#CABOSTRONG #UNSTOPPABLE: These are the hashtags–and the spirit–that can be found in Los Cabos, Mexico these days. Hurricane Odile struck hard in September but this resilient region is already back on its feet. A mere two months later and the majority of resorts and businesses had reopened or were well on their way. There are some resorts (the Grand Mayan Los Cabos for example) that weren’t so lucky but those are already under reconstruction as well.
Mid-November also saw the third annual Los Cabos Film Festival come to town bringing 4,000 industry execs and film lovers from the US, Canada, Mexico, and all over the world to the region just when the revenue is so sorely needed. The Secretary of Tourism for Baja California Sur, Rubén Reachi, addressed the crowd on opening night of LCIFF, thanking everyone for their participation in not only the festival but in rebuilding Los Cabos. He went on to say, “Our motto of ‘Los Cabos is unstoppable’ is a real testament to the spirit of each of you and those who are out here making Los Cabos the best destination in Mexico.”
At a LCIFF press conference, actress Reese Witherspoon, whose film Wild opened LCIFF (and to wonderful reviews) spoke about her fondness for Los Cabos, the food, the people, the views, and how she loves to come with her kids. Several well-known Hollywood actors have homes in the area and have been active in helping raise funds for rebuilding and aiding local people affected.
I spoke with the director of the festival, Alonso Aguilar-Castillo, about the importance of the LCIFF to Los Cabos and he pointed out the importance of Los Cabos to the LCIFF. It’s fundamental and an organic transition from Los Angeles, plus they like to do business there. When discussion came up about what to do after the hurricane, it was a unanimous decision by the board to not cancel or reschedule. The town is ready for great film and great cultural events. He expressed gratitude to the local people for hosting the festival and stressed the need to shine a light on Los Cabos at this time.
Located at the bottom of the Baja peninsula, Los Cabos is a diverse landscape and seascape offering multiple experiences and activities. The two main towns are Cabo San Lucas—swankier and more geared toward tourists—in the west and San José del Cabo—a quieter and more traditional-feeling Mexican town—to the east. The two are connected by a roughly 30 minute stretch of road called The Corridor which runs along the coast and is dotted with resorts, restaurants and businesses. New to Los Cabos in the past year are improvements to the airport, improved roadways (cutting the driving time in half between Cabo San Lucas, Todos Santos and La Paz), and a new convention centre (5,000 meetings, 3,000 banquets). Hotel rooms available: 14,000 rooms with 1300 more rooms under development. New hotels scheduled for 2015 openings include: Ritz-Carlton, Park Hyatt, and JW Marriott (still on target for opening despite the hurricane).
There were a total of 803.7 foreign arrivals in 2012 with more than 250 flights per week into the region, 24 to US and Canadian gateway cities. There were 400,000 cruise arrivals in 2012. (Cabo San Lucas is an anchor port so there’s a smaller number of arrivals with less time on shore.)
WHERE TO STAY
There are a seemingly unlimited number of hotel/resort/vrbos in Los Cabos, with options for any budget. Unlimited all-inclusives are quite popular and here are two choices on the higher end.
RIU Palace Cabo San Lucas is an all-inclusive (even alcohol) that feels more casual and family-oriented than some of the other resorts. The sound of crashing waves can be heard throughout the grounds and you can watch the cruise ships come in. There are lots of tours via bicycle, horse or ATV offered and even the basic room is large with a separate sitting area.
Check here for special deals on all RIU hotels; And RIU Hotels have a special agent website with more deals and many tools to help with booking and follow-up.
The Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf and Spa Resort is an all-inclusive (including alcohol; adults-only) with an emphasis on Luxury (“Unlimited luxury”) that opened in December 2013, but reopened November 15, 2014 after hurricane damage was repaired (its sister property, Secrets Marquis Los Cabos, reopens December 20, 2014). Located in the Puerto Los Cabos area, 7 minutes to San José del Cabo by car and roughly 40 minutes to Cabo San Lucas, Secrets offers golf, spa, pools and beach, and sumptuous grounds. It has gorgeous wedding facilities, both indoor and an outdoor gazebo, and is now hosting roughly 2 or 3 weddings a month. The conference center holds 840 cocktail, 420 sit-down. The details are high-end and the overall feeling is that of a cool oasis in a desert setting.
The property has 500 rooms total, 384 junior suites, 18 master suites, and 2 presidential suites. Five of the buildings are standard, three preferred with suites with outdoor jacuzzis. The first floor rooms have direct room access to a swimming pool that circles each building. There is a 21-room spa with tons of options from massages to facials for both single and couples. There are five restaurants, including one buffet restaurant and seafood Oceana, offering casual seaside elegance.
Secrets Puerto Los Cabos is currently offering one-year anniversary special rates, upgrades and offers. Agent log-in: www.amrewards.amragents.com
WHERE TO EAT
Even with an all-inclusive plan, trying something new for dinner is always a nice change. Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo both offer varied choices, both high-end and casual.
Situated high on a cliff overlooking the bay and the famous Cabo arch, Sunset da Mona Lisa offers unparalleled views, but, like the name says, it’s especially well-placed to view the sunset. This romantic, Italian/seafood restaurant has become a popular place to pop the question over a plate of shrimp tails. Dinner for two with wine costs around $150-175 USD and reservations are strongly recommended.
Located in the heart of downtown San José del Cabo, Casa Natalia Hotel’s Mi Cocina offers Mexican-Mediterranean fusion fare with small plates and an emphasis on fresh ingredients.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of tourists and fishermen in the Cabo San Lucas Marina is La Casa Country, specializing in steaks and Mexican food. Guacamole is made right at your table in a flurry of hands and avocado meeting with mortar and pestle.
WHAT TO DO
It can get tiring, just lying around a pool all day but there’s certainly enough in Los Cabos to keep you entertained. Of course you’ll want to take the short boat ride out to see the iconic Cabo San Lucas arch up close , a trip offered by numerous companies and individuals at the marina, but what next?
Wild Canyon Adventures offers a totuga zipline course across a desert canyon just a short dirt road ride off the Corridor. It may not be that far out into the wilderness but it feels like you’re in another world. The way the course is laid out, you can try a short zip first to see if it’s for you. It may seem like a daunting prospect but it’s actually not as hard as you might think. And even if you chicken out, there’s a small animal preserve, camel rides, ATVs, and a café to keep you occupied.
If you’d like to help, special funds have been set up to help the local residents of the Los Cabos area, as well as the workers at the hotels and resorts, many of whom lost not just salaries but also their homes. You can contact the individual hotels/resorts for more information. The ICF, the Red Cross, Bisbee’s and many others are working hard to help those affected. The LCIFF helped too—sponsors of the festival have donated thousands to a national trust to rebuild homes. The airport alone donated almost $5m US dollars. And of course just visiting the Los Cabos region and spending money there—as well as spreading the word that Los Cabos is still going strong—helps the region.
Evidence of the hurricane is still visible in Los Cabos, but broken signs and fallen palms are no match for the indefatigable spirit of the Los Cabos people: Los Cabos are Strong, Los Cabos are Unstoppable.
Visit Los Cabos, www.visitloscabos.travel