SIDE TRIPS

Cabos LosBeyond

BE SURE TO MAKE TIME FOR A FEW SIDE TRIPS WHILE YOU’RE HERE — LOS CABOS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.

By Nick Honachefsky

Los Cabos is the undisputed Hollywood star destination of the Baja California peninsula, but it has a little secret: The beautiful, quaint, and naturally enchanting towns dot the Baja countryside only a stone’s throw from Los Cabos. Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabos are only the beginning of a wide world of wonder if you just take the time to explore the region’s lesserknown, picturesque towns. Here are some of Baja’s hidden gems.

IN TODOS SANTOS

Stroll the cobbled streets and browse more than 30 art galleries and studios. Beautifully designed to complement its natural surroundings, the beachfront Hotel San Cristobal boasts 32 rooms and suites, as well as a pool, restaurant and bar, library, and retail shop. Enjoy unforgettable sunrises and sunsets amid the seaside serenity.

MIRAFLORES

Follow the Route 1 Corridor for about 25

miles into the heart of the country until you reach the beautifully serene, blossoming pueblo of Miraflores, which delightfully translates to “look at the flowers.” With a

population of just over 1,000, an intimate atmosphere lines the streets with artisan leather makers selling their creations.

SANTIAGO

Situated 30 miles north of Los Cabos, Santiago’s roots date back to 1723, born from a mission and built by an Italian padre. Tightly woven streets are lined with true cowboys, clip-clopping on horseback along the streets. A testament to the working farms Baja was born from, Santiago’s farmers produce much of Los Cabos’ fruits, vegetables, and meats, which are served at San Lucas’ finest restaurants. The town’s

museum is loaded with colonial artifacts

and fossils from the local mountainsides, including shark teeth and ammonites. Stop by teeming Sol de Mayo, a small community near Fox Canyon, where a spectacular 40-foot freshwater waterfall called La Cola

de La Zorra, “The Tail of the Fox,” cascades into a refreshingly cool spring pool.

TODOS SANTOS

No other tiny town creates so much brilliant artwork. Situated an hour’s ride on Highway 19 north from San Lucas on the Pacific

side, Todos Santos is dotted with myriad artisan shops showcasing incredible local works of art. The small restaurants are

a quiet ambience where artists, musicians, filmmakers, and chefs gather inspiration.

If you’re planning an overnight stay, Hotel San Cristóbal is a white-stucco oasis

standing where the golden Sierra de la Laguna mountains meet the dazzling Pacific Ocean. The 32-room boutique hotel named for the patron saint of travelers, surfers, and sailors is anchored by an oceanfront swimming pool and offers guests a true escape with a touch of luxury.

EL TRIUNFO

Famed for its early silverworks, El Triunfo’s brick buildings reflect the rich history of the area’s silver mining age. Now known for spicy indigenous food, restaurants are sparse but worth every second it takes to discover a feast fit for kings. Before you

leave, stop by the Rosario Cactus Sanctuary, a 138-acre nature reserve showcasing Baja’s prickly giants.

STOP BY TEEMING SOL DE MAYO, WHERE A SPECTACULAR 40-FOOT FRESHWATER WATERFALL CALLED LA COLA DE LA ZORRA CASCADES INTO A REFRESHINGLY COOL SPRING POOL.

SAN ANTONIO

With fewer than 500 residents, San Antonio is most definitely the place to find peace and quiet. Like El Triunfo, the town has a silver mining past with some stunning backdrops for memorable photos, such as abandoned mines and the namesake

church temple. Clear your mind and listen to the whispering breezes as they swirl through the historic streets.

LA PAZ

Translated as “The Peace,” La Paz exists as a literal oasis, a diamond in the rough, as natural beauty abounds on land and at sea along the shores of the Sea of Cortés. Defined by gentle sea breezes and the benefit of soaking in stunning sunrises and sunsets, La Paz embodies the true developed Mexican village vibe, bustling with fishermen and street vendors, with a touch of plush class. The town’s zocalo (main square)

DEFINED BY GENTLE SEA BREEZES AND THE BENEFIT OF SOAKING IN STUNNING SUNRISES AND SUNSETS, LA PAZ EMBODIES THE TRUE DEVELOPED MEXICAN VILLAGE VIBE, BUSTLING WITH FISHERMEN AND STREET VENDORS, WITH A TOUCH OF PLUSH CLASS.

exhibits the soul of Baja’s cultural and political life. Here you’ll find the stunning Velasco Garden, the Museum of Anthropology, and the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Paz, built in 1861 by Dominican priests and lined with paintings rescued from old missions. A 10-minute ride from La Paz, the uninhabited, 31-square-mile island of Espíritu Santo, a UNESCO World Heritage site, remains in its natural state, as it did when humans first set foot upon its shores over 40,000 years ago.

EAST CAPE

A highlight of the boundless, silent beauty of the East Cape is Cabo Pulmo Marine Park, home to North America’s only living hard coral reef, a 20,000-year-old living structure spanning 45.75 square miles and populated with gregarious dolphins, breaching whales, and a natural ecosystem containing over 300 species of tropical fish and 2,000 invertebrates. A short, 10- to 30-minute ride north of Los Cabos along the scenic coastline on Highway 1 puts you in the heart of the East Cape’s Costa Azul area, whose silent pull beckons surfers to surrender their souls by catching the ultimate wave. To energize your mind, body, and spirit, stay at the Buena Vista Oceanfront & Hot Springs Resort for a relaxing dip into refreshing and healthy hot springs that flow directly from the mountains.

» PLAN YOUR TIME WISELY: Traveling is all about the journey. Enjoy the hustle and bustle of Cabo San Lucas, but set aside time to explore the small towns and hidden pueblos of the country and seaside. You’ll be left with memories that last a lifetime.

TRIP TO LORETO

Best of all, a trip to Loreto is easier than ever with nonstop American Airlines flights out of Phoenix and Dallas and on Alaska Airlines out of Los Angeles and San Francisco. In Canada, WestJet flies directly to Loreto from Calgary.

LORETO

Peacefully situated on the eastern side of the Baja peninsula and overlooking the turquoise waters of the Gulf of California, Loreto is a small, charming town with a central plaza, historic mission, friendly people, family-run hotels, restaurants, and beautiful views of the gulf. Loreto’s sparsely populated city is a nature lover’s paradise with more cacti than people. Along with six offshore islands in the gulf, Loreto Bay has been designated a protected national marine park and recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Loreto is a prime spot for sportfishing, diving, snorkeling, and kayaking; but a true highlight is that Loreto Bay is graced by annual winter visits by blue whales — the largest creature to ever live on earth! Best of all.

COMONDÚ

The municipality of Comondú, a large swath of the state of Baja California Sur, mostly rests along the Pacific Ocean side of the peninsula. One of the biggest attractions to Comondú is Misión San José de Comondú, home to one of the first missions built on the

mission trail. Traveling slightly south will bring tourists to the beautiful waters of Magdalena Bay, a renowned spot for spotting gray whales as they raise their young during the annual winter migration. Puerto San Carlos and Puerto Lopez Mateos also offer extraordinary opportunities to snorkel, kayak, fish, surf, boat, and camp. Duck Island provides a full bird-watching experience, and Scorpion Bay in San Juanico is famous for one of the longest waves in the world and one of the best surf breaks in Baja.

MULEGÉ

Farther afield in the northern part of the state, the curious and adventurous traveler will

be rewarded with a bucket-list experience exploring the rock art and cave paintings around Mulegé. Prehistoric sites dating back 7,500 years dot the peninsula; whereas some are easy to access, most require a trained guide. More adventurous excursions include an overnight camping trip into the mountains led by burros and trained guides.