This lower portion of the peninsula is home to the better-known destinations of the area: Cabos San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo (known as "Los Cabos"), the Tourism Corridor that joins them and the up-and-coming resort town of Loreto Bay. Located to the north of Los Cabos, you'll find Loreto Bay.

A mere two-and-a-half-hour flight from Houston, Dallas or Los Angeles, Los Cabos has forged strong ties with the U.S. The dollar is accepted currency, credit card machines are ubiquitous and many locals are bilingual.

Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas is already a star in its own right, known for its rowdy nightlife and its large sportfishing fleet. Its harbor is lined

with well-known North American franchises liberally sprinkled with Mexican favorites, as well as some great places to stay and play. While the night belongs to the clubs, the bars and the trendy restaurants, the daylight hours can be filled with shopping (both highbrow and low), browsing through the many art galleries or simply whiling away the hours on the popular Medano Beach. One of the very few swimmable beaches in the area, this one is dotted with family-style restaurants complete with palapas-the Mexican equivalent of the beach umbrella-and plenty of watersport franchises to keep you busy.

Offshore, marlin and other big game fish await the lucky. In fact, a number of sportfishing outfits have made headlines with major catches during the many international tournaments that are celebrated in the area. Wahoo, tuna, dorado, striped and blue marlin, sailfish and more populate the waters. This is the place where the cool, pristine Pacific Ocean meets the warm Sea of Cortes, creating a unique food chain that supports these magnificent creatures.

San Jose del Cabo
That the heart of the town is still the lovely church of San Jose says a lot about San Jose del Cabo. Much more laid back and certainly less unruly than its cousin 20 miles away, it is a charming addition to any vacation. The renovated main plaza is shaded by palm trees and offers park benches for a much-needed rest after an afternoon of browsing through the many unique shops. Look for jewelry, fine handicrafts and beautiful textiles. Make sure you leave enough time for dining. San Jose del Cabo has a great reputation for some fantastic little restaurants that give a new meaning to the words "fresh" and "delicious."

And lest you think the beach plays a minor role, let us take that notion out of your head by pointing out that there is one in town, Playa Hotelera, and a very beautiful one just two miles east of town, La Playita. Take note that Cabos beaches can pack a powerful undertow (though the latter is generally considered safe), so please check the caution flags before you go swimming.

Great Escapes
Cabo San Lucas is the jumping-off point for many an unforgettable sunset cruise. This is also the home of the famous Lands' End arches-they who launched a thousand postcards. This is the roost for thousands of magnificent frigate birds and hundreds of pelicans that endlessly skim the deep-blue water for tasty morsels. At the foot of the largest arch is a rock that seemingly barks out at passersby-actually, it's a favored hangout for a big family of boisterous sea lions.

The so-called Tourist Corridor that joins Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo is home to some of the premier hotels in the area, as well as most of the championship golf courses that have put Los Cabos on the world map.

Fast Facts

Main Cities
Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, San Jose del Cabo, Loreto Bay

Don't Miss
A visit offshore with the whales that migrate from the cold northern waters every year from December through April. This is definitely a Kodak moment, so don't leave your camera behind!

A diving expedition in the teeming waters of the Sea of Cortes, where you can choose from three dive sites: Gorda Banks (where hammerheads will get your adrenaline pumping), Cabo San Lucas (several underwater fancies to choose from) and Cabo Pulmo (boasting the only live coral reef formation in the area).

Checking your e-mail at the outdoor Internet cafe/bar in Todos Santos with a margarita in one hand and your mouse in the other.

Cuisine
Seafood is the local specialty, prepared every which way you please. You can even have the hotel kitchen prepare your catch of the day. For those nostalgic for a taste of home, there are quite a number of U.S. franchises that have set up shop and are ready to offer pizza, hamburgers, chicken wings and other typical fast food fare.

Climate
The Baja is hot and dry, but its geographical location actually gives it a well-defined winter season. In the northeast, the climate is semi-desert, with very high temperatures in the summer and at the beginning of fall. The winter can be rainy, but not excessively so.