hi all - been a long time since I looked in on these forums. Came to Los Barilles in 2007 for the fishing and had a great time. Was planning to return
in 2009 but the tourist info here in the UK began to advise against travelling to anywhere in Baja - 'dangerous for the tourists' being the main
reason given. However, the lure of how good it was before is proving too strong, so I'm finally looking to do a return trip next month, but this time
to hotel-stay in Cabo San Lucas. Short trip - only 5 days. Can anybody give me a quick heads-up as to what CSL is like as a tourist destination?
Anywhere you would recommend I go and see, or alternatively ensure I avoid?? If there's time, I'd like to book a 1-day fishing trip - any
recommendations? (can't really come all this way and not dangle a bait, can I?? haha!)
Apologies for all the questions, but honest info on your part of the world is pretty scant over here (unless you trust Tripadvisor!) - all replies
gratefully received. ThanksMMc - 1-2-2017 at 07:09 PM
Cabo is a full tourist town. Beautiful white sand beaches, overpriced food and booze, and an odd trinket or too. A day trip to Todos Santos might be
fun.
For fishing I would book with Cabo Magic, they're active on this board, in a good people too. They also could tell you more about Cabo. http://www.cabomagicsportfishing.com/ TMW - 1-2-2017 at 08:46 PM
What MMc said and forget all the dangerous tourist stuff being put out. Have fun, be aware of your surroundings and all is well. redliner - 1-3-2017 at 02:47 PM
thank you for the replies, folks
never easy doing a new location longhaul - its a ******* long way to go just to be disappointed, so we're really grateful for the info.
been doing some more research and feeling very good about this trip now - if its anything like as good as the one I did 10 years ago, then it will be
memorable!
Fingers crossed ... woody with a view - 1-3-2017 at 04:07 PM
forget all the dangerous tourist stuff being put out.
Ssshhhhh... Baja is a dangerous scary place, one in which you will lose your head if you cross south, even for a day. I shake in my flip flops the
whole time I'm down there, every trip.MMc - 1-3-2017 at 09:38 PM
redliner, It will be different but most likely fun. Go and enjoy.redliner - 1-21-2017 at 06:22 PM
we're sorted - just got to pack the suitcases and we're on our way - lets hope the sun's shining and the fish are biting! David K - 1-21-2017 at 07:18 PM
Never take advice from a media that has never been to Baja.
Coming here is a better place to learn about Baja, from people who actually travel or live there.
Cabo is to Baja is close to what Las Vegas is to America. Loads of fun, drinking, noise, people. Nothing wrong if a big resort town is what you want.
Baja ends there, so all of the rest of this magic place is before you get to Cabo. We had fun in Cabo one day, taking the boat ride out to the cape
rocks (El Arco) and having a mango margarita after. Then we came back to La Paz... and saw plenty of places returning to the U.S. Now, that was a 15
day trip, so you will be much more limited to the cape region. See Santiago, Todos Santos, and La Paz if you can... as you already know Los Barriles
(two Rs, but one L).
BajaBlanca - 1-22-2017 at 08:14 AM
You are going to love it! Brilliant that you decided to ignore the naysayers!redliner - 1-31-2017 at 07:17 PM
well, we're here, and we're loving it .
Just doing the 'tourist thing', but having a great time - down in Los Cabos at the moment, moving on to Cabo San Lucas at the end of the week. Can't
believe its peak season - surprisingly quieter here than expected, and that's a real bonus for us! Haven't heard another UK voice anywhere - maybe its
too far a trip to make for most, but I'm glad we chose to come back.
That September return to Los Barriles is looking VERY likely now - how's it changed in the past 10 years? Fishing still good? Palmas de Cortez still
the plushest hotel?Russ - 2-1-2017 at 09:03 AM
redliner, 5 days! I don't know if you'll get the true feeling for Baja in that short of vacation. Not much time to explore and staying in a resort
town ... Well it'll be just that. I think if you're able to see Todos Santos you may plan a different type of vacation next time. On the up side Cabo
has anything you can imagine for the "Hi Life" have a really good time!Cliffy - 2-1-2017 at 09:10 AM
redliner- where are you staying and you were never there unless you post us some pictures here! :-) :-)redliner - 2-4-2017 at 12:04 PM
Oh, I can assure you we were there! We stayed at the Hyatt Ziva in Los Cabos, and chose to do day trips in/out of Cabo san Lucas rather than change
hotels. Have to say the Hyatt was top dollar - the staff couldn't do enough for you, and always with a big smile. The wife liked the place too, so thats a big help when it came to giving it a yes or no to a return visit in Sept2017.
The best thing I found out was that the prices for the fishing have hardly changed since 2007, and still represent excellent value for money compared
to other destinations. I've been round the Marina, brought back a load of info/prices etc, and we'll be sitting down to plan the September trip over
the next week or so. Looking like it will be 5 days in Cabo san Lucas itself, with 3 days out on the water, then over to East Cape and have 5 days at
Los Barriles probably doing a reprise of our 2007 trip with Van Wormer's at the Palmas de Cortez.
Still need to check out how things are on East Cape, so if there's anybody who's stayed/fished there recently, I'd be pleased to hear a
review/recommendations.
here's a link to an old (and now prob incomplete) report of our 2007 trip:
ps - how do I post up a picture?Cliffy - 2-4-2017 at 03:15 PM
Can you give us a short run down on fishing prices, etc?
We usually stay at the Mar de Cortez hotel just a couple blocks off the marina in Cabo. great place and real good food.JZ - 2-5-2017 at 10:33 AM
Don't go to Cabo. Don't do it. willardguy - 2-5-2017 at 10:42 AM
its true....you won't want to leave JZ - 2-5-2017 at 11:11 PM
Nope Cabo is terrible. Don't do it op. So much better to see and do. redliner - 9-15-2017 at 05:29 PM
just got home after a most eventful visit to Cabo. Flew in on 06Sep, transferred to the Riu Palace hotel, CSL - sure I don't need to tell you guys
what had happened there ....
Made new plans, rather than go home we moved to the Hyatt Ziva in Los Cabos. They were absolutely superb and saved our vacation - thank you so much
guys!
As for the fishing? - my 60th birthday and I wanted to go catch a marlin, exactly ten years to the day that I first caught one over at Los Barrilles.
Booked in with JC Sportfishing and never looked back - three days of excellent dorado and tuna sport, topped off with two stripers on the big day!
Couldn't ask for more - great crews, great set up - thanks so much Jerry and the team.
Over here in the UK we see very, very little info on Baja, and when we do its usually just negative press. I've now done three trips, and right across
the board, I have to say that £ for £ (or dollars!) Baja California Sur is by far the best value for holiday money I have found anywhere across
this planet! I am already saving my $$$ for the next trip.
So from here in cold, wet and rainy England, to all in CSL, Los Cabos and anywhere else on the peninsular that your kind and welcoming people may be
working so hard catering for guys like me and my family, we wish you the very best, a speedy recovery from Lydia, and we look forward to our return to
your fair lands, hopefully in 2018.
Until next time ....
Thanks for the feedback!
AKgringo - 9-15-2017 at 05:46 PM
Good to hear that it lived up to your expectations, or replaced them with new experiences! Quite a few times I have seen someone new to the forum ask
questions, get a lot of responses, then we never hear from them again.
Cabo has outgrown the qualities that I like most about Baja, and that is not meant as criticism, there is a reason for the growth. It is a fantastic
place, and is what a lot of folks are looking for!
Los Barriles or places even less developed are what I enjoy most.
[Edited on 9-16-2017 by AKgringo]David K - 9-15-2017 at 05:55 PM
Thank you for sharing your good times!
How cool for you 60th (mine is in 3 days, nothing as exciting planned as yours)!
I hope you stay here on Nomad and keep connected to Baja that way.
Have you read any of Graham Mackintosh's books? He left London to stay closer to Baja. redliner - 9-16-2017 at 04:32 PM
Afraid I don't know the author myself - seen about 3 titles available over here, though, so might get around to checking him out.
It isn't going to be long before the general travel companies this side of the Atlantic start taking a greater interest in what Baja has to offer. Its
a long way to come for us, but I know I would certainly recommend it! As for me, I'm sure that another return trip is going to figure somewhere in my
itinerary for 2018-19, and I'll def have a regular look-in on BN for news on how things are going.David K - 9-16-2017 at 04:54 PM
www.grahammackintosh.com
I recommend you begin with his first book, 'Into a Desert Place' to set the pace of how a young Englishman was enchanted by seeing so much unpopulated
desert compared to what he was used to in London.redliner - 9-16-2017 at 04:58 PM
thank you - I'll try it (can get a copy here for just a couple of dollars, which is nice!)BajaBlanca - 9-16-2017 at 08:40 PM
How wonderful that you so enjoyed the tirp!
One day, take a walk on the wild side and come to middle Baja and visit us on the Pacific Ocean side. Fly into Loreto, rent a car. Visit Loreto.
Have lunch in Mulege. Come to LA BOCANA and meet husband Les who is Polish/British. He makes homemade bangers. He makes egg on toast. He has Heinz
vegetarian baked beans. He even has Tetley tea for you.
And you are going to think I am crazy but we took our British friends to Mexico City before bringing them to Baja. Mexico City has pyramids
(TEOTIHUACAN) - it has a cool canal area with boats that sell food and make music (XOCHIMILCO) and a central historical park that is great to explore.
No fishing but the second largest fish market in the world is there!
