A desert oasis located at The Land’s End
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Though I have been to the Riviera Maya in Mexico many times, I have not been to the Baja Peninsula to visit the Cabo San Lucas area. Living in Utah, I see a variety of landscapes like the mountainous forests of the Uintahs and the red rock scenery of Moab, so I was not expecting to be incredibly excited about the desert landscape of Baja California. I ended up falling in love.
Descending into Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), you can see rather large mountains with light-colored sand roadways snaking through them from the airplane window. The passenger to my right was quick to tell me that those roadways can become rivers during rainstorms/hurricanes. You must be careful not to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. During the dry season, locals and tourists alike enjoy adventuring through those areas in their off-road vehicles.
Once the plane landed, the process through the airport was also a pleasant surprise. We did not run into slow-moving customs lines or experience sluggish luggage pickup. Leaving the airport, you’re greeted by a couple of venues offering you a refreshing margarita before you are taken to your hotel.
The transfer time between SJD airport to the Secrets Puerto Los Cabos was only 30 minutes. Rather than turning West to go towards Cabo San Lucas, we veered East to go to San Jose del Cabo. Honestly, before this trip, I thought Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo were basically one and the same. They are not. Thirty minutes separate these two cities. San Jose del Cabo offers a smaller, quieter experience. You can enjoy shopping, yummy eateries, and lovely sites here, but if you’re looking for a more bustling experience you’ll need to head over to Cabo San Lucas.
In Cabo San Lucas, you'll find some AMAZING rock formations; they are 84 million years old. This area is referred to as The Land's End because the locals claim the first sailors to visit the area believed it to be the last point of land before hitting Antarctica.
Back to San Jose del Cabo, we arrived at the Secrets Puerto Los Cabos, which is in a gate-controlled area about 12 minutes outside the city center. This adults-only property, opened in 2013, offers a beautiful seaside view as well as quick access to golf courses (if you’re into that, which I’m not).
The property is very well maintained and has a lot of various desert plants around to enjoy. The houseplant enthusiast inside me was thrilled to see these beauties thriving!
The rooms inside the property were clean and charmingly eclectic, mixing rustic wood, wrought iron furnishings, and bright vivid colors. The technology within the room is from 2013 and could use a bit of a refresh (tv/phone/minifridge), but everything else has aged quite well. Secrets Puerto Los Cabos has 500 rooms, two pools (main pool and preferred pool), eight restaurants, and four bars. If you’re looking for the best chocolate experience, you’ll find it at El Patio by ordering the Chocolate Madness (cocoa biscuit covered in melted chocolate and served with vanilla ice cream). I had it twice and definitely recommend it.
For the most part, this vacation was mostly spent poolside at the Preferred pool, reading a few books. We did, however, venture to Cabo San Lucas for one day to enjoy a Luxury Sail and Snorkel. Amstar helped organize the experience, though the tour itself was carried out by Cabo Adventures.
The tour included a sailing out from the marina, past the Lovers/Divorce Beaches* and the arch, then East up the coast to a snorkeling location. While the sailing was beautiful, the sun was quite brutal. Note to anyone planning to sail—shade is very limited! Remember to bring a hat that offers shade or lather on a lot of sunscreen! Towels are also not included, so you’ll want to bring your own. The tour offers unlimited drinks and a few snack boxes to share. You'll love the sea breeze as you coast along the waves and adore the tropical fish you see while snorkeling. And while sea lions frequent the area, they are not around this time of year.
Overall, the experience in San Jose del Cabo and at the Secrets Puerto Los Cabos was very relaxing and exactly what I needed. I’d recommend the experience to those looking for great weather, pretty landscapes, a pleasantly short flight (from the West Coast of the U.S.), and a quick transfer time. The staff at the hotel was very professional, attentive, and friendly.
*Lover's Beach, also known as Playa del Amor, offers secluded sands and one of a few swimmable beaches in Cabo. Divorce Beach (Playa del Divorcio) is the opposite of serene with strong rip currents making swimming very dangerous.
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