Designed to be printed out and taken with you.

Written and designed by Clint Suveges, a Canadian who has lived and owned businesses in Cabo since 1995, and Miriam Abraham, an American who has lived and worked in Cabo since 1996.

The following information is based on their personal experiences and local knowledge of Cabo San Lucas.

None of the companies that we recommend on this guide have paid for our recommendation. They have earned it by providing a good product at a fair price year after year.

Linked to more than 50 different sites.

Moon Handbooks
This informed, zesty guide tells travelers all they need to know for an adventure-filled sojourn to the Cape Region of Mexico's Baja peninsula.

Los Cabos Guide to Good Eating and More
by Judy Chaikin, Ida Wool

Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling Baja California
by Walt Peterson

The Magnificent Peninsula: The Comprehensive Guidebook to Mexico's Baja California
by Jack Williams ,Patty Williams ,Barbara Williams

Frommer's Portable Los Cabos and Baja
by Lynne Bairstow

As mentioned above, Cabo gets an average of 350 days of sunshine a year. Summers can get quite warm and in September there is always potential for a hurricane. Make sure to check the weather link below when planning your trip.

Click here to get a current weather report from weather.com.

The official currency of Mexico is the peso. In Cabo, you can always pay in American dollars, but you won't get the best exchange rate in restaurants and stores. It is recommended you find a money exchange booth and convert your money to pesos before you start spending. If you have time go to one of the banks (HSBC, Bancomer, Banamex, ScotiaBank) and exchange money; however, expect long lines.

Click here to check the current exchange rate.

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted. American Express is not. Expect to pay a few percentage points more when you pay with a credit card. On the flipside, it is easier to bargain prices if you pay cash.

ATM machines are at all the banks and you can always withdraw local currency from your bank at home using your debit card. AGUAS! (that means "be careful") If you push the wrong buttons on the ATM machine, it will eat your card and you won't get it back! (personal experience)

In restaurants it's common to tip between 10 -15% for good service. Bellboys receive an average of $1usd per bag. Don't tip taxis! Their tip is built in.

As always, if you appreciate the service you receive, tip. If not, DON'T!

Cabo now has a first-class hospital with up-to-date equipment where English is spoken.

Amerimed
Blvd. Lazaro Cardenas/esq. Paseo de la Marina
Col. Medano
Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S.
624.143.9670
624.143.9671 (fax)

(Next to Bancomer Bank)

Depending on your taste and budget, you can find a place to stay in Cabo that suits your expectations. From $39 crash pads to $3,000 Presidential Suites, take your pick!

Here is a directory with the names, locations and phone numbers of all hotels, B&Bs, and resorts in the Los Cabos area.

Here is a directory with the condominium resorts in Cabo:

Marina Sol
Terrasol
Missiones

Mexico often gets a bad rap for a condition that some people take home with them: Moctezuma's Revenge. You can avoid this discomfort by using a little common sense. First of all, take it easy! If you devour everything in site, accompanied by margaritas and tequila shots from dawn to dusk, your system is not likely to be able to handle it. Take it slow, while you're having fun.

When you pick a restaurant, make sure it looks clean. Observe the salsas (watch out for bubbles), mayonnaise (glassy look), flies landing on the food, make sure you ask for purified water and ice.

While as a local, there aren't many taco stands I haven't visited, it is not recommended as a tourist that you do the same. It took a while to develop my current cast-iron stomach, and you don't want to spend your whole vacation in your hotel room paying the price for those succulent carnitas.

Summary: Enjoy Mexico's fabulous food and drinks, but use caution!

Transportation in Cabo can be a bit tricky depending on where you are staying. Taxis are expensive (outrageous!) and although car rental is an option, there is very little parking downtown and the "transitos" (transit authority) are frequently looking for a chance to make a "mordida" (bite or "bribe").

It is always a good idea to stay in a resort that's central, for instance, Marina Sol. This resort condominium complex is located 1 minute from Medano Beach and 3 minutes walking into town. They also have their own ground transportation.

If you have a chance to take some day trips, it is recommended that you rent a car. Here are some links you can follow to book your rental ahead of time.

National Car Rental
Alamo Car Rentals

When you arrive at the airport, there are three options for transportation: 1) taxi, 2) shuttle or 3) time share presentation.

1.) Taking a taxi is the quickest way to get you where you're going, but also the most expensive. They typically run around $60USD. But if you are a large group, it is the most efficient and economical. Many people look to share a taxi.

2.) You can take a shuttle for $14USD. This is the cheaper option, but be warned that the shuttle will stop at as many hotels as passengers. On the other hand, if this is your first time in Cabo, it is a great way to see some other hotels.

3.) When you come through customs, you are likely to hear a bunch of people shouting at you and waving papers and signs. These people are there to offer you an invitation to a time share presentation. This will require you give up a morning of your vacation to hear a sales pitch, but can be quite lucrative. You can get your taxi paid for to your hotel, and usually a number of other free activities thrown in. Don't be afraid to bargain!

If you enjoy shopping, Cabo has a wide variety of items to offer. You can find traditional Mexican "artesanias" in flea markets all over town, T-shirt, bathing suit and clothing stores, silver jewelry, vanilla and "damiana", a liquor which is said to be an aphrodisiac.

There is a rather interesting blown glass factory on the outskirts of town where items can be purchased.

The main center of shopping, though, is Puerto Paraiso, the local mall filled with high-fashion clothing and shoe stores, art galleries, cigar stores, cafes, restaurants and occasional music or dance shows. There is an arcade and bowling alley named "Recorcholis" that is great for family fun. It also boasts a movie theater with multiple screens, surround sound, and a VIP section with lazy boy chairs and snacks delivered to your seat. If you'd like to see what's playing, click here.

Regarding bargaining, make sure if you are in one of the flea markets or particularly if you are buying from one of the vendors on the beach, don't pay the first price they give you. Bargaining can be culturally uncomfortable for some of us gringos, but believe me, it's worth the discomfort. You might wind up paying 10% to 50% less for an item than the original asking price. And once you get the hang of it, it can actually be fun!

If you want to stay in touch while on vacation (not that we recommend this) there are numerous internet cafÈs around town you can use to check email. Most of these also offer an internet phone at reasonable rates.

If you want to use a regular phone, make sure to buy a phone card available at most supermarkets and "minisupers". If you must use the phone from your hotel room, make sure to check the rates ahead of time as they tend to be quite high.

If you have enough time to do a day trip while visiting the area, there are a number of towns you can visit. Todos Santos is only 45 minutes away and has a number of art galleries, jewelry stores, and some very good restaurants. You will also enjoy the drive along the Pacific with beautiful views of the ocean and the surrounding mountains. Watch out for cattle, though, especially if you wind up driving at night.

Another hour and 15 minutes or so beyond Todos Santos is La Paz. La Paz, was once frecuented by Mexican nationals due to its duty free status, is a bustling town with a lovely "malecon" or boardwalk, many clothing and shoe stores, souvenir shops, hotels and restaurants. It's also known for excellent snorkeling and diving and a number of eco-tours are available to fully enjoy La Paz' sea life.

There are many great restaurants in Cabo, but here are our top ten:

El Faro ViejoTrailer Park Restaurant - American/Seafood
Brasil Steak House - Brasilian
Oasis Bar & Grill - Canadian
L'Orangerie - French
La Trattoria - Italian
Nick-san - Japanese
Sancho Panza - Mediterranean
Panchos - Mexican
Alexander's - Swiss
Ole Ole - Spanish

Cabo has long been known for it's world class sportfishing. The surrounding seas are full of marlin, dorado (mahi-mahi), tuna, wahoo and other species.

Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet has this to say about Cabo Sportfishing:

Cabo San Lucas is known as the "Marlin Capital of the World" and deservedly so, as there are more marlin caught here than any other place on earth. Unlike other well known fishing destinations, where days, and many dollars can be spent in pursuit of this most prized sport fish, it is not unusual to capture one or even more on your very first trip, whether you are a beginner or an expert. Once reserved for the wealthy, fishing in Cabo is now within reach of almost all visitors and an encounter not to be missed. Not only will you experience the thrill of battling a creature of incredible beauty and size, or landing smaller species and eating them, your fishing excursion gives you an opportunity to view the Cape and its landmarks from a unique perspective and often allows you to get a close up look at whales, dolphins and seals.

Click here for a detailed fishing report.

Because of their great record, professionalism, and quality service, we recommend the following fleets (in alphabetical order):

Minerva's

Picante

Pisces

With courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones, and John Dye, Cabo boasts some of the finest golfing in the world. Almost every hole provides sweeping ocean views with a gorgeous desert backdrop. Courses range in price from reasonable to quite expensive.

On the pricey end located a 10 minute drive from Cabo, we recommend Cabo del Sol, which has been called the "Mexican version of Pebble Beach" and is one of Cabo's most challenging courses.

Slightly less expensive and located a 2 minute drive from Cabo, we recommend the Raven course.

The Cabo San Lucas area offers lodging starting from US $35 per night right up to US $3,000 per night. Cabo has something for everyone no matter what your budget or needs are.

You can go to any search engine and get the names of numerous companies that are offering private vacation rentals for Cabo San Lucas. The first question you should ask is, "How long have they been in business?"

Also remember, "If their rental sounds to good to be true" then it probably is.

The other questions you need to answer are, "Where is the property located?" and "What kind of tourists generally stay there?". Make sure they have good security on site so you will have peace of mind during your vacation. If the company is professional when you are making a reservation, it is generally a good indication of how well-operated the properties are that they represent. A very good local company that offers both Condo rentals, as well as Home/Villa rentals is Vacation rentals of Cabo.

Foreigners can own real estate in Mexico and since the change in the foreign investment law in 1993, foreigners can own land in the formerly restricted zones within 32 miles of the beach and 64 miles of the borderóthrough a fideicomiso (trust).

There is a company in Cabo that can assist you if you are interested in finding out more about purchasing property. Click this link to visit the Realty World Baja Realtors website.

Mini Supers ("small supermarkets") are located all over Cabo.

For the vacation traveler, most of your needs will be filled by the Mini Supers. They have all the basics like a corner convenience store back home and the prices are reasonable when compared to the United States or Canada.

Some Mini Supers have Internet CafÈs, laundry services and beach rentals all built into one store.

If you are planning a long stay in Cabo and want to purchase in bulk
then you should know that as of 2003 Cabo now has three new superstores — Costco (bring your membership card with you), Sorianas and the big C.C.C. store.

Almost all hotels and condominium resorts in Cabo offer a drop off laundry service which is provided by the maids and cleaning personnel. There are also several coin-operated, self-serve laundromats located around the Cabo area.

If you also need a drop-off laundry or dry-cleaning service you should stop by Marina Sol Laundry and Dry-cleaning. They have been in business many years and offer the best prices in town for quality, friendly service 7 days a week.

MARINA CABO SAN LUCAS is a modern marina, strategically located in the harbor of Cabo San Lucas, at the very tip of the Baja Peninsula. All services expected in a first class Marina are available to guests.

Marina Cabo San Lucas offers all possible on-site conveniences for the boater. Shore facilities include a full-service chandlery, restrooms, showers, pump-out station, laundries, and storage lockers.

If neither sportfishing nor golfing are your thing, not to worry! There are many other activities to keep you occupied. Activity centers at Medano Beach offer jet ski rides, glass bottom boat tours to the Arch (Cabo's famous landmark), parasailing, kayaking, and snorkeling gear rental.

This beach is also great for just hanging out, "site-seeing" and slowly polishing off a bucket of ice-cold beer while enjoying the atmosphere.

Whale-watching tours are available in season, typically between January and April.This is an incredible opportunity to see the Grey Whale up-close and personal.

Horse-back riding along the beach or through the desert is another opportunity not to be missed. Here are a few companies that provide that service.

Here is a listing of Cabo's beaches with a description of each one:

Land's End in front of the Finisterra and Solmar Hotels and Terrasol condominiums on the peninsula's very tip is wide, smooth and wonderful for strolling, snoozing, sun-bathing and listening to the sound of the surf. Whale watching and enjoying the scenery are the favorite pastimes.

Lover's Beach, Playa de Amor, is small and sparkling. Most people arrive by boat from the dock at Cabo San Lucas though you can get there by hiking over the rocks on Land's End beaches from the Hotel Solmar. This is the only place where you walk from the Sea of Cortez to the Pacific Ocean in a matter of seconds. The contrast is unforgettable.

Medano in front of the Hacienda and Melia Hotel is open to visitors of several resorts, lined with restaurants and beach shops, selling souvenirs and renting all sorts of exotic water sports equipment. Jet skis, wind surfers, fishing boats, canoes and diving gear are all available.

Los Arcos is for body surfers. But be prepared. The road from the highway to the beach is rough. A real adventure. Bring lunch!

Whale's Head, Cabeza de Ballena, for sport fishing and snorkeling, or just relaxing.

Shipwreck, Playa Barco Varado, Km. 9.5. In 1964 a Japanese freighter found an unfortunate home here. Now fishing, diving, snorkeling, swimming and surfing can be found here.

Widow's Beach, Playa de las Viudas, Km. 11, is great for swimming. Tidepools with interesting marine life make it an underwater explorer's dream.

Santa Maria, Km. 12 near the Hotel Twin Dolphin, is one of the world's most beautiful bays. Vermilion mountains drop into the water at either side of this perfect moon-shaped beach. Ideal for swimming, snorkeling and diving. Bring your own picnic. Make a day of it.

Chileno, Km. 15 by the Hotel Cabo San Lucas is great for swimming, diving, waterskiing and surfing. Sports equipment can be rented. Local guides will help you on your way.

Buenos Aires, is a brilliant expanse of beach, good for surfing and strolling; not swimming. Great for whale watching.

Palmilla lies just north of Hotel Palmilla. Naturally protected and ideal for swimming, diving, or snorkeling. Sports equipment available for rent. It's also the launching pad for the Palmilla fleet, one of the finest in the world.

Acapulquito, the "Hot" surfing beach. If it's too rough for your tastes, don't worry...people-watching makes up for it.

Costa Azul Beach is a favorite with local surfers. San Jose del Cabo's fishing fleet is based here and at daybreak it's a sight worth seeing as the armada chases the newborn sun.

For detailed narrative from everything from Cabo's history to nightlife, take a look at LosCabosGuide.com.

For a yellow-pages style directory of Cabo businesses with links to their websites, check out AccessCabo.com.

To sneak a peak at Medano Beach any time of day, click here for the AllAboutCabo.com webcam.

For general information about the Baja Peninsula, check out BajaLife.com