Outdoor Splendor

Los Cabos’ adventure-laden landscape

By Nick Honachefsky

When you feel that pang of fire inside that beckons adventure, heed the call and experience Los Cabos’ outdoor fun. Go hike the mountains, dive down under the waves or fly on a steel line hundreds of feet above canyons. Here’s the comprehensive Los Cabos’ checklist for action and adventure.

There’s definitely time to lounge around and soak up the great Los Cabos vibe, but there’s also a time to earn your poolside drinks. Challenge yourself to experience some hard or soft adventure in the Los Cabos landscape!

Snorkeling, Scuba Diving and Submarines
Snorkeling is the cornerstone of Los Cabos’ underwater playground activities. Journey into the world of Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, the sole living coral system in Western North America that showcases more than 300 varied species of tropical fish and over 2,000 distinct invertebrate creatures. Outfitters such as Cabo Experience take you to snorkel the Golden Corridor, including the shallow waters of Santa María Bay and Chileno Bay, all teeming with brilliant butterfly fish, damselfish and sponges. Fin around any of the 14 dive sites located in the Marine Park, including Playa de la Sirenita or venture to the magical manta ray–inhabited waters of Las Navajas.

Take it the next level down by strapping on a scuba tank. Cabo Adventures’ scuba trips explore the Gulf of California and cater to both beginner and advanced two-tank divers. Wetheads explore Pelican Rock, Neptune’s Finger and the North Wall, where visibility can exceed 100 feet and the temperature averages between 78 to 85 F from June to December. Beginner dives off spectacular Sand Falls and Land’s End in 35 to 70 feet of water showcase jaw-dropping sandstone forms dropping 1,200 feet and will have you eye to eye with goatfish, parrotfish, spotted boxfish and lobster. A bit offshore, El Bajo and El Cantil reefs offer up amazing scenery and a possible encounter with a docile whale shark. Advanced dives of up to 130 feet are found five to eight miles offshore at El Gordo Banks, where moray eels snake around in black coral growths while majestic 15-foot-wide manta rays, docile loggerhead turtles and schooling hammerhead sharks swim around boulders blanketed with multicolored sponges and gorgonian. Ultra advanced dives are located 28 miles out and feature the wreck of the El Vencedor, where strikingly colored pelagic inhabitants like yellowfin tuna and striped marlin abound.

Transcabo takes it another level down with a mini-submarine cruise/dive, where you’ll motor eight feet under the water’s surface in a spacious, climate-controlled cabin to witness sergeant majors intermingling with yellow seahorses, purple frogfish and several species of vivid nudibranch. Motivated scuba divers can book a trip to Los Islotes at Isla Espíritu Santo, an area of two large rock islets that attracts schools of silver sardines, blue and gold king angelfish and yellow surgeonfish, all swimming among golden cup corals. The islets are home to a colony of over 200 playful Californian brown sea lions that are only too eager to put on a gregarious show for you.

Surfing and Kayaking
There are few activities as fun as harnessing Cabo’s wave power. For standard surfboarders, world-class surf breaks can be found at the East Cape; Playa Acapulquito, at Km. 28, which is a beginner’s reef break; Costa Azul’s Zippers at Km. 28 and 29 off of San José; Shipwrecks, an off-the-beaten-path break best accessed by four-wheel-drive vehicles; Playa Cabo Real at Km. 20; and Playa Cabo Bello between Km. 5 and 6.

Surf kayaking has also taken the waves by storm as kayakers glide in on three- to six-foot surf using the paddle as a rudder to take on breaks like Acapulquito and long line swells at La Roca. The Los Cabos lineup is always firing: northeast winds dominate in the winter, allowing for a larger swell, while southwest summertime winds provide consistent surf in wetsuit-free 75 to 85 F waters.

Windsurfers and kite surfers take advantage of Cabo’s famous El Norte constant 20- to 30-knot afternoon winds. Outfitters rent out windsurfing boards to sweep you along the coasts of La Ventana, Punta Chivatito, Playa Hermosa and Los Barriles. March is the prime time to harness the power of El Norte.

Baja’s Rugged Terrain
Baja’s outback is legendary. Washed-out arroyos, sandspit racetracks and rugged rocklands make it a beach buggy haven. Baja Buggys’ three-hour Xrail Buggy tour takes you through Migriño Valley’s dust riverbed to Half Moon Canyon and Tree Rock ending at the Pacific Coast. The tour makes a stop at La Candelaria, a 300-year-old aboriginal village, to soak up the local flavor. Need more speed? Try buckling into a Baja 1000 racer with Wide Open Adventures, which offers three- to seven-day tours of Baja’s untamed landscape.

Adventurers needing more comfort can roll over the rugged rocks in an air-conditioned H2 Hummer provided by Terramar Travel. Terramar offers single-day tours or multiday jaunts, which include excursions to Santiago and Cañón de la Zorra to discover natural springs and waterfalls in the area’s wild canyons, as well as primo surfing and kayaking hot spots.

For a more challenging perspective, try out Transcabo’s Spider Tour — a Baja Spider buggy running up and down at near 90-degree angles over the steep hills and surreal sand dunes off Migriño Beach. Cabo Experience’s buggy tours take you to locations such as La Roca del Árbol, a zalate tree with roots clenching a rock; Media Luna del Eco (Echo’s Half Moon Canyon), a canyon sculptured into the shape of a half moon complete with waterfall; and La Cueva de los Huesos (the Bones Cave), with the ancient bones of the indigenous Pericú Indians.

To really experience the wonder of Cabo’s countryside, take a hike. Cabo Experience offers backpacking adventures into Desert Park, the gateway to the 50,000-acre Cabo Real Ecological Preserve, to trek through the majestic Sierra de la Laguna mountains with a stop in Miraflores to witness local families crafting fresh honey and handmade tortillas. Fox Canyon is a beautiful oasis in the middle of the desert, complete with glorious rock formations and a natural freshwater pool under a waterfall. Hikes should be scheduled in the morning hours to avoid the noontime heat.

If you want to see more of the area, saddle up a horse and ride through the rugged cactus-lined landscape and spectacular cliffside seascapes. Hacienda Encantada offers three- or four-hour desert trail rides through Arroyo San Carlos or Venado Blanco and stunning sunrise trots on the shores of the Sea of Cortés. Or ride a camel on the beach with Cabo Adventures. The Outback & Camel Safari includes a ride to the desert in a Mercedes-Benz Unimog followed by a nature walk, a visit to a turtle sanctuary, an unforgettable camel ride on the beach and a tequila tasting and traditional Mexican meal overlooking the Pacific.

Rise above it all with Canopy Costa Azul. Experience the thrill of zip-lining over three miles of deep canyon terrain. Canopy Costa Azul also offers a 180-foot-high Xtreme Rappelling natural rock wall. And Cabo Adventures ups the ante with its custom-built playground that includes a Tarzan Swing, Commando Bridge, Crazy Ladder and 1,800-foot-long zip line across stunning canyon scenery.

Cruises, Sailing and Sportfishing
Ahoy, matey! You’ve always wanted to feel like a pirate, so jump on the 96-foot Buccaneer Queen, a fully operational brigantine that regales visitors with swashbuckling pirate shows, sunset cruises and moonlight sails through the Sea of Cortés, as well as snorkel tours to Chileno Beach. Traditional Mexican fare is served to complete the Baja experience.

Partygoers jump on the 144-foot, three-level catamaran Caborey for dinner cruises, snorkeling tours, margarita cruises, whale watching and international dance shows. Cabo Sailing specializes in private or shared charter trips for snorkeling excursions to majestic Santa María Bay. From late December to late March, they follow migrating finback and Bryde’s whales to witness their spectacular jumps.

Cabo is renowned as a world-class destination for striped marlin fishing. Blue marlin, wahoo, yellowfin tuna, mahimahi, king mackerel and other catches can be found about 10 to 40 miles offshore. Roosterfish and saber-toothed cubera snapper prowl the rocky grounds located one to two miles offshore. To catch a trophy, hook up with seasoned outfitters such as Pisces Sportfishing and Picante Sportfishing at the Los Cabos Marina, where charters include air-conditioned 30- to 60-foot yachts with all the top-of-the-line gear, tackle and amenities needed for a day out on the water.

You can also hire one of the local Mexican Panga boats that charge a nominal fee to fish along the Land’s End coastline. Bring back tuna, snapper or dolphin to local restaurants, such as the Mango Deck, to have them prepare it for your dinner. Prime fishing season is August through October, though fishing is generally productive year-round.

Destination Management Companies
You’re the expert at chilling out on vacation, so let the Cabo experts do the dirty work and arrange the logistics of your entire trip. Destination management companies, such as Terramar, Transcabo and Advantage Marketing & Incentives, specialize in scheduling the destinations and activities that will have you on your way to happiness sans all the tedious ground work.

Dine-outs, corporate events, nightlife excursions, golf packages, cultural tours and even wedding planning top the list of events and activities they can skillfully arrange.

AM&I Los Cabos
(624) 143-8698
www.amiloscabos.com

Terramar
(624) 142-9200
www.terramardestinations.com

Transcabo
(624) 163-7373
www.transcabo.com

Stand-up Paddle Adventures

By Mark Chesnut

The peaceful waters of the Sea of Cortés are an ideal place for stand-up paddle surfing, especially during the smaller wave months of mid-November to mid-March.

Stand-up paddle surfing (often referred to simply as “SUP”) is similar to surfing, but participants use a paddle to move through calm water while standing on an oversized surfboard. A fun challenge for a variety of skill levels, the sport is offered by a growing number of local schools and tour operators in Los Cabos. On Médano Beach, visitors can sign up for free lessons when they rent equipment at Cabo SUP, a stand-up paddle board club located one block from the Bahía Hotel & Beach Club. Families and groups of friends can easily arrange their own private SUP get-togethers here; prices range from $25 for one hour to $60 for an eight-hour rental.

Another operator, Mexico SUP, offers rentals starting at $25 for an hour, as well as expert lessons from World Paddle Association instructors for $60 and guided SUP tours that explore some of the region’s beautiful waterfront scenery.

Every November, Mexico SUP partners with Mike Doyle, owner of the Mike Doyle Surf School, to host the Los Cabos Classic Stand Up Paddle Race, a three-day event that raises funds for the Don Manuel Orantes Turtle Camp in San José del Cabo. Highlights include exciting relays and a 10-mile point-to-point race between Punta Gorda and Palmilla Beach. It’s a lot of fun, and for a good cause. www.supmexicoclassic.com

Ready for your wild adventure? Contact one of these tour operators to get started!

WATER ACTIVITIES

Baja Outback
Surfing tours, kayaking/snorkeling tours, turtle release, whale watching
(624) 142-9209
www.bajaoutback.com

Baja Wild
Turtle release, water sports, whale watching
www.bajawild.com

Baja Xplorer Expeditions
WaveRunner cruising
www.bajaxplorer.com

Buccaneer Queen
Water excursions
www.buccaneerloscabos.com

Cabo Expeditions
Ecotours
www.caboexpeditions.com.mx

Cabo Sails
Sailing, private charters
www.cabosails.com

Cabo Submarine
Day/night tours, private charters
www.cabosubmarine.com

Cabo Surf Hotel
Surfboard rentals
www.cabosurfhotel.com

Cabo Yacht Management
Luxury yacht charters
www.caboyachtmanagement.com

Caborey
Luxury cruises, parasailing, helicopter tours
www.caborey.com

Deep Blue
Diving
www.cabodeepblue.com

Eco Cat
Ecotours
www.caboecotours.com

La Princesa
Sailing cruises
www.cabosports.com

Secrets Marquis Los Cabos
Sailing charters
www.secretsresorts.com

Mike Doyle Surf School
Surfing lessons
www.cabosurfshop.com

Ocean Riders
Zodiac tours, whale watching
www.oceanriders.com.mx

Oceanus
Mini-submarine rides
www.oceanusloscabos.com.mx

Pez Gato
Snorkeling/sailing tours, whale watching
www.pezgato.com

Sunderland
Pirate ship cruises
(624) 143-2714
www.pirateshipcabo.com.mx

SunRider Tours
Whale-watching cruises
www.sunridertours.com

Talofa Tall Ship
Sailing cruises
www.talofatallship.com

Tío Sports
Water sports, whale watching, sportfishing
www.tiosports.com

Tlaloc
Sailing cruises
www.tlaloccabo.com

LAND ACTIVITIES

Baja Buggys
Buggy tours
www.bajabuggys.com

Baja Outback
Hiking, Hummer tours and Jeep tours
(624) 142-9209
www.bajaoutback.com

Cabo Adventures
Zipline tours, dolphin center, ATV tours, America’s Cup sailing
www.cabo-adventures.com

Cabo Karting Center
Formula 1 race circuit
www.wideopencabo.com

Cactimundo
Botanical garden
www.cactimundo.com

Cuadra San Francisco
Horseback riding
www.loscaboshorses.com

Desertica
Multi-adventure park
www.desertica.com.mx

Harley-Davidson
Motorcycle rentals
(624) 143-3337

Ride Baja Offroad
Motorcycle adventures
www.bajaride.com

Wide Open Baja
Chenowth racers
www.wideopenbaja.com

Wild Canyon Adventures
Zip-lining
www.wildcanyon.com.mx

AIR ACTIVITIES

Aéreo Calafia
Plane tours to Magdalena Bay
www.aereocalafia.com.mx

Cabo Sky Tours
Ultralight glider tours
(624) 144-1294

Skydive El Sol
Skydiving
www.skydiveelsol.com

Why is Cabo so much fun? There is so much to do! Click here for a list of dive, watersports, fishing and tour operators. You'll also find links to Cabo's world class golf courses, spas, adventure tours, horseback riding, wedding coordinators and cruises.