Top 5 Day Trips from Cabo

Are you a fan of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico or live in the area at Villa La Estancia Los Cabos? With a pleasant climate all year round and beautiful beaches, Cabo is a top tourist destination that receives thousands of visitors each year as well as individuals who invest in property in the area. Ideal for relaxation or water activities, there is something for everyone to enjoy. You can find incredible restaurants from gourmet fare to traditional Mexican cuisine. Shopping? Local arts and crafts are available as well as high end fashion designer brands. Do you live at Villa La Estancia Los Cabos? If so, if you ever want to get out of town for a bit of adventure, you can easily day trip to neighboring towns to mix up your vacation. Here are our top 5 choices if you are looking for an interesting day trip from your home in Cabo San Lucas.

Day Trip from Cabo: #1 Santiago

Santiago is a quaint farming community located about 35 miles from San José del Cabo in Baja California Sur, about 23 miles north of the Los Cabos International Airport. Visitors will be enchanted by the colorful agriculture farms, fruit orchards, and thousands of palm trees which provide palm leaves for the construction of palapa roofs. The fruit orchards primarily consistent of mango, orange and grapefruit trees. Originally founded as “Misión de Santiago el Apóstol” in 1723, Santiago has a small rustic museum located next to the church with interesting exhibits including colonial artifacts and local fossils. Open from Monday through Friday from 8am to 1pm, admission is free to the museum. Make sure you also enjoy some of the local dishes in this picturesque town. In addition to authentic Mexican cuisine, you can enjoy soothing hot springs found just 8 km to the south which include Agua Caliente, El Chorro and Santa Rita springs.

Day Trip from Cabo: #2 La Paz

If you are up for a big day, you can even day trip a few hours to the north to La Paz. In fact, La Paz is actually the capital city of Baja California Sur. La Paz has about 250,000 residents and it is an important regional commercial center. The population of La Paz has grown greatly since the 2000’s, and has one of the highest standards of living and security in Mexico. Get an early morning start and you can visit several coastal villages along the way to La Paz from Cabo. Once you arrive to La Paz, make sure to explore the historical center and stroll the town’s Malecón boardwalk. Visitors will enjoy interesting architecture and beautiful Bahía de La Paz views from this coastal village.

#3 Miraflores

The 3rd top choice for a fun day trip from Cabo is to head to the quaint town of Miraflores. Miraflores is a quaint village just 30 miles north of the Los Cabos airport that is best known for having a wide variety of handmade leather goods for sale that attract visitors to the small town. This sleepy pueblo is surrounded by organic farms and ranches that comfortably nestle amongst the Sierra Laguna mountains. As you make your way into town, you should plan to visit some of the old leather works talleres, or workshops, that line the road. You can do some shopping and peruse a variety of fine leather wares including purses, wallets, belts or horse saddles. Want to destress and relax at the end of your day? Plan a stop at the nearby hot springs that is located just outside town near the base of the mountains.

#4 Todos Santos

A small coastal town located at the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, Todos Santos is about 1 hour north of Cabo. In recent years, there has been a marked increase in tourist activity and real estate developments are on the rise. Visitors will find numerous handicraft shops, art galleries, upscale restaurants, boutique hotels and restored colonial buildings which have contributed to the redevelopment of the charming town. In addition, there are regular festivals such as Festival de Cine and the Todos Santos Music Festival that draw tourists to the area. Make sure to visit The Hotel California, a favorite stop for visitors to Todos Santos.

#5 San Jose Del Cabo

San Jose Del Cabo has a rich and interesting history that dates back to the 1700’s. Today, San Jose del Cabo is a laid back community that maintains authentic Mexican charm and hospitality as well as Spanish colonial architecture. Just 25 miles north of Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo was the only community at the tip of the Baja California peninsula for hundreds of years. Thanks to the freshwater that flows into palm-lined lagoons at the edge of the Sea of Cortéz, the area was initially home to Native Indian communities prior to Spanish colonization. It was also a water and provision stop for Spanish sailing vessels that were travelled from the east with their fares that included silks and spices for trading.

We hope you enjoyed this list of our top 5 Day Trips from Cabo. Villa La Estancia Los Cabos homeowners should try to visit each of them, and then let us know which was your favorite day trip and why.

Natural History Museum in Cabo San Lucas

Children and adults of all ages are sure to have a whale of a time exploring the exhibits and displays at the Natural History Museum in Cabo San Lucas. Locally known as the Museo de Historia Natural in Spanish, this museum can be found in the heart of the downtown area in Cabo San Lucas and is housed in a space that once an elementary school (named Artículo 123 Naciones Unidas or United Nations Article 123)

The museum itself, however, opened its doors on the 9th of October 2006 and has been enriching the city with its culture and displays ever since.

A Bit of Everything

You will definitely find that some topics are of more interest to you than others, but the museum has a good variety of displays and exhibits to enjoy so you shouldn’t be pushed to find something you do enjoy. If fossils are your thing, for example, you will love the displays dedicated to paleobotany and paleoanthropology as they contain fossilized animal remains (mammal, reptile and bird) as well as plant fossils. You can also look forwards to exhibits on astronomy, geology, and paleontology.

Cabo San Lucas History Lessons

If you’re passionate about history and you love to learn about the places you visit then you will love the exhibit which celebrate Cabo san Lucas! There is even an exhibit which features portions of a skeleton belonging to a Pericú individual who belonged to an ethnic group which lived in the Southern portion of Baja California.

The Water Connection

The Ocean is a huge part of the history and culture of this area, and as such there is another section of the museum which deals wholly in all things to do with the marine history of the area. The waters surrounding Cabo san Lucas are teeming with life, and play host to large numbers of migrating sea creatures including several species of whale, dolphins, and even sea turtles, and the museum has plenty of exhibits which education and showcase this fact.

The Museum of Natural History in Cabo san Lucas is a great place to see and take your children and grandchildren. Life in Cabo can be cultural too!

Recommended article: What to Do in Cabo San Lucas

Unique Experiences in Cabo – Swimming with Whale Sharks

When you become a resident in Cabo, you will discover there is no end to your enjoyment as you can access a whole host of activities. Swimming with whale sharks is just one example of the kind of unique experiences that await you and your loved ones in Cabo. This is the perfect activity during the early winter months through the late springtime. The feeding waters where you can find herds of the harmless shark species are just a quick boat ride from Cabo, and you can enjoy tours that allow you to swim alongside these gentle giants that come to the area each year because of the abundant food supply and warmer waters.

The Biggest Fish Species in the world

Whale sharks are the biggest fish species in the world as they can reach 18-32 feet in length and weigh more than twenty tons. There have been numerous sightings of whale sharks being longer than 40 feet! These gentle and magnificent creatures are slow moving filter feeders and can live up to seventy years.

A Shark or a Whale?

Whale sharks are, indeed, a type of shark and not a whale. They were named whale sharks due to their enormous size, which is more comparable to a whale. Don’t let their massive body size intimidate you, because the whale sharks don’t cause any danger or threats to human beings.

Whale Sharks Up Close

While the whale sharks are easier to watch while diving or snorkeling, it can also be done on a boat. The whale sharks swim very slowly at a pace around 3 MPH and they don’t pay any attention to humans in the water near them. The diet of a whale shark is made up of small fish, plankton, and plants that are microscopic, and they filter their foods through their gills, which is why they are virtually harmless to people. Because whale sharks swim near the ocean surface to feed, it makes it easy to see the whale sharks up close.

Swimming with Gentle Giants

It’s no surprise that swimming with whale sharks is a highly sought out activity in Cabo San Lucas. Any person that is brave and loves a daring experience should go on this activity. You should reserve a boat excursion spot that will take you to where the whale sharks are feeding, then if you see the whale sharks you can just jump right in and have an experience that you will remember forever.

Protect the Whale Shark Species

The whale sharks species are protected as they are an endangered species. At one time the whale sharks were in abundance around the world in the ocean waters. The Mexican and international laws protects the whale sharks, so if you are wanting to swim with the whale sharks you should look for a touring company that is reputable. They must obtain a license for whale shark touring. These compa.ies will ask you to wear sunscreen that is organic and biodegradable, so the whale sharks are protected. The laws in Mexico only permit two people to enter the waters along with their guide to swimming with whale sharks.

Photo credits: Cabo Adventures Facebook page.

Read more about what to do in Cabo San Lucas here.

What Makes Cabo So Special?

As far as great places to escape from the daily stresses go, one of the most popular has long been the Mexican paradise known as Cabo. Now, what is it that makes this beach destination so popular amongst vacationers and those looking for prime real estate? There are an infinite number of reasons why Los Cabos is popular among tourists, snowbirds and those people interested in moving south of the border; below you find just the tip of the iceberg.

Spectacular Views

The geography of Cabo is sure to give your eyes a wonderful view. Everyone who lives or visits here loves to explore the Sea of Cortez’s lovely beaches and dive sights while enjoying the pleasures of the Pacific Ocean. On the other end of the spectrum, there are the desert lands with breathtaking vistas and plenty of cacti that are a great collection for your Instagram account. An even more breathtaking scene is the collection of rock formations that you can see at the tip of the Baja Peninsula near Land’s End (which is located where the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez meet).

A Host of Outdoor Excitement

Another way to appreciate the spectacular views of the outdoors in Cabo is to participate in outdoor sports. There is plenty to do on the water. For example, you can go scuba diving, paddle boarding, surfing, and snorkeling to have some watersport fun. Also, if you are there during one of the whale seasons in winter, you can get a chance to swim with the whale sharks and watch humpback whales doing their acrobatics. Other tours and events that you can do outdoors on land include ATV tours, zip line courses, and desert camel rides.

Fantastic Cuisine

Whether you enjoy a meal with the family at one of the local family-friendly restaurants or getting a quick bite at a local taco stand, you are going to love the food you experience while in Cabo. Your dining adventure is going to be intensified when you taste the delights of the fresh-caught seafood dishes offered here. Seafood is a popular dish found at most restaurants here, and food critics love to come here to experience the cuisine of Cabo.

Night Scene in Cabo.

You won’t be disappointed if you are trying to find out if Cabo lives up to its description of being a partying beach spot for nightlife. A variety of nightclubs are scattered along the beaches that will give you the dancing and drinking experience you are looking for. There are also some music lounges that will keep you in a dancing mood while taking in the night air. Of course, you can find your share of beach bars while in Cabo. So, there is something for everyone when you get into the night scene at Cabo.

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El Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas

El Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas

A two-mile-long strip and the most beautiful beach in Los Cabos, Medano Beach is the top choice when it comes to enjoying stunning views, swimming and basking on golden sands. El Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas has the best swimming and all sorts of dining for both visitors and residents to enjoy. It is one of the key reasons that makes purchasing Villa La Estancia real estate all the more attractive.

The Best Beach in Cabo

Visitors and residents can rest at ease when visiting Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas, because it provides a safe environment for swimming and relaxing as well as opportunities for fun and excitement. One of the most breathtaking features of the beach is that it overlooks the El Arco rock formation at Land’s End. Residents at Villa La Estancia can sit back and bask in the amazing views with a cocktail in hand, without having to move a muscle.

Excitement

However, if you are looking for more than an amazing view, then there are plenty of bars and restaurants that line the coast a little further up the beach from Villa La Estancia, or you can dine at the gourmet restaurants on site. For adventure lovers, you can take advantage of the paddleboards and kayaks that are available for residents to use on Medano Beach or indulge in a variety of watersports offered by independent vendors along the beach. Medano Beach also provides visitors and residents with easy access to downtown Cabo. You can walk along the beach to reach the center of Cabo San Lucas where more dining options are available and you can go shopping, sightseeing and visit with the locals

Cabo’s top swimming beach

The Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas has been declared as one of the safest places to swim and enjoy all kinds of water related activities. Visitors can go swimming all day long in the shallow waters or take part in other fun watersport activities that are available up and down Medano Beach. Why not try SUP, banana boat riding or kayaking on the crystal blue waters? Anyway you decide to spend your day at Medano Beach Cabo San Lucas, you can be sure to have a great time. You will be lounging on the most popular and exciting beach in Cabo with spectacular vibes.

Villa La Estancia on Medano Beach

Residents and their guests at Villa La Estancia will have unlimited access to Medano Beach during their stay at their home away from home in Cabo San Lucas.Just imagine you and your partner strolling along the beach at night, or getting up in the morning for yoga by the sea. Alternatively, you can just sit back on your private patio overlooking Medano beach to admire it from the comfort of your home. The property is close enough go to downtown Cabo San Lucas by foot but at a distance that gives you the greatest privacy and exclusivity.

Live in Cabo San Lucas

Why you Want to Live in Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas is a world-class destination located at the tip of the Baja California Peninsula where the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez meet. Joining the town of San Jose del Cabo by a 20-mile corridor of championship golf courses, beaches and natural beauty, this exclusive vacation hotspot is noted for its vitality, fine dining restaurants, nightlife and celebrity visitors who grace its shores in search of privacy and guaranteed sunshine. Making Cabo San Lucas your home may seem like a pipe dream, but the reality of homeownership in Mexico’s most coveted beachfront destination can be a reality.

Land’s End

Cabo San Lucas is perhaps most famous for its stunning rock formation at Land’s End, which can be appreciated in all its glory from the Villa La Estancia property without even leaving your residence. However, those wishing to take a closer look at Cabo’s iconic arch and visit Playa Del Amor (Lover’s Beach) can enjoy a convenient tour leaving from Medano Beach or the elegant Marina. Swimming in both an ocean and a sea in a matter of minutes is something that very few destinations in the world can offer.

Mountains, Desert and Sea

Another distinguishing feature of Cabo San Lucas is how the mountains and the desert meet the sea. A series of impressive mountain ranges run south along Baja California Sur to the vicinity just north of Cabo San Lucas where the Sierra de la Victoria and Sierra de la Laguna complete their trajectory.

A Great Lifestyle and social scene

Besides enjoying the scenic beauty of the incredible Mexican destination, those who choose to make Cabo San lucas their home benefit from a host of privileges such as fine restaurants, great shopping, a thriving expat community and many different activities to take advantage of during your free time.

Direct Flights

Cabo San Lucas is served by a number of direct flights from the United States and Canada, which makes get to and fro easy, and encourages your friends and family to come and visit you in your second home by the sea.

Rental Potential

As one of the most exclusive yet popular vacation destinations, you will find that should you wish to make some income on your second home in Cabo San Lucas when you are not using it, renting your property is a viable option.

Real Estate in Cabo San Lucas at Villa La Estancia Real Estate

Prime Real Estate in Cabo San Lucas

Have you been dreaming of a luxury home by the sea in Cabo San Lucas? At Villa La Estancia Residences you can enjoy prime real estate located on Cabo San Lucas’ charming Medano Beach. Just imagine overlooking the iconic El Arco at Land’s End as you luxuriate in your home away from home at this award-winning property. Villa La Estancia showcases a selection of prime real estate including luxury villas for full and fractional ownership served by exclusive 5-star amenities for magnificent lifestyles within a relaxed setting.

Prime Real Estate in Cabo San Lucas

Commanding a stunning location on Cabo’s Medano Beach where the waters are safe for bathing and watersports like paddle boarding and kayaking, this impeccable high-end property overlooks the famous El Arco landmark at Land’s End. Known for its unparalleled 5-star services, sophisticated style and tranquil setting, luxury property ownership in Mexico is a dream come true at Villa La Estancia Cabo San Lucas, which is also the only real estate on Medano Beach to offer both full and fractional deeded ownership.

5-Star Living

Just imagine the breathtaking sight as you arrive home to your private beachfront villa and you catch sight of the Land’s End rocky arch as it rises from the sea upon entering the lobby, or the comfort you feel as you relax in your elegant hacienda-style residences or invite friends for refreshments on your sea view terrace.

Residences

Purchase prime real estate in Cabo San Lucas to enjoy all the privileges of full and fractional ownership in Mexico. When you become a Villa La Estancia resident you can indulge in a luxury lifestyle to suit you pleasures within a comfortable yet elegant home away from home setting by the sea. Each of our 156 luxury-appointed Villas are decorated with a colonial-hacienda style, where you can relax in spacious en-suite bedrooms, spa bathrooms, fully-equipped gourmet kitchens (including a dishwasher and washer/dryer), sophisticated lounge-diners and expansive terraces and balconies.

Restaurants

Prime real estate in Cabo San Lucas at Villa La Estancia is more than a luxury second home in the sun. It is property ownership that includes 5 star privileges like access to onsite restaurants including La Casona and La Parilla restaurants as well as use of the complimentary trolley service to take you to the sister resorts of Villa del Palmar and Villa del Arco, where you can try tempting dishes at an additional 5 restaurants. You can also take advantage of room service and a private chef service for those special occasions.

Luxury Amenities

Villa La Estancia real estate in Cabo San Lucas is all about delighting your senses, relaxing your mind, and catering to your every whim and preference. The following services and amenities are available to villa owners:

  • Multilevel pool
  • Beach access
  • Spa
  • Gym
  • Palmita market
  • Concierge
  • Housekeeping
  • Room service
  • Private chef service
  • Wifi connection
  • Laundry
  • 24 hour security
  • Self sufficient power generator
  • Water desalinization system for emergencies
  • Retirement in Riviera Nayarit

    Riviera Nayarit: Far More than your Average Retirement Community

    There is no doubt that Mexico is the number one choice for those looking to retire in a foreign land. Thriving expat communities that inhabit almost every coastal town, including, Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas and everything in between, take advantage of low cost, laid-back lifestyles that make reaching retirement so much sweeter.

    Retirement in Riviera Nayarit
    Courtesy

    Riviera Nayarit a Retirement Favorite

    As the popularity of retiring in a foreign land hits all-time highs, so does the preference for Riviera Nayarit, Mexico’s hottest new destination. With its charming culture, stunning seaside towns and endless expanses of palm-fringed beaches, Riviera Nayarit offers far more than your average retirement community.

    Attracting visitors from around the world, Riviera Nayarit’s colorful blend of old Mexican charm and modern luxuries creates the ideal destination for those looking to find their home away from home. In this peaceful haven, one can find the finest restaurants, a myriad of shopping opportunities, and a large variety of recreational activities, including world-class golf, sunset sailing and romantic strolls along the most alluring beaches.

    Friendly Faces Grace Your Retirement

    While the natural beauty that surrounds the region weighs heavily on one’s decision to make Riviera Nayarit their home, it is the genuine happiness and overall friendly atmosphere that exudes from every corner of the region that makes staying worth the while. At the heart of any great place is its people, and that couldn’t be truer for the residents of each and every town that dots Riviera Nayarit’s coast. From the end of Banderas Bay and beyond, the locals are known for their unwavering hospitality and heartfelt welcomes, making it easy to adapt to such a harmonious lifestyle.

    Fractional or Full Time Retirement?

    Choosing to live in Riviera Nayarit, even if only for part of the year, is a huge step in the right direction. One can find everything from villas to resort-style condominium complexes that make buying real estate in Mexico hassle free. While purchasing a Mexican home can be quite nerve wracking, it’s the option to buy upscale residences with 5-star resort amenities that draws people to the area. With endless opportunities to buy real estate, it is easy to make the move to a happier, more relaxed lifestyle.

    Have you thought about a Try and Buy option? Visit us at Villa La Estancia Residences and see what you think!

    Riviera Nayarit’s Pueblo Magico

    Mexico’s famed beach resort towns of Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas continuously attracts visitors from all over the world. Impressive beach settings and countless commercial establishments that offer fun and entertainment are their major selling points. What many don’t know, however, is that Mexico has other cultural attractions that will surely charm and enchant visitors as well as those lucky enough to make Mexico their second home – Pueblos Magicos.

    Riviera Nayarit - Pueblo Magico

    Pueblos Mágicos

    Pueblos Magicos (magical towns) are classified quaint villages that offer a glimpse of the country’s rich culture and tradition. The Mexican Secretary of Tourism has endorsed around 80 towns throughout Mexico with the “Pueblo Magico” seal of approval to guide visitors to find new and exciting ways of discovering Mexico and its great people.

    Pueblos magicos are selected towns that are rich history and cultural heritage. It’s a program that was started in 2001 and acknowledges places like San Sebastian del Oeste, a quaint town located just over an hour from Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta A 1605 mining town, San Sebastian showcases the Mexican way of life and the traditional means of its people. Every visitor’s heart and emotions will be touched and mesmerized, and it’s within easy reach of your home away from home at Villa La Estancia Residences.

    A perfect day trip from Villa La Estancia, San Sebastian del Oeste pueblo magico offers a variety of activities. Its beautiful landscape that is surrounded entirely by the picturesque Sierra Madre Mountains is a scene changer for anyone whose busy life centers around the city. One can simply walk around and view old buildings which are great examples of traditional colonial architecture or sit in the town’s tree lined plaza people watching.

    If you are feeling a little more energetic, you can take a hike to the nearby Cerro de la Bufa and be with the company of clouds while the dusk provide a stunning sunset drama unfolding right before your eyes. For coffee lovers, visit Quinta Mary and have a taste of a purely organic coffee and a chance to see the meticulous production process it undergoes. Experience a different kind of experience where the contemporary blends with the traditional, taking visitors back in time a hundred years or more.

    Today, San Sebastian is a home to just 600 inhabitants, a far cry from what used to be 20,000 population sustained through a thriving mining industry. Nowadays you can simply sit back and sit idly in a wooden chair admiring the overall appeal of this stunning town. The next time you visit Riviera Nayarit, take the time to explore San Sebastian and you’ll never forget the magical experience it will bring.