https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabo_San_Lucas
Well last time I blogged we had just set sail for Fort Lauderdale in Florida via the Panama Canal. We are now into day 4 of the cruise and we have had too short of a time in Cabo San Lucas right on the tip of Baja California, Mexico. But first things first. Let me tell you about the cruise.
The Pacific Princess is a ‘small’ cruise ship with only around 600 passengers and 390 crew to look after us. Consequently we are being spoilt. You can barely do a thing without crew asking if you need help. The food is terrific (menu designed by Aussie chef Curtis Stone) and despite sailing out of L.A. there are heaps of Aussies and Kiwis aboard. On our first night Shane and I proceeded to the formal dining room for tea to find we are designated to a table for 8. 2 people never showed. 2 people only lasted one night and they changed to an earlier meal time. Leaving just Shane and I and 2 Americans, Bill and Suzanne. We’re getting on very well. So well in fact that Bill and Suzanne were eloping and we became their only guests at their wedding in the ship’s library on day 2. You’ll see the pictures below (All pix are in just one gallery this post).
Day 3 was quiet as we were all day at sea but on the morning of day 4 I awoke at 5:40am to watch us enter our first port of call, Cabo San Lucas. Wow! Is this place something special? The scenery in the area here is spectacular. From the iconic ‘El Arco’ (the Arch) at land’s end in the south to the Californian border up north, Baja California has much to see. On the eastern side of the Peninsula is the Pacific Ocean. On the other is The Sea of Cortez. The peninsula is filled with mountainous ridges and desert plains. The climate is much like our Townsville, arid, meaning CSL has over 300 days of sunshine with a brief wet season.
This area is known as the ‘Mexican Riviera’ and is a hangout for the rich and famous. Madonna, George Clooney and others have homes here but it is still not an expensive place to be. CSL is a tourist ‘hotspot’ with heaps and heaps of night clubs, restaurants and souvenir shops while San Jose’ del Cabo is a quieter more traditional town just a few minutes up the coast. There is plenty to do here besides nightclubbing. There is any type of water based activity you can name (& some I bet you can’t). 4WDriving is popular by all manner of wheels through both the desert and the ranges not to mention horseback riding (keep your eyes open for cougar, puma, coyote, foxes etc). This is a noted whale and whale shark watching bay and there’s even a place where you can swim with dolphins.
The excursion we chose took us first to a glass blowing factory which was interesting. We then went to the most magnificent hotel/restaurants we have ever been to (“Sunset Mona Lisa”). Spectacular does not begin to describe the views from this five star terraced clifftop hotel where we stopped for a 30 minute drink break. From this vantage point we could see southward right down to our ship anchored in the harbour near Land’s End. Looking north you can see the miles of beautiful beaches that line the coast. We then travelled to San Jose’ del Cabo the ‘working town’ in these parts where the missionaries set up home and the Mayor resides in the local town hall.
While travelling the road between these two towns you have the gorgeous beaches on one side and typical Baja cactus desert on the other with a high mountainous range just beyond. There is any number of top class resorts most with their own golf course. This place is paradise with a Spanish accent. We loved it. I could live here!
Sadly and all too quickly our trip was over and we were back on board to weigh anchor for our next port in two days, Puerto Chiapas. On the way out we got some great shots of the headland and El Arco but I won’t need photos to remember Cabot San Lucas.
Watch for more blogging as we go.
Cheers now,
Garry & Shane.