Cabo Rocks! The Best Music Festivals and Fiestas in Los Cabos

In Mexico there is always music. You hear it everywhere….not just at bars or nightclubs, but in shops and restaurants,
and in the streets from wandering mariachis.

Music is so much a part of the fabric of the Mexican experience that virtually all events can be characterized, to a greater or lesser extent, as “music festivals.”

That’s particularly true in Los Cabos. For instance….

Bisbee’s Black & Blue, the world’s richest fishing tournament, kept anglers reeling long after the final weigh-in last year thanks to a concert from David Pack’s Legends Live, a collection of musicians from some of the biggest rock bands of the 1070s and 80s.

Sabor a Cabo, the Los Cabos region’s biggest food festival, has boasted appearances from top chefs and from Mexican supergroup Mana and soul/funk legends Earth, Wind & Fire, among others.

The Stars & Stripes Golf & Fishing Tournament, similarly, pairs its daytime attractions with some nighttime music from headline-grabbing rock stars like Sammy Hagar and Don Felder of The Eagles. Wherever one turns, in other words – whether to food and wine events, sporting competitions or cultural to-dos – music is there, too.

But while it’s true that every big event in Los Cabos comes complete with music, there are only a dozen or so where music is the unquestioned focus, the centerpiece attraction. Most are rooted in classic rock n’ roll, but a select few showcase other musical styles.

With that in mind, here are five of our favorites:

Sammy Hagar Birthday Bashes at Cabo Wabo Cantina

Every year since 1990, loyal “Redheads” from around the world have flocked to Cabo San Lucas for Sammy Hagar’s Birthday Bashes at Cabo Wabo Cantina. In 2018, the former Van Halen and Montrose celebrates his 71st year on the planet with an all-star cast of visiting musicians – including The Circle members Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham, and Vic Johnson. Shows are scheduled for October 9, 11 and 13. General admission tickets are available to winners of a random drawing, but those who aren’t selected will still have an opportunity to attend, as some dinner show tickets are always made available in early October on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series

Okay, this one isn’t actually in Los Cabos….but the peninsula’s original pueblo magico, Todos Santos, is only a one-hour drive from Cabo San Lucas, and this event has some serious rock star pedigree….so we’re breaking our own rules.

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 for a third outing in 2019, with the now usual all-star lineup appearing January 10th through the 20th.

Jazz Weekend in San Jose del Cabo

This year saw the 6th edition of San José del Cabo Jazz Weekend, a festival dedicated to the freewheeling American musical style held yearly at the popular Plaza del Pescador, an outdoor mall across from San Jose del Cabo’s scenic, resort-lined Playa Hotelera. Plaza del Pescador has only been around for a few years, but has quickly established a reputation for itself as a music venue, thanks to tenants such as Jazz Tapas Café and Rock&Brews, the restaurant chain started by KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. Admission is always free for this two-day music fest in February, which features a talented array of jazz musicians. Latin jazz, as might be expected, is particularly well represented.

Fiesta de la Musica

In 1981 a French director of music and culture, inspired by a statistic that claimed half the country’s children played a musical instrument, began dreaming of a way to engage this musical spirit en masse. Soon after, in 1982, the first Fete de la Musique was held in Paris, where it was scheduled to coincide with the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.

Flash forward 36 years, and the Fete de la Musique is no longer solely a French celebration, but a worldwide phenomenon that takes place annually in over 450 cities in 12o countries around the globe. For the past 10 years, that list of cities has included San Jose del Cabo, the oldest and most populous of the two cape cities (Cabo San Lucas is the other) that comprise the modern-day municipality of Los Cabos. In San Jose, however, the celebration is known by its Spanish name, La Fiesta de la Musica.

Over the past decade, the Fiesta de la Musica has become so important and so beloved by the local community that it’s now considered the premier music festival in Los Cabos. Certainly, it’s the most robustly attended, drawing over 25,000 people annually. The 2018 edition featured more than 100 bands and musical acts performing throughout the city’s historic downtown area. Expect the number to rise in June 2019.

International Concert Music Festival in La Paz

Okay, this isn’t technically in Los Cabos either. But if you love classical music, this yearly festival in Baja California Sur’s capital city is definitely worth the two-hour road trip.

Classically trained musicians from countries around the world come together each autumn in beautiful La Paz to provide five nights of memorable music at the elegant Sala de Conciertos, a performance venue in the downtown heart of the city. Featured composers in years past – this year marks the ninth edition – have included Beethoven and Debussy.

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 courtesy of Cabo Wabo Cantina.

Keywords:  music in Cabo, Cabo Wabo Cantina, Sammy Hagar, events in Cabo, concerts in Cabo, events in Baja, live music in Cabo, Los Cabos events, music in Los Cabos, concerts in Los Cabos, live music in Los Cabos, jazz in Cabo,

 

Upcoming Event Calendar

July

Stars and Stripes Golf & Fishing Tournament – June 28 – July 1

28th Annual Feria de la Pitahaya in Miraflores – July 13 – 15

East Cape Dorado Shootout Fishing Tournament – Jul. 21

12th Annual Mango Festival in Todos Santos – July 15, 22, 27 – 31

Los Cabos Open of Tennis – July 30 – Aug. 4

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Fishing Tournament – Jul. 31 – Aug. 4

August

Los Cabos Open of Tennis – July 30 – Aug. 4

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Fishing Tournament – Jul. 31 – Aug. 4

East Cape Gold Cup Wahoo Jackpot Fishing Tournament – Aug. 25

September

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

October

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

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 14 – 18

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

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

SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

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

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

December

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

Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

 

The Cabo Culinary Calendar – A Guide to Food Festivals in Los Cabos

Los Cabos’ ever evolving dining scene is shown off to its best advantage in the region’s increasingly packed calendar of food and wine related events, which spotlight the creativity of Los Cabos’ top chefs, but also celebrate traditional local specialties like freshly sourced seafood and organically grown fruits and vegetables.

For those seeking a true taste of Los Cabos – from food festivals in cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo to fairs and fiestas in Todos Santos and beyond – here’s a basic guide to the biggest events on the local culinary calendar:

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. This year’s “feria” is coming up soon – July 13 to 15 – and will include 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 will heighten your appreciation for what can be done in the name of this luscious tropical fruit. See if you agree with who dishes out the best Mangate, a dessert typical of the region. The 2018 edition – hosted in the state’s only pueblo magico, one hour north of Cabo San Lucas by car – takes place later this month: July 28 – 31.

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 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 Mana, 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 13th edition will be announced later 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 fine restaurant in Los Cabos.

Cheese & Wine Festival and Sheraton Grand Hacienda del Mar

Each year – typically in March – Sheraton Grand’s luxurious Hacienda del Mar resort transforms its Salon Hacienda ballroom for a mammoth tasting celebration of cheese and wine. Live music accompanies the enormous selection of internationally representative quesos y vinos, with all ticket proceeds going to benefit the Los Cabos Children’s Foundation.

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 (sabores translates as tastes or flavors) is expected to return for its 3rd annual edition in April 2019.

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. 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.

Taco Fest Los Cabos at Casa Dorada

Los Cabos’ top chefs converge on the luxurious beachfront Casa Dorada resort each April, where they compete to produce the most delicious variation of Mexico’s signature comfort food: the taco. The winners are traditionally the guests, who get to sample creative taco entries from some of the area’s most talented culinary craftsmen. Live music is also featured

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 courtesy of Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort & Spa.

Upcoming Event Calendar

July

Stars and Stripes Golf & Fishing Tournament – June 28 – July 1

28th Annual Feria de la Pitahaya in Miraflores – July 13 – 15

East Cape Dorado Shootout Fishing Tournament – Jul. 21

12th Annual Mango Festival in Todos Santos – July 28 – 31

Los Cabos Open of Tennis – July 30 – Aug. 4

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Fishing Tournament – Jul. 31 – Aug. 4

 August

Los Cabos Open of Tennis – July 30 – Aug. 4

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Fishing Tournament – Jul. 31 – Aug. 4

East Cape Gold Cup Wahoo Jackpot Fishing Tournament – Aug. 25

 September

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

 October

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

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 14 – 18

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

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

SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

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

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

December

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

Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

The Summer Sports Season Heats Up: July Events in Los Cabos

The 2018 fishing season in Los Cabos started with June’s Cabo Summer Slam, AKA the Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing,
but really heats up in July with three of the region’s signature events.

The Capes’ biggest tennis competition, the ATP sponsored Abierto Los Cabos (or Los Cabos Open), also returns, welcoming in the world’s number four ranked men’s player, Juan Martin del Potro, alongside previous winners.

22nd Annual Stars and Stripes Golf and Fishing Tournament (June 28 to July 1)

Golf and fishing provide the competitive tournament aspect of the 22nd annual Stars and Stripes, but there are also beach days, spa visits, nightly dinners, and music from some of the world’s most recognizable performers. The 22nd edition of what amounts to the complete Cabo lifestyle experience – which also raises money for children’s charities – is scheduled to return June 28.

Of all its attractions, fishing has proved to be most enduringly popular part of Stars & Stripes. No surprise, really, given that the tourism industries for cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo were built on big-game sportfishing. The tournament launches from beautiful Chileno Bay, with participating anglers vying to bag the biggest tuna, dorado, wahoo, sailfish, and blue, black and striped marlin. This year start times have been pushed back to allow a more vacation-like approach.

Golf, too, is a major draw. Participants this year have the choice of nine or 18-hole tournament outings at Puerto Los Cabos, which currently boasts 27 spectacular holes from champion golfers Jack “The Golden Bear” Nicklaus and Greg “The Great White Shark” Norman. Nine of the holes at Puerto Los Cabos are brand new, so tournament entrants will be among the first to play them.

Nightly musical entertainment is also a distinguishing feature of Stars & Stripes. This year the headliner is Don Felder, former lead guitarist for the Eagles, and a co-writer of the iconic song Hotel California. Plenty of other acts are also on tap, including The Downtown Band, and the festivities will once again be hosted by Shawn Parr, AKA “The Ambassador of Country Music” and “The Voice of the Golden Globes.”

14th Annual East Cape Dorado Shootout (July 21)

Since 2005, the beautiful East Cape community of Los Barriles has been hosting a one-day dorado fishing shootout. Dorado, for the uninitiated, is the Spanish word for what fishermen in the Western U.S. call mahi-mahi, and people in the Eastern U.S. typically refer to as dolphin or dolphinfish.

By any name, it’s a delicious food fish; and by any standards, the East Cape Shootout is one of the most popular annual fishing tournaments in Los Cabos, with an average turnout of about 130 teams per year.

Team entry for this year’s tournament, to be held July 21, is $500. That’s the ante for a shot at a new Volkswagen Amarok pickup truck and other prizes. Optional side jackpots can also be lucrative. Last year, jackpot purses alone totaled over $126,000.

3rd Annual ATP Los Cabos Open of Tennis  (July 30 to August 4)

Los Cabos is justifiably famed for its booming golf scene, but the cape cities have also proved fertile for golf’s traditional country club partner, tennis.

The most high-profile example of this is the Los Cabos Open, an ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) sponsored tournament hosted each summer near Cabo San Lucas. Two of the world’s top 10 ranked men, American Jack Sock and Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, have already committed for the 2018 event.

The Los Cabos Open (or Abierto Los Cabos as it is known is Spanish) is one of two ATP events held annually in Mexico, the other being the Mexican Open in Acapulco. The first Los Cabos Open tournament in 2016 featured 13 of the world’s 50 best players, and was won by hard serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic, who defeated Spanish star Feliciano Lopez in the final. The match had historic dimensions, as it featured the oldest finalists in an ATP event since 1977. Last year, American Sam Querrey accomplished the first Mexican Double, winning both the country’s professional tournaments in the same year. Juan Martin del Potro won in Acapulco a few weeks ago, so another Mexican Double is potentially in play this year.

In addition to Sock and del Potro, world number 20 Fabio Fognini, and 38th ranked Lopez have also confirmed. The defending Queen’s Club champion and a former French Open doubles champion, Lopez has appeared at all of the Los Cabos Opens to date, and has helped to promote the tournament to a broader audience with numerous media appearances on its behalf. Others who have committed for this year’s 3rd annual event include current no. 54 Ryan Harrison and a singles finalist from last year, Thanasi Kokkinakis. Last year’s champion, Sam Querrey, will also return.

The tournament takes place at the Delmar International School, a bilingual and bicultural education facility serving children K-12. Special facilities were built there for the first tournament in 2016, highlighted by a 3,500 seat stadium, grandstand and auxiliary courts, plus a hospitality center featuring fine food and drink, sponsor tents, and of course gorgeous views of Land’s End.

19th Annual Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore  (July 31 to August 4)

As summer temperatures heat up, the fishing tournament scene migrates to the Los Cabos municipality’s gorgeous East Cape. No less than two separate single-day tournaments (including the East Cape Dorado Shootout) give away new fully-loaded automobiles to winners, but the region’s summer headliner remains the Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore.

The ECO is the first of three Bisbee’s sponsored fishing tournaments that take place in Los Cabos each year. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three qualifiers in marlin, tuna and dorado categories during the 2018 edition – scheduled for July 31 to August 4 – 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. Prize money is based on entry fees received, with 60% going to the billfish winners, and 20% each to top tuna and dorado anglers.

Last year, 64 teams vied for over $590,000 in prize money at the East Cape Offshore. A record 11 of the 64 teams shared in those payouts, following an exciting tournament that saw 136 billfish – including 71 blue marlin and 55 striped marlin – caught in only three days.

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 of Puerto Los Cabos courtesy of Questro Golf.

Upcoming Event Calendar

July

Stars and Stripes Golf & Fishing Tournament – June 28 – July 1

East Cape Dorado Shootout Fishing Tournament – Jul. 21

Festival del Mango in Todos Santos – Jul. 28 – 31

Los Cabos Open of Tennis – July 30 – Aug. 4

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Fishing Tournament – Jul. 31 – Aug. 4

August

Los Cabos Open of Tennis – July 30 – Aug. 4

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Fishing Tournament – Jul. 31 – Aug. 4

East Cape Gold Cup Wahoo Jackpot Fishing Tournament – Aug. 25

September

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

October

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

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 14 – 18

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

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

SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

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

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

December

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

Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

 

Destination Golfers Rejoice! Six New Courses are Coming to Los Cabos

We know what you’re thinking. Doesn’t Los Cabos already have an incredible collection of world-class golf layouts
from a who’s who of prestigious course designers?

The answer is yes. In just over 30 years, since the first modest 9-hole muni was built at Punta Sur, Los Cabos has amassed one of the world’s finest collection of championship-level courses, with over a dozen stunning tracks from the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Davis Love III and Tom Weiskopf.

It’s a golfing portfolio any region in the world would be proud of; in fact, in Golf Digest’s recently released rankings, Los Cabos boasts four of the world’s 100 best international courses. Golf Magazine has three of its 15 currently operating courses rated among the 100 best in the world, period.

What’s truly amazing, however, is that Los Cabos appears to be just getting started. As many as a half-dozen new courses are expected to open in the next few years, including challenging new layouts from Woods, Nicklaus, Norman, Fred Couples and Robert Trent Jones Jr.

Here is a brief overview of the glories destination golfers can look forward to in coming years…

Expanded Course Offerings at Puerto Los Cabos

Puerto Los Cabos already is home to what since 2008 has been the world’s only composite course between Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman. The “Shark Meets the Bear” at this luxurious development outside San Jose del Cabo, which not only features golf, but high-end resorts, restaurants, a marina, a beautiful beach, and superb sculpture and cactus gardens. But one course – even with a front nine by Norman, and a back nine by Nicklaus – was never the goal. The idea was that eventually the two big-name golfers and designers would return and add to their original designs, giving PLC two full 18-hole courses: a private course from Norman, a public course from Nicklaus. Nicklaus’ second nine opens later this month, but since Norman’s is still years away, PLC will in the near-term showcase a 27-hole concept similar to that used by Palmilla Golf Club. Golfers can build their 18-hole experience from any of the three available 9-hole offerings.

The First Fred Couples Design in Los Cabos

Fred Couples only captured one major championship – the 1992 Masters Tournament at Augusta National – but his sweet, seemingly effortless swing and consistent play translated to over 60 total wins, and better than two decades of stardom on the PGA Tour. Now he’s coming to Los Cabos, designing the highly anticipated Twin Dolphin Golf Club. If the name Twin Dolphin sounds familiar, it’s because it is:  it was the name of a pioneer resort which originally opened in the Los Cabos tourist corridor during the 1970s. The reincarnated version will accompany Montage and Maravilla, two new resort and residential projects overlooking Bahia Santa Maria. Play is expected to begin later this year.

A New Greg Norman Course at Rancho San Lucas

Solmar Group is not only one of the premier Los Cabos hospitality brands, but a legacy company whose history is inextricably tied up with the growth of tourism in Cabo San Lucas. The group’s founder, Don Luis Bulnes Molleda, was the manager of the Land’s End community’s cannery before he partnered with Luis Coppola on Finisterra, and then opened his own Hotel Solmar in 1974. Rancho San Lucas is Solmar’s ambitious new resort and residential development on Cabo San Lucas’ Pacific Coast. It joins a portfolio that already includes Solmar Resort, Grand Solmar and Playa Grande, and will be centered around an 18-hole golf course from Norman that is expected be open by late 2018 or early 2019.

A Second Jack Nicklaus Course at Quivira

When legendary champion Jack Nicklaus kick-started the Los Cabos golfing boom in the early 1990s, his natural canvases were found at tourist corridor properties like Palmilla and Cabo del Sol. Now, with the success of Diamante and Nicklaus’ first magnificent effort at Quivira, the golf focus has shifted to the Pacific Coast. Quivira Golf Club opened in 2014 and has climbed the world rankings in near record time, so reports that Nicklaus is returning to design a second course for the Pueblo Bonito affiliated development counts as big news. Groundbreaking on the new layout is expected to happen next summer.

A Second Robert Trent Jones Jr. Course in Los Cabos

Robert Trent Jones Jr. is one of the least heralded Los Cabos course architects. There’s no secret why. He’s one of the few that has never won a major championship. Then again, he is the son of the most prolific designer ever, and a man who has designed over 270 courses around the world during his own acclaimed 50-year career. Jones helped put Los Cabos on the golfing map when television cameras caught whales breaching near a seaside green during a 1996 PGA Senior Grand Slam event at his Cabo Real course. Now he’s returning to design a second local loop, this time for luxury brand Four Seasons at their new Costa Palmas resort on Los Cabos’ gorgeous East Cape. Expect the new golf course to open in mid to late 2019.

A Third Tiger Woods Course at Diamante

Diamante ushered in the second wave of the Los Cabos golf boom with Davis Love III’s majestic links style Dunes Course, which has been showered in accolades ever since it opened in 2009. The Dunes may be the showpiece, but the star at Diamante is now 14-time major champion Tiger Woods, who has already designed two courses for the resort and residential development north of Cabo San Lucas – the parkland El Cardonal and the 12-hole Oasis short course – and has another in the development stages. Woods, who has made news recently with a return to form following years of back and knee-related injuries, will be a favorite at next month’s Masters Tournament. Groundbreaking on his third Diamante offering, a lush layout in the style of Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, is expected to begin 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 courtesy of Diamante Cabo San Lucas.

Upcoming Event Calendar

March

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

Todos Santos Film Festival – March 7 – 11

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

Wine & Cheese Festival at Sheraton Grand Hacienda del Mar – March 10

El Triunfo Festival Artesanal – March 11

East Cape Arts Festival – March 18

Traditional Fiestas in San Jose del Cabo – March 14 – 19

El Ganzo Music Presents: Jenny & The Mexicats – March 24

Semana Santa (Holy Week) – March 25 – 31

Rancho Pescadero Yoga, Surf & Nutrition Retreat – March 28 – April 1

April

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

Paws n’ Claws Golf Tournament and Dinner – April 8

NORRA Mexican 1000 – April 20 – 26

Los Cabos Culinary Awards – April 25

2018 Taco Fest Los Cabos at Casa Dorada – April 28

May

483rd La Paz Foundation Festival – May 3 – 5

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

Cinco de Mayo – May 5

Día de la Madre (Mother’s Day) – May 10

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – May 19 – 20

Rancho Pescadero Yoga, Surf & Nutrition Retreat – May 30 – June 2

June

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

Los Cabos Open of Surf – June 11 – 17

Fiesta de la Musica – June 21

Stars and Stripes Golf & Fishing Tournament – June 28 – July 1

July

East Cape Dorado Shootout Fishing Tournament – Jul. 21

Los Cabos Open of Tennis – July 30 – Aug. 4

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Fishing Tournament – Jul. 31 – Aug. 4

 August

East Cape Gold Cup Wahoo Jackpot Fishing Tournament – Aug. 25

September

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

October

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 14 – 18

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

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

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

November

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

IRONMAN 70.3 Latin American Tri Club Championship – Nov. 4

WON Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 7 – 10

SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

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

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

 December

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

Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

 

 

The Complete Cabo Lifestyle Experience: Stars & Stripes Tournament Offers Golf, Fishing, Music, Beach Life and More

There are many reasons people choose to vacation in Los Cabos. There’s the gorgeous year-round weather, the beautiful beaches, the luxurious resorts and cliffside villas, the world-class golf courses and spectacular sportfishing.

Or one could simply want to attend the Stars & Stripes Tournament, which offers all of the above plus much, much more. Golf and fishing provide the competitive tournament aspect, but there are also beach days, spa visits, nightly dinners, and music from some of the world’s most recognizable performers.

The 22nd edition of what amounts to the complete Cabo lifestyle experience is scheduled to return June 28 – July 1, 2018.

Of all its attractions, fishing has proved to be most enduringly popular part of Stars & Stripes. No surprise, really, given that the tourism industries for cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo were built on big-game sportfishing. The tournament launches from beautiful Chileno Bay, with participating anglers vying to bag the biggest tuna, dorado, wahoo, sailfish, and blue, black and striped marlin. This year, start times have been pushed back to allow a more vacation-like approach.

Golf, too, is a major draw. Participants this year have the choice of nine or 18-hole tournament outings at Puerto Los Cabos, which currently boasts 27 spectacular holes from champion golfers Jack “The Golden Bear” Nicklaus and Greg “The Great White Shark” Norman. Nine of the holes at Puerto Los Cabos are brand new, so tournament entrants will be among the first to play them. The traditional holes also have their highlights. Norman designed one of the best holes in Baja California for the original Mission Course, a 213 yard par-3 that demands precise placement from a tee shot off the equivalent of a 10-story building. Although the green looks like a peculiarly shaped postage stamp from the elevated tee box, players are generally not as concerned with the difficult iron shot as they are awed by the incredible view: 10 miles of gorgeous coastline bordered by the Sea of Cortez and the mountains of the Sierra de la Laguna.

 Although sporting competitions provide the tournament’s primary raison d’etre, many other pleasures (of the non-sporting type) are in store for attendees. “Play at La Playa” promises a sun-soaked day at a private beachfront estate, complete with lunch, cocktails and sandy fun. Host resort Hilton’s Eforea Spa is likewise on hand for soothing relaxation. All Stars & Stripes guests are eligible for one of the spa’s many pampering treatments and therapies.

Nightly musical entertainment is also a distinguishing feature of Stars & Stripes. In past years, rock stars like Sammy Hagar, The Doobie Brothers, Three Dog Night, and Kenny Loggins have played their biggest hits. This year the headliner is Don Felder, former lead guitarist for the Eagles, and a co-writer of the iconic song Hotel California. Plenty of other acts are also on tap, including The Downtown Band, and the festivities will once again be hosted by Shawn Parr, AKA “The Ambassador of Country Music” and “The Voice of the Golden Globes.”

For all its features and attractions, the Stars & Stripes ultimate purpose is to raise money for worthy causes. Since 1997, the tournament has raised over $26 million dollars for youth-oriented charities, hosting live and silent auctions.

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 courtesy of the Stars & Stripes Tournament.

Upcoming Event Calendar

March

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

Todos Santos Film Festival – March 7 – 11

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

Wine & Cheese Festival at Sheraton Grand Hacienda del Mar – March 10

El Triunfo Festival Artesanal – March 11

East Cape Arts Festival – March 18

Traditional Fiestas in San Jose del Cabo – March 14 – 19

El Ganzo Music Presents: Jenny & The Mexicats – March 24

Semana Santa (Holy Week) – March 25 – 31

Rancho Pescadero Yoga, Surf & Nutrition Retreat – March 28 – April 1

April

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

Paws n’ Claws Golf Tournament and Dinner – April 8

NORRA Mexican 1000 – April 20 – 26

Los Cabos Culinary Awards – April 25

2018 Taco Fest Los Cabos at Casa Dorada – April 28

 May

483rd La Paz Foundation Festival – May 3 – 5

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

Cinco de Mayo – May 5

Día de la Madre (Mother’s Day) – May 10

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – May 19 – 20

Rancho Pescadero Yoga, Surf & Nutrition Retreat – May 30 – June 2

June

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

Los Cabos Open of Surf – June 11 – 17

Fiesta de la Musica – June 21

Stars and Stripes Golf & Fishing Tournament – June 28 – July 1

July

East Cape Dorado Shootout Fishing Tournament – Jul. 21

Los Cabos Open of Tennis – July 30 – Aug. 4

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Fishing Tournament – Jul. 31 – Aug. 4

 August

East Cape Gold Cup Wahoo Jackpot Fishing Tournament – Aug. 25

 September

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

 October

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 14 – 18

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

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

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

 November

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

IRONMAN 70.3 Latin American Tri Club Championship – Nov. 4

WON Tuna Jackpot – Nov. 7 – 10

SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

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

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

December

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

Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day – Dec. 12

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

Four Los Cabos Courses Voted to Golf Digest’s “World’s 100 Best” List

Golf Digest recently released its third biennial ranking of the World’s 100 Best Golf Courses, and Los Cabos has made yet another strong showing, with four its 16 operating courses – a staggering 25% – making the elite cut. Newcomer Quivira joins the Diamante Dunes Course, the Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol, and Querencia in the rankings.

Diamante G.C. (Dunes) moved up five spots and now sits at No. 47 on Golf Digest’s exclusive roster. “Mexico’s first true links (was) fashioned by Davis Love III and his design team…from a fantastic set of white sand dunes along the Pacific Ocean, huge portions of which are without vegetation and seem like enormous snow drifts,” the magazine’s digital edition reported. “Holes hug the flowing terrain with little artificiality. Two holes on the back nine once played around a long lagoon, but have been replaced by (the) new 12th and 13th holes on the beach. Now all of the second nine is adjacent to the ocean, amidst the tallest dunes.” Perhaps most significantly, “No other links in the world sports cactus.”

Cabo del Sol (Ocean), the course credited with establishing Los Cabos as a world-class golf destination, retains its position at No. 70 on the list.  “When Jack Nicklaus first saw this Baja Peninsula site, what can best be described as Scottsdale-meets-the-Sea of Cortez, his thought was: ‘This is my chance to design a Pebble Beach,’ the report stated. “He took full advantage of that chance, developing an exciting routing that plays from highlands of desert cacti over dry washes and down to the sea on both nines.” When the layout opened in 1994, Nicklaus said it had the three finest finishing holes in golf. “That might still be true 24 years later, given that the greens at 16, 17 and 18 are all perched atop rocks above the crashing surf of Whale Bay.”

New to the list and debuting at No. 93 is Quivira G.C., the epic Land’s End layout grafted by Jack Nicklaus onto a jaw-dropping site marked by huge dunes, sheer cliffs and rolling foothills. “To see photos of Quivira’s cliffhanging fifth and sixth greens, one would expect this to be a mountainous golf course,” Golf Digest said of Quivira, which opened in 2014. “But a majority of its holes are on Pacific coastline sand dunes close to sea level or along the flank of a high desert plateau dotted with torote and cardon trees. Still, what earns the attention here is the par-4 fifth, its tee at 278 feet above sea level and its green at the far end of a ribbon fairway 107 feet below. Designer Jack Nicklaus calls this location, ‘one of the great pieces of property in the world,’ and he can be forgiven for requiring long cart rides between several holes. Such is the price to link together 18 truly sterling golf holes.”

Moving up a notch to No. 97 on Golf Digest’s “World 100 Greatest Golf Courses” roster is Querencia C.C., a brilliant Tom Fazio design opened in 2000 and set within a private 1,800-acre golf community. “The routing wanders the rugged high desert plateau on the outward nine, toward the Sea of Cortez, hopscotching a dramatic canyon on the par-3 eighth,” the magazine stated. “After reaching the far point on the par-5 ninth, the course turns for home over similar terrain, via two more outstanding par 3s, the 11th and 14th. Other holes have humpbacked fairways and greens tucked beneath huge rock outcroppings.”

In addition to the World 100 Greatest feature, Golf Digest also produced “The Best Courses in 206 Countries” as part of its Planet Golf report. Not surprisingly, Los Cabos dominates the Mexico entry. Ten of the courses on the 16-course list, including five of the top six venues, are located in Los Cabos, the hemisphere’s most celebrated golf getaway. Diamante (Dunes) and Cabo del Sol (Ocean) command the top two slots, followed by Quivira (No. 4), Querencia (No. 5) and El Dorado (No. 6). Also included on the Best in Mexico roster are Chileno Bay, Diamante (El Cardonal), Cabo del Sol (Desert), Palmilla, and Cabo Real.

 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 courtesy of Quivira Golf Club.

 Upcoming Event Calendar

January

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

Los Cabos Mountain Marathon – Jan. 20

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

 February

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

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

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 8 – 13

Valentine’s Day – Feb. 14

San Jose del Cabo Jazz Weekend – Feb. 16 – 17

Baja Hog Motorcycle Rally – Feb. 21 – 25

Vidanta Los Cabos Grand Opening Featuring Calvin Harris, Steve Aoki and Zedd – Feb. 23 – 25

 March

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

Todos Santos Film Festival – March 7 – 11

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

El Triunfo Festival Artesanal – March 11

East Cape Arts Festival – March 18

Fiestas Patronales in San José del Cabo – March 14 – 19

Semana Santa – March 25 – 31

Rancho Pescadero Yoga, Surf & Nutrition Retreat – March 28 – April 1

April

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

Paws n’ Claws Golf Tournament and Dinner – April 8

NORRA Mexican 1000 – April 20 – 26

 May

483rd La Paz Foundation Festival – May 3

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

Cinco de Mayo – May 5

El Día de la Madre (Mother’s Day) – May 10

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – May 19 – 20

White Party at Blue Marlin Ibiza – Date Not Yet Announced

Rancho Pescadero Yoga, Surf & Nutrition Retreat – May 30 – June 2

June

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

Cabo Comedy Festival – Dates Note Yet Announced

Los Cabos Open of Surf – June 11 – 17

Cabo Summer Slam/Pelagic Triple Crown of Sport Fishing – Dates Not Yet Announced

Grand Velas Los Cabos Grand Chefs Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

Fiesta de la Musica – June 21

Stars and Stripes Golf & Fishing Tournament – June 28 – July 1

July – August

East Cape Dorado Shootout Fishing Tournament – Jul. 21

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore Fishing Tournament – Jul. 31 – Aug. 4

 October

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

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

 November

SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

 

 

Planning the Ultimate Baja Golf Getaway

There is no doubt, Los Cabos is not only the premier golf destination in Mexico, but in all of Latin America. Indeed, with three top 100 courses and over a dozen spectacular coastal layouts, it’s one of the most spectacular stay and play getaways anywhere in the world.

And it just keeps getting better.

New courses are on the way from Fred Couples and Greg Norman, adding to a portfolio that already includes legendary players turned course designers Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Davis Love III and Tom Weiskopf. But golf is only a part of the Los Cabos lifestyle experience, which also includes gorgeous beaches, pampering spas, luxe boutiques, world-class restaurants, and of course elegantly-appointed ocean-view villa rentals – from the exclusive hillside enclave of Pedregal in Cabo San Lucas to glorious beachfront properties overlooking the Sea of Cortez – in which one can relax in style between tee times or dinner reservations.

The recent grand unveiling of Danzante Bay only adds to the possibilities. The breathtaking Rees Jones designed course at the Islands of Loreto is a short feeder flight away, opening up the potential for a truly epic Baja golf trip.

Here are a few highlights for any itinerary:

Danzante Bay Golf Club

The grand unveiling of this seaside gem on took place only two weeks ago, but its legend is already growing, thanks in large part to its iconic 17th hole. Set high above the Sea of Cortez, with stunning views of uninhabited offshore islands, the 17th is as jaw-droppingly beautiful as any golf hole in the world, even without the sight of wintering whales in offshore waters. The majestic setting offered a remarkable canvas for Jones, often called the “Open Doctor” for his work tightening up courses before they host the U.S. Open. Jones is kinder here. The 7,237-yard layout features a variety of terrains, from beach to canyon to cliff, with friendly fairways, and collection areas near cliffs to keep golfers from filling the Sea of Cortez with errant tee shots.

Ocean Course at Cabo Del Sol

Jack Nicklaus is the godfather, the guiding spirit of golf in Los Cabos, with six championship-level courses to date on his Land’s End resume. Developer Don Koll first brought the Golden Bear to Los Cabos in 1992, when Nicklaus crafted 9-hole Mountain and Arroyo courses opened at Palmilla. Nicklaus’ masterpiece, however, came two years later, when the Ocean Course debuted at Cabo del Sol. This breathtaking loop, which Nicklaus himself called “the best golf property I’ve ever seen”, has seven holes hugging the picturesque coastline near Punta Ballena, and has been rated one of the 100 best courses in the world for 15 consecutive years and counting. Former British Open champion Tom Weiskopf’s neighboring Desert Course is rather memorable in its own right, so why not play 36?

Dunes Course at Diamante

No local loop, not even Nicklaus’ vaunted Ocean Course, has ever received as much love as Davis Love III’s links style Dunes Course at Diamante. Voted top new international course in 2010, GOLF Magazine declared the Dunes Course the 52nd best course in the world in 2013, the highest ranking ever achieved by a Los Cabos golf course. It has since ascended, and now sits at 38. Greater glories are still to come for this magnificent oceanside layout, which has relegated even Tiger Woods’ well-publicized designs for Diamante – the parkland style El Cardonal and The Oasis short course – to secondary status.

NOTE:  The Dunes Course at Diamante is private, but there are ways to play it. For more information about golf reservations and villa rentals, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photo courtesy of Danzante Bay Golf Club.

 Upcoming Event Calendar

December

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

Whale Watching Season – Mid-December to Mid-March

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Día de los Inocentes – Dec. 28

5k Run/Walk in Todos Santos – Dec. 30

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

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

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

New Year’s Eve Party with Major Lazer at The Cape: A Thompson Hotel – Dec. 31

January

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

International Festival of Yoga in Todos Santos – Jan. 5 – 7

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

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

Los Cabos Mountain Marathon – Jan. 20

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

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

 February

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

Carnaval La Paz – Feb. 8 – 13

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

Baja Hog Motorcycle Rally – Feb. 21 – 25

Los Barriles Dog Show – Dates Not Yet Announced

 March

Todos Santos Film Festival – March 7 – 11

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

El Triunfo Arts & Crafts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

East Cape Arts Festival – March 18

Fiestas Patronales in San José del Cabo – March 14 – 19

Semana Santa – March 25 – 31

Rancho Pescadero Yoga, Surf & Nutrition Retreat – March 28 – April 1

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

April

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

NORRA Mexican 1000 – April 20 – 26

Koral Pets Race – Dates Not Yet Announced

 May

482nd La Paz Foundation Festival – May 3

Cinco de Mayo – May 5

El Día de la Madre (Mother’s Day) – May 10

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – May 19 – 20

White Party at Blue Marlin Ibiza – Dates Not Yet Announced

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

 

10th Annual Los Cabos Pro-Am Golf Tournament Tees Off in January 2018

Destination golfers know all about the glories of Los Cabos:  about the three area courses ranked among the 100 best in the world; about the stunning coastal layouts crafted by legendary players and designers like Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Tiger Woods and Davis Love III: about the new courses on the way from Norman, Woods and former Masters champion Fred Couples.

What many don’t know is that Los Cabos also hosts high-profile tournaments.

The two most notable of these are the Los Cabos Pro-Am and the Jim Flick Invitational, the latter of which concluded another successful tournament just last week. Both are held at Cabo del Sol’s acclaimed Ocean and Desert Courses, landmark loops located near Punta Ballena, a picturesque whale shaped headland between cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, on the southernmost rim of the Baja California peninsula.

Nicklaus’ Ocean Course is by far the best known. Not only is it one of the three courses currently ranked among the 100 best internationally, but it has maintained that rank for a staggering 15 consecutive years. Nicklaus himself – an 18-time major champion who has played and built courses all over the world – famously referred to it as “the best golf property I’ve seen.”

Former British Open champion Tom Weiskopf’s Desert Course, though less heralded, is nonetheless spectacular, with dramatic views of the desert, mountains, and Sea of Cortez. It’s currently ranked as the 6th best course in Mexico, and has also been named one of the 50 best in the region comprising Mexico and the Caribbean.

Small wonder, then, that pros and amateurs alike are looking forward to the 10th annual edition of the Los Cabos Pro-Am, scheduled to take place January 15 – 19, 2018.

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 (two on the Ocean Course, one on the Desert), 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, and the Ocean and Desert Courses – like many of Los Cabos’ premier links – sweeten the golfing experience with on-course comfort food stations offering delicious food and drinks.

But if you can’t make it for the Los Cabos Pro-Am, no worries. Both Ocean and Desert Courses are open to the public on a year-round basis. So too, of course, is the Sheraton Grand Hacienda del Mar, although savvy destination golfers will note that gorgeous, magnificently appointed ocean and cliffside luxury villas may often be rented at similar or even lower price points per group.

If you’re going to play the best, why not stay at the best?

For more information about the Los Cabos Pro-Am or luxury villas in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photo of the Cabo del Sol Ocean Course courtesy of the Los Cabos Pro-Am.

 Upcoming Event Calendar

November

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

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

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

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 8 – 12

Ironman Los Cabos Triathlon – Nov. 12

50th SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

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

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

Extreme Sailing Series – Nov. 30 – Dec. 3

December

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

LigaMAC Christmas Party – Dec. 5

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

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

Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12

Whale Watching Season – Mid-December to Mid-March

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Día de los Inocentes – Dec. 28

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

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

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

January

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

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

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

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

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

 February

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

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

Carnaval La Paz – Dates Not Yet Announced

Los Barriles Dog Show – Dates Not Yet Announced

 March

Todos Santos Film Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

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

El Triunfo Arts & Crafts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

East Cape Arts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

Fiestas Patronales in San José del Cabo – March 19

Semana Santa – March 25 – 31

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

April

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

NORRA Mexican 1000 – April 20 – 26

Koral Pets Race – Dates Not Yet Announced

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

 

The Golf Capital of Latin America: Los Cabos to Showcase Golfing Glories at Autumn Convention

Los Cabos has the goods when it comes to championship-level golf. Despite building its first course only 30 years ago,
the Land’s End municipality now boasts three of the world’s 100 top ranked layouts, and was recently named as the 2017 Golf Destination of the Year for Latin America and the Caribbean by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO).

It is only fitting, therefore, that cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo have been chosen to host the 2nd annual IAGTO Mexico Golf Tourism Convention, a large-scale get-together that attracts golf industry professionals from around the world.

The golf convention is scheduled from Oct. 29 through Nov. 4, and will allow visiting tour operators to network with regional representatives, to play rounds on the area’s many spectacular courses, and of course to visit hotels and premier tourist attractions.

This familiarization process is important, as the IAGTO has tour operators in 61 countries, who last year generated over 2.5 billion dollars in tourism revenue. Forty delegates attended the inaugural convention on the Riviera Maya in 2016, and even more are expected this year due to Los Cabos’ prestige as an elite international golfing destination.

“Golf is one of the key drivers of tourism to Los Cabos,” noted Eduardo Regules Bukantz, Commercial Director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board. “We are excited to welcome top tour operators so they can see for themselves why their clientele will have a great experience on and off our fantastic golf courses.”

Peter Walton, President and Chief Executive of IAGTO, agreed saying, “I had the opportunity to visit Los Cabos for the first time in 2003, and in my opinion it stands out as one of the most spectacular golf destinations on the planet. We will be taking hand-picked golf tour operators to Los Cabos for the 2nd annual Mexico Golf Tourism Convention at the end of October, where they will meet with members of the local golf tourism industry and plan their 2018 golf packages, group promotions and amateur tournaments.”

That means more occupancy in late October, early November, a time which already sees large numbers of travelers arriving for yearly events like Bisbee’s Black & Blue marlin fishing tournament and the Los Cabos International Film Festival.

It also means an even greater degree of anticipation around new courses from major champions Greg Norman and Fred Couples, which are expected to open in early 2018: Norman’s at Rancho San Lucas, on the Pacific Coast north of Cabo San Lucas; Couples’ on the scenic shores of Santa Maria Bay in the tourist corridor that connects the cape cities.

Photo of Puerto Los Cabos courtesy of Greg Norman Golf Course Design.

Los Cabos Vacation Rentals

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

Jim Flick Invitational Returns to Cabo del Sol Golf Courses in November

Los Cabos currently has three courses ranked among the 100 Best in the World, but only one of them regularly hosts tournaments. That’s the Cabo del Sol Ocean Course, which along with its neighboring Desert Course, is the site of the annual Los Cabos Pro-Am and the Jim Flick Invitational.

The latter also showcases a pro-am format, with professionals competing for $100,000 over 72-holes of stroke play, and foursomes (featuring one professional and three amateurs) battling in handicap-adjusted best ball formats to win a 5-day trip to the birthplace of golf, St. Andrews in Scotland. The 2017 Jim Flick Invitational is scheduled for November 7 – 12.

Formerly the TaylorMade Invitational, the tournament was recently renamed in honor of the late Jim Flick, a PGA Professional and golf instructor for more than 50 years. Flick taught golf in 23 countries and worked with pros like Tom Lehman and Jack Nicklaus, with whom he founded the Nicklaus-Flick Golf Schools.

Nicklaus’s breathtaking Ocean Course is of course the star attraction. Ranked in the top 100 in the world for 15 years running by GOLF Magazine, the Ocean Course hugs the coastline, offering stunning mountain, desert and Sea of Cortez views before concluding with what Nicklaus himself has called “the three finest holes in golf.”

Although lacking the same accolades as its Ocean neighbor, Tom Weiskopf’s Desert loop also offers an unforgettable golfing experience, and is certainly worthy of sharing the Cabo del Sol imprimatur.  The scenically sculpted layout is currently rated as the 6th best course in Mexico, and was included among Golf Week’s 50 top courses in Mexico and the Caribbean for 2017.

The inaugural Jim Flick Invitational in 2016 was won by Michael Block, head professional at the Arroyo Trabuco Country Club in Mission Viejo, California; and in the team category by the foursome of Jason Marciniec, Alan Marthinsen, Chris Raftis and Bill Sarris. As a bonus, nearly $40,000 was raised for the PGA of America’s Junior League Golf during the post-tournament Trophy Night.

Jack Nicklaus was honored with the first ever Jim Flick Trophy last year, an appropriate selection given the relationship between Nicklaus and Flick, Nicklaus’ unrivaled status as 18-time major champion, and his contributions to Los Cabos golf.

Nicklaus effectively put Los Cabos on the golfing map in the early 1990s with spectacular layouts at Palmilla, Eldorado and Cabo del Sol (Ocean); and has since built upon this legacy with the magnificent Quivira, challenging Campestre, and a unique collaboration with Greg Norman at Puerto Los Cabos. His son Jackie accepted the trophy on his behalf.

This second edition of the Jim Flick Invitational will boast an impressive list of sponsors, headlined by the PGA, Corona, Pepsi and Adidas. For registration and other information, visit jimflickinvitational.com.

For tips on resorts or rental accommodations, including luxury villas, Call Us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photo courtesy of the Jim Flick Invitational.