Travel / 5 years ago

The Weekender: Los Cabos

Journey to the Mexican city for spectacular sights, stays and souvenirs...

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Swap tourists for turtles to see the authentic side of this vibrant Mexican hub, says Hannah Berry George…

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As the summer draws to a close in the UK, the season is soon beginning in Los Cabos – and though the touristy side to this part of the world remains, there is also enough natural beauty to make David Attenborough proud.

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While away your days in a private cabaña at the new Nobu Los Cabos, where you can enjoy the beach, whale watching and even the odd turtle, depending on the time of year. Then sip on some of the finest tequilas this good country has to offer, before you work on your par at two of the world’s top golf courses (one designed by Tiger Woods) – available only to those who are fortunate enough to own a pad on Diamante Cabo San Lucas, and Nobu Los Cabos guests.

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Outside of the hotel, relish all that this aquatic haven has to offer – from the waterfalls of Sierra de la Laguna to the second largest reef in the world at Cabo Pulmo. Take in the cactus-laden scapes as far as the eye can see, then slip out of your wetsuit and into something a little more comfortable to soak up the art district and old town of San José del Cabo, all before heading back to your plush Nobu suite, equipped with its very own butler.

Stay

Nobu Los Cabos is both luxurious and far enough away from the madding crowd that you can truly switch off. Designed with simplicity in mind, it achieves the perfect equilibrium of Japanese and Mexican craft traditions. loscabos.nobuhotels.com

See

Situated along the sea, Los Cabos is great for surfing, whale watching (from mid-January to mid-March) and, if you’re lucky, seeing turtles come on land to lay eggs. But for true diveheads, Cabo Pulmo is the place to be, with the second biggest reef in the world. San José provides an old-town escape, with a solid art scene.

Eat

Los Tamarindos is an organic farm and restaurant where you can learn to cook beautiful Mexican-Mediterranean fusion (lostamarindos.mx). For modern Mexican, try La Lupita (lalupitatym.com).

Buy

For leather goods head to the town of Miraflores. There are markets inland at Cabo San Lucas, where you can barter your way to a bargain on all sorts of brightly-coloured Mexican paraphernalia.

Do

Book yourself in for a tequila tasting with Nēstor Can Jones. (Nota bene: if the tequila is good, there’s no need for salt.) If you want to celeb spot, then stake out the One&Only Palmilla – where John Travolta had his surprise 50th birthday.

BOOK IT

The main season runs from October to May and is popular with American tourists, so best avoid Spring Break, Sammy Hagar’s (of Van Halen) birthday, and the Christmas and New Year periods if you wish to avoid the crowds. Doubles at Nobu Los Cabos from £350. nobuhotels.com