The area known as Los Cabos is one of the sunniest places in the world, with an average of 320 days of sunshine every year. It’s a perfect getaway for Oregonians looking to escape the winter gloom.
Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and the Tourist Corridor
Located at the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, there are two main towns connected by a 20-mile corridor that make up Los Cabos. In Los Cabos the more well-known area is the former fishing village of Cabo San Lucas. Today you will find a world-class marina with hundreds of vessels surrounded by all types of shopping, restaurants and infamous nightclubs. Close to town there are many hotels and resorts, ranging from mid-level to extremely expensive luxury resorts frequented by celebrities.
Medano Beach is walking distance to the excitement of Cabo San Lucas and is a swimmable beach that features famous bars such as The Office and Mango Deck. These lively places feature food, drinks and a big party with “spring break” type debauchery. All types of watersports and beach activities are available in this busy area.
The town of San Jose del Cabo is known for being almost the opposite of Cabo San Lucas. San Jose del Cabo is old-style Mexico with an artistic flair, full of galleries and farm-to-table dining experiences. A Thursday night art walk takes place every week from November to June, showcasing the work of talented artists. People love the laid-back atmosphere of San Jose del Cabo.
In between the two cities is a four-lane high-way that travels along the ocean known as the Tourist Corridor. There are beautiful views of the ocean, sandy beaches and rocky cliffs where numerous hotels and resorts are located.
What to do
The warm weather makes outdoor activities a year-round draw. It is important to note that many beaches in Los Cabos do not allow swimming as there are very strong waves and rip currents. If your hotel is on an unsafe beach, they may ask you to sign a waiver upon check-in that you will not swim in the ocean at that hotel. Because of this, most hotels and resorts have beautiful pools with views of the ocean.
If being able to swim in the ocean is a priority, be sure to choose a hotel with a swimmable beach and understand that conditions can change due to storms. Wherever you stay, there should be some swimmable beaches nearby that you can use and many water sports available. Golf is always popular, with 18 golf courses to choose from in Los Cabos. People travel from all over to take part in sportfishing, and you can charter boats of any size to fish in the Pacific Ocean or the Sea of Cortez. If you don’t want to fish, you can charter a boat to go out to the famous El Arco rock formation and beach, go snorkeling, whale watching or take a sunset cocktail cruise.
Where to stay
Choosing a hotel location will depend on what activities you want to do on your vacation. If relaxing by the pool with a good book is all you want to do, a nice resort in any location will work for you. If you want to hit the shopping and nightclubs, you need to be in Cabo San Lucas.
There are resorts that cater to families, adults-only or a spring-break party vibe.
It is important to talk to your travel agent about what matters to you so they can find the perfect hotel or resort to fit your needs.
When to go
Spring and fall are great times to visit because it is less busy, so fares are not quite so high and the weather is beautiful. A winter trip to escape cold and dreary Oregon is ideal but the prices will be higher due to demand. Summer, especially August and September, can be very hot and humid with tropical storms.
The Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) is 8 miles from the town of San Jose del Cabo and 23 miles from Cabo San Lucas. There are daily connecting flights from Eugene Airport to SJD on Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Southwest and United. Transportation from the airport to your hotel can be arranged as a part of your vacation package by your favorite travel agent. Make sure your passports are ready. Plan now for a trip to Cabo in 2024!
Meet Vacation MOM
Vacation MOM is brought to you in partnership with Eugene Airport
Donnita Bassinger has been a travel agent for three decades, and she enjoys sending families on vacations around the world. She is mom to three boys and lives in Eugene with her husband. She would love to help you plan a great vacation.
Contact Donnita at 541-913-5272 or on facebook @VacationMOM