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The Big Show: A Guide to Whale Watching Season in Los Cabos

November 8, 2017 by Leave a Comment

High season in Los Cabos traditionally runs from October through May, but travel rates achieve peak intensity during the winter months – December to March – when thousands upon thousands of tourists flock from the frigid temperatures in the U.S. and Canada to soak up the perpetual sunshine on beaches in cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

But snowbirds aren’t the only ones who think heading south to Cabo for the winter is a good idea.

During the same time period, many of the world’s largest creatures travel across immense distances (longer than the longest non-stop plane flight on earth), making their way from arctic feeding grounds to warm water breeding grounds in the coves and lagoons of Baja California Sur.

“They,” of course, are whales, and their winter migration is the reason whale watching season and high tourist season in Los Cabos are virtually synonymous.

Grays and humpbacks are the leviathans most commonly seen by those in residence at local hotels and rental properties, but it is not uncommon to also see blue whales, sperm whales and even orcas. The breeding grounds for gray whales are centered around Magdalena Bay on the Pacific Coast, while the other species continue into the Sea of Cortez.

From 2014 to 2015, a gray whale dubbed Vavara made what is the longest mammalian migration ever recorded: nearly 14,000 miles round-trip, from Russia to Cabo San Lucas and back. Varvara had plenty of company along the way, though. Between 5,000 and 10,000 whales make the journey to Baja California Sur each year.

Humpbacks are the most flamboyant of these massive visitors, prone to spectacular breaches in which they lift their entire bodies out of the water before splashing down in epic belly flops. There is no single explanation for this behavior: some speculate that these acrobatic leaps are made to rid the whales of barnacles, others that it is a form of non-verbal communication.

Whatever the reason, the high-flying humpbacks are the primary attraction during seasonal whale watching tours in Los Cabos.

Although whales can often be seen from shore, most visitors interested in up-close looks at these gargantuan creatures sign up for one of the many local whale watching expeditions.

During whale watching months, mid-December to mid-March, seemingly every tour boat in Cabo San Lucas offers some sort of whale-focused excursion, from small pangas and fast inflatables to fishing boats, sailboats and luxury yachts.

Some local adventure companies even offer hydrophones, so that in addition to the sight of these magnificent creatures, guests can also listen to their incredible “songs,” a form of language so complex scientists are still struggling to achieve an even rudimentary understanding.

But we can guess what they’re saying: “Los Cabos sure is beautiful this time of year!”

For more information about whale watching season in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photo courtesy of Cabo Adventures.

 Upcoming Event Calendar

November

San José del Cabo Art Walk – Thursday evenings, 5 – 9 p.m., November through June

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot Tournament – Nov. 1 – 4

Jim Flick Invitational Golf Tournament at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 7 – 12

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 8 – 12

Ironman Los Cabos Triathlon – Nov. 12

50th SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

Día de la Revolucion (Revolution Day) – Nov. 20

Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) – Nov. 23

Extreme Sailing Series – Nov. 30 – Dec. 3

December

Sabor a Cabo Rural Food and Wine Tasting – Dec. 3

LigaMAC Christmas Party – Dec. 5

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 8

Sabor a Cabo International Food and Wine Festival –  Dec. 9

Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12

Whale Watching Season – Mid-December to Mid-March

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Día de los Inocentes – Dec. 28

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

New Year’s Eve with DJ Paul Oakenfold at Blue Marlin Ibiza/ME Cabo Hotel – Dec. 31

Gatsby Theme New Year’s Eve Party at Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort & Spa – Dec. 31

January

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 11 – 21

Los Cabos Pro-Am Golf Tournament – Jan. 15 – 19

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 17 – 21

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Jan. 27 – Feb. 3

 February

Todos Santos Open Artists’ Studio Tour –  Feb. 10 – 11

Valentine’s Day Dinner at Sunset da Mona Lisa – February 14

Carnaval La Paz – Dates Not Yet Announced

Los Barriles Dog Show – Dates Not Yet Announced

 March

Todos Santos Film Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

Baja Shakespeare Festival – March 9 – 11, 14 – 17

El Triunfo Arts & Crafts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

East Cape Arts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

Fiestas Patronales in San José del Cabo – March 19

Semana Santa – March 25 – 31

Annual Cheese & Wine Festival at Sheraton Hacienda del Mar – Dates Not Yet Announced

April

Paws n’ Claws Golf Tournament and Dinner – Dates Not Yet Announced

NORRA Mexican 1000 – April 20 – 26

Koral Pets Race – Dates Not Yet Announced

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

http://www.loscabosvillas.com/los-cabos-activities/

Filed Under: Cabo San Lucas Blog Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Los Cabos Fishing Report – November 1, 2017

November 5, 2017 by Leave a Comment

November 5, 2017

Large crowds of vising tourists are being greeted with pristine fall conditions. Winds have been somewhat unpredictable, at times from the north and then from the south, but as this week progressed conditions seemed to improve, colder mornings that had dipped into the 60s are now back into the 70s and daytime highs are still reaching into the upper 80s. Plenty of warm sunshine for all. The season’s final big tournament this week, the WON Tuna Jackpot, attracted some 146 teams, battling for high stakes, searching for the largest yellowfin tuna, with other jackpots for dorado and wahoo. Check the WON web site for overall results.

Surprisingly there still have been supplies of sardinas available, anglers are also using slabs of squid, some caballito, ballyhoo and chihuil as well. Fleets have been searching in all directions, as is common for this time of year, local charters from San Jose del Cabo have mainly been concentrating on the fishing grounds from the Gordo Banks to San Luis. Ocean water temperature are now in the 81 to 85 degree range.

Most common species has been the yellowfin tuna, sizes ranged from small footballs up to 90 lb. plus, including fish to over 300 lb. Tuning up for the WON tournament local panga skipper Chame Pino landed a 322 lb. yellowfin on Tuesday off of the Gordo Banks, while drift fishing with chunk bait from skipjack. Iman Bank has held the most numbers of schooling tuna, though of the smaller sizes. San Luis has produced tuna in the 70 to 90 lb. class, while the Gordo Banks are the grounds that have proved to the best bet of hooking into a cow, though again these big fish are not numerous, lots of patience and chumming is involved. Very heavy pressure now, as well as once again we are into the full moon phase, which can often cause the fish to be even more sporadic and finicky.

Early in the week the wahoo bite showed improvement, best spot being near Iman Bank, slow trolling with chihuil was the best technique, though these baitfish are not easy to come by, the wahoo also hit on rapalas at times, though not like on the live bait. Wahoo up to 45 lb. were brought in, some boats landing as many as four, though as the week progressed and the pressure was increased the wahoo action also tapered off. The water temperature is just starting to drop some and as it drops a few more degrees conditions will be ideal for peak activity for these prized gamefish.

Dorado are being found in limited numbers, the largest we saw were in the 15 lb. range, striking on lures and baits, no particular spot to specifically target them. Billfish was spotty as well, though some charters did report better action later in the week outside of Gordo Banks, where a few blue and striped marlin were found. Not much bottom action even being targeted now, more triggerfish, bonito and misc. pargo than anything else. Water still warm for much inshore action to start up, though it is a good sign that schools of sardinas are still in the area, despite the heavy pressure.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 144 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 2 blue marlin, 4 striped marlin, 36 wahoo, 580 yellowfin tuna, 66 dorado, 8 yellow snapper, 22 huachinango, 24 Eastern Pacific bonito, 9 cabrilla, 5 barred pargo and 84 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

 —

GORDO BANKS PANGAS

Eric Brictson / Operator

619 488-1859

Los Cabos (624) 142-1147

e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com

WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM

Filed Under: Cabo San Lucas Blog, Fishing Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Best November Events in Los Cabos

November 1, 2017 by Leave a Comment

November traditionally signals the onset of cooler temperatures in Los Cabos, but like October is a red hot month in terms of regional events. Movie star appearances and red-carpet glamor accompany the return of the always highly anticipated Los Cabos International Film Festival, but the month’s biggest headliners are registered in the region’s many high-profile sporting events.

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot Tournament – Nov. 1 – 4

The Western Outdoor News has a long history with Los Cabos, dating back to the 1950s, when Baja columnist Ray Cannon’s rave fishing reviews helped put the area on the destination travel map. The WON Tuna Jackpot is one of the larger fishing tournaments in Cabo San Lucas, a staple of the autumn calendar that follows hard on the heels of the Los Cabos Billfish and Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore and Black & Blue Tournaments. Last year’s event, the 18th edition, set several records – including the most teams (168, 25 more than the previous year), and the largest payout ($749,000 to five teams) – and even bigger things are expected this year.

Jim Flick Invitational Golf Tournament at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 7 – 12

Cabo del Sol’s spectacular Ocean and Desert Courses in Los Cabos take center stage for this pro-am tournament, with professionals competing for $100,000 over 72-holes of stroke play, and foursomes (featuring one professional and three amateurs) battling in handicap-adjusted best ball contests to win a 5-day trip to the birthplace of golf, St. Andrews in Scotland. Formerly the TaylorMade Invitational, the tournament was renamed in 2016 in honor of the late Jim Flick, a PGA Professional and golf instructor for more than 50 years. Flick taught golf in 23 countries and worked with pros like Tom Lehman and Jack Nicklaus, with whom he founded the Nicklaus-Flick Golf Schools.

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 8 – 12

Latin America’s premier film festival returns for its 6th edition on Nov. 8, with an opening night red-carpet gala and screening at the Pabellón Cultural de la República in Cabo San Lucas. The celebrity and paparazzi studded galas receive much of the attention, but the heart of the festival consists of curated screenings at Cinemex Theaters at Puerto Paraíso, and behind the scenes conferences and programs designed to promote mutually beneficial collaborations between the North American film industries. Thus, the LCIFF’s long-running tagline: “Come See What the Neighbors Are Doing.”

Ironman Los Cabos Triathlon – Nov. 12

Los Cabos became the second Mexican site (after Cozumel) to welcome an Ironman series triathlon event, when it first hosted the rigorous competition back in 2013. It’s now a yearly rite of passage for local fitness fanatics, posing a rigorous yet picturesque challenge:  swim 2.4 miles in the gorgeous cove off Playa Palmilla, cycle for 112 more along the coastal corridor, and then manage a marathon-length 26.2 mile run that finishes in front of historic City Hall in San Jose del Cabo. Prize money is on the line, as well as coveted qualifying spots in the annual Ironman World Championship. A 70.3, or half-triathlon, has been added for those with only slightly superior conditioning.

Extreme Sailing Series – Nov. 30 – Dec. 3

The Extreme Sailing Series brings together the world’s best sailors – from America’s Cup competitors and their billionaire backers to Olympic heroes and around-the-world soloists – and equalizes them by requiring they sail the same kind of boat: a lightning fast GC32 class catamaran capable of speeds up to 46 knots per hour. Cabo San Lucas is the final stop on the 2017 tour, the final test of champions. Locals and visitors alike can watch the championship action from shore, as the ESS is a leading proponent of stadium racing, where all the sailing takes place within view of land (or in the case of Cabo San Lucas, Land’s End).

For more information about these and other local events, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photo courtesy of Ironman Los Cabos.

 Upcoming Event Calendar

October

Sammy Hagar Birthday Concerts – Oct. 9, 11, 13 – 14

Fiestas Patronales (Patron Saint Festival) in Cabo San Lucas – Oct. 17 – 22

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 15 – 19

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore – Oct. 19 – 22

Bisbee’s Black & Blue – Oct. 24 – 28

David Pack’s Legends Live at Bisbee’s Black & Blue – Oct. 28

IAGTO Golf Tourism Convention – Oct. 29 – Nov. 4

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) – Oct. 31 – Nov. 2

 November

San José del Cabo Art Walk – Thursday evenings, 5 – 9 p.m., November through June

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot Tournament – Nov. 1 – 4

Jim Flick Invitational Golf Tournament at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 7 – 12

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 8 – 12

Ironman Los Cabos Triathlon – Nov. 12

50th SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

Día de la Revolucion (Revolution Day) – Nov. 20

Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) – Nov. 23

Extreme Sailing Series – Nov. 30 – Dec. 3

December

Sabor a Cabo Rural Food and Wine Tasting – Dec. 3

LigaMAC Christmas Party – Dec. 5

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 8

Sabor a Cabo International Food and Wine Festival –  Dec. 9

Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12

Whale Watching Season – Mid-December to Mid-March

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Día de los Inocentes – Dec. 28

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

New Year’s Eve with DJ Paul Oakenfold at Blue Marlin Ibiza/ME Cabo Hotel – Dec. 31

Gatsby Theme New Year’s Eve Party at Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort & Spa – Dec. 31

 

January

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 11 – 21

Los Cabos Pro-Am Golf Tournament – Jan. 15 – 19

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 17 – 21

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Jan. 27 – Feb. 3

 February

Todos Santos Open Artists’ Studio Tour –  Feb. 10 – 11

Valentine’s Day Dinner at Sunset da Mona Lisa – February 14

Carnaval La Paz – Dates Not Yet Announced

Los Barriles Dog Show – Dates Not Yet Announced

 March

Todos Santos Film Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

Baja Shakespeare Festival – March 9 – 11, 14 – 17

El Triunfo Arts & Crafts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

East Cape Arts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

Fiestas Patronales in San José del Cabo – March 19

Annual Cheese & Wine Festival at Sheraton Hacienda del Mar – Dates Not Yet Announced

Filed Under: Cabo San Lucas Blog Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Los Cabos Fishing Report – October 29, 2017

October 29, 2017 by Leave a Comment

October 29, 2017

Large crowds of anglers and visitors alike are arriving in Los Cabos, as we are now in the midst of the peak fall season. This past week the huge story was the Bisbee Black and Blue Tournament, which is the highest paying fishing tournament in the world, with this year’s event attracting 120 teams from across the globe, with over 800 participants. For final results you can check on Bisbee’s web site. Swirling winds from the north finally resided late in the week, with prevailing clear sunny skies and warmer than normal high temperatures, this all made for ideal conditions, actually still feeling almost like summer.

Heavy pressure now on bait resources, but so far supplies have held up, though if wishing to obtain sardinas, that meant traveling towards Chileno and waiting each morning as netters worked overtime to find enough bait to go around. Other options were caballito and slabs of squid. Some panga guides are starting to scout out chihuil options, as well as smaller sized skipjack.

Sportfishing fleets, as well as tournament teams, have been scouting fishing grounds in all directions. For fleets out of San Jose del Cabo, thought much of the week they were heading south towards Cabo San Lucas, in order to find calmer waters, since north winds had their normal grounds from Gordo Banks to Vinorama all stirred up and very choppy. Also with the sardinas now being located close to Cabo San Lucas, that is a long back tack, to travel that far south to wait around for sardinas and then motor back to grounds such as Iman or San Luis Banks, not a normal plan, this takes way too much time, not to mention how much extra fuel is needed. Charters were fishing areas from the Hyatt, Cabeza Ballena, Los Arcos and to el Faro around the corner on the Pacific. Main target species being the yellowfin tuna. Drift fishing with sardinas was the most productive technique, the tuna were seen in flurries, at times proved to be very finicky, catches ranged from zero up to ten fish per boat, depending where you happened to be at a given time, lots of black skipjack were mixed in with the yellowfin tuna. Average size of the tuna were 5 to 10 lb. though other larger fish were mixed in. The biggest yellowfin tuna for the week was taken Friday off of the Outer Gordo Banks, angler Bob Deeter hooked into the cow tuna while trolling a live chihuil, after a crazy surface battle, the fish actually expired and was subdued in relatively easier than normal manner. Back at the docks the yellowfin weighed in at 304 lb.

Dorado were very scarce early in the week off of San Jose del Cabo grounds, better chances were found trolling in Pacific waters, though later in the week we saw more dorado showing up, still not in significant numbers, but at least somewhat encouraging. Sizes ranged up to 15 lb. Wahoo action finally showed much more activity later in the week, as ocean conditions calmed down and charters were able to comfortably work areas such as the Iman Bank. With a slight change in climate as well, this seemed to trigger the wahoo. Many boats reported having six or more chances of wahoo strikes, most on baitfish such as chihuil or caballito. Other reported strikes on skirted lead heads and Rapalas. Of course as is usual with wahoo fishing, a higher percentage of strikes were lost, as compared with actually wahoo being landed. Several charters had two or three wahoo in the box, at least one had four. Sizes were not huge, but average of about 20 to 25 lb..

Bottom action was limited, one 60 lb. amberjack was accounted for, but only sporadic catches of snapper, cabrilla and triggerfish were reported. This is not the normal season for that type of fishing, with more surface action going on, nor has much at all been reported close along the beach stretches.

Billfish was spread out, but the tournaments have found a respectable number of qualifying black and blue marlin that have passed the 300 lb. minimal weight limits, Not many striped marlin now, water too warm for them, with temperatures now averaging 84 to 85 degrees.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 162 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 3 blue marlin, 1 black marlin, 28 wahoo, 4 amberjack, 215 yellowfin tuna, 75 dorado, 11 yellow snapper, 34 huachinango, 2 pompano, 18 Eastern Pacific bonito, 13 cabrilla (leopard grouper), 6 barred pargo and 96 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

—

GORDO BANKS PANGAS

Eric Brictson / Operator

619 488-1859

Los Cabos (624) 142-1147

e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com

WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM

Filed Under: Cabo San Lucas Blog, Fishing Tagged With: , , , , ,

A Taste of Cabo: Dates Set for Sabor a Cabo International Food & Wine Festival

October 25, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Los Cabos’ robust schedule of annual events offers something to suit every taste, from sporting competitions showcasing fishing, golf and off-road racing to cultural fiestas celebrating art, film and music. For food and wine lovers, however, the most highly anticipated yearly event is Sabor a Cabo, a staple festival of the holiday season whose name translates to “Taste” or “Flavor” of Cabo.

Dates have recently been announced for the 2017 extravaganza, which will feature over 50 participating restaurants and 25 regional wineries, and is expected to draw over 3,000 guests from around the world.

The rural food and wine tasting will take place Sunday, Dec. 3 at Huerta Los Tamarindos, an organic farm and restaurant just outside San Jose del Cabo. The main event, meanwhile, is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 9, and will be held at the Quivira Clubhouse at Quivira Los Cabos, an upscale resort and residential development on the Pacific Coast of Cabo San Lucas that is best known for its superb Jack Nicklaus designed golf course.

Although dozens of Los Cabos restaurants participate, Sabor a Cabo is an international festival in scope, with world-class cooking talent expected to attend. The three culinary headliners for the main event this year, for example, are celebrated chefs Dieter Koschina, Enrique Olvera and Richard Sandoval.

Koschina is originally from Austria, but became a household name in Portugal, where his Vila Joya (House of Joy) was awarded two coveted Michelin stars, and in 2012 became the country’s first restaurant to crack The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. It’s currently ranked 98th best worldwide.

Olvera made his reputation with Pujol in Mexico City, currently ranked 20th in the world. That in itself would be an amazing achievement, but his New York based restaurant Cosme is 40th on the same list. Olvera made big news locally in 2015 when he opened a seafood-focused Pacific fusion restaurant, Manta, at The Cape: A Thompson Hotel in Los Cabos.

Sandoval, another Mexico City born chef (and television personality), has now opened over 40 restaurants around the world, from the U.S. and México to Serbia and Qatar. Among his many projects are two acclaimed restaurants in Los Cabos:  hip tourist corridor based eatery, Toro Latin Kitchen & Bar; and La Biblioteca de Tequila, a tequila and comfort food mecca at Breathless Cabo San Lucas Resort & Spa.

Incredible food and wine from world-class chefs may be the primary draw, but Sabor a Cabo also has a reputation for featuring world-class music. Past performers have included Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Lila Downs, and Mexican rock group Mana – the best-selling Latin American band of all-time, with over 40 million albums sold.

No word yet on who will perform this year, but the organizers have dropped a hint that the musical headliner will be a famous international group most associated with the 1980s.

All ticket proceeds go to benefit local charities.

For more information about Sabor a Cabo and other local events, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photo courtesy of Sabor a Cabo.

 Upcoming Event Calendar

October

Sammy Hagar Birthday Concerts – Oct. 9, 11, 13 – 14

Fiestas Patronales (Patron Saint Festival) in Cabo San Lucas – Oct. 17 – 22

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 15 – 19

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore – Oct. 19 – 22

Bisbee’s Black & Blue – Oct. 24 – 28

David Pack’s Legends Live at Bisbee’s Black & Blue – Oct. 28

IAGTO Golf Tourism Convention – Oct. 29 – Nov. 4

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) – Oct. 31 – Nov. 2

 November

San José del Cabo Art Walk – Thursday evenings, 5 – 9 p.m., November through June

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot Tournament – Nov. 1 – 4

Jim Flick Invitational Golf Tournament at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 7 – 12

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 8 – 12

Ironman Los Cabos Triathlon – Nov. 12

50th SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

Día de la Revolucion (Revolution Day) – Nov. 20

Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) – Nov. 23

Extreme Sailing Series – Nov. 30 – Dec. 3

December

Sabor a Cabo Rural Food and Wine Tasting – Dec. 3

LigaMAC Christmas Party – Dec. 5

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 8

Sabor a Cabo International Food and Wine Festival –  Dec. 9

Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12

Whale Watching Season – Mid-December to Mid-March

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Día de los Inocentes – Dec. 28

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

New Year’s Eve with DJ Paul Oakenfold at Blue Marlin Ibiza/ME Cabo Hotel – Dec. 31

Gatsby Theme New Year’s Eve Party at Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort & Spa – Dec. 31

January

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 11 – 21

Los Cabos Pro-Am Golf Tournament – Jan. 15 – 19

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 17 – 21

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Jan. 27 – Feb. 3

 February

Todos Santos Open Artists’ Studio Tour –  Feb. 10 – 11

Valentine’s Day Dinner at Sunset da Mona Lisa – February 14

Carnaval La Paz – Dates Not Yet Announced

Los Barriles Dog Show – Dates Not Yet Announced

 March

Todos Santos Film Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

Baja Shakespeare Festival – March 9 – 11, 14 – 17

El Triunfo Arts & Crafts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

East Cape Arts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

Fiestas Patronales in San José del Cabo – March 19

Annual Cheese & Wine Festival at Sheraton Hacienda del Mar – Dates Not Yet Announced

Filed Under: Cabo Events, Cabo San Lucas Blog Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Los Cabos Fishing Report – October 22, 2017

October 22, 2017 by Leave a Comment

October 22, 2017

This week is traditionally really the time when things become very busy for local sportfishing fleets and sure enough the crowds have arrived in force, almost to capacity levels. The high stake billfish and yellowfin tuna tournaments are in progress, with the granddaddy of all events, the Bisbee Black Blue, scheduled for this next week. Weather conditions are near ideal now, though we have felt warmer than usual conditions recently, just the past couple of days we saw early mornings just slightly cooler, still in the 70s. We do believe the next couple of weeks should have pristine conditions. Ocean water temperatures have remained warm as well, with most of the region averaging from 85 to 88 degrees. Clean blue water now within a couple of miles from shore, swells were moderate, though slightly increased with the recent higher tidal swings, larger waves make it more difficult for the bait netters to safely reach where the schooling sardinas are. Most days they were able to find sufficient supplies of the sardinas, with schools found off of Palmilla, near marina jetties, as well as north near Vinorama. Squid has been the other bait that is being offered and if possible it is best to obtain both sardinas and slabs of squid in order to increase your chances, the more the better. This is always the time frame when bait supplies feel the heaviest demand, we will cross our fingers that supplies hold up throughout the fall season.

This week we saw scattered numbers of dorado up to 20 lb. accounted for, but as the week progressed we saw much fewer dorado, hard to say what the deal with that is. Only a handful of wahoo were reported for the entire fleet, warmer than usual water temperatures help make wahoo more sluggish. As currents cool down to the 80 degree range this will usually trigger more activity out of these highly sought after gamefish.

Most consistent action was for yellowfin tuna, bite was more hit or miss that the previous week, heavy pressure and long waits to obtain bait, just part of the factors that come into play this time of year. Best action was found near San Luis Banks. Though other areas also produced. The yellowfin were striking on sardinas and strips of squid while drift fishing over the grounds, sizes of the tuna ranged from 5 lb. footballs up to 100 lb. specimens. Catches varied from a few fish per boat, to easy limits, some days we saw a higher percentage of yellowfin in the 30 to 80 lb. class, while other days more numbers of smaller fish, with a handful of larger fish weighed in. Lots of tuna now in the area, though they can become even more finicky with increased angling pressure.

Very little billfish action reported, though tournaments teams are landing a few and there is definitely the chance that someone will be hooking into a big black or blue marlin during the big buck events. No inshore action to report, such as sierra or roosterfish, some big jack crevalle hanging around the marina jetty area. Off the bottom there was only sporadic catches of various pargo, cabrilla, bonito, pompano, amberjack and triggerfish

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 185 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 1 blue marlin, 1 black marlin, 3 sailfish, 4 wahoo, 6 amberjack, 880 yellowfin tuna, 78 dorado, 28 yellow snapper, 54 huachinango, 6 pompano, 95 Eastern Pacific bonito, 9 cabrilla (leopard grouper), 12 barred pargo and 140 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

—

GORDO BANKS PANGAS

Eric Brictson / Operator

619 488-1859

Los Cabos (624) 142-1147

e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com

WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM

Filed Under: Cabo San Lucas Blog, Fishing Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Desert Gold: Baja 1000 Celebrates 50 Years of Epic Off-Road Racing

October 18, 2017 by Leave a Comment

October 18, 2017

The most famous sporting event in Baja is also the most famous off-road racing event in the world: the legendarily rugged Baja 1000.

So devilish and dangerous did this annual off-road journey through the untamed heart of the peninsula prove that by the late 1960s and early 1970s it became a badge of honor, one that attracted Hollywood stars of the era like Paul Newman, Steve McQueen and James Garner. Even traditional motorsports stars like Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones and 7-time NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson later felt the need to try it, as if driving fast over paved roads wasn’t enough of a challenge.

This year, the iconic race celebrates its 50th running – its golden anniversary – with a suitably epic 1200-mile point-to-point course from Ensenada to La Paz, scheduled from Nov. 14-18, 2017.

Over 350 entrants, from approximately 40 U.S. states and 30 countries, are expected to compete in the BF Goodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000; and will do so across multiple classes – in motorcycles, cars and trucks, ATVs and UTVs. The race will be televised on the El Rey Network, available in over 45 million homes in the U.S.

When the Baja 1000 originally premiered back in 1967 – as a race from Tijuana to La Paz – it was under the auspices of off-road pioneers Ed Pearlman, Don Francisco, and their newly formed organization NORRA (National Off-Road Racing Association). Following the OPEC Oil Crisis in 1973, however, there was a change in organizers, and since 1975 the Baja 1000 has been run under the SCORE (Southern California Off-Road Enterprises) banner.

This year’s start and finish points are considered a bow to tradition:  Ensenada has served as the starting line a record 43 times; La Paz, meanwhile, has been the site of the finish line on 21 occasions.

The Baja 1000 has finished in Los Cabos only twice:  in 2000 and 2007, when the race was run from Ensenada to Cabo San Lucas. The cape cities, though, are home to a vibrant off-road racing culture. Numerous local companies offer dune buggy adventures across rugged beach, desert and mountain terrains, and one even offers excursions in actual Baja 1000 style race cars.

As a matter of fact, they’ll even let you enter one of the regional SCORE sponsored races (there are four each year, culminating with the Baja 1000), and provide in-race communications and other technical support. All prospective drivers need is plenty of nerve and a valid credit card number.

For more information about the SCORE Baja 1000 and other local events, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photo courtesy of SCORE International.

 Upcoming Event Calendar

October

Sammy Hagar Birthday Concerts – Oct. 9, 11, 13 – 14

Fiestas Patronales (Patron Saint Festival) in Cabo San Lucas – Oct. 17 – 22

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 15 – 19

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore – Oct. 19 – 22

Bisbee’s Black & Blue – Oct. 24 – 28

David Pack’s Legends Live at Bisbee’s Black & Blue – Oct. 28

IAGTO Golf Tourism Convention – Oct. 29 – Nov. 4

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) – Oct. 31 – Nov. 2

 November

San José del Cabo Art Walk – Thursday evenings, 5 – 9 p.m., November through June

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot Tournament – Nov. 1 – 4

Jim Flick Invitational Golf Tournament at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 7 – 12

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 8 – 12

Ironman Los Cabos Triathlon – Nov. 12

50th SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

Día de la Revolucion (Revolution Day) – Nov. 20

Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) – Nov. 23

Extreme Sailing Series – Nov. 30 – Dec. 3

December

LigaMAC Christmas Party – Dec. 5

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 8

Sabor a Cabo Food and Wine Festival –  Dec. 9

Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12

Whale Watching Season – Mid-December to Mid-March

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Día de los Inocentes – Dec. 28

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

January

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 11 – 21

Los Cabos Pro-Am Golf Tournament – Jan. 15 – 19

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 17 – 21

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Jan. 27 – Feb. 3

 February

Todos Santos Open Artists’ Studio Tour –  Feb. 10 – 11

Valentine’s Day Dinner at Sunset da Mona Lisa – February 14

Carnaval La Paz – Dates Not Yet Announced

Los Barriles Dog Show – Dates Not Yet Announced

 March

Todos Santos Film Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

Baja Shakespeare Festival – March 9 – 11, 14 – 17

El Triunfo Arts & Crafts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

East Cape Arts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

Fiestas Patronales in San José del Cabo – March 19

Annual Cheese & Wine Festival at Sheraton Hacienda del Mar – Dates Not Yet Announced

 

 

 

Filed Under: Cabo San Lucas Blog Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Los Cabos Fishing Report – October 15, 2017

October 15, 2017 by Leave a Comment

October 15, 2017

Large crowds of anglers are arriving early this fall season and sportfishing fleets are very busy with near capacity crowds. Weather settled down after we saw very strong wind gusts last Sunday, lingering until Wednesday, this limited what options were practical, especially in the direction of Vinorama, being too far north when the south winds picks up is not fun. Calm days are prevailing once again and anglers are scoring well for both yellowfin tuna and dorado.

Ocean swells were minimal, supplies of sardinas were still holding up, anglers were also using strips of squid. Ocean temperature was averaging in the 82 to 85 degree range and water color was clean and blue close to shore. Most productive fishing grounds were found from the Gordo Banks, north to Vinorama. Drift fishing over the various high spots produced limit style numbers for yellowfin tuna, most of the tuna were in the 7 to 15 lb. class, but every day there were much larger yellowfin found mixed in the same schools, or on other quieter locations, that were ranging up to 80 lb. or more. The tuna were a bit line shy and anglers found better success using lighter leaders, but then they could be in trouble if they hooked a larger fish.

This week with we saw more numbers of dorado moving onto the same tuna grounds, striking on trolled lures, as well as on various baits. Most of the dorado found were under 15 lb., with an occasional larger bull reported. Only a scattering of wahoo reported, though they are in the area, on Thursday there was a 50 lb. wahoo landed out of Puerto Los Cabos, this fish hit on a strip of squid, lucky with no wire leader. Actually more wahoo were talked about this week, as compared to last, they did show more signs of activity, usually the first part of November they start biting more readily.

Not much billfish action being reported, though there was a 200 lb. blue marlin landed off of a panga early in the week. A few sailfish scattered about as well. Bottom action consisted of huachinango, yellow snapper, cabrilla, island jack, bonito, pompano and amberjack, no big quantities, but as strong currents resided some, this was opening up more opportunities for working the bottom structure with both yo-yo jigs and bait.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 139 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 2 blue marlin, 1 black marlin, 9 wahoo, 8 amberjack, 1150 yellowfin tuna, 110 dorado, 4 sailfish, 18 yellow snapper, 52 huachinango, 1 island jack, 2 pompano, 6 bonito, 11 cabrilla (leopard grouper), 5 barred pargo and 120 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

—

GORDO BANKS PANGAS

Eric Brictson / Operator

619 488-1859

Los Cabos (624) 142-1147

e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com

WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM

Filed Under: Cabo San Lucas Blog, Fishing Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Day of the Dead in Los Cabos

October 11, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Mexico isn’t the only country to honor the deceased with official days of remembrance, but the nation’s observances are so visually distinctive and emotionally resonant, its iconography so potent, that Day of the Dead is often thought of as an exclusively Mexican holiday.

The roots of Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, date back in Mexico to the time of the Aztecs, when festivals for Mictecacihuatl, queen of the underworld, were celebrated each year in August. After colonization by the Spanish, indigenous practices often became syncretized – essentially folded into the state religion of Catholicism – to avoid discrimination or suppression.

Since the Spanish colonial period, Day of the Dead remembrances have coincided with the Catholic observance of Allhallowtide, from October 31st to November 2nd. Traditions vary from region to region, but include visits to the graves of deceased forebears, and the building of altars (called ofrendas) at home to welcome the returning souls of children (Nov. 1) and adults (Nov. 2)

Ofrendas are one of the items most synonymous with Day of the Dead. These private altars are often adorned with traditional items like cempasúchil flowers (Aztec marigolds), calaveras de azúcar (candy skulls), and pan de muerto (a sweet bread made especially for Day of the Dead); but are also often stocked with favorite food and drinks of the dearly deceased.

Perhaps the most famous symbol of the holiday, however, is Catrina: an elegantly costumed female skeleton. Catrina was the creation of a famed Mexican illustrator named Jose Guadalupe Posada, and first appeared between 1910 and 1913, as an image meant to satirize Mexicans with pretensions to European gentility.

Another notable Mexican artist, Diego Rivera, helped to re-popularize the Catrina figure when he included her in his 1948 mural, Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Central (now housed in the Diego Rivera Mural Museum in Mexico City).

Today, Catrina figures proliferate throughout Mexico – they are a staple at art galleries and souvenir shops – and are commonly seen throughout Los Cabos during the Day of the Dead period.

Day of the Dead should not be confused with Halloween (which originated as a harvest festival), although they take place at approximately the same time, and many Mexican children, particularly in Los Cabos, have become fond of U.S. Halloween traditions like dressing up in costumes and “trick or treating” for candy.

So if you happen to be in cape cities Cabo San Lucas or San Jose del Cabo on Oct. 31, it couldn’t hurt to buy a bag of candy just in case…and to keep an open mind to the presence of powerful spirits.

Photo courtesy of Tomás Castelazo (Wikimedia Commons).

Call Los Cabos Vacation Rentals for Condos, Homes & Villas 1-888-655-4548

 Upcoming Event Calendar

October

Sammy Hagar Birthday Concerts – Oct. 9, 11, 13 – 14

Fiestas Patronales (Patron Saint Festival) in Cabo San Lucas – Oct. 17 – 22

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 15 – 19

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore – Oct. 19 – 22

Bisbee’s Black & Blue – Oct. 24 – 28

David Pack’s Legends Live at Bisbee’s Black & Blue – Oct. 28

IAGTO Golf Tourism Convention – Oct. 29 – Nov. 4

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) – Oct. 31 – Nov. 2

 

November

San José del Cabo Art Walk – Thursday evenings, 5 – 9 p.m., November through June

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot Tournament – Nov. 1 – 4

Jim Flick Invitational Golf Tournament at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 7 – 12

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 8 – 12

Ironman Los Cabos Triathlon – Nov. 12

50th SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

Día de la Revolucion (Revolution Day) – Nov. 20

Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) – Nov. 23

Extreme Sailing Series – Nov. 30 – Dec. 3

 

December

LigaMAC Christmas Party – Dec. 5

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 8

Sabor a Cabo Food and Wine Festival –  Dec. 9

Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12

Whale Watching Season – Mid-December to Mid-March

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Día de los Inocentes – Dec. 28

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

 

January

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day)  – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 11 – 21

Los Cabos Pro-Am Golf Tournament – Jan. 15 – 19

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 17 – 21

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Jan. 27 – Feb. 3

 

February

Todos Santos Open Artists’ Studio Tour –  Feb. 10 – 11

Valentine’s Day Dinner at Sunset da Mona Lisa – February 14

Carnaval La Paz – Dates Not Yet Announced

Los Barriles Dog Show – Dates Not Yet Announced

 

March

Todos Santos Film Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

Baja Shakespeare Festival – March 9 – 11, 14 – 17

El Triunfo Arts & Crafts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

East Cape Arts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

Fiestas Patronales in San José del Cabo – March 19

Annual Cheese & Wine Festival at Sheraton Hacienda del Mar – Dates Not Yet Announced

Filed Under: Cabo San Lucas Blog Tagged With: , , , ,

Los Cabos Fishing Report – October 8, 2017

October 8, 2017 by Leave a Comment

October 8, 2017

We are now seeing increasing numbers of tourists and visiting anglers arrive in Los Cabos, as the fall season is now underway, in another couple of weeks things will be crazy busy.. Weather patterns have settled down, calmer days, though still quite warm and humid due to low pressure systems forming further to the south, none of this is expected to have any impact with land, just makes it more humid and tropical, increase in swell expected over the weekend. The Baja landscape has definitely transformed to lush green foliage.

The majority of the fleets based out of Puerto Los Cabos Marina are now fishing the grounds from the Gordo Banks to Iman, San Luis and Vinorama. Bait options have included sardinas, caballito and slabs of squid. Most consistent action recently was for yellowfin tuna, drift fishing with various baits was the main technique and average size yellowfin was in the 6 to 15 lb. class, though these same grounds have produced larger tuna in the 30 to 100 lb. range, though there were no big numbers of the larger grade tuna, just mixed in with the smaller fish. Though there is definitely a chance at hooking into a bigger fish.  The largest Yellowfin reported this week was taken on Friday by Frank Harbin, from Chico, Ca., while fishing with Gordo Banks Pangas skipper Jesus Pino, the tuna weighed in after a long three hour battle and having died down deep, then slowly inched towards the surface. All around the numbers of fish caught increased this week.

Dorado remained scattered and in limited quantity, most fish were under ten pounds, only an occasional larger specimen accounted for. A few more wahoo starting to be seen, most of these came from the San Luis Bank area and were striking on Rapalas. Sizes ranged 20 to 35 lb. Though still no significant numbers. Ocean water temperatures now in the 82 to 85 degree range, when it cools down a few more degrees that usually helps make the wahoo more active.

Minimal bottom action going on, an occasional red snapper, pargo, amberjack, leopard grouper or triggerfish. Not a lot of billfish action going on, but the anglers that did specifically target these, there were a couple of black marlin landed this past week, other blue and blacks were seen chasing hooked tuna, so even though these billfish are not being found in big numbers, they were in the area, just need a lot of patience if looking to hook into one.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 114 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 2 black marlin, 12 wahoo, 4 rainbow runner, 4 amberjack, 630 yellowfin tuna, 38 dorado, 1 sailfish, 5 yellow snapper, 23 huachinango, 8 cabrilla (leopard grouper), 2 barred pargo and 110 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

—

GORDO BANKS PANGAS

Eric Brictson / Operator

619 488-1859

Los Cabos (624) 142-1147

e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com

WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM

Filed Under: Cabo San Lucas, Fishing Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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