Cabo San Lucas is the perfect vacation destination. It truly has something for everyone. My family travels there every chance we get. We are lucky because it is only a short plane ride from San Diego to Los Cabos Airport. Los Cabos airport serves the surrounding area of Baja including Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. Both are excellent vacation destinations but Cabo San Lucas is more well known because of its “spring break” like atmosphere.
I’ve come a long way from when I was pregnant with Cole and we travelled to Ixtapa for vacation. I was so scared that I packed an entire suitcase of Pedialyte just in case Cameron got sick. She was only two years old. Of course, she did get sick. More sick than she has ever been, but not not from the food or water. The whole experience freaked me out and it was years before I would consider visiting Mexico again.
Kent grew up going to Cabo. He is a boater and a fisherman and Cabo is a great place for both. He finally convinced me to give Cabo a try and I have been hooked ever since. We have been so many times now that my daughter is begging to mix it up. So this summer we are headed to La Paz but I am already pushing for Thanksgiving or Xmas in Cabo.
After so many trips to Cabo I have lots of tips and suggestions for where to stay, where to eat and what to do.
Where to Stay
Hotel
We have two primary places we stay in Cabo. If it is not a holiday season, we stay at the Hilton Los Cabos. The Hilton is approximately 12 miles from the city center. It is half way between the two cities of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. We like it because it is an upscale, quiet, resort. They have a wonderful vanishing edge pool. I recommend the rate which includes breakfast. I am not a big breakfast eater but the buffet is truly amazing and I often eat breakfast and then not again till dinner. Of course, if you have small kids, breakfast is a must. Another great feature is the pool side service. The servers are so attentive and always around when you need them.
The beach at the Hilton is for experienced swimmer’s only. There is a huge sand area but the entrance to the water is sloped causing a shore break that at times is quite strong. Depending on the tides, there is a small area protected by a break wall that small kids can wade in and search for crabs. There is a local small business offering horse rides on the beach. If you are so inclined it is a fun way to spend a 1/2 hr. We spend most of our time at the pool but my husband and son enjoy swimming at the beach every time.
During the Holidays
As I mentioned above, we avoid the Hilton during holidays. We actually don’t go to large resort hotels during holidays anywhere. As is the case many places, there is limited amount of pool side chairs and during the holidays they fill up ridiculously early. Like by 5 am early. People rush to put their towels out, go back to sleep, eat and then head down to the pool. Some sight see and don’t return to their towels until the afternoon (I know. Don’t get me started). We have had similar experiences all of the world (except in Fiji) and the whole thing causes me too much anxiety. I want to relax on vacation not fight for my spot. The Hilton has tried many things to prevent this issue but so far they haven’t found a solution that works.
VRBO
Our solution to the overcrowded pool is to rent a AirBnB preferably with a private pool. For the last several trips to Cabo we rented at the Pueblo Bonita Monte Cristo Estates. The MCE are on the tip of the Baja peninsula and most homes face west. Pueblo Bonita is a private, gated, enclave of homes and condos. Most are time shares and can be rented through AirBnB, VRBO or direct through the Pueblo Bonita web site. Though, I recommend renting through one of the first two as the rates are significantly less expensive.
Montecristo Estates
We rent at the Montecristo Estates which are three bedroom, three bath homes with a private, vanishing edge pool out front. Though the cost per night is more than a hotel, we prefer to eat our breakfast in the kitchen saving at least $100/day and the private pool is priceless. One thing to note, if you decide to go, the pictures on the web sites are of various units. You are not guaranteed a specific unit. The units are rented by availability and locations vary. For example, many of the pictures show a grass patch out front. Most do not have this extra land. The decor in all the units is basically the same and all are comfortably furnished.
I like this area because it never feels too crowded. We recently went to Cabo between Christmas and New Year’s and though more crowded than usual nothing was annoyingly crowded. Pueblo Bonita has several different restaurants and a wonderful food court. Our favorite restaurant is Quivira Club House located at the Golf Club on the the beach. They have the best salsa in all of Cabo and that is saying a lot! The Club House is on the white sands and during lunch you can spot whales and dolphins playing in the surf. The beach faces west so you cannot swim at the beach because of dangerous rip currents. It makes for pristine pictures and an unobstructed view of the sunset.
As I mentioned, Pueblo Bonita is a time share property. So two important things to note in regards to that reality.
Time Share Properties Do’s & Don’ts
- They do offer an all inclusive meal plan which regardless of how you book they will try and sell you. I highly suggest you don’t buy it. There is just way too many great restaurants in town to spend all of your time eating on property.
- They will try and entice you to attend a Time Share meeting. No matter what – DON’T DO IT! They will offer you fabulous discounts on things you want to do. The discounts are really good. Still, DON’T DO IT! They will say it will only be 1.5hrs. IT WILL NOT! It will take up at least half your day as they try and break you down to buy in. I swear people buy just to get the HELL out of there. The discounts and free buffet are NOT WORTH IT!
- Best thing to do is avoid all salespeople at any of the time share properties.
There are a ton of great hotels and rentals all over Cabo. You can definitely find the perfect one for you or your family.
What to Do
Whether you are the relax on the beach type or constantly on the move, Cabo is the perfect warm weather destination for you. Honestly, there are so many things to do that a list of all the possibilities would take forever to write. Chances are if you want to do it, you can in Cabo: Zip Lining ✔ Parasailing ✔️ Cooking classes ✔️.
I am generally a relax around the pool kinda person when I head to a warm weather location. I usually determine what books I am going to read and get as far into my list as I can. Cami and Kent are the go-go type. There are tons of different tour companies in Cabo. You will be inundated by sales people as you shop the streets. You can definitely sign up when you get there unless you need a specific time then I would sign up ahead. I recommend Cactus Tours. They have every type of tour you want. They are owned by the largest time share company in Cabo and I think offer the best tours for the price.
Things to do:
- Artic Cat Baja Sur Tour – We did this tour the last time we were in Cabo and had an absolute blast. We opted for the dune buggies over the ATV’s and I am glad we did. I think they feel safer when you are driving with your children. Maybe it is just me but I felt freer to go fast. And they definitely can go fast. The route is along the beach and it is beyond beautiful. We opted for the private tour so Kent and I both drove and we had our own tour guide. They also offer group tours of approx. 10 buggies. If it is hot go in the morning.
- Cabo-Adventures offers a wonderful swim with the Dolphins experience. They have two locations. One in Downtown Cabo and another closer to San Jose del Cabo. You interact with the dolphins in a giant pool environment. I absolutely love Dolphins, so I found this whole experience magical. When we visited Ixtapa years ago when I was pregnant with Cole, I wasn’t able to do the dolphin adventure with our family because apparently dolphins know when you are pregnant and tend to get a little rough. Who knew? I have now snorkeled with Spinner Dolphins in Kauai and done this wonderful encounter in Cabo. I recommend it if you love interacting with wildlife. That smile on my face is pure joy.
- Cabo is known for its amazing fishing. My boys are obsessed with fishing. They usually fish at least once, often twice during our holiday in Cabo. Kent knows a captain of a boat who he hires every time but the marina is full of such men. A simple walk around the Marina and you will see a ton of small boats for charter to take you out fishing. I recommend a smaller boat over the large charters. If you like to fish, this is the place. This is a great segue to where to eat because every time my boys catch fish we have it prepared locally at a restaurant.
Where to Eat
I suspend any and all dieting when we go to Cabo. I love chips & guacamole and Mexico is the place to eat up! We have several favorite restaurants that we always frequent but usually add one or two new places to the list each time. So far our favorites are:
- Flora Farms – Flora Farms is just outside San Jose del Cabo, off a dirt road near the marina. You think you are driving into the beyond but then you come upon this fabulous enclave of farms and shops. The restaurant is farm fresh to table and all organic. Everything is beyond yummy! If you can, go on Tuesday and order the fried chicken. They are known for it. Reservations are required and they book up quickly. I usually make my reservation when I book our lodging. This year we are headed there for NYE. You can make reservations here.
- Another favorite is Mi Casa, a traditional Mexican restaurant with TDF Mole! I go back every year for the chicken mole. I love it but it is only served at dinner. So plan accordingly. The restaurant is outdoors but covered from the elements. The decor is kitchy and the store at front has the best selection of crosses and hearts in Mexico.
- Our favorite place for preparing our fish is Misiones de Kinos. They will prepare your catch as many different ways as you like. It is often our best meal of the trip because the fish is so fresh and the preparation is beyond good. The restaurant is located in an old mission hence the name. BTW – most of these pictures were taken without blogging in mind. So there’s that.
- Last but not least – The Office is a tourist favorite. The food is good but The Office is known for the drinks. The atmosphere is festive and the location is on the sand, steps from the water. This is another, make sure you get reservations place but you are fine to do so a day ahead.
- A couple of honorable mentions – We always love Romeo & Juliet, an Italian restaurant in downtown with the best Caesar salad and Nobu Sushi with a quick trip to the local Dairy Queen after. Now do you see why I suspend my diet?
Cabo really has something for everyone! If you love food, fishing or just want to relax you can easily satisfy your wishes. There are hotels and condos to fit every budget. Once you have gone, you will want to go back. We are headed back after Xmas and I can’t wait. The boys are already planning their fishing trip and my book list is long. We will celebrate NYE in Cabo with fabulous food and fireworks.
So whether you are planning a Thanksgiving family get-away, a girl trip or summer celebration – Cabo is a great place to go. If you haven’t been, I hope I have convinced you to check it out. See what I pack no matter where I am going here.
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