Travel: Cabo San Lucas is a Mexican Oasis

Travel: Cabo San Lucas

by Nicole Pensiero

It’s a West Coast Mexican destination — a magical place where the desert meets the ocean, and you can ride a camel on the beach.

The region known as Los Cabos — home to the two resort towns of Cabo San Lucas and the smaller San Jose del Cabo — is located at the southernmost point of the 760-mile-long Mexican peninsula known as Baja California, which begins south of San Diego, California. Drawing sun-seekers by the thousands each year, Cabo is almost completely surrounded by water: the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Sea of Cortez on the other.

A 40-minute drive from the Cabo airport, we arrived at our resort and I was astonished by the landscape: a painted desert with the brilliant blue Pacific Ocean as our backdrop. Never imagining I’d be a fan of a desert setting, everything about it enthralled me — from the 30-foot tall tree-like cactus plants and decorative designs etched in the sand to the perfectly sunny and arid weather (no humidity; what a delight!).

All-Inclusive, All-Relaxing

Our resort, the all-inclusive Pueblo Bonito Pacifica, is one of five Cabo properties under the same ownership. The 201 rooms and suites of Pacifica — with its understated, modern design — is the sole adults-only resort in the mix. Our property, located just south of Cabo’s busier “tourist corridor,” did not allow ocean swimming, as the currents are treacherously rough. But some of the other Pueblo Bonito properties in Los Cabos do, and guests can use their facilities if they desire a dip in the (rather chilly) Pacific. Our resort also has a lovely spa called Armonia, where we enjoyed a bit of pampering.

Day Tripping

While tempting to stay on the property and chill by the pool during the four-day stay, we wanted to explore the area. So we booked what ended up being a fantastic half-day trip to the charming city of Todos Santos (“All Saints”), about 45 minutes away. This town is known for many galleries and theaters — and is also home to the historic Hotel California the Eagles’ turned into a hit song many years ago. During our guided tour with Cabo Adventures, we were immediately charmed by Todos Santos’ overall artsy vibe; in the winter, a weeks-long arts festival draws visitors by the hundreds. There were galleries, restaurants, and plenty of shops to enjoy.

Kissed by a Camel

We also stopped at the popular Tierra Sagrada Ranch, where we met Juan, one of the many friendly camels who live there. (We all lined up to get kissed by him and have a photo taken in the process). We also enjoyed an included buffet lunch, with a nice view of the ocean and visitors riding camels on the beach. Our guide explained the process of making tequila and other Mexica spirits, and we enjoyed some samples after lunch.

Enjoying the Ocean

The next morning, we enjoyed a four-hour catamaran sailing trip, also arranged by Cabo Adventures. It was thrilling to sail around the famed “El Arco” rock formation popular with snorkelers and kayakers and see the dramatic landscape from an ocean vantage point.

Dining Options

Within our resort, there were many dining options. We enjoyed relaxing breakfasts at Siempre — open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We also enjoyed two memorable meals at neighboring resorts: dinner at the Pueblo Bonita Sunset Beach’s La Frida and a lovely outdoor breakfast at the original Pueblo Bonita Los Cabos resort, where I tried a regional specialty, “Divorced Eggs” — served with two separate types of Mexican sauces.

We truly loved this part of Mexico and hope to return one day.

For more information about Cabo San Lucas, visit www.visitloscabos.travel.

To learn more about Pueblo Bonito Resorts, go to www.pueblobonito.com.

Nicole Pensiero is a South Jersey-based writer and a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association.