TRAVEL - MEXICO

MEXICO // CABO SAN LUCAS

WORDS: GAVYN ANDREWS

I GUESS MOST PEOPLE THINK of the likes of Cancun when you tell them your jetting off to Mexico but in reality Mexico has so much more and so I am delighted to bring Baja California Sur, Mexico: Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo aka Cabo.

Now please don’t laugh but I have been a friend of reality TV shows growing up from when they started and the US TV hit the Hills first brought Cabo into my sights with the relationship of one of the shows key male leads Spencer Pratt took his future wife Heidi to Cabo.

Officially called Los Cabos the area is actually a mix of Baja California Sur, Cabo san Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, Cabo has become a massive gay friendly destination and it isn’t hard to see why with first class accommodation, out of this world dinning and nightlife which can be as mad or a quiet as you like. If you have the money to burn then Cabo really offers you everything you could possibly want and should desire from a holiday destination. Los Cabos has often been seen as a hide away for celebrities and the rich and famous but today many people who used to choose the resorts of Cancun and Puerto Vallarta now opt for this wonderful much more safer and high end choice in Mexico.

Due to the location of Cabo and its world leading landscape sport has become a real draw for the area and it offers world class golf courses , Whale watching, unrivalled sports fishing and any type of other water sport you can think of not to mention it being a nature lovers paradise.

The 3 main areas are Los Cabos. San Jose del Cabo, the closest to the airport, is considered the Old Town. San Jose delivers the authentic Mexican experience, with its colonial architecture, art galleries, and lively town square encompassing much of the laid-back ethos of Mexican life.

Cabo San Lucas is a vibrant, exciting destination renowned for its nonstop nightlife. Jimmy Buffet and Sammy Hagar, who espouse their love of Cabo in various forms, made Cabo famous: Buffet with his Margaritaville and Hagar with his Cabo Wabo Cantina and tequila. Here you will find the majority of the all-night party venues, as well as the often-photographed Arch at Land’s End.

The Corridor connects Cabo’s raucous party scene and San Jose’s traditional elegance. This is where resorts, golf courses and super-luxury villas have spread like wildfire.

The gay scene in Cabo San Lucas is low-key, but very friendly. In recent years, many gays traveling to Mexico have been drawn away from some of the more popular destinations nearby, like Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, in favour of Los Cabos. The sophisticated beach resort culture and the diversity of activities have continued to draw gay travellers who feel right at home here.

Accommodation

As you can imagine Hotels are not in short supply with multiple international Global chains such as Hilton, ME Cabo by Melia, Waldorf Astoria and my favourite JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach resort and spa. All hotels offer something pretty unique whether it be its vibe, brand styling or maybe location such as private beach etc. but

what really stands out to me is the size of the properties with some having the largest hotel spa’s I have ever seen not to mention some having onsite 18 hole golf courses. Prices range drastically from hotel and product standard so my advice is to check direct with the hotels for any promotions and then tour operators and OTA sites.

I always recommend people to shop around for the best flights and hotels to suit individual budgets but today you have to think about the security and insurance for your holiday should your plans need to change. If you book you flights and hotels separate this is called DIY holidays and different rules apply to different parts of your holiday but you can be offered a safe guard of an ATOL licence if booked through the likes of Love holidays and Expedia. If you book through a tour operator such as TUI Holidays you will automatically be protected with an ATOL and IATA

licences. It is also important to think about your travel insurance and what it covers just do not opt for the cheapest and hope for the best. The best times to visit Cabo are usually May & June but October & November is also good. This area does suffer from a hurricane season so it is always wise to keep this in mind however it is most active from August to October.

Cabo really is famous for many things as we have discovered and its crystal clear seas lap some of the best beaches I have ever experienced such as Lovers Beach, Playa Empacadora and Playa del Divorcio to name but a few.

Gay-Friendly Nightlife in Cabo

Sammy Hagar even named his tequila after the place, so you know the nightlife has to be good! Keep in mind that when it comes to nightlife in Latin America, things don’t get going until

rather late, so take a siesta after sunset, and head out to the clubs around 11 p.m. or midnight.

Chandeliers Night Club as the only gay bar in town, this spot is host to the lion’s share of the LGBT party, and its events include theme nights, drag shows, and DJ sets. You can expect to find go-go dancers and drag queens depending upon the night of your visit.

Pink Kitty, This hip and sexy nightclub offers high-end bottle service, a rotating cast of international DJs, theme nights and regular Ladies’ Nights where women drink for free. It’s one of Cabo San Lucas’ more popular clubs for electronic and techno music. El Squid Roe, spread over three floors and containing a number of bars and private places to party, this venue is one of the liveliest in town. It’s been a top spot to dance and mingle since 1989, and today it’s as strong as ever.

Finally If you are thinking about Mexico for your next holiday then why not have a good look at the likes of Cancun and Puerto Vallarta also as they might be more budget friendly than Cabo but if you do decide that Cabo is your Mexican retreat of choice then I guarantee it will leave a huge lasting impression on you for many years to come and I am in no doubt that you will go back and recommend it to friends and family.

Keep traveling stay safe and I look forward to sharing my travel experiences again in the next issue.