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This week, Tripadvisor has unveiled its latest Traveler's Choice Awards recipients, celebrating select cities, destinations, restaurants, and hotels for their excellence in providing services to tourists based on readers' reviews over a preceding 12-month period.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the go-to sunny spot for a growing number of Americans has made it to the one percent in the top tier, a distinction that only 80,000 or so destinations, out of 8 million listed by the popular travel agency, have attained.
We've known for years now, but now we finally have confirmation that Cabo San Lucas, the gemstone in the Mexican Pacific crown, is indeed among the ‘Best of the Best':
Why Is Cabo San Lucas One Of The Best Destinations In Mexico?
Cabo San Lucas, commonly shortened to CSL, is one-half of Los Cabos, a larger resort zone it's formed with the twin city San Jose del Cabo.
Though they are often promoted as a single destination, these two have always been secretly competing for the attention of guests.
Both are absolutely gorgeous, with San Jose being more spread out and offering exclusivity-seeking resort visitors the long miles of sandy beach and the peace and quiet they deserve, while Cabo San Lucas is reputed for being the livelier of the two, with a greater number of attractions.
They may attract slightly different clientele, but in the grand scheme of things, CSL wins, as it ranks third in Mexico on Tripadvisor‘s Best of the Best list, where it is noted for having a great after-dark scene, a high concentration of bars, and plenty of excursion options.
Vibrant Nightlife
As The Cabo Sun reiterates, CSL has one of the best districts for nightlife South of the border, and it gets particularly wild over Spring Break when a flood of college partygoers heads into famous venues like Cabo Wabo Cantina and Senor Frogs for the cheap beer.
At the same time, sociable beings who are not exactly on a tight budget can choose from a myriad of high-end cocktail bars, such as Craft Los Cabos, a rooftop cocktail bar offering sweeping views of the serene coast, and the elegant, jazzy La Botica Speakeasy.
Nighttime fun is not what it's all about, though, and you can rest assured you'll be in no hurry to leave Cabo San Lucas for a lack of things to do.
Cabo San Lucas Has Something To Offer Every Type Of Traveler
It caters to a diverse audience, be it nature-loving thrillseekers, resort guests looking to bask in the Mexican sun, or even culture enthusiasts, and your hotel concierge is certain to have just the right tours lined up for you based on your travel preferences.
You can choose from guided street food tours in central Cabo, adrenaline-boosting 4×4 adventures across sandy dunes, visits to protected marine reserves where whale-watching is possible, or even boat trips around the landmark Arco, an arch-like rock formation jutting out of the azure Atlantic.
Two of the top activities are ATV tours, which typically include a camel ride and a buffet lunch, and day trips to Todos Santos, a traditional town a short one-hour drive from Downtown Cabo, where you can immerse yourself in the local culture and admire colorful colonial buildings.
Tours departing from Cabo San Lucas are priced between $109 and $149 on Tripadvisor.
World-Class Resorts
This may not be directly mentioned by Tripadvisor editors, but we suspect part of the reason why Los Cabos has ranked among the lucky one percent this year is the world-class amenities, and award-winning service at local resorts.
Cancun often gets all the praise, but something you may not know is that the best hotels in Mexico are, in fact, in the Los Cabos resort zone. To be more precise, the best-rated property in the country is Cabo San Lucas' Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal.
Located in a quieter section of the coast, further away from the hustle and bustle of the trendy Downtown, yet still within short walking distance of all the action, it has an intimate layout, resting on the shores of the bright-blue Pacific, with a series of infinity pools and a modern spa to call its own.
You can definitely have an amazing holiday in Cabo San Lucas without ever having to leave your hotel, and it's all thanks to places like the Waldorf, where Michelin star-worthy food, incredibly luxurious rooms, and state-of-the-art facilities await you.
The second-best hotel in Mexico, Rosewood's Las Ventanas, is also part of the Los Cabos development strip, except it sits nearer San Jose del Cabo.
Cabo San Lucas Is Safe
Finally, there is the fact that Cabo San Lucas is perfectly safe for tourists.
According to the U.S. Department of State, the state of Baja California Sur, where Cabo is located, is a Level 2 destination, meaning safety risks are only moderate and on a par with countries traditionally perceived as low-risk, namely France, Germany, and Italy.
The major issue for tourists in Cabo these days is pickpocketing in touristy zones. Still, it is such an uncommon event that it has not made headlines in months, unlike in the Mexican Caribbean, where the risks seem to be slightly higher, based on recent crime trends seen in Tulum.
On top of that, security is tight, with more police having been deployed in the resort zone, and a ‘Tourist Batallion' having been announced last year, with the sole aim of keeping beaches and areas frequented by Americans crime-free, and they are doing a pretty good job at it.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Joe
Wednesday 24th of January 2024
Cabo is mostly gross The very poor endlessly harrass you at the beach. Our only refuge was to take a water taxi to Pelican Beach. Close to the point in 1st picture. Fishing was excellent on a panga we chartered.