Historic Beauty,
increasing options
New attractions, activities and
hotels increase the allure of
this Pacific paradise
Located at the southern tip of the
Jiménez sailed into la paz Bay in late 1533 or early 1534,
marking the arrival of the first europeans in the region.
Baja California peninsula, Los
Cabos (which means “the capes” in
pirates would later use los cabos as a hideout to attack
Spanish) boasts stunning scenery
treasure-laden ships en route between acapulco and the
and beautiful year-round weather
philippines. The spanish reacted by building a fortress at the
tip of the cape. missionaries arrived in 1730, establishing
that includes nearly 360 days of
themselves in san José del cabo. european diseases
sunshine every year. ultimately spelled the end of the guaycura and pericu
communities, and the indigenous population shrank by some
it’s such a special place that people come not only to vacation
80 percent by 1767. even u.S. marines briefly occupied San
but to buy second homes, either as private getaways or
José del cabo during the mexican-american War, which
for retirement. and los cabos attracts a wide variety of
lasted from 1846 to 1848.
vacationers — from a-list celebrities to value-conscious
travelers, from sports enthusiasts to nightlife lovers, from
as mining and sugar cane — long major industries for the
romantic couples to families of every age, los cabos
region — became less important in the early 20th century,
welcomes them all.
san José del cabo lost its prestige. cabo san lucas — today
the white-hot center of tourism for los cabos — was even
indeed, the choice of activities and attractions may seem
quieter, with just a few farmhouses and a fish cannery. The
overwhelming at first glance: world-class golf, fine dining,
20-mile dirt road between the two towns sported not a single
exciting watersports, luxurious resorts and pampering spas all
hotel. But all that was soon to change.
compete for travelers’ time.
after World War ii, sportfishing enthusiasts discovered the
first-time visitors have an easier time understanding the
abundant marine life just off the coast of los cabos. With
diversity of the destination when they realize that los cabos
no highways and no commercial airport, the region was only
is actually not a city, but a region. it comprises two unique
reachable by private plane or yacht, making it a preferred
towns, cabo san lucas and san Jose del cabo, as well as
getaway for a handful of rich and famous vacationers.
the Tourist corridor, which runs between them. cabo san
lucas is known for its lively nightlife and shopping, whereas
But the word spread. long before the finest hotels were
san Jose del cabo is a quieter town that feels like a quaint
built, people were already raving about the gray whales that
step back in time. The Tourist corridor, which runs past a
come here to breed, the giant turtles that nest here and the
gorgeous backdrop of desert, mountains and sea, is dotted
dramatically beautiful coastline that runs from the Pacific
with some of mexico’s finest resorts.
ocean to the sea of cortés.
Historic Roots: The region now known as los
cabos hasn’t always been a tourism hotspot, of
course. its original inhabitants, the nomadic
guaycura indians, made their living as
hunter/gatherers. pericú indians also
lived here. after failed attempts by
the conquistador Hernán cortés
to land on the peninsula, a ship
commanded by fortún
4 Los Cabos
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