"Los Cabos" is the collective name for the cities at the tip of Baja California in Mexico. The area is called simply "Cabo" by most gringos. Cabo San Lucas (Cape St. Luke) is the larger, much more developed city. Between the time-share hawkers and the booze-drenched tourist bars, you'll think you're farther north in Tijuana -- except for the surrounding nature sports. San José del Cabo (St. Joseph of the Cape) is the smaller, more traditional community that retains some presence of its Mexican fishing village origins. The third cape of my experience is Cabo Pulmo, a unique diving spot. It's a beach hamlet about two hours' drive north on the Sea of Cortez.
Linked above and below: the iconic arches ("Los Arcos") are at Land's End, where California strides into the sea. Diving around the end (linked above and below -- get it?) means that one experiences two seas in the same dive, the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez. There is tremendous diversity of marine life on this dive.
Baja California (Lower California) is about as long as Italy, 760 miles (more than 1220 kilometers.) Its terrain is coastal desert, colored by isolated lagoons with subtropical flora and fauna. Bordered on the north by the U.S. states of California and Arizona, the peninsula comprises two Mexican states: Baja California Norte (north), and B.C. Sur (south.) The Tropic of Cancer crosses the peninsula about two-thirds of the way down its length.
The picture linked above shows the Pacific Ocean in the background washing down into the Sea of Cortez.
Up the Pacific coast about three hours is the town of Todos Santos (All Saints), a gringo-laden, artists' haven. Along that road is a compelling place named "Art & Beer". Really. I had some great seafood there, met the wonderful owners, and shot a few interesting pictures. You must go.
Diving |
Below: the three-masted schooner was used for the Geena Davis movie "Cutthroat Island" and other movies. It tours the area daily.
View from my room at the Fiesta Americana Grand, flagship of the firm (and deservedly so!)
The beach settlement of about 110 people called Cabo Pulmo (Cape Pulmo) is a splendid diving location, not least because it's the epicenter of a marine park in which fishing and development are prohibited.
Above: Since Baja California is a desert coastline, rains easily wash out the soft, sandy roads. This chasm was on the Sunset Road back to Los Cabos from Cabo Pulmo.
Sunset -- the series.
Above: small, friendly bird
Above: large, grumpy bird
The Ancient Mariner
Very unfortunately, I can tell you that the Sea&Sea MX-10 underwater camera has a fault, in that it does not advance film readily. This was the first time for me ever to take underwater photos. You can only imagine that I was heartbroken to learn that of my three rolls of film shot while diving, none had any images. Absolutely none after nine dives.
The good news is that I'll be back.