“We have beauty – desert, mountain, ocean – and, more importantly, the best weather in the entire world,” says Sergio Castillo, PGA Director of Golf at Puerto Los Cabos, explaining why Los Cabos is such a mecca for golfers.

12 more photos available

Hotel California – This hotel has become something of a curiosity because of the famous Eagles song, but visitors to this iconic yet intimate Todos Santos landmark — there are only eleven rooms and suites — will appreciate the authentic Mexican décor and individually appointed lodgings, all of which boast original paintings from the local artist’s colony.

Image: Palmas de Cortez

Costa Baja Resort and Spa – Luxury arrived in La Paz with this stunning resort, which features an onsite marina, a pampering spa, first-class dining at Steinbeck’s, and world-class golf courtesy of legendary major champion and designer Gary Player.

Cabo Pulmo Beach Resort – Cabo Pulmo is associated with the oldest and largest living coral reef in the Western Hemisphere, and the off-shore marine sanctuary draws many snorkelers and divers to this sleepy little East Cape village. The Cabo Pulmo Beach Resort is the best local accommodation, with affordable casitas and eco-bungalows, an onsite dive shop, and excellent food and drink at the Coral Reef Restaurant.

Palmas de Cortez – How many resorts offer accommodation packages that include big game Sea of Cortés fishing charters? Answer:  not too many. This excellent Los Barriles resort is one of the best, and also offers a nine-hole executive golf course, windsurfing and kiteboarding rentals, and gorgeous veranda views of Bahia Las Palmas.

Ventana Bay Resort- Located north of El Sargento and south of Baja Sur’s capital city of La Paz, this solar-powered eco-resort draws curious and adventurous travelers –those who want to get from the popular tourist areas — as well as kiteboarding and windsurfing enthusiasts who come for the El Norte winds that blow down the Sea of Cortés from November through March.

In Los Cabos this spirit is found in the high-pitched whistle of the camote vendor as steam escapes from the long-stemmed pipe rising from his cart’s built-in oven, alerting people for blocks around to the presence of his sweet potato treats. It is found in corn husk-wrapped tamales, and in the raspados sold on the beach, crushed ice treats drizzled with flavored syrups like rompope or frambuesa, and a favored summer poultice to be applied against the burn of tropical heat.

Image: Alejandro Linares Garcia

The carts and stands of the roving vendors are pushed, pulled, sometimes attached to bicycles, and in Cabo San Lucas are even to be found on the water, where pangas pull up to the boats so that watch-bound sailors may enjoy an afternoon treat. Fresh fruit stands tend to remain in place throughout the day, whereas chicharron sellers seem to be constantly in motion, pushing their carts, ringing their bells, and crisscrossing the city streets with bags hung on hooks like ballpark cotton candy, a small umbrella often affixed to protect their precious cargo.

Chicharrones are perhaps the most ubiquitous of all the local street treats. These fried pork rinds are available in various shapes and flavors, and are liberally bathed in Salsa Valentina, often poured from a plastic Coca-Cola bottle. Potato chips slathered in Valentina are another favorite, and if you happen to duck into a nearby cantina for a bit of shade and a cold beer, this versatile Guadalajaran salsa is also a popular condiment for palomitas de maiz (otherwise known as popcorn).

Since aviator and entrepreneur Rod Rodriguez opened Palmilla in the 1950s, providing five-star resort accommodations and superb game-fishing opportunities for an upscale clientele that included Hollywood movie stars such as Bing Crosby, Clark Gable, and John Wayne, Los Cabos has seen a steadily increasing influx of anglers seeking to try their luck with the large number of enormous billfish that inhabit the Sea of Cortés.

Image: Slippery Lizzard

The top tournaments are held during the summer and autumn months (October is traditionally the best month for blue marlin, and is when Bisbee’s hosts their jackpot-laden Black and Blue Tournament), but on a year-round basis visiting fishermen can get their hooks into everything from amberjack and bonito to dorado, sailfish, and yellow and bluefin tuna, as well as the blue, black, and striped varieties of marlin.

There are many top quality charter companies in the area, ranging from one-boat operations like Fly Hooker, which are focused on servicing a small clientele with maximum effectiveness, to those such as ABY Charters, Slippery Lizzard, and Pisces Sportfishing that offer a fleet of available vessels, allowing guests to pick the boat type and size (most of the larger companies have boats that range in capacity from roughly 2 to 12 anglers) that works best for their charter requirements.

Although the purchase of fishing licenses is mandatory in Los Cabos, the majority of local companies offer a choice when it comes to “bare boat” or “full boat” options, with the former offering a reduced price point if you provide your own bait, tackle, food, and beverages. Most of the restaurants in the area, by the way, feature “you hook it and we’ll cook it” policies, and are glad to prepare your catch anyway you like it for dinner.

Playa Hotelera, or Hotel Beach, begins just west of the San Jose Estuary with a mile long expanse of golden sand beach that is home to many of the larger all-inclusive resorts such as Cabo Azul, Grand Mayan, Barcelo Palace Deluxe, Royal Solaris, and Hola Grand Faro. With its stunning architecture and artfully appointed villas, Cabo Azul is one of the crown jewels of Playa Hotelera. The resort is particularly popular for weddings and renewal of vow ceremonies, thanks in large part to their beautiful five-story open-air chapel, and excellent reception areas.

Image: Cabo Azul

Playa Acapulquito, also known as Old Man’s Beach, lies farther west than Playa Hotelera, and is known both for its excellent surfing and its even more remarkable surf-themed lodging, Cabo Surf Hotel. This intimate 22-room boutique resort seamlessly blends high end villas with surfer chic appointments, and some of the best and most romantic dining available anywhere in Los Cabos courtesy of 7 Seas Seafood Grille. The Cabo Surf Shop will take care of your board rentals after breakfast.

Punta Palmilla, or Palmilla Point, is located at the southwestern corner of San José’s bay, and is home to perhaps the most famous of all Los Cabos resorts, One & Only Palmilla. This iconic hotel has changed a lot since the 1950s, when Hollywood stars would fly down for a chance at bagging over-sized marlin and sailfish. Sixty years later, the Hollywood stars fly down for oceanfront suites, pampering spa services, and golf at one of the world’s top ranked courses, Palmilla Golf Club.

1. Cabo Del Sol – “This was my chance to design a Pebble Beach,” said Jack Nicklaus when asked about his design of Cabo Del Sol’s Ocean Course, which opened in 1994. “The best piece of golf property I’ve ever seen.” The comparisons with Pebble Beach are valid. This stunning world-class course features seven holes that border the Sea of Cortez, and is currently ranked as one of the 100 best courses in the world by Golf Magazine. The 7,091 yard layout features a magnificent mix of dramatic elevation changes, tough bunkers, challenging greens, and spectacular views. The Tom Weiskopf designed Desert Course is sometimes overshadowed by its famous neighbor, but is excellent in its own right, and has been ranked as the sixth best course in Mexico by Golf Digest.

Image: Cabo Del Sol.

2. Cabo Real – Like Cabo Del Sol’s Ocean Course, Cabo Real opened in 1994 to rave reviews from the international golfing community. Twice chosen to host PGA Senior Grand Slam events, this 7,037 yard design from Robert Trent Jones II fuses sublime natural beauty – the verdant greens of palm trees and cactus offset against the deep blue waters of the Sea of Cortez – with some charming back-nine eccentricities: pool-deck bikini views, a forced beach carry, and whales occasionally breaching while you’re trying to putt. This is certainly one of Mexico’s most memorable, not to mention challenging, courses.

3. Puerto Los Cabos – What do you get when you combine golfing legends like Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman? The answer is Puerto Los Cabos, with the front-nine Mission Course designed by Norman, and the back-nine Ocean Course laid out by Nicklaus. It is expected that the individual designs will eventually be expanded to 18 holes each, but for now, at least, visiting golfers have the chance to sample the contrasting philosophies of two all-time greats in one great round.

4. Cabo San Lucas Country Club – This stately old course features a lengthy 7,220 yard design from Roy Dye, with graceful fairways bordered by bougainvillea, cardon cacti, and palo blanco trees. But despite the colorful trimmings, and the beautiful desert and mountain vistas, the most breathtaking views are those of El Arco and The Sea of Cortez.

5. Club Campestre – Situated in the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range, Club Campestre is a relative newcomer to the Los Cabos golfing scene, but has quickly become a popular play due to the stellar sea and desert views, as well as the challenging nature of the layout. Like other Nicklaus designed courses in the area, it features plenty of nerve-wracking greens, as well as numerous elevation changes and uneven stances.

CaboRey – The largest and most luxurious dinner cruise ship in Los Cabos, CaboRey is a triple-decked catamaran that measures over 140′ from stem to stern, and has a capacity of up to 580 guests. It isn’t size alone, however, that makes the boat or its tours so impressive. Live music, unlimited margaritas, full sit-down dinners, and a riveting postprandial Las Vegas-style floor show featuring traditional Latin American song and dance numbers have all helped to establish CaboRey as the king of the local cats.

Image: Cabo Eco Tours

Manta – The beautiful 57’ catamaran Manta is part of the high-end Charter de Los Cabos fleet, and features a spacious cabin, plenty of great music, and excellent service from their first-class staff. Enjoy swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, or just relaxing on deck with stunning Sea of Cortez views.

Cabo Escape – The undisputed best of the local booze cruises, this 70′ cat offers high energy music, games, dancing, and open bars during their snorkel and sunset trips. Late night party-types should check availability on their periodic floating nightclub tours. No wallflowers allowed.

EcoCat – The best bargain in Cabo for snorkel trips and sunset tours, EcoCat is a French-built catamaran with excellent amenities, including a large salon-style cabin with huge viewing windows, and a trampoline sundeck. One of the most stable rides available, and an excellent choice for seasonal whale watching.

Sunrider – The Sunrider 100 was built in 2010, with 37′ of beam and two spacious decks to accommodate up to 250 revelers for afternoon snorkel tours to scenic Santa Maria and Chileno Bays, as well as sunset dinner tours along the rocky outcropping of Land’s End. All their tours include excellent Mexican buffets.

Don Sanchez Cantina – Don Sanchez is the gold standard by which margaritas in Los Cabos are judged. Literally. For $2000 U.S. you can enjoy their gold margarita, made with Don Julio 1942 Premium Anejo, Cointreau, Damiana, Grand Marnier, and fresh lime juice. served in a massive 100 oz. fishbowl made from hand-blown glass in Guadalajara, and enjoyed through a 22 kt. gold straw on which your name and the Don Sanchez logo are engraved. The silver margarita features Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Blanco Tequila, a straw made from pure silver, and is somewhat more value oriented at $500 U.S. The glasses and straws are keepsakes, by the way, and reservations for these specialty drinks must be made three days in advance in order to allow for preparation and engraving.

Image: Habanero’s Gastro Grill & Tequila Bar

Hacienda El Coyote – Hacienda is known both for their delicious dishes from the different states of Mexico, as well as the enormous amount of selections available at their on-site Tequila Lounge. If you believe the old adage that a margarita is only as good as the tequila from which it is made, then the close to 200 premium tequilas available here offer many fruitful and delicious opportunities for cocktail perfection.

Cabo Lounge – This is everybody’s favorite local bar, and the specialty of the house is the Rainbow Rita For Two, a cocktail for couples in a truly committed relationship. You have to be committed to finish this delicious frozen blend of tequila, triple sec, grenadine, blue curacao, orange juice, sweet and sour, and lime juice.

Caborey – Why not enjoy your margaritas with spectacular sunset views of El Arco aboard Cabo’s most luxurious cruise ship? Not only is the bar open, but there is live music, hors d’oeuvres, a sushi bar, and all the scenic splendor of the Sea of Cortez from the upper deck of this lavishly appointed catamaran.

Habanero’s - One of the benchmarks of the Los Cabos dining scene, Habanero’s offers and unbeatable array of tequilas, margaritas, and other handcrafted cocktails. Try top shelf margaritas with tequila from premium producers like Don Julio, Siete Leguas, Maestro Tequilero, Chinaca, and Arette.

Los Tres Gallos – This restaurant boasts perhaps the best traditional cuisine in all of Los Cabos, served up in a charming courtyard dining area by a friendly and professional staff. Everything on the menu is delicious (not to mention affordable, with all entrees checking in at under $14 US), but the mole dishes are magical. Mole is a sauce made from chocolate and chile peppers, among other ingredients, and is one of the staples by which Mexicans judge the quality of restaurants. Los Tres Gallos, or The Three Roosters, gets top grades. This is the type of place locals take out-of-towners when they want to impress them, and the restaurant has increased in popularity to the point that reservations are definitely recommended during the high season (January through April).

Image: Vic Vertigo.

Felix’ - Felix’ is the evening incarnation of Mama’s Royal Cafe, locally lauded as the area’s top breakfast spot, and famed for their pan francaise (french toast). Felix shares the same beautiful bougainvillea-rimmed courtyard dining area and the same excellent live music as Mama’s, but instead of omelets and breakfast burritos Felix’ specializes in traditional Mexican cuisine. Menu highlights include Chiles en Nogada (a dish from Puebla featuring chiles stuffed with pork, herbs, fruit, and spices), Pozole (sometimes called “the national dish of Mexico, pozole is a pork and hominy stew renowned as a hangover cure), and Puerco con Piña (pork, pineapple, chile and bell peppers).

Hacienda El Coyote – This restaurant and tequila lounge is located near the entrance to Pedregal (Cabo San Lucas’ wealthy hilltop enclave), and offers a wide variety of Mexican standards representing states such as Jalisco, Oaxaca, Yucatán, and Puebla. Try the Cochinita Pibil, a traditional dish from the Yucatán Peninsula made with pork and achiote (a paste used in regional cuisine that is derived from achiote seeds). Also excellent are the Oaxacan tamales and lobster Ensenada-style. After dinner, sample from their stock of over 200 tequilas.

After entering Capella’s grounds via romantic torch-lit tunnel, enjoy the ultimate in romantic dining at El Farallon. Perched on the cliffs of Pedregal, the tables here seem poised just above the Pacific Ocean waves crashing on the rocks below. The tropical ambiance is heightened by the warm glow of lanterns, mild coastal breezes, and the best of Los Cabos’ fresh seafood. The menu is market-style, with diners choosing their own fish, which are then weighed and sent to the chef to be grilled with an assortment of chiles, and served after the soup and salad courses. The concept for Don Manuel’s, the signature restaurant at Capella Pedregal, is also rather interesting, and consists of traditional Mexican fine-dining which revolves around a large, open kitchen.

Image: Sheraton Hacienda Del Mar

The De Cortez Grill & Restaurant is located at Sheraton’s Hacienda del Mar, and is situated along the coast of the corridor than runs between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. The Sea of Cortez views are spectacular at De Cortez (you will occasionally see whales breaching during the winter months), and the cuisine is a delicious fusion of Mexican and Mediterranean flavors. This is a mandatory stop for steak lovers, and has a well-earned reputation for romantic seaside atmosphere and memorable meals.

Casa Dorada Resort & Spa owns a privileged spot along Medano Beach, and their excellent 12 Tribes features stunning beachfront views in chic, elegant surroundings, with a menu that is an interesting mix of international cuisines inspired by the Biblical twelve tribes, and features fine dining staples like steak and lobster. Dine on the outdoor terrace overlooking Land’s End and the Sea of Cortez, and enjoy first-class food and service as you connect with the roots of human heritage via their menu of  globally influenced favorites.

Other onsite restaurants worth exploring include Bahia Hotel‘s Bar Esquina, and Mi Cocina at Casa Natalia in San Jose del Cabo.