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New Year, New Cheer! January Events in Los Cabos

January 1, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Welcome to 2019! It’s an entirely new year, but visitors to sunny Los Cabos will find many familiar events this January. Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo, a staple of the local cultural calendar, continues each Thursday night. The premier area golf tournament, the Los Cabos Pro-Am also returns, as does the region’s best music festival and windsports competition. The biggest event of them all, however, is the ongoing drama known as whale watching season. January is the peak time to see these enormous creatures (primarily humpbacks and gray whales), who have journeyed from arctic feeding waters to breed in shallow water sites around Baja California Sur.

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo  (January 3, 10, 17, 24, 31)

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 14 – 18)

The most notable golf tournament in a region famed for its spectacular courses–three of Los Cabos’ layouts are currently ranked among the 100 best in the world–returns January 14 – 18, 2010, as Cabo del Sol’s Ocean and Desert Courses play host to the 11th 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  (January 10 – 20)

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 returns again for a third iteration in 2019 with an all-star lineup headlined by Joan Osborne, Radio Free Honduras, Susto, Cordovas, La Santa Cecilia, Birds of Chicago, The Autumn Defense, and La Victoria.

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  (Mid-December to Mid-March)

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 whale in Los Cabos waters.

 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 Event Calendar

January 2019

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 10 – 20

Los Cabos Pro-Am at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 14 – 18

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 16 – 20

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 2 – 9

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

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 9 – 10

Día del Amor y la Amistad (Valentine’s Day) – Feb. 14

San Jose del Cabo Jazz Weekend – Feb. 15 – 16

20th Baja Hog Rally – Feb. 20 – 24

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

March

Cabo Collegiate at Querencia – March 3 – 5

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – March 5

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

Baja Shakespeare Festival – March 8 – 10, 13 – 16

Traditional Fiestas in San Jose del Cabo – Dates Yet to Be Determined

End of Whale Watching Season – March 15

East Cape Arts Festival – March 17

Todos Santos Film Festival – Dates Yet to Be Determined

7th Annual Cheese & Wine Festival at Sheraton Grand Los Cabos – Dates Yet to Be Determined

April

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

NORRA Mexican 1000 – April 26 – May 3

Paws n’ Claws Golf Tournament – Dates Yet to Be Determined

Sabores de Baja in Miraflores – Dates Yet to Be Determined

May

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

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival in Todos Santos – May 17 – 19

June

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

 

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Recently Reopened Cabo San Lucas Country Club Golf Course Showcases A New Look

December 26, 2018 by Leave a Comment

For all of its golfing glories–which now include three of the world’s 100 best courses and championship-level layouts from legendary names like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods–Los Cabos has only one course that features views of El Arco and the evocative granite monuments that comprise the Land’s End headland at the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula. That’s the Cabo San Lucas Country Club, which originally opened in 1994 during the first wave of the Los Cabos golf boom, but has recently been given a major renovation by acclaimed Mexican golf course architect Agustin Piza.

The reason for the remodel wasn’t so much the age or difficulty level of the course, although both were addressed, but rather the extensive damage done by Tropical Storm Lidia in 2017.

“We needed to demonstrate to visitors and the community that Cabo San Lucas Country Club was not wiped out by Tropical Storm Lidia in September, 2017,” said club project manager Alfonso Terrazas Ceseña. “We were hurt (by torrential rains), but the damage was superficial and certainly not catastrophic. We’ve bounced back as part of a five-month renovation project, and I believe we’ve succeeded in restoring confidence and credibility in the club.”

The new look Cabo San Lucas Country Club still retains its parkland-style charms, stretching to 6,852 yards (par 71) from the black tees, and comparing favorably to golf courses in Palm Springs, California. Gently rolling fairways girdled by waste bunkers, cardon cactus, palo blanco trees and colorful bougainvillea characterize the new layout. Tall stony mountains frame the course to the north. Lakes bring water into play at seven holes, notably at the testing par-4 ninth and 18th holes, where a large rock-rimmed lagoon protects each green.

Agustin Piza, a Mexican designer who has worked extensively throughout Latin America, altered several holes to improve sightlines and enhance playability. In particular, the club’s back nine was shortened and its corridors widened to expand the layout’s ocean views. The new and revised holes feature improved flexibility from the forward tees, better risk-reward scenarios from the back tees, and more undulating greens. Bunkers throughout the course were reshaped and upgraded. Pruning of trees and vegetation has created a breezier, links-style environment. The club, readily accessible by area hotels and cruise ship passengers, also features the only lighted driving range in Los Cabos.

In the wake of the remedial work by Piza, holes one through seven remain the same, while the par-3 eighth and par-4 ninth holes were swapped for the par-3 17th and par-4 18th holes, respectively.

The most noticeable changes are found on the back nine, specifically holes 10 through 16. The par-4 10th plays from the same set of tee boxes as the original hole, but a friendlier green closer to the tees enables average players to reach it in regulation. The par-3 11th is a new creation that plays to the site of the old 12th green, which Piza refashioned into a large, wavy putting surface. The 12th hole was converted from a brawny par 4 to a sporty par 5, while the par-4 13th occupies the original hole’s corridor but plays to a remodeled green. The par-3 14th, stretching to 208 yards, brings a lake into play on the right. At the par-5 16th, Piza reversed the direction of the hole. The fairway, pointed to the Sea of Cortes, now runs from north to south.

The latest changes are part of the long history and lore of the scenically situated course. Originally the dream of an East Coast developer named Ed Reisdorf, who visualized the course during a cruise ship visit to Cabo San Lucas nearly 30 years ago, what was first called the Campo de Carlos Golf & Country Club premiered in 1994 with a layout from acclaimed designer Roy Dye, with an assist from his son Matt.

Roy Dye was the brother of famed course architect Pete Dye, whose many designs include the TPC at Sawgrass, and a respected course designer in his own right. Reisdorf hired him because the Denver-based Dye Corporation was said to have built more courses that hosted PGA tournaments than any other.

“This is a dream site,” said the elder Dye at the time. “It’s got natural slope and great views of the ocean.”

A quarter century and many changes later, both statements still hold true.

 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:  Cabo San Lucas Country Club

Upcoming Event Calendar

December

Sabor a Cabo Food & Wine Festival – Dec. 1

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 1

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

Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12

Start of Whale Watching Season – Dec. 15

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 2019

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 10 – 20

Los Cabos Pro-Am at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 14 – 18

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 16 – 20

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 2 – 9

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

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 9 – 10

Día del Amor y la Amistad (Valentine’s Day) – Feb. 14

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

San Jose del Cabo Jazz Weekend

March

Cabo Collegiate at Querencia – March 3 – 5

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – March 5

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

Baja Shakespeare Festival – March 8 – 10, 13 – 16

End of Whale Watching Season – March 15

East Cape Arts Festival – March 17

Todos Santos Film Festival – Dates Yet to Be Determined

7th Annual Cheese & Wine Festival at Sheraton Grand Los Cabos – Dates Yet to Be Determined

April

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

NORRA Mexican 1000 – April 26 – May 3

Paws n’ Claws Golf Tournament – Dates Yet to Be Determined

Sabores de Baja in Miraflores – Dates Yet to Be Determined

 May

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

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival in Todos Santos – May 17 – 19

 June

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

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Los Cabos Pro-Am Golf Tournament Returns in January 2019

December 19, 2018 by Leave a Comment

There is no shortage of world-class golf courses in Los Cabos. To the contrary, the pool of gorgeous seaside layouts from big-name designers just keeps growing and growing. The newly opened Twin Dolphin Golf Club, a collaboration between PGA Hall-of-Famer Fred Couples and Todd Eckenrode of Origins Golf Design, is the latest example, bringing the total of playable courses in the area to 16. Three of those 16 are currently ranked among the 100 best in the world, and more championship-level courses are on the way, including the Greg Norman designed Rancho San Lucas, expected to open in 2019, and a second 18-hole layout from Jack Nicklaus at Quivira, expected to break ground in 2020. Truly, there is no place in the world quite like Los Cabos when it comes to destination golf.

But if the number of golf courses keeps climbing, the number of prominent local tournaments has remained quite modest. There are a few primarily charity focused tournaments like Paws n’ Claws (for the Los Cabos Humane Society) and Stars & Stripes (for children’s charities), and the Cabo Collegiate at Querencia, which hosts golfers from a dozen Division 1 schools. But when it comes to bigger, headline grabbing tournaments, there are really only two, and both–perhaps not coincidentally–are hosted by Cabo del Sol.

Cabo del Sol, after all, is one of the granddaddies of Los Cabos golf. Admittedly, granddaddy is a relative term. The first true 18-hole layouts weren’t sculpted until the early 1990s–a fact which actually bolsters Los Cabos’ standing as an unprecedented golfing destination–and those were built by the greatest champion of them all, Jack Nicklaus. The Golden Bear’s initial efforts, at Palmilla and Cabo del Sol, put Los Cabos on the golfing map, and as far as accolades and acclaim go, Cabo del Sol has remained the region’s benchmark site since.

Nicklaus himself famously referred to what is now known as the Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol as “the best golf property I’ve seen.” Many others have agreed. It’s been rated one of top 1oo in the world for close to two decades, and currently sits as the no. 2 rated course in Mexico. The Ocean Course title was added to distinguish it from Tom Weiskopf’s Desert Course, which opened for play seven years after Nicklaus masterpiece, in 2001. Weiskopf, although not as heralded a golfer or designer as Nicklaus, is a major champion with some incredible course layouts to his credit. The Desert Course is one them, a dramatic loop that winds through desert and mountain foothills and features some breathtaking views of the Sea of Cortez.

These two courses, Ocean and Desert, play host to the top two golf tournaments in Los Cabos. One is the Adidas Golf Invitational, formerly known as both the TaylorMade Invitational and Jim Flick Invitational, which welcomes pros and amateurs alike each November for individual and team competitions on the Cabo del Sol tracks. The second is the upcoming Los Cabos Pro-Am, which returns for its highly anticipated annual appearance on January 14 – 18, 2019.

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.

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:  Nicklaus Design

Upcoming Event Calendar

December

Sabor a Cabo Food & Wine Festival – Dec. 1

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 1

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

Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12

Start of Whale Watching Season – Dec. 15

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 2019

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 10 – 20

Los Cabos Pro-Am at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 14 – 18

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 16 – 20

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 2 – 9

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

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 9 – 10

Día del Amor y la Amistad (Valentine’s Day) – Feb. 14

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

San Jose del Cabo Jazz Weekend

March

Cabo Collegiate at Querencia – March 3 – 5

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – March 5

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

Baja Shakespeare Festival – March 8 – 10, 13 – 16

End of Whale Watching Season – March 15

East Cape Arts Festival – March 17

Todos Santos Film Festival – Dates Yet to Be Determined

7th Annual Cheese & Wine Festival at Sheraton Grand Los Cabos – Dates Yet to Be Determined

April

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

NORRA Mexican 1000 – April 26 – May 3

Paws n’ Claws Golf Tournament – Dates Yet to Be Determined

Sabores de Baja in Miraflores – Dates Yet to Be Determined

May

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

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival in Todos Santos – May 17 – 19

June

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

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The Holidays Are Happening – December Events in Los Cabos

December 2, 2018 by Leave a Comment

The biggest December event in Los Cabos is of course Christmas, and visitors to cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo are annually treated to a colorful array of seasonal decorations in the respective downtown areas, from tinsel-wrapped Christmas trees to carefully arranged public nativity scenes.

But holiday-themed events like Posadas and Christmas dinners aren’t the only headline attractions. Several other notable to-dos, from food and wine fêtes to cultural celebrations, should also be circled on the December calendar.

Here are five of our favorites.

Dressed to the K9s Charity Gala (Dec. 1)

Two of Los Cabos’ most anticipated annual events are sponsored by the Los Cabos Humane Society, with proceeds going to spay and neuter programs, as well as other pet-related causes: the Paws n’ Claws Golf Tournament each April, and the Dressed to the K9s Gala each December. The latter offers one of the few social occasions in which locals and seasonal residents can get dressed to the “9s” and dance the night away in elegant surroundings. This year’s theme is Glitz & Glam, and Sheraton’s luxurious Grand Los Cabos Hacienda del Mar has once again volunteered for hosting duties. The event, scheduled for Dec. 1, will include a cocktail reception with martini bars, plus a gourmet dinner, and of course live entertainment and dancing. Special room rates are reserved at the resort for visiting attendees.

Sabor a Cabo International Food & Wine Festival (Dec. 1)

The biggest food and wine festival in Los Cabos, indeed one of the largest in Mexico – the 13th annual Sabor a Cabo (or Taste of Cabo)–returns Dec. 1 to Quivira in Cabo San Lucas. The event, which is sponsored by the Los Cabos restaurant association (CANIRAC), brings together over 50 top local and international chefs, as well as representatives from over two dozen wineries for an over-the-top extravaganza of eating, drinking and live entertainment. Past performers at Sabor a Cabo have included legendary R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire, 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. This year’s headliner is Miguel Bose, a Panamanian-born pop new wave musician.

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo (Dec. 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. A chance to check out San Jose’s annual Christmas decorations, including the enormous Christmas tree in Plaza Mijares, is another reason to make the Thursday night pilgrimage.

Whale Watching (Dec. 15)

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 2014-2015, when a gray whale dubbed Varvara traveled over 14,000 miles round-trip from Russia to Cabo San Lucas. The whale watching season in Los Cabos kicks off officially on Dec. 15, with tours offered by virtually all local activities companies.

New Year’s Eve in Los Cabos (Dec. 31)

Fireworks are practically a daily occurrence in Mexico, but the show of the year–at least in Cabo San Lucas–takes places over Medano Beach at midnight on New Year’s Eve. It’s an extended medley of spectacular sights, sounds and colors, and one that typically leaves viewers breathless afterwards. No surprise then that the fireworks show provides the headline attraction for many local New Year’s Eve parties, which not coincidentally tend to be held on or near Medano Beach. Luxurious beachfront Casa Dorada Resort & Spa hosts perhaps the most notable of these local New Year’s Eve events. Last year’s celebration featured a “Gatsby” theme, with vintage 1920s era costumes and flapper-friendly festivities that included an open bar and deluxe buffet from the resort’s 12 Tribes restaurant, as well as live music and up-close views of the spectacular fireworks show. Over 500 festive partygoers are expected again this year to ring in the New Year, although the theme has not yet been announced.

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.

  • Chris Sands is co-founder of CaboVivo, co-writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, Editor at Baja.Ca, and a contributor to Forbes, USA Today and Cabo Living, as well as other websites and publications. 

Photo credit:  Adam Jones/Wikimedia Commons

Upcoming Event Calendar

December

Sabor a Cabo Food & Wine Festival – Dec. 1

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 1

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

Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12

Start of Whale Watching Season – Dec. 15

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 2019

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 10 – 20

Los Cabos Pro-Am at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 14 – 18

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 16 – 20

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 2 – 9

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

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 9 – 10

Día del Amor y la Amistad (Valentine’s Day) – Feb. 14

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

San Jose del Cabo Jazz Weekend

March

Cabo Collegiate at Querencia – March 3 – 5

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – March 5

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

Baja Shakespeare Festival – March 8 – 10, 13 – 16

End of Whale Watching Season – March 15

East Cape Arts Festival – March 17

Todos Santos Film Festival – Dates Yet to Be Determined

7th Annual Cheese & Wine Festival at Sheraton Grand Los Cabos – Dates Yet to Be Determined

April

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

NORRA Mexican 1000 – April 26 – May 3

Paws n’ Claws Golf Tournament – Dates Yet to Be Determined

Sabores de Baja in Miraflores – Dates Yet to Be Determined

 May

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

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival in Todos Santos – May 17 – 19

 June

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

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The Feast of the Year in Los Cabos is Coming Soon (And No, it’s Not Thanksgiving)

November 21, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Late November and early December are highly anticipated times in Los Cabos, although hardly any easier on waistlines than the long, dinner-filled Christmas season that follows. This is the time of year, after all, when the region welcomes locals and visitors alike to share in its two biggest feasts.

There’s Thanksgiving, of course, which may not be a Mexican holiday, but is celebrated in absentia by the some 10,000 U.S. citizens who now call the area their home, as well as the hordes of tourists who flock to the region to escape chilly temperatures north of the border.

Resorts and restaurants throughout Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo serve Thanksgiving dinners that would pass muster on any U.S. table, from turkey and cranberry sauce to stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and whipped-cream topped slices of pumpkin pie. In the spirit of the holiday, many also boast family style service and buffets for second and third helpings. Sheraton Grand Hacienda del Mar, for instance, is offering a buffet feast at its onsite Tomatoes Restaurant. JW Marriott’s Nak Grill, meanwhile, is serving up a family style Thanksgiving dinner with live music; and at Solomon’s Landing on the Cabo San Lucas Marina, diners will be treated to a traditional four-course meal as well as breezy seaside ambiance.

But despite the plethora of places to get stuffed on stuffing and other traditional dishes, Thanksgiving is not the biggest feast day in Los Cabos.

That honor belongs to the Sabor a Cabo Food & Wine Festival, the premier international gastronomic event in Los Cabos, and indeed one of the largest in Mexico. Sponsored by CANIRAC, the Los Cabos restaurant association, Sabor a Cabo (in English, Taste of Cabo) brings together over 50 top local and international chefs, as well as representatives from over two dozen wineries for an over-the-top extravaganza of eating, drinking and live entertainment.

Sabor a Cabo actually features two events. The first is a smaller rural food and wine tasting that showcases the area’s organic farming and ranching culture. The 2018 rural event already took place, Nov. 18, at Huerta Los Tamarindos, a farm-to-table eatery located just outside San Jose del Cabo.

The feast of all feasts, however, is still to come, and takes place Saturday, Dec. 1st at Quivira. There, on the shores of the Pacific and within easy view of one of the world’s greatest golf courses, three thousand or more hungry attendees will gather to experience the bounty of Baja, from its freshly caught seafood and award-winning wines to its most talented practitioners of the culinary arts.

Bountiful food and wine may be the primary draws, but Sabor a Cabo also has a reputation for featuring world-class music. Past performers have included legendary R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire, 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.

This year’s headliner is Miguel Bose, a Panamanian-born pop new wave musician.

General admission and premium tickets to the 13th annual Sabor a Cabo are already sold out, but some regular and VIP tables are still available.

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.

  • Chris Sands is co-founder of CaboVivo, co-writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, Editor at Baja.Ca, and a contributor to Forbes, USA Today and Cabo Living, as well as other websites and publications. 

Photo credit:  Sabor a Cabo.

Keywords:  Sabor a Cabo, Cabo San Lucas, events in Cabo San Lucas, events in Los Cabos, food festivals in Cabo, Thanksgiving in Cabo,

Upcoming Event Calendar

November

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

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Life Luxe Jazz Experience at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica – Nov. 1 – 4

Cruising for the Critters (Humane Society Fundraiser) – Nov. 3

IRONMAN 70.3 Latin American Tri Club Championship – Nov. 4

Adidas Golf Invitational at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 6 – 11

WON Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 7 – 10

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 7 – 11

SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

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

Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) – Nov. 22

 December

Sabor a Cabo Food & Wine Festival – Dec. 1

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 1

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

Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12

Start of Whale Watching Season – Dec. 15

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 2019

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 10 – 20

Los Cabos Pro-Am at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 14 – 18

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 16 – 20

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 2 – 9

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

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 9 – 10

Día del Amor y la Amistad (Valentine’s Day) – Feb. 14

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

March

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

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

Cabo Collegiate at Querencia – March 3 – 5

End of Whale Watching Season – March 15

May

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival in Todos Santos – May 17 – 19

 

 

 

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Where Art Matters – Todos Santos’ Collection of Cultural Festivals Headlines the Early 2019 Event Calendar

November 7, 2018 by Leave a Comment

When you think about vacations in Los Cabos the first things that inevitably spring to mind are beautiful beaches, big-game sportfishing, and boisterous margarita-fueled nightlife. But for all the gorgeous outdoor scenery and party hearty atmosphere, the Capes Region is also justifiably proud of its arts and culture, which it celebrates on a regular basis.

Cabo San Lucas, for example, is home to acclaimed film and food festivals, and sister city San Jose del Cabo famously hosts a weekly Art Walk, welcoming locals and visitors alike into the galleries of its Distrito del Arte for wine, cheese and looks at the latest works from respected regional artists.

But no regional community offers as many outstanding cultural festivals and fiestas as Todos Santos, which showcases a succession of events annually celebrating music, literature, art, film and gastronomy…all within the space a few short months.

The peninsula’s first pueblo magico, or “magical town”–a designation given to Mexican communities rich in history and culture–is only an hour by car from Cabo San Lucas, and thus is within easy day tripping range for those vacationing in Los Cabos. With that in mind, here’s a preview of the top cultural festivals on tap in Todos Santos during the first few months of 2019.

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series  (Jan. 10 – 20, 2019)

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 rebranded Tropic of Cancer Concert Series premiered in 2017, and returns for its 3rd go-round in 2019 with an all-star lineup headlined by Joan Osborne, The Autumn Defense, Cordovas, La Santa Cecilia, Birds of Chicago, Radio Free Honduras, Susto and La Victoria.

Todos Santos Writers Workshop  (Feb. 2 – 9, 2019)

Best known for its painters, Todos Santos has also proved a congenial community for writers. The 6th 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.

Todos Santos Art Festival/Open Studios Tour  (Feb. 9 – 10, 2019)

Ever since painter Charles Stewart and his wife Mary Lou moved to Todos Santos in 1985, the town has been famed for its thriving artists’ colony. The best introduction to the region’s abundance of talented artists is the yearly Open Studios Tour, the 10th edition of which is scheduled for Feb. 9 – 10, 2019. Approximately 40 local artists will participate this year, including painters, sculptors, photographers, muralists, plein air painters, encaustic artists, jewelers, printmakers, collage artists, potters, and wood turners. The Palapa Learning Center will offer a special stop on the tour, and will showcase a sampling of selected tour artists’ work for sale. Additionally, the Palapa Society’s child artists will also be working in their “studio” with work on display.

Todos Santos Film Festival  (March 2019)

This annual showcase for Mexican and Latin American films was originally founded in 1994, and is based each year at the historic Teatro-Cine Manuel Marquez de Leon, a landmark 70+ year old movie theater that overlooks the town square in Todos Santos. The 16th edition of the coastal pueblo magico‘s acclaimed festival de cine is set for its traditional March calendar slot–actual dates have not yet been confirmed–and will include full-length films, as well as shorts, documentaries, and projects from the local Youth in Video program. Additional screenings will take place in nearby Pescadero, and Baja California Sur’s capital city, La Paz.

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival  (May 17 – 19, 2019)

Attention gourmands and oenophiles: outside perhaps the annual Sabor a Cabo shindig in Los Cabos, Gastrovino is the best food and wine festival in Baja California Sur. Gastrovino is organized by the owners of a local wine and olive oil shop called La Bodega de Todos Santos, and features a weekend chockablock with tantalizing tasting opportunities. The pairing dinner at legendary Hotel California is one of many recurring highlights, but the “Big Cheese,” so to speak, is the Sunday main event on the town square. There, dozens of wineries from Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe share their palate-pleasing wares, as do many of the region’s best restaurants. Live music is also a staple, as is a silent auction to benefit local programs for children.

 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.

 Chris Sands is co-founder of CaboVivo, co-writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, Editor at Baja.Ca, and a contributor to Forbes, USA Today and Cabo Living, as well as other websites and publications. 

Photo credit:  Tropic of Cancer Concert Series.

Upcoming Event Calendar

November

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

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Life Luxe Jazz Experience at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica – Nov. 1 – 4

Cruising for the Critters (Humane Society Fundraiser) – Nov. 3

IRONMAN 70.3 Latin American Tri Club Championship – Nov. 4

Adidas Golf Invitational at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 6 – 11

WON Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 7 – 10

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 7 – 11

SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

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

Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) – Nov. 22

 December

Sabor a Cabo Food & Wine Festival – Dec. 1

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 1

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

Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12

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 2019

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 10 – 20

Los Cabos Pro-Am at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 14 – 18

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 16 – 20

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 2 – 9

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

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 9 – 10

Día del Amor y la Amistad (Valentine’s Day) – Feb. 14

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

March

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

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

Cabo Collegiate at Querencia – March 3 – 5

May

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival in Todos Santos – May 17 – 19

 

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30 Days of Land’s End Happenings – November Events in Los Cabos

October 30, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Few months in Los Cabos are more exciting than November, thanks to a huge variety of highly anticipated events, from holidays and cultural celebrations to destination lifestyle experiences and lucrative sporting competitions.

The eleventh month of 2018 boasts no less than three major holidays, including Day of the Dead (one of the most visually striking and spiritually profound of all Mexican remembrances), Revolution Day (which honors the victories won by rebel leaders like Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata), and of course Thanksgiving, which has been imported from the U.S. for the benefit of turkey and cranberry sauce starved visitors.

The red carpet glamour of the Los Cabos International Film Festival makes it one of the cape cities’ signature cultural celebrations, although the return of the seasonal Thursday night Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo promises more lasting interest, since it runs through the end of June 2019.

Sporting aficionados, meanwhile, can choose between cash-rich fishing tournaments like the WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot, high-stakes golf at the Adidas Golf Invitational, endurance contests like the Ironman 70.3 half-triathlon, and off-road racing in the iconic Baja 1000.

There is something, in other words, to appeal to every traveler’s taste.

Dia de Muertos  (Oct. 31 – Nov. 2)

Mexico observes many holidays, but none quite so visually distinctive and emotionally resonant as El Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead). This holiday to honor deceased family and friends dates back to the time of the Aztecs – who dedicated a festival to Mictecacihuatl, queen of the underworld, each August – but now takes place contemporaneously with the Catholic observance of Allhallowtide. Traditionally, it is thought that the souls of children return on Nov. 1, and the souls of adults on Nov. 2. Families will often build ofrendas (altars) in their homes, welcoming back the spirits of the departed with some of their favorite food and drinks, as well as special holiday themed items like cempasuchil flowers (Aztec marigolds), calaveras de azucar (candy skulls), and a sweet bread called pan de muerto.

San Jose del Cabo Art Walk  (Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29)

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. A chance to check out San Jose’s recent downtown makeover is another reason to make the Thursday night pilgrimage.

20th Annual WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot Tournament  (Nov. 7 – 10)

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 fixture of the autumn sporting 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 19th edition, saw 147 teams competed across 11 events for over $677,000 in prize money. Even bigger things are expected this year.

Los Cabos International Film Festival  (Nov. 7 – 11)

The Los Cabos International Film Festival returns for its 7th edition on Nov. 7, with an inaugural red carpet gala and screening at the Pabellon Cultural de la Republica 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.” Winners of prizes for significant achievements in cinema receive the coveted Ballena de Los Cabos, the whale-shaped award created by jeweler Daniel Espinosa that was first unveiled in 2016.

Dia de la Revolucion  (Nov. 20)

Revolution Day is a national holiday in Mexico that remembers the revolution from 1910 t0 1920, a civil war that began as a revolt against over three decades of dictatorial rule from President and caudillo supremo Porfirio Diaz, and continued as rebel factions fought to control the country’s future direction. It began when Francisco Madero published his Plan de San Luis, urging the people to rise up in arms on November 20, 1910, and continued under revolutionary leaders like Emiliano Zapata and Francisco “Pancho” Villa. Revolution Day is one of five Fiestas Patrias (Patriotic Holidays) celebrated annually, and is commemorated with a three-day weekend and parades across Mexico, including cavalcades in cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

Dia de Accion de Gracias  (Nov. 22)

 No, Mexico does not honor a time in the distant past when pilgrims sat down to share a feast with the indigenous peoples. But in Los Cabos – home to many American and Canadian residents, both of whom celebrate their own versions of Thanksgiving – the holiday is observed, if mainly at special dinners or functions for residents or travelers from Mexico’s two North American neighbors. Canada’s version takes place Oct. 8, 2018; and is a time for parties and special menus at Canadian owned bars like Hooliganz in Cabo San Lucas. The U.S. version, called Dia de Accion de Gracias in Spanish, is much more acknowledged locally, and dinners featuring turkey and traditional fixings will be offered at restaurants around Los Cabos on Thursday, Nov. 22.

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.

 Chris Sands is co-founder of CaboVivo, co-writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, Editor at Baja.Ca, and a contributor to Forbes, USA Today and Cabo Living, as well as other websites and publications. 

Photo credit:  WON Tuna Jackpot

Upcoming Event Calendar

November

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

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Life Luxe Jazz Experience at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica – Nov. 1 – 4

Cruising for the Critters (Humane Society Fundraiser) – Nov. 3

IRONMAN 70.3 Latin American Tri Club Championship – Nov. 4

Adidas Golf Invitational at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 6 – 11

WON Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 7 – 10

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 7 – 11

SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

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

Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) – Nov. 22

 December

Sabor a Cabo Food & Wine Festival – Dec. 1

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 1

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

Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12

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 2019

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 10 – 20

Los Cabos Pro-Am at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 14 – 18

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 16 – 20

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 2 – 9

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

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 9 – 10

Día del Amor y la Amistad (Valentine’s Day) – Feb. 14

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

March

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

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

Cabo Collegiate at Querencia – March 3 – 5

 

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The Fishing Capital of the World – Tournament Season in Cabo San Lucas

October 24, 2018 by Leave a Comment

It’s the biggest day of the year in a place built on big-game sportfishing. It’s the day of the famous shotgun start, when boats speed out of the Cabo San Lucas Marina before dispersing in whichever direction the captain thinks the fish might be biting, anglers strapped into fighting chairs hoping to pull in the qualifying black or blue marlin that will earn their team a check in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

It, of course, is the opening of Bisbee’s Black & Blue Tournament, AKA “The Super Bowl of Sportfishing” and “The World’s Richest Fishing Tournament.”

Oh by the way:  that day is today!

Actually, the tournament started a little early this year, on Monday, when Black & Blue founder Bob Bisbee, Sr. – who started it all back in 1982, and passed away on June 18 – had his ashes scattered by family near Land’s End.

But the shotgun start was this morning at 8 a.m. The Black & Blue is now underway, with fishing on tap today, tomorrow and Friday, before the winners are crowned at an awards celebration on Saturday.

The Black & Blue Marlin Tournament has come a long way in 36 years, from the inaugural event in which six boats competed for $10,000 in prize money, to today’s million dollar plus purses. But the spirit remains the same. It’s a celebration of fishing, and a celebration of Cabo San Lucas, the place that became a world-class tourist destination in only 50 years…starting from the day the town’s 300 or so residents started phasing out the lone industry, the cannery, to save the big catches for visiting fishermen.

Nowadays, it’s not just the Black & Blue that brings anglers. Los Cabos has a full-fledged fishing tournament season, and as of today, fishing season is at its highest pitch.

What might be termed “fishing tournament season” unofficially kicks off in June in Los Cabos, continuing through November. But the season really begins in earnest with the first of Bisbee’s trio of annual tournaments, the East Cape Offshore. This year’s ECO, held in August, broke records for its prize money, which reached an all-time high for the tournament of over $657,000.

The second tournament, Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore–familiarly known as “Little Bisbee’s” to differentiate it from the Black & Blue, or “Big Bisbee’s”–isn’t so little anymore. This year’s LCO, which just finished Sunday, also saw a record prize money payout: $1,165,000. That makes it the 8th fishing tournament in the world to top the million mark.

Over 120 teams competed in the LCO this year – 123 to be exact, comprising 763 anglers – and the tournament continued its commitment to charity, donating over a ton of fish caught during the four-day event, or an estimated 8,607 meals to local families.

The Black & Blue, naturally, leads the list of tournaments with lucrative prize money, and its 2006 payout of over 4.6 million dollars remains the richest of all-time. But although it remains the biggest, the Black & Blue isn’t the last major tournament of the Los Cabos fishing season. That honor belongs to the WON Tuna Jackpot, which takes place Nov. 7 – 10….a mere two weeks from now.

WON, for the uninitiated, is the Western Outdoor News, a California based sportsman’s weekly that 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 paid out over $677,000 to winners last year, and this year’s prize money is expected to top $750,000.

The enormous payouts and charity efforts are the reason Cabo San Lucas becomes the fishing capital of the world this time of year, and why fishing season in Los Cabos continues to lure so many anglers.

Where else in the world can you spend your autumn weekends fishing, with a chance to make so much money?

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.

  • Chris Sands is co-founder of CaboVivo, co-writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, Editor at Baja.Ca, and a contributor to Forbes, USA Today and Cabo Living, as well as other websites and publications. 

Photo credit:  Bisbee’s Black & Blue Marlin Tournament.

Keywords:  Bisbee’s Black and Blue, marlin fishing in Cabo, fishing in Cabo, fishing tournaments in Cabo, events in Cabo, October events in Cabo, WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot, Los Cabos Billfish Tournament,

Upcoming Event Calendar

September

Día de la Independencia (Independence Day) – Sep. 16

October

25th Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers Rally – Oct. 28 – Nov. 10

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

November

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

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Life Luxe Jazz Experience at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica – Nov. 1 – 4

Cruising for the Critters (Humane Society Fundraiser) – Nov. 3

IRONMAN 70.3 Latin American Tri Club Championship – Nov. 4

Adidas Golf Invitational at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 6 – 11

WON Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 7 – 10

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 7 – 11

SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

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

Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) – Nov. 22

 December

Sabor a Cabo Food & Wine Festival – Dec. 1

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 1

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

Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12

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 2019

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 10 – 20

Los Cabos Pro-Am at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 14 – 18

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 16 – 20

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 2 – 9

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

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 9 – 10

Día del Amor y la Amistad (Valentine’s Day) – Feb. 14

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

March

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

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

Cabo Collegiate at Querencia – March 3 – 5

 

 

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Shooting Stars – The Red Carpet Return of the Los Cabos International Film Festival

October 17, 2018 by Leave a Comment

The Los Cabos area has always been a favored getaway destination for Hollywood stars and other A-list celebrities. In the 1950s, icons John Wayne and Bing Crosby famously flew down for the white-winged dove hunting in Santiago, and visited the gorgeous East Cape for its renowned big-game sport fishing. When Hotel Hacienda opened in Cabo San Lucas in 1963, Wayne and sex symbol Raquel Welch were among its early visitors. More recently, paparazzi have taken to camping out on looking beaches looking for the latest celebrity bikini sightings (Kourtney Kardashian and Nicole Kidman are among the most recent “photo captures”), and entertainment industry moguls have bonded over their shared love of Los Cabos to start lucrative businesses. George Clooney and Randy Gerber, for example, started a tequila brand (Casamigos) while enjoying their neighboring Los Cabos properties, and rock stars Sammy Hagar and Adam Levine have since paired up on an unlikely fusion of tequila and mezcal called Santo Mezquila.

Liquor launches aside, though, the real business that brings celebrities to Los Cabos is show business, most notably appearances at the Los Cabos International Film Festival, which since its premiere in 2012 has posited itself as a North American version of Cannes…bringing together prominent players from the U.S., Mexican and Canadian film industries. The festival’s motto, after all, is “Come see what the neighbors are doing!”

The 7th edition of the LCIFF is slated for November 7 – 11, 2018, and as in previous years will provide a glitzy showcase for the area, featuring everything from red carpet premieres and VIP soirees to screenings of dozens of high-quality films competing for prizes and awards.

Films to look forward at the 2018 festival include At Eternity’s Gate, with William Dafoe giving an intense performance as painter Vincent Van Gogh; and 12 Years a Slave director Steve McQueen’s Widows, a new heist film with a spectacular ensemble cast headlined by Viola Davis, Liam Neeson, Robert Duvall, Colin Farrell, and Michelle Rodriguez.

In addition to gala screenings at the El Pabellon Cultural de la Republica (the Cabo San Lucas cultural pavilion that host red carpet premieres), select films will be shown at Cinemex Theaters at marina based mall Puerto Paraiso, as well as at select outdoor sites.

High quality films are well and good, of course, but the first question most people ask is who are the movie stars attending this year? In past years, cinematic luminaries like Kidman, Edward Norton, Reese Witherspoon, Matt Dillon, Monica Bellucci, Virginia Madsen, Oliver Stone, Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor have attended, and the latter two actually engaged in a playful red carpet “light saber” battle in 2015, reprising their roles from the legendary Star Wars saga.

And those are only the stars most familiar to English speaking audience. Stars of stage, screen and small screen in Mexico have also showed out in droves, and are in fact the biggest hit with the locals who line the red carpet railing with paparazzi and national and international media.

No big announcements have been made as yet for 2018, but traditionally stars from chosen gala screenings appear at festival events, as do winners of the prestigious Ballena de Los Cabos, a whale-shaped, gold or silver gilded award that was unveiled in 2016, and is presented annually to several honorees for significant achievements in cinema

Stay tuned for additional details and movie star appearance confirmations via Twitter @LosCabosRental.

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.

 Chris Sands is co-founder of CaboVivo, co-writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, Editor at Baja.Ca, and a contributor to Forbes, USA Today and Cabo Living, as well as other websites and publications. 

Photo credit: Los Cabos International Film Festival.

Upcoming Event Calendar

October

Sammy Hagar Birthday Bashes at Cabo Wabo Cantina – Oct. 9, 11, 13

San Jose del Cabo Restaurant Week – Oct. 13 – 20

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 14 – 18

Fiestas Patronales (Patron Saint Festival) in Cabo San Lucas – TBD

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 18 – 21

Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 23 – 27

25th Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers Rally – Oct. 28 – Nov. 10

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

November

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

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Life Luxe Jazz Experience at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica – Nov. 1 – 4

Cruising for the Critters (Humane Society Fundraiser) – Nov. 3

IRONMAN 70.3 Latin American Tri Club Championship – Nov. 4

Adidas Golf Invitational at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 6 – 11

WON Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 7 – 10

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 7 – 11

SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

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

Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) – Nov. 22

December

Sabor a Cabo Food & Wine Festival – Dec. 1

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 1

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

Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12

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 2019

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 10 – 20

Los Cabos Pro-Am at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 14 – 18

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 16 – 20

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 2 – 9

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

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 9 – 10

Día del Amor y la Amistad (Valentine’s Day) – Feb. 14

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

March

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

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

Cabo Collegiate at Querencia – March 3 – 5

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Not-So-Still Life – Looking Forward to A New Season of Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo

October 10, 2018 by Leave a Comment

The still life is a traditional staple of representational painting, a long-lived genre that allows artists to showcase their own inimitable style as they tackle rather commonplace subject matter like fruit or flowers.

Visitors to San Jose del Cabo will discover the colonial style city – whose name, along with that of sister city Cabo San Lucas, contributes to the Los Cabos moniker used for the municipality at large – is awash in talented painters. But despite its surfeit of artists, many of whom have their own still lifes on display in the historic, gallery-rich Art District, the city’s most famous art work isn’t a painting at all, but rather the Art Walk held weekly during the high tourist season.

Think of it as the not-so-still-life.

Each Thursday evening from November to June, art lovers and those seeking a bit of local color pour into the city, not only flooding the officially designated Distrito del Arte – with its voluminous galleries and charming cobblestone streets – but the better part of the historic downtown area between the hours of 5 and 9 p.m.

Galleries stay open late to publicize featured paintings, sculptures and other artworks; downtown monuments like City Hall and Parroquia San Jose are outlined by colorful lights; arts and crafts makers spread out their wares on tables or along the sidewalks; and wandering musicians serenade passersby strolling hand in hand, or those taking a breather at local bars and restaurants.

There are plenty of both, by the way. San Jose del Cabo is home to the original Baja Brewing Company and dozens of superb restaurants, from Mexican traditionalists like Jazmin’s and La Lupita to internationally representative eateries like La Dolce. But the true Thursday night magnets are the galleries which line the well-lit streets of the historic Art District. There’s Galeria de Ida Victoria, which in addition to hosting the region’s finest custom framing studio, also represents some of the finest contemporary Mexican artists. Patricia Mendoza Gallery and Casa Dahlia also spotlight the work of contemporary Mexican artists and artisans; traditional Mexican folk art like glassware and jewelry is on display at La Sacristia; and Mata Ortiz Gallery offers some wonderful examples of its namesake pottery style, whose history dates back over a thousand years but was reinvigorated by modern Chihuahua master Juan Quezada. Those with a more international orientation, meanwhile, can ponder the “sacred abstract art” at Dharmesh Anand, or be awestruck by Muvezi’s visually arresting work from Shona stone sculptors in Zimbabwe.

These and other galleries gladly welcome perambulators to experience the city’s thriving art scene (only Tijuana and Todos Santos rival San José as Baja art meccas), keeping their doors open well after dark, and often inviting artists to interact with guests and answer questions about their work. Cheese and wine, of course, often make their inevitable appearances as well; sip and snack staples in any bohemian milieu.

All in all, it’s a complete feast for the senses, and the 2018-2019 Art Walk season promises to be the biggest and best yet, with a fresh slate of exhibitions and fresh new looks at San Jose’s dramatic downtown makeover.

Now is a good time to clear a spot on your upcoming calendar, as the traditional seasonal kick-off – the first Thursday of November – is only three weeks away. And as always, the start of Art Walk season is celebrated contemporaneously with Day of the Dead remembrances across Mexico, so visitors can look forward to seeing personalized altars and other Day of the Dead specific symbols (from candy skulls to Catrina figures), as well as the latest works from top local artists.

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.

 Chris Sands is co-founder of CaboVivo, co-writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, Editor at Baja.Ca, and a contributor to Forbes, USA Today and Cabo Living, as well as other websites and publications. 

Photo credit: ArtCabo.com.

Keywords:  Art Walk, San Jose del Cabo, art in Cabo, events in Cabo, culture in Cabo, things to do in Cabo,

Upcoming Event Calendar

September

Día de la Independencia (Independence Day) – Sep. 16

October

Sammy Hagar Birthday Bashes at Cabo Wabo Cantina – Oct. 9, 11, 13

San Jose del Cabo Restaurant Week – Oct. 13 – 20

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 14 – 18

Fiestas Patronales (Patron Saint Festival) in Cabo San Lucas – TBD

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 18 – 21

Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 23 – 27

25th Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers Rally – Oct. 28 – Nov. 10

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

November

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

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Life Luxe Jazz Experience at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica – Nov. 1 – 4

Cruising for the Critters (Humane Society Fundraiser) – Nov. 3

IRONMAN 70.3 Latin American Tri Club Championship – Nov. 4

Adidas Golf Invitational at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 6 – 11

WON Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 7 – 10

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 7 – 11

SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

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

Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) – Nov. 22

 December

Sabor a Cabo Food & Wine Festival – Dec. 1

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 1

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

Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12

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 2019

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 10 – 20

Los Cabos Pro-Am at Cabo del Sol – Jan. 14 – 18

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 16 – 20

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 2 – 9

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

Todos Santos Artists’ Open Studios Tour – Feb. 9 – 10

Día del Amor y la Amistad (Valentine’s Day) – Feb. 14

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

March

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 28 – Mar. 5

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

Cabo Collegiate at Querencia – March 3 – 5

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