Sea, Salt, and Lime: The Flavors of Cabo...
So you had your taste of Mexico when you rocked Cancun. Maybe it was spring break and you could drink before you were 21. You danced until sunrise at Coco Bongo. Bought the Senor Frogs shirt. Scored a room where four of you stayed for a hundred bucks each a night. All inclusive. Indeed, all the buffet grub and strawberry margaritas you wanted. And then some. A rite of passage for every gringo and gringal. Fun stuff for sure. Now it’s time to trade the Caribbean sea for the Pacific. Follow the ‘Fool’s wisdom on Cabo trippin’ to maximize your chances of fun while minimizing your chances of winding up lost, broke or rotting in a Mexican prison.
Cabo Trippin' Basics
Let’s grab our salt and lime and head to the far left coast where Cabo sits along the sea, straight south of California. As such, Cabo is an easier destination from the Western U.S. and Cancun is closer to the Eastern states. Air service is abundant to both, though Cabo flights are generally not quite as plentiful or cheap as those to Cancun. The Cabo airport (SJD) is in San Jose Del Cabo while the greater Cabo region consists of three main districts within the Baja Peninsula.
San Jose Del Cabo
Since it’s the location of the airport, we’ll start with some details on San Jose Del Cabo. Beaches and a number of condos and hotels are easily accessible. As such, you can be off the plane and seated at the swim-up bar in minutes, sipping a proper lime margarita. The town itself is small and low key. While there are some shops and restaurants, this is not the bar crawling, party all night destination. On the plus side, San Jose will have the cheapest drinks and the street tacos will be the most authentic. Maybe too authentic.
The beaches at the resorts around San Jose are generally quite nice. However some are not swimmable, a common trait along the whole coast. Super steep drop offs and strong currents keep the red flags posted at much of the Pacific shoreline. Plus, there are no lifeguards watching out for you. If you go for a swim and don’t return, your room is not refundable. (Gratis travelers tip). That said, your grieving companion should be able to negotiate a pro rata credit for your all-inclusive portion. (Bonus travelers tip).
Cabo trippin
The Corridor
The next stretch of coastline after San Jose is referred to as the Corridor. Things are a bit more remote here. It’s the relax and chill at your resort scenario. You will not find much in the way of offsite activities and restaurants, but do check out Sunset Monalisa next to the fantastic Cape Thompson Hotel. While it will likely be the priciest sunset happy hour you’ve experienced, it will also be the best.
A number of high-end resorts and condos dot this stretch. Some are all-inclusive and some not. Generally the beaches are good. “Good” meaning spectacular if you are from North Dakota and “good” meaning decent if you evaluate your beaches on a worldwide stage. Consistent with the region, most of the coastline does have the swimming restrictions. You can find a few places to swim, snorkel, and surf. Just be sure to research that if the ocean is your jam.
Cabo trippin Mexico.
Cabo San Lucas
The most famous section is Cabo San Lucas, site of the Arches featured in every travel brochure. Cabo San Lucas includes the tip of the peninsula, also known as Lands End. The big marina is in Cabo San Lucas and it’s a sportfishing mecca. Steps away is the town which is full of shops, restaurants, and bars to fit every taste and lack thereof. Hotels range from low end to luxury. Plenty of activities can be found on land and sea.
Cabo trip
Get Wet
Beaches along Cabo San Lucas can be rather narrow so check that before you book if you are a beach bum. Swimming restrictions are the norm here.
Fortunately, there are all kinds of options available at the marina to take you to do most anything on the water. For excursions on the H2O, Cabo Adventures delivers on their offerings. You can also be adventurous and score your own boat ride over to the Arches or Divorce Beach. Just pick one of the locals barking at you around the marina. For a few bucks you will be escorted there quickly and efficiently by a skipper who has consumed way more than you have. Worry about the return trip once you get there.
Cabo trippin guide
Get Wild
If you want to bounce around and party, definitely stay in Cabo San Lucas. The college age crowd has a few blocks to themselves with loud places like Squid Roe that crank up late night. Nearby, the marina is chocked full of indoor-outdoor spots. Check out Captain Tonys and Solomons. Then head over for an obligatory stop at Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo Cantina. By all means, visit the Giggling Marlin which always entertains with shenanigans and contests.
Cabo trippin insights
That last watering hole left poor ol MrWanderfool, who considers himself an 80s rock guru, licking his wounds from a devastating runner up finish in a “name that tune” contest for the very genre. Of all the unlikely scenarios, I had to do battle in the final round with a 16 year old nerdy kid who happened to love 80s rock. What are the odds. Needless to say, there were staggering differences in both our IQs and alcohol consumption. A double handicap for me and thus the silver. Curses to his family for having him out that late and depriving him of Justin Bieber in his formative years.
Get Dressed
On the topic of rock, how about some fine dining at a restaurant carved into a seaside cliff? Lose the flip flops for a night and head to the amazing Waldorf hotel for local seafood at El Farallon. That translates to The Cliff. Appropriately named. Architecture… views…the spot to jump from when you get the bill.
This gem is definitely not for the 2 star all-inclusive buffet crowd. Like most things in life, you do get what you pay for (this blog excluded). You know you are in for a treat at El Farallon when a tunnel carved through the mountain is the only way in and out. Safe to say that passage is not just for dramatic impact, considering how well they guarded it. No dining and dashing at this joint. On the bright side, I only owe them 23 more shifts in the dish room. El Farallon definitely offers a stunning experience, from arrival onto the property to arrival of your credit card statement.
Cabo Trippin Guide
Cabo San Lucas has a little bit of something for everyone. Day and night. Your time here will not be forgotten…well depending on the number of margs.
Cabo Trippin' Logistics
Once you narrow down which section of Cabo region suits your trip goals, then it’s a matter of picking out the property that’s right for you. Lots of research to be done here and there are significant discrepancies in ratings and pricing across platforms. Make sure you are using a solid online vendor when lining up your stay. (See the ‘Fool’s hotel booking site report)
Port of Entry
You booked your place and the plane touches down in SJD. What happens next? First you navigate through a confounding entry process. You will have already filled out a form on the plane that declares you are not smuggling in weapons, cash, drugs, livestock etc. I suppose it never occurred to them that international criminals might actually lie on their answers. (Other than perhaps the chicken smugglers).
In any event you wait in line and after they check those forms, you think you are home free. Then you wait in line for them to check the form again. If you are indeed hiding a chicken in your carry on, it will be clucking by that point. Especially if it’s been nibbling on the cocaine stash. Maybe that’s the theory behind the process.
Side note: I once got distracted on the plane and accidently checked yes to every illicit activity on the form. The customs agent was not amused. Don’t do this. Your vacay may be a bit delayed. (Another valuable travelers tip).
Cabo deets for travelers
Essential Supplies
Assuming you filled out the form correctly and managed to get your contraband through the cutting-edge security, the first thing you will see is the duty-free liquor store. (Yes buy a couple bottles if you aren’t in an all-inclusive resort).
Transportation
With the above box checked, you will then zig zag through the gauntlet of transportation hawkers. Even if you pre-booked a shuttle (and you should), some of the more aggressive players will pose as your ride. Ignore and keep walking without eye contact. When you get outside, look for someone carrying a sign with your name on it.
A note about shuttles: San Jose’s resort area is right down the road about 15 min. The Corridor is 20 to 30 min away. Cabo San Lucas is about 40 min away. If you are staying anywhere past San Jose, the private shuttle is recommended. Round trip private to Cabo San Lucas is around $150 and about half that for shared. While it’s not cheap to go private, just be warned of two key factors if you opt for shared:
- You may be waiting outside the airport in the heat for your ride mates to show up.
- Your shared shuttle will likely be making multiple stops before dropping you off. After a long day of travel and with pool drinks waiting, that’s an antsy ride.
Even worse is the return trip on the shared option. After your last night of vacation, they will pick you up way earlier than you desire so that they have time to scoop up the others along the way. The one sitting next to you will be a big ol boy from Baton Rouge who just rolled out of bed after his all day fishing charter and all night tacos and tequila binge. No Bueno.
Roadies
Whatever shuttle option you line up, there are a few tiki bars outside the airport to set you up with roadies. Depending on your destination, it’s a 1 to 2 marg road trip. These bars make a decent drink but they are shady. It’s possible you’ll encounter mysterious cash only policies and pricing made up on the spot. You won’t care because you are flush with dollars and thirsty. As such, you’re a perfect mark and they know it. Laugh it off as part of the Cabo experience.
Also note that the private shuttles should have a couple of complimentary beers and waters. Tip the driver as you arrive. Get the party started and don’t stop until you are back on that shuttle.
Cabo Trippin blog.
Cabo trippin recommendations
While you made it to sunrise in Cancun, just be sure you make it to sunset in Cabo. Sea, salt and lime perfected. The flavors of Cabo will leave a taste you’ll want to experience again and again.
PS: You’ll also be ready for the next Mexico experience. Punta Mita. Check it out
Tips From the ‘Fool
Travelers Tips for Cabo Trippin:
- Beaches: Beaches vary greatly. Do your research. In fact make sure your targeted resort is actually on the beach if that matters to you
- Swimming: Red flagged at much of the coast. Select spots are considered safe
- Sunsets: You will not be shortchanged here. Spectacular
- Water: Don’t drink it. Better safe than sorry
- Ubers: Available and cheaper than taxis. However many hotels are in cahoots with the taxi mafia and they keep the Ubers off site. Depending on how far from the main road your hotel is, you might need to stick with taxis. Bring cash
- Currency: Dollars are accepted as much as pesos. ATMs will actually dispense dollars
- Prices: Similar to the states as far as drinks and eats. You won’t believe that when you get your credit card statement but you will have had fun
- Attire: Even the nice restaurants are casual. If you go to a high end place avoid flip flops
- Beach attire (critical Cabo trippin deets here). As a general rule, topless is not allowed. I have done extensive research to confirm and I have yet to find a violator. While you will need a boat taxi to get to it, there are some tops that fall off at Divorce beach by the arches in Cabo San Lucas. Perhaps that’s why it’s called Divorce Beach
- Thongs are fine. But never for a man
- Scenery: The preceding notwithstanding, the coastal scenery is awesome here. It’s a huge part of the Cabo trip experience. Cliffs and mountains next to the sea. Whales, yachts and blue skies. Oh and did I mention sunsets
