Discovering the Heartbeat of Cabo: A Journey Through Local Gems

In the sun-kissed haven of Cabo San Lucas, where the turquoise waters embrace golden shores, a vibrant tapestry of businesses awaits the curious traveler. Introducing our Cabo San Lucas Directory. As we embark on this virtual journey through the bustling streets and hidden corners of this Baja California gem, you’ll find more than just businesses; you’ll discover the beating heart of Cabo.

Our adventure begins with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air, guiding us to the quaint cafés tucked away in charming alleys. Picture yourself sipping a velvety espresso at “Café del Sol,” a local favorite where the baristas know your name and the beans tell tales of Mexican sunsets.

As the sun rises higher in the sky, we wander towards the artisan markets, where vibrant stalls showcase the skilled craftsmanship of local artists. “Arte y Color” beckons with hand-painted treasures, each piece carrying the soul of its creator. From intricate pottery to vivid textiles, every purchase becomes a cherished memento of your Cabo escapade.

The midday sun invites us to explore the culinary wonders that Cabo has to offer. “Mariscos del Mar” whispers promises of the freshest seafood, served with a side of ocean breeze. The chef’s secret blend of spices transforms each dish into a symphony of flavors, leaving your taste buds dancing with delight.

In the heart of Cabo, we stumble upon “La Plaza de los Sueños,” a lively square where local musicians strum melodies that echo through the cobblestone streets. The souvenir shops here hold more than trinkets; they harbor stories of the land and its people. “Recuerdos del Sol” offers handmade souvenirs that encapsulate the spirit of Cabo, ensuring you carry a piece of this paradise home.

As the day gracefully transitions into evening, we find ourselves drawn to the vibrant nightlife. “Cielo Bar” perched on a rooftop offers panoramic views of the city lights below. Sipping a signature cocktail, you’ll witness the stars mirroring the sparkle of Cabo after dark.

Downtown Cabo San Lucas:

Downtown Cabo is a vibrant hub where the sun-soaked streets come alive with the rhythm of local life, is home to a myriad of merchants eager to share their treasures with curious wanderers. As we navigate through the heart of this Baja California gem, let’s shine a spotlight on some of the local businesses that add character to the enchanting tapestry of downtown Cabo.

1. Café del Sol: Nestled in a sunlit corner, Café del Sol welcomes you with the rich aroma of freshly brewed Mexican coffee. The friendly baristas here craft each cup with precision, turning your morning ritual into a sensory delight. Whether you prefer a robust espresso or a frothy cappuccino, this charming café is the perfect starting point for your day in Cabo.
2. Arte y Color: For those seeking a piece of Cabo to carry home, Arte y Color is a treasure trove of local craftsmanship. Wander through the vibrant stalls where skilled artisans showcase hand-painted ceramics, intricate textiles, and unique souvenirs. Each piece tells a story, making your visit to Arte y Color more than just a shopping spree—it’s a cultural experience.
3. Mariscos del Mar: Cabo’s culinary scene comes alive at Mariscos del Mar, a seafood haven where the catch of the day transforms into delectable dishes. From fresh ceviche to grilled fish tacos, the menu at Mariscos del Mar is a celebration of Baja’s coastal flavors. Pull up a chair, savor the ocean breeze, and let your taste buds embark on a journey of culinary delight.
4. La Plaza de los Sueños: At the heart of downtown Cabo lies La Plaza de los Sueños, a lively square that beckons with its vibrant energy. Local musicians strum melodies that become the soundtrack to your exploration. As you meander through the souvenir shops like Recuerdos del Sol, you’ll find handmade treasures that encapsulate the spirit of Cabo, transforming your visit into a lasting memory.
5. Cielo Bar: When the sun dips below the horizon, Cielo Bar atop a downtown rooftop becomes the perfect vantage point to witness Cabo’s transformation into a city of lights. Sip on signature cocktails while enjoying panoramic views of the twinkling skyline—a fitting end to a day filled with exploration.
6. Plaza del Amor: Our journey concludes at Plaza del Amor, where the iconic Arch of Cabo San Lucas stands proudly against the moonlit sea. Surrounding this romantic square, you’ll find local merchants offering everything from handmade jewelry to traditional Mexican clothing. Take a leisurely stroll, embrace the warm evening breeze, and let the magic of Plaza del Amor linger in your memories.

As you explore downtown Cabo, remember that these merchants are not just businesses; they are the heartbeat of this coastal paradise. Let their stories intertwine with your own as you immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Cabo San Lucas.

As you explore downtown Cabo San Lucas, remember that these merchants are not just businesses; they are the heartbeat of this coastal paradise. Let their stories intertwine with your own as you immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Cabo San Lucas.

Our journey concludes under the starlit sky at the “Plaza del Amor,” where the iconic Arch of Cabo San Lucas stands proudly against the backdrop of the moonlit sea. The businesses we’ve encountered are not merely dots on a map; they are the storytellers of Cabo, weaving narratives that echo through the ages.

In this Cabo San Lucas directory, you’ll find more than just places to visit; you’ll discover the essence of Cabo—a destination that embraces you like an old friend and invites you to become part of its narrative. So, fellow traveler, let this guide be your companion as you unlock the secrets of Cabo San Lucas, one enchanting business at a time.

Want your business included and featured in our directory?

CLICK HERE to get started!

 

Saludos from Co-Founder…

Michael L Mattos

The post Cabo San Lucas Directory appeared first on CaboViVO.

During the monthlong height of the Land’s End city’s tournament season, three of the four fishing tournaments boast prize pools in excess of one million dollars. The fourth tournament, by the way, may cross that threshold as soon as this year. This combination of world-class fishing and enormous cash payouts across multiple tournaments simply doesn’t exist anywhere else on the planet. 

The granddaddy of them all, of course, is Bisbee’s Black & Blue. Alternately dubbed “The World’s Richest Fishing Tournament” and “The Super Bowl of Fishing,” the best known of Bisbee’s trio of annual tournaments in Los Cabos  continues to push the limits of what’s possible in the world of competitive fishing. Last year’s tournament didn’t just top one million dollars, but came close to topping $10 million. The final tally of $9,725,00 is easily the largest prize pool in sportfishing history, breaking the record Bisbee’s itself already held.

Video credit: Bisbee’s Offshore Fishing Tournaments

For all the allure of massive payouts and oversized checks held gleefully overhead by a team of fishermen (and fisherwomen) – Kim Bullman was the top angler in the 2021 Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing, Cabo San Lucas’ top summer tournament – the focus remains on the fishing. Cabo San Lucas’ development as a tourist destination was driven by its world-class fishing conditions. Not only the black and blue marlin which inspired Bisbee’s signature tournament, but other billfish such as sailfish, spearfish  and striped marlin. Game fish like tuna and dorado, too, are sought after in many tournament settings. 

Yes, Bisbee’s Black and Blue is the world’s biggest marlin tournament, but Cabo San Lucas is also home to the world’s biggest tuna fishing tournament: the WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot. Each tournament has a long history in the area, with plenty of highlights. The biggest fish ever caught in Bisbee’s Black and Blue was the 993 pound blue marlin reeled in by Team Picante during the 1994 tournament. The WON Tuna Jackpot record, meanwhile, is a 383 pound yellowfin tuna caught by Team Fisher Man in 2009. The latter fell just 44 pounds short of the yellowfin record, which no surprise, was set in Cabo San Lucas.

Could those records fall this year? How hot and heavy will the fishing be? Bisbee’s Black and Blue, in particular, has seen a dearth of qualifying 300 pound marlin in recent years. Will Bisbee’s Black and Blue crack the $10,000,000 mark? Will the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament finally surpass the $1,000,000 mark?

Here’s everything you need to know about the next month of the Cabo San Lucas fishing tournament season, with an overview of the four major upcoming tournaments.

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – October 16th to 20th

Just as September is El Mes de la Patria, the “the country’s month,” in México, October is the month of the fishing tournament in Cabo San Lucas. Bisbee’s two cash-rich tournaments – the Los Cabos Offshore and Black & Blue – get most of the publicity, but the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament also sends out a siren call to big-game fishermen eager for big-money prizes and jackpots. Team Sneak Attack led by owner Shawn Guttersen and captain Vicente Bojorquez captured first place and the largest marlin jackpot in the 2021 LCBT, as well as an invitation to Quepos for the Costa Offshore World Championship to go along with the cool $498,140, in prize money, after bagging a 554 lb. black marlin. The latter wasn’t quite as big as the 593 lb. black marlin that won Team El Suertudo top honors in 2020, but considering it only took a single day (due to weather conditions) for Sneak Attack to top last year’s winning check of 344,700, no one was complaining! Base entry in 2022 is $5,000 per team, or 25,000 all-in, across-the-board for all jackpots and prizes. Will this be the year the LCBT finally crosses the million dollar threshold? Could be. Total payouts last year were $826,450.

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore – October 20th to 23rd

Commonly known as “Little Bisbee’s,” to differentiate it from the “Big Bisbee’s” Black & Blue marlin fishing tournament that also takes place each October in Los Cabos, the Los Cabos Offshore dates back to 2002, and is considered a more laid-back, charity focused endeavor than the Black & Blue … despite the increasingly lucrative prize money on the line. In 2021, for example, 187 teams competed for $1,965,200, smashing the previous marks of 128 teams and $1,457,000 in payouts. Cash prizes are awarded to the teams with the three biggest qualifying fish in the game and billfish categories at the LCO, and large amounts of fish/meals are always donated to local families in need. Base entry for teams is $1,500 U.S., with $22,500 necessary for “across the board” entry in all jackpots and challenges. 

Bisbee’s Black & Blue – October 25th to 29th

Often billed as “The World’s Richest Fishing Tournament,” thanks to its multi-million dollar payouts, this marlin fishing tournament originally premiered in 1982, and remains to this day the highest profile annual event in Los Cabos. If you wonder why, consider the last two editions. The 2020 tournament boasted 127 teams vying for $4.6 million dollars, while a year later, in 2021, 198 teams competed for $9,725,000. If you’re bad at math, all you need to know is the prize pool more than doubled in a single year, and that more than $10 million could be on the line this year. Base entry for this millionaire maker is $5,000 U.S. per team, and requires a $71,500 U.S. outlay across all categories, jackpots and challenges. Prizes are awarded for the top five catches of black and blue marlin, assuming they meet the minimum standards (300 lbs.). 

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot – November 2nd to 5th

The Western Outdoor News has a long history with Los Cabos, dating back to the 1950s, when Baja columnist Ray Cannon’s rave fishing reviews helped put the area on the destination travel map. The WON Tuna Jackpot is thus one of the most iconic fishing tournaments in Cabo San Lucas, and a fixture of the autumn sporting calendar that follows hard on the heels of the Los Cabos Billfish and Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore and Black & Blue Tournaments. 164 teams made it to Cabo San Lucas for the 23rd annual event in 2021, competing for record cash payouts of $1.47 million dollars, making this officially now the biggest tuna fishing tournament in the world. 

Want your business featured in our directory and promoted by CaboViVO, please be sure to contact us here, thanks…

Saludos from Co-Founders…

Chris Sands – Writer  and Michael Mattos

The post Fish Rich! – Previewing the 2022 Bisbee’s Black and Blue and Other High-Profile Los Cabos Fishing Tournaments appeared first on CaboViVO.

As we recently profiled at CaboViVO, Los Cabos has more Blue Flag beaches than any destination in México (25). These beaches are excellent in terms of services and sustainability, but they’re not at all friendly to dogs (meaning, pets aren’t allowed). So knowing these beaches (provided in the article linked here) provides a handy list of “where not to go” for a dog walk/day at the beach. If you look online for reviews of local dog walking beaches to avoid, you’ll see the same three names repeated: Playa Palmilla, Playa Chileno, and Playa Santa María. This is to not a surprise, as those were the first Blue Flag beaches in the area. As recently as five years ago, there were only those three. Now, obviously, there are far more.

Finding the Best Dog-Friendly Beaches in Los Cabos 

Luckily for dogs and their owners/”parents”, Los Cabos has way more than 25 beaches – the municipality that’s home to cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo boasts more than 100 miles of coastline, with innumerable playas – and outside those that are Blue Flag certified, virtually every other stretch of sand is in fact dog-friendly. Many beaches are secluded or lightly frequented. Which is to say, without rules or regulations of any kind, and thus perfect for letting Max or Daisy off the leash.

As valuable as these less crowded or off-the-beaten-path beaches are – Los Cabos’ East Cape is especially rich in this regard – dogs and their owners shouldn’t feel as if they’re not welcome at many of the best-known beaches. That’s simply not the case. As a matter of fact, the most popular playas in both Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo are dog-friendly (Médano Beach in Cabo San Lucas has some off-limits areas to be aware of, however). These social centers feature restaurants and/or bars where dogs and their owners can eat and drink, as well as plenty of  space for walking, and abundant opportunities to meet new four-legged friends. Of course, the more popular a beach is, generally speaking, the more likely leashing will be expected or explicitly required. 

So with this in mind, here are our suggestions for the “best dog-friendly beaches in Los Cabos.”

Playa del Amor – Cabo San Lucas

The most iconic beach in Los Cabos, Playa del Amor – or, in English, Lover’s Beach – is situated on the half-mile Land’s End headline, and along with neighboring Playa del Divorcio (Divorce Beach), is the closest beach to El Arco and what truly is Land’s End. Beloved by wedding photographers for much more than simply its name, Lover’s Beach offers gorgeous vistas and coastline views, particularly in the morning. There is actually great snorkeling nearby, too. It should be pointed out, however, that one should never swim off neighboring Divorce Beach due to strong Pacific rip currents. For dogs, both Lover’s and Divorce Beaches are wonderful playgrounds. Lover’s Beach is accessible only by boat, meaning the small pangas (or water taxis) that throng the marina area. Water taxi drivers typically charge by the person, and thus may want to negotiate to take a dog or dogs. But getting there shouldn’t be a problem. The real issue is getting dogs in and out of the boat. If your dog is too big to lift or carry, you may want to skip Lover’s Beach for this reason. It’s also important to bring water for yourself and your pooch, as there are rarely any vendors here. Bring what you need and be prepared to clean up after yourself. A little more effort is required here, in other words. Which is why, in terms of convenience, Lover’s Beach may not be among the best dog-friendly beaches in Los Cabos. But there’s no question it’s the most memorably spectacular.

Playa Los Cerritos – El Pescadero

Cerritos may be the best Los Cabos dog beach, in that it has everything. Long a destination spot for surfers due to its great year-round conditions, Cerritos is also perfect for dog walking, frisbee catching, tennis ball retrieval, runs along the shoreline as Pacific Ocean waves roll in … Basically, whatever you and your best friend feel like doing. The beach is very long, so there’s plenty of room to play. A few more popular areas will require a leash, however, and a leash is also required to take advantage of day pass opportunities at Cerritos Surf Town Beach Hotel & Spa. Day passes are $40, which includes a $20 food and drink credit. Attractions like the swimming pool, hot tub, and surfboard rentals make this a great family hangout, and yes, dogs are welcome as long as they’re leashed. The hotel is right on the beach, so any time Buddy’s ready for a run, you’re conveniently close. The only real downside is the location, as Cerritos is a 45 minute drive from Cabo San Lucas, north along Hwy 19 (turn off is at Km 67). 

Playa El Médano – Cabo San Lucas

Okay, so this one is complicated. But it’s important to include, because Médano Beach is not only the most popular beach in Los Cabos, it’s the center of social life in Cabo San Lucas. This is where locals go to hang out, and where tourists not only go to party and work on their tans, but also negotiate many outdoor activities. So, why is it complicated? Well, Playa El Médano (or Médano Beach, either version works) is home to no less than 12 Blue Flag beaches. How is it possible that nearly half the region’s 25 Blue Flag certified beaches are contained within one larger beach? Well. Médano Beach is really big – about two miles long – and all those Blue Flag certifications belong to sandy stretches in front of individual resorts (Breathless, Casa Dorada, Cascadas de Baja, ME Cabo, Pueblo Bonito Blanco and Rosé, RIU Palace, RIU Santa Fe, RIU Palace Baja California, Villa del Palmar, Villa  El Arco, and Villa La Estancia). So pets are not welcome in front of those resorts, each of which has beach style lounge seating set up for guests. But that still leaves a lot of beach left to enjoy with your pooch, whether that means walking, playing fetch, or chilling. The most popular cantina on the beach is the famed Mango Deck, and yes, it’s dog-friendly. Leashing is pretty much recommended everywhere on Playa El Médano because of the crowds, but for those seeking more freedom, the beach traffic does thin out to the east past the big resorts. Don’t be scared away because of the fact that a few spots are off-limits. Dogs are definitely welcome on much of the beach, and in many of the bars and restaurants. Médano Beach begins at the eastern end of the Marina (in front of Breathless) and follows the coastline.

Playa Costa Azul – San José del Cabo

Playas Costa Azul and Los Cerritos actually have a lot in common. Both are renowned surf beaches. Costa Azul, for example, is home to the Zippers surfbreak that once was the site of Los Cabos’ only WSL (World Surf League) sponsored surfing event. Beyond that, both beaches are quite large and consistently popular, but with one end that’s much less used, and thus perfect for unleashed dog-friendly fun. The more crowded part of Costa Azul is the section centered around Zipper’s – the restaurant, not the surfbreak. Zipper’s is one of the best beach hangouts in the area, with good food and drinks, and a pet-friendly attitude. Dogs should be leashed in the restaurant, of course, as well as on the more populated portion of the beach. The main difference between Los Cerritos and Costa Azul is that the latter is located in San José del Cabo, and thus is much more convenient for those who live or are staying anywhere in Los Cabos except Cabo San Lucas. If you’re driving from Cabo San Lucas, Playa Costa Azul is on the right as you drive into San José del Cabo, at Km 28.5.

There are plenty of other great local beaches that welcome dogs, but these are the four we’d rank as the closest pairing in terms of best dog-friendly beaches in Los Cabos and best beaches period. These are also beaches that, by and large, are equally enjoyable for both dogs and their pets.

Want your business featured in our directory and promoted by CaboViVO, please be sure to contact us here, thanks…

Saludos from Co-Founders…

Chris Sands – Writer  and Michael Mattos

The post Tailwagger Tips – The Best Dog-Friendly Beaches in Los Cabos appeared first on CaboViVO.

That’s the thing about fishing tournaments in Los Cabos. It’s not just a fun way to go after marlin, sailfish, tuna, dorado, wahoo, and more in one of the best fishing destinations on the planet, it’s a potentially lucrative pastime to boot. Millions are won on an annual basis.

If you love fishing, in other words, Los Cabos is the place to be for the next three months or so. But since not everyone can get away from work for that long, we’ve run down the details and payout info on all seven of the upcoming tournaments. So you can pick and choose which ones you may wish to enter.

After all, you never know what might happen.

East Cape Gold Cup Wahoo Jackpot Tournament – August 20

Similar to the East Cape Dorado Shootout with its drive-away first prize, the biggest wahoo caught on August 20th will earn one lucky fisherman a showroom fresh 2022 Volkswagen Polo. In total, over $100,000 in cash and prizes are expected to be 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. 

East Cape Tuna Shootout Tournament – September 24

Palmas de Cortez in Los Barriles hosts several single-day, single-fish tournaments each summer. Unlike the dorado and wahoo tournaments, however, in which the largest fish of that type caught during the day earns the winner a new car, the winner of the Tuna Shootout on September 24 – meaning the team which has caught the largest yellowfin tuna that day – simply walks away with estimated $35,000 dollars in cash. Over $100,000 in total prizes will be awarded, including jackpots, raffles, return trips, and more. The entry fee is only $600 per team.

Marlini Fishing Tournament – October 2 – 3

This small tournament sponsored by local fishing apparel and gear company Marlini whets the appetite for all the big-money tournaments to follow later in the month. Not to say that the cash prizes are good in this one:  an estimated $85,000 dollars in cash is on the line, with dorado and wahoo being the targets of choice. Emphasis on dorado, as the majority of cash ($75,000) is awarded in this category. Team entry fees ($175 dollars) include shirts, hats and commemorative stickers for each team member (4 max).

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – October 16 – 20

Just as September is El Mes de la Patria, the “the country’s month,” in Mexico, October is the month of the fishing tournament in Cabo San Lucas. Bisbee’s two cash-rich tournaments–the Los Cabos Offshore and Black & Blue–get most of the publicity, but the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament also sends out a siren call to big-game fishermen eager for big-money prizes and jackpots. Team Sneak Attack led by owner Shawn Guttersen and captain Vicente Bojorquez captured first place and the largest marlin jackpot in the 2021 LCBT, as well as an invitation to Quepos for the Costa Offshore World Championship to go along with the cool $498,140, in prize money, after bagging a 554 lb. black marlin. The latter wasn’t quite as big as the 593 lb. black marlin that won Team El Suertudo top honors in 2020, but considering it only took a single day (due to weather conditions) for Sneak Attack to top last year’s winning check of 344,700, no one was complaining! Base entry in 2022 is $5,000 per team, or 25,000 all-in, across-the-board for all jackpots and prizes. 

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore – October 20 – 23

Commonly known as “Little Bisbee’s,” to differentiate it from the “Big Bisbee’s” Black & Blue marlin fishing tournament that also takes place each October in Los Cabos, the Los Cabos Offshore dates back to 2002, and is considered a more laid-back, charity focused endeavor than the Black & Blue…despite the massive payouts on the line. In 2021, for example, 187 teams competed for $1,965,200, smashing the previous marks of 128 teams and $1,457,000 in payouts. Cash prizes are awarded to the teams with the three biggest qualifying fish in the game and billfish categories at the LCO, and large amounts of fish/meals are always donated to local families in need. Base entry for teams is $1,500 U.S., with $22,500 necessary for “across the board” entry in all jackpots and challenges. The Early Bird Deadline for the LCO this year is August 31st.

Bisbee’s Black & Blue – October 25 – 29

Oft billed as “The World’s Richest Fishing Tournament,” thanks to its million dollar payouts, this marlin fishing tournament originally premiered in 1981, and remains to this day the highest profile annual event in Los Cabos. If you wonder why, consider the 2021 tournament, when the 2020 records of 127 teams for $4.6 million were completely obliterated as 198 teams competed for the $9,725,000 in cash on the line. Base entry for this millionaire maker is $5,000 U.S. per team, and requires a $71,500 U.S. outlay across all categories, jackpots and challenges. Prizes are awarded for the top five catches of black and blue marlin, assuming they meet the minimum standards (300 lbs.). Early Bird Deadline this year, as for the LCO, is August 31st.

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot – November 2 – 5 

The Western Outdoor News has a long history with Los Cabos, dating back to the 1950s, when Baja columnist Ray Cannon’s rave fishing reviews helped put the area on the destination travel map. The WON Tuna Jackpot is thus one of the most iconic fishing tournaments in Cabo San Lucas, and a fixture of the autumn sporting calendar that follows hard on the heels of the Los Cabos Billfish and Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore and Black & Blue Tournaments. 164 teams made it to Cabo San Lucas for the 23rd annual event in 2021, competing for record cash payouts of $1.47 million dollars, making this officially now the biggest tuna fishing tournament in the world. 

Want your business featured in our directory and promoted by CaboViVO, please be sure to contact us here, thanks…

Saludos from Co-Founders…

Chris Sands – Writer  and Michael Mattos

The post Get Rich or Have Fun Trying: 7 Los Cabos Fishing Tournaments You Can Still Enter in 2022 appeared first on CaboViVO.