November, visibility can be exceedingly clear - 100 feet plus.

 Mountain Biking & Trailblazing - The beauty of Cabo Pulmo does not end in the water - long time visitors and residents have

 designed an excellent series of mountain trails and shoreline rides. Morning and evening hikes & rides provide breathtaking views of sunrises and moonrises over the Sea of Cortez, with miles of bird and plant life.

 Windsurfing - Southern Baja Windsurfing was born in Cabo Pulmo.  During the winter months the northern Santa Ana winds wrap around through Southern California and speed down the Sea of Cortez (bring your own equipment – rental equipment is not available).

Santiago – Miraflores – San Bartolo

Along Highway 1 are the villages of Santiago, Miraflores and San Bartolo. Simple, tranquil villages with lots of Old Baja charm – reminiscent of the fishing village of Cabo “discovered” in the 70’s.

Santiago

The lovely farming town of Santiago is divided by the large Arroyo de Santiago, and surrounded by fields of mangos, corn, papaya, and citrus trees.

Miraflores

Miraflores is a quaint little town several hundred years old. It is located 40 kilometers north of San José del Cabo and is known locally for its quality leather products and natural hot springs.

San Bartolo

A lush oasis famous for its fresh fruits & vegetables. Enjoy the desert flora and fauna and watch the vast species of local birds.

Tours & Treks

Mision Santiago de los Coras – A colonial Mission established by Jesuits in 1724

Santiago Zoo – An interesting Zoo, which serves as a landmark for explorers of Punta Los Cabos!

Santiago Waterfalls  - Hike to the “cascadas.” Trek to the Santiago Waterfalls with a professional guide (best in cooler weather).

Ancient Rock Paintings – Discover the ancient culture of the Pericu tribes

Las Casitas – Visit the fossil cemetery

BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR OVERVIEW

~ Cabo San Lucas – The Cabo Corridor – San José del Cabo – Punta Los Cabos ~

Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas is considered by many visitors to be the epicenter of the Los Cabos resort scene. To some visitors, the city is the hub of nightlife with an inviting blend of loud bars and hip nightclubs. Others rave about the city’s diverse gourmet dining, abundant shopping, and familiar vacation-style diversions. The busy downtown marina invites visitors for boat excursions and to the sport fishing dock to see the day’s catch.

Since Cabo San Lucas only began to develop as a city in the 1970’s, you won’t find any historic buildings or colonial architecture; what you will find is a wide assortment of shops & boutiques within four or five blocks of the marina. Just south of the marina, visit the outdoor bazaar for handicrafts and unique items from local artisans.

 El Arco – The boat ride to El Arco should not be missed; this naturally hewn rock formation at Land’s end was caved by centuries of pounding waves and wind.

Lover’s Beach – An excursion to Lover’s Beach offers an ideal picnic spot with its calm waters, excellent snorkeling, and towering stone cliffs.

Cabo Falso Lighthouse – This old lighthouse lies a few kilometers outside of Cabo San Lucas. The abandoned shell of the original building rests atop sand dunes overlooking the cape. Accessible on horseback or all-terrain vehicles (for rent in downtown Cabo)

KID’S STUFF

- Glass Factory Fabrica de Vidrio: See Mexican craftsmen turn melting goo into beautiful glassware and other items

- Really Big Fish Head down to the docks at the marina in Cabo San Lucas around 2pm, and see the catch of the day

- Glass Bottom Enchantment Explore the underwater beauty and sea life of Bahía San Lucas from a glass-bottom boat

-  Fossil Canyon Hike An Indiana Jones-type of adventure which allows kids to “discover” fossils amidst the desert

HOTELS in CABO SAN LUCAS

The Cabo Corridor

Stretching along 18 miles of seacoast that links the towns of San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, the Cabo Corridor is a scenic succession of pristine beaches, sheltered coves, and promontories. Highway 1 cruises through the area, with numerous dirt road turnoffs that head to nearby beaches, noted with blue & white signs.

Tours & Treks

Beaches - Cabo Corridor’s beaches are spectacular and almost always deserted. This is prime surfing and beach-combing territory; however, not all beaches are suitable for swimming due to strong undertow.

Whale Watching – Of the world’s approximately 21,000 gray whales, an estimated 11,000 make this journey over 10,000 miles to bear their calves and frolic in Pacific Coast lagoons to the north of Los Cabos. Many continue south, veering around land’s end and into the warm waters of the Sea of Cortés. Whales can easily be seen from shore.

San José del Cabo

This very tranquil, tropical, and traditional village dates back to 1730 when Jesuits came to indoctrinate the areas Pericú Indians. It later became a provisions stop for Spanish galleons passing between Acapulco and the Philippines. Throughout the 18^th and early 19^th centuries, pirates and fishermen took refuge in San José, and a prosperous mission settlement grew.

The city sits about a mile back from the sea, and is separated from the beachfront by a series of low hills, and a nine-hole golf course. A few steps in from the sea are the city’s main natural feature – a large freshwater estuary. The “estero” gives the city a semi-tropical, almost oasis look. Mango, avocado, and orange trees flourish in and around the city in contrast of the region’s stark desert.

Tours & Treks

San Jose Misión - Founded by the Jesuits José de Echeverría and Nicolás Tamaral. Above the church entrance, built in 1940, is a scene of the martyrdom of Father Tamaral when he was killed by the Pericúe Indians.

Plaza San José – Connecting the beach area and the city is Boulevard Antonio Mijares. Where Blvd. Mijares intersects the Plaza, it leads past the colonial-style Municipal Palace. Facing the Palace is a long narrow fountain illuminated with colorful lights at night. The plaza has a tourist information office, and a small Jardíin de Arte, where artists sell painting, sculpture, and other crafts on Sundays.

The Zócalo – The shaded courtyard and white gilded bandstand faces Parroquia de San José, the city’s main Catholic church (built on the exact site of the original mission dating to 1730).

Shopping & Dining - From the Zócalo, the streets radiate in grid fashion – filled with dozens of interesting shops, and some fine courtyard restaurants. Many businesses are housed in restored buildings dating to Colonial days; especially noteworthy are houses along Doblado, Hidalgo, Morelos, and Obregón streets.

San José Estuary – Just east of downtown, this 125-acre freshwater lagoon with calm waters is home

to nearly 200 species of birds, and has been designated as a game reserve. There are kayak rentals available next to the estuary, a great way to enjoy the lagoon and its feathered residents.

La Playita – Enjoy panoramic views from this rustic fishing enclave, including the San José del Cabo Lighthouse, San José and the estuary.

HOTELS in SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO & the CORRIDOR