Cabo San Lucas

What do you get when you combine picture-perfect coastal beauty, add in gorgeous high-end beachfront resorts, fuse them with all-night fiestas, and top it all off with definitive Mexican charm? 
Bienvenidos to your new favorite margarita-filled getaway, Cabo San Lucas. 



Nestled at the southernmost tip of Baja California del Sur is Mexico's notorious party paradise, Cabo San Lucas.  I've been traveling to Mexico at least once every year or two since as far back I can remember, and many of my favorite memories as a kid were spent traveling the western shores of Baja California.  Since the Mexican Riviera is an easy 2 hour flight away from my hometown of California, we explored everything that Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa, Acapulco, East Cape, and Cabo San Lucas had to offer... often traveling with other families and friends and doing everything from deep sea fishing to snorkeling to sailing to sunning to shopping the Mexican markets. I'm pretty sure I learned how to barter in Spanish before I even learned how to read in English... haggling with Mexican shopkeepers in broken six-year-old-kid Spanglish over the price of everything from fireworks and poppers (that we would light up on the beach at night), to a woven bracelet with my name on it (that I'd unabashedly show off to all my friends at recess while they complained about their family's fifth spring break road trip to the Grand Canyon).  I'm so grateful that my parents not only showed us the beauty of Mexico from such a young age, but that they taught us Spanish the way I think everybody should learn any language, by speaking it with the locals, everywhere we went.  I am pretty proud that I still speak Spanish like a Mexican local, and even more proud that I can still haggle with the best of them.  $20 for a cab downtown? Ay ay ay. Try $5, senor. Not the blonde gringo you thought I was, amigo.

Anyways, I just recently got back from an amazing trip to this Mexican oasis, and I cannot wait to tell you all about it. Cabo has something for everyone and a fun-loving culture all it's own, which is why it continues to reign as a global hot spot, year after year.  


for the tourist
medano beach
The bustling main strip of Medano Beach creates the epicenter of this party paradise, filled with excited vacationers, margaritas firmly in hand, taking "that" quintessential photo of Cabo with the Land's End arch, and searching for their next beach activity. At Medano Beach, you can chill out and relax or choose from infinite water activities like parasailing, jetskiing or even taking a sunset cruise. This is definitely where the action is. 

land's end arch & lover's beach
I definitely recommend taking a water taxi from Medano Beach to see the arch, which is a stunning rock formation where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean. Nearby the arch, ask the taxi to drop you off at Lover's Beach, which opens out to a different ocean on each side. It is a great place to spend a couple hours and play in the waves. 

sail & snorkel
The best way to see the sea is by sea!! I love Cabo Sails for a great sail & snorkel trip. They'll take you everywhere (the arch, lover's beach, and pelican rock to snorkel) and it even includes lunch and a premium open bar. 

santa maria bay
I love this little beautiful bay for snorkeling. Take a cab or your rental car and drive 15 minutes north of downtown and this hidden gem provides some of the best snorkeling in Cabo. Go there on a calm day and get there early! All of the sail boat trips will come later in the day and you'll want to beat them to having the beach (and the tortugas) to yourself!  :) 

My new favorite restaurant view in the world @ Sunset Da Mona Lisa
for the foodie

The food in Cabo is outstanding. And this is coming from the girl who pretty much has guacamole for every meal in America. When I got to Cabo, you know all hell broke loose. I think I tried every chips & guac & marg the town had to offer, and I was not disappointed. Here were some of my favorite places:

Sunset da Mona Lisa - I cannot say enough incredible things about this restaurant, as it was easily the most picturesque (and delicious) meal I've ever eaten in my life. It's ranked as one of the top 5 coolest restaurants in the world by the NYTimes, and there's no question why. With breathtaking views spanning the entire coast of Cabo, there is literally nowhere I would rather be. The service, food, atmosphere and overall experience were all top notch and we had the most memorable night here.  Of course had to bring my favorite Napa Valley merlot (pictured to the right).

Hacienda Cocina y Cantina - Nestled right above Medano beach, I loved this place for dinner. Great resort-ey ambiance and great Mexican food! Get the carnitas and a spot outside where you can watch the sunset.

Mi Casa - Is this place is touristy? Yes. But is it also exactly what you want when you think of a dinner in Mexico? Absolutely. Mi Casa is a beautiful hacienda-like candlelit patio restaurant with colorful mexican decor everywhere you look. Enjoy the DELICIOUS queso (the best I've ever had), and take in the awesome atmosphere, complete with balloon hats and lots of fun mariachi music, of course.

where to stay
Casa Dorada - Wow, wow, wow. I loved this hotel. Perfectly positioned next to the Mango Deck on the prime real estate of Medano Beach, Casa Dorada is the perfect place to spend your vacation in Cabo. The service was impeccable (think, blended punches upon arrival) and they even complimentarily upgraded us to a GORGEOUS lands-end-view suite steps from the beach.

Pueblo Bonito - This hotel has a GORGEOUS setting right on Medano Beach and beautiful white architecture that makes you wonder if you're in Mexico or Greece. But, my favorite part about this hotel isn't the architecture or the location, it's the pool. During our vacation in Cabo, you could find us every day at 2pm "Tequila Volleyball" in the pool, which was an absolute blast. Fun activities, sunshine, and poolside drinks at the drop of a (sun)hat...This place is paradise.

Sheraton Hacienda Del Mar - The Sheraton Hacienda Del Mar is the ideal oasis away from the hustle & bustle of downtown, if that's more your style. I loved getting to experience both Medano Beach and Los Cabos (about 20 minutes outside of town) because they are so different but both great. The I loved the Sheraton's beautiful hacienda architecture and, of course, the infinity pools :)



for the margs
Rough day at "The Office"
The Office - this bar and grill, located in the sand of Medano Beach, is a rite of passage for cabo tourists. Decked out in beach umbrellas, tiki torches and colorful tablecloths, this is the spot during the day. The food is good and the margs are even better. 

El Squid Roe - this outrageously iconic Cabo night club and restaurant is a one-of-a-kind. With four stories of open air dance floor, countless throngs of partygoers and waiters armed with jello shots, Squid Roe is loud, wild, and full of energy. I had so much fun dancing the night away here.

Mango Deck - Take a stroll on Medano Beach and you can't miss this place with it's live music and hilarious entertainment. What El Squid Roe is for Cabo nightlife, Mango Deck is for Cabo's beachlife. Located with a prime view of Land's End, Mango Deck is party central. The hilarious MC will corral beachgoers into the restaurant with games, contests and all sorts of tequila-soaked entertainment. During the high season, this makes Mango Deck Spring Break home base, but it's a great place to grab a drink and laugh at some ridiculous drunken contests any time of year. 

spanish phrases for gringos 101 
Mango Deck @ Medano Beach

"Soy Christina, soy de los Estados Unidos" - I'm Christina, I'm from the USA
"Me gustaría la guacamole" - I would like the guacamole 
"Me encanta la playa!" - I love the beach!
"¿Cuanto Cuesta?" - How much is it?
"Adiós, amigos!" - Bye, friends!
"Hasta la vista, baby" - See you later! *See Arnold Schwarzenegger for pronunciation*
and the most important one of all....
"Mas cerveza, por favor" - Another beer, please.


Whether you're looking for a quick weekend getaway or a longer oasis, there's absolutely no place like Cabo for a little R&R on the beach with a margarita in hand. Ah, la vida es gran.
xoxo,
Christina

Bucket List

Who doesn't love a good list? I don't know about you guys but I'm always looking to cross things off my bucket list. I want to see everything, taste everything, explore everywhere, all over the world, at least once. This list will be ever-evolving, and I can't wait to try and keep up with it. 
Walk with lions in Mauritius
  • Walk on a glacier in Patagonia
  • Ski the swiss alps
  • Bask in the hot springs in Iceland
  • Get soaking wet at the Iguazu Falls
  • Take a French cooking class in Paris
  • Admire the city lights of Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong
  • Hike the Napili Coast of Kauai 
  • Devour pizza in Florence
  • Walk like an Egyptian at the pyramids
  • Stay in an overwater bungalow in Tahiti
  • Get boozy in Buzios, Brazil
  • Cruise the Greek isles
  • Try not to get stung in Sting Ray City, Grand Cayman
  • Party the night away on a cable car
  • Ride a camel in Morocco #humpday
  • Go on a safari in Africa
  • See just how nice Nice is
  • Step back in time at Louis XVI's Versailles
  • Experience the luxe life in Monte Carlo, Monaco
  • Eat a belgian waffle in Belgium
  • Float in the Dead Sea
  • Take a romantic gondola ride in Venice 
  • Bar hop in Lan Kwai Fong
  • Eat filet mignon in the middle of the Eiffel Tower
  • Stand on heaven on earth in the salt lands of Bolivia
  • Zorb in New Zealand
  • Ride horses on the beaches of Mexico
  • Hike Machu Picchu
  • Watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat
  • See a world series game in San Francisco
Cave dive in Tulum, Mexico


  • Drink giant beers in Germany
  • See Monet's inspiration at Giverny
  • Hang out with baboons in Cape Town
  • Eat, Pray, Love in Bali
  • Go to the Olympics
  • Honeymoon in the Maldives
  • Sandboard in Dubai
  • Play with Monkeys in Cambodia
  • Roadtrip The Pacific Coast Highway 1 in California
  • Pool party in Vegas
  • Play with elephants in Chang Mai, Thailand
  • Sunbathe on the beaches of Australia
  • Dance the nights away in Cancún with my best friend
  • Hang out with Penguins in South Africa
  • Taste "the original painkiller" at Soggy Dollar Bar, BVI
  • See a Broadway musical in NYC
  • Sing Karaoke in Tokyo
  • Frolic in a field of sunflowers in Tuscany
  • Learn to tango in Buenos Aires
  • Channel my inner Indiana Jones in Petra
  • Eat breakfast with giraffes in Kenya
  • Enjoy the southern accents & buttery biscuits of Charleston, SC 
  • Hike the 5 towns of Cinque Terre
  • Trek across the Great Wall of China
  • Soak up the sun in the French Riviera 
  • Sip on wine in Santorini
  • Bet on a horse at the Kentucky Derby
  • Experience Lake Como like Clooney
  • See Sydney by sea
  • Spend a vacation day at "the Office" in Cabo San Lucas
  • Stay at the Atlantis Paradise Island
  • See the beautiful 2000 year old history of Rome
  • Taste Champagne in Champagne, France
  • Do a wine tour of Bordeaux
  • Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef 
  • Stand in awe of the giant redwoods in California 
  • Win big at craps with all of your friends in Vegas
  • Party with paella in Barcelona, Spain
  • Shop til you drop in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul
  • Experience "El Clasico" in Spain
  • Spend a summer weekend in the Hamptons
  • Yacht around Italy
  • See a Carolina-Duke rivalry basketball game in Chapel Hill, NC   
  • Get mistaken for a movie star in Japan
  • Swim with dolphins in Mexico
  • Party on a pirate ship at Willy T's, BVI
  • Bike through California wine country
  • See the Northern Lights
  • Take a freezing shot at an ice bar
  • Live la dolce vita on the Amalfi Coast
  • Bask in the colorful beauty of Bahía, Brazil
  • Cross the equator by sea
  • Devour some steak at a parrilla in Argentina
  • Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge in SF 
  • Volunteer at an orphanage in Cambodia
  • Take in the unparalleled history at the British Museum in London
  • Soak in the beauty of Lagos, Portugal
  • Get to know the glaciers & grizzlies of Alaska
  • Learn to two-step at Billy Bobs Honky Tonk in Fort Worth
  • Sail the British Virgin Islands
  • Trip on the medieval cobblestone streets of Estonia
  • Wine taste in the Napa Valley
  • Eat the best greek food of all time in Greece
  • Surf the coast of Southern California
  • Dine underwater at Ithaa in the Maldives
  • Sunset party at Single Fin in Uluwatu, Bali
  • Dog sled in Sweden 
  • Eat beignets & listen to jazz in New Orleans
  • Keep Austin weird
  • Explore the city of Seville
  • Malbec taste in Mendoza
  • Swim with pigs in the Bahamas
  • Stay in the English countryside with locals 
  • Climb the fortress of Kotor, Montenegro
  • Watch the wild horses in the Outer Banks of NC  
  • Rock a Kenny Flowers shirt in Parque Tayrona on the Colombian Coast           
  • Ride bikes on the beaches of Kiawah Island, SC 
  • Sail the San Francisco Bay
  • Dive into the sparkling blue waters of Fiji
  • Partake in the Tomatina Festival in Valencia, Spain
  • Get to know the wildlife of the Galapagos
  • Have high tea in London
  • Visit every continent on earth: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, EuropeNorth AmericaSouth America 
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