Los Cabos

At the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico, the red desert collides with the confluence of the cobalt blue waters of the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. This is where Los Cabos is located. Peak season is November to February and in calving season (January to March) you may see gray whales spouting close to shore. Main attractions are miles of beaches, Land's End rock formations at one end of the bay and Cabo Pulmo Marine Park, an underwater nature preserve boasting 200 species of tropical fish, the only living coral reefs in the Sea of Cortez and a sea lion colony. Marlin fishing, diving and snorkeling are top activities, as the waters are very warm.

Formerly a tiny fishing community, Los Cabos has become a tourist hot spot but still maintains a small-town feel. It stretches from Cabo San Lucas through the Resort Corridor 20 miles to the northeast to San Jose del Cabo. Travelers center themselves in Cabo San Lucas, with its energetic nightlife and the meticulously planned Resort Corridor beach strip, rather than in San Jose del Cabo, which has Spanish colonial character but no nightlife or loud bars.