Outdoor Adventures – The Sporting Life in Los Cabos
Heed the call of the wild in Los Cabos
By Nick Honachefsky
In a luxurious land filled to the brim with five-star accommodations, fancy glasses full of minty mojitos and sumptuous surroundings on all sides, it can be easy to get lulled into a sense of complacency. After all, why bother altering perfection? But in Los Cabos you feel it deep down inside your soul — that urging to breathe life fast and full, among rugged cactus-lined trails, ingrained in the rumble of engines across arroyo pits and the surging salt spray of the Pacific Ocean on your face.
Follow the wild spirit inside! It’s simply not possible to deny yourself the craving for a rush of adrenaline that the vast and varied playground of Los Cabos and the Baja Peninsula offer. Simply put: Los Cabos is pure adventure — if you play your cards right.
Off the Beaten Path: Off-Roading, Backpacking, Mountain Biking and Hiking. Viewed from the sky above, the Baja countryside resembles a chaotic spider web with zillions of dirt trails, arroyo washouts and sandpits that crisscross the outback terrain. What gives? Off-road adventure — plain and simple. The Los Cabos backdrop is the perfectly set stage for 4x4 enthusiasts and dune buggy gearheads searching for the ultimate off-road challenge.
To do some runnin’ and gunnin’, fully equipped Chenowth race buggies are available to rent out and fly over the humps, bumps and jumps of the washed-out arroyos and sandpit racetracks. Wide Open Adventures offers four- to seven-day full-on tours with official Baja 1000 racers, guided by five-time Baja 1000 champion Ryan Thomas. Learn how to drive the outback like a pro — buckle up for this one!
Those needing a little more comfort can contact Terramar Travel to sit in a luxurious new Hummer H2 to do some rugged yet refined exploring of the outback. Terramar offers up single-day tours, or multi-day three- to seven-day jaunts, which include excursions to Santiago and Cañón de la Zorra, where drivers discover natural springs and waterfalls in the area’s wild canyons. If you want to scale down your 4x4 mentality just a bit or simply get warmed up to ride with the big boys, then hit the Cabo Karting Center to race souped-up karts around on a Formula 1 designed racetrack.
For a little silent solitude, mountain biking opportunities flourish in the Baja outback as outfitters such as Tropical Tours engage in a three-hour session along a 2.6-mile long trail that weaves through Baja’s Sahuaro cacti forest. Included are bike, helmets, beverages, light meals and a guide. Spectacular scenery of the East Cape confronts you on all levels highlighted by the area’s hidden gem: Desert Park, the gateway to the 50,000-acre Cabo Real Ecological Preserve. Thousands of washed-out arroyos make the biking playground a challenge for even the most experienced bikers.
Flat out, nothing gets you closer to Baja’s beauty than backpacking, where an extraordinary hike up the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range will serenade your senses with rushing waterfalls, fragrant desert flowers and indigenous wildlife consisting of subtropical birds, mule deer and even mountain lions. The best backpacking season is late fall, after the rainy season, when the streams are full. Hikes should be scheduled early, between 6 and 10 a.m., to enjoy the coastal onshore breeze and to stay out of the oven-like heat of the noontime hours. Outfitters will charge US$30 to $50 for a guided hike and are available in Santiago and Miraflores. The gemstone of a mountain hike on the Sierra de la Laguna trail is a stop at the hot springs, a literal oasis of refreshing sweet water pools beckoning a cooling jump in! If you’ve got a little mountain goat in you, drop the backpack and try rock-climbing some of the most interesting rock formations on the west coast. The Sierra de la Laguna dry forest offers amazing views and challenging climbs in Baja California’s highest elevation.
For a seaside cliff adventure, Baja Outback takes you to one of the most beautiful and dramatic places to hike in all of Los Cabos. Just a few minutes from your hotel, the incredible rock formations next to the amazing vegetation of the Baja Peninsula will make this trip an unforgettable experience. During the hike, you’ll enjoy the best view of The Corridor, arriving to a spectacular natural cave to enjoy a snack. The excursion also includes a stop at a fantastic snorkeling beach, Chileno Bay — where you’ll enjoy the flora and fauna and learn about the different species underwater and above the water.
By Horse, of Course. For a real feel of the Spanish settlers that colonized the area, hop on a horse and ride roughshod through rugged cactus-lined landscapes. Select equestrian centers such as Mi Cabo, operating out of the Meliá Cabo Real, offer three- to four-hour desert trail rides through the Arroyo San Carlos or Venado Blanco to experience the desert and its many mysteries. With the natural sounds of the horse’s gait, you’ll be able to sneak up close to see many quail, iguanas, coyotes, wild horses and rabbits. And if you’re looking to impress that certain someone, horseback tours almost always involve a trot along the Pacific beaches, where you can ride freely just steps from the crashing surf, and experience a magical seaside view from the ancient stone formations on the cliffside — a flawless place for romance!
Ahoy Matey! Ship Cruising. Channel your inner Jack Sparrow and hit the high seas for some swashbuckling ship cruising. The area’s pirates are nothing but a memory now, but their seafaring spirit lives on in Los Cabos’ waters. Get a real feel for how Hollywood does pirates on the 96-foot Buccaneer Queen, a fully working brigantine that has been featured in many Hollywood blockbusters but now has the duty of entertaining guests with pirate shows, moonlight sails, snorkeling tours to Chileno Beach and spectacular sunset cruises in the Sea of Cortés. Don’t worry; there will be plenty of rum and mixed drinks served on board to satisfy the pirate in you. A traditional Mexican lunch is also provided on your return journey. Cabo Aventuras takes it a bit more leisurely and offers up the 47-foot Maria sailboat to glide over serene waters past panoramic splendor and exquisite rock formations of the Cape at El Arco. Watch for the barking sea lions that sun themselves on the rocks at El Arco while you hoist the jib and tack! Charter de Los Cabos caters to a more luxurious mindset with a 75-foot Brisbane yacht offering a fully catered menu. SunRider Tours hosts open-deck whale watching, sunset cruises and snorkeling excursions to eclectic Santa María Bay to sift through the waves or relax in the sunshine on deck. Caborey Cruises offers a lively option for seafarers as a 144-foot, three-level catamaran runs dinner cruises, snorkeling tours, margarita cruises, whale watching and international dance shows.
On the Water: Snorkeling, Scuba and Kayaking. It’s time to swim with the fishes — in a good way. The dazzling centerpiece of all things underwater in Cabo is the East Cape’s Cabo Pulmo Marine Park — which holds the distinction of being the only natural living coral reef in western North America. Water depth here ranges from 35 to 70 feet, and the natural ecosystem attracts more than 300 different species of tropical fish and over 2,000 marine invertebrates. A whopping 14 dive sites at the park include fantastic natural views like a gregarious sea lion colony. There are also the dive sites of El Bajo and El Cantil reefs, where a magical close encounter with a docile whale shark or gliding manta ray can occur.
You can go on snorkeling and scuba jaunts to Pelican Rock, with ranging depths from 25 to 100 feet and teeming with king angelfish and puffer fish; Sand Falls, with unique rolling sand mountains that spill like waterfalls; Neptune’s Finger, a rocky substrate with depths from 30 to 100 feet dotted with colorful sponges and finning hawksbill turtles; and the more advanced Pinnacle, with stronger currents and depths of 50 to 80 feet, and the possibility of an encounter with tunas, mackerels and sea lions.
Snorkeling is the número uno sport for beachgoers and can be done in many of the shallow, protected bays surrounding Baja. The calm protected waters of Santa María Bay will have you closely observing schools of thousands of brilliant butterfly fish. Chileno Beach offers a fully loaded snorkeling slice of heaven, as tropical fish can even be seen cruising along the shoreline. Land’s End, where the Pacific Ocean greets the Gulf of California, is also a snorkeler’s heaven, with damselfish, puffers and queen angelfish curiously inspecting your presence. Intermediate divers will explore Land’s End a little deeper down among the parrot fish and goatfish, just like Jacques Cousteau did once upon a time. True wetheads will make the trip out 28 miles to the wreck of El Vencedor, where hammerhead sharks, yellowfin tuna, striped marlin and neon moray eels emerge from inside and around the wreck.
Tour operators like Baja Outback offer adventures that combine snorkeling and kayaking. Kayaking is truly one of the best ways to experience the entire Cape region and its incredible crystal-clear waters. Coves, inlets, water caves and beaches that seem inaccessible by land are easily approachable in a kayak, especially along the Sea of Cortés. Once there, snorkel to explore the magnificent underwater world. Choose from a trip to Cabo Pulmo Marine Park; one that combines El Arco and Lover’s Beach, with snorkeling at Pelican Rock and Neptune’s Finger; and one that combines Twin Dolphin, Santa María Bay and Chileno Bay.
Endless Summer: Surfing. Right now, somewhere in Los Cabos, the waves are firing. Whether on the East Cape or the Pacific side, the Baja Peninsula is fast becoming the primo surf stop on every sunset chaser’s mind. Northeast winds dominate in the winter, allowing for a larger building swell, while southwest summertime winds continually fuel the sunny surf with ridable lines.
Eight minutes from San José, the Cabo Surf Hotel is situated at Km. 28 smack dab in the middle of the primo breaks for ideal accommodations, where legendary Mike Doyle’s Surf School guarantees you will stand up and surf before you leave your two-hour session at the user-friendly Playa Acapulquito break.
Baja Outback offers surfing lessons in the Sea of Cortés or in the Pacific Ocean, giving you an opportunity to learn the basics of a sport that many may have wanted to experience, but never had the chance to try… until now! They provide everything you need: top-notch surf instruction, boards, wetsuits and unforgettable memories.
Acapulquito, known to the locals as Gringos or Old Man’s break, offers up a sweet, satisfying longboard wave for beginners. Other tasty breaks of Costa Azul in the East Cape include Zippers at Km. 28–29 off of San José, which hosts easy waist- to head-high sets; local secret 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. The Pacific side of the Baja is just as fresh. Car rental companies such as Avis, National Car Rental and Budget rent out Jeeps for you to do a little wave-exploring of your own. The first step should be to head north along Highway 19 up to the quaint artisan town of Todos Santos. On the way, stop in at Km. 64 where the Los Cerritos break lies in a protected cove that generally pushes 4- to 6-foot waves on average. A bit south of Todos Santos rests the fun San Pedrito break near the small town of Pescadero. A bar and finger food setup exists at Los Cerritos, perfect to fuel up for the paddle. There’s no need for a wetsuit either, as water temperatures generally range between 70 and 85 F year-round.
Catch of the Day: Sportfishing. By far, sportfishing best captures the soul of the Los Cabos playground. Still raw and unbridled, serious deep-sea denizens make for one heck of an experience when hooked on the end of a line. Striped marlin are the prized treasure that charter boats target, along with blue, white and black marlin that can exceed “Grander” or 1,000-pound status. The charter fleet rounds the corner at Land’s End and heads either up the Pacific side to the lighthouse or out to the five to 30-mile range to pursue a variety of species, including marlin, tuna and sharks.
Outfitters such as Pisces Sportfishing and Picante Sportfishing at the Los Cabos Marina provide charters that include 30- to 60-foot yachts, and a day out plying the -waters is accompanied by first-class accommodations in air-conditioned cabins, including all top-of-the-line gear, tackle and amenities needed for a day out on the water. Josephine Charters, Gladiator Charters and Redrum Sportfishing also offer up professionally tailored half-day and full-day charters. Don’t worry about your skills, or lack thereof; mates will coach you along the way and will clean your catch at the end of the day. More experienced anglers may want to hop on with a local panga boat operator that can give you a good four-hour show fishing right off the beach along the rocks for roosterfish, grouper and snapper. Up the East Cape in the Sea of Cortés, August through October brings in zillions of mahi mahi, hordes of the crazy-looking roosterfish and eatin’ size 20- to 30-pound class yellowfin tuna. Hotel Buena Vista specializes in running fishing charters, as well as tailor-making a pampering afterwards! The New York Times calls the resort “a place of impossible beauty!”
Up, Up and Away! Parasailing, Zip Lines, Helicopters and Windsurfing. With all the amazing opportunities available on the ground, it’s hard to imagine that there’s even more adventure to experience above the ground. Parasailing has hit the mainstream activity list; as you tow behind a boat and float via parachute above the sparkling waters off the East Cape, a once-in-a-lifetime view is beheld. Caborey Sky King’s 40 years of parasailing experience will leave you breathless. If more comfort is what you desire, step inside a 2005 Robinson R44 Raven II high-performance helicopter, courtesy of Caborey Helicopter Tours. Take a standard 12-minute ride over the Los Cabos area or set your sights on an hour trip to the spectacular La Paz and Todos Santos regions. The comfort and safety of a whirlybird is relaxing for a unique vantage of Cabo’s stunning white-sand beaches, El Arco and the odd rock formations that comprise the La Paz region.
The new craze to hit the area is zip-lining, and Canopy Costa Azul has got you lined up. Clip in and canyon hop on Canopy Costa Azul’s three miles of zip lines that glide cliffside to cliffside over riverbeds, canyons and rocks. Not enough of a thrill? Then hit the 180-foot Xtreme Rappel up a natural dirt wall, or race a friend on a tandem zip line ride. Gray Line Los Cabos and Cabo Adventures also offer zip-lining tours. Windsurfing and kiteboarding are also becoming very popular. Mid-November through early March, Baja’s famous “El Norte” winds sweep the Sea of Cortés, fueling the windsurfer’s soul. Morning onshore winds pump out 20-knot gusts, and afternoon breezes can run upwards of 25 to 30 knots on average to get the ride of your life. Beaches such as La Ventana, Punta Chivatito, Playa Hermosa and Los Barriles are top spots where windsurfers catch hold of a breeze and ride the ocean’s surface like a bolt of lightning, ramping off waves and performing gravity-defying mid-air flips and rolls.
Destination Management Companies. Why bother stumbling and fumbling to plan out your adventure? Let an expert do it for you! Destination Management Companies (DMCs) such as Terramar, Incentives Management, Tropical Incentives and Exclusive Cabo specialize in scheduling the logistics and activities that will have you out and about in the Los Cabos playground and not wasting valuable time. They can arrange dine-outs, corporate events, nightlife excursions, golf packages and cultural tours — and even plan weddings. The package can start from the moment you step off the plane with shuttling services to the planned hotel accommodations. Cherry-pick your itinerary and let others do the work for you. Contact a DMC and really start living the good life.
Why is Cabo so much fun? There is so much to do!
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