Moon Los Cabos: Including La Paz & Todos Santos

by Nikki Goth Itoi

Overview

This full-color guide to Los Cabos includes vibrant photos and helpful planning maps.

Mexico enthusiast Nikki Goth Itoi knows the best ways to experience Los Cabos—from hiking in the Sierra de la Laguna to visiting the amazing Pulmo Reef, the only coral reef system in the Sea of Cortez. Itoi draws on her extensive knowledge of the area to provide themed trip ideas, such as Surf and Dive Spots and Cabo Nightlife, plus in-depth coverage of the many activities available to travelers. With insightful advice on finding secluded beaches, diving shipwrecks, and grabbing a bite in La Paz, Moon Los Cabos gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781612386294
Publisher:	Avalon Publishing
Publication date:	11/26/2013
Series:	Moon Handbooks Travel Series
Edition description:	Ninth Edition
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

For more than a decade, Nikki Goth Itoi has explored Baja California by land and sea, with extended stays on both the Pacific and Gulf Coasts. She has snorkeled with whale sharks and mobulas, learned to scuba dive at Pulmo Reef, and escorted baby turtles into the sea. When not in the water or on the beach, she enjoys meeting fellow travelers and finding new places to eat fresh, local food.

A native of New York State, Nikki is also the author of Moon Hudson River Valley. She has traveled throughout Mexico, Europe, Asia, and the United States for both work and fun. In between trips, she finds time for swimming, backpacking, and teaching her kids to ski. She lives in Northern California with her husband and their two sons.

Read an Excerpt

Once upon a time, the typical Cabo visitor chose this destination for one reason: to catch big fish. These days, any number of pastimes might inspire a journey to the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula. At Los Cabos International Airport, retirees mingle with tipsy spring breakers. Newlyweds wait in line with artists and anglers. And scuba divers roll bags full of gear through the crowd.

What brings them all to a remote peninsula that early explorers thought to be an island? Miles of white-sand beaches and a tropical-desert climate, luxury resorts with championship golf courses, protected marine preserves, and the promise of an eco-adventure. Surfing, kayaking, and snorkeling are among the most popular activities. Kiteboarding, golfing, mountain biking, and conservation work are possible, too.

Increasingly, travelers are discovering cultural attractions. Local chefs are shaping a distinctive bajacaliforniano cuisine, and the art districts in San José del Cabo and Todos Santos are thriving. Meanwhile, historic ghost towns and the state capital of La Paz offer opportunities to experience Baja California’s colonial past.

Los Cabos is more than the sum of its culture and history, however. In the last decade, dozens of local, national, and international organizations have teamed up to protect its fragile ecosystem. Together they are working to protect sea turtle habitats; rescue whales, sharks, and dolphins that get caught in commercial fishing nets; promote sustainable fishery management; clean up beaches; and teach local residents to be ecotourism guides. From Cabo San Lucas to La Paz, their efforts are making a difference.

Longtime Baja travelers will tell you that Cabo has changed—that it’s not the offbeat destination it once was. In many ways, they are right. As one of the most popular, fastest-growing, and most expensive destinations in Mexico, Los Cabos is more upscale and Americanized than ever. Although they may pine for the days of deserted beaches, these seasoned travelers still return year after year to enjoy the beautiful scenery and relaxed pace of life. There are many dimensions to this ever-changing destination, and it’s become much more than an angler’s paradise. With a sense of adventure and willingness to explore, you’re sure to discover a part of Los Cabos that captures your imagination.