Celebrity Vacations in Los Cabos

It can only be Los Cabos' proximity to Southern (upper) California: at 2½ hours by air from L.A., the southern tip of Baja has become a fabled getaway for all manner of Hollywood celebs. Stars like John Wayne and Bing Crosby vacationed here a half century ago and put Los Cabos on the map, and the area never looked back. Not all today's stars opt for the flash and glitz of Cabo San Lucas. Many prefer quieter San José del Cabo with its selection of small inns and intimate restaurants.

Sammy Hagar, formerly of the rock group Van Halen, is the celebrity most associated with Los Cabos; he's part owner of Cabo Wabo. But the list (in no particular order) of those who have vacationed here is impressive: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lopez, George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, Brad Pitt, Beyoncé Knowles, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Jordan, Brooke Shields, Madonna, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Meg Ryan, Adam Sandler, Celine Dion, Gwyneth Paltrow, Spike Lee, Jennifer Aniston, Bono, Charlize Theron, Halle Berry, Jessica Simpson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Salma Hayek, Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Sylvester Stallone—and that's just to name a few. Ryan Seacrest often pops over for an afternoon lunch at Las Ventanas.

Many fly into a small airstrip near Cabo San Lucas that handles private jets—as does one terminal at Los Cabos International Airport. Call it a hunch, but we mere mortals probably won't be sitting next to JLo or Oprah in coach. You never know who you might see after you arrive, though, so keep your eyes peeled. Do remember that "Be cool" is one of Los Cabos' cardinal rules: gawking, staring, and taking photos are frowned upon.