Pacific Coast Experience
This summer we had the opportunity to travel from the Yucatan Peninsula to the Baja California Peninsula, precisely to the southern tip, thus reaching Los Cabos.
First of all, it is important to know that Los Cabos is in fact two cities separated by about 35 km (21 miles) distance. To the west is Cabo San Lucas, and to the east is San Jose del Cabo.
The Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) is located just 8 miles north of San Jose del Cabo and 23 miles from Cabo San Lucas. Los Cabos has 550 weekly operations, serving around 40 destinations.
A dry region with a desert climate, surrounded by mountains, mostly surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, with many miles of coastline including beautiful islands, rivers, and bays. It has high and hot temperatures in summer but tends to cool off a little bit in winter.
Cave paintings that have been found in the vicinity of San José del Cabo suggest that the region was inhabited since very remote times. The port was used as a refuge for pirate-laden galleons and years later, whaling ships began to arrive and fishing became the main economic activity in the region.
My Dad
Since then, the touristic infrastructure has grown and it has become one of the best-known places in the world, not only for its beautiful surfing beaches, or because of the annual whales’ visit, but also for its gastronomy.
A good Mexican knows that seafood from the Pacific Ocean is the best when it comes to delicious traditional dishes with seafood of excellent flavor and quality. Whether in ceviches, tacos, or tostadas, somehow, a bit of our history is represented in the classic Mexican seasoning.
WELCOME TO CABO!
Getting around this peninsula requires precise planning to make the best of your vacation. You’ll need to decide which transportation option is going to work best for your trip by fulfilling all your needs.
Whether you rent a car, order taxis, or book yourself a shuttle or a tour, you don’t want to miss any of the spectacular natural landscapes full of flora and fauna that are protected due to the conservation of diverse and unique species, along with endless opportunities to experience exhilarating tours, adventures, pickleball, hiking and so much more.
Beloved Seafood…ies
Begin your day by experiencing a traditional Mexican breakfast.
Although many hotels usually include breakfast on their fee, you might want to switch your cereal for some local seasoning with local ingredients, strong coffee, freshly squeezed juice, pan dulce, eggs cooked in as many ways as you can imagine, with different salsas, with shrimp or salmon, beans, veggies or a juicy and healthy fruit bowl.
Here are some of my favorite spots that I got to eat at during my time in Cabo:
La Marea
This ocean-view seafood restaurant with a creative yet traditional menu, with a variety of dishes perfect for every taste, opens every day starting at 8 in the morning with delicious breakfast options like their signature shrimp omelet, sautéed with chile morrón and white wine, or their traditional chilaquiles and an amazing carrot cake.
La Marea restaurant, located in Plaza Peninsular, offers great drinks, great customer service, and a full dinner menu that keeps you coming back for more. The shrimp nachos, smoked pickled tuna, ceviches, the traditional Baja shrimp, and fish pastor tacos or smoked octopus, share the menu with other non-seafood dishes, like pasta, burgers, and steak.
Location:
Transpeninsular Highway km 29.5 L-11 A Plaza Peninsula
23406 San Jose del Cabo Baja California.
Open Daily from 8 am – 10 pm
10-15 min drive from the San Jose del Cabo hotel area.
Taco Gobernador with Octopus
Fish al Pastor Taco
Baja Style shrimp Taco
French Riviera Bakery
You can never go wrong with a french bakery, right? Familiar flavors but with local ingredients such as their shrimp and mushroom pesto crepe or their spinach and goat cheese omelet. Freshly baked baguettes, as many tasty pastries as you can wish for, great coffee, and great customer service.
Location:
San Jose Downtown
Open daily from 7 am – 10 pm
10 min driving from the San Jose del Cabo hotel area.
DeMañana
Delicious local restaurant with a traditional menu, where you can make your own combo. These combos include coffee or fresh orange juice, a main dish like chilaquiles with cecina, eggs cooked in many different styles, and a couple of sides, like beans, steamed veggies, or a little sope. My favorite thing about this place, besides their amazing customer service, are the 2 little delicious pancakes that come with each combo and the banana or carrot muffins.
Location:
Paseo de los Marinos St. 819, Mauricio Castro, 23443 San José del Cabo
Open Tuesday – Friday from 8 am until 2 pm
Weekends from 8 am until 1 pm
10-15 min drive from the San Jose del Cabo hotel area.
Ranchero eggs with beans, sope, pancakes, and coffee
Restaurants are always looking to win tourists’ hearts through their creative cuisine, putting together the most traditional dishes but with local ingredients, so local, you won’t get to try these flavors ever again.
Ever.
Claro Fish Jr. Seafood Tacos
One of the best places to fulfill your seafood craving, with a large number of options on its menu. I was already full just by reading it! You might want to start with fresh oysters or clams, a ceviche to share, or not. Smoked marlin or coconut shrimp tacos, tuna tostadas, stingray burritos, Veracruz style fillet, and oh so many more delicious salty and spicy preparations.
The table is set with salsas from different types of chiles and different levels of spiciness, and if this wasn’t enough, a cooler with 6 to 8 homemade tasty salsas is located in the middle of the dining room to turn your dishes into a whole different experience.
You might want to come back a few times or visit their other locations throughout South Baja.
Location:
Leona Vicario S/N Ejidal Chamizal, San Jose del Cabo 23470 Mexico
Daily open from 9 am – 9 pm
5 minute drive away from the San Jose del Cabo hotel area.
Crispy breaded Shrimp and Coconut taco
Tuna Tostada
El Toro Guero Seafood
A family business that once started in Mazatlan, Sinaloa but crossed the Sea of Cortez to open its second location at La Paz and its third in San Jose del Cabo.
Remember how Bubba listened to Forest about all the ways shrimps can be cooked? Well, you can try most of them right here, perhaps some new cooking techniques too. Classic shrimp cocktail it’s a must, just like the 3 piece order of shrimp, fish, and marlin tacos. Just like most Mexican seafood restaurants, the variety of sauces and options on the menu will blow your mind. Try the garlic crab special, the scallop tostadas, ceviches and empanadas.
A local and tourist favorite, you can tell because it’s always packed and totally worth it.
Location:
Idelfonso Green, 23400 Downtown San José del Cabo.
Open daily from 9 am to 9 pm
A 10-minute drive from San Jose del Cabo hotel area.
Fresh Oysters and Hibiscus Water
Shrimp Cocktail
Tacos Gobernador Marlin, Shrimp, and Fish
El Huerto
Lately, people in the food and drink business have taken their creations to a whole new level, by not only sticking to the same menu every day but coming up with refreshing ideas to upgrade your eating experience and their creativity.
Farm-to-table gardens offer a unique type of service, sometimes limited to seasonal produce or elements that won’t be around for next week, turning their dishes into tasty exclusive art pieces.
An old Baja-styled hacienda inspired by breathtaking landscapes, gardens, cactus, and a little vineyard offers a seasonal menu created with unique products that go from land to sea dishes, blended with Mediterranean and Asian influences. The breakfast and dinner menu will change and adapt to local produce growing seasons and what is being currently harvested on site.
Location:
Rancho San Angel. Access by Cabo del Mar. Cabo San Lucas.
Open for breakfast and dinner, from Tuesday to Sunday
30 min driving from San Jose del Cabo or about 15 min from Cabo San Lucas hotel area.
Parmesan and spinach poached eggs and Quesabirrias
Passion Fruit French toast
Farm and cactus
Mexican gastronomy seemingly evolved during the last few years, staying true to the ancient ways and recipes but always adding a modern twist to enhance Mexican culture.
Nowadays passionate Mexican cooks, local restaurants, local breweries, and even distilleries, challenge themselves every day to represent our culture worldwide.
Each state of the Mexican Republic has its own representative gastronomy and although you might find similar restaurants here and there, there is no better experience than to taste the regional food straight out from traditional cooks.
More for the curious traveler
Once you are at Cabo San Lucas, there is also a lot to see, buy and take pictures at.
And the place to be is at La Marina, a tourist hub for a number of recreational activities, such as whale watching, snorkeling, sunset cruises, scuba diving, and parasailing.
La Marina hosts 380 slips and can harbor vessels up to 375 feet in length, and boat tours to El Arco, a million-year-old rock shaped due to erosion forming the arch that is recognized around the world today. An abundance of marine animals lives beneath the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez.
There are over 50 restaurants along the Marina offering a wide culinary variety. You can find floating bars, oyster bars, and both traditional and gourmet restaurants.
Artists display their local work, artisanal crafts, and handmade clothing, also music and folkloric dance programs are held throughout the year.
La Marina
A few miles after driving on the dark desert highway, you’ll reach Todos Santos Pueblo Magico. Rustic Village with ancient haciendas and hotels, surfing shops, local designer clothing stores, coffee shops, and restaurants serving creative cuisine with organic local produce, fresh seafood, and traditional Mexican dishes.
Todos Santos Fun Fact: rumor has it that Hotel California located downtown, was the actual inspiration for the American rock band The Eagles’ popular song, some say it’s true, some say it’s not, you choose what to believe.
Only 10 minutes away from Todos Santos there is one of Baja’s popular beaches, Playa Cerritos. If you like adrenaline and want to learn how to surf, this is a good place to begin but if chances are you don’t want to, then take a walk on the beach, go on an ATV ride, or enjoy a massage right on the seashore. You can also take a yoga class, go camping, fishing, or just lay down to work on your tan with a few beers and snacks at the Cerritos beach club.
Todos Santos Downtown
Best Beaches
In recent years, Los Cabos has become a popular destination, and surfers around the world visit each year to ride the pacific coast waves. Tourists gather each year to witness the beauty of whales in their natural habitat. Baja California Sur coastline offers picture-perfect views and beaches to swim all day, like Playa Acapulquito, or Old Man’s Beach, a surfer’s paradise, also great for snorkeling, swimming, and chilling. The California-style beach boutique hotel and the 7 Seas Seafood Grille and boutique hotel is located right at the public entrance to the beach, perfect to try some local beer and seafood while watching some surfers as the sun goes down.
Very close to Acapulquito, Playa Palmilla is waiting for locals and tourists to have the perfect day at the beach. Palmilla is a fishing cape, so don’t be surprised to find locals waiting for snappers or groupers to bite the bait. Fresh fish can be bought from local fishermen too.
Cerritos Beach
Sometimes, you don’t know what to expect from any destination you choose, and getting amazed by its natural wonders, the local people, and cuisine it’s what turns it into a special experience. Baja California Sur has so many beautiful things to offer, majestic ancient cacti everywhere, breathless beaches, each one better than the next one, the best seafood you could ever taste, and the perfect beach town vibe.
Adding Los Cabos to your next Mexican Destination might help you compare Mayan Riviera’s beauty and the Pacific coast wonders.
NO BAD DAYS AT CABO
-Abbey, the wondering foodie!
PS: all pictures taken by Abbey and all dishes eaten by Abbey.
