The East Cape of Baja Sur in Los Cabos remains one of Mexico’s best-kept secrets. East Cape Baja can be found just 45 minutes away from Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) and a world away from the Cabo crowds.
If you travel here and you have a decent hotel budget, the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Los Cabos is the place to stay. This is one of the best Four Seasons in the world, and it is situated along two miles of pristine beachfront at the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains on Baja’s East Cape. Remember to book any luxury hotels, including Four Seasons hotels, via our luxury travel concierge for extra free benefits.
Highlights of this hotel include the beachfront plunge pool rooms, which you can see in the picture above. If you book one of these, you can get out of bed in the morning and step straight onto the sands for a dip in the calm waters of the Sea of Cortez. This is as beachfront as it gets, and these rooms are amazing.
To unlock the magic of this virtually untouched region, Four Seasons Chief Concierge and esteemed member of Les Clefs d’Or International Estefanía Cortez has shared her top ten recommendations for an unforgettable East Cape adventure with us. These are all unmissable activities and are the 10 best things to do in East Cape Baja:
1. Swim In The Sea of Cortez
Some of the best beaches in the world are found in Cabo. The best beaches in Cabo, Mexico, are not usually swimmable due to the strong waves and dangerous undercurrents on the Pacific Ocean side of the Baja peninsula.
Whizz over to the East Cape Baja, and you can enjoy the still waters of the Sea of Cortez. This makes the beaches at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Los Cabos perfect for families who want to splash about or adults who want to go for a safe swim in calm waters.
The Four Seasons Adventure Concierge team is stationed on the beach daily with complimentary stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, and a Hobie catamaran. A top tip is to try the water trampoline, which is meant to be enjoyed by kids and adults alike!
2. Explore Cabo Pulmo
This UNESCO World Heritage site is considered one of the world’s most prosperous marine reserves. Spend the day discovering the oldest of only three coral reefs on the west coast of North America, known for its hundreds of schooling jacks and mobula rays, sea lions, turtles, whales, and resident bull sharks.
Guests will enjoy a full day of snorkeling or diving in what Jacques Cousteau called “the aquarium of the world,” just 45 minutes away. For a truly singular experience, travel to Cabo Pulmo aboard one of our boats that departs directly from the private marina at Four Seasons Los Cabos.
3. Release Baby Turtles
If you love nature, releasing baby turtles onto an East Cape beach must be on your bucket list. At Four Seasons Los Cabos, you can participate in a baby turtle release through their Sea Turtles Program. From August to October, Costa Palmas and the local government unite to protect the vulnerable Olive Ridley sea turtles that nest throughout the stunning Baja Mexico coastline.
They patrol approximately 19 miles (30 kilometers) of the East Cape coastline, rescuing turtle eggs from harmful prey. This intervention allows the sea turtles to grow and journey to the sea in a protected environment. Each year, more than 300 turtle nests are relocated and planted in safe areas within the Costa Palmas property, where they are protected and tracked.
4. Swim in a spring-fed waterfall
While stepping out of bed and into the sea off the East Cape beaches is a dream. Why not combine your dip first thing with a swim in a spring-fed waterfall at Sol de Mayo later in the day? Just 40 minutes from Four Seasons Los Cabos, Santiago is one of the first missions to settle in the foothills of the Sierra De La Laguna Mountains.
Near the town, the canyons hide beautiful pools of fresh water that run on top of huge granite boulders, exotic vegetation, and beautiful trails. Sol de Mayo waterfall at the Cañon de la Zorra is accessed with a hike that can be as easy or as advanced as the group requires.
5. Meet A Whale Shark
Encounter the biggest fish in the sea, the majestic whale shark, which measures up to 50 feet (14 meters). This incredible opportunity is available in very few destinations worldwide, and Baja is lucky to be home to these gentle giants.
This unforgettable day trip leaves from La Paz, where you spend the morning swimming alongside these mystical creatures, followed by an exciting afternoon exploring Baja’s capital city.
6. Take In The View
Hike to the Flat Rock for the most breathtaking views of the East Cape. This moderate hike is located just 10 minutes from the Four Seasons Resort and offers uninterrupted birds eye views of the Sea of Cortez, the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, and all that is between.
7. Rip Around Sand Dunes
Let your inner adventurer roam free and off-road through miles and miles of beach and trails along the Baja coast and see how vast the East Cape’s landscape is.
Rip around the sand dunes, or take a more peaceful scenic tour all the way to the lighthouse at Land’s End. Time this adventure so that you return to the Resort as the sun sets to take full advantage of the kaleidoscopic colors of a Baja sunset.
8. Visit A Mining Town
Visit the historic community of El Triunfo, where time seems to have stopped in the early 1900s. Originally a mining town, this charming village attracted travelers from all over the world, each in search of riches on the heels of the California gold rush in 1849.
The population soared to 10,000 at one time, but there was a mass exodus in 1926 when the mines dried up. Today, the small town is home to less than 500, and many of the original buildings have been restored and converted into museums, boutiques, and cafes. Don’t miss the unique and hidden bar Café El Triunfo.
9. Fish
Fishing the Sea of Cortez is a must-do. Considered one of the richest bodies of water on the planet, try fishing, sport fishing, and spearfishing expeditions that depart directly from the Four Seasons private marina. Try the 65-foot (20-meter) Hatteras yacht, which can comfortably accommodate up to 12 people. Ideally, book this activity for first thing in the morning.
10. Surf
Would it be wrong to stay in Los Cabos and not Surf? Nomad surfers from Southern California have been flocking to Los Cabos since the late 1950s in search of the perfect wave. Famous for consistently warm water, south swells, right-hand point breaks, and stunning desert scenery, the East Cape is a surfer’s paradise.
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Image courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos.
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