Cabo San Lucas | Gentle Travel Reading For Sleep

Welcome to the I Can't Sleep Podcast,

Where I help you drift off one fact at a time.

I'm your host,

Benjamin Boster,

And today's episode is about Cabo San Lucas.

Cabo San Lucas,

Also known simply as Cabo,

Is a resort city at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula,

In the Mexican state of Baja California Sur.

As of the 2020 census,

The population of the city was 202,

694.

Cabo San Lucas and the neighboring San Jose del Cabo are collectively known as Los Cabos.

Together they form a metropolitan area of 351,

111 inhabitants.

Rated as one of Mexico's top tourist destinations,

Cabo San Lucas is known for its beaches,

Scuba diving locations,

Bonaerios,

The sea arch El Arco de Cabo San Lucas,

And marine life.

The Los Cabos corridor has become a heavily attractive vacation destination for tourists,

With numerous resorts and timeshares along the coast between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

The waters around Cabo are home to a variety of marine wildlife,

Including rays,

Sharks,

Mahi-mahi,

Dorado,

And striped marlin.

Archaeological excavations have shown evidence of continual human habitations in the area for at least 10,

000 years.

When the first Europeans arrived,

They encountered the Pericú people,

Who survived on a subsistence diet based on hunting and gathering seeds,

Roots,

Shellfish,

And other marine resources.

They called the location Yenekamu.

According to the narrative of Hatsutaro,

A Japanese castaway,

In the book Kaigai Ibun,

When he arrived at Cabo San Lucas in May 1842,

There were only two houses and about 20 inhabitants.

However,

American authors,

Such as Henry Edwards and John Ross Brown,

Claim that Cabo San Lucas' founder was an Englishman named Thomas Old Tom Ritchie.

John Ross Brown says Ritchie arrived there about 1828,

While Edwards says that he died in October 1874.

The actual founder of Cabo San Lucas was Cipriano Sesena in 1788,

Who arrived from Hermosillo,

Sonora.

Per the book by Pablo L.

Martínez,

Guía Familiar de Baja California,

1700-1900.

A fishing village began growing in the area.

In 1917,

An American company built a floating platform to catch tuna,

And ten years later founded Compaña de Productos Marinos S.

A.

The plant operated for several years.

Cabo San Lucas has become a prominent vacation and spa destination,

With a variety of sites and interests and timeshares that have been built on the coast between San Lucas and San José del Cabo.

The distinctive Arco de Cabo San Lucas at Land's End is a local landmark.

The city also has a natural history museum,

The Museo de Historia Natural de Cabo San Lucas.

Cabo San Lucas has the highest paying marlin tournament in the world,

The Bisbee's Los Cabos Offshore.

This tournament takes place every year in the month of October.

In the winter,

Pods of whales can be observed in the area.

They bear their calves in the warm waters of the Gulf of California,

After traveling up to 10,

000 kilometers from Alaska and Siberia.

The beaches,

Surfing and sport fishing opportunities in Cabo San Lucas have attracted a great number of Mexican natives and foreigners to spend their vacations in large-scale tourist developments.

The development of Cabo's tourism industry was prompted by the Mexican government's development of infrastructure to turn Cabo San Lucas into a major center for tourism in Mexico,

Beginning in 1974.

Upon completion of the Transpeninsular Highway,

Also known as the Mexican Federal Highway 1,

Tourist developments in Los Cabos proceeded relatively unchecked.

Until fairly recently,

The unique and fragile environment of this part of Mexico was largely unprotected by law,

And therefore was subjected to developers acting in concert with government agencies interested only in low-end tourist bonanzas.

There is,

However,

A growing collection of activists and attorneys now involved in preserving many of Baja's desert habitats,

Marine animals and stretches of coastline.

A number of agencies,

Including the Gulf of California Conservation Fund and the Center for Environmental Law in La Paz,

Are challenging the destruction of wetlands and other ecosystems from Los Cabos to Ensenada.

In the face of a growing international public demand for corporate-driven ecological stewardship,

Higher-end resorts in the Los Cabos area are increasingly sensitive to their environmental impact and are taking initial steps to institute sustainable practices,

Such as reducing water usage and non-recyclable trash output.

In 2017,

Los Cabos was projected to be one of the leaders in travel in Latin America.

Many of the developments owed to its increased accessibility with added plane routes from the U.

S.

And Canada.

It is expected that by 2018,

4,

000 new sleeping rooms will come online in Cabo,

And the increase in tourism will contribute to its growth as a leader in leisure.

Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo are served by Los Cabos International Airport.

In 2022,

Los Cabos Airport received more than 3.

3 million visitors,

A more than 20% projected growth when compared to 2021,

And a 32% compounded growth over the last five years,

With 800,

000 more passengers than 2017.

The town is also a popular port of call for many cruise ships.

Cabo San Lucas has a small international airfield,

Which handles air traffic for general aviation flights and air taxi services.

Many tourists get around the area through the numerous local taxis that service the primary parts of Cabo,

As well as the corridor and the airport.

Another alternative is the bus system,

Which is less expensive than taxis.

It costs several pesos,

And it is mainly used by locals,

But also available to tourists.

As of 2021,

Uber is available as a means of transportation in the Los Cabos area.

Chileno Bay is one of the most frequented beaches in the corridor.

It is home to tropical fish,

Sea turtles,

Invertebrates,

And sponges.

Snorkelers often visit this beach to observe underwater sea life.

The extreme south of Baja California has a tropical desert climate.

Even with a thermal amplitude,

There are no freezes.

During summer,

Cabo San Lucas is cooler than San Jose del Cabo by about 1.

5 to 3 degrees Celsius.

Sometimes during the summer,

When winds blow from the Pacific Ocean instead of the Gulf of California,

The differences in temperatures between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas are higher.

Cabo San Lucas is less rainy than San Jose del Cabo,

Although hurricanes can bring heavy rain for long periods.

The sea temperature experiences lows of 21 to 22 degrees Celsius in winter and highs of 28 to 29 degrees Celsius during the summer months.

As of 2015,

The population was 81,

111 and has experienced very rapid growth and development.

It is the third largest city in Baja California Sur,

After La Paz and San Jose del Cabo.

The majority of non-Mexican inhabitants in the community originate from the United States.

And along with residents from San Jose del Cabo,

They account for 80% of the U.

S.

Population in the state.

Los Cabos is a municipality located at the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula,

In the state of Baja California Sur.

It encompasses the two towns of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

The municipal seat,

Linked by the 32-kilometer resort corridor.

The area was remote and rural until the latter 20th century,

When the Mexican government began to develop Cabo San Lucas for tourism,

Which then spread east to the municipal seat.

The main draw is the climate and geography,

Where desert meets the sea,

Along with sport fishing,

Resorts,

And golf.

This tourism is by far the main economic activity,

With over 2 million visitors per year.

Over 1 million visit from the United States.

Although San Jose del Cabo is the seat of government for the municipality of Los Cabos,

It is smaller than Cabo San Lucas.

San Jose's growth is now rivaling that of the more famous resort area.

This growth has been regulated to outside of the town center,

Especially to the south where the beaches are,

Leaving the historic town center quiet and relatively unchanged.

There are still cobblestone streets,

Adobe houses,

Jacaranda trees,

And a central square in front of a church that dates from the 18th century,

Where people gather in the evening when it is cooler.

A number of the large houses in the center date from the 19th century,

And most of these have been converted into restaurants,

Art galleries,

And shops selling everything from fine handcrafts,

Silver,

Local gemstones and souvenirs.

The art scene in the town is well developed because of tourism,

And people with vacation homes.

These shops carry high-end paintings and sculptures from traditional Mexican,

Mexican contemporary,

And international artisans and artists.

During the high season from October to May,

These galleries stay open late into the night.

The town has resisted the addition of large shopping malls and chain stores.

There is also some colonial-era architecture as well,

But this style has more in common with colonial towns to the north,

And to the United States,

Rather than the center and south of Mexico.

The main example of colonial architecture is the town's parish church.

It was part of the Estero de las Palmas de San José del Cabo mission,

Founded in 1730.

The facade is marked with a tile mural depicting the martyrdom of founder Nicolás Tamaral,

Killed by the Loco Perico people.

The patron saint of the town is Saint Joseph,

Whose feast day is celebrated here on March 19th.

Another important occasion is the feast of the Our Lady of the Pillar on October 12th.

Occasions like these are marked with traditional dance and dress styles,

Known as Flor de Pitaya and the La Cuerda.

Other important landmarks in the town include the Municipal Hall,

Which dates from 1981,

And the Cultural Center,

Or Casa de la Cultura,

Housed in a 19th-century building.

The tourist area of the town is the area between the town proper and the shoreline.

This area has a nine-hole golf course and a line of hotels and resorts facing the ocean,

Which served over 900,

000 hotel guests in 2011.

San José del Cabo is the seat in the government for the communities found in a 3,

451.

51 square kilometer area,

Located in the extreme south of the state of Baja California Sur.

It is connected to the capital of La Paz via the Transpeninsular Highway.

The municipality borders that of La Paz to the north,

With the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of California surrounding it in the other directions.

The municipal government consists of a municipal president,

A syndicate and 14 representatives called regidores.

The main areas of the municipality are the seat,

Cabo San Lucas,

And the tourist corridor along the coast between them.

Although San José del Cabo is a government,

Cabo San Lucas has a higher population,

And its natural arch at land's end is the symbol for the municipality.

Outside of the two main cities,

Other important communities include Colonia del Sol,

Las Veredas,

Colonia Los Congrejos,

San José Viejo,

And La Ribera.

The municipality is one of the most important tourist destinations in Mexico for its fishing,

Beaches,

And resorts.

Historical landmarks are relatively few,

But include the Municipal Hall,

The Casa de Cultura in San José del Cabo,

The Faro Viejo,

And the San José del Cabo and Santiago de las Coras missions.

The latter was founded in 1721 by Ignacio María Dampoli.

The city of Cabo San Lucas,

About 32 kilometers to the west of San José del Cabo,

Is far more commercial.

Unlike most Mexican towns,

Cabo San Lucas has no main plaza or large cathedral.

Instead,

It is centered around the Marina,

An entertainment district.

Up until the latter 20th century,

The area was a small fishing village when tourist infrastructure began.

Despite its success,

High-rise construction has been kept limited,

Focusing on resorts and sand-top restaurants in the beach area.

The main attractions are fishing,

Nightlife,

And whale-watching.

It is a place for vacation,

Where most visitors stay at all-inclusive resorts.

The two main events during the year are Spring Break and Sammy Hagar's birthday,

Which happens on the second weekend in October,

As his birthday is October 13,

1947.

The latter focuses on his Cabo Wabo bar and the restaurant in the city.

The success of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo has created a tourist corridor along the coastal highway between the cities.

While there has been some development of resorts,

Hotels,

And golf courses,

There are still smaller isolated and undeveloped beaches.

By far the main economic activity for the municipality is tourism,

Focused on a shoreline corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo.

Most visitors come from the United States,

Especially California,

And Canada,

Followed by Mexico,

And many visitors return year after year.

Visitors can get by in Cabo San Lucas purely in English and use U.

S.

Dollars.

Most of the about 2 million visitors a year arrive by plane to the Los Cabos airport,

But the Cabo San Lucas marina also has facilities for cruise ships.

In 2012,

The area had a hotel occupancy of just over 60%,

With 248 cruise ships visiting.

The area's high-end resorts have also attracted notable names,

Such as Bruce Willis,

Kelly Preston,

And John Travolta.

And San José del Cabo also has a notable expatriate population,

Mostly retirees who have economic influence.

The main draw for most visitors has been the environment,

Where the desert meets the sea,

Best symbolized by El Arco,

A natural stone arch over the ocean in Cabo San Lucas,

Where the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California meet.

The natural features have led to ecotourism,

Such as boat tours to El Arco,

Tours of the San José estuary and the coral reefs of Cabo Pulmo,

And whale watching from January to March when the animals arrive to breed.

Sport fishing is a major and the longest established draw as there are about 800 species of fish in the waters off the coast.

High season for this activity is in the summer,

The season for marlin,

Although fishing for various other species extends all year.

There are certain exotic species that are off-limits due to conservation concerns,

And others are catch and release only.

There are four main golf courses in the municipality,

Designed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye.

Other activities for tourists include snorkeling,

Diving,

Dune buggy rides,

Camel rides,

Ziplining,

Rides on water-propelled jetpacks,

Surfing,

Especially at the Acapulco Beach,

Jet ski riding,

Kayaking,

Sailing,

Horseback riding,

ATV riding,

Hang gliding,

Mountain biking,

Camping,

Tennis and rappelling.

Off the beaten path there is the town of Miraflores for its leather crafts,

The Santiago Fossil Museum,

The traditional towns of Caduano,

San Antonio and San Bartolo,

And a glass-blowing factory.

Los Cabos hosts a culinary event called Ritmos,

Colores y Sabores,

Which attracts chefs from the United States and Europe.

The gastronomy of the region is based on seafood,

Which includes clams,

Marlin,

Snails,

Tuna and shark.

A locally produced liquor is Damiana,

Sweet and flavored with a local herb,

Said to be an aphrodisiac.

The main export of the municipality is the production of salt.

There are also limited mineral deposits,

Especially in the Capuano and Mesquite areas,

Such as limestone and granite.

The small town of Miraflores is known for its leather work,

Especially saddles and other gear for horseback riding.

Jewelry and decorations made with shells are produced in San Jose del Cabo,

Cabo San Lucas and Santa Rosa.

Despite the development,

28.

5% live in poverty and 5.

6% live in extreme poverty.

18.

1% live in substandard housing and 27.

1% need food assistance.

There are 313 schools from the primary to high school level,

9.

3 years of schooling for those over 15.

There are two vocational schools and 12 centers for adult education.

There are no schools specifically targeting an indigenous population.

The municipality of Los Cabos is at the southern end of the Baja California Peninsula,

Where desert meets the sea and the Gulf of Mexico meets the Pacific Ocean.

The area was originally underwater,

Evidenced by the many fossils of marine animals,

Which are up to 25 million years old.

The basement rock underlying Los Cabos formed even earlier,

Approximately 115 million years ago.

The municipality has an average altitude of 40 meters above sea level.

There are three main terrain types,

Mountain terrain,

Semi-flat areas and flat areas.

The mountains consist of the Sierra de la Laguna and the Sierra de San Lázaro.

Both formed a volcanic rock covering about 15% of the total territory with peaks between 400 and 1,

000 meters.

The semi-flat areas are located between the coast and the mountain ranges,

Mostly of sedimentary rock and account for 60% of the territory.

The flat areas are along the coast,

Beaches and alluvial plains,

Which account for 25% of the territory.

One of the main natural resources is the beaches.

Major beaches include Los Frales,

Buena Vista,

Agua Caliente,

Cabo San Lucas,

Puerto Chileno and Punto Colorado,

Often promoted together as the Costa de Oro,

Golden Coast.

One very popular beach in Cabo San Lucas is Lover's Beach,

Which is surrounded by dramatic rock shapes.

The sea experiences lows of 72 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit in winter and highs of 77 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer months.

As it is on the edge of a desert that covers most of the Baja California Peninsula,

It is one of the sunniest locations in the world,

With an average of 320 days of sunshine per year.

The climate is characterized as hot and dry to the north of the town of San Jose del Cabo,

Hot and semi-moist in San Jose and along the southern coast,

And temperate and dry in the highest elevations because of cyclones that hit this area.

Average annual temperature is 24 degrees Celsius,

With the coolest months being January.

There is a rainy season in the summer,

With most rain in September.

The rain and terrain make for a variety of microclimates,

Including areas with a climate similar to the Mediterranean.

Areas between 0 and 400 meters are desert and semi-desert,

With many areas having deep sand deposits.

Higher elevations get more water and can have pine forests.

The main surface water of the municipality is the Rio San Jose or San Jose River,

Which runs north to south,

Mostly during the rainy season.

Other streams run only during rains and include Santiago,

Miraflores,

Caduano and Las Palmas.

There are subterranean deposits of water,

Such as the Santiago and San Jose del Cabo,

But the lack of water is the main impediment to human development in the area.

The Rio San Jose stops just shy of the ocean,

With a one-kilometer-long sandbar creating an estuary,

The third largest in Mexico.

This pooling of brackish water has created an oasis in the surrounding Zarcocale Desert.

The Rio San Jose flows largely underground for 40 miles,

From its origin in the Sierra de la Laguna,

Although its Miramonte River tributary adds almost an additional 10 miles.

Its tributaries flow down the eastern side of the Sierra and include Santa Rosa,

Santa Lazaro,

San Miguel,

San Ignacio at La Palma,

Caduano,

Miraflores and San Bernard.

The river used to flow above ground until the beginning of the 20th century due to anthropogenic causes.

For more than 250 years,

The Rio San Jose has furnished drinking and irrigation water for the town of San Jose del Cabo,

Beginning as a source of fresh water for Spanish galleons traveling back from the Philippines.