I was feeling in DIRE need of a vacation, even just for a little bit. I’m fortunate enough to live in sunny California but lately it’s been real drab, windy and overcast even in mid-summer! I was starting to crave the humidity, sun, palm trees, and the feeling of sand between my toes.

So myself, sister, and bride-to-be were rewarded with a trip to LOS CABOS, MEXICO! A nice decent getaway which isn’t too far from home. Only about a 3 hour or so flight from SFO, San Francisco International Airport. We flew in for a long weekend trip for 4 nights, 5 day’s for our girlfriend’s bachelorette party.

 

So here are some of my tips and recommendations for Baja California, LOS CABOS. Let’s begin…

So, upon landing the air is immediately different. It feels sticky, and hot, and the air even smells different from home. Left a little disoriented from 3 hours of flight time, we follow the other passengers like a herd of sheep.

After we picked up our luggage and headed over straight to customs, there’s a guy wearing a serious looking police uniform asks what your business is, we just say “vacation” and he welcomes us with his hand directing us to the next door “Welcome to Mexico, enjoy your stay.”

We walked through some doors and next and will be BOMBARDED by 5+ men asking “Where you will be staying?” It was scary and overwhelming because 1) we don’t speak the language and 2) the thought of the movie “Taken” with Liam Neeson in the back of my mind and how clueless we are when it’s just myself and two other girls traveling in a foreign country; Don’t talk to strangers and don’t share taxi cabs just because “they’re so damn expensive”.

These first group of people will introduce you to another person behind a counter or desk, a sort of welcoming committee who gives you a map of the area and a quick overview of where the beaches and best locations are and different activities to do. They are very nice and very friendly. This person will offer you free activities and excursions like boat tours or parasailing in exchange for your time in watching one of their “presentations.” The offer sounds tempting because all you hear is “FREE”, but DON’T DO IT! The presentation is either for a timeshare or condo sales presentation. UNLESS you REALLY plan to buy a vacation home in a foreign country you barely just stepped on, it is just a huge nightmare headache waste of time. Learn from my mistakes, I have single-handedly fallen into this tourist trap while traveling to Puerto Vallarta, which is also in another tourist area part of Mexico with my parents. Just get out straight of the airport to get to your ride straight to your hotel. Save yourself the headache and don’t be tempted by the free activities and excursions they will offer you.

Mexico Travel Tip: Do not lose your visa! We were reminded multiple times otherwise you’ll be spending an extra few days in Mexico before you can go home.

STAY

There are tons of all inclusive resorts within the area but since this was a bachelorette adult’s only party, we stayed at the Marquis Los Cabos Adult’s Only All-inclusive resort. Formerly known as Secrets. This place is AMAZING. This place had THE MOST beautiful entrance and lobby area, just open air with the ocean breeze blowing through this massive tall archway and an infinity pool overlooking the beach and ocean.

 

 

I don’t think I’d want to stay any other way after having the all- inclusive experience. Pros: You don’t have to carry your wallet around and pay for each meal or each drink. All those little expenses can add up pretty quickly. So we FULLY took advantage; 2 breakfasts a day, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners with snacks, desserts and beverages in between. Pretty much eating or drinking every hour and anticipating the next meal or snack.

 

 

The hotel also offers great entertainment and games , depending on which day of the week it is. We saw fire breathers/dancers and even had a Mexican Cultural Dance show during the time of our stay.

 

The staff were super attentive and friendly and many of the locals speak pretty decent English. They really took care of us well at Marquis and the staff make you feel like family if you’ve stayed there long enough.

 

GETTING AROUND

Our hotel was a good location, 1/2 way between the airport and 1/2 way towards the city. We were quoted an approximate cab ride cost from our hotel would be about 350 pesos. And if you decide to take public transportation, via the bus, it would only cost about be $2 USD or 30-50 pesos, approximately. So getting around is just your preference.

Mexico Travel Tip: Widely accepted USD dollar bills for tip. 1 USD is = to approximately 15-18 pesos depending where you go for money exchange. We’d tip a couple dollars $2-3 USD for small meals like dessert and snacks and for dinner a generous tip would be $5 USD per server.

 

THINGS TO DO

The beaches are clear and blue BUT not all beaches are safe to swim. The waves are huge and rough. Some areas of the beach had rougher sands, almost like pebbles, other areas smooth. The dangerous areas of the beach would be marked with black flags which is NOT safe for swimming.

The beaches which are designated safe for swimmers include Playa del Medano, Chilleno Beach, Santa Maria, and Lover’s Beach.

If you decide to do just one thing your entire stay, take a glass bottom boat tour to Land’s End. The tour is very quick and only about an hour duration with boats leaving about every 15 minutes from morning until sunset. It includes a view of the famous El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, Window to the Pacific, and Lover’s and Divorce beach.

 

 

We also had the opportunity to try out snorkeling. We saw beautiful tropical fish and our tour guide was skilled enough to catch a blowfish and starfish and I touched a blow fish for the first time ever! Our tour guide caught the blowfish and took our pictures with it; but, remembering from Elementary school or National Geographic somewhere that blowfish only BLOW-UP when scared,  we all felt bad afterward because we were scaring and agitating the poor little thing.

 

 

WHERE TO PARTY

 

The huge party scene is DOWNTOWN, literally the clubs and bars are steps away from the water’s edge of Medano Beach. The locals know it as “THE OFFICE”; the name is pretty clever. It’s a totally, hugely different vibe from where we were staying. Our place is very relaxed, quiet, tranquil, slow while in the downtown area of Cabo you get just the opposite. BLASTING house and trance EDM music, people getting shots poured down their throats, tons of vendors wearing all white selling all sorts of goods from silver jewelry, massages, bracelets, to hair braiding. It’s pretty cool if you’re in college and partying or on Spring Break, but it was pretty crazy and wild and it was a weekday and off-season.

 

 

Some popular spots to party and drink which were frequently mentioned are the Mango Deck, Cachet Beach Club, Marlin’s, and the famous Cabo Wabo Cantina.

Overall Cabo is a fun place for all ages and all sorts of fun whether if you wanna just veg out and fry on the beach like bacon or party-hardy all night, or spend time with the family. There are accomodations for everyone.

-Stay Curious.