Barceló Palace Deluxe :

Our second stop on the Barceló Triple Crown trifecta is the Barceló Los Cabos Palace Deluxe in Mexico. Los Cabos is the perfect place to kick back with a Corona, saddle up for a horseback ride along the Pacific Ocean or snorkel in the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez. If adventure is not your cup of tea then stroll the quaint streets of San José del Cabo, soak up the culture and explore the local arts and crafts scene too.

ALL SUN!
Our approach into the SJD airport took us over lush, green tropical terrain surrounded by the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains. It’s a spectacular decent--the topography changes suddenly into desert coastline at the tip of the Baja Peninsula.  This creates a microclimate that affords sunshine 359 days a year.  That’s right, there’s only a two percent chance of rain! If you’re looking for sun, this is the place to be.

LOCAL COLOR--SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO 
Venture out and experience some Mexican culture. Our tour guide picked us up at the resort and drove us the ten minutes into town in an air-conditioned van. The local shops and art galleries sell beautiful sterling silver jewelry and Mexican arts and crafts. Everything’s negotiable here--we successfully bargained prices down 30 percent. Some of the finds that caught our eye were the silver amber necklaces and the skeleton craft motifs that symbolize the national holiday “Día de los Muertos.” We meandered down charming colonial streets. Did you know that the reason they’re so narrow is because back in the day horses used them exclusively? Situated on a knoll, a stone’s throw from the Main Square is the Cathedral. This is where all the festive dancing and social activities take place on the weekends. As we entered, we looked up at the mosaic that depicts Father Nicolás Javier and the Jesuits’ epic struggle to settle this beautiful territory. We marveled at the mission-style architecture, the beautiful stained-glass windows and the pristine white altar. Keep your Baja spirits high while in town. Mexicans love their tequila and we did too. Some of the shops offer a wide variety of Mexican distilled tequila spirits.  We lingered and savored samples of Agavero (a sweet tequila), Damiana (for lovers) and Orendain, which is infused with almonds.

PACIFIC BEACH HORSEBACK SAFARI
You’ll meet many local cowboys trying to convince you to take a ride on the beach in front of the resort. Although this may seem like fun, the horses are older and not usually spirited enough to gallop. If you’d really like to ride like the wind, let’s go to Carisuva Ranch.  We were picked up at the resort and driven forty-five minutes through Cabo San Lucas to the ranch, located near the Pacific Ocean. Remember to wear long pants and closed toed shoes. The grooms tacked up the horses and gave us some quick pointers.  Simple enough. Our journey started off with a trail ride through the cactus and desert.  The trek to the beach took about half and hour.  Our “cabellero” guide spoke little English. As we reached the beach, with no warning, his horse broke into a gallop and ours did too.  Be prepared—these horses can really move. Hold on to your saddle-horn the minute you get to the beach! This was one of the best excursions I’ve ever been on, anywhere in the world. Galloping along the beach on a spirited animal was truly a moving and memorable experience.

Carisuva Ranch
Standard Tour $75.00 USD per guest
Safari Tour $80.00 USD per guest
Phone: +52 (624) 143 1657
www.ranchocarisuva.com 

PLAYA CHILENO ---SNORKELING SEA ADVENTURE
Put on your mask, snorkel and fins and be prepared to swim under the sea like Jacques Cousteau. This marine sanctuary was one of his favorite places to dive. You will see a wide variety of marine life including sea turtles, tropical fish, sea lions, the occasional dolphin and humpback whales during the winter months.  The boat ride to our dive site took us past the famous Land’s End arch and one of the most pristine, romantic beaches aptly named “Lover’s Beach.” It was a thirty-minute cruise to Playa Chileno. It’s a sheltered area, which is safe for beginners to try their hand at snorkeling. The clear water is about twenty feet deep and is teeming with tropical fish and coral. One of the best parts of the experience was feeding crackers to the fish as they swam around us.

Cabo Adventures
$75 USD Adults
$60 USD Children
Phone: 888.526.2238
www.cabo-adventures.com

OUR ROOM
Our Barceló Los Cabos Palace Deluxe Junior Suite was tricked out with all the latest conveniences including push button, remote control access to the curtains, air conditioning, lights and internet. It’s all programmed through the remote ....