The Complete Travel Guide to San Jose del Cabo,
Baja California Sur, México.
 

Here are a few easy travel suggestions to put some diversity in your San Jose del Cabo vacation.  These side trips are all easy one day trips in a rental car or by way of tour operator.  Don't get the idea that you have to leave San Jose del Cabo, but the excitement that awaits  bit of exploration is somewhere deep within us all.  If you have the time to do some exploring, you may well discover a new favorite to add to your future Baja travel plans.  Each of these day trips are sure to bring a bit of satisfaction to your entire family. 

Move your mouse over the photos for a brief description.
 

The East Cape

The East Cape of Baja is an area of white sand beaches with warm, crystal clear waters.  The area is home to some beautiful, and very peaceful accommodations, a living coral reef and mile after mile of exceptionally beautiful, and sometimes, well hidden beaches.  Incredible sport fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling, sea kayaking, surfing, kiteboarding and windsurfing (winter months) are the main East Cape activities, but "Just Plain Relaxing" is right up near the top of that list (if that can be considered an activity).

The East Cape Baja resorts are mostly in or near the Los Barriles/Buena Vista area, on the tranquil shores of beautiful Bahía Las Palmas.  There are a few farther south along the coast and one to the north.  The resorts of the East Cape tend to be somewhat small in size, as resorts go, but large on hospitality, which is a pleasant change that many vacationers are specifically seeking out in the East Cape of Baja.  The East Cape seems to attract a more laid back crowd than do the resorts on the southern tip of the peninsula.  But change is on the way, more resorts, some in the Mega classification are planned for the near future.  One such project is actually in the process of being built in La Ribera, complete with a marina.  But development usually comes rather slowly in Baja, which means that we consider the tranquil allure of The East Cape to remain as tranquil as ever for years to come. 

For more complete East Cape information visit AllAboutBaja.com.  The page will open in a new window.

Cabo Pulmo Marine Park

Cabo Pulmo is a National Park and Marine Reserve and is therefore subject  to federal
rules and regulations that are enforced by the local residents along with park rangers.

Cabo Pulmo, on the East Cape. is a very special destination and just may be the the perfect example of what Baja was like many years ago.  This small village, of less than 150 residents, has done more to preserve their heritage and lifestyle than any other place in Baja.  Cabo Pulmo lies 60 miles north of Cabo San Lucas, by way of pavement and a fairly well maintained dirt road.  The village is situated almost directly on the Tropic of Cancer.

A visit to Cabo Pulmo is like taking a step back in time, a time when life was simple, based more on reality and a time when the pleasures of life were not always induced by electronics or technology.  At the very heart of this peaceful community are the crystal clear waters of the Sea of Cortez which provide Cabo Pulmo with it's dreamlike atmosphere. The lure of the sea and the natural tranquility are the major reasons to visit Cabo Pulmo.

Snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing (fishing is only allowed outside of the park boundaries) are usually at the heart of a Cabo Pulmo visit.  There are, of course, other things to do here, siestas are big!  Kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, shell collecting, leisurely beach combing and "just relaxing" are also practiced here in varying degrees. 

For more complete Cabo Pulmo information visit AllAboutBaja.com.  The page will open in a new window.
 

Pescadero and Playa Cerritos

Pescadero (official name, El Pescadero) is a very small town located less than an hour north of Cabo San Lucas and fifteen minutes south of Todos Santos.  Once a kicked back farming community, it is now becoming a popular place for retirees and ex-pats from the U.S. and Canada.  The area is bustling with development although it really doesn't show very much, unless you really take a close look.  There is still quite a bit of farming activity, the area is famous for the quality of the chilies and the basil that is grown here.  Mango groves, and papaya trees were often used as property dividers in this fertile valley that fronts on the Pacific Ocean.  Along with the mangos and papayas produced, the local fields also produce strawberries and a very flavorful cherry tomato. 

Playa Cerritos, just south of Pescadero is a long pleasant beach with a decent surf break.  This area is really starting to grow and is the site of quite a bit of residential development.  Whether that is good or bad remains to be seen.  This beach has always been popular with locals from Pescadero and nearby Todos Santos.  It has recently got the attention from residents of the resorts further south as a place to get away from it all.  This is a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of Cabo San Lucas, especially if you just want to spend a day at the beach, with table or towel service on the beach for food and drinks.

For more complete Pescadero and Playa Cerritos information visit AllAboutBaja.com. 
The page will open in a new window.

Todos Santos

Todos Santos is situated about half way between Cabo San Lucas and La Paz (approx. 1 hour from each, by car) almost directly on the Tropic of Cancer.  The outlying western edges of Todos Santos touch the shores of the Pacific Ocean but the main part of town is inland, a few miles away from the water.  Todos Santos is pretty famous as an art colony but the small town of Todos Santos is really much more than an artist's colony, at least to seasoned Baja travelers.  Todos Santos is a peaceful, relaxed community where old Mexican culture and charm mixes nicely with the gringo art establishment with a few hippies and surfers thrown in for good measure.  Todos Santos has managed to retain the feel of the late 1800's so much that on many streets in town you would not be overly surprised if you were to see a horse drawn buggy pulling up to the corner market.  And that is a good ambiance to be able to embrace, especially in the mad rush that has become the norm in so many other parts of the world.

Todos Santos is still very small, by anyone's standards, but the town is definitely in growth mode.  Accommodations have steadily improved and many people are even forgoing the lively and busier tourist areas of Los Cabos and La Paz to enjoy the peace and  tranquility that Todos Santos has to offer.  Many tourists first discover Todos Santos on day tours from Los Cabos or La Paz, with many of them vowing to return, and spend more time, on a later vacation. 

For more complete Todos Santos information visit All About Todos Santos, our sister site.  The site will open in a new window.

Enjoy San Jose del Cabo - Please keep this part of the incredible Baja peninsula clean!