Charming is the word most often used when someone is asked to describe San Jose del Cabo. 

The old buildings of the historic center, the overwhelming presence of the Parroquia San José church along with the inviting atmosphere of the main plaza, all contribute to the charm of San Jose del Cabo.  San Jose del Cabo instills a sense of old Mexican charm into the harsh desert landscape and beautiful coastline that surround the city.  Old customs and traditions prevail here and time seems to be nothing more than a symbol of the modern world… a symbol that is very easily ignored by many of the locals and visitors alike. 

San Jose del Cabo was officially founded as a mission in 1730.  The first expeditions to explore the area were carried out by Cortés, as early as 1535.  The rich and colorful history of San Jose del Cabo includes pirates, Jesuit missionaries and Indian uprisings.  Stories of the colorful past have been handed down over generations and can be heard, even today, coming from the lips of the locals in the town square.

San Jose del Cabo is the county seat of Los Cabos and therefore the city bustles with the daily business of local government and the stress placed upon the city by the incredible popularity and growth of the area. The hustle and bustle just seems to fade into the background more easily here than in other busy cities. 

San Jose del Cabo is a city of neat and clean residential neighborhoods, some new and some that are very old.  The newer neighborhoods seem to be spreading out to the north and west of the historic center.  The very first golf course in southern Baja is located here and although the municipal course offers but nine holes,  it is still a lot of fun and very affordable.  There are many nice homes built around the golf course, which is near the beach in an expanding area of the city.  The 40,000 residents enjoy a comfortable and healthy lifestyle.  There are jobs here for anyone who wants to work and the zero unemployment factor results in a high quality lifestyle, with very little crime.

A beautiful protected estuary covers a large area on the southeast edge of the city. Over 100 species of birds inhabit the estuary along with a variety of turtles, fish and some pretty exotic marine mammals.  Bird watching can be incredible and is easily accomplished from many different angles.  ATV and Kayak tours are also of the estuary area are available.  The easiest way to get to the estuary is to go the the far east end of the hotel zone, near the Hotel Presidente, there you will find a viewing area by the Italian restaurant. There are also horses and ATV’s available to rent nearby.

Big changes on the horizon…a long rumored marina will actually start taking shape within the next few months.  This time it is more than a rumor, the developers are well known, have deep pockets and a track record of success.  This project, known as Puerto Los Cabos, will encompass much more than just the 535 slip marina.  The master plan calls for a whole new resort community along the shores of the Sea of Cortez, where the village of La Playita is now located.  The new community will integrate the existing village and will include the marina complex, mission/museum, ecological/culture park, luxury residences, fishing, and two championship golf courses.  The residential area and golf courses will cover the foothills that lie directly to the east of La Playita and also includes a section of beachfront lots.  A special part of the marina will be set aside for the current Panga Fleet and the plan is to include restaurants, shopping and hotels.  We will keep updating the progress of this mega project that will certainly be changing the character of the whole San Jose del Cabo area, hopefully for the better.

San Jose del Cabo offers a great vacation experience for the entire family.  San Jose is easy to get to and once you are here you instantly forget the rat race back home and ease into a special pace, a much slower pace.  Be careful, this is something that could easily become habit forming.  Activities abound for all ages, golf, surfing, water sports, boating, fishing, ATV’s, horseback riding, shopping and numerous other activities are all  here, just waiting for you.  Relaxation seems to come naturally in San Jose del Cabo, but if “party till you drop” is the mood of the evening, you can easily go into Cabo San Lucas.

If you want to stay in this charming, relaxing environment, we recommend the Cabo San Lucas Playa del Sol Resort.  Our Playa del Sol time share rental is available for your use at a very affordable family vacation rates.

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