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

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

 

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

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

 

The 2020 Blue Flag Summer Beach Guide to Los Cabos

If there’s one thing Los Cabos has no shortage of, it’s beautiful beaches. If you visited a new one every day for a year, you’d still have plenty of sandy new vistas left to discover for sunning, swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and other summertime pleasures.

But since most visitors stay for only a week or two, we’ll make it easy with a guide to the best of the best of local beaches for your summer vacation, using blue flag certification status as a measure of quality.

What is a Blue Flag Beach?

It’s a beach recognized by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) for meeting and maintaining high standards of cleanliness, water quality, safety, services (like restrooms and showers), and sustainability. The non-profit organization started in Europe in the 1980s and its certification program has now spread to more than 60 member countries around the globe.

We mentioned Los Cabos has a lot of beaches? It also has a lot of blue flag beaches, from Cabo San Lucas to San Jose del Cabo and beyond. In fact, Los Cabos has more blue flag beaches than any other destination in Mexico, and it’s not even really close.

For some context, Mexico as a country boasts 63 blue flag beaches, 10 of which were only recently announced in June 2020. It’s an impressive number, 63, and one that puts Mexico in 13th place worldwide (first in the Americas).

These 63 beaches span the country, from Cancun and the Riviera Maya to Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta. But no beachfront resort destination has been honored so much as Los Cabos.

Baja California Sur has more blue flag beaches than any other single state with 23, an astounding 22 of which are in Los Cabos. That means Los Cabos alone accounts for 35% of the blue flag beaches in Mexico.

Blue Flag Beaches in Los Cabos

Los Cabos’ blue flag supremacy is a rather new phenomenon. As recently as 2016, the municipality had only three beaches that had earned FEE’s blue flag stamp of approval: Playas Chileno, Santa Maria and Palmilla. The stunning growth of the program since then is a credit to the community at large, which has recognized how important beaches are to the tourism industry and has made a commitment to keep the local sands both beautiful and sustainable.

Now, in 2020, blue flag beaches can be found in virtually every corner of Los Cabos, from popular city based locales to lesser known gems like La Ribera, an East Cape playa where a new Four Seasons resort has recently opened.

In fact, two of the three new blue flag beaches announced for Los Cabos are, like La Ribera, on the East Cape of Los Cabos. There is La Gaviota, the picturesque new blue flag beach in Buenavista, a locale perhaps best known for hosting Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore fishing tournament; and El Surgidero, a golden oasis found not far from Playa La Ribera.

The other blue flag beach, Playa Monumentos (or Monuments Beach), has already been famous for decades thanks to its world-class surfing conditions and magnificent views of the half-mile Land’s End headland that extends to the southernmost point of the Baja California peninsula in Cabo San Lucas.

Monumentos’ tricky left-hand surf break is not for beginners, but you don’t have to surf to enjoy this gorgeous bit of Sea of Cortez facing coastline. Like many of Los Cabos’ blue flag beaches, it’s also a dream spot for photographers (yes, selfies count!).

So if you’re going to be in paradise for a few weeks this summer, why not visit them all? We’ll include a checklist below, so you can track your progress.

Acapulquito

El Chileno

El Corsario

El Surgidero

La Gaviota

La Ribera

Las Viudas

Medano Breathless

Medano Casa Dorada

Medano Club Cascadas de Baja

Medano Hacienda

Medano ME Cabo

Medano Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos

Medano Pueblo Bonito Rose

Medano Riu Palace Los Cabos

Medano Riu Santa Fe

Medano Villa Del Palmar

Medano Villa El Arco

Medano Villa La Estancia

Monumentos

Palmilla

Santa Maria

Just don’t forget to bring sunscreen!

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

 

Los Cabos Officially Reopens, Receives Travel Safety Stamp from the World Travel & Tourism Council

The last few months have been difficult ones for us all, as people around the world have “sheltered in place” to prevent, or at least lessen the spread, of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Fortunately, these measures seem to have worked, and although the virus is with us still, most destinations have now been able to reopen, and regain a welcome sense of normality. Well, “new normality” anyway.

That’s certainly the case with Los Cabos, which officially reopened on Monday, once again welcoming residents and tourists alike to enjoy their favorite beaches, boutiques, cafés, restaurants, and the like.

As in many other destinations, this reopening comes with some public safety restrictions. State authorities are now releasing color coded “alert” levels each Monday which symbolize the current state of public health, and define the maximum number of people allowed in individual shops, bars, restaurants, and other public spaces.

But the important thing to note is that Los Cabos is open once again, offering a gorgeous beachfront getaway for those who are all too ready for one.

With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about the current state of travel and tourism in cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, including all the safety protocols that have been put in place to protect visitors.

Schedule of Hotel, Resort & Rental Reopenings in Los Cabos

Yes, Mexico’s premier tourist destinations are all welcoming back visitors, a list headlined by Cancun and Los Cabos. In May, the Director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board, Rodrigo Esponda, announced a 5-point plan for the reopening of the beachfront paradise for national and international tourism, with the ultimate goal to return to previous levels…or the estimated 3.2 million people who typically visit the region on an annual basis.

Although a complete return of occupancy is not expected until 2021, resorts will begin reopening almost immediately, with the vast majority expected to open by the end of 2020.

Why is Los Cabos staggering the opening of its hotels and resorts instead of opening them all at once?

“The objective,” according to Esponda, “is for the inventory of hotels and activities to be gradually added back so that as more tourists arrive we would be reopening (to meet the demand).”

To that end, dates are starting to be released for the openings of some Los Cabos resorts. Ultra-luxury leader Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, for example, welcomes back guests on June 22nd. Las Ventanas al Paraíso, Secrets Puerto Los Cabos, Breathless Cabo San Lucas, Dreams Los Cabos, and The Cape: A Thompson Hotel will follow suit on July 1st.

The International Terminal at Los Cabos International Airport will officially reopen July 1st to facilitate the resort reopenings, with flights gradually increasing as more resorts come back online.

The region’s unmatched collection of rental homes and luxury villas, meanwhile, are an excellent option for those seeking the ultimate in privacy, safety and security, and most properties are now accepting reservations (see www.loscabosvillas.com).

What Visitors Can Expect from the New Look Los Cabos

Yes, Los Cabos has changed to meet the challenges created by the global pandemic.

Return visitors to the destination will notice changes from the moment they step off their planes. The Los Cabos International Airport has instituted a Clean Point certification system that includes thermal imaging and temperature checks on all incoming passengers, as well as exposure risk-factor questionnaires, plexiglass shields at counters, mandatory face masks for employees, frequent sanitizing in all areas, and safe distancing protocols throughout the airport.

The journey from airport to resort has likewise been made safer as airport shuttles and transportation companies have made sweeping changes to their standard operating procedures. Hotels and resorts have also committed to maximum safety for guests, adapting many of the same sanitary protocols found in the airport, from temperature check to luggage sanitization to safe distancing at swimming pools and beaches.

Area businesses like shops, bars and restaurants are also putting a premium on health and safety, with the number of allowable patrons at each establishment determined by weekly alert levels. Adherence to newly created protocols and mandatory training for all staff is also being enforced.

This unprecedented but necessary strategy to make the destination safer on every level–in every category of business, and in every public space–illustrates why Los Cabos recently became the first Pacific oriented destination to receive the Travel Safety Stamp granted by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). This distinction is designed to provide visitors with confidence that the highest available measures in hygiene and sanitation are being taken by businesses across the board, and that the health of travelers is the foremost focus of the destination as a whole.

As to the glorious beaches, the superb fishing, the wonderful food and drink, the warm-hearted people, and all the other attractions that have made Los Cabos so popular for so many years…those will remain the same.

Isn’t it nice to know some things never change?

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

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

Endless Summer – The Surfing Glories of Los Cabos

Surfers have been flocking to Los Cabos for more than 50 years. As a matter of fact, surfers were among the first to really discover Los Cabos as a tourist destination, entranced as they were by the region’s rippable year-round waves and laid-back lifestyle. Not much has changed since in terms of the surfing itself, but the amenities have certainly gotten a lot better since the early 1970s.

In the old days, surfers piled into vans and drove down the Baja to reach Land’s End. Now it’s quite easy to fly, and for those surfers who are a little older or a little more discerning, some accommodations options are much, much better than any VW could ever offer. Think boutique surf hotels and rental luxury villas that overlooks some of the finest surf breaks.

Indeed, surf vacations to contemporary Los Cabos can be as simple or as luxurious as you like. We’ll share our email address at the end if you have any questions about the accommodations or amenities aspect, but let’s start with a basic guide to surfing in Los Cabos. Meaning: what are the best breaks and when is the best time to surf them?

San Jose del Cabo and The Tourist Corridor 

The conventional wisdom is to surf the Sea of Cortez side breaks during the spring and summer, then shift to the Pacific Ocean side for the fall and winter. That’s good advice, of course, but the more important takeaway is that there is no bad time to take a surf vacation to Los Cabos. There are always good waves somewhere.

Neighboring beaches Acapulquito and Costa Azul are two of the centerpieces of the Sea of Cortez surf scene, and both are easily accessible from the Tourist Corridor highway as you approach San Jose del Cabo. Playa Costa Azul (Km. 29) has something for everyone, with a beginner-friendly Middle Break framed by advanced to expert level right-hand reef breaks at Zippers and The Rock (or La Roca). The Middle Break is often used for surf lessons, while the more easterly Zippers is probably the most famous surf break in Los Cabos. For years, in fact, it was the site of the ASP sanctioned Los Cabos Open of Surf, the only professional surf event in the area.

That tournament has since transitioned into a lifestyle event on Playa Monumentos.

Next to Zippers, Monumentos (in English, Monuments) is the area’s most famous surf break, and the closest to Cabo San Lucas. Anyone can enjoy the spectacular views of Land’s End from its offshore waters (Km. 5), but surfing its celebrated lefty point break is best left to the experts. That’s why the reinvented version of the Los Cabos Open of Surf takes place here, hosted by boutique lodging The Cape: A Thompson Hotel. The next “Soft Top Soiree” is scheduled for June 26 – 27. No details have been released as yet, but the event is expected to follow last year’s model, in which world-class surfing was paired with live music, fashion and gourmet cuisine.

Pacific Coast

Despite the conventional wisdom that holds Pacific side beaches see peak surf conditions during the winter, Playa Los Cerritos is always popular, not only for its beautiful scenery and consistently good beach breaks, but the cold beer and fresh seafood available nearby. Several local activities companies offer surf lessons at Playa Los Cerritos, with excursions that leave from Cabo San Lucas. But if you go on your own, board rentals and lessons can easily be arranged on the beach. Advanced surfers may prefer San Pedrito at Pescadero, or La Pastora, which is just north of Todos Santos. All three beaches are within an hour or so of Cabo San Lucas by car.

East Cape

Baja Sur’s rustic and beautiful East Cape also features some memorable surf beaches, and there are several local surf shops and activities providers who organize day trips over dirt roads to secluded hot spots like Shipwrecks and Nine Palms. The shipwreck at Shipwrecks has been gone for decades, and Nine Palms has considerably more than nine palms, but who cares really? Both of these spots offer rippable right-hand point breaks, particularly in the summer when occasional chubascos (tropical storms) generate strong southerly swells.

But whichever surf beach you ultimately choose, just know you’re in for a great ride.

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 Open of Surf

Upcoming Events Calendar

March

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

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

Sabores de Baja in Miraflores – Mar. 8

East Cape Arts Festival – Mar. 15

Festival Artesanal El Triunfo – Mar. 15

Todos Santos Film Festival – Mar. 26 – 29

April

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

Semana Santa – Apr. 5 – 11

NORRA Mexican 1000 – Apr. 17 – 24

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

May

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

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

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

El Dia de la Madre – May 10

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

June

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

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

Fiesta de la Musica in San Jose del Cabo – June 20

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

Los Cabos Open of Surf – June 26 – 27

July

Pitahayas Harvest Fair in Miraflores – Dates Not Yet Announced

East Cape Dorado Shootout – July 18

Los Cabos Open of Tennis – July 20 – 25

Ladies Only Fishing Tournament in Los Barriles – July 23 – 27

Mango Festival in Todos Santos – Dates Not Yet Announced

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

Los Cabos Beneath the Surface – 3 Unforgettable Dive Adventures

Los Cabos is beautiful no matter what your vantage, whether it’s from the window seat of an inbound airplane, from the terrace of a luxury rental villa, or from a lounge chair on a gorgeous golden sand beach.

There is another side of Los Cabos, however, and one every bit as beautiful…if not more so. That’s the side that lies just below the surface, just off the coast of the Baja California peninsula’s southernmost municipality.

Thanks to its warm tropical climate (it lies some 50 miles south of the Tropic of Cancer), Los Cabos boasts great year-round conditions for snorkeling and scuba diving. But it’s not just the conditions that make the region so special from a diving perspective. Rather, it’s the presence of world-class diving adventures, from sunken ships and living coral reefs to offshore islands whose waters teem with enormous sea creatures.

With that in mind, here are three once-in-a-lifetime diving adventures available only in (or from) Los Cabos.

Land’s End

If you know anything about Cabo San Lucas at all, you know it’s the southernmost community in Baja California Sur, and the terminus for the over 1000 miles of highway that course down the peninsula from Tijuana. The end of the road, so to speak, is Land’s End, a half-mile headland that juts out into the sea, offering protection for the bay and marking the dividing line between the Sea of Cortez and Pacific Ocean.

Land’s End is home to some of the most famed landmarks in Los Cabos, including Lover’s Beach, the Window to the Pacific, the Pirate’s Cave, La Lobera (the sea lion colony), and El Arco; the latter a naturally occurring arch formed from 80-million-year-old granite.

But as amazing as it above the waterline, Land’s End is even more remarkable below it.

There’s a profusion of great dive sites at Land’s End, the most notable of which are Pelican Rock, Neptune’s Finger, and The Point. Each site boasts unique features, from the degree of depth to the quality and quantity of marine life. Pelican Rock, for example, is famed for its sand falls and profusion of tropical fish; Neptune’s Finger showcases coral, sponges, and sea fans; while diving The Point offers opportunities to see sea turtles, sea lions, moray eels, and even the occasional octopus.

Virtually every local dive shop offers trips to Land’s End, and many offer night diving opportunities.

Cabo Pulmo

Cabo Pulmo, a small village on the East Cape of Los Cabos, is the site of one of the world’s great ecological sustainability stories. Twenty-five years ago the offshore waters were badly overfished so residents banded together and were able to able to have them declared a federally protected national marine park (in 2005, it was also declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The rebound since has been so spectacular that this aquatic sanctuary now boasts the highest concentration of sea life in the entire Sea of Cortez.

But that’s not the only reason Cabo Pulmo is a mecca for snorkelers and scuba divers. The marine park is also home to one of the most breathtaking living coral reefs in the Western Hemisphere, with eight fingers of vividly colorful coral. The profusion of life is so intense, meanwhile, that schools of fish sometimes seem to blot out the little sun that filters beneath the surface.

From dolphins and sea turtles to leaping mobula rays, Cabo Pulmo is a scuba diver’s dream come true.

Revillagigedos Archipelago

Land’s End and Cabo Pulmo are easily reachable from any resort or rental villa in Los Cabos. Not so the Revillagigedos Archipelago, which is some 240 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas. Like Cabo Pulmo, this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but reaching the archipelago’s group of small uninhabited islands requires a week-long, round-trip voyage aboard the Solmar V, a 112’ liveaboard dive vessel. It’s a commitment few tourists are willing to undertake.

For hard core divers, however, this is the adventure of a lifetime. The Revillagigedos (pronounced Reh-bee-uh-hee-hay-dos) are sometimes referred to as the Galapagos of Mexico, with islands so remote and offshore waters so teeming with large pelagic species that divers are treated to mind-blowing spectacles of enormous sea turtles, schools of great white sharks, orcas and humpback whales, and hundreds of giant manta rays swimming together.

The waters off Socorro and Guadalupe Islands are ground zero for this bucket list adventure. We’d advise starting at Land’s End and working your way up (or in this case, down). For beginners, almost all local dive shops offer both training and PADI certifications.

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

March

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

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

Sabores de Baja in Miraflores – Mar. 8

East Cape Arts Festival – Mar. 15

Festival Artesanal El Triunfo – Mar. 15

Todos Santos Film Festival – Mar. 26 – 29

April

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

Semana Santa – Apr. 5 – 11

NORRA Mexican 1000 – Apr. 17 – 24

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

May

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

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

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

El Dia de la Madre – May 10

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

June

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

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

Fiesta de la Musica in San Jose del Cabo – June 20

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

Los Cabos Open of Surf – June 26 – 27

July

Pitahayas Harvest Fair in Miraflores – Dates Not Yet Announced

East Cape Dorado Shootout – July 18

Los Cabos Open of Tennis – July 20 – 25

Ladies Only Fishing Tournament in Los Barriles – July 23 – 27

Mango Festival in Todos Santos – Dates Not Yet Announced

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

Los Cabos Golfing Glories Continue with a Spectacular New Course from Greg Norman

Another golf course has opened in Los Cabos. That makes 18 currently operating courses in the area, 17 of which are championship level layouts from the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Greg Norman.

Norman, the two-time major champion who was nicknamed the “Great White Shark” for his aggressive playing style, has designed the most recently unveiled course – Rancho San Lucas – centerpiece of an 834-acre resort and residential community set on a pristine stretch of beach on the Pacific Ocean 15 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas.

Known for his ‘least-disturbance’ design approach, Norman has created a low-profile, links-style layout that features sweeping ocean views from every hole. Earthmoving was kept to a minimum: the site’s contours and topography, Norman said, were ideal for the routing of a world-class course.

Spanning three different ecosystems, the 7,210-yard, par-72 golf course rambles through huge windswept dunes at the start, climbs through a thick cactus forest creased by meandering arroyos in the middle of the round, and returns players to the beach and sea on the back nine.

Tailored to the site’s terrain, Norman and his design team integrated indigenous landscapes and grass varietals that use the least amount of water, creating an eco-friendly golf experience that flows naturally with the dune and desert landscape. The club has applied for enrollment in Audubon International’s Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses.

“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,” Norman said. “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 re-vetted 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.

Tees, greens and fairways at Rancho San Lucas are surfaced in papsalum, a salt- and drought-tolerant cultivar that uses a fraction of the insecticides and fertilizer required by normal grasses.

The versatile, well-groomed layout has five sets of tees and offers exceptional pace and variety. The par 5’s are brawny, the par 3’s are varied. The par 4’s, 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. There’s also a signature island green at the par-3 17th hole. Corridors are wide and targets are generous: four of the putting surfaces exceed 12,000 square feet.

Mindful of the seasonal windy conditions, Norman devised a 12-hole ‘course within a course’ at Rancho San Lucas. This innovative 4,964-yard, par-49 layout consists of low-lying holes sheltered by the dunes and shielded from Pacific breezes. It promises a pleasant outing on a windy day in May.

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 a private club with exclusive access available to guests of Solmar Group hotels and rental properties.

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

Photo credit:  Rancho San Lucas

Upcoming Events Calendar

March

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

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

Sabores de Baja in Miraflores – Mar. 8

East Cape Arts Festival – Mar. 15

Festival Artesanal El Triunfo – Mar. 15

Todos Santos Film Festival – Mar. 26 – 29

April

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

Semana Santa – Apr. 5 – 11

NORRA Mexican 1000 – Apr. 17 – 24

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

May

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

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

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

El Dia de la Madre – May 10

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

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

June

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

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

Los Cabos Open of Surf – Dates Not Yet Announced

Fiesta de la Musica in San Jose del Cabo – June 20

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

July

Pitahayas Harvest Fair in Miraflores – Dates Not Yet Announced

East Cape Dorado Shootout – July 18

Los Cabos Open of Tennis – July 20 – 25

Ladies Only Fishing Tournament in Los Barriles – July 23 – 27

Mango Festival in Todos Santos – Dates Not Yet Announced

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

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

Los Cabos Film Festival – Nov. 11 – 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

Classic Rock Rules: Live Music Events in Los Cabos in 2020

Jazz has become a popular staple in Los Cabos in recent years, with two major festivals celebrating this free-flowing musical genre. The San Jose Jazz Weekend has already happened, serenading multitudes over Valentine’s Day weekend. But Warren Hill’s Los Cabos Jazz Festival is still to come, and is one of the most highly anticipated events on the calendar for this April.

But make no mistake. Classic rock still rules in cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. This year alone, legendary acts like the Eagles, Doobie Brothers, Cheap Trick and Sammy Hagar are all scheduled to perform.

With that in mind, here’s a schedule to the biggest concerts and music festivals on tap for 2020. These are all destination events, intended as centerpiece experiences for vacations in Los Cabos.

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

The Los Cabos Jazz Festival is the brainchild of noted jazz saxophonist and festival organizer Warren Hill. Originally from Toronto, Hill has charted several smooth jazz hits over the years. Nowadays, however, he is probably best known for Music Getaways, an event company he started that specializes in destination based music festivals. It was Hill and Music Getaways that started the now iconic Cancun Jazz Festival, a success that’s now been replicated in Los Cabos. The first festival took place last year as a sort of inauguration event for the newly opened Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos. The second edition returns to the Hard Rock in 2020 with an all-star lineup that includes War, Boney James, Tommy Davidson, Sheila E, Kem, and many other notable artists.

The Eagles and The Doobie Brothers Perform on Memorial Day Weekend – May 23, 24

These concerts are a very big deal, and if you don’t understand why consider the fact that the Eagles alone have sold over 150 million albums worldwide. This is a once-in-a-lifetime destination musical getaway opportunity, with the two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted bands partnering with local luxury resorts to offer two nights of unforgettable performances to select crowds in an intimate beachfront setting.

Here are the scheduled dates and lineups:

Saturday May 23

An evening with The Doobie Brothers – Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, Pat Simmons and John McFee.

Sunday May 24

EAGLES – Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit, with Deacon Frey and Vince Gill – performing their greatest hits.

24th Annual Stars and Stripes Golf and Fishing Tournament Featuring Cheap Trick – June 24 to 28

During the 20+ years of its existence, the annual Stars and Stripes’ golf and fishing tournament has raised over 36 million dollars for youth focused charities. But it’s not simply a tournament or a charity benefit…more like a complete lifestyle experience. Participants go big-game sportfishing for dorado, wahoo, tuna, sailfish, swordfish, and black, blue and striped marlin; play golf at some of the world’s best golf courses; and enjoy spectacular live entertainment nightly. This year’s headliner is Cheap Trick, which has sold over 20 million records worldwide since its debut album in 1977. Recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, Cheap Trick brings its catalogue of hits to Cabo on Saturday, June 27th.

Sammy Hagar’s 73rd Birthday Bashes at Cabo Wabo Cantina – Oct. 9, 11, 13

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 2020, the former Van Halen and Montrose celebrates his 73rd year on the planet with an all-star cast of visiting musicians, including The Circle members Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham, and Vic Johnson. Shows aren’t officially scheduled as yet, but traditionally take place on October 9, 11 and 13, the finale of which falls on Hagar’s actual birthday. If past form holds, general admission tickets will be available to winners of a random drawing this summer, but those who aren’t selected will still have an opportunity to attend, as some dinner show tickets will be made available in early October on a first-come, first-serve basis.

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:  Warren Hill’s Los Cabos Jazz Festival

Upcoming Events Calendar

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 1 – 8

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

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

Los Cabos Half Marathon – Feb. 9

Biker Week Los Cabos – Feb. 13 – 17

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

Rock Fest in Cabo San Lucas – Feb. 15

Carnaval in La Paz – Feb. 20 – 25

March

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

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

Sabores de Baja in Miraflores – Mar. 8

East Cape Arts Festival – Mar. 15

Festival Artesanal El Triunfo – Mar. 15

Todos Santos Film Festival – Mar. 26 – 29

April

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

Semana Santa – Apr. 5 – 11

NORRA Mexican 1000 – Apr. 17 – 24

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

May

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

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

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

El Dia de la Madre – May 10

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

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

June

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

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

Los Cabos Open of Surf – Dates Not Yet Announced

Fiesta de la Musica in San Jose del Cabo – June 20

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

July

Pitahayas Harvest Fair in Miraflores – Dates Not Yet Announced

East Cape Dorado Shootout – July 18

Los Cabos Open of Tennis – July 20 – 25

Ladies Only Fishing Tournament in Los Barriles – July 23 – 27

Mango Festival in Todos Santos – Dates Not Yet Announced

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

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

Los Cabos Film Festival – Nov. 11 – 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

Spring Break Madness and March Events in Los Cabos

March is the month when many North American college students head south to warm weather vacation destinations to participate in that seasonal rite of passage known as Spring Break.

Baja California Sur’s southernmost resort city, Cabo San Lucas, is a prime beneficiary of this mass migration, welcoming hordes of bikini and board shorts clad collegians annually for mid-semester fun in the sun.

Those of a more mature age (or at least disposition) will find it no trouble to avoid the Spring Break madness, however. In fact, March is one of the busiest months of the year for the region in terms of cultural festivals and events.

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

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

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

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

Sabores de Baja in Miraflores – Mar. 8

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. The 4th annual Sabores de Baja (sabores translates as tastes or flavors) will be hosted by Doña Pame Restaurante from noon to 5 p.m. on March 8th, and will feature live music from local performers.

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

During the Spanish colonial period, many towns in Baja California and elsewhere in México and Latin America were named according to the Catholic calendar. San Jose del Cabo’s first Spanish name, for instance, was San Bernabe, so named by Sebastian Vizcaino when he landed there on June 11, 1602, during the traditional Catholic feast day for Saint Barnabas. San Bernabe replaced Añuiti, the name given to the place by the indigenous Pericues, and was itself later replaced by San Jose del Cabo, the name of the Jesuit mission that opened there in 1730. The city’s fiestas patronales (as the patron saint festivals are known in Spanish) encompass a week of celebrations, and include parades, live music, regional food and drinks (the ceviche preparation contest is an annual highlight), plus the coronation of an event king and queen. The festivities culminate on March 19, the official feast day of Saint Joseph.

East Cape Arts Festival – Mar. 15

Baja Sur’s beautiful East Cape stretches some 7o miles in a belly-shaped arc from San José del Cabo to the Bay of Palms. The coastal region is best known for its pristine beaches, abundant marine life and off-the-grid communities, but is also home to a number of talented artists and crafts makers. The primary showcase for this community creativity has, since 1994, been the annual East Cape Arts Festival, the 2020 edition of which takes place March 15th at the Hotel Palmas de Cortez in Los Barriles.  Food, drinks, live music and dance groups will also be spotlighted.

Festival Artesanal El Triunfo – Mar. 15

El Triunfo and San Antonio, two mountain hamlets about 35 and 40 miles south of La Paz, respectively, are the two oldest secular communities in the Californias (yes, that includes the U.S. state of California). Both were built on gold and silver mining, and in fact during the latter part of the 19th century El Triunfo was the wealthiest community in Baja California, with reportedly the highest concentration of pianos per capita in México. It was the first Baja town to boast luxuries like electricity and telephones, and its largest smokestack, dubbed Ramona, was built by none other than Gustave Eiffel. Today, the populations of El Triunfo and San Antonio number in the hundreds, but both retain their old-fashioned charm and offer abundant historical artifacts and attractions. The best time to visit the former is during its annual Festival Artesanal, when vendors line the streets hawking traditional food, art and clothing, and colorfully costumed men and women waltz around the town square.

Todos Santos Film Festival – March 26 – 29

This annual showcase for Mexican and Latin American films was founded in 2004, and is based each year at the historic Teatro-Cine Manuel Marquez de Leon, a landmark 70+ year old movie theater that overlooks the town square in Todos Santos. The 17th edition of the coastal pueblo magico‘s acclaimed festival de cine is set for March 26 – 29, and will include full-length films, as well as shorts, documentaries, and projects from the local Youth in Video program. Additional screenings will take place in nearby Pescadero, and Baja California Sur’s capital city, La Paz.

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:  Camilla Fuchs

Upcoming Events Calendar

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 1 – 8

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

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

Los Cabos Half Marathon – Feb. 9

Biker Week Los Cabos – Feb. 13 – 17

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

Rock Fest in Cabo San Lucas – Feb. 15

Carnaval in La Paz – Feb. 20 – 25

March

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

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

Sabores de Baja in Miraflores – Mar. 8

East Cape Arts Festival – Mar. 15

Festival Artesanal El Triunfo – Mar. 15

Todos Santos Film Festival – Mar. 26 – 29

April

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

Semana Santa – Apr. 5 – 11

NORRA Mexican 1000 – Apr. 17 – 24

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

May

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

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

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

El Dia de la Madre – May 10

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

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

June

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

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

Los Cabos Open of Surf – Dates Not Yet Announced

Fiesta de la Musica in San Jose del Cabo – June 20

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

July

Pitahayas Harvest Fair in Miraflores – Dates Not Yet Announced

East Cape Dorado Shootout – July 18

Los Cabos Open of Tennis – July 20 – 25

Ladies Only Fishing Tournament in Los Barriles – July 23 – 27

Mango Festival in Todos Santos – Dates Not Yet Announced

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

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

Los Cabos Film Festival – Nov. 11 – 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

A Hot Time in Los Cabos: Summer Fishing Tournaments to Look Forward to in 2020

For as long as there have been tourists coming to Los Cabos, Fishing has been one of the chief attractions.

Each year the allure gets a little stronger, in fact, as new regional fishing tournaments appear, and the established ones up their prize money to stay competitive. Bisbee’s Black & Blue in October is the most famous of the local competitions thanks to its multi-million dollar purses, but that legendary event comes near the end of the tournament season in Los Cabos.

The season actually starts in June, with the half-dozen summer tournaments of note allowing motivated anglers the chance to warm up before the potentially ultra-lucrative autumn tournaments roll around.

Don’t be fooled, however. The summer tournaments offer sizeable cash payouts and prizes as well. With that in mind, here are the highlights of the fishing tournament calendar for summer 2020:

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

 Bisbee’s isn’t the only organizer of big money fishing tournaments in Los Cabos. Water sports apparel maker non pareil Pelagic hosts its 7th annual Summer Slam this June, inviting anglers to compete for over 350,000 in prize money. After a shotgun start in front of Land’s End, teams compete to haul in trophy size marlin, sailfish, tuna, dorado and wahoo during the multi-day tournament. Base entry is $$3,500 per team, or $19,500 across-the-board for all jackpots and prizes.

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

During the 20+ years of its existence, the annual Stars and Stripes’ golf and fishing tournament has raised over 36 million dollars for youth focused charities. But it’s not simply a tournament or a charity benefit…more like a complete lifestyle experience. Participants stay at the luxurious Hilton Los Cabos; go big-game sportfishing for dorado, wahoo, tuna, sailfish, swordfish, and black, blue and striped marlin; play golf at some of the world’s best golf courses; and enjoy spectacular live entertainment nightly (this year’s headliner is legendary rock band Cheap Trick).

16th Annual East Cape Dorado Shootout – July 18

This is one of the largest fishing tournaments in Southern Baja, with an average turnout of 130 teams each year. What makes it so popular? The opportunity to win a brand new, fully-loaded 2020 Volkswagen 4×4 Amarok pickup truck, of course. The rules are simple, catch the biggest dorado on July 18th and you win the truck. There will also be great prizes for 2nd and 3rd place, as well as for the largest tuna and largest wahoo caught that day. The beauty of this one-day tournament format is that anyone can win. After the tournament, Palmas De Cortez in Los Barriles will host the award ceremony, which is unlike any in Baja, with dinner, music, a raffle, and a combined $200,000 in cash and prizes given away.

21st Annual Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore – August 4 – 8

The East Cape Offshore is the first of three Bisbee’s fishing tournaments that take place in Baja California Sur each year. The ECO is always first, and kicks off Bisbee’s 2020 series starting August 1st. 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.

4th Annual 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.

Fishing widows needn’t feel left out, by the way. In fact, they’re eligible for a tournament the men aren’t. That would be the Ladies Only Fishing Tournament hosted by the Hotel Palmas de Cortez in Los Barriles, the 2nd edition of which takes place July 23rd to 27th, with a return trip on the line for the winning team.

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:  Pelagic Gear

Upcoming Events Calendar

February

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Feb. 1 – 8

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

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

Los Cabos Half Marathon – Feb. 9

Biker Week Los Cabos – Feb. 13 – 17

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

Rock Fest in Cabo San Lucas – Feb. 15

Carnaval in La Paz – Feb. 20 – 25

March

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

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

Sabores de Baja in Miraflores – Mar. 8

East Cape Arts Festival – Mar. 15

Festival Artesanal El Triunfo – Mar. 15

Todos Santos Film Festival – Mar. 26 – 29

April

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

Semana Santa – Apr. 5 – 11

NORRA Mexican 1000 – Apr. 17 – 24

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

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

May

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

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

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

El Dia de la Madre – May 10

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

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

June

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

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

Los Cabos Open of Surf – Dates Not Yet Announced

Fiesta de la Musica in San Jose del Cabo – June 20

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

July

Pitahayas Harvest Fair in Miraflores – Dates Not Yet Announced

East Cape Dorado Shootout – July 18

Los Cabos Open of Tennis – July 20 – 25

Ladies Only Fishing Tournament in Los Barriles – July 23 – 27

Mango Festival in Todos Santos – Dates Not Yet Announced

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

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

Los Cabos Film Festival – Nov. 11 – 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