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Iconic Celebrations of Art and Culture Return in Los Cabos

October 13, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Downtown San Jose del Cabo is never livelier nor more beautiful than during Art Walk, the weekly celebration of local art and culture that takes place every Thursday evening between 5 and 9 p.m. during high tourist season (November through June).

Perhaps this is because Art Walk is, at heart, a celebration of San Jose del Cabo itself. The city comes alive in a new way on Thursdays during Art Walk season, with wandering musicians and mariachi bands among those walking the cobblestone streets of the historic Distrito del Arte, and the downtown area decorated in a festive whirl of lights.

So it’s good news that both Art Walk and Viva La Plaza, an art and cultural celebration held every Friday at Plaza Amelia Wilkes in Cabo San Lucas, are both returning this month. There will be some changes, of course. This is 2020, the year of Coronavirus, so anticipate street artists, food vendors and musicians operating at safe distances from one another, with plenty of hand sanitizer and masks on hand.

But return they will. Art Walk makes its return on Thursday (naturally), October 29 in San Jose del Cabo; Viva La Plaza the following Friday evening in Cabo San Lucas, from 6 to 10 p.m.

The two events are similar in that both showcase regional art, culture and music. The difference is largely in scope. In Cabo San Lucas, Viva La Plaza takes place in Plaza Amelia Wilkes. This is not a bad thing, by any means. This is the town’s main plaza and renovations in recent years have ensured that it has never looked better. Fresh gardens have been planted, the central gazebo painted, views of the sun setting over the cliff-hugging villas of Pedregal as magical as always.

In San Jose del Cabo, however, one plaza is not enough. Even one district is not enough. The Distrito del Arte, home to dozens of art galleries, is the traditional home of Art Walk, and remains the central focus, as gallery owners and artists stay open late to interact with visitors.

But the entire downtown area of the city comes alive. Plaza Mijares becomes an outdoor gallery for street artists and crafts people, with their wares laid out for all to see. The magnificent old Catholic church, Parroquia San Jose, is open for those who want to visit a more traditional altar than the Day of the Dead ofrendas that begin appearing towards the end of October. City Hall, with its colorful courtyard murals depicting great moments in local and national history, also beckons those on an informal walking tour of the heart of the city.

For this reason and others, Art Walk is among the most popular romantic activities for visiting couples, blending art and music, fine food and wine. This is an evening for walking and holding hands, for sharing new sights and sounds, each unique and each singularly emblematic of the magic of San Jose del Cabo.

Naturally, the Art District and city center are also home to some of the finest bars and restaurants in Los Cabos. The region’s first microbrewery, Baja Brewing Company, maintains its original location in the heart of the Art District. It’s next door to La Lupita, the city’s most famous taquería and mezcal tasting destination. Both are busy on Thursday nights as visitors take a break from gallery visits to refresh themselves and relive their most interesting experiences.

These are only two of the most popular stops, of course. There are many more, just as there are a wide array of galleries, arts and crafts boutiques and jewelry stores; from those showcasing traditional Mata Ortiz pottery and Huichol animal figures to paintings and sculptures from some of the best contemporary artists.

There is a lot of great art here, as well as arts and crafts, and custom jewelry. But mostly, there’s just a lot of life; which is why it’s always exciting to see these cultural celebrations return.

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:  Los Cabos Tourism Board

Upcoming Events Calendar

October

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 11 – 15

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 15 – 18

Top Chef Los Cabos 2020 – Oct. 17

Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 20 – 24

Restaurant Week San Jose del Cabo – Oct. 23 – 30

Art Walk in San Jose del Cabo – Oct. 29

Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Oct. 30

Day of the Dead Festival (“Secrets of La Catrina”) – Oct. 31 – Nov. 2

November

Day of the Dead – Nov. 2

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 4 – 7

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

Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27

Los Cabos Film Festival (online only) – Nov. 11 – 19

Gastrovino Baja Food and Wine Festival – Nov. 13 – 15

53rd Annual SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 16 – 21

Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic – Nov. 17 – 20

Revolution Day – Nov. 20

December

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

Viva La Plaza in Cabo San Lucas – Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25

Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12

Official Start of Whale Watching Season – Dec. 15

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

 

 

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Fishing Tournaments Take Center Stage: October Events in Los Cabos

September 29, 2020 by Leave a Comment

If you love fishing, there is no better place to spend the month of October than in sunny Cabo San Lucas. Not only does the Land’s End destination at the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula enjoy peak conditions for its famed marlin fishing during the coming month, but several tournaments take advantage of this fact to offer enormous payouts to anglers who bring in the biggest catches.

Bisbee’s Black & Blue marlin fishing tournament is the biggest of these events, and the one most likely to turn otherwise unassuming fishermen into millionaires overnight. There’s a reason, after all, they call it the “Super Bowl of Fishing.” Last year, three separate teams walked away with checks in excess of one million dollars, and the prize pool is expected to be every bit as large in 2020.

The Black & Blue is one of two tournaments Bisbee’s organizes during the month of October in Cabo San Lucas. The other is the Los Cabos Offshore, and although not quite as lucrative as the B&B, it’s still one of only a handful of fishing tournaments in the world to feature total payouts in excess of a million dollars.

There are a few changes this year where Bisbee’s is concerned. The traditional weigh station at Puerto Paraiso shopping mall and entertainment center has now been moved to the API Cruise Ship Pier, a site formerly used for awards banquets. As part of the safety policies instituted as a result of Covid-19, there has been an increased focus on pre-registration to limit personal contact. The good news, however, is that Los Cabos continues to loosen Covid-19 restrictions as cases markedly decline.

Bisbee’s fundraiser this year for their Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fund will be an online auction that runs during both tournaments, Los Cabos Offshore and Black & Blue. Auction proceeds will benefit the Green Scholarship Program that provides underprivileged Los Cabos students with college scholarship opportunities, Bisbee’s revolutionary new RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Tagging Program and the Nkwe Tactical Training Academy wildlife anti-poaching program in South Africa.

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 11 – 15

Bisbee’s two cash-rich tournaments get most of the publicity, but the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament also sends out a siren call to big-game fishermen eager for big-money prizes and jackpots. The three tournaments combined in 2018 to pay out over $5,500,925. The 22nd annual LCBT has three entry levels: a $5,000 base entry for each 6-person team; daily jackpots for the largest tuna, wahoo and dorado; and daily billfish release jackpots. Optional marlin only jackpots are available to teams that paid base entry (this year with two levels). Registration and the post-tournament gala awards ceremony will both be hosted by Playa Grande, a Solmar Group resort.

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore – October 15 – 18

Commonly known as “Little Bisbee’s,” to differentiate it from the “Big Bisbee’s” Black & Blue marlin fishing tournament that also takes place each October in Los Cabos, the Los Cabos Offshore dates back to 2002, and is considered a more laid-back, charity focused endeavor than the Black & Blue. Cash prizes are awarded to the teams with the three biggest qualifying fish in the game and billfish categories at the LCO, and large amounts of fish/meals are always donated to local families in need. Base entry for teams is $1,500 U.S., with $22,500 necessary for “across the board” entry in all jackpots and challenges. Team Predator took home the most money in 2019, pocketing a cool $445,825 for a few days of “work”.

Bisbee’s Black & Blue – October 20 – 24

Oft billed as “The World’s Richest Fishing Tournament,” thanks to its million dollar payouts, this marlin fishing tournament originally premiered in 1981, and remains to this day the highest profile annual event in Los Cabos. The $4.165 million payout in 2006 was and still is the largest in sportfishing history. Base entry for this millionaire maker is $5,000 U.S. per team, and requires a $71,500 U.S. outlay across all categories, jackpots and challenges. Prizes are awarded for the top five catches of black and blue marlin, assuming they meet the minimum standards (300 lbs.). Three separate checks of over 1.3 million dollars were handed out in 2019.

 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:  Bisbee’s Offshore Fishing Tournaments

Upcoming Events Calendar

September

Mexican Independence Day – Sep. 16

 October

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 11 – 15

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 15 – 18

Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 20 – 24

 November

Day of the Dead – Nov. 2

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 4 – 7

Los Cabos Film Festival (online only) – Nov. 11 – 19

Gastrovino Baja Food and Wine Festival – Nov. 13 – 15

53rd Annual SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 16 – 21

Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic – Nov. 17 – 20

Revolution Day – Nov. 20

 December

Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12

Official Start of Whale Watching Season – Dec. 15

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

 

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A Taste of Cabo:  The Foodie’s Guide to Culinary Festivals in Los Cabos

September 22, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Los Cabos gets credit for being world-class in a number of areas, but food is rarely mentioned as one of them. That needs to change. Twenty years ago the destination may have been about tacos and tequila and little else, but that’s certainly not the case anymore. Not only can foodies find international options galore, the influx of boutique resorts in recent year has been accompanied by some truly exciting new dining concepts helmed by celebrity chefs.

The new Nobu Hotel Los Cabos, for example, features cuisine from acclaimed Chef Nobu Matsuhia. French master Jean-Georges Vongerichten has taken steakhouse dining to a new level with SEARED at One&Only Palmilla. The Cape: A Thompson Hotel is home to Manta, a restaurant from Chef Enrique Olvera, whose Pujol in Mexico City and Cosme in New York City are rated among the best in the world; and Spanish chef Martin Berasategui, earner of 12 Michelin stars so far, has opened Gastro Bar at Paradisus Los Cabos in the tourist corridor which connects cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

But it’s not just the celebrity chefs who are transforming the local dining scene. A new generation of regional chefs is redefining Baja Sur cuisine, and a burgeoning locavore movement continues to showcase the abundance of local seafood and organic produce in new and interesting ways.

It’s an exciting time to visit Los Cabos and an exciting time to enjoy its many flavors. Nowhere is this more evident than at the culinary fests that dot the local calendar. Yes, Covid-19 has put a damper on some and caused new safety and social distancing protocols for all, but that hasn’t stopped local chefs from cooking up incredible food for visitors to sample.

With that in mind, here’s a look at what visiting foodies can expect in the coming months in terms of food-focused events.

Gastrovino Baja Food & Wine Festival

Aside from the annual Sabor a Cabo shindig in Los Cabos, Gastrovino is the biggest food and wine festival in Baja California Sur. Normally held each April or May in the state’s only pueblo magico, Todos Santos, 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. This year, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the festival has been moved from spring to autumn, and will now take place November 13th to 15th, with new safety measures in place. The best part of the move, the organizers point out, is that guests can now count themselves among the first to taste the new vintage of Baja wines.

Sabor a Cabo International Food & Wine Festival

The region’s biggest culinary festival, called Sabor a Cabo, is held each year in early December, and typically draws over 3,000 guests to an outdoor site in Los Cabos to sample food and wine, and enjoy live musical performances (past performers include Grammy winner Lila Downs, legendary Mexican rock band Maná, and elemental R&B superstars Earth, Wind & Fire). The main event–which rotates to various local venues–is always preceded by smaller auxiliary events, including a country food and wine tasting that shows off the area’s incredible organically grown produce and fresh local seafood. Dates for the upcoming edition generally aren’t finalized until late October or early November, and because of current restrictions regarding large gatherings, the event may take a vastly different form this year. In the meantime, you can sample the wares from the festival’s 50 to 60 participating chefs by having dinner at virtually any notable local restaurant.

Sabores de Baja Festival in Miraflores

The small town of Miraflores is notable for several reasons, including the unusual longevity of its residents and its annual summer harvest festival celebrating pitahayas, the favorite fruit of the area’s indigenous inhabitants. Mainly, though, it is known as the foremost organic farming community in the Los Cabos municipality, the place the region’s best restaurants go to source their produce. It’s the perfect place, in other words, to host an organic food festival that focuses on the traditional cuisine and culture of Los Cabos. Sabores de Baja (saborestranslates as tastes or flavors) is expected to return for its 5th annual edition in April 2021.

Summer Harvest Festivals

Each July, when the pitahaya ripens, the residents of the small organic farming community Miraflores (in English, “Behold the Flowers”) celebrate with a lively weekend harvest festival. Pitahayas are a fruit derived from the organ pipe cactus, and are extraordinarily rich in antioxidants, which may account for the legendary longevity of Miraflores residents.

Pitahayas were the favorite food of the region’s indigenous inhabitants, the Pericues, and thus also have a strong cultural and historical component. The annual “feria” always boasts a variety of traditional activities, including the crowning of a festival queen, a pitahaya gathering contest, and a vast array of food and drink, much of it featuring the region’s signature fruit.

Pitahayas may be the most emblematic fruit in Baja California Sur, but the most ubiquitous are mangoes. You can reach up and take them off the trees at many area resorts and restaurants, and during summer months, freshly squeezed mango juice becomes a delicious daily treat for residents and visitors alike.

A trip to the annual Todos Santos Mango Festival–traditionally held in late July or early August–inevitably heightens one’s appreciation for what can be done in the name of this luscious tropical fruit; mangate, for example, a dessert typical of the region, always offers a memorable tasting experience.

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:  Festival Sabores de Baja

Upcoming Events Calendar

September

Mexican Independence Day – Sep. 16

October

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 11 – 15

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 15 – 18

Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 20 – 24

 November

Day of the Dead – Nov. 2

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 4 – 7

Los Cabos Film Festival (online only) – Nov. 11 – 19

Gastrovino Baja Food and Wine Festival – Nov. 13 – 15

53rd Annual SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 16 – 21

Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic – Nov. 17 – 20

Revolution Day – Nov. 20

December

Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12

Official Start of Whale Watching Season – Dec. 15

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

 

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Wild Cabo:  Nature and Wildlife Adventures in Los Cabos

September 15, 2020 by Leave a Comment

In years past, the phrase “wild Cabo” was mostly used in reference to the anything goes nightlife in Cabo San Lucas. Nowadays, however, it’s more likely to be used in conjunction with the natural wonders of Los Cabos. And yes, that includes more than just the gorgeous beaches that trace the municipality’s nearly 100 miles of breathtaking coastline.

From stark desert to interior mountains and two major bodies of water–the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez–Los Cabos offers a remarkable range of both land-based and aquatic terrains, and is home to some of the most extraordinary creatures on the planet.

The largest fish and the largest mammals on Earth (whale sharks and whales, respectively) both spend time cruising the waters of southern Baja, offering incredible opportunities for wildlife adventures; whether its watching the spectacular aerial breaches of humpbacks from high-speed Zodiac boats or swimming side-by-side with 20-ton whale sharks off the coast of La Paz.

Whales and whale sharks may be the biggest attractions, but many other large pelagic creatures also call Los Cabos home, from dolphins and sharks to manta rays and enormous sea turtles (mature leatherbacks, the largest species, can reach nine feet in length and well over 1000 pounds), Snorkeling and diving remain the traditional activities for those seeking a basic introduction to the region’s staggering aquatic bio-diversity, but more specialized tours and excursions also exist.

For each species there is an optimal season, but on a year-round basis there’s always a one-of-a-kind bucket list adventure available. Here are four of our favorites:

Help Save Endangered Sea Turtles

Five of the world’s seven endangered sea turtle species come to Baja California to lay their eggs–the green turtle, hawksbill, loggerhead, olive riddle and leatherback (the largest sea turtle and the world’s fastest aquatic reptile)–with local conservation agencies and some area resorts offering opportunities to assist in the hatchling process. Why is this help so important? Although mature sea turtles are long-lived and have few predators, they are in great danger during their initial journey away from the nest, extremely vulnerable to predators on both land and sea. The help visitors give, in other words, contributes to the long lives of hatchlings, and also to the continuation of these remarkable species. In Los Cabos, sea turtle season stretches from late August until early December.

Destination Snorkeling & Diving

Los Cabos boasts spectacular year-round diving, with a half-dozen great sites at Land’s End alone, plus easy access to the living coral reef at Cabo Pulmo–one of the oldest and largest in the Western Hemisphere–and dedicated shipwreck dive sites in both Los Cabos and La Paz. One local boat, the Solmar V, even offers week-long trips to the Revillagigedo Archipelago, some 250 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, for unbelievable underwater encounters with deep sea creatures like manta rays, dolphins and great white sharks. The best times to visit in terms of water temperatures and visibility, however, are during the late summer and early autumn months. From July through October, water temperatures typically range from about 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Cabo Pulmo is the recommended regional dive site during peak season, offering access to the spectacular coral reef, as well as the densest accumulation of fish and other marine life in the Sea of Cortez (over 800 species, thanks to its protected status as a national marine park and UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Swimming with Whale Sharks

The whale shark is the largest fish in the world, reaching up to 40 feet in length, and weighing as much as 47,000 pounds. There is no risk in swimming with these gentle giants, however, since they subsist solely on plankton. Baja California Sur’s capital city of La Paz is the premier place to indulge in this unforgettable wildlife adventure, with the majority of interactions occurring near the tip of the El Mogote peninsula. For those interested in whale shark swims, complimentary round-trip transportation from Los Cabos is provided by several respected activities providers during the months of August through May each year.

Whale Watching

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 Jose 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 though mid-March (or beyond, depending upon the whims of the whales).

 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 Adventures

Upcoming Events Calendar

September

Mexican Independence Day – Sep. 16

 October

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 11 – 15

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 15 – 18

Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 20 – 24

 November

Day of the Dead – Nov. 2

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 4 – 7

Los Cabos Film Festival (online only) – Nov. 11 – 19

Gastrovino Baja Food and Wine Festival – Nov. 13 – 15

53rd Annual SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 16 – 21

Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic – Nov. 17 – 20

Revolution Day – Nov. 20

 December

Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12

Official Start of Whale Watching Season – Dec. 15

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

 

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Billfish and Big Purses: Previewing the 2020 Los Cabos Billfish Tournament

August 25, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Fish all day, party all night. For over 20 years, that’s been the recipe for success
for the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament.

Some refinements in terms of social distancing and other safety measures will have to be factored in for 2020, but as we’ve seen with Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore, the East Cape Dorado Shootout and Gold Cup Wahoo Jackpot–the first three fishing tournaments of the season–the fun continues, and so do the big purses.

Bisbee’s ECO set a tournament record for payouts earlier this month, becoming just the 9th fishing tournament worldwide to crack the million-dollar mark. Of course, Bisbee’s other two Los Cabos based competitions–the Black and Blue and Los Cabos Offshore–have already joined that select seven-figure company, and the Black and Blue remains the most lucrative event in fishing. Hence, its nicknames: “The Super Bowl of Sport Fishing” and “The World’s Richest Fishing Tournament”.

Both take place in October. So too does the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament. In fact, it’s the LCBT that kicks off the best month of the year for big-game, big-money sport fishing in Los Cabos.

The 21st annual competition is scheduled to take place October 11th to 15th, 2020 in Cabo San Lucas; preceding the Los Cabos Offshore (October 15th to 18th) and Black and Blue (October 20th to 24th).

No, the purses aren’t Bisbee’s big…but the LCBT does have a history of handing out impressive over-sized checks. And did we mention the partying? This isn’t just a fishing competition, but a celebration of a certain kind of lifestyle.

Team El Suertudo led the way in terms of fishing in 2019 (no champ was crowned for partying), earning $117,350 of the $785,550 in total payouts as one of 51 participating teams, who together accounted for 117 billfish across two days of fishing (36 blue marlin, 73 striped marlin, 3 black marlin, and 5 sailfish).

Team El Suertudo’s winning score was 1300 points, which highlights one of the more interesting elements of the tournament: the LCBT works on a points system. Black and blue marlin, for example, must be 300 pounds to qualify, and are graded at 300 points for catch and release, or 1.5 points per pound for the two boated marlin allowable per day per team.

Marlin are the kings of the Los Cabos sport fishing scene, and marlin the determine the big money earners at the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament. A monster like the 440 black marlin caught by Team Wild Hooker last year is worth 660 points. But quantity also counts, as El Suertudo proved by catching four blue marlin, two striped marlin and a Pacific Sailfish on the second day of fishing.

However, if boated marlin fail to meet the 300-pound limit when weighed, teams can then be penalized 300 points…or more. The penalty is weighted too, you see, and assessed as 2 points for every pound under the limit. A 280-pound marlin is thus penalized at 340 points. Striped marlin, sailfish and spearfish are worth 25 points each (release only). Tuna, dorado and wahoo are eligible for select daily jackpots, provided they meet the 25-pound minimum requirement.

All teams must provide their own video cameras, synchronized to tournament time, to verify catch and releases.

Base entry is $5,000 per team (up to six anglers), or $25,000 all-in to qualify for all daily jackpots in the 2020 event. The Captains Meeting and post-tournaments Awards Gala will be hosted by Playa Grande Resort.

Other requirements? Only a desire to fish all day, party all night, and get paid for doing so.

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:  Los Cabos Billfish Tournament

Upcoming Events Calendar

August

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Fishing Tournament – Aug. 4 – 8

East Cape Gold Cup Wahoo Jackpot Fishing Tournament – Aug. 22

September

Mexican Independence Day – Sep. 16

October

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 11 – 15

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 15 – 18

Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 20 – 24

 November

Day of the Dead – Nov. 2

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 4 – 7

Los Cabos Film Festival – Nov. 11 – 15

Gastrovino Baja Food and Wine Festival – Nov. 13 – 15

53rd Annual SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 16 – 21

Los Cabos Big Game Charter Boat Classic – Nov. 17 – 20

Revolution Day – Nov. 20

 December

Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena – Dec. 24

Navidad – Dec. 25

Nochevieja – Dec. 31

 

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Destination Relaxation – 3 Pampering New Luxury Spas in Los Cabos

August 18, 2020 by Leave a Comment

The days of Los Cabos as a simple, laid-back beach and fishing destination are long gone.

It’s not that the beaches and big-game fishing aren’t still spectacular, mind you, it’s that the better class of resorts in cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo have spent the last two decades adding amenity after pampering amenity in an attempt (overwhelmingly successful, by the way) to turn Los Cabos into one of the world’s great luxury destinations.

At the heart of this reimagining are incredible collections of championship level golf courses and luxurious spas. The region now boasts no less than 18 currently operating golf courses designed by legendary names like Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Greg Norman, and expansive and decadent spas are now found at virtually every local upscale resort.

We’ve given plenty of updates recently on the golfing scene, but very few in regards the collection of spas. So with that in mind, here are three great new luxury spa options to enjoy on your next trip to Los Cabos:

Waldorf Astoria Spa at Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal

By any name, this Pedgregal property is world-class. Originally opened as Capella Pedregal in 2009, the boutique 96-r00m resort was subsequently renamed The Resort at Pedregal before taking on the Waldorf Astoria imprimatur in 2019. The latter is a virtual synonym for luxury travel, and what were already five star amenities–the longest private tunnel in Mexico, cliffside dining above crashing Pacific Ocean waves–have now been elevated to the level of must-try destination experiences.

That’s certainly the case with the Waldorf Astoria Spa, which was created by renowned spa designer Sylvia Sepelli and offers pampering treatments grouped around central themes of the moon, the sea and Mexican folk healing. For example, massages based on lunar cycles and an indigenous herbal detox using the potent properties of indigenous Baja plants.

All the traditional spa bells and whistles are also found here, however, from an upscale beauty salon and a state-of-the-art fitness center to ten private treatment rooms and tennis courts with stunning elevated Cabo San Lucas city views.

Oasis Spa at Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas

This resort is the first ever luxury property on the East Cape of Los Cabos, a 70-mile belly-shaped arc that extends northward from San Jose del Cabo. For decades, the East Cape has been the last refuge for those who loved the old Baja of dirt roads and under-the-radar dive and surf spots.

That Baja still exists, but so too does a new kind of East Cape experience, an exclusive luxury hideaway on the coast at La Ribera. Relaxing couples’ treatments like side-by-side massages are a specialty of the house, offering intimacy and an enhanced state of relaxation across a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces, from private rooms to plunge pools to romantic strolls through the aromatic onsite herb garden.

Like the Waldorf Astoria Spa, Oasis also offers folk rituals based on the healing properties of indigenous plants. Yoga and breath work on the beach, exfoliating treatments for face, body, hands and feet, and the full-service Rossano Ferretti salon are yet more reasons to discover this newly opened Oasis.

Esencia Wellness at Nobu Hotel Los Cabos

There was excitement aplenty about the opening of a Nobu restaurant in Los Cabos…even more when it turned out it was part of a boutique Nobu resort on the Pacific Coast north of Cabo San Lucas, in the exclusive Diamante property development.

Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s acclaimed fusion of traditional Japanese cuisine with Peruvian (and now Baja) ingredients is one reason to visit. Another is Esencia Wellness, an onsite spa that’s grounded in Japanese traditions but also promises plenty of modern refinements.

The pampering spa occupies over 13,000 square feet at Nobu, and features 13 treatment rooms, a spacious fitness center, a full-service salon, indoor hydrotherapy areas, and an outdoor hydrotherapy garden that includes steam, sauna, jacuzzi and more.

Signature offerings include Nobu Zen, a custom treatment that utilizes several techniques to alleviate stress.

The same description could just as easily be applied to Los Cabos itself. So do yourself a favor and plan a visit soon!

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:  Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas

Upcoming Events Calendar

August

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Fishing Tournament – Aug. 4 – 8

East Cape Gold Cup Wahoo Jackpot Fishing Tournament – Aug. 22

September

Mexican Independence Day – Sep. 16

 October

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 11 – 15

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 15 – 18

Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 20 – 24

 November

Day of the Dead – Nov. 2

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 4 – 7

Los Cabos Film Festival – Nov. 11 – 15

Gastrovino Baja Food and Wine Festival – Nov. 13 – 15

53rd Annual SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 16 – 21

Revolution Day – Nov. 20

 December

Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena – Dec. 24

Navidad – Dec. 25

Nochevieja – Dec. 31

 

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

2020 Los Cabos Fishing Tournament Season Opens with a Million Dollar Bang

August 11, 2020 by Leave a Comment

There were a lot of questions surrounding the start of the 2020 fishing tournament season in Los Cabos.

But thanks to the COVID-19 protocols instituted by Bisbee’s, the granddaddy of fishing tournament organizers in Los Cabos, not only did the 2020 East Cape Offshore go off safely last weekend, it smashed several records in the process. Most notably, the $1,100,000 overall payout made the ECO the last of three Bisbee’s series tournaments to crack the million-dollar mark, and one of only nine tournaments worldwide to do so.

Held August 4th through 8th in Buenavista, off the coast of Los Cabos’ gorgeous East Cape, over 70 teams competed to bring in the biggest billfish, as well as the biggest tuna and dorado. The former feat was accomplished by Team Chachalocos, which boated a massive 704 lb. blue marlin, the largest ever caught during the 21-year history of the event.

Chalk up another record.

Team Chachalocos earned a cool $240,284 for their record breaking blue, but that wasn’t the biggest check presented during the four-day event. That honor belonged to Team True Grit, which took advantage of the lack of 300 lb. billfish qualifiers on day one to crush the doubled up jackpots on day two with a 306 lb. black marlin.

The timely catch netted them over a half a million dollars ($559,870 to be exact).

Team Fin and Tonic, meanwhile, finished first in the yellowfin tuna category, earning $82,695 for their 41.4 lb. qualifier; and Team Big Oh took home $60,170 for their first place dorado, a 39.9 pounder boated in just 15 minutes.

Face masks and social distancing were part of Bisbee’s 2020 ECO tournament safety measures in response to COVID-19 concerns (as was a limit of one team member per weigh-in), but nobody seemed to mind given the great fishing and spectacular record breaking payouts.

Less spectacular in terms of payouts, but equally noteworthy in terms of kicking off the 2020 season in style was the East Cape Dorado Shootout, which preceded Bisbee’s ECO on the calendar with some fishing tournament fireworks of its own.

Hosted July 24th in Los Barriles by Van Wormer Resorts, the 16th annual one-day dorado tournament was won by Team Offshore Lifestyles, thanks to their impressive 54.9 lb. dorado.

Offshore Lifestyles was one of 108 teams to enter the tournament this year, a slight drop from the 130 or so which usually enter (the ECDS is typically the largest local tournament in terms of team entries), but over double the amount expected given the global pandemic. Held under its own strict coronavirus safety protocols (no weigh-in crowds, no awards dinner, etc.), the tournament went off without a hitch…

Well, except for the trailer hitch on the brand new four-door Volkswagen Amarok truck awarded to the winners. In all, over $130,000 in cash and prizes were distributed.

Next up on the calendar is the East Cape Gold Cup Wahoo Jackpot, to take place in the offshore waters of Los Barriles on August 22nd (like the East Cape Dorado Shootout, it’s hosted by Van Wormer Resorts’ Hotel Palmas de Cortez). The tournament promises over 100,000 in cash and prizes, as well as a brand new VW Golf to the winner.

Big money anglers, meanwhile, will want to start gearing up for Bisbee’s Black and Blue and Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore, both of which offer million-dollar plus purses this October in Cabo San Lucas.

It’s unlikely anyone tops a 704 lb. blue marlin, but we wouldn’t be at all surprised to see more payout records fall before the 2020 Bisbee’s fishing series wraps up.

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: Bisbee’s Offshore Fishing Tournaments

Upcoming Events Calendar

August

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Fishing Tournament – Aug. 4 – 8

East Cape Gold Cup Wahoo Jackpot Fishing Tournament – Aug. 22

September

Mexican Independence Day – Sep. 16

 October

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 11 – 15

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 15 – 18

Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 20 – 24

 November

Day of the Dead – Nov. 2

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 4 – 7

Los Cabos Film Festival – Nov. 11 – 15

Gastrovino Baja Food and Wine Festival – Nov. 13 – 15

53rd Annual SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 16 – 21

Revolution Day – Nov. 20

December

Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena – Dec. 24

Navidad – Dec. 25

Nochevieja – Dec. 31

 

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Cabo, Summer Style:  Things to Do in Los Cabos This August

August 4, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Although there is never really a bad time to visit Los Cabos, there are certainly optimal times in regards some of the region’s signature attractions.

The sun may shine year-round, in other words, but there are still “seasons” for some of the most popular activities and adventures. Whale watching is probably the most notably example of a purely seasonal activity, since these enormous creatures for the most part can only be seen from mid-December through mid-March. But conditions for other attractions, although objectively good on a year-round basis, undeniably reach their zenith during certain calendar months.

With that in mind, here are three more reasons you should want to visit cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo this August.

Peak Season for Snorkeling & Scuba Diving

Thanks to its year-round sunshine and warm water temperatures, snorkeling and diving conditions are always good in Los Cabos. That said, August and September are considered the best months, since those times traditionally offer the highest water temperatures and highest degree of visibility at local dive sites.

Have you always dreamed of exploring the underwater world off the half-mile Land’s End headland that marks the southernmost terminus of the Baja California peninsula? August is a great time to visit famed diving destinations like Pelican Rock and The Point, both of which are home to colorful seascapes teeming with life, from small fish to sea lions and much, much more.

The mecca for snorkelers and divers, however, is the marine sanctuary and national park that lies just offshore of the small East Cape community of Cabo Pulmo. Not only do these protected waters include one of North America’s oldest living coral reefs, but they also boast the highest concentrations of marine life found anywhere in the Sea of Cortez.

Peak Season for Marlin Fishing

The fish are always biting in Los Cabos, true, but which kind of fish exactly can vary from month to month and season to season.

The region’s most high-profile fishing targets for visiting anglers, for example, are billfish like blue and black marlin. These two species provide the namesake title for Bisbee’s annual Black & Blue Tournament, famed for its multi-million dollar payouts to winning teams (hence its nicknames: “The Super Bowl of Sport Fishing” and “The World’s Richest Fishing Tournament”).

Bisbee’s Black and Blue and Los Cabos Offshore Tournaments are held in October, but its East Cape Offshore takes place in August. As a matter of fact, it starts today. The reason being that peak fishing season for blue and black marlin extends from July through the end of October.

But you don’t have to enter a tournament to fish for an enormous marlin. All you have to do is charter a boat.

August is also one of the best times all year to bag a dorado. This fish is known by many names. On the East Coast of the U.S. it’s typically referred to as dolphinfish, on the West Coast as mahi. By any name it’s absolutely delicious, and virtually every restaurant in Los Cabos offers “you hook it, we cook it” specials when you bring in your own fresh catch of the day.

Surfing Season on the Sea of Cortez

The long-held wisdom in Los Cabos is that you surf the Sea of Cortez side during the summer months, the Pacific Ocean side during the winter months.

Certainly, the best time to visit famed Sea of Cortez side breaks like Zippers, Old Man’s and Monuments is during summer months like August. The former was for several years the site of the World Surf League sanctioned Los Cabos Open of Surf, but all three have been drawing destination wave riders for decades.

Zippers is not only a perennially popular surf spot, but the beach where it is found–Playa Costa Azul, in San Jose del Cabo–actually boasts two other notable surf breaks: La Roca (or The Rock) and The Middle. The latter is one of the best beginner-friendly breaks in the region (High Tide Los Cabos offers lessons here), while La Roca is best left to the experts. Old Man’s, AKA Playa Acapulquito, offers something in-between in terms of skill level, as well as the option of boutique accommodations at the nearby Cabo Surf Hotel.

Monuments, meanwhile, is famed locally for several reasons. It’s the only surf break in the region that features Land’s End views. It’s also the most notable “left hand” surf break in Los Cabos, and the beach from which it is accessed has recently been upgraded to Blue Flag status for services and sustainability by the Foundation for Environmental Education.

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:  Blue Sky Cabo

Upcoming Events Calendar

August

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Fishing Tournament – Aug. 4 – 8

East Cape Gold Cup Wahoo Jackpot Fishing Tournament – Aug. 22

September

Mexican Independence Day – Sep. 16

 October

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 11 – 15

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 15 – 18

Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 20 – 24

 November

Day of the Dead – Nov. 2

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 4 – 7

Los Cabos Film Festival – Nov. 11 – 15

Gastrovino Baja Food and Wine Festival – Nov. 13 – 15

53rd Annual SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 16 – 21

Revolution Day – Nov. 20

 December

Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena – Dec. 24

Navidad – Dec. 25

Nochevieja – Dec. 31

 

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Different Strokes:  The Best New Golf Courses in Los Cabos

July 28, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Although Los Cabos’ gorgeous year-round weather and striking combination of ocean, desert and mountains lends itself to outdoor activities of all kinds, fishing and golf are the sports most popular with the three million or so tourists that visit the region on annual basis.

It was big-game fishing for marlin and tuna that helped to put Cabo San Lucas on the map, and since the early 1990s, new championship level golf courses have been opening on a regular basis…often as part of luxury real estate developments or in concert with brand-name resorts, but always with spectacular coastal settings and the imprimatur of legendary players and designers.

Major champions Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Fred Couples, Davis Love III and Tom Weiskopf have all lent their names and design acumen to local layouts. Nicklaus has designed six, in fact, and spearheaded the golfing boom that has been going strong for the last 30 years.

Norman has designed two courses in Los Cabos, including the most recent at Rancho San Lucas on the Pacific Coast north of Cabo San Lucas. But that’s hardly the only destination attraction to lure golfers in recent years.

Here’s the scoop on four of the most recent, not to most notable, courses to open in Los Cabos since 2018.

Costa Palmas Golf Club

The Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed Costa Palmas Golf Club is the first course to open on the Los Cabos municipality’s beautiful and still largely undeveloped East Cape. Built in conjunction with a private resort community centered around the new Four Seasons Los Cabos Resort at Costa Palmas, the first-ever Baja foray for the distinguished luxury brand, the course opened to great acclaim in December 2019.

The new 7,221-yard loop is scenically set between the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range and the Sea of Cortez, with the first six holes threading through links-style dunes, the middle six offering panoramic mountain vistas, and the final six showing off the gorgeous coves and harbors of La Ribera, where the resort community and golf course is located. The new yacht club is also on picturesque display.

In addition to its 18 memorable holes, the new Costa Palmas Golf Club also boasts a host of luxury amenities, including a six-hole par-3 course for families, a 30,000 square foot practice putting green that’s illuminated at night, and a “19th hole” style café called Bouchi’s.

Costa Palmas is actually Robert Trent Jones II’s second design in Los Cabos. The first was Cabo Real, which opened in 1996 and helped put Los Cabos on the golfing map after television cameras broadcast whales breaching near a seaside green during a Senior Slam event.

Rancho San Lucas Golf Course

“Rancho San Lucas is the most spectacular piece of oceanfront property I’ve seen in a long time, so to have the opportunity to build a course on this site was truly once-in-a-lifetime,” said Greg Norman about his newly designed course, which opened in February 2020. “My goal was to keep it as natural as possible while showcasing the site’s arroyos, dunes and view corridors. We wanted to build a sustainable course that is playable from all perspectives, including the forward tees. We’re committed to making a global impact by creating courses that withstand the test of time, and I truly believe this golf course is one of the best we’ve ever built.”

The layout’s defining characteristic is its British Open style pot bunkers. These sharp-edged, steep-walled sandy pits were constructed from recycled artificial turf and are nearly identical to the natural sod-walled bunkers found on British links courses. Resistant to washouts, the club’s synthetic, low-maintenance bunkers are a first in Mexico. Norman used them sparingly.

The versatile, well-groomed layout has five sets of tees and offers exceptional pace and variety. The par 5s are brawny, the par 3s are varied. The par 4s, angled to all compass points, range from long and stout to short and fun.

Featuring a dramatic 300-foot elevation change, the well-strategized course has a handful of holes on the beach, notably the par-3 third, which parallels the sea and will give players fine views of breaching whales during the winter months.

With two on-course comfort stations, each providing Mexican specialties and ice-cold refreshments, players can enjoy an all-inclusive experience during the round.  A handsome ranchero-style clubhouse overlooks the fairways and sea. The practice facility features a basin-shaped driving range, an 18-hole putting course, and dedicated chipping, pitching and sand play areas.

Rancho San Lucas is also notable for its single player scooters, one of many safety protocols instituted since the start of the global coronavirus pandemic.

Twin Dolphin Golf Club

Former Masters Champion Fred Couples collaborated with Todd Eckenrode of Origins Golf Design on the picturesque layout for Twin Dolphin Golf Club, a seaside loop overlooking Santa Maria Bay in the Los Cabos Tourist Corridor that premiered in December 2018.

The course is the centerpiece of a 1400-acre, master planned community, which is also called Twin Dolphin in a nod to the iconic early resort which once occupied some of the same real estate. The upscale community includes the 122-room luxury beachfront resort Montage Los Cabos, as well as the private residences of Maravilla Los Cabos.

Couples and Eckenrode’s design is a par-72; its 18 holes stretching a challenging 7,156 yards from the tips. Playability for handicappers of all levels is a major focus, however, with four optional sets of tees (including one for kids), and subtle mounding in spots to safely corral errant drives. Stunning views of the Sea of Cortez and interior Sierra de la Laguna mountain range on each and every hole also bring another level of enjoyment to the golfing experience.

“We wanted this to be a course that all players can enjoy,” Couples explained. “With its multiple sets of tees, it varies in length and features undulating greens, dramatic elevation changes, impeccable fairways and natural bunkering. It’s a great second shot golf course with several spectacular tee shots. The architecture makes great use of the natural topography and the ocean views make each hole incredibly memorable.”

Puerto Los Cabos Golf Course

For 10 years, the luxury Puerto Los Cabos development just outside San Jose del Cabo hosted the world’s only collaborative design between champions turned designers Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman. The plan all along was for the two nine-hole efforts to be expanded into their own 18-hole layouts. Norman has yet to design the second nine for his course–he’s been too busy with Rancho San Lucas–but Nicklaus did return to finish his original conception, with the now 18-hole course debuting in 2018.

So for now, anyway, golfers have access to 27 beautiful holes, including the most recent nine unveiled by Nicklaus.

The opening stretch, routed at sea level and swept by gentle breezes, is designed to get players off to a good start. The first hole, a links-style par 5 flanked by an arroyo and framed in the distance by dunes, plays directly to the Sea of Cortes. The par-4 second hole, 332 yards at full stretch, invites big hitters to carry a large central bunker to reach the slightly elevated green, with trouble in store for misplayed shots.

The new nine’s picturesque closing stretch—holes 6 through 9—ascends to higher ground and has been the talk of the club since they opened. Each presents a fair but formidable challenge. The par-4 sixth, while not long on the card, demands an exacting approach to a well-protected tabletop green. From an elevated tee, the dramatic par-4 seventh plays to a ramped-up fairway, the uphill target a wishbone-shaped green indented by a deep bunker. At 191 yards from the tips, the sturdy par-3 eighth hole, its green benched into a hillside and ringed by bunkers, plays much longer than the listed yardage due to the prevailing wind. The new par-5 ninth, which occupies the corridor of the former 10th hole but plays in the opposite direction, offers a wide fairway that tumbles downhill to a green defended on the right by a pond. Nicklaus also built a new 10th hole, this one a testing 541-yard par 5 that skirts a winding arroyo on the right and rises to a well-protected green.

The new clubhouse at Puerto Los Cabos, also opened in 2018, is a distinctive blend of traditional Spanish Mission revival architecture and contemporary styling.  It offers an excellent snack bar open for breakfast and lunch as well as shaded outdoor seating. Ingredients for dishes are sourced from Miraflores, a local organic farm.  Complimentary refreshments, including fresh fish tacos, are served to players at the Bear’s Den, an on-course palapa.

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:  Costa Palmas Golf Club

Upcoming Events Calendar

July

East Cape Dorado Shootout Fishing Tournament – Jul. 18

August

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Fishing Tournament – Aug. 4 – 8

East Cape Gold Cup Wahoo Jackpot Fishing Tournament – Aug. 22

September

Mexican Independence Day – Sep. 16

October

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 11 – 15

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 15 – 18

Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 20 – 24

November

Day of the Dead – Nov. 2

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 4 – 7

Los Cabos Film Festival – Nov. 11 – 15

Gastrovino Baja Food and Wine Festival – Nov. 13 – 15

53rd Annual SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 16 – 21

Revolution Day – Nov. 20

December

Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena – Dec. 24

Navidad – Dec. 25

Nochevieja – Dec. 31

 

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

Full Speed Ahead for 2020 Fishing Tournament Season in Los Cabos

July 21, 2020 by Leave a Comment

In the age of social distancing, many events have been cancelled over the past few months–in Los Cabos as elsewhere–and many more are being reconfigured for the future.

One aspect of the local event scene that has remained largely unchanged, however, is the fishing tournament. This sport, with its built-in social distancing of small teams working together on different boats, has been able to continue safely…and thus able to continue to provide joy to all participants, as well as very large paychecks to winning anglers.

So far, only two Los Cabos based tournaments have been cancelled. The Pelagic sponsored Cabo Summer Slam/The Triple Crown of Fishing, which traditionally kicks off the fishing season in Cabo San Lucas, was derailed because of quarantine conditions that were in place until Los Cabos was reopened with new safety protocols in mid-June; and the Ladies Only Fishing Tournament hosted by the Hotel Palmas de Cortez in Los Barriles, the 2nd edition of which was to take place July 23rd to 27th, has been pushed back to July 2021.

Everything else, happily, is right on schedule and full speed ahead. This includes Bisbee’s trio of big-money marlin fishing tournaments, as well as all the other fishing tournaments that have become fixtures of the Los Cabos event scene over the past few decades.

The season officially kicked off last weekend with the 16th annual East Cape Dorado Shootout in Los Barriles, which always boasts one of the largest turnouts of any local fishing tournament. And as always, the winner of this one-day dorado fest walked away with a brand new vehicle–this year, a 2020 Volkswagen 4×4 Amarok pickup truck–as part of the estimated $200,000 in cash in prizes.

Here’s what is on tap for the rest of the 2020 fishing tournament season in Los Cabos.

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore – August 4 – 8, 2020

 The East Cape Offshore is always first, and kicks off Bisbee’s 2020 series starting August 4th. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three qualifiers in marlin, tuna and dorado categories, with the awards celebration taking place afterwards at the Hotel Buena Vista. Base entry for the event is $1500 per team, with additional fees for daily jackpots ($22,500 “across the board”). Prize money is based on entry fees received, with 60% going to the billfish winners, and 20% each to top tuna and dorado anglers. Team El Suertudo took home the largest payout in tournament history in 2019, earning a healthy $619,800 for a 381 lb. blue marlin.

 East Cape Gold Cup Wahoo Jackpot Tournament – August 22

Similar to the East Cape Dorado Shootout with its drive-away first prize, the biggest wahoo caught on August 22nd will earn one lucky fisherman a showroom fresh 2020 Volkswagen Golf and a Suzuki 140 horsepower four-stroke engine. In total, over $100,000 in cash and prizes are up for grabs, including great raffle prizes, return trips, fishing outings, and much more. The entry fee is only $500 per team and includes dinner at the awards ceremony.

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 11 – 15

Just as September is El Mes de la Patria, the “the country’s month,” in México, October is the month of the fishing tournament in Cabo San Lucas. Bisbee’s two cash-rich tournaments–the Los Cabos Offshore and Black & Blue–get most of the publicity, but the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament also sends out a siren call to big-game fishermen eager for big-money prizes and jackpots. The three tournaments combined in 2018 to pay out over $5,500,925. The 22nd annual LCBT has three entry levels: a $5,000 base entry for each 6-person team; daily jackpots for the largest tuna, wahoo and dorado; and daily billfish release jackpots. Optional marlin only jackpots are available to teams that paid base entry (this year with two levels). Registration and the post-tournament gala awards ceremony will both be hosted by Playa Grande, a Solmar Group resort.

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore – October 15 – 18, 2020

Commonly known as “Little Bisbee’s,” to differentiate it from the “Big Bisbee’s” Black & Blue marlin fishing tournament that also takes place each October in Los Cabos, the Los Cabos Offshore dates back to 2002, and is considered a more laid-back, charity focused endeavor than the Black & Blue. Cash prizes are awarded to the teams with the three biggest qualifying fish in the game and billfish categories at the LCO, and large amounts of fish/meals are always donated to local families in need. Base entry for teams is $1,500 U.S., with $22,500 necessary for “across the board” entry in all jackpots and challenges. Team Predator took home the most money in 2019, pocketing a cool $445,825 for a few days of “work”.

Bisbee’s Black & Blue – October 20 – 24, 2020

Oft billed as “The World’s Richest Fishing Tournament,” thanks to its million dollar payouts, this marlin fishing tournament originally premiered in 1981, and remains to this day the highest profile annual event in Los Cabos. The $4.165 million payout in 2006 was and still is the largest in sportfishing history. Base entry for this millionaire maker is $5,000 U.S. per team, and requires a $71,500 U.S. outlay across all categories, jackpots and challenges. Prizes are awarded for the top five catches of black and blue marlin, assuming they meet the minimum standards (300 lbs.). Three separate checks of over 1.3 million dollars were handed out in 2019.

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot Tournament – Nov. 4 – 7, 2020

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 21st edition, saw a 345 lb. yellowfin tuna take first place, which translated to a $425,230 payout check to Team Sirena. Even bigger things are expected this year.

 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:  Van Wormer Resorts

Upcoming Events Calendar

July

East Cape Dorado Shootout Fishing Tournament – Jul. 18

August

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Fishing Tournament – Aug. 4 – 8

East Cape Gold Cup Wahoo Jackpot Fishing Tournament – Aug. 22

September

Mexican Independence Day – Sep. 16

 October

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 11 – 15

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament – Oct. 15 – 18

Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament – Oct. 20 – 24

 November

Day of the Dead – Nov. 2

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 4 – 7

Los Cabos Film Festival – Nov. 11 – 15

Gastrovino Baja Food and Wine Festival – Nov. 13 – 15

53rd Annual SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 16 – 21

Revolution Day – Nov. 20

 December

Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena – Dec. 24

Navidad – Dec. 25

Nochevieja – Dec. 31

   

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