What's New in Los Cabos
San José del Cabo Grows Up
The same gnawing question has always confronted visitors planning a trip to Los Cabos: Do I stay in San José del Cabo or in Cabo San Lucas? Most visitors have always opted for the flash and glitter of the latter. San José's hoteliers and restaurateurs have stopped trying to compete on San Lucas's terms, opting instead to market their community for what it is.
The city has truly come into its own. San José's zócalo (central plaza) has been jazzed up with a lighted fountain and gazebo; old haciendas have been transformed into trendy restaurants and charming inns. And the city's art scene is thriving with a high-season Thursday Night Art Walk, where those interested in art can visit participating galleries and enjoy free drinks and live music. Several farms on the outskirts of San José are capitalizing on the organic food movement with their farm-to-table restaurants. By adding cooking schools, markets, and tours, these desert draws are more of an experience than just an ordinary meal.
Greens Galore
Golf is the name of the game in Los Cabos. There are multiple courses tied to names that read like a who's who of golf legends and course designers: Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Phil Mickelson, Tom Weiskopf, Robert Trent Jones II, Tom Fazio, and most recently Tiger Woods. Baja golf is more than just Los Cabos: courses line the entire peninsula, if not in the same density as at its southern extreme.
The Rise of Todos Santos
Once the province of surfers—the undertow is wicked here, making for some amazing waves, but risky swimming—this town overlooking the western cape about an hour north of Cabo San Lucas is home to a growing artists' community. Just don't call Todos Santos Baja's "hot" new destination, because folks here aren't interested in becoming another Los Cabos, thank you very much. But "genteel" and "refined" and "preserving Mexican culture"? Absolutely, those descriptions apply.
New Terminal at SJD
Aeropuerto Internacional de Los Cabos (SJD) is Mexico's seventh-busiest airport. A new international terminal opened in 2013, which slightly eased congestion for the more than 3 million passengers who pass through annually.
Border Crossing 2014–15
U.S. citizens need to have their paperwork in order to return to the United States from Mexico by land or sea. Those aged 16 years and older need to carry a passport or passport card. Children 15 and under are only required to provide a birth certificate if traveling with their parents or an organized group. When departing, you’ll need to present the Tourist Card (FMT card) that was given to you upon entry, otherwise you will be subject to a fine. If you plan on bringing back tequila or wine, U.S. Customs allows American citizens to import 1 liter of alcohol duty free. A 10% tax is applied to anything more than 1 liter.
Note that if you return from a cruise and your itinerary also took you beyond Mexico, a full-fledged passport is necessary for reentry to the United States. All travelers, regardless of age, require a passport when returning by air from Mexico. See the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's website (www.dhs.gov) for more information.
