It’s a fantastic area, all the renovated, and we created a chic district focused on the gastronomic experience. Some 30 restaurants belong to the program, all within walking distance of each other in the downtown part of the town. This is at the northern end of the tourism corridor. We have a specific section in the Visit Los Cabos ecosystem for this where we feature, the chefs, their recipes, and the special menus they offer on Tuesdays – we call it “Tasty Tuesdays.” We promote the freshness of the area organic farms and farm-to-table experiences, the fresh seafood you can have with the very talented cooks and chefs that have been moved to Los Cabos from all around Mexico in the world. And it appeals to the very select audience of travelers that come to Los Cabos.

There has been a big renaissance for downtown San Jose del Cabos. Visitors will see this district on Tuesdays. They already know about Thursdays arts markets and these are usually totally full. That’s why we did we created the Tasty Tuesday option, to have a different day of the week for people to come and walk around and experience the fun. And then we’re going to have another part of this program that will focus on street food in this area.

What are some of the audiences you seek to reach?

We have seen an evolution in the travel, especially on the high end with the evolving high-end traveler. Those are people who travel a lot and can go anywhere in the world. We have seen that there is a big evolution in the things that they are looking for in a vacation.  We are also working on the factor of inclusion. We have three tracks there, one on LGBTQ, another is on accessibility, and then we have a focus on black travel, which is another big trend we are seeing in Los Cabos. And one final focus is on community engagement. Everyone wants to know what is happening with the community and how they can engage with the community. They want to visit the ranches where the people actually live and know the story behind the story. So those are the new channels in travel we’re working on.

What are some of the new experiential trends afoot?

A big trend we see is in sustainable vacations. We have, very close to Los Cabos, hiking trails with natural waterfalls and natural reserves that people can explore on their own and they won’t need a four by four vehicle to get to these places.

And we are also looking at the adventurous toys people like to play with in the waters. For instance, there’s a company that has been coming up, and they want to be environmentally friendly. And they have a lot of toys, but they are all electric. They are called Caboelectric and they use something called an eFoil that is a surfboard with an electric propeller that powers the board to move through any water. And they have paddle boards and a variety of other boards and equipment and it’s all geared for sustainability. So this is one of those only in Cabo ways to have fun in a unique way and still stay friendly to the environment.

What are some trends in hospitality gaining traction in Los Cabos?

The whole villa concept is taking off in Cabo. So that’s actually fairly unique, and helping to create a Mediterranean experience there. And we have variety, such as villas inside such luxury resorts as Rosewood, and other villa-focused developments that are owned and leased out through various companies.  To stay in a villa is different from a stay in one of the resorts in Los Cabos. Maybe the guests are coming in by private plane and coming with many members of the family. For other guests, sometimes they want to simply stay in a resort so they can play golf or just relax in a wellness program.

What about airline travel to Los Cabos?

Currently, we have 45 percent more lift than we did during the same time in 2019, and from more gateways. We used to have 21 gateways from the United States with nonstop flights. Now we have 26 gateway cities in the United States and more frequencies. We went from 350 flights on a weekly basis to 500 weekly frequencies and we have been diversifying, especially the Northeastern U.S.  I think the demand is there now, because the airlines follow the demand. But we cannot take this for granted. Now that visitors have experienced the destination, we need to make sure that they come back.

How are meetings managing in Los Cabos? Are they coming back?

We have seen a big, big comeback in meetings, especially involving incentive programs and small corporate meetings. And again, there are a couple of interesting dynamics that we have here that are different from other destinations. If you make a check of average daily rates on meetings in various locations, usually the bigger bulk of rooms, the lower the average daily rate. In the case of Los Cabos, the average daily rate of meaningful incentives is higher, say $465 a night, and the average daily rate for meetings is $250. But that is because the incentive programs and the corporate meetings prefer to work with premier product when they come to Los Cabos as it’s an aspirational destination and a great way to reward an employee.

But we have seen some changes, the incentive groups are now smaller, and they break up. So instead of bringing 150 people, they break up into sections of 50. Or if they are coming for a corporate retreat, they want to have a much more meaningful type of connection or reflection or experience when they come to Los Cabos.

Many conferences have been taking place with very specific protocol — everyone that comes goes through an arrival team test before getting access to the meeting. And then when these attendees go back to the United States, they need to go through another COVID test. We make it very easy because all the hotels offer this service on site through a certified facility.

What happens if a visitor tests positive for COVID-19 and must quarantined. Who pays for that?

In the beginning, it was popular for visitors to have insurance and many hotels also offered this option. More recently the incidents of a positive result have been super minimal. But we have a specific protocol for hotels and hospitality members and they need to advise the state medical authority immediately when somebody tests positive – once false positive results have been ruled out. Once confirmed positive through a PCR test, the guest must quarantine at the hotel. Medical authorities have to get in touch with the patient on the phone to assess the condition and needs, including food. The patient cannot leave the room, they need to stay there for the stated duration. But many hotels and resorts and villa companies are cooperating by offering at least a 50 percent discount if the guest does not have insurance.

However, the number of cases has been so low that many properties are promoting the amenity that guests contracting COVID can quarantine for free. They can do this because the number of positive cases are so so few that is makes a strong promotional statement.

For some visitors who may be staying with friends and relatives in a $5,000/night villa, though, the prospect of spending only $2,500 a night to quarantine may still be a little high. So, we have some business class hotels with special rates so those who need to quarantine can do so without too much financial pain. We have not had a positive case ion a very long time, but it’s something we need to protect.

Do you have any kind of a closing thoughts about Los Cabos and 2022?

We believe that 2022 is going to be a year with a lot of challenges. Los Cabos is open for business and we need to keep making sure that Los Cabos will still be considered the best and safest option for anyone looking to come. That’s the word and we need to keep working on it to make sure that it remains. See our Palmilla vacation rentals with chefs here.

There are many small boutique shops around town where you’ll find unique gifts for yourself (or friends back home). Shop locally-made handicrafts at vendors set up in Plaza Mijares or visit the small boutique shops where the local shop owners love to meet travelers and share interesting facts about items in their stores.

Among the favorites is Shima Shima that specializes in Mexican-made finds. Find neon-colored pom pom necklaces and elaborate weaves from the Tenango Valley of Hidalgo, wide-brimmed beach hats and colorful cotton dresses.

Check out some crazy home goods at Caravane Cabo, a design lover’s paradise that is full of artisanal finds like scoop chairs that look like avocados (another Instagram must). Find an array of handcrafted straw bags adorned with sequined Day of the Dead skulls and brightly colored, wooden folk art sculptures from Oaxaca at Choya Rose.

Nightlife in San Jose del Cabo

When most people think about nightlife in Los Cabos, Cabo San Lucas is always at the top of mind. But while Cabo San Lucas is full of international-style clubs and wild parties for dancing until the early morning hours, San Jose del Cabo delivers its own nightlife experiences that might be more of your speed.

San Jose del Cabo has plenty of places to enjoy an evening or night out with friends. In El Centro, near the Gallery district, you can find fun bars like Mixology and 12 Onzas that ser tasty cocktails. Also, if you hang around restaurants like Don Sanchez and Shooters long enough, the tables full of hungry patrons transition into ordering rounds of drinks at the bar.

If you’re looking for the best handcraft drinks in San Jose del Cabo, grab a seat at Dalton Gin Bar or Cuervo’s House and watch the bartender put on a crafty display of drink-making. And right next door to Cuervo’s House is La 29, where it only costs 29 pesos to have a fun night out!

Tequila tasting is also on the roster if you know where to look. The great grandson of Jose Cuervo hosts private tequila tastings and classes at his restaurant in downtown. Jorge is studied in everything tequila, and makes an entertaining, educating and spirited few hours for those who want new stories to share at their next dinner party.

San Jose del Cabo is a captivating destination if only for its beauty, history, color and very friendly locals. Visit San Jose del Cabo if you want to escape the trendy tourist areas of Los Cabos for some quirky local culture.

Whether you’re craving seafood, fresh produce, or artisanal plates, San Jose del Cabo and the East Cape have plenty of options to keep you satisfied. Check out La Lupita if you’re into traditional tacos and an eccentric bar scene. Another great find is Mi Cocina, which features a French-Mexican-Asian menu, located inside of Casa Natalie, a gorgeous boutique hotel. Outside of this historic town is Flora Farms, a 25-acre organic working farm in the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, their menu is seasonal and field to table. Cooking classes are also offered, and the grocery store has plenty produce you’ll want to bring back to your villa so you can show off all you’ve learned.

Sea Turtle Release

Only in Los Cabos will you get to witness the miracle of life up close with CaboTrek! Thousands of Olive Ridley and Black Turtles come to shore to lay their load of eggs deep in the sand before returning to the sea. Help raise the survival rate of these baby sea turtles by helping and protecting them on their journey to the sea. Tours run from September 1^st till December 15^th, being closer to wintertime also means a chance to see the Humpback Whales traveling south!

San Jose Estuary

This lagoon is the only freshwater coastal lagoon in Mexico.  Walk or bike the paved path that runs along a portion of this lush, green oasis and enjoy the many exotic plants and animals. Other relaxing activities include kayaking and hiking, specialists are trained for this terrain and offer these activities daily. Bring your camera to take advantage of the incredible photo opportunities. Located at the southern tip of Baja California, it’s a quick trip from Los Cabos, perfect for a day trip!

Tamales Doña Nina and Churromania

One of the best-hidden food gems in all of Los Cabos! Tamales Doña Nina is run by women who know a thing or two about making a perfect tamale, offering an array of meat fillings, vegetarian options, and even sweet fillings. As of 2019, the stand can be found on the north side of Plaza Mijares. Finish off your feast with a freshly made churro or two from Churromania, located right next door!

Chileno Beach

If you’re looking for a beach that the locals love and is free from crowds, Chileno Beach is the perfect spot. This beach has the highly coveted Blue Flag award, which translates to clean water and sand, accessible areas on the beach for the mobility impaired, and spotless bathrooms and changing facilities. Swimming is great all year round as the current and surf are mild.

Underwater Sand Falls

This phenomenon is found in very few locations yet can be found in Los Cabos near El Arco, in the Sea of Cortez. Underwater sand falls are formed by the friction between the tectonic plates of North America and the Pacific, combined with the union of the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. They were first discovered by the famous underwater explorer, Jacques Cousteau and cascade down a vertical wall under the sea. To see the sand cascade, you must dive to a depth of over 30 meters, so be sure to invest in a diver’s certificate before going! Once you’re down there, you’ll be surrounded by impressive marine biodiversity, including fish of all shapes and colors and black corals.

Thursday Art Walk Around San Jose Del Cabo

This historic center is a colorful place that is packed with character and culture galore. This is due to the many local artisans and art galleries that fill the streets, making them alive with color. Every Thursday night, between November and June, galleries and shops stay open late while local artisans show off their craft in Plaza Mijares. At the Cabo Art Walk, you can view everything from hand-painted pottery, Shona African sculptures, blown glass, contemporary oil paintings, and handmade  jewelry. There is often live music and plenty to eat and drink, this is the perfect time to befriend the locals!

El Merkado

Can’t pick between one restaurant? El Merkado is the best place for an array of different cuisines. Featuring the best chefs in all of Los Cabos, located in Koral Center between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. This food hall features over 20 vendors whose menus feature everything from traditional Oaxacan tlayudas to Neapolitan wood-fired pizza.