Archives for January 2020

Culture & Tradition: February Events in Los Cabos

February is an exciting month for events in Los Cabos, but not the sort of events like food festivals and fishing tournaments that visitors typically associate with the region. Rather, the focus in February is on culture and tradition.

Art lovers, for instance, will have multiple opportunities in February to get acquainted with some of Baja California Sur’s finest painters and sculptors, from the weekly Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo to the Open Studios Tour and Art Festival in Todos Santos. The latter is only an hour by car from Cabo San Lucas and will also be showing off its sensitive side at the 7th annual Writers Workshop.

Sensitivity is not something typically associated with bikers, but aficionados of two-wheeled vehicles do value tradition; and it’s a tradition of Biker Week Los Cabos for local riders to host guests from around the country (and in some cases, the world). The month’s biggest event, however, is undoubtedly Carnaval in La Paz. Think of it as Mardi Gras, Baja style. No beads but plenty of great music.

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – February 1st to 8th

Best known for its painters, Todos Santos has also proved a congenial community for writers. The 7th annual writers’ workshop returns to the atmospheric Casa Dracula–an historic 19th century hacienda–where creative writers are encouraged with seminars and speakers, publishing roundtables, and a variety of craft workshops that focus on fiction, non-fiction, memoir, poetry and other literary genres. Applicants to the weeklong event are chosen based on writing samples and phone interviews, and in addition to personal mentoring, enjoy courtyard readings from faculty and guest speakers. An optional second week from February 10th to 15th is available to those who’d like to take advantage of the facilities, teaching and creative spirit for a more in-depth experience.

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – February 6, 13, 20, 27

The historic Distrito del Arte in San Jose del Cabo takes center stage each Thursday evening during high tourist season–November through June–when residents and visitors alike are invited to stroll its cobblestone streets and peruse the many eclectic fine arts galleries. Art Walk hours are 5 to 9 p.m., when the neighborhood comes alive with wine, cheese and guided tours, as well as colorful street artists and strolling mariachis.

Biker Week Los Cabos – February 13th to 17th

This annual Harley Davidson motorcycle rally features separate road trips from Cabo San Lucas to Todos Santos and La Paz, with pit stops along the way for gas or for parties and other activities. Riders from the mainland will be arriving with their motorcycles by means of the ferry at Pichilingue, La Paz, where they’ll be met by local riders and escorted back to Cabo San Lucas. The festivities kick off with a welcome cruise on Wednesday, Feb. 13. To see the full schedule of events, visit www.bikerweekloscabos.com.

San Jose Jazz Weekend – February 14, 15

2020 marks the 8th edition of San Jose del Cabo Jazz Weekend, a festival dedicated to the freewheeling American musical style held yearly at the popular Plaza del Pescador, an outdoor mall across from the city’s resort-lined Playa Hotelera. Plaza del Pescador has only been around for a few years, but has quickly established a reputation for itself as a music venue, thanks to tenants such as Jazz Tapas Café and Rock&Brews, the restaurant chain started by KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. Admission is free to the two-day music fest, which takes place from 5 to 11 p.m. on Feb. 14 – 15. To check out the year’s line-up for this year’s Jazz Weekend, visit www.sanjosejazzweekend. com.

Carnaval in La Paz – February 20th to 25th

There are two cities that host notable Carnaval celebrations on the Baja California peninsula:  Ensenada and La Paz. Carnaval, for the uninitiated, is the Catholic pre-Lenten celebration that captivates Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans each year, although in the latter city it is better known as Mardi Gras. In La Paz, the uninhibited six-day farewell to debauchery is centered on the capital city’s malecon, and includes voluminous food and drink, colorful parades and costumes, plenty of live music from high-profile performers, and the coronation of a festival king and queen. This year’s theme is La Fiesta de los Dioses (“The Party of the Gods”).

For more information about events, activities and villa rentals in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com  ,  or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photo credit:  San Jose Jazz Weekend

Upcoming Events Calendar

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Los Cabos Pro-Am Golf Tournament at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 12 – 16

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 15 – 19

La Ventana Classic – Jan 16 – 20

Whale Watching Season – January through April 15th

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 1 – 8

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 7 – 9

Los Cabos Half Marathon – Feb. 9

Biker Week Los Cabos – Feb. 13 – 17

San Jose del Cabo Jazz Weekend – Feb. 14 – 15

Rock Fest in Cabo San Lucas – Feb. 15

Carnaval in La Paz – Feb. 20 – 25

March

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Mar. 5, 12, 19, 26

Baja Shakespeare Festival – Mar. 6 – 8, 11 – 14

Sabores de Baja in Miraflores – Mar. 8

East Cape Arts Festival – Mar. 15

Todos Santos Film Festival – Mar. 26 – 29

El Triunfo Arts & Crafts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

April

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Apr. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Semana Santa – Apr. 5 – 11

NORRA Mexican 1000 – Apr. 17 – 24

Warren Hill’s Los Cabos Jazz Festival – April 30 – May 3

Gala de Danza at Viceroy Los Cabos – Dates Not Yet Announced

May

Warren Hill’s Los Cabos Jazz Festival – April 30 – May 3

485th Foundation Festival in La Paz – May 3 – 5

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – May 7, 14, 21, 28

El Dia de la Madre – May 10

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

White Party at ME Cabo/Blue Marlin Ibiza – Date Not Yet Announced

June

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – June 4, 11, 18, 25

7th Cabo Summer Slam/Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament – June 11 – 13

Los Cabos Open of Surf – Dates Not Yet Announced

Fiesta de la Musica in San Jose del Cabo – Date Not Yet Announced

24th Stars and Stripes Golf and Fishing Tournament – June 24

Transformed! Iconic Los Cabos Golf Course Gets New Look, New Name

When Golf Digest recently picked the best courses in each country, golf-rich Mexico merited 15 mentions. Ten of them, not surprisingly, were in Los Cabos; which has, over the course of the last 25 years, become a mecca for destination golfers.

The man most responsible for this golf boom on the southernmost rim of the Baja California peninsula is undoubtedly Jack Nicklaus, legendary winner of 18 major championships and designer of six championship level loops locally; including early 1990s masterpieces at Palmilla and Cabo del Sol that effectively put Los Cabos on the golfing map.

Nicklaus’ Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol has been ranked among the world’s 100 best courses for each of the last 15 years, and remains one of the most iconic local golfing experiences, albeit with a fresh new look and a fresh new name for 2020.

These changes were necessitated by a real estate development at Cabo del Sol, which will include a luxury residential community called the Cove Club, as well as both a Four Seasons Resort and Residences and a 162-room Park Hyatt property. Both branded resort properties are expected to open in 2022.

Although two ocean holes had to be rerouted at the newly minted Cove Club course, Nicklaus worked closely with the Cabo del Sol team to maintain the high golfing standards.

“We were given the challenge to redesign the golf course to meet their needs, but at the same time maintain the global status the Ocean Course has enjoyed for over 25 years,” Nicklaus said. “The developers needed to take a couple of holes off the ocean, and my responsibility was to preserve the quality of the golf course. I think we have done that in a very satisfactory way. We still have great ocean views, and we still have four holes on the ocean.”

These holes trace a rugged coastline marked by granite outcrops and golden beaches lapped by the Sea of Cortez. Nearly 80,000 plants, trees and shrubs, ranging from bougainvillea and coco palms to palo blanco and purple lantana, have been planted to beautify the layout.

Strategic nuances have been introduced and overall playability enhanced on the refurbished course. For example, the new Rooster Fish (kids) tees total 4,451 yards and invite family-friendly outings. In addition to full-service comfort stations on both nines, an Airstream trailer parked on the beach behind the fifth green offers Mexican specialties and ice-cold refreshments.

Among the new holes crafted by Nicklaus is the short par-3 7th, which was tucked into recreated dunes a stone’s throw from the beach. Faced into the prevailing breeze, this oceanfront hole offers two different angles of attack from a wishbone-like set of tees. The target is a raised green defended front and back by deep bunkers with rolled-down grass faces. As is true throughout the remodeled layout, these new-look bunkers are filled with bright white sand that provides a strong visual contrast to the emerald green turf and turquoise-blue sea.

To make way for a new entryway to the resort community, a new par-4 9th hole was built in a corridor adjacent to the previous ninth hole. The new creation, robust at 461 yards from the tips, mimics the original with its broad saddled fairway but has more dramatic flair in its fairway and greenside bunkering.

At the west end of the course is the Cove Club, a luxury residential community currently under development. With the old 17th hole converted to a beach club, Nicklaus designed a new ridge-to-ridge par-3 17th hole, which drops from a set of elevated tees to a well-defended green backdropped by the sea.

The previous 16th hole, a stirring downhill par-4 that plunges 100 feet down the side of a mountain, has been recast as the 18th hole. “We moved the green a little closer to the ocean and dropped it down to create a spectacular finishing hole,” Nicklaus stated. The peninsula-style green, guarded to the left by an unusual U-shaped bunker with a view portal to the sea, clings to a cliff and appears to float on the ocean. Stretching to 455 yards from the Cove tees, the revised 18th hole immediately takes its place among the finest finishing holes in Los Cabos.

The Cove Club will close for additional modifications at a future date and will reopen as a private club. The Tom Weiskopf-designed Desert Course at Cabo del Sol, also slated to undergo future design changes, will remain a public-access resort venue.

For more information about events, activities and villa rentals in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com , or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photo credit:  Cove Club

Upcoming Events Calendar

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Los Cabos Pro-Am Golf Tournament at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 12 – 16

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 15 – 19

La Ventana Classic – Jan 16 – 20

Whale Watching Season – January through April 15th

 February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 1 – 8

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 7 – 9

Los Cabos Half Marathon – Feb. 9

Biker Week Los Cabos – Feb. 13 – 17

San Jose del Cabo Jazz Weekend – Feb. 14 – 15

Rock Fest in Cabo San Lucas – Feb. 15

Carnaval in La Paz – Feb. 20 – 25

March

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Mar. 5, 12, 19, 26

Baja Shakespeare Festival – Mar. 6 – 8, 11 – 14

Sabores de Baja in Miraflores – Mar. 8

East Cape Arts Festival – Mar. 15

Todos Santos Film Festival – Mar. 26 – 29

El Triunfo Arts & Crafts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

April

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Apr. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Semana Santa – Apr. 5 – 11

NORRA Mexican 1000 – Apr. 17 – 24

Warren Hill’s Los Cabos Jazz Festival – April 30 – May 3

Gala de Danza at Viceroy Los Cabos – Dates Not Yet Announced

May

Warren Hill’s Los Cabos Jazz Festival – April 30 – May 3

485th Foundation Festival in La Paz – May 3 – 5

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – May 7, 14, 21, 28

El Dia de la Madre – May 10

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

White Party at ME Cabo/Blue Marlin Ibiza – Date Not Yet Announced

June

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – June 4, 11, 18, 25

7th Cabo Summer Slam/Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament – June 11 – 13

Los Cabos Open of Surf – Dates Not Yet Announced

Fiesta de la Musica in San Jose del Cabo – Date Not Yet Announced

24th Stars and Stripes Golf and Fishing Tournament – June 24 – 28

 

 

The Other Side of Los Cabos – A Look at Upcoming Events on the East Cape

Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo may be the most populous towns–and tent-pole tourist destinations–of Los Cabos, but there’s much more to Baja California Sur’s southernmost municipality than merely these two places.

The Los Cabos municipality as a whole encompasses more than a dozen other communities that are well worth a visit, from Santiago and Miraflores to the small towns on the picturesque East Cape, a belly-shaped coastal arc that stretches over 70 miles from San Jose del Cabo to the Bay of Palms.

The East Cape has been much in the news of late thanks to the opening of the new Four Seasons Los Cabos at Costa Palmas (in La Ribera), an ambitious new luxury resort and residential development–complete with yacht marina and championship level golf course–headlined by one of the world’s foremost hospitality luxury brands.

But that’s hardly the only reason to visit this beautiful region. The small East Cape community of Cabo Pulmo, for example, boasts one of the largest living coral reefs in North America in its protected offshore marine park, as well as the highest concentration of sea life in the Sea of Cortez. The East Cape also offers, at least during winter months, world-class whale watching and windsports (windsurfing, kiteboarding and the like), the latter created by the strong El Norte winds that blow down the coast each year between mid-November and mid-March.

And the East Cape has a bit of culture too, which is shown off to good advantage in annual events celebrating arts, crafts, drama and cuisine. A number of these signature events, in fact, are happening soon; providing even more reasons to explore what we sometimes like to refer to as “the other side of Los Cabos.”

First up is the annual Baja Shakespeare Festival. For nearly 20 years, the small East Cape fishing town of Buenavista has welcomed visitors for fun-filled theater twists on cultural classics…often but not always Shakespeare. Last year’s selection, The Sea Princesa and the Frijole, was based on the classic Broadway hit, Once Upon a Mattress; the show that launched comedienne Carole Burnett’s career back in 1959. This year’s presentation is A Baja Chorus, a takeoff on the long-running Broadway musical, A Chorus Line. The highly anticipated production will be held during consecutive weeks at Hotel Buenavista Beach Resort (March 6th to 8th and 11th to 14th). Tickets are $20 each, or $400 pesos.

Next up is the East Cape Arts Festival, which since 1994 has been the best showcase for regional arts, crafts and East Cape culture. The 2020 edition is scheduled for March 15 at the Hotel Palmas de Cortez in Los Barriles, and in addition to creative arts and crafts–from paintings and pottery to clothing and blankets–regional music and dance will also be spotlighted, as will traditional Mexican food and drink.

Inland from the East Cape is the small town of Miraflores, which is notable for several reasons, including the unusual longevity of its residents and its annual summer harvest festival celebrating pitahayas. This succulent cactus fruit (from the prickly pear variety) was once the favorite food of the area’s indigenous inhabitants, the Pericues, and is still prized by modern Cabeños for both its taste and antioxidant qualities. The latter, in fact, may be why so many Miraflores residents seem to live past the century mark.

Nowadays, Miraflores is known as the foremost organic farming community in the Los Cabos municipality, the place the region’s best restaurants go to source their produce. It’s the perfect place, in other words, to host an organic food festival that focuses on the traditional cuisine and culture of Los Cabos. The annual Festival Sabores de Baja (sabores translates as tastes or flavors) will be hosted by Doña Pame Restaurante from noon to 5 p.m. on March 8th, and will feature live music from local performers.

For more information about events, activities and villa rentals in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com , or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photo credit:  Sabores de Baja

Upcoming Events Calendar

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Los Cabos Pro-Am Golf Tournament at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 12 – 16

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 15 – 19

La Ventana Classic – Jan 16 – 20

Whale Watching Season – January through April 15th

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 1 – 8

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 7 – 9

Los Cabos Half Marathon – Feb. 9

Biker Week Los Cabos – Feb. 13 – 17

San Jose del Cabo Jazz Weekend – Feb. 14 – 15

Rock Fest in Cabo San Lucas – Feb. 15

Carnaval in La Paz – Feb. 20 – 25

March

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Mar. 5, 12, 19, 26

Baja Shakespeare Festival – Mar. 6 – 8, 11 – 14

Sabores de Baja in Miraflores – Mar. 8

East Cape Arts Festival – Mar. 15

Todos Santos Film Festival – Mar. 26 – 29

El Triunfo Arts & Crafts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

April

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Apr. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Semana Santa – Apr. 5 – 11

NORRA Mexican 1000 – Apr. 17 – 24

Warren Hill’s Los Cabos Jazz Festival – April 30 – May 3

Gala de Danza at Viceroy Los Cabos – Dates Not Yet Announced

May

Warren Hill’s Los Cabos Jazz Festival – April 30 – May 3

485th Foundation Festival in La Paz – May 3 – 5

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – May 7, 14, 21, 28

El Dia de la Madre – May 10

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

White Party at ME Cabo/Blue Marlin Ibiza – Date Not Yet Announced

June

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – June 4, 11, 18, 25

7th Cabo Summer Slam/Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament – June 11 – 13

Los Cabos Open of Surf – Dates Not Yet Announced

Fiesta de la Musica in San Jose del Cabo – Date Not Yet Announced

24th Stars and Stripes Golf and Fishing Tournament – June 24 – 28

 

 

Romance, Music and Dance – Previewing the 8th Annual San Jose del Cabo Jazz Weekend and Valentine’s Day in Los Cabos

Los Cabos is one of the world’s great romantic destinations, offering not only gorgeous beaches and year-round sunshine, but an abundance of soothing spas, pampering amenities and luxurious cliff side rental villas.

And the attractions don’t stop there. Local restaurants also do their part for visiting couples, showcasing spectacular seaside views as well as multi-course dinners with tasting menus that make frequent use of Valentine’s Day favorites like Champagne and chocolates.

But the event most singularly associated with Valentine’s Day in Los Cabos isn’t any dinner, but rather San Jose Jazz Weekend.

Although one might not necessarily associate the improvisational musical form with romance, this annual event–the 8th edition of which will be held February 14th and 15th in San Jose del Cabo–has all the tried and true ingredients for a romantic evening in paradise, from seductive saxophones and swaying palm trees to harmonies so captivating those in attendance are often compelled to get up and dance the night away under starry tropical skies.

Set at Plaza del Pescador, one of the city’s premier shopping and dining meccas, San Jose Jazz Weekend takes place Friday and Saturday nights, from 5 to 11 p.m., and in past years has drawn upwards of 5,000 attendees.

Why not? After all, Jazz Weekend also has that extra ingredient so treasured by budget-conscious travelers. It’s free.

As one might imagine, Latin jazz is a particular focus for the event and over past years a virtual who’s who of world-class performers have appeared. This year’s schedule has yet to be unveiled, so stay tuned for upcoming announcements. And if your tastes run more to rock n’ roll than jazz–Latin or otherwise –make sure to stop in at Rock n’ Brews. Founded by KISS stars Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, the locally based location of this food and lifestyle brand is located at Plaza del Pescador and has its own live music schedule.

For those interested in a little pre-Valentine’s Day romance, San Jose del Cabo’s long-running Thursday night Art Walk offers a nice lead-in, as gallery owners in the downtown Distrito de Arte stay open late to show off their latest artists and exhibitions.

It’s not just the galleries that offer aesthetic stimulation, however, but also unique neighborhood setting. The cobblestone streets of the historic Art District are filled with wandering musicians and performers, while street artists and local craftsmen and women lay out their creations for all to admire. Local architectural monuments like City Hall and the old Catholic Church (Parroquia San Jose), meanwhile, are aglow with colorful lighting.

And lest one think Cabo San Lucas is oblivious to the spirit of St. Valentine, the other cape city has its own share of romantic attractions; most notably, the sunset dinner cruise offered by Caborey. This triple-decked catamaran takes couples for a guided tour of the half-mile Land’s End headland–including up-close looks at The Arch and Lover’s Beach – and after a gourmet multi-course meal, puts on a Las Vegas style floorshow with Latin American singing and dancing, headlined by a sultry Argentine tango.

Still not romantic enough? How about horseback rides along a secluded beach or carriage rides that take you to and from your favorite Valentine’s Day dinner locale? That’s the specialty of Cuadra San Francisco, a Tourist Corridor based stable with close to 50 horses and expertly-trained staff.

Too slow? Then we recommend renting a Harley-Davidson for Biker Week Los Cabos. The four-day get-together and road trip run to Loreto and back takes place over Valentine’s Day weekend, with rentals available from the Harley Davidson shop in the marina boardwalk based Puerto Paraiso shopping mall.

For more information about events, activities and villa rentals in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com , or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photo credit:  San Jose Jazz weekend

Upcoming Events Calendar

January

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Los Cabos Pro-Am Golf Tournament at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 12 – 16

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 15 – 19

La Ventana Classic – Jan 16 – 20

Whale Watching Season – January through April 15th

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 1 – 8

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 7 – 9

Los Cabos Half Marathon – Feb. 9

Biker Week Los Cabos – Feb. 13 – 17

San Jose del Cabo Jazz Weekend – Feb. 14 – 15

Rock Fest in Cabo San Lucas – Feb. 15

Carnaval in La Paz – Feb. 20 – 25

March

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Mar. 5, 12, 19, 26

Baja Shakespeare Festival – Mar. 6 – 8, 11 – 14

Sabores de Baja in Miraflores – Mar. 8

East Cape Arts Festival – Mar. 15

Todos Santos Film Festival – Mar. 26 – 29

El Triunfo Arts & Crafts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

April

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Apr. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Semana Santa – Apr. 5 – 11

NORRA Mexican 1000 – Apr. 17 – 24

Warren Hill’s Los Cabos Jazz Festival – April 30 – May 3

Gala de Danza at Viceroy Los Cabos – Dates Not Yet Announced

May

Warren Hill’s Los Cabos Jazz Festival – April 30 – May 3

485th Foundation Festival in La Paz – May 3 – 5

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – May 7, 14, 21, 28

El Dia de la Madre – May 10

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

White Party at ME Cabo/Blue Marlin Ibiza – Date Not Yet Announced

June

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – June 4, 11, 18, 25

7th Cabo Summer Slam/Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament – June 11 – 13

Los Cabos Open of Surf – Dates Not Yet Announced

Fiesta de la Musica in San Jose del Cabo – Date Not Yet Announced

24th Stars and Stripes Golf and Fishing Tournament – June 24 – 28

 

 

New Year, New Fiestas: January Events in Los Cabos

January marks the height of high tourist season in Los Cabos, as well as the height of whale watching season; meaning many of the world’s largest and most magnificent creatures can be seen up-close on daily tours guided by area activities providers.

But it’s not just the whales that make January special. The first month of the new year also sees the return of two important regional cultural showcases in the weekly Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo and the Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos, plus iconic southern Baja sporting competitions such as the Los Cabos Pro-Am golf tournament and the La Ventana Classic (a windsports competition that draws some of the West Coast’s best windsurfers and kiteboarders).

San Jose del Cabo Art Walk – January 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

The historic Distrito del Arte in San Jose del Cabo takes center stage each Thursday evening during high tourist season–November through June–when residents and visitors alike are invited to stroll its cobblestone streets and peruse the many eclectic fine arts galleries. Art Walk hours are 5 to 9 p.m., when the neighborhood comes alive with wine, cheese and guided tours, as well as colorful street artists and strolling mariachis.

Los Cabos Pro-Am Golf Tournament – January 12 – 16

The most notable golf tournament in a region famed for its spectacular courses returns January 12 – 16, 2020, as Cabo del Sol’s Ocean and Desert Courses play host to the 12th annual Los Cabos Pro-Am. Stay and play packages for the tournament include five days and four nights of accommodation at the Sheraton Grand Hacienda del Mar Golf & Spa Resort, as well as three rounds at the participating courses, plus an invitation to the opening and closing cocktail parties, and daily breakfast at one of Hacienda del Mar’s excellent onsite restaurants. Overall team prizes are another lure for amateurs.

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – January 15 – 19

Former R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck pioneered jam culture in Todos Santos with this annual music festival, which brought in high-profile musicians for performances at the landmark Hotel California, as well as the town’s picturesque main plaza. Buck’s festival went on hiatus after he made some controversial comments about local politics at the 2016 event, but the music lives on. The freshly minted Tropic of Cancer Concert Series premiered in 2017, and is still going strong for its fourth iteration in 2020 with an all-star lineup headlined by Joan Osborne, Radio Free Honduras, Susto, Cordovas, Holy Spirits, Elizabeth Cook, La Victoria and The Charities.

La Ventana Classic – January 16 – 20

Baja California Sur boasts world-class conditions for a number of water-based activities: fishing, of course, but also surfing, sailing, diving, kayaking and, seasonally at least, windsports. Each winter, when strong El Norte winds blow down the Sea of Cortés, picturesque East Cape communities like Los Barriles and La Ventana become meccas for windsurfing and kiteboarding enthusiasts. Now that Los Barriles has ended its annual Lord of the Wind Showdown, the La Ventana’s “Classic” has become the premier regional competition, with windsurfers, kiteboarders and SUP (stand up paddleboarding) enthusiasts battling the breezes to earn cash and glory in various categories. This year’s event is scheduled for Jan. 16 – 20, with proceeds earmarked to benefit local schools. Mountain bike races have also been added to the event.

Whale Watching Season – Month-long

Each winter some 5,000 to 10,000 blue, gray, humpback and other whales migrate from their arctic feeding grounds to breed in the shallow water coves and inlets of beautiful Baja California Sur. In this regard these leviathans of the deep are very much like the snowbirds who flock to cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo to escape frigid winter temperatures in the U.S. and Canada. The only real difference–aside from the obvious anatomical ones–is one of scale. The longest mammalian migration ever recorded was in 2014, when a gray whale dubbed Varvara traveled over 14,000 miles round-trip from Russia to Cabo San Lucas. Humpbacks, however, are the most commonly seen species in Los Cabos waters during whale watching season, which officially stretches from December 15th to April 15th.

For more information about events, activities and villa rentals in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photo credit:  La Ventana Classic

Upcoming Events Calendar

January

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Los Cabos Pro-Am Golf Tournament at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 12 – 16

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 15 – 19

La Ventana Classic – Jan 16 – 20

Whale Watching Season – January through April 15th

 February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 1 – 8

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 7 – 9

San Jose del Cabo Jazz Weekend – Feb. 14 – 15

Rock Fest in Cabo San Lucas – Feb. 15

20th Annual Baja Hog Rally – Feb. 20 – 24

Carnaval in La Paz – Feb. 20 – 25

March

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Mar. 5, 12, 19, 26

Baja Shakespeare Festival – Mar. 6 – 8, 11 – 14

East Cape Arts Festival – Mar. 15

Todos Santos Film Festival – Mar. 26 – 29

El Triunfo Arts & Crafts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

Sabores de Baja in Miraflores – Dates Not Yet Announced

April

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Apr. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Semana Santa – Apr. 5 – 11

NORRA Mexican 1000 – Apr. 17 – 24

Gala de Danza at Viceroy Los Cabos – Dates Not Yet Announced

May

485th Foundation Festival in La Paz – May 3 – 5

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – May 7, 14, 21, 28

El Dia de la Madre – May 10

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

White Party at ME Cabo/Blue Marlin Ibiza – Date Not Yet Announced

June

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – June 4, 11, 18, 25

7th Cabo Summer Slam/Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament – June 11 – 13

Los Cabos Open of Surf – Dates Not Yet Announced

Fiesta de la Musica in San Jose del Cabo – Date Not Yet Announced

24th Stars and Stripes Golf and Fishing Tournament – June 24 – 28