cocktails & gratitude

This is one of my favorite warm weather destinations because it’s a quick, direct flight for us. We can leave our house in the morning and be on the beach with a margarita in hand before lunch.

This area is often referred to as Los Cabos. There are two towns in Los Cabos: San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. The area between the two towns is called The Corridor and it is lined with many resorts, houses, condos, public beaches and golf courses. (Click on any blue words below for additional information.)

How to Get There: Fly into the San José del Cabo (SJD) airport. For more tips, review my general travel post “How to Get There and Where to Stay.”

Transportation: You will need transportation to your resort since the airport is outside both cities. I suggest arranging transportation in advance with your resort as there is an abundance of time share vendors, excursion companies and taxi drivers all trying to get your attention as soon you walk out of the airport. If you are staying at an all-inclusive, I would not rent a car during your stay. Most likely your resort will have shuttles to town and, if not, they will be able to arrange a taxi. If you are staying in a vacation rental by owner (VRBO) or doing a lot of activities like golf and know you will want a car, I highly recommend setting up your car rental in advance. The car rental agencies are not known for their honesty so make sure to bring insurance information that shows you are covered in a rental car in Mexico (rental car insurance in Mexico will cost more than the rental car!) and get everything in writing. Then check your credit card to make sure they charged you the correct amount.

Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas is centered around the large marina and has lots of restaurants, tourist shops and a high end shopping mall. The energy levels are high here and everything caters to the tourist. My least favorite part of walking around the marina is the constant barrage of people trying to sell you something, book an excursion or entice you to eat at their restaurant. Even saying “No, Gracias” seems to invite additional conversation. Now, some people like the high energy levels of Cabo and duty free shopping, but I prefer the more laid back feel of San José del Cabo.

Where to Stay in Cabo:

Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort and Spa – We’ve stayed at this beautiful resort twice. Many resorts like Grand Solmar have timeshare rooms that can be found on sites like redweek.

Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal – We have not stayed here, but I follow several bloggers who have and it looks amazing. If you don’t like the location on the Pacific or don’t want to spend $1,000+ / night, make a reservation at one of their restaurants to check out this five star resort.

All Inclusive Resorts – We don’t typically stay at all inclusive resorts, but there are MANY in Los Cabos. Check this site for the best rated all inclusive resorts.

Restaurants in Cabo:

The Office on Medano Beach is a very well known beach bar / restaurant.

There are many good fresh seafood restaurants around the marina. We had a nice lunch at Fisherman’s Landing.

Remember what I’ve said in previous travel posts about making lunch or dinner reservations at resorts in order to get into the resort and look around. Los Cabos is the ideal place to follow this advice as most of the resorts, communities and golf courses are gated; but with a dinner reservation you can get in just about anywhere. However, don’t think you can just drive up and fake a dinner reservation – the guard desks usually check the reservation list before allowing you through the gate.

Things to Do in Cabo:

There is a lot of shopping in Cabo, but stick to the Marina / tourist areas. Cabo is generally safe but like any town with a high rate of tourist traffic, pick pocketing is a concern; so keep your money and credit cards secure and close. We usually leave our passports, some cash and at least one credit card in our room just to be safe. And, of course, keep an eye on your drinks, stay in groups, etc. On one trip, we wandered out of the tourist area looking for a coffee shop / bakery I had read about online; when we finally admitted we were lost, we stopped at a Motel to ask them to call us a taxi and we were told it wasn’t safe for us to be in this neighborhood and to wait inside the lobby until the taxi arrived.

Note regarding conversion rates: Check with your credit card company in advance about what Peso conversion rate they use. When charging to your credit card, inquire what the conversion rate is at the resort, store or restaurant; in most cases, it’s to your benefit to charge your purchase to your credit card in Pesos. Also, contact your bank in the US and order a few hundred dollars in Pesos for those restaurants and shops who don’t take credit cards. Then, try to use up your Pesos before leaving Mexico.

The Corridor

Hotels in The Corridor:

Montage Los Cabos – We stayed here for three nights and it was magical. It’s expensive, but if you want to be pampered, this is a great place to stay. The spa is amazing. I had a pedicure and manicure in the salon one day and the California Wildflower treatment with Ruth the following day. The spa is adults only and the amenities are first rate (and I’ve been to a lot of spas.) We were fortunate enough to have the entire spa pool to ourselves for the afternoon. If you like to golf, make sure to have the concierge book a tee time at the private Twin Dolphin Club (a Fred Couple’s course) and stay for lunch. (The photo collages below are best viewed on a Desktop.)

Viceroy Los Cabos – This is another resort that I haven’t stayed at, but I’ve seen numerous reviews and photos online. I read the sunsets from the Cielomar Rooftop restaurant are amazing.

One & Only Palmilla – This is a beautiful, luxury resort that caters to both adults and families with several pools (including an adults only pool), restaurants, a spa, kid’s club and numerous activities.

Restaurants in The Corridor:

Mezcal at The Montage was fabulous. The food was not only presented beautifully, but it tasted great; and the service and decor were wonderful. We had a dinner and a breakfast at Mezcal and it’s definitely worth a visit even if you don’t stay here. There’s another restaurant and bar at The Montage called Marea that overlooks the water, but I didn’t enjoy their food as much. However, if you make a reservation for dinner at Mezcal, arrive early and go to Marea for a cocktail. We did a tequila tasting at Marea one afternoon that was very fun and educational.

Agua at the One and Only Palmilla offers a romantic moonlight table with a tasting menu for two and gorgeous water views. This is a wonderful setting if you’re celebrating something special. The food was phenomenal (even though it’s a preset menu, they will accommodate dietary restrictions) and the restaurant had great live music. If you’re traveling with children, book a terrace table at Agua.

San José Del Cabo

The beach areas in San José are now lined with large resorts and tourist shops; but if you go into the old town square (aka Centro), you will find historic buildings, great authentic Mexican restaurants, coffee shops and art galleries. The shop owners in San José are friendly, often offering greetings from the sidewalk; but no one followed us down the street trying to sell us beach hats, jewelry or cigars like they do around the Cabo marina.

Where to Stay near San José:

We love renting a condo at El Encanto Villas. They have everything from two bedroom condos to six bedroom houses with private pools available for rent. All of these properties are privately owned but there is an onsite management group who rents the properties on their behalf. There is a concierge at the office who can assist you with any problems or questions about the property as well as making restaurant reservations and booking activities. These properties are inside a gated community outside of San Jose, so you’ll need to rent a car. Technically, all of the beaches in Los Cabos are public, but this one is very quiet. Guests at El Encanto have access to the massive infinity pools on the property, plus the private Vero Neo Beach Club for an additional fee. Note: You can make a reservation to eat at the Beach Club restaurant / bar without paying the daily fee.

Acre Baja is a fun resort with twelve treehouse rooms. (See photos below under Restaurants.) Note it is not located on a beach, but in the middle of a lush, naturally occurring grove of Palm and Mango trees.

Restaurants in or near San José:

Flora’s Field Kitchen at Flora Farms is always a favorite stop for us and we typically visit numerous times. It’s located outside of town and the last mile or so is on a rutted dirt road, but stick it out… it’s worth it. The majority of the produce is grown by Flora Farms and everything else is sourced locally. The cocktails are made with freshly squeezed juices and herbs – who would have thought to put carrot juice in a margarita? It’s called the Farmarita – try it! When booking your reservation online (and trust me, you need a reservation in advance) consider booking a farm tour before your meal. The grounds are beautiful, but there are areas off limit to the public without an escort. Don’t miss the mini-farmer’s market at the back of Flora’s Field Kitchen. They have everything from fresh bread and honey to produce and pre-made sandwiches. Flora Farms also has fractional ownership cottages and haylofts on-site and tours are available for potential owners. On a personal note, if you go soon (during Covid) I would recommend a late lunch over dinner. The restaurant is very popular and when we went for dinner on our last night, I was a little uncomfortable at the large number of people mingling on the grounds while waiting for their table.

Acre at the Acre Baja Resort is past Flora Farms – just follow the signage down the bumpy dirt road. The grounds are super lush and it has a very different feel from Flora Farms; so if you have time, visit both. Acre Baja has an animal sanctuary that you are allowed to visit. Be careful though, the puppies are adorable and up for adoption.

Los Tamarindos is another property located down the bumpy road past Flora Farms that has a farm-to-table restaurant.

Jazmin’s is located in the historic center of San José del Cabo and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

La Lupita Taco and Mezcal is a great taco restaurant in the center of San José del Cabo. This is a perfect place to eat before the Thursday night art walk.

Buzzards Bar and Grill is a small restaurant on the sand near El Encanto de La Laguna. If you rent a condo or house at El Encanto, definitely check it out for their large platters of chips with guacamole and salsa, quesadillas, fajitas, tacos and margaritas. Please note they only take cash (bring Pesos if you have them) and the kitchen closes at 7:30 PM.

Things to Do in Los Cabos:

Golf: There are many golf courses to choose from in the area. The easiest way to make reservations is to work with the concierge at your hotel or a golf service like Best 4 Mexico Tee Times. They may be able to get you on private courses that you can’t typically play without being a member.

Boat Day Trips: Sailing, snorkeling, whale watching, deep sea fishing… choose your adventure, but I recommend getting out on the water at least once. We did a sailing / snorkeling / sunset day with Day Sail Cabo and Captain Bob several years ago and we had a blast. Just find a boat that fits your needs and I suggest booking in advance. Note: Most beaches are not safe for swimming in Los Cabos, due to strong currents and riptides in the area. So it’s usually best to swim or snorkel from a boat, out past the currents.

Thursday night Art Walk in San José del Cabo: If you have a car or are staying in San José, don’t miss the Thursday night art walk. There are food vendors, but if you want to eat in a restaurant that night, I strongly suggest making your dinner reservation in advance as the art walk is well attended and restaurants book up.

Flora Farms and Los Tamarindos both offer cooking classes. Look at their websites to find one that matches your area of interest. We took the Flora Farms salsa cooking class which is located in a private part of the grounds and includes one margarita and a huge fish taco lunch. (Don’t plan dinner for that night because you can take home all of your left overs.)

Cabo Adventures offers many activities including: snorkeling and diving, ATV tours, sailing, zip lining, etc.

Todo Santos is located about 45 miles North of Cabo and used to be a quiet haven for surfers and artists. New restaurants, hotels and shops are quickly transforming the artsy town into more of a tourist town, but it’s still worth a visit.

What to Pack:

Sunscreen, hats, water shirts (for snorkeling or diving) and sunglasses. (See “What’s In My Beach Bag.”) The sun is hot here and you will sunburn quickly.

If you are staying somewhere with a water view, bring a pair of binoculars. In March we saw whales from our balcony daily.

Restaurants are fairly casual. A sundress or shorts and a nice shirt will work for dinner at most places. Remember to bring a sweater or wrap if you’ll be out after sunset, it cools off fast at night. In March, I wish I had packed a light sweatshirt for some of the cooler mornings.

Covid Testing:

A negative Covid test is currently required to enter the United States from Mexico. Click here for current Los Cabos Covid-19 information.

If you are staying at a large resort, they will most likely offer Covid testing onsite. You MUST have your passport with you for the Covid test. If you’re renting a condo, use this link for a list of testing facilities. John and I had appointments at the Hospiten in San Jose del Cabo. The cost was $35 and we had our results the same day. Allow extra time at the airport for all of the additional Covid paperwork. We uploaded all of our documents in advance, but the airline still wanted to see the reports again to ensure our passport numbers matched; and there was one additional document we had to complete once we were at the airport.

I couldn’t include everything in this blog post; so if you have any specific questions, please reach out. (Check my Instagram for more photos.) Also, if you have any favorite hotels, restaurants or things to do in this area that I didn’t include; please comment below so everyone can benefit from the additional information. We’re so excited to slowly and safely start traveling again!

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