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Cabo San Lucas Basics

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Cabo San Lucas, located at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, is one of Mexico's leading resort areas. The town, the second largest in Baja California Sur after La Paz, has a population of over 60,000 people.

The mainstay of Cabo's economy is tourism. "Los Cabos" -- the area encompassing Cabo San Lucas, its neighbor San Jose del Cabos, and the area between them (known as the Corridor) -- has mushroomed in popularity since the mid 1980s, attracting both tourists and investors buying second homes.

Cabo enjoys year-round warm and arid weather; average highs in the summer are in the low 90s F (about 34° C), and in the mid-80s F (about 34° C) during the remainder of the year. The town enjoys 350 days of sunshine each year.

First Impressions

Cabo San Lucas is a smallish town framed on the west by the dramatic Land's End rock formations, on the north by the arid desert of the Baja peninsula and on the east by mega hotels towering along the Playa El Medano beachfront.

Since your ship will drop anchor just outside the port of Cabo San Lucas, you will be transported to the pier by ship's tender. The trip ashore will take about 10 minutes, and you will be dropped off at the Tender Pier, which is located at the Cabo Marina at the center of Cabo's downtown area.

For all its modernity, the mall and restaurant areas surrounding the marina seem as if they could have been transplanted from Newport, California, as Cabo has more of an "American" feel than all of the other Mexican ports. But as you visit the town, you will indeed find yourself in Mexico.

It's easy to walk around the town and after you've explored the city, taken your excursions or spent a pleasant day on the beach, you can relax with a drink at one of the city's infamous watering holes, or at a bar or restaurant surrounding the Marina.

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Time Zone

Cabo San Lucas is on Mountain Time, seven hours later than Greenwich Mean Time during standard time, or six hours during daylight savings time. In Mexico, daylight savings time begins on the first Sunday of April, and ends on the last Sunday of October.

Language

Spanish is universally spoken in Cabo San Lucas; all of the restaurant and shop personnel catering to tourists also speak English.

Currency

The Peso is Mexico's official currency, and uses the "$" sign to denote the peso amount. The exchange rate is currently around 12.75 Pesos per US dollar. Just be aware: larger notes (e.g., $500 Peso notes) are often difficult to change.

Banks and ATMs

Banks with ATM machines are found throughout the downtown area of Cabo San Lucas, including the Marina. Some ATMs dispense US dollars along with Pesos. ATM machines in the city can be found at the following locations:

HSBC Mexico: Plaza Bonita, Boulevard Marina; and Plaza Nautica, Boulevard Marina
Bancomer: Ave. Lazaro Cardenas between Guerrero and Hidalgo
Banamex: Miguel Hidalgo and Lazaro Cardenas, in front of McDonald's
Santander Serfin: Ave. Cabo San Lucas at Ave. Lazaro Cardenas; people with Bank of America accounts aren't charged a fee when using Santander.

Using US Dollars in Cabo San Lucas

As US dollars are widely accepted in Cabo San Lucas, you don't have to change your dollars into pesos. If you're using dollars alone, make sure to bring smaller denominations to pay for incidentals and taxi rides.

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Weather

Cabo's climate is warm and arid throughout the year, with average daytime highs in the 80s F (about 30° C) from November through May, and average summer highs in the 90s F (around 34° C). It's not uncommon for some 100° days during the summer.

Compared to other Mexican ports, Cabo's humidity is relatively low, averaging between 65-70% year-round. Rain is infrequent, with September and October the wettest months. September through November is hurricane season.

The waters of the Sea of Cortez are very warm, with temperatures into the mid-80s F during the summer and cooling off to the low-80s F during the remainder of the year. The Pacific Ocean is about 10° cooler than the Gulf of California.

With 350 days of sunshine each year, no wonder the whales keep coming back!

Cabo San Lucas Average Temperatures
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg High - F	77	79	80	84	86	89	92	93	91	90	84	80
Avg High - C	25	26	27	29	30	32	33	34	33	32	29	27
Avg Low - F	55	55	56	59	62	66	73	76	74	70	63	57
Avg Low - C	13	13	13	15	17	19	23	24	23	21	17	14

Cabo San Lucas Weather Forecast, Mexico

Keeping In Touch

Internet Cafes

There are a number of internet cafes to be found in Cabo San Lucas, including the following:

Dr. Z's Internet Cafe and Bar, Boulevard Lazaro Cardenas.
Baja Tech, Lazaro Cardenas, across from Pemex gas station. Open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 6 pm; Saturdays 9 am to 2 pm.
Hangout Cafe, at the corner of Zaragoza and 16 de Septiembre. Offers free wireless internet with any purchase.

Finding US Newspapers

You can buy same-day US newspapers at the Tequila House Liquor Stores in Cabo San Lucas. They have three locations:

Boulevard Marina (in front of the Subway Sandwich shop)
Morelos Street at Boulevard Lazaro Cardenas (a few steps from the stoplight)
Boulevard Lazaro Cardenas, between Morelos and Zaragoza, next to the El Squid Roe nightclub

Local Holidays & Festivals

The following local festivals, holidays and events are scheduled to take place in Cabo San Lucas in 2010:

Ano Nuevo (New Year's Day), January 1. National holiday celebrated with dances and fiestas.
Dia de los Santos Reyes (Day of the Three Kings), January 6. A national holiday when children receive their Christmas gifts as well as shoes full of candy.
Todos Santos Art Festival, January 30 to February 6. Todo Santos hosts a week-long art festival, including art shows, concerts, handicraft demonstrations and workshops.
Dia de la Constitucion (Constitution Day), February 1. Public holiday commemorating the signing of the Mexican Constitution of 1917. The day is usually marked by festivals and street celebrations.
Festival of San Jose, March 7 to 18. A festival featuring evening parties and music, followed by carnivals and parades on weekends. Food venues are sprinkled throughout the downtown, and booths carrying items like freshly made tamales and sugared pumpkin candies are available.
Birthday of Benito Juarez, March 15. A public holiday celebrating the birthday of Benito Juarez, who rose from humble origins to occupy the Presidency of the Republic in the second half of the 19th century.
Semana Santa (Holy Week), March 31 to April 4. The week before Easter is filled with celebrations in Cabo, with daily parades, music and staged performances held at the town square.
Primero de Mayo (Labor Day), May 1. A national holiday.
Cinco de Mayo, May 5. A national Mexican holiday commemorating the Battle of Puebla in 1862, when the Mexican army defeated a French force twice its size just south of Mexico City.
Festival of St. James, July 25. Credited with bringing Catholicism to Mexico, St. James the Apostle is described in legend as a magical man who rides a white horse. Look for riders mounted on white horses in the afternoon parades, and re-enacted battlefield skirmishes staged at the town square around dusk.
Feast of the Assumption, August 15. This event celebrates the Virgin Mary's ascension into heaven. Morning processions begin the day with musical bands and floats denoting the Virgin Mary's life.
Independence Day, September 16. Look for the delivery of the "El Grito de Dolores," the offical grunt that marks the day.
Fiesta de Cabo San Lucas, October 18. Expect lots of dancing in the streets, music and specially arranged local events.
Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), November 1 to 2. Celebrants build private altars to honor the deceased, using sugar skulls, flowers and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed.
Revolution Day, November 22. A national holiday celebrating the Mexican Revolution of 1910.
Fiesta de la Inmaculada (Feast of the Immaculate Conception), December 8. Marks the beginning of the Christmas celebration season.
Dia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe), December 12. Commemorates the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patron saint.
Navidad (Christmas Day), December 25. A public and religious holiday celebrating the birth of Christ.